What started as a routine hunt and grab—putting outlaw Thorp McCluskey on a train to Cheyenne and prison—has just gone straight to hell for bounty hunter Luke Jensen. First came the beautiful prostitute who pointed her alluring attentions in Luke’s direction. Then came a man who fought by Luke’s side in the war—but the war is over and friendships can turn deadly. Luke gets bushwacked, his prisoner is gone, and so is a fortune in gold.
Now Luke is riding back into the Wyoming wilderness to hunt down McCluskey and his woman to finish what he started. But he’ll have to fight a solitary war, survive murderous betrayal, and face down his most bloodthirsty enemy of all…
William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
Gold bullion, a killer hostage with a crazy girl friend, and murder on the railroad gets complicated.
What seems like a simple trip to Cheyenne with a cuffed and shackled hostage turns into a life threatening fight to save a small town, protect innocent train passengers, and return a fortune in gold bars to their rightful owners. Outstanding characters, classic old west justice and action, and plenty of surprise twists in this fast moving tale. Well worth the time.
"Trouble seemed to have a way of finding him" p 91. Delia, sweet-faced blonde whore decides she loves Frank, and wont let bounty hunter Luke take the killer to jail. Surprise from Civil War same Confed side, Burroughs, save each other's life. The pioneers had a real thing about burying friends, but letting buzzards and coyotes take human versions. "The sight of an angel .. in an apron" p 197 is Luke's first sight of a sweetheart.
Can a bad man like Frank McCluskey really have visions that allow him to know that his future is bright? After Luke captures him, rather easily things go very wrong for Luke. McCluskey told Luke I have a vision and I know my future is bright. From there things quickly go wrong and Luke finds himself the captitive. Can Luke survive or is the end for the bounty hunter? Read the book to find out you won't be disappointed.
Every time Luke Jensen gets in the middle of something bad I wonder how he’s going to get out of it—and then I find out. One of the reasons I’m enjoying this series is there are no super powers, no death star, no magic—just human gumption, courage, and the refusal to quit (as well as a bit of luck here and there). On to the next one.
This had one of the best villains yet IMO - Delia Bradley. She, along with Frank McClusky, a mustache-twirling rancher, and an old friend of Luke’s, comprise a fun cast of characters in this straightforward western.