Ride the Desperate Trail
by Mike Kearby
Summary
Outlaw Tig Hardy had a mile-wide mean streak and a vicious way of exacting vengeance. And after the accidental shooting of his brother, Tig had his sights set on ex-soldier Free Anderson. But Tig didn’t go straight for Free. Oh, no. He took Free’s wife, Clara, instead. Free knows he’s running straight into a trap, but he’s not alone. With his longtime friend, Parks Scott, Free embarks on a wild chase across the most dangerous land in Texas, knowing that, no matter how many hurdles they face, their only choice is to . . . Ride the Desperate Trail.
Excerpt
Prologue
Mestizo’s, Outside Fort Concho, Texas
November 1868
The lone rider eyed the three cavalry mounts tied to the split mesquite rail outside of Mestizo’s. The man’s face, hardened by a lifetime of weather and difficulty, appeared dangerous and uncaring. He cast a glance skyward, incensed by the humidity from a thunderstorm now pushed to the east. The nauseous heat pressed hard on every living thing and infuriated even the most gentle of souls.
The man dismounted and removed the salt-stained blackened hat from his forehead revealing a full head of golden hair. He pulled the bandana from his neck and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Deliberately, he tied his horse next to the cavalry mounts and examined the U.S.-issued property with a measured gaze. Each saddle carried the mark of the 10th Cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers. He stared at the horses, narrowed his eyes, and pulled his mouth taut. With little regard for the steeds’ owners, he spat a glob of tobacco across the saddle of the nearest animal.
He tred up the three steps to the small way station. The sign on the door read Bebida y Mecancías. The robust merrymaking of dancing and women’s voices blasted from inside. Fiesta, he thought.
Glancing back to his horse, he stared across the river toward Fort Concho. His eyes scanned the post for movement as his right hand instinctively tapped the pearl Colt handle jutting from his holster. He turned back in sullen disapproval, thrust the door open, and walked into the darkened bar.
Reviews
"A rousing, action-packed saga." Midwest Book Review
"Absolutely entertaining!" New Book Reviews
"A plot that keeps the pages turning.” Historical Novels Review
Author's Biography
Mike Kearby, a retired high school English teacher has garnered praise for his Free Anderson/Parks Scott trilogy.
The Road to a Hanging (2006), Ride the Desperate Trail (2007), and Ambush at Mustang Canyon (2007), completes his Young Adult trilogy. Ambush at Mustang Canyon was a 2008 Spur Award Finalist.