This Old Star

by Wayne D. Dundee

Though he's no longer sheriff of Flatrock Crossing, Jeb Stander feels duty bound to offer his help to the local posse riding out after a notorious escaped bank robber.

Current sheriff Ben Tembow, however, doesn't seem quite as receptive to the idea as other posse members ... Could there be more to the situation than meets the eye?

2010 Peacemaker Award winner for best short story.

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2012

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

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of duty or responsibility is often a major part of the western world as envisioned by Wayne D. Dundee and that is certainly the case here in This Old Star. For more years than he cares to count Jeb Stander was the sheriff of Flatrock Crossing, Nebraska. He isn’t the sheriff these days, but he still feels a duty to help out when the posse is out chasing Shake Whitley.

There was a jail break and bank robbery back in town and several of the good people of Flatrock Crossing joined up with the current sheriff, Ben Tembow, to give chase. Shake Whitley is a crafty devil which is why the law has been chasing him for one thing or another the last dozen years. The posse has been hard at work the last two days and don’t seem to getting anywhere. The weather has been nasty with rain and snow with no sign of the fugitive and the rest of the posse is just waiting for a reason to call it quits. Jeb offers to help and though Ben may not be thrilled with the prospect he isn’t about to publicly say no.

What follows is a complex story involving duty and responsibility in This Old Star. Like other very good westerns by this author, along with plenty of action there is an undercurrent about serious issues of the time that are just as valid today. Characters of complexity populate this author’s work where a single action may have multiple meanings. The 2010 Peacemaker Award winning short story recently released in e-book form, This Old Star is another very good one.

This Old Star
Wayne D. Dundee
http://www.fromdundeesdesk.blogspot.com
Western Trail Blazer
http://www.westerntrailblazer.com
January 2015
ASIN: B00RPQ5PLQ
E-Book
46 Pages
$0.99

Material was picked up to read and review using funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2015

[Russ Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine short story

This is a darn fine Western but its primary feature is its brevity. The story is about a posse looking for a bad guy that broke out of jail by himself and robbed the bank. The former sheriff catches up with the posse and the crime is solved.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayne Dundee gives us his usual superb work in a western about two lawmen, one retired, an outlaw, a stolen bank payroll, and more going on than one presumes.

Rather enjoyed this one.