The Vagabond Kid - The Jagged Edge

By John J. Law

The Vagabond Kid is known far and wide as a free-spirit roaming the Wild West, seeking adventure and righting wrongs where he sees them. He travels the vast territories with his friend and loyal companion Javier Pelaez by his side. One day after catching some trout, the Vagabond Kid decides to try holding an honest job and earning hard-earned wages for a change. This decision surprises Javier, but he follows the Vagabond Kid, as he always does. The two soon find work as a stagecoach driver and a shotgun guard for Gerald Crockett an old and beleaguered businessman running a stagecoach line. Crockett's stagecoach line is plagued by bandits who rob and pillage his coaches every time they travel. The gang is led by Damon Ellis, aka the Jagged Edge, a fearsome murderer and bandit. Now that the Vagabond Kid and Javier have accepted their new jobs, they are destined to come into conflict with Ellis and his gang of marauding

bandits. The Vagabond Kid and Javier realize that their adversary is relentless and merciless, a heartless man driven by an old grudge against their employer years ago. The Jagged Edge's hatred for Gerald Crockett runs very deep and it will be up to the Vagabond Kid and Javier to put an end to his murderous pillaging of the stagecoach line.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Mar 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224491223

Book preview

Chapter One: The Death of an Honest Man

Don't go through with this Damon. You know how my father is.

Caroline Crockett pleaded with Damon Ellis. There was clearly a look of desperation in her eyes now.

Damon Ellis looked straight into Carol's panicked eyes. He did not hesitate as he spoke to her.

Don't feel so bad Caroline, my darling. It will be all right. I need to be honest to your father. I need to be true to myself and my feelings for you. he said.

Damon Ellis spoke honest, true, and from the heart. It was how he always spoke. He couldn't help himself. Damon Ellis was an honest man. He was a man who could not lie, a man that always wore his heart on his sleeve. It was just how he was and one of the many reasons Carol Crockett fell in love with him. However, even she was not sure about what he was planning to do today. She knew how strong Damon's feelings were for her, but she was also very aware of her father, Gerald Crockett's feelings towards Damon.

Damon, are you sure about this? We all know that my father... dislikes you.

Carol was trying to put things in a nicer perspective. Dislike was putting it mildly. Both of them knew that her father completely detested Damon Ellis. The elder Crockett simply could not stand Damon Ellis almost to the point of revulsion. This naturally pained both of them, but Damon simply could not help being who he was.

I understand your apprehension Carol, my dear. However, like I said before, I simply must be true to myself and my feelings for you. I can't just deny what I feel about you, especially to your father. No, I must respectfully be honest and ask for his permission to court you.

Damon Ellis was an idealistic man. He believed that once Carol's father saw the genuine love and intention in his heart for his daughterm he would soften his stand. Unfortunately, romantic idealism often melted in the face of harsh reality. This would not change here.

When they would look back, neither Damon Ellis nor Carol Crockett would remember what happened before Damon Ellis asked Gerald Crockett's permission. They would only remember when Damon asked the elder Crockett's permission, and what happened after.

Have you lost your senses, Ellis? Get out of my house and never come back!

But Sir, I...

Ellis would try to plead his case with Gerald Crockett to no avail. The elder Crockett would simply have nothing of it.

You have no stable income, you are not a man of substance or character! I will not allow my daughter to carry on a relationship with a man like yourself!

Gerald Crockett's words cut through Damon Ellis's heart like knives through butter. They stung and hurt more than just his pride. They stabbed him right at who he was. The insults and the rejection were simply too