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Hell West of the Pecos: A Classic Western
2014 Short Fiction Spur Finalist V.J. Rose takes us back into the lives of Dudford Washburn and his motley crew in this classic adventure tale of the Old American West.
After the Civil War, rancher and muleskinner Dudford Washburn returns to San Antonio to find that his wife has unexpectedly divorced him. Determined to make enough money to win her back, he comes up with a scheme to herd longhorns across the wilds of West Texas in order to sell them to the army posts in New Mexico for a huge profit.
It’s so dangerous, the only cowhands he can find are green-under-the-collar boys who don’t know any better. To round out his ramshackle crew, Dud is forced to take along his feuding relatives who have their own reasons for going. Everyone else believes they are about to embark on a suicide mission through hell, but Dud is convinced fortune awaits at the end of the trail…
They’ll have to be bull hide tough to survive the harsh west...
After the Civil War, rancher and muleskinner Dudford Washburn returns to San Antonio to find that his wife has unexpectedly divorced him. Determined to make enough money to win her back, he comes up with a scheme to herd longhorns across the wilds of West Texas in order to sell them to the army posts in New Mexico for a huge profit.
It’s so dangerous, the only cowhands he can find are green-under-the-collar boys who don’t know any better. To round out his ramshackle crew, Dud is forced to take along his feuding relatives who have their own reasons for going. Everyone else believes they are about to embark on a suicide mission through hell, but Dud is convinced fortune awaits at the end of the trail…
They’ll have to be bull hide tough to survive the harsh west...
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2022
33 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 6, 2022
V.J. Rose hits the ground running—along with 1000 head of Texas Longhorn cattle—in this exciting and action-packed trail drive story.
Faced with hostile Comanches and Apaches, along with equally hostile Mexican and white bandits, drovers Dudford Washburn and his Uncle Ponder are tried to their limits. They're tested by torrential rain, lightning storms, and blistering heat, but they, along with a ragtag crew of cowboys, will do whatever it takes to deliver the herd and make their fortunes.
A wonderful cast of characters people a story set in a carefully researched locale. Smart, snappy dialogue clues you to character—and they are a bunch of characters! Here you’ll find realism so gritty it might break you out in a sweat as you read.
A prequel to Rose’s previous novel featuring characters in this story, if you haven’t already read Treasure Hunt in Tie Town, be sure to pick that one up, too.
Faced with hostile Comanches and Apaches, along with equally hostile Mexican and white bandits, drovers Dudford Washburn and his Uncle Ponder are tried to their limits. They're tested by torrential rain, lightning storms, and blistering heat, but they, along with a ragtag crew of cowboys, will do whatever it takes to deliver the herd and make their fortunes.
A wonderful cast of characters people a story set in a carefully researched locale. Smart, snappy dialogue clues you to character—and they are a bunch of characters! Here you’ll find realism so gritty it might break you out in a sweat as you read.
A prequel to Rose’s previous novel featuring characters in this story, if you haven’t already read Treasure Hunt in Tie Town, be sure to pick that one up, too.
September 19, 2022
The author promised a classic western even placing the phrase in the title. It brought to mind episodes of High Chaparral, Bonanza, and one occasion, even a Duke movie as promised. Fast-paced action keeping the reader moving through the story combined with delivering the classic western promised earns five stars.
September 2, 2022
This was my first VJ Rose book but certainly not my last. Insightful character development and "no holds barred" action.
August 26, 2022
V.J. Rose a/k/a Easy Jackson is one of my favorite western authors, and I try not to miss anything by this writer. As usual, I was not disappointed. This is a character-driven, page turner with a great mix of humor and suspense. Traditional western readers should love the book, but those who like something just a little different will find plenty to satisfy their appetites as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews