Pray for Texas

by Cotton Smith

Rule Cordell is a pistol fighter, one of a special breed of warriors spawned by the Civil War, men with exceptional skill with the new weapon, the Colt .44 revolver. Like many other former Rebel soldiers, Cordell finds no place in the post-war world of bitter enemies and money-grabbing politicians, so he seeks refuge in bloody Texas and joins the band of guerillas led by the wild and charismatic Johnny Cat Carlson. Cordell thinks he is fighting to bring freedom back to Texas, but he soon finds that Johnny Cat and his men are just outlaws out for all they can get. Now Cordell is ready to strike out on his own again, but the road to freedom will lead him through some hard choices and tough trouble. Before he can leave his past behind him, he'll have to face up to it, and the father who turned him to the gun in the first place.

Genres: Westerns

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Cotton Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri; some would say a century later than he should have. He grew up enjoying both adjoining states, Kansas and Missouri, living mostly in Kansas. His ancestors fought in the Civil War, mostly for the South, as regulars and guerillas. As a young man, he learned to ride horses from a grizzled wrangler he remembers fondly. He also learned how to roll a cigarette then, too! "Looking back on it, he taught me the right ways around a horse -- and he taught me some other things too. Like swinging into the saddle with the horse loping. And springing up from the rear, like the movie stars did. Never occurred to me then that I could get hurt. Guess no young person ever does."

Early in life, he was also exposed to the ways of the Plains Indian, to their sacred ceremonies, customs and traditions. His appreciation for their spiritual connection to the land and all that occupied it was heightened by involvement with Indian friends and backed by extensive research. Both touched him deeply and can be readily seen in his caring -- and accurate--portrayal of Indians in his novels. Throughout his stories, one finds intriguing glimpses of this insight, giving readers a sense of what really was and why.

Reviews

[Steve Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pray for Texas

A wonderfully unique spin on the Civil War and it’s aftermath from the standpoint of Texans who fought in the Army of Northen Virginia. Cotton Smith develops compelling characters and tells a spellbinding tale.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Civil War Novel About The Men From Texas and Dog Named Texas

CS has written a western novel in name one because everything that takes place in this one occurs during the Civil War. The men from Texas rode with Stuart until he was killed then they were moved to Lee's West Flank. The battles, wounds, deaths from powerful weapons and starvation were a problem four the South as the war drew to a close. The man from Texas formed a company of misfits and robbed from the Carpetbaggers and gave to the poor. This is an excellent portrayal of how much can be done with very little. This is an excellent read for the genre.....ER

[Bobby]

Civil War brain fodder.....