Legacy of a Lawman: A Western Story

by Ralph McInerny

Bass Reeves was a man of color and a deputy United States marshal. For thirteen years he was
sided by Dave Adams, also a deputy marshal, and a white man. Bennie Reeves was Bass Reeves s
son and a barber, a good one, before he shot down his unarmed wife who had been cheating on
him and then disappeared. U.S. Marshal Leo E. Bennett, known as Doc because he had been a
physician before his appointment in federal law enforcement, had reservations about handing
the warrant to Bass Reeves to be served against Bennie. For Bass there was no reservation. His
son had broken the law and was a fugitive. He was willing to find and capture Bennie, to bring
him back to face trial for his crime. Dave Adams would accompany Bass Reeves, as he had for so
long. Bass thought he knew where to look for his son, and he found him and arrested him. But
then Bennie was suddenly freed from custody by the notorious Cherokee Bob Dozier and his gang
of renegades. Cherokee Bob had been a criminal at large for a long time. He had committed a
number of robberies, accompanied by murders, because Cherokee Bob did not believe in leaving
behind any witnesses. So when the pursuit of Bennie continued, it was now fraught with far
more danger. Even with Dave Adams to side him, Bass Reeves would be vastly outnumbered, and
Cherokee Bob knew where to hide.

Genres: Westerns

226 pages, Hardcover

First published December 16, 2011

About the author

Ralph Matthew McInerny was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. Some of his fiction has appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of Father Dowling. He was Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.

Reviews

[Joe Stack]

This is a gripping, page turning story filled with historical figures (the "Author's Note" at the end will fill the reader in on these individuals). The author's writing is wonderfully descriptive and the action scenes keep the reader riveted on the edge of their seat.

I enjoyed the structure of the story and found it supportive of the title. With the shootouts, the author keeps it real in that the sharpshooters aren't always accurate.

This is a story that should be made into a movie or limited tv series.

[Vince Waechter]

4-1/2 stars. Not your typical western. It reads like a historical diary. Full of action and clear depictions of the west at the turn of the century. Good book!

[Lynn]

This story has Bass Reeves in it - a real U.S Marshall "In Bad News for Outlaws" that I read to my fifth-graders.

[Larry Holshu]

A well written western and a good read for any western fan.

[Mark]

Winner, 2012 Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel

[Bill Allenbaugh]

A well written western base on the legendary Bass Reeves. Enjoyed the history of Reeves and the story behind him.