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Trail #3
Calico Trail
When old money and older entitlement invade Missouri, Ruben Beeler is dispatched by the Federal Marshals Service to investigate complaints from small farmers and ranchers that a wealthy Englishman is taking over an entire county. Rube leaves his wife and their baby at home and enters into a conflict where might is right. Sir Merrit Treadstone is prepared to do whatever is necessary to establish the Calico Cattle Company and his new American kingdom. With Marion Daniels and Homer Poteet, Ruben faces poison, arson, and murder as he struggles to put down a British invasion and stay alive on THE CALICO TRAIL.
ebook
First published November 13, 2013
78 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
David R. Lewis
30 books27 followersI am yet another embattled crusader in the writing wars. I live in the wilds of the Missouri outback with two cattledogs, a belligerent cat named Grizz, and my bride of 42 years, the coveted Laura. In my rather extended life I have been a musician, a metropolitan cop, a ranch hand and cowboy, and (shudder) a writer of radio and television commercial copy. Now before you run for the Pepto, let me say that there are some benefits to be had from such mundane labor. After a writer has ground through twenty to thirty thousand pieces of commercial copy, one of two things will happen. He will spend the last years of his life in Sunnydale Acres grinding his teeth and staring blankly at the sun, or he will have learned to write for Theatre of the Mind. In my case, some would claim the jury is still out but, since no nice young men in white coats have arrived at my dusty door sporting smiles and a jacket with extraordinarily long arms, I am free to keep the Theatre open . . . this time on my terms.
Even though I don’t care for bandwagons, I was browbeaten into writing two of my novels because I disliked the genres and trendiness from which they sprang. Oddly enough, they are two of my favorites. They are significantly different than others of their breed because I am a grown-up, and I write for grown-ups.
My novels are character-driven because life is character driven. As we move through the years, snippets of plots rocket by, but very few ever pan out. Characters, however, stay with us through thick and thin, rich with remembered dialogue and situation, four dimensional on the big screen in our Theatre of the Mind.
As a writer for grown-ups, my function is entertainment. Because I am a grown-up I indulge myself and write what entertains me: rich characters, tight dialogue, and uncomplicated storylines. Check out my website at www.ironbear-ebooks.com. Or, if you’d just want to jaw here for a while, great! Grizz won’t like it, but he’s just a cat.
Even though I don’t care for bandwagons, I was browbeaten into writing two of my novels because I disliked the genres and trendiness from which they sprang. Oddly enough, they are two of my favorites. They are significantly different than others of their breed because I am a grown-up, and I write for grown-ups.
My novels are character-driven because life is character driven. As we move through the years, snippets of plots rocket by, but very few ever pan out. Characters, however, stay with us through thick and thin, rich with remembered dialogue and situation, four dimensional on the big screen in our Theatre of the Mind.
As a writer for grown-ups, my function is entertainment. Because I am a grown-up I indulge myself and write what entertains me: rich characters, tight dialogue, and uncomplicated storylines. Check out my website at www.ironbear-ebooks.com. Or, if you’d just want to jaw here for a while, great! Grizz won’t like it, but he’s just a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 25, 2023
The three pard's are off on another trail to write a wrong and maintain some type of order in the Wild West. This one reminded me a bit of the movie (The Magnificent Seven). A tycoon is ready to do what ever it takes to take over the land surrounding a meek town that is not able to stand up to this tyrant. Marion, Rube and Homer are not what he was expecting and he poorly underestimated them. Another great addition to this great series partnered with an exceptional narration.
March 22, 2025
Three times around for this book series. Do not miss the audio version that’s read by the author. A true pleasure to sit back and listen to the author bring this wonderful western series to life. A different take on the standard western story style and a trail well taken. One of the best western series I have read or listened to. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but the characters are finely drawn and feel like friends you wish you had.
April 11, 2021
A great heritage read
I have finally gotten the paraphrased Hillbilly English as I remember hearing it as a child. Altho being a city child I wasn’t sure about some words I heard or read here. These books are a very compelling read once you get into them. I’m enjoying each one very much it truly does remind me of my hillbilly family from the way back mountains. I seldom understood them from the get home.
I love the honesty of these books, the companionship of the men. The animals even have personalities. Just a real great series
I have finally gotten the paraphrased Hillbilly English as I remember hearing it as a child. Altho being a city child I wasn’t sure about some words I heard or read here. These books are a very compelling read once you get into them. I’m enjoying each one very much it truly does remind me of my hillbilly family from the way back mountains. I seldom understood them from the get home.
I love the honesty of these books, the companionship of the men. The animals even have personalities. Just a real great series
January 9, 2018
you must listen to these books! the stories are history - and the charaters just what we think of when we say the old west.
this time the gang heads to help the landowners in Calico county that are being pushed off their land by -- An ENGLishman!!
great story and great narrator. As David R Lewis says it is theater of the mind
You will not be sorry
this time the gang heads to help the landowners in Calico county that are being pushed off their land by -- An ENGLishman!!
great story and great narrator. As David R Lewis says it is theater of the mind
You will not be sorry
November 6, 2017
Great
A gift to read this book, may the trail never end. Maybe some prequel books though would be nice too
A gift to read this book, may the trail never end. Maybe some prequel books though would be nice too
March 4, 2019
Westerns
It was a fantastic read gets me lost in these books every time can’t wait to read the rest Of them an get lost some more an see what happens to Ruben
It was a fantastic read gets me lost in these books every time can’t wait to read the rest Of them an get lost some more an see what happens to Ruben
March 25, 2020
This is the third of maybe 8 in this series. Quirky westerns, quirky phonetic spellings and some shrewd insight and humor make these quick reads enjoyable.
July 21, 2020
My gawd, that was terrible GOOD!
January 2, 2021
Seriously! Is there not a single one in this series that isn’t good ol’ rollicking fun?!
My Full Review
My Full Review
May 30, 2022
Another fantastic bit of entertainment! The author does a fantastic job of narrating his stories. The characters and dialog are very fun.
January 23, 2017
A fun western, love Ruben as a character. Will continue with next one, Payback Trail!
February 26, 2017
A very good and entertaining novel. I enjoyed reading this novel and recommend this book to everyone.
June 11, 2018
I can't really add more to this review than what I said about Nodaway Trail last week. David R. Lewis continues to write a rip-roaring Western saga with lots of action, lots of humor, and developing characters. The writing is simple, the story straight forward, and the ending satisfying. I laughed during this one more than the previous ones. Barber Jones is quite a character.
One thing I will add is that there are times when Marion, Homer, and especially Ruben seem to act aggressive or with fatal decisiveness with little provocation or care for the justice system. Ruben's action toward the main villain of this story at the end is a good example. And yet, I suspect that's the way reputations were actually made in the Old West. It wasn't like the movies where somebody drew the fastest. It was who was prepared to act decisively when the moment came. Although it seems jarring sometimes in the story, I think the actions fit.
Again, I listened to this book, narrated by the author, a man of considerable vocal talent who knows his characters inside out.
I'm already deep into the next book, Payback Trail, and enjoying it considerably.
One thing I will add is that there are times when Marion, Homer, and especially Ruben seem to act aggressive or with fatal decisiveness with little provocation or care for the justice system. Ruben's action toward the main villain of this story at the end is a good example. And yet, I suspect that's the way reputations were actually made in the Old West. It wasn't like the movies where somebody drew the fastest. It was who was prepared to act decisively when the moment came. Although it seems jarring sometimes in the story, I think the actions fit.
Again, I listened to this book, narrated by the author, a man of considerable vocal talent who knows his characters inside out.
I'm already deep into the next book, Payback Trail, and enjoying it considerably.
January 10, 2016
Marshall
Being a Missouri Marshals or U. S. Marshals. It doesn't matter when it comes to Ruben Beeler. He is out to always right a wrong.
Being a Missouri Marshals or U. S. Marshals. It doesn't matter when it comes to Ruben Beeler. He is out to always right a wrong.
May 2, 2016
Great book
I am really enjoying these books. They have some humor in them but also some action. I look forward to the next book in this series. This author has done a fantastic job.
I am really enjoying these books. They have some humor in them but also some action. I look forward to the next book in this series. This author has done a fantastic job.
Read
March 8, 2017I actually have read all books in the "Trail Series" at least twice.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews