The Kid from Mexico

By Terence Newnes

At the age of three, Rowan Bailey sees his home destroyed and his mother killed in the street by Union raiders. When Confederate raiders later strike his grandfather’s homestead, young Rowan loses another family and is swept away to Mexico by a mysterious outlaw, Wesley Younger.

Raised in the rugged Sierra Madre by Wesley and the Mescalero Apaches, Rowan learns to survive and fight. Gifted with lightning reflexes and a sharp eye, he becomes a master of weapons, tracking, and survival.

After tragedy strikes, Rowan leaves the mountains behind and drifts alone in a lawless land. As bullets fly and loyalties are tested, Rowan must decide what kind of man he’s meant to become.

Deeply rooted in the classic Western tradition, THE KID FROM MEXICO is a gritty coming-of-age tale of survival and justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Apr 18, 2025

Book preview

Chapter 1

A Ride to Town

Belle Redding told her father, "I must go to town now, Pa! I need some more of that cloth to complete my new dress! Her father, Otis Redding, said with some exasperation, And I told you, sweetheart, you can’t go alone! Let the boys get back from the range and I’ll send someone with you. Belle stamped her foot and declared, They’ll be back when it’s dusk, and then you’ll say that I can’t go to town so late in the evening! Mother! The last appeal was to her mother, Jane Redding, and that lady told her husband, Avery can accompany her, Otis. I know you’re worried about the Tumbling B, but no one is going to interfere with a young girl in town. Otis frowned and said, Avery says he’s better, but he must still be feeling the effects of that fall. He took a real bad toss from that mustang and he’s lucky he just suffered bruises and a banged-up hip!"

Belle was looking out the window and she exclaimed, That new man, Rowan, just rode in! He can accompany me to town! Otis frowned again and remarked, Hardly a man! He claims to be eighteen, but I have my doubts. Besides, he’s been here for only three months. He walked out the front door just as the young lad was about to tie his horse to the hitching rail in front of the house. Anything wrong, Rowan? he asked the youngster. Rowan looked up and told him, Dustin sent me to tell you that he thinks some rustling is going on. He wants you to come immediately; there’s some tracks he wants to show you. Otis frowned yet again and then rubbed his face, thinking to himself that he was frowning too often of late. Rowan had come to the ranch about three months ago, searching for a job. He had claimed to be eighteen and said that he had worked on cattle ranches. Otis had liked the look of the boy then and he had hired him. Now he looked him over again, sizing him up, and decided that he still liked what he saw.

The boy was a quiet lad, but there was a stillness about him that made the others on the ranch think twice about ribbing him about his age. There was also the fact that he was already over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a hard, muscular body! Avery Sanders was Otis’ foreman and he had said that Rowan was a taciturn, but not rude, young man. He just kept to himself most of the time. The young man wore a low-slung, tied-down Colt on his right thigh, and Avery and Otis agreed that he looked like he could use it. He always had a Bowie knife sheathed on his left side, and everyone knew that he could certainly use that! He had been on the ranch for hardly a month when an incident had happened on the range. One of the ranch hands, a young man of twenty named Zane, was riding with Rowan that day when his horse stepped into a gopher hole and threw him. Zane was thrown from the saddle but hit the ground rolling and ended up next to some large stones. He was about to get up when he heard the unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake just by his head, and he froze. He was staring in horror at the snake, which was hardly a foot away from his face and ready to strike, when a knife flashed in the sunlight and pinned the snake’s head to the ground. Zane looked up and saw Rowan swinging down from his saddle.

The new hand walked over, casually pulled the knife from the ground and wiped it clean on the grass. Sheathing the knife, he smiled and asked Zane, You hurt or you just like to laze around? Zane pulled himself up and said, You take a tumble from a horse and I’ll ask you that same question! He gingerly stretched and then felt himself all over before proclaiming, I reckon I’m fine! He held out his hand and said, Thanks, partner! That was a close call! Rowan shook his hand and said, You want me to skin it for you? Zane stared at him and exclaimed, Skin it? What for! Rowan shrugged and told him, Makes for good eating; tastes like chicken. Zane shuddered and said, "No thanks; that snake was figuring on having me for dinner! Zane told the others about the incident, and Zane’s brother, Asher, begged Rowan to demonstrate the knife throw for him, but Rowan refused, saying bluntly, It ain’t a toy! Zane and Asher had become close to Rowan, but it was another ranch hand, Roberto Sanchez, who told Otis, That boy has lived in Mexico; he’s fluent in my language."

Otis made his decision and told Rowan, You tell me where to go, because I want you and Avery to accompany Belle to town. Would be obliged if you could roust out Avery. Rowan told him where Dustin was and then swung into the saddle and walked his horse over to the bunkhouse. Avery told him to saddle a horse for Belle, saying, There’s a paint pony in the corral that she likes, and you’ll find her saddle in the stable with her name cut into the leather. Rowan said, I don’t remember seeing a sidesaddle there. Avery laughed and told him, That’s because she doesn’t ride sidesaddle! She’s been riding since she was seven years old and she plumb refused to ride sidesaddle when she grew up.

They were ready when Belle came out of the house, dressed in jeans with a shirt tucked in, and stepped into the saddle. She told Avery, I’m so sorry that you have to come with me, but Pa insists! If you’re not feeling okay, just tell me and I’ll cancel this trip. But Avery said, I’m okay! I reckon a trip to town would be a good idea; might help to loosen up my body. She glanced at Rowan and said, We haven’t met yet; I’m Belle. Rowan removed his hat and said, Pleased to meet you. Then he kneed his horse and they started for town. On the way, Belle tried to start a conversation with him, but his one-word answers put paid to that. She asked him, Your name is Rowan? He said, Yes, Ma’am. She smiled and told him, Don’t call me Ma’am; call me Belle. He nodded and said, Yes, Belle. She tried again and asked him, You recently joined the ranch, didn’t you? Rowan said, Yes, Belle. She stared at him for a moment but then gave up. Avery smiled to himself as he listened to the one-sided conversation. Everyone on the ranch was devoted to Belle and would do anything she asked. She was a happy, easygoing girl, who did a lot around the ranch and would even help out when roundup time came along. She was used to everyone falling over themselves to please her, and meeting a taciturn young man like Rowan was a new experience for her.

They rode into the town of Silver Reef and went straight to the Emporium, a store that sold everything from hats to boots, including clothes and bales of cloth. They tied their horses to the hitching rail and stepped onto the boardwalk. Belle and Avery walked to the store, but Rowan stopped outside. Belle asked him, You’re not coming in? He shrugged and told her, I reckon I’ll wait here. She was about to say something, but then just frowned and walked into the store. Avery gave her a very thoughtful look as he followed her, while Rowan leaned against the wall comfortably and looked the town over.

The Hardhat Saloon was two buildings down the street on the opposite side, and Rowan saw two men come out and stand on the boardwalk. They seemed to be arguing about something, and one of the men pointed to the Emporium. Rowan had keen eyesight and he stared at the horses hitched to the rail in front of the saloon. He could see that two of the horses had the Tumbling B brand. He had been told by Zane and Asher that there was trouble brewing between the two ranches, and so he watched the men. One of them looked like your average cowpuncher, but the other looked like trouble to Rowan. He was a tall, lean man, wearing two guns in crossed gun belts. He was dressed all in black, from his hat to his boots, and Rowan thought that he had a mean-looking face. Avery came to the door at that moment and told him, Should be done in a moment. Belle said to ask you if you wanted to buy anything. Rowan shook his head and said, Nope!

He didn’t look at Avery when he spoke, and Avery looked across the street to see what he was staring at. Everything okay, kid? he asked him. Rowan just said, Those two by the saloon are from the Tumbling B. Avery stared at the men and then remarked, That tall, lean galoot is Brodie Lee. He’s a fast gun from Texas who came in here with Ben Woods when he started the Tumbling B. He’s one of the real fast guns and poison mean. About six months ago he gunned down a miner in that saloon. Folks say that he provoked the miner and actually let the miner draw and line up his gun before he drew and shot him dead. He shook his head and said, He’s bad news, kid. Stay away from him. Rowan didn’t say anything, and Avery went back inside the store.

Chapter 2

A Liar and a Skunk

The two men from the Tumbling B untied their horses, mounted up, and slowly walked their horses toward the Emporium. Rowan casually straightened up and slowly moved to the edge of the boardwalk. At that moment, Avery and Belle came out of the Emporium and walked to their horses. Avery stuffed a large package into his saddlebags, and Belle put a foot into the stirrup of her horse. Brodie Lee said harshly, Hold it right there! That paint pony belongs to the Tumbling B. He swung down from his saddle as he was speaking and took two steps forward. The other man hesitated, but then did the same. Avery said firmly, That horse belongs to the O slash R. It was foaled on the ranch and has been there ever since! Brodie spread his legs, and his hands hovered over his gun butts as he snarled, You calling me a liar? Before Avery could say anything, a quiet voice said, "I am! Brodie glanced to the side and saw Rowan standing easily at the edge of the boardwalk. He looked at Avery and said harshly, You gonna hide behind a kid? Rowan said in the same quiet voice, I say you’re a liar, a skunk, a cheat, and a coward. Belle and Avery had untied their horses, and Rowan said softly, Belle, the two of you just move away to the side."

He stepped off the boardwalk and took two paces forward and to his right, forcing Brodie and the other man to turn halfway around to face him. Avery saw the move and appreciated what Rowan was doing. He was trying to keep Belle out of the line of fire. He threw the reins of his horse to Belle and whispered to her, Move about five paces back! Brodie was staring at Rowan, trying to place him in his mind. The boy looked too casual and seemed to be perfectly relaxed. He told Rowan, The name’s Brodie Lee! Rowan grimaced and said, I thought the name was liar and skunk! Brodie was wary now, as this boy just seemed to be too sure of himself. He said, Now look, kid, you don’t want… His hand dipped in a very fast draw, and his gun was halfway out of the holster when a shot sounded and Brodie Lee was thrown backwards with a bullet through his forehead.

Rowan wasn’t taken in or distracted by Brodie Lee’s talk, because he had seen it all before in his young life. He waited until Brodie made his move, and then he palmed his Colt and shot him. He immediately swung his gun to the other man, but that man was staring stupidly at Brodie’s body, and Rowan reloaded his gun and slid it back into the holster. The cowboy finally looked at him, and Rowan asked, You think that pony belongs to the Tumbling B? The man swallowed hard and then said, No, Mister! I told Brodie to hold off, but he was looking for trouble! Rowan just said, Well, he found it! People had come out of the buildings at the sound of the shot, and a tall man came striding down the street. He wore a town Marshal’s badge and he came up to them and asked the cowboy, What happened here, Alden? Before the cowboy could answer, he turned to Avery and asked him, You shoot him down without warning? Rowan stepped forward and said softly, "I shot him after he went for his gun. You seem very sure that the only way to get a skunk like that was to take him unawares."

The Marshal stared at him and said, Now what the hell does that mean! Rowan told him, It means you knew that he was a gunslinger and yet you didn’t show your face when he came down here to confront us. But the moment he was down you came strutting down the street, accusing us of back-shooting him! The Marshal said sternly, Now see here, kid… Rowan took a step forward and cut him off, saying, "No! You see here, old man! You gotta learn how to talk in front of a lady. You start cussing again and I’m gonna have to wash out your mouth!"