RETRIBUTION

by Rusty Smith

Jake Sloan is the pastor of a small church in the most wicked town in the Wild West. Dodge City. He accepts an offer from Sheriff Bat Masterson to serve as a part-time deputy. The additional income would come in handy, considering that his young wife, Emma, is pregnant with their first child, Jake arrests a man for disturbing the peace on his very first shift. He has no idea that the man has a bounty on his head for murder and robbery. The man behind bars was the notorious leader of a ruthless gang. The Desperados. Black Jack Cooper was hung for his heinous crimes, His brother, Jeb, and the rest of the gang, blame Jake. They are determined to make the Preacher with a badge pay dearly. They murder his pregnant wife, wound Jake, and burn his home to embers, leaving him for dead. Jake vows to avenge the cold-blooded murder of his wife and their unborn child. His strong faith, and his raging fury wage a war within his tortured heart. Much to his astonishment, as he still grieves his loss, he finds himself smitten with the town's newest resident, Elsa Martin. A vision of beauty with a heart of gold. After a brief courtship, both of them fall head over heels in love. Jake proposes and Elsa accepts, but there is one stipulation that needs to be addressed before the young couple can exchange sacred vows. Jake Sloan must avenge the premature deaths of his family members, even if it costs him his soul.

221 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2023