The Empty Badge

Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles #8

by Wayne D. Dundee

It's been weeks since Cash Laramie, the famed "Outlaw Marshal," has been heard from. Meanwhile, at the Federal Marshal headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming, some disturbing reports are starting to filter in about the notorious Driscoll Gang rapidly hitting a series of banks, allegedly with the aid of a badge-wearing accomplice claiming to be Laramie. Can it be true? Can it be that the lawman with the hair-trigger temper and the mile-wide independent streak has finally gone completely rogue?

The truth is seldom easy to find. And on the lonely, twisting trails of northwestern Wyoming in the 1880s, it was often lost forever. But every now and then, when those dusty trails converged in certain unexpected ways, answers were revealed and justice was delivered in a blaze of gunfire.

105 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2014

About the author

Wayne Dundee lives in the once-notorious old cowtown of Ogallala, on the hinge of Nebraska's panhandle. To date, Dundee has had six novels, three novellas, and over two dozen short stories published. All of the novels and most of the short stories have featured his PI protagonist, Joe Hannibal. He also writes in the fantasy, straight crime, and Western genres. Dismal River is his first Western novel.

Titles in the Hannibal series have been translated into several languages and nominated for an Edgar, an Anthony, and six Shamus Awards. Dundee also founded and was the original editor of Hardboiled Magazine.

A short Western story was recently named winner of the Peacemaker Award from the Western Fictioneers.

Reviews

[Tim Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wayne Dundee returns to Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles in another nice little novella. Cash has been following Driscoll Gang and has the drop on them. But a quirk of nature and a twist of fate turn the tables. Now Gideon Miles is looking for Cash who has been reported to have joined up with the Driscoll's. All this and a medicine show that picks up a stranger as they travel through the old west.

All three of Dundee's Laramie and Miles novella's are well worth a read. Quick hard-boiled westerns.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash Laramie had finally tracked the Everett Driscoll gang down and was about to tak them in a driving thunderstorm when the mud bank above the cave entrance collapsed on top of him.

It's not long before a series of bank robberies start up, ushered by a man claiming to be Cash Laramie, complete with the arrowhead talisman around his neck and a big white horse.

Can Cash have really turned bad?

At the same time a traveling medicine show picks up a man nearly dead who can't remember anything about himself. As he's nursed back to health, he quickly becomes Smitty.

On the trail of the Driscolls is Gideon Miles, one of the few who don't believe the tale of the "outlaw marshal" really gone bad, determined to prove it.

Well done tale of Edward Grainger's Marshal Laramie written by Wayne D. Dundee, himself a fine writer of his own tales. The combination is a strong one.

[Warren Stalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When US Marshal Cash Laramie mysteriously goes missing while on the trail of the violent Driscoll gang, this can only lead to trouble. As rumours start to circulate of a crooked Marshal lawman and with Everett Driscoll’s gang robbing banks while carving a ruthless path through the badlands, this sets off a chain of events which culminate in a final bloody showdown between Cash, Gideon Miles and the despicable Driscoll gang. Full of high drama, tender romance and fierce gunplay this is another fantastic western from Wayne D Dundee. Told from multiple character points of view to produce a well-rounded action story. I would highly recommend The Empty Badge and if you enjoy this western tale then it’s also worth seeking out previous Cash Laramie novellas Manhunter’s Mountain and The Guns of Vedauwoo, both written by the talented author Wayne D Dundee.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a bit disappointed to find that this was already part of a previous Beat to a Pulp anthology, Trails of the Wild. While none of these e-books will break the bank, some type of warning to prvent the buying of the same novella twice would have been appropriate.

[Salvador Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic western

Mr. Dundee has to be one of the best western stories writers ever. I really enjoy Joe he puts a story together. I would like to read more of his books.

[Peter Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent fun read

Another good read in the Cash Laramie Gideon Miles series. Good story line with a good guys come out on top ending.