Absaroka Ambush

The First Mountain Man #3

by William W. Johnstone

Preacher brings his own brand of justice to a gang of grifters in this classic Western from the New York Timesbestselling author of Blood on the Divide.   The Price of Gold A wagon train winding through the remote reaches of the Rocky Mountain high country can attract plenty of scavengers—some of them human—like Vic Bedell and his gang of cutthroats. All he wants is the women, who can be traded for gold mine supplies . . . or used for whatever else he has in mind. But he didn’t count on Preacher leading that train.The Color of Blood Bedell’s first mistake is leaving the First Mountain Man for dead. His second mistake is underestimating Preacher’s strength . . . and cunning. And Preacher needs all he can get to lead a hundred and fifty helpless ladies out of captivity through fifteen hundred miles of unforgiving territory filled with hostile Indians—and the deadliest threat of Bedell and his wild avengers . . .   Praise for the novels of William W. Johnstone   “[A] rousing, two-fisted saga of the growing American frontier.”—Publishers Weekly on Eyes of Eagles   “There’s plenty of gunplay and fast-paced action as this old-time hero proves again that a steady eye and quick reflexes are the keys to survival on the Western frontier.”—Curled Up with a Good Book on Dead Before Sundown

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook, Action

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preacher is hired by the government to guide a wagon train of 150 women to the West Coast. Along the way they face a myriad of perils including Indian attacks, violent criminals and fearsome weather. A pretty typical wagon train adventure from Johnstone.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the character of “Preacher”. The Mountain Man is a legend, and not to be messed with or you’ll find yourself on the short end of whatever justice be knows needs to be met out.

He’s a man that can say so much, with so few words. Besides being the legend he is, he’s hated, loved, feared, and most of all, respected by anyone who personally know him and knows his name.

The task is to get it 150 women (besides a few children) in a wagon train safely over the Oregon Trail, with the help of a handful of his mountain man friends, and a small group of 10 soldiers that have been picked fo help him. Yeah, you know how this is going to go….. Not smoothly - enemies, from the outside, enemies from the inside - and the lessons learned, the experiences, and life will NEVER EVER BE THE SAME for anyone who survived the trip. It absolutely ripped my heart…I had all the emotions…laughing, silently cheering, mourning with them, and dadgumit, if I didn’t feel like having a drink, and being a stronger woman for being on this adventure with them! I did and I did, as I put it on my favorites shelf!

This is one of the GREAT westerns of Johnstone. J. Rodney Turner, the narrator, positively brings this gutsy story to vibrant life, and I recommend the audio version for even better appreciation. (I borrowed it free online from my local library). Thoroughly enjoyable read/listen, and recommended for lovers of Western genre.

💫 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more read of this series the more I like it. As usual, It is narrated perfectly by J Rodney Turner. I always, feel at the book ending, that I have somehow lost contact with a friend.

[Chad James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookish Books Reading Challenge & #LibraryLoveChallenge

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

William W. Johnstone can really tell a tale. Preacher has returned again. This time to lead a group of ladies across the wilderness to the Pacific coast. Does he do it without trouble? Of course not what fun would that be to the reader. Filled with action and adventure this one is sure one not to miss for lovers of a great western.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absaroka Ambush is the 3rd instalment of the First Mountain Man series, a collection of quick-paced & witty stories about a mountain man called Preacher.

In the 1830s mountain men were already becoming a rare breed. Having abandoned the beaver fur trade, some opened stores in the East, while others stayed in the West to pave the way for pioneers. Preacher, hired by the government to lead a wagon train through the wilderness westward, was one of the latter. Together with his horse and his friends (whom he tricked into joining, the sneaky bastard he is) he sets out for an adventure that turns out to be filled with betrayal, bloodshed, grief, sacrifice, stomach-twisting violence and, yes, personal growth.

This is not for those with a weak stomach. The Old West, or the Big Lonesome as Preacher likes to call it, is rough and hard on those who try to travel it. There are ample descriptions of the cruelty of both the Native Americans and Preacher’s enemies, and even of himself and his friends whenever he thinks it useful.

Preacher is not a saint, we all know that after reading the first 2 instalments. But the ‘white man’ isn’t any better, so he thinks. While the Easterners are disgusted by the customs and rituals of the Old West, the hatred is mutual. Mountain men and Native Americans are much more alike than mountain men and the people from what is often called ‘civilization’; and politics and greed sicken Preacher more than anything. So having adopted a solitary lifestyle and a symbiosis with nature, Preacher feels best when he’s surrounded by sand, rocks and no other living being than his horses.

But his way of living is under threat and so is the Native Americans’. As we follow Preacher and his friends throughout the story we get a grasp of what it’s like to live in the Old West and see its charms and its beauty. There is little focus on detail, there are no long descriptions of the scenery whatsoever, and yet the western vibes are plentiful. The storytelling shows that the author did his research and knows what he’s talking about; the ease with which he writes about Preacher, and sprinkles historical facts here and there, is appealing and addictive.

The storylines themselves tend to be a bit repetitive; wagon train here, vengeance manhunt there. Reading all 28 books back-to-back isn’t recommendable for they get monotonous after a few books. Yet, they’re easy and quick (and hilarious!! Preacher, you gotta stop *giggles*) to throw in when completing the GR challenge or just when feeling a little mentally tired.

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preacher is "the man" but I've read the first three books in the twenty-five book series now and I've had enough of his heroics for awhile. I really like the books and am sure I'll go back to them in the future.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am quite enjoying this old mountain man.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite the saga, and I really enjoyed it, but it's not for the faint of heart, violence-wise. Ends well, with closure of all the important details. I think I'll keep reading the series.

[Sarah Alawami]

The book was good. although they focused too much on the sub plut, the attack and how that was goign to happen. At least for me they did. If you want a book wiht a fast plot, this is not it.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good western series. If you like Johnstone's writing you will like the series. Recommended

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series about Preacher, The First Mountain Man. There is approximately one hundred fifty ladies coming from the east on a large Wagon Train headed toward the Rocky Mountains to Oregon with Preacher leading the way. Vic Bedell and a gang of cutthroats kidnapped numerous ladies with supply wagons pulled by mules headed for the Rocky Mountains. The cutthroats are just waiting to ambush Preacher and get the remaining ladies with their wagons. Preacher fights Indians and the cutthroats to keep the ladies safe.

This is an excellent book with ladies dressed as men, riding horses, shooting guns, fighting and crossing over the mountains. I enjoyed this well written story with many twists and turns, full of western adventurers, also very entertaining. Another good story about Preacher, the First Mountain Man in the West.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eudora's shot in the dark

Mr. Johnstone had a delightfully wicked sense throughout his works, but if you follow the reactions between his characters Eudora and Preacher when they are in their first violent encounter, you'll see how he manages to set up,entice, and capture the moment I your (the reader's) mind's eye--- and how delightful it is.
I've enjoyed many of Mr. Johnstone's books, but that particular encounter almost had me laughing so hard as to "fall out of my favorite chair".
As always, his fiction is meticulously researched, with highly believable characters in the midst of unpredictable events-just as occurs in real life today.
All in all, its no wonder his status has been at or near the top of many bestseller lists for many years.

[Destiny Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed book w/ fun facts and adventure

This story was filled with fun and adventure, as well with tons of historical facts. This book makes you fall in love with characters as well as dislike some of the others. This book makes you want to get into a time machine, go back to the 1830s and head westward into the wilderness. This book shows that women are just as courageous as the men unfortunately it also shows women can be just as evil and ruthless, if not more. This book definitely shows Hero & Villain can be either Man or Woman and in some cases both genders can hold either title, of good or bad.

[Gale Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I enjoy this series. Preacher, the protagonist is a mountain man taking a group of over 150 women
West, 1500 miles over treacherous terrain to meet their future husbands. There is some Indians that are hostile. Even worst than that is gangs of white men that are thieves who want to take the women and use, abuse and then sell these women. They didn’t anticipate Preacher. He was leading these ladies and he was a forced to be reckoned with. Especially after they had been ambushed, and these men killed Preacher’s beloved horse. Once he got the ladies to their destination,he went out his criminals who took and killed not only his friends, but horse. Great book!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher is absolutely amazing. In this episode he has signed on with the government to lead a wagon train of about 150 women westward. He enlists the aid of a few friends and a small force of soldiers start out with them, only to be killed off except for their commanding officer. Out of necessity he has the women dress as men and teaches them how to use firearms. They hold their own against Indians and outlaws. After delivering the women he turns around and goes back east, ending with a visit to his parents ... a nice touch. Easy reading and very entertaining, as usual.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the first 3, this has been my favorite so far, especially supporting character wise. While the first two are great in their own right, the events of this tale were simply top notch!

My only complaint from the first two was that nothing terribly bad seemed to happen to the heroes of the story, this changed that. Hammer’s death bothered me (in a way that you WANT to be bothered in a story like this). The same can be said about the deaths of the other mountain men of the story as well.

Onward to the next installment!

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Mountain Man #3
Absaroka Ambush
William W. Johnstone

$2500.00 to lead a wagon train with 125 or so woman across the divide. Blame fool thing to do but 10 years wages and a presidential endorsement was powerful inducement. Since the series runs to 30 books we know he survives the experience.

The story takes him to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Jacksons Hole. The tourist trap the latter has become with sorrow him sorely.

The story concludes with Preacher on the trail of the bad guys and ends with a visit to his parents.

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this movie is a direct steal from an old 1951 western. Westward the Women starring Robert Taylor. It's not a total steal . Just the part about a 150 mail order brides heading to California then being stranded without men and completing the task on their own with their wagonmaster and his trusty sidekick.

The premise is the same. The story is different. The book is grittier. More disturbing. Certainly more violent. I liked the 1951 movie, and I liked the 1993 book. So 5 stars it is.

[ted tull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absaroka Ambush FMM Book 3

I thought all of the First Mountain Man books have been very good except for the one about the Romans in the mountains. That one stretched a western novel too far for my taste. This one sure covered the West quite well and aptly covered the hardships that our western pioneers had to face. I don't know how Johnstone can keep coming up with new storylines like he does but he does it very well

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vic Bedell and his gang make the mistake of leaving Preacher for dead and later killing his horse Hammer. Preacher and his friends were leading 125 ladies to the wild west on a job a government man hired Preacher to do. Many lives were lost on the journey women included some were innocent victims and more were whores planted by Bedell to help wipe out the wagon train. Preached completes the job and then goes on a killing rampage revenging the death of all of those lost including his horse.

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preacher goes back East to visit his parents after finding all the men responsible for attacking a wagon train full of women he was escorting West. After the outlaws took the women and left him for dead and killed his horse Hammer Preacher vows revenge on all who have wronged him....These books are sooo good. I'm glad I found them and if your looking for a good read with some laugh out loud funny spots these are certainly books that fill that requirement :)

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preacher is a mountain man in the 1830s. He has a reputation of being honest and a friend to the Native American tribes. He is asked to guide over 150 woman from Missouri to Oregon along the Oregon trail. The pay promised is very good, so he agrees to the challenge.

Along the way, the wagon train is attached by bandits and several of the woman are captured. In the end, Preacher is able to salvage the operation.

Great story of traveling the Oregon trail to the west.

[Susan Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not happy. Same book, different year

I bought this book under the same title but it was a different year. This one says 1993, the other is 2007. I going to get my money back. But, Mr. Johnstone needs to have Amazon fix this so that it shows up as already purchased. Low-down dirty, and sneaky way to sell more books? Maybe.....maybe not. Watch out!

[Clifford Schulze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early Preacher novel

Preacher is talked into guiding 150 women across the country to meet their a4ranged marriage husbands. Preacher is a bit more talkative than in later novels and the author is a bit more preachy. Still, there's plenty of action and a story that will keep you up late at night trying to find out what happens next.

[RICHARD LEWIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably one of the best mountain man stories I've ever read .It was well written, full of action, gun fights, Indian skirmishes, outlaws, and damn hard to put down. It was a tale of a wagon train headed west to Oregon that runs into outlaws who plan to rob and pillage. I would highly recommend this outstanding novel!

[Mikel Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different way of thinking and life.

A excellent book adout the Mountain Men vs the so called civilized eastern society. If you enjoy reading stories about the lives and times of this unique breed of American adventurers then I highly recommend this series.

[Yvonne Fortin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another awesome adventure. Refreshing to see that Preacher isnt invincible, because if he came out again without a scratch I might have given up the series. Looking forward to the next book.

I do wish there were more historical notes at the end.

[Michael Mcfarren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous Adventure

Really! 180 women in a wagon train going west? Preacher has his Hans full of adventure and excitement without worrying about the elements, animals, or Indians. Add 50+ hardened criminals and you have an evening set. Grab a coffee and enjoy.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Preacher as a young man is awesome!

This was a really good story! Hated about Hammer, as he had earned that bunch of mares! I loved that Preacher and Faith got close. Amazing storyline!