Fugitive Trail

by Wayne D. Dundee

A hardened, battle weary Civil War vet returns home after the fighting … to an unfaithful wife and a trumped-up murder charge!
The choice between facing a hangman's noose or going on the run as an outlaw isn't a hard one for Eli Cole to make. But when a grieving, vengeful father offers a huge personal bounty—not for Cole's capture, but for proof of his death—the swarm of manhunters and mercenaries this stirs up dramatically increases the odds against staying alive on the fugitive trail.
Complicating matters further for Cole is the group of fellow fugitives he falls in with. Keeping himself alive is tough enough, keeping the others out of harm's way, too, only adds to it. But rage, righteous indignation, and a blazing gun can go a long way toward bucking the odds …

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 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

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent years, I've become a fan of Wayne Dundee's writing. Whether a western as here, or one of his crime stories, he manages to inject a freshness and twists and turns into the work.

War veteran Eli Cole comes home to find his wife has taken up with another man. While defending himself, he kills that man and because of the family;s wealth and standing, self-defense becomes murder. Friends help Cole escape, but he know has a ten thousand dollar bounty on his head/

I like Cole and his dog Shadow. He's the kind of prson who, whatever his own troubles, will step in and help folks in need.

Hope we see more of this duo.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELI COLE AND SHADOW

A fast moving electrifying multifaceted adventure.
The many life stories of people escaping life altering situations. A dog named Shadow, who would fight to the death for his master's life, even if it meant losing his.
A bounty put on Eli Cole's head for ten thousand dollars by the young man's father. Even though it was self defense, it didn't matter when your wealthy, they get the bounty when they deliver his head. You now have bounty hunters coming out of the woodworks searching for Eli Cole, this is a personal bounty not issued by sheriffs or marshals. This is sort of firmness is still done, especially during divorce cases, when one parent wants full custody, so they search for a killer to do
the misdeeds, grandparents do this also. Saw an episode on "ID" scary scary scary ideation!!
The Fugitive is very interesting and you'll enjoy every page..Paz

[J.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a common theme in Westerns—a lone man with a troubled past; on the move, but the kind of hombre who’s always prepared to stop and lend a hand to the underdog.

That’s how this latest Western from Wayne D. Dundee starts. Be prepared, though, Dundee throws in the twist on the expected early and there are more surprises down the trail.

Eli Cole comes home from the Civil War to an unfaithful wife whose disloyalty soon has him facing a trumped-up murder charge and a $10,000 bounty on his head. As he takes to the trail with his dog Shadow as companion and a vicious man-hunter tracking him, Cole finds himself the guardian of a beautiful woman, a preacher, a lame vet and recently freed black.

That’s just a sample of the trouble to come.

Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this exciting read at the bargain price of only 99 cents.