Thursday 4 November 2021

ANDREW McBRIDE’S REVIEW of SIX GUN JUSTICE PODCAST WESTERN STORIES

 A diverse collection of tightly-focussed western tales.

Two acclaimed western novelists, PAUL BISHOP and RICHARD PROSCH, have been running a podcast called SIX GUN JUSTICE for a while, where the co-hosts look at most things western: western history and fiction, TV, film, radio and books (including interviews with authors, publishers etc.) So far they’ve freewheeled through a wide range of topics from how icons like Buffalo Bill and Custer have been depicted on screen and in books, to TV western shows well-known and obscure (‘Rawhide’ ‘Lancer’) western-themed comics and memorabilia, western songs (‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’) to ‘shooting the breeze’ with authors both new and established, from JAMES REASONER to WAYNE D. DUNDEE.  

Here’s the SIX GUN JUSTICE website: https://www.sixgunjustice.com/p/podcast.html 

They’ve now branched out into publishing fiction, and their first effort is SIX GUN JUSTICE PODCAST WESTERN STORIES, an anthology of 13 western short stories by MICHAEL RITT, JEFFREY J. MARIOTTE, WAYNE D. DUNDEE, JACKSON LOWRY, EASY JACKSON, SCOTT DENNIS PARKER, JOHN D. NESBITT, RICHARD PROSCH, STEVE HOCKENSMITH, JACQUIE ROGERS, CHERYL PIERSON, BILL BOULDEN and VONN MCKEE. It’s edited by Richard Prosch, and Paul Bishop writes the introduction.



Simply on grounds of length, I’m not going to review every story in the anthology, so apologies to anyone left out. And MERRICK by BEN BOULDEN has already appeared as an independent novella, which I’ve given a four star review to (‘Razor-sharp western noir’) here on Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Merrick-Ben-Boulden-ebook/dp/B075JN7Y21/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&qid=1635517158&refinements=p_27%3ABen+Boulden&s=books&sr=1-1

The stories in this excellent collection show an under-appreciated aspect of the western: the variety and diversity inside the genre. The book kicks off with:

THREE DAYS TO PINE RIVER by MICHAEL RITT

This tells of a lawman bringing in a prisoner through the Colorado Mountains. The morality play underlying this not-what-it-seems tale, and Ritt’s effective, cinematic prose made me think of a ‘conventional’ 50s western movie, which is no criticism, as I’m a great admirer of the best 50s western movies. It brought to mind the lean economy of those tough outdoor adventures featuring Jimmy Stewart directed by Anthony Mann, or Randolph Scott directed by Bud Boetticher – which often centred on a journey of some kind.

JAMES STEWART in 'The Naked Spur' (1953)

In contrast DULCIE’S REWARD by EASY JACKSON has a young woman as the central character, attempting to survive in a man’s world by organising a cattle drive in post-Civil War Texas. Jackson writes a pacy, first-person narrative in a very readable, colloquial style.

NIGHT HORSE by JOHN D. NESBITT, concerning doings on and around a small Wyoming ranch, has elements of murder mystery, and a back story of thieves falling out, told sparely and effectively. Unusual and interesting.

HIRED GUNS: MULE’S GOLD by STEVE HOCKENSMITH is a stark outdoors tale of prospectors searching the harsh Sonora desert for an abandoned gold mine. Meanwhile, they’re being stalked by hidden enemies. Again this features terse, cinematic prose, with some laconic humour. It reads like the gritty first chapter of a novel (or a series) which I would be very happy to read.

Prospectors in the Old West

HEADWATERS by VONN MCKEE is an interesting, expertly-written character study about professional gambler Lex Tucker. Fiddle-footed Lex is always looking for ‘one more river to cross.’ He sets out to find and make peace with his cruel, abusive father, and perhaps end his years of wanderlust.

My two favourite stories in the anthology are in marked contrast to each other, showing the wide range inside the genre.

HOLLIE JOLLY COURTSHIP by JACQUIE ROGERS is a beautifully-written western romance about Idaho farmer Jack Wade’s quest for a bride. A warm and funny tale that Jacquie found inspiration for in her own family history.

A farmer and wife in the Old West

THE FOX AND THE SNAKE by JEFFREY J. MARIOTTE tells of Fox Caldwell, an old widower living alone in the Arizona wilderness c. 1915, who was once an outlaw. But then the past comes calling: a daughter he hasn’t seen for years, and a posse serving an old warrant led by a lawman wanting personal revenge. Mariotte wastes not a word in this taut, superbly-written tale. Once more, the cinematic qualities of the writing brought movies to mind, perhaps a Sam Peckinpah-directed end-of-the-west elegy with a script by Elmore Leonard.

SAM PECKINPAH's end-of-the-west elegy 'The Wild Bunch' (1969)

Overall, a diverse and surprising collection I can highly recommend.

I’ve done a four star review of SIX GUN JUSTICE PODCAST WESTERN STORIES (an edited-down version of this blog) for Goodreads and Amazon.co.uk, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Gun-Justice-Western-Stories-ebook/dp/B09CMV5GMH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1E1ICV8QNKABI&dchild=1&keywords=six+gun+justice+western+stories&qid=1635790037&sprefix=six+gun+justice+western+stories+%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1

and here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58941209-six-gun-justice?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=OH1Xwa10LY&rank=5



‘The Six-Gun Justice podcast is simply the best western podcast going. Paul and Rich know their stuff, and the deep dives into the genre along with conversations with today’s top-of-the-line western professionals make the show a weekly must-listen.’ PETER BRANDVOLD, acclaimed, award-winning and best-selling western author.

Find SIX GUN JUSTICE PODCAST WESTERN STORIES here: https://www.amazon.com/Six-Gun-Justice-Western-Stories-ebook/dp/B09CMV5GMH and here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Gun-Justice-Western-Stories-ebook/dp/B09CMV5GMH/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=… …


Tuesday 10 August 2021

THE PEACEMAKER REVIEWS

 

I’m very happy to announce that my acclaimed western novel THE PEACEMAKER, previously published by Sundown Press, has been re-issued as an e.book by Andride Press, as of July 2021.

The book is set in Arizona in 1871. It describes a perilous mission to end the war between the white man and the Chiricahua Apaches under their great chief, COCHISE.




The cover design is by RICHARD HEARN.

Although THE PEACEMAKER is a stand-alone novel, and can be read as such, it is also a follow-up to my (also critically-acclaimed) western novel COYOTE’S PEOPLE, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Coyotes-People-Andrew-McBride/dp/1432867253/ref=monarch_sidesheet

and here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coyotes-People-Andrew-McBride/dp/1432867253/ref=monarch_sidesheet

 



Here’s the BLURB for THE PEACEMAKER:

Eighteen-year-old scout Calvin 'Choctaw' Taylor believes he can handle whatever life throws his way. He’s been on his own for several years, and he only wants to make his mark in the world. When he is asked to guide peace emissary Sean Brennan and his adopted Apache daughter, Nahlin, into a Chiricahua Apache stronghold, he agrees—but then has second thoughts. He’s heard plenty about the many ways the Apache can kill a man. But Mr. Brennan sways him, and they begin the long journey to find Cochise—and to try to forge a peace and an end to the Indian Wars that have raged for so long. During the journey, Choctaw begins to understand that there are some things about himself he doesn’t like—but he’s not sure what to do about it. Falling in love with Nahlin is something he never expected—and finds hard to live with. The death and violence, love for Nahlin and respect for both Cochise and Mr. Brennan, have a gradual effect on Choctaw that change him. But is that change for the better? Can he live with the things he’s done to survive in the name of peace?

And here you can read CHAPTER ONE of THE PEACEMAKERhttps://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2021/08/chapter-one-of-peacemaker.html


REVIEWS of THE PEACEMAKER:

I’ve received 30+ reviews of THE PEACEMAKER on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk. and Goodreads. I’m very humbled and flattered that they’re all positive – a few 4 star, but the overwhelming majority 5 star, including reviews from some of the most successful and acclaimed western authors in the business, such as ROBERT VAUGHAN, RALPH COTTON and PETER BRANDVOLD.

To give you a flavour:

‘This was a great book… I, too, am a Western novelist, and I have a special appreciation for any writer who can produce such a fine book, for I think a project like The Peacemaker strengthens the Western Genre and helps all scribes of tales of the Old West.’

For pure writing style, McBride’s gritty prose nails the time and place of his story with bold authority. …this relatively new author has thoroughly, and rightly so, claimed his place among the top Old West storytellers.’

‘Excellent, riveting western.’

‘A first-rate, meticulously researched, deeply felt Western novel.’

‘Beautifully written and vivid.’

‘Wow, what a great book! …Simply superb stuff.’

‘The best western I have read for a long time (and I read a lot).’

‘Gritty and action packed.’

HERE'S SOME OF THOSE REVIEWS IN FULL:

Spur award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author ROBERT VAUGHAN:

‘This was a great book, with a good story.

I lived in Phoenix, AZ for a few years, and while there spent a lot of time in the desert. McBride's vivid description of the desert took me back there, and I dare anyone to read this book, without getting thirsty, or feeling the grit of the sand. This was a great book, with a good story, and a strong narrative drive. I, too, am a Western novelist, and I have a special appreciation for any writer who can produce such a fine book, for I think a project like The Peacemaker strengthens the Western Genre and helps all scribes of tales of the Old West. If you are perusing reviews, trying to get an idea of what to read, I very much recommend THE PEACEMAKER.’


RALPH COTTON (also a Pulitzer-prize nominated novelist):

‘Solid, old-style western.

For pure writing style, McBride’s gritty prose nails the time and place of his story with bold authority. Reminiscent of the masters of the genre --Louise LAmour , Will James, Van Tilburg Clark, and others, This relatively new author has thoroughly, and rightly so, claimed his place among the top Old West storytellers. His protagonist, as a young man is conflicted by his decision to help hunt the great Cochise. McBride’s protagonist will alternately create, confront, and eventually accept or overcome the pathos brought on by the stand-alone circumstances his life has wrought upon him. I will not reveal a well-crafted story line that is intended to lend itself out, when and as needed. But I can promise the reader much satisfaction at the end, of a kind that is only found in an Old West story “well writ.” Five star Mr. McBride … and then some.’

 

PETER BRANDVOLD (Best-selling western author and winner of the PEACEMAKER lifetime achievement award – please note, that’s a different ‘peacemaker’ than my book!):

‘Excellent, riveting western. I'll never look at the Apache Wars in quite the same way. McBride is a wonderfully evocative writer, and I can't recommend this one more highly.'


Arizona

And from other acclaimed authors:

LORRIE FARRELLY:

‘Gritty, deeply felt, utterly authentic western.

Gritty, utterly authentic, and as gripping in emotion and atmosphere as it is in action, Andrew McBride's THE PEACEMAKER is a first-rate, meticulously researched, deeply felt Western novel. McBride's vivid, driving narrative grabs the reader on the first page and never lets go.

Young scout Calvin Taylor, the son of an army contractor in Indian Territory and therefore nicknamed "Choctaw," struggles desperately for life and peace – both exceedingly unlikely to prevail – in the brutal Arizona desert of the 1870s. Here the Chiricahua Apaches cling to their last stronghold. Settlers, Native Americans, and US Army soldiers alike are traumatized by the savagery, conflicting policies, and broken treaties of the Indian Wars, and renegades of every stripe – American, Mexican, and Apache – are a vicious and all too common scourge. Choctaw's efforts to help the Chiricahua people of the girl he loved and of the leader, Cochise, whom he admires, lead him into constant peril. And in this unforgiving place, the land itself may be even more brutal than the worst of men.

This is a compelling, visceral, stirring read that is nearly impossible to put down! Highly recommended!’

BEN BOULDEN:

‘A compelling historical western.

THE PEACEMAKER is a wonderfully written, entertaining, and thought-provoking novel. Calvin Taylor, also known by his unwanted nickname Choctaw, is a teenager--six weeks past his eighteenth birthday--with experience, if not wisdom, far past his years. While moving eastward across the Arizona Territory towards Texas, Taylor is ambushed by a small group of Apache Indians.

Choctaw escapes with his life when he happens across a small U. S. Army troop escorting a white man, Brennan, and his adopted Apache daughter, Nahlin, on a peace mission from the American President, U. S. Grant, to the great Apache chief, Cochise. Against Taylor's better judgment, sweetened with the prospect of a $300 fee, he agrees to accompany Brennan and Nahlin to the Apache stronghold where Brennan will present Cochise with the peace offering.

THE PEACEMAKER has the feel and pacing, and wonderfully so, of a classic Western film. The story, as the author explains in his Author's Note, is inspired by a 1968 screenplay written by John Starr Niendorff for the television series "High Chaparral". The desert setting has a technicolor vibrancy that captures the landscape's desolation and beauty, heat and dust. The characters, including the Apaches, are believable with recognizable strengths and flaws. Choctaw is, at times less than likable, but always understandable. Beautifully written and vivid, THE PEACEMAKER, is a big novel with big ideas that should please both traditional Western and historical readers alike.’

JOHN R. LINDERMUTH:

‘It's a mad proposal and the kick off for an exciting read.

Calvin Taylor, former Army scout, has had a narrow escape from an Apache war party when he stumbles onto an offer to act as guide for Sean Brennan who believes he can forge a peace treaty with the help of his adopted daughter, Nahlin, who is a relative of tribal leader Cochise.

Taylor has doubts but reluctantly gives into Brennan's pleas. Those doubts resurface again during the hard journey into the Chiricahua Apache stronghold but are quelled by Brennan's persuasive arguments and Taylor's growing attraction to Nahlin.
Despite years of broken promises and treachery, Cochise is swayed by Brennan's proposal and provides an escort for the peace-team so a meeting can be arranged with military personnel.


A renegade who had a prior claim on Nahlin has another goal in mind--killing Taylor. This creates jeopardy for the peacemakers and takes the novel in another direction, one destined for tragedy.

Andrew McBride has crafted a gripping adventure tale with sympathetic characters and a secure sense of time and place. Well researched. Recommended to all who enjoy a good tale.’


Apache Mountain Spirit Dancer

DEREK RUTHERFORD:

‘Wow, what a great book! It moves along at a fine pace, and Andrew McBride certainly knows how to keep you flipping the pages. It’s full of action, some of it very gritty indeed, and there’s a love story, and plenty of shooting, knife-fights, and fist-fights to keep the most hardened western fan happy. But what’s so special about this book is the evocation of time and place. Andrew does such a marvellous job of setting that you actually feel like you’re right there, in the mountains and canyons, the endless deserts with that relentless heat bearing down, the mirages tempting you and thick dust in your throat and eyes and scraping at your flesh. You feel the thirst and the hopelessness of ever tasting sweet cold water ever again, just the way the characters feel it. Simply superb stuff. And then, as if this wasn’t enough, Andrew also weaves in a masterclass in Apache history, customs, and clothing and food… and everything. And he does it in such a way that there’s no info-dump, no giving out information for the sake of it, or to say “look how much I know.” It’s all relevant and it’s handed out to us in just the right amounts at just the right times. So you’ll be highly entertained and you’ll learn lots, too. What more could a reader ask for? Maybe a sequel, Andrew?

DAVID LASZLO CONHAIM:

‘A genuine snap shot into a pivotal time and place.

Crafted with sincerity and featuring hauntingly beautiful landscapes as convincing as the historical detail that validates this respectful examination of Cochise and his times.’

C.G. FAULKNER:

'Great western tale.

Well written, gritty and action packed. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. McBride's books about Calvin (Choctaw) Taylor.'

TELL COTTEN:

‘A great read.

I enjoyed this book very much. A great story and very good writing. The author knows how to tell a good yarn!’

CHRIS DERRICK:

‘A thoroughly enjoyable read - from beginning to end.


Set in a part of the USA I'm familiar with (South East AZ) I can appreciate the detail of the writing.


Andrew creates three main characters, the well-being of which soon concerns the reader. For me this is always a sign of a well-crafted story.


I like the way Andrew uses Apache words in order to add a layer of authenticity to the unfolding dialogue.


I'd strongly recommend this to anyone with an interest in stories of the Old West.
Well done, sir!’


Chiricahua Apache warrior 1886

OTHER REVIEWERS:

‘This book would make a great film.’

‘Andrew McBride’s latest offering, The Peacemaker, is a ‘must read’ for fans of the intelligent Western genre.


Written through the viewpoint of the historically maligned Apache Indians, this in-depth, sophisticated novel at last gives us the sympathy, insight, and truth into the plight and tragedy of this proud, dignified tribe. Evoking the history, characters, geographical splendour of the time with consummate skill and panache, McBride weaves a fine plot with seeming ease and leaves us, most certainly, wanting more.’

‘Great historical western.

This is the best western I have read for a long time (and I read a lot). Looking forward to reading more of Andrews work.’

‘Huge on tension on atmosphere.

Westerns are not normally my genre, but this book was recommended to me. It's fantastic on tension and atmosphere. It's obvious the author knows his stuff, and you are absorbed into a tale which draws you into the period, and a wealth of pertinent details help create the atmosphere. Extremely tense moments, strong action scenes, and twists throughout.’

I’m very grateful to everybody kind enough to review the novel for their fantastic support.



Apache Indians 1886 (GERONIMO extreme right)

                                                          *****

I wanted a story that combined tough action with an interracial love affair; that dealt with Native American culture and the struggle of people to survive in a land that was both mercilessly cruel and astonishingly beautiful. Out of such elements THE PEACEMAKER was born. Should you read it, I hope you enjoy it.

You can find THE PEACEMAKER here: https://www.amazon.com/Peacemaker-Andrew-McBride-ebook/dp/B099FL3PN1/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=


If you’re interested in my other western novels, (all of which feature CALVIN TAYLOR, hero of THE PEACEMAKER as the central character) here’s my AUTHOR PAGE on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Andrew-McBride/e/B01N9O1C05/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Monday 2 August 2021

CHAPTER ONE of THE PEACEMAKER

 I’m very happy to announce that my acclaimed western novel THE PEACEMAKER, previously published by Sundown Press, has been re-issued as an e.book by Andride Press, as of July 2021.

The book is set in Arizona in 1871. It describes a perilous mission to end the war between the white man and the Chiricahua Apaches under their great chief, COCHISE.




The cover design is by RICHARD HEARN.

Although THE PEACEMAKER is a stand-alone novel, and can be read as such, it is also a follow-up to my (also critically-acclaimed) western novel COYOTE’S PEOPLE, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Coyotes-People-Andrew-McBride/dp/1432867253/ref=monarch_sidesheet




A BRIEF SAMPLE OF REVIEWS of THE PEACEMAKER:

I’ve received 30+ reviews of THE PEACEMAKER on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk. and Goodreads. I’m very humbled and flattered that they’re all positive – a few 4 star, but the overwhelming majority 5 star, including reviews from some of the most successful and acclaimed western authors in the business, such as ROBERT VAUGHAN, RALPH COTTON and PETER BRANDVOLD. Here’s brief sample:

Spur award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author ROBERT VAUGHAN: ‘A great book’.

RALPH COTTON (also a Pulitzer-prize nominated novelist): ‘For pure writing style, McBride’s gritty prose nails the time and place of his story with bold authority. …this relatively new author has thoroughly, and rightly so, claimed his place among the top Old West storytellers.’

PETER BRANDVOLD (Winner of the PEACEMAKER lifetime achievement award – please note, that’s a different ‘peacemaker’ than my book!): ‘Excellent, riveting western.’

I’m very grateful to those writers (and others kind enough to review the novel) for their fantastic support.

You can read FULL REVIEWS of THE PEACEMAKER here: https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-peacemaker-reviews.html


Apache Indians 1886 (GERONIMO extreme right)

Meanwhile, here’s the BLURB for THE PEACEMAKER:

BLURB:

Eighteen-year-old scout Calvin 'Choctaw' Taylor believes he can handle whatever life throws his way. He’s been on his own for several years, and he only wants to make his mark in the world. When he is asked to guide peace emissary Sean Brennan and his adopted Apache daughter, Nahlin, into a Chiricahua Apache stronghold, he agrees—but then has second thoughts. He’s heard plenty about the many ways the Apache can kill a man. But Mr. Brennan sways him, and they begin the long journey to find Cochise—and to try to forge a peace and an end to the Indian Wars that have raged for so long. During the journey, Choctaw begins to understand that there are some things about himself he doesn’t like—but he’s not sure what to do about it. Falling in love with Nahlin is something he never expected—and finds hard to live with. The death and violence, love for Nahlin and respect for both Cochise and Mr. Brennan, have a gradual effect on Choctaw that change him. But is that change for the better? Can he live with the things he’s done to survive in the name of peace?


And here’s CHAPTER ONE of THE PEACEMAKER:

CHAPTER ONE

The sun hung, midway between noon and dusk. It was a blazing silver dollar, bleaching a landscape that was bleached anyway.

He sat on the earth in the only shade there was, his horse’s shadow, and drank from his canteen. When the wind lifted it was hot against his flesh, spraying his skin with warm motes of dust that scratched. When it fell, as it did now, the breathless heat was sickening.

He brushed pale sand from his pants and stood. Taking a pair of army field glasses from his saddle bags, he trained them on the country to the east: the extreme south-east corner of Arizona Territory.

Land rippling in haze. A spine of salt-white sand dunes writhed like a snake, and, beyond them, purple mountains flaunted against a blurred sky. The Peloncillos, perhaps fifteen miles distant. Beyond this saw-toothed range lay New Mexico Territory. There was another boundary only twenty or so miles south, the border between the United States and Mexico.

He’d lost track of time somewhat, but guessed it was about the first of August, this year of 1871, which put him some five weeks past his eighteenth birthday.

His name was Calvin Taylor, although everyone called him Choctaw.

You might think his nick-name reflected Indian blood. He was dark haired and dark-complexioned, his skin further darkened by months under this sun. But his hair was tousled, not the straight blue-black of Indian hair, and his eyes were a startling Nordic blue. A good-looking boy, with trail stubble around his mouth and chin that hadn’t taken root yet as a man’s moustache and beard. He’d made his full height but was only starting to fill out his six-foot frame.

His clothing–denims, bandana, and flannel shield-front shirt—was largely colourless with wear. He wore a battered plainsman’s hat. His only affectation was a poncho over his shoulders. He wore a Colt .45 pistol, butt-forward in the cross-draw holster on his left hip. There was a brass-faced Yellowboy Winchester carbine in his saddle boot and a knife sheathed at his belt.

All this weaponry was an encumbrance, but a necessary one.

This country was a battleground.

For the best part of a decade, the incoming white man had been at war with the indigenous peoples of these mountains—the Apache Indians, mainly the Chiricahua band. The reasons behind this particular conflict, who’d started it, the rights and wrongs of it, had got lost in years of fighting and bloodshed. Now, it was simple: if you saw Apaches, you got ready to kill them–or they killed you.

Choctaw decided he'd got into a bad habit of travelling alone through dangerous country. On top of that, his horse was a problem. He'd only owned the gelding a few days, trading him for his old horse at the last place along the trail—Fort Bowie. The animal, a handsome rosewood bay, was as skittish as hell. He still needed some breaking in, but there wasn't the time...and this wasn't the place to do it. A man had to be able to depend on his horse, and right now, Choctaw couldn't.

Choctaw blinked sweat and sunspots out of his eyes and began to lower the field glasses; then he glimpsed movement.

He used the glasses again, scanning nearer ground, the white sands. He saw nothing.

And then, two black specks were there suddenly, framed against the dazzling white. They might have dropped from the sky.

They grew bigger. Two horsebackers coming this way, walking their mounts. As he watched, they spurted into rapid movement, whipping their ponies into a hard run toward him.

The specks swelled to the size of horses and men. Men in faded smocks, maybe once of bright colour, their long hair bound by rags at the temple. They had rifles in their hands.

Breath caught in Choctaw’s throat. Fear made him dizzy. His arms started to tremble. He knew who was coming at him so fast.

Apaches.

And you killed them—or they killed you.

This was no place to stand and fight. He remembered his back trail; there was a place, maybe three miles back.

He placed his hands on the saddle, trying not to hurry. He knew a nervous rider made a nervous horse. But, as he could have predicted, the bay turned skittish, anyway. When he reached for the reins, the horse snorted and backed away. Choctaw grabbed the reins and wrenched the bay's head down, trying not to think about the two horsemen hammering down on him.

He got his left foot into the near-side stirrup. The horse snorted and circled away from him. Choctaw hopped after, trying to keep his balance. The horse backed, shaking his head. Choctaw felt fear-sweat burst out all over him. He swore. He grabbed the saddle horn, hauling himself into the saddle and swung his leg over. In the tail of his eye, he glimpsed riders, coming closer.

Choctaw wrenched brutally on the rein, spinning the horse about. Behind him, a rifle cracked.

The horse jumped. Choctaw spurred. And hit the bay with his quirt. And yelled.

The horse broke into a run.

The first stretch was across a salt flat, then upslope. Cresting the slope, Choctaw risked a glance back over his shoulder. The Apaches were now where his run had begun, maybe a quarter-of-a-mile back.

He used the quirt once more. The bay answered, running full out.

Behind him, an Apache yelled. Another rifle banged.

Choctaw got his head down and rode. Now it was all down to which horses were strongest and freshest, and his own horse not putting its foot in a hole...

Two miles of that, hammering across the desert floor, while the horse wheezed under him. The bay’s coat turned dark with sweat, foam flying from his lips. The Apaches yelled once or twice, taking the occasional shot. But Choctaw kept his lead over them.

Until he crested a sand dune.

The sand on the far side was soft; it broke suddenly under the bay's hooves.

The horse fell. And screamed.

Choctaw pitched from the saddle. Both man and horse tumbled down slope, driving a surf of sand before them. At one point, Choctaw was sliding on his shoulders, upside down.

At the bottom of the slope they scrambled upright.

Dust swallowed them. A gauzy shroud enveloped Choctaw, then thinned around him. He coughed against dust and blinked it out of his eyes. He grabbed for the reins. The horse shied away. He reared.

Choctaw dodged flying hooves. He cried: “Keep still, goddammit!”

The bay backed from him, but Choctaw flung himself across the saddle and floundered there. The horse didn't care for being mounted in such fashion and began to spin, chasing his tail. Choctaw swore furiously. He managed to get his feet into the stirrups and swung upright in the saddle. He'd lost his quirt; he used spurs and yelling to get the bay moving. He lashed the animal across the tail with his hat.

The bay ran.

Choctaw glanced back. Both Apaches crested the dune. They'd cut the distance between him and them to two hundred yards. If they hauled in their horses, they could shoot him down while the range was so short. He saw they were doing just that, sitting there, raising their rifles.

He ducked his head, gritted his teeth and drove home the spurs.

Rifles banged behind him, shockingly close. Something struck against the inside of his left leg, a bullet yowled "Cousin!" in his right ear.

Ahead was a belt of low cactus, saguaro and thick brush.

Choctaw swerved the bay between giant saguaro. He found he was weaving through a cactus forest. Vicious thorns slashed him like whips, but at least, there was cover between him and his pursuers.

He broke into open ground and struck a slope.

This was the place he was looking for.

He crested the slope. Heading down the far side, he hauled the reins, pulling the bay up. Choctaw dropped from the saddle and let the reins trail. Dragging the Winchester from its saddle scabbard, he ran upslope, flinging himself face down just back of the crest. He aimed beyond it, tucking the butt of the carbine into his shoulder.

Down slope, the two horsemen issued from the cactus. They were maybe three hundred yards distant.

Choctaw had them cold. Now, if he could only control his nerves, which were jumping like landed fish, and the fear blocking his throat...

He fired at the nearest man.

And missed. The rider veered aside. The second man came at him head-on, seeming to impale himself on Choctaw’s front sights.

Choctaw fired.

The man flung up his arms. His pony plunged ahead, the rider rolling in dust at its heels.

In the corner of his eye, Choctaw glimpsed the other Apache swerving back in, crouched over his pony's neck. The Apache yelled, firing his rifle. Choctaw tracked this man and shot, too low. The pony went down. There was a lot of white dust—an explosion of it—hiding both Apaches.

While this dust was thinning, Choctaw ran over to his horse and mounted. He rode back to the crest, his rifle in his hand, scanning the ground beyond, seeing the dead pony but no dead Indian. Then he glimpsed both Apaches running away from him, toward the belt of cactus. One ran Apache style, ducked low and zigzagging from side to side, his rifle held across his body. The other runner was stumble-footed, he had one hand pressed to his left shoulder.

Choctaw gave them two more shots, kicking up dust at their heels, but both men reached cover.

Choctaw was pouring sweat, and his arms were shaking violently. His heart was pounding hard enough to knock a hole in his chest. He felt so breathless he thought he might faint. He ignored all that, spun his horse, and rode once more.

The bay was making noises like he had no more run left in him. The foam he coughed up splattered the rider’s legs, but Choctaw was merciless; he galloped the horse, nonetheless.

But this was Choctaw’s day for surprises and, after half-a-mile, he got another one.

                                                          *****

Arizona

I wanted a story that combined tough action with an interracial love affair; that dealt with Native American culture and the struggle of people to survive in a land that was both mercilessly cruel and astonishingly beautiful. Out of such elements THE PEACEMAKER was born. Should you read it, I hope you enjoy it.

You can find THE PEACEMAKER here: https://www.amazon.com/Peacemaker-Andrew-McBride-ebook/dp/B099FL3PN1/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

If you’re interested in my other western novels, (all of which feature CALVIN TAYLOR, hero of THE PEACEMAKER as the central character) here’s my AUTHOR PAGE on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Andrew-McBride/e/B01N9O1C05/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1