Ol' Shep: Book 4: Facing Down Young Geronimo

by Don DeNevi

“He had been there alone for fifteen days. His side of bacon was eaten, and the sack of corn getting very low. The Rangers were as much delighted as if it had been a human being they had rescued. He had worn the top of the wall of the old stage stand perfectly smooth, standing off the sneaking coyotes … Shep had held the fort….” —George Wythe Baylor, Captain (Ret.), Company C, Frontier Battalion, El Paso Herald, February 3, 1900 Faithful Shep is a fictional account of a loyal dog rescued by nine Texas Rangers, based on a fascinating true story from the history of America's west. Author's Note Faithful Shep was written as a tribute arising from admiration of that great daring that is bred in bravery. I dedicate this book to all who ennoble with loving care the warm-hearted animals who revere them in return. May this story of a stranded, starving dog and the ordinary men who trekked into hostile country to save him, serve as a source of inspiration and resolve. I express sincere appreciation and deep indebtedness to the host of Texas university researchers, reference librarians, and historical archivists whom I continually pestered for details of setting and geography, personal letters from the period, old newspaper clippings, documents on the Texas Rangers, and other minutia that I cannot even recall at the moment. These long-suffering aides to my quest are too numerous to name, but I am thankful they know who they are and that they helped a hero dog live again, briefly, in these pages. Excerpt Dismounting, Anicento scooped the dog up in his arms, hugged him dearly, then handed him up to Sallie who was standing in the buggy with outstretched welcoming hands. Placing him on the back seat between her sister and Helen, she glanced at Annie and said, “Pooch usually sits here next to me on long rides. Shep will never let you know how clouded and empty he is because his task, he feels, is to safeguard every one of us in his family. His keen, energetic eyes never waiver from the front or sides of the road. He is us and we are him, especially your Wis and Andrews, to say nothing of the Indians. God only knows the grief that would befall every one of us if anything ever happened to that lump of fur. Remember, he was bitten by a Copperhead at Rattlesnake Springs saving the life of the orphan child. It was a miracle the bite was on the bone of his nose. Poison has little effect, if bitten there. Any other part of the body would have meant a quick death. There’s nothing in this world worse than a Copperhead bite.”

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2019

Reviews

[Vera G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally done

I liked the story of sheep. I read all four books. But I thought the author used way too many words and explained everything too much.