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Gus
He supposed it was just bad luck, but when Gus Matthews rode out of the Rocking C where he’d spent the last six years, he couldn’t see much future for him. He was closing in on forty years old and had all of three hundred and some odd dollars to his name, his horse, saddle and his two guns. It wasn’t much for all the work he’d done, and just when he thought his life couldn’t go any further downhill, he spotted that worthless Lou Feldman riding to catch up and join him. He could not in his wildest dreams imagine the problems Lou would create for him over the next few weeks or the other extraordinary events that would shape the rest of his life.
451 pages, Hardcover
Published February 9, 2021
611 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Petit
104 books223 followersMost biographies start with birth and then roll through the years as they drift by but that would bore me to death, and I lived through it.
The interesting part of my life began on September 23rd, 1995 as we were driving back to Omaha after watching the Notre Dame - Texas game in South Bend with relatives. The #21 Irish beat the #13 ranked Longhorns 55-27; and in a real oddity, scored points in just about every way conceivable in the game of football. They scored touchdowns on passes and runs, kicked a field goal, intercepted a pass for a TD, returned a punt for a touchdown and even added two points for blocking a Texas extra point.
As we were driving along westbound I-80 somewhere in Illinois in our Jeep Cherokee, I absent-mindedly rubbed the left side of my neck under my chin.
My very astute wife asked, "What's wrong with your neck?"
Now I had been an Air Force medic for twelve years; and as evident in my descriptions of outlaws' agonizing deaths in my stories, have a good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology. But that knowledge is offset by being a guy and thinking that we all live forever. My neck lymph nodes had been enlarged for around three months when my wife asked that question.
I obfuscated as if I was a lawyer and replied, "Um, a few weeks or so." (Note: Twelve or thirteen weeks does qualify as a 'few' weeks if one chooses to be generous.)
"And what did the doctor say?"
"I'll ask him when we get back."
"Yes, you will."
I do not want to make my wife out to be a harpy or a nag, because she is neither. She's an incredibly patient woman who could only put up with so much stupidity by yours truly.
Three days later, after the doctor copped a quick feel of my lymph nodes, he said, "I don't know what it is, but I don't like it," which was an honest, albeit an imprecise diagnosis.
So, we trotted over to a local ENT specialist. She didn't like them either and took me into surgery a few days later where she yanked one out, so the lab could dice it and slice it, then look at it under a microscope.
The pathologist who looked at the cells through his microscope reported his findings as 'lymphoepithelioma'. That meant that it was a secondary tumor and there was a primary tumor somewhere else in my nasopharynx that was the original problem.
Back I went into the operating room where the ENT doctor did an extensive examination and found nothing. She was so sure of her reconnaissance of the back of my throat that she told me that the pathologist was wrong, and it was just a lymphoma.
Now, being a computer geek, even way back in the dark ages of the internet in '95, I did some searching and found that if the primary tumor wasn't found, then the survival rate plummeted to about a fifth of the already lousy survival rate for the advanced Stage IV cancer. My wife and I decided that a second opinion might be a good idea.
Off we went in her Jeep to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as the lousy weather descended across the Midwest. It's been known to happen, you know.
They had a problem getting the doctor here to release the specimen she'd yanked out of my neck, which I thought was odd because I don't remember selling it and figured I still owned it. Anyway, they eventually got the lymph node, did their own peek and confirmed the pathologist's diagnosis.
It wasn't until Halloween in 1995 that they finally found the original little bugger. It was just a tiny bump in the back of my throat that must have been there for a long time before it sent its friends marching into my lymph nodes.
They wanted to treat the cancer there, but I opted to have it done in Omaha and was sent to the care of Doctor Patrick J. McKenna (a name you may recognize from Max). Doctor Mac was the perfect man for the job as he was very personable, optimistic, had a good sense of humor and wouldn't put up with my constant whining. It helped that he knew his job, too.
(Read the full bio on Amazon)
The interesting part of my life began on September 23rd, 1995 as we were driving back to Omaha after watching the Notre Dame - Texas game in South Bend with relatives. The #21 Irish beat the #13 ranked Longhorns 55-27; and in a real oddity, scored points in just about every way conceivable in the game of football. They scored touchdowns on passes and runs, kicked a field goal, intercepted a pass for a TD, returned a punt for a touchdown and even added two points for blocking a Texas extra point.
As we were driving along westbound I-80 somewhere in Illinois in our Jeep Cherokee, I absent-mindedly rubbed the left side of my neck under my chin.
My very astute wife asked, "What's wrong with your neck?"
Now I had been an Air Force medic for twelve years; and as evident in my descriptions of outlaws' agonizing deaths in my stories, have a good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology. But that knowledge is offset by being a guy and thinking that we all live forever. My neck lymph nodes had been enlarged for around three months when my wife asked that question.
I obfuscated as if I was a lawyer and replied, "Um, a few weeks or so." (Note: Twelve or thirteen weeks does qualify as a 'few' weeks if one chooses to be generous.)
"And what did the doctor say?"
"I'll ask him when we get back."
"Yes, you will."
I do not want to make my wife out to be a harpy or a nag, because she is neither. She's an incredibly patient woman who could only put up with so much stupidity by yours truly.
Three days later, after the doctor copped a quick feel of my lymph nodes, he said, "I don't know what it is, but I don't like it," which was an honest, albeit an imprecise diagnosis.
So, we trotted over to a local ENT specialist. She didn't like them either and took me into surgery a few days later where she yanked one out, so the lab could dice it and slice it, then look at it under a microscope.
The pathologist who looked at the cells through his microscope reported his findings as 'lymphoepithelioma'. That meant that it was a secondary tumor and there was a primary tumor somewhere else in my nasopharynx that was the original problem.
Back I went into the operating room where the ENT doctor did an extensive examination and found nothing. She was so sure of her reconnaissance of the back of my throat that she told me that the pathologist was wrong, and it was just a lymphoma.
Now, being a computer geek, even way back in the dark ages of the internet in '95, I did some searching and found that if the primary tumor wasn't found, then the survival rate plummeted to about a fifth of the already lousy survival rate for the advanced Stage IV cancer. My wife and I decided that a second opinion might be a good idea.
Off we went in her Jeep to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as the lousy weather descended across the Midwest. It's been known to happen, you know.
They had a problem getting the doctor here to release the specimen she'd yanked out of my neck, which I thought was odd because I don't remember selling it and figured I still owned it. Anyway, they eventually got the lymph node, did their own peek and confirmed the pathologist's diagnosis.
It wasn't until Halloween in 1995 that they finally found the original little bugger. It was just a tiny bump in the back of my throat that must have been there for a long time before it sent its friends marching into my lymph nodes.
They wanted to treat the cancer there, but I opted to have it done in Omaha and was sent to the care of Doctor Patrick J. McKenna (a name you may recognize from Max). Doctor Mac was the perfect man for the job as he was very personable, optimistic, had a good sense of humor and wouldn't put up with my constant whining. It helped that he knew his job, too.
(Read the full bio on Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
July 4, 2018
An okay book
I have read two books by C.J Petit ; "The Witch of Dakota" and this one. There are a large amount of typos. The story isn't fleshed out as good as it could be. The main character, a cowboy, is a upstanding man that doesn't lie, cheat or have other vices. In this book, Gus starts out with nothing but does very well by the end. Same as the other book. This seems to be an emerging pattern. Really bad things can happen in the book but in a few pages everything is fine. I'm not going to give it away. This reads; except for the descriptions of gore a bullet produces, like an episode of shows like The Lone Ranger. I got the impression that this writer just turns these books out as fast as possible.
I have read two books by C.J Petit ; "The Witch of Dakota" and this one. There are a large amount of typos. The story isn't fleshed out as good as it could be. The main character, a cowboy, is a upstanding man that doesn't lie, cheat or have other vices. In this book, Gus starts out with nothing but does very well by the end. Same as the other book. This seems to be an emerging pattern. Really bad things can happen in the book but in a few pages everything is fine. I'm not going to give it away. This reads; except for the descriptions of gore a bullet produces, like an episode of shows like The Lone Ranger. I got the impression that this writer just turns these books out as fast as possible.
June 1, 2017
Storyline is good.
While the storyline is good there are glaring mistakes. I have to ask if this manuscript was edited. The grammar and spelling is not good. The animal husbandry was not well researched.
While the storyline is good there are glaring mistakes. I have to ask if this manuscript was edited. The grammar and spelling is not good. The animal husbandry was not well researched.
August 30, 2018
I didn’t like it much. The characters were one-dimensional and predictable. I don’t care much for Petit’s style of writing. I finished the book, that’s about the best thing I can say about it.
October 2, 2018
Superb
A great read, suspenseful thru every chapter. A story that you have a hard time to stop reading and the excitement to finish this story.
A great read, suspenseful thru every chapter. A story that you have a hard time to stop reading and the excitement to finish this story.
June 16, 2024
An okay read. A little heavy on the love components. 3 stars.
January 2, 2022
Not the greatest, but nice to be somewhere else for a day !
Amateurish writing, so many coincidences and very predictable, but still, an escape from gloomy weather, dastardly news, financial doom, so I read it thru !
Amateurish writing, so many coincidences and very predictable, but still, an escape from gloomy weather, dastardly news, financial doom, so I read it thru !
August 26, 2022
This book was so unrealistic and predictable it was just silly, and the sex scenes were ridiculous. And yet...somehow it worked for me. I found it charming. I've had a rough few months and Gus's wholesome demeanor was refreshing. A literary masterpiece it is not, but absolutely worth the quick read if you want a low impact, neat little western wrapped up in a perfect little bow.
November 19, 2021
It was a good read. I don’t usually criticize but this book was a little too much on the utopic side. Everything fell into place too easily. I just feel more strife with resolution would have made this novel stronger. I still enjoyed it.
January 7, 2018
Cowboy spirit
Great reading! I liked the language (cowboy slang or proper english) not a lot of swear words and a passion for decent , legitimate human feelings and doing what is right! Story line included all the characters destiny’s!
Kindle customer BH
Great reading! I liked the language (cowboy slang or proper english) not a lot of swear words and a passion for decent , legitimate human feelings and doing what is right! Story line included all the characters destiny’s!
Kindle customer BH
May 15, 2017
An interesting twist to a western story very refreshing actually a good read
July 3, 2017
Gus
I enjoyed this book from the beginning. This hero was the best and easy to fall in love with. I enjoyed this story.
I enjoyed this book from the beginning. This hero was the best and easy to fall in love with. I enjoyed this story.
August 15, 2017
One of the best westerns stories! A real feel good book. The hero was honorable, the bad guys were evil, the women strong! What more do you need.
August 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It just moved along nicely as the story twisted and turned, keeping it interesting throughout the book.
This was a very character driven book. The main character was someone we slowly got to know and love through his caring and protective actions.
This book was very much a Western with horses, cattle ranches, farm hands and wagons and buggies pulled by horses. I happen to really like Westerns and the imagery of a working ranch with all of its components, particularly all those who worked to keep the ranch running.
There was even some cattle rustling and talks of brands for cattle. This all played through my mind like a made for TV Saturday feature movie. Big screen movie? No. But very good nonetheless.
I was so happy the way it ended. I didn't see it coming until nearly the end of the book and it could not have been better. There were people and circumstances throughout the book that led me to think that it would end otherwise. Those were sneaky red herrings.
This is my first book by this author and my intent is to move on to some other books by this author.
I highly recommend this book to those who love the old Westerns and a good story with great characters.
This was a very character driven book. The main character was someone we slowly got to know and love through his caring and protective actions.
This book was very much a Western with horses, cattle ranches, farm hands and wagons and buggies pulled by horses. I happen to really like Westerns and the imagery of a working ranch with all of its components, particularly all those who worked to keep the ranch running.
There was even some cattle rustling and talks of brands for cattle. This all played through my mind like a made for TV Saturday feature movie. Big screen movie? No. But very good nonetheless.
I was so happy the way it ended. I didn't see it coming until nearly the end of the book and it could not have been better. There were people and circumstances throughout the book that led me to think that it would end otherwise. Those were sneaky red herrings.
This is my first book by this author and my intent is to move on to some other books by this author.
I highly recommend this book to those who love the old Westerns and a good story with great characters.
November 12, 2018
When aging cowboy Gus Matthews gets fired from Rocking-C ranch for laying out the mean-spirited, know-nothing foreman, he heads north for Oklahoma, where he finds work with the Aronsons, an elderly couple whose ranch has seen better days. What should be easy work for kindly employers quickly turns sour when Gus discovers that the neighboring Slash-M ranch have been rustling the Aronsons' cattle. Even worse, Gus becomes the corrupt sheriff's main suspect in a string of violent crimes plaguing the county. Gus finds an unlikely ally in beautiful Libby, but she has her own reasons for wanting to take down the Slash-M, and the Aronsons' seductive daughter Sara has secrets that could get Gus killed if he lets himself get too close....
May 24, 2018
#27
As to be expected, excellent work, fast, entertaining band interesting with a surprise here and there. Very original love story, I kept looking for the love interest, knowing it was coming. I was surprised, then re-surprised. Nice work.
There were a few typos but not as bad as some previous efforts. Couple of fact checks; Location 1176, gelding is almost exclusively used to describe castration of horses and men not around cattle; secondly, location 1448, you are NOT going to hear a pistol shot 10 miles away! Especially in rolling terrain.
All in all, I highly recommend this work to western romantics, read and enjoy.
As to be expected, excellent work, fast, entertaining band interesting with a surprise here and there. Very original love story, I kept looking for the love interest, knowing it was coming. I was surprised, then re-surprised. Nice work.
There were a few typos but not as bad as some previous efforts. Couple of fact checks; Location 1176, gelding is almost exclusively used to describe castration of horses and men not around cattle; secondly, location 1448, you are NOT going to hear a pistol shot 10 miles away! Especially in rolling terrain.
All in all, I highly recommend this work to western romantics, read and enjoy.
April 2, 2019
A CJP. Western Adventure/An Older Cow hand if Given His Walking Papers
CJP. has penned a western adventure novel about an old Cow hand who is dismissed from his current position and then travel to Oklahoma from Texas to work for a Jewish couple who were ostracized by the community. The Cow hand goes to work repairing the ranch, fences and dam. He then becomes involved in chasing cattle rustlers. Next on his age can is finding the daughter. He does. Then he meets and marries the ex wife of the man who had attempted to burn out the cowboy and the Jewish couple. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
CJP. has penned a western adventure novel about an old Cow hand who is dismissed from his current position and then travel to Oklahoma from Texas to work for a Jewish couple who were ostracized by the community. The Cow hand goes to work repairing the ranch, fences and dam. He then becomes involved in chasing cattle rustlers. Next on his age can is finding the daughter. He does. Then he meets and marries the ex wife of the man who had attempted to burn out the cowboy and the Jewish couple. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
October 10, 2017
So Hard to put Down
When I resent being called for dinner or put off going to bed for another hour, I know I've found a winner. Stories that have the good guys winning and the bad guys getting a broken nose to go with their missing teeth are always going to touch a nerve. When you throw in well written details about their day to day lives and a feel for the era in which they live you raise the western to an art form.
Any fan of Louis Lamour is going is going to devour "Gus" and beg for the next book by C.J.Petit.
When I resent being called for dinner or put off going to bed for another hour, I know I've found a winner. Stories that have the good guys winning and the bad guys getting a broken nose to go with their missing teeth are always going to touch a nerve. When you throw in well written details about their day to day lives and a feel for the era in which they live you raise the western to an art form.
Any fan of Louis Lamour is going is going to devour "Gus" and beg for the next book by C.J.Petit.
August 9, 2018
C.J. Petite is a master story teller
I've read every book he has written with this being the last. Hope there is a new one coming. Like all his stories, we have a strong, honorable hero, nasty villains, romance, and the triumph of good over evil. Compelling characters and a storyline that hooks you in the first page and keeps you reading until the action is done. I love the way he always included an epilogue that let's you know how things and up for the characters after the main story ends.
I've read every book he has written with this being the last. Hope there is a new one coming. Like all his stories, we have a strong, honorable hero, nasty villains, romance, and the triumph of good over evil. Compelling characters and a storyline that hooks you in the first page and keeps you reading until the action is done. I love the way he always included an epilogue that let's you know how things and up for the characters after the main story ends.
March 28, 2023
Just another all-around heart warming story of the old West by C J Petit.
Gus is just a good all-around cowhand, better than most. But he is getting older, nearing 40.
Life takes a turn in his favor when he accepts a job as the only hand on an old and dilapidated ranch owned by Rachel and her older husband who is crippled by arthritis. It seems the world hasn't changed much as they have been ostracized from the town because they are Jewish.
A very heart warming story unfolds from here. More good guys than bad guys in this story, but exciting nonetheless.
Read on and enjoy!
Gus is just a good all-around cowhand, better than most. But he is getting older, nearing 40.
Life takes a turn in his favor when he accepts a job as the only hand on an old and dilapidated ranch owned by Rachel and her older husband who is crippled by arthritis. It seems the world hasn't changed much as they have been ostracized from the town because they are Jewish.
A very heart warming story unfolds from here. More good guys than bad guys in this story, but exciting nonetheless.
Read on and enjoy!
July 9, 2017
I picked this book because of the title (of course). Petit's book is a good, easy read, with the plot described a good detail. The style helps the reader understand what it must have been like for the old (not-too-old) cowboy.
A few typos remain in the book. They could be fixed by a slow, close reading by someone other than the author. As an author, I know how easy it is to read and re-read a draft and still miss places where "the" should have been "they" or "them".
A few typos remain in the book. They could be fixed by a slow, close reading by someone other than the author. As an author, I know how easy it is to read and re-read a draft and still miss places where "the" should have been "they" or "them".
May 29, 2018
This story by C.J. Petit was outstanding. That being said, l sadly feel that the author has given in to public pressure and crossed the line. There was no need to be as sexually descriptive as this story was, especially since it contained so many biblical references at the same time. I thoroughly enjoy all of the author's books and was saddened to see this line of story telling included unnecessarily.
September 3, 2018
Just Plain Good!
Has been a long time since I have read a book that I had a hard time putting down to hit the sack. This one is one of them. His is the common guy with uncommon qualities. The book has enough twist and turns to keep it interesting and edge of you seat suspense. A good man in a hard world doing the best he can through heart break and sorrow. Like I said the book is just plain good.
Has been a long time since I have read a book that I had a hard time putting down to hit the sack. This one is one of them. His is the common guy with uncommon qualities. The book has enough twist and turns to keep it interesting and edge of you seat suspense. A good man in a hard world doing the best he can through heart break and sorrow. Like I said the book is just plain good.
September 7, 2018
Gus
I just cannot praise C. J. Petit s writing enough! I am so enthralled with the stories he writes, and the characters he portrays, are just wonderful! He has certainly brightened both me and my husband's reading lives, a great deal! My husband is a bit more of a purist about stories than I am, but he has so enjoyed C. J.'s books, that I am hard pressed to stay ahead of him, in reading them!
I just cannot praise C. J. Petit s writing enough! I am so enthralled with the stories he writes, and the characters he portrays, are just wonderful! He has certainly brightened both me and my husband's reading lives, a great deal! My husband is a bit more of a purist about stories than I am, but he has so enjoyed C. J.'s books, that I am hard pressed to stay ahead of him, in reading them!
October 22, 2018
Circumstances
Great story of a cowboy who knew everything about cattle and ranching. After losing his job, he stumbles upon a small ranch owned by elderly couple. His does everything he can to help the couple and saved their lives. Gus later marries for 8 minutes and loses his wife. His world crashes until he befriends the daughter of elderly couple. Story has several lessons learned in life but also shows there are good people not all bad people.
Great story of a cowboy who knew everything about cattle and ranching. After losing his job, he stumbles upon a small ranch owned by elderly couple. His does everything he can to help the couple and saved their lives. Gus later marries for 8 minutes and loses his wife. His world crashes until he befriends the daughter of elderly couple. Story has several lessons learned in life but also shows there are good people not all bad people.
November 30, 2018
Emeralds
Another excellent read from Mr. Petit!
His passion for meticulous character development combined with his presentation of highly believable action results in his exceptionally engrossing tales of what our country used to cherish : doing what's right no matter the cost, standing true to your word, and protecting the innocent.
I highly recommend any of his works, especially after enjoying Gus again.
Another excellent read from Mr. Petit!
His passion for meticulous character development combined with his presentation of highly believable action results in his exceptionally engrossing tales of what our country used to cherish : doing what's right no matter the cost, standing true to your word, and protecting the innocent.
I highly recommend any of his works, especially after enjoying Gus again.
March 24, 2019
Gus was just so great!
I loved this sort of old fashioned western. It was well written and had the same values of the great westerns I have read in the past. I loved having the good guys getting ahead and the bad guys punished. Gus was just so outanding, regardless whether you agreed with the outcome or not. Well worth the time getting to know about this book. Well worth your time!
I loved this sort of old fashioned western. It was well written and had the same values of the great westerns I have read in the past. I loved having the good guys getting ahead and the bad guys punished. Gus was just so outanding, regardless whether you agreed with the outcome or not. Well worth the time getting to know about this book. Well worth your time!
June 18, 2019
Easy read...fun old time western flair.
I rea!ly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and full of action. The book is not complicated but has all the necessary elements for light reading. This book a!so made me want to follow this writer and see skills grow that are obvious. Highly recommend this book just could not quite give it give five stars. I will be shopping for more work by C.J. Petit.
I rea!ly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and full of action. The book is not complicated but has all the necessary elements for light reading. This book a!so made me want to follow this writer and see skills grow that are obvious. Highly recommend this book just could not quite give it give five stars. I will be shopping for more work by C.J. Petit.
April 20, 2020
A fascinating story of the of west and the people who made things happen
Gus loved work, had a keen eye for things needing repair, and a lifetime of skills to do nearly any task. He also had an appreciation for those who were struggling and who were bullied or taken advantage of. He was a good man, fast with fists and gun and determined to help. Gus made good things happen and bad people run. An outstanding tale with exceptional characters and well worth the time.
Gus loved work, had a keen eye for things needing repair, and a lifetime of skills to do nearly any task. He also had an appreciation for those who were struggling and who were bullied or taken advantage of. He was a good man, fast with fists and gun and determined to help. Gus made good things happen and bad people run. An outstanding tale with exceptional characters and well worth the time.
May 11, 2021
Great Western -
C.J. Petit has written an excellent story. Truthful, realistic, the story of the challenges, griefs and joys of Western frontier life. Not a work of finely crafted literature which loses you in the words and structure, it is a finely crafted tale about some of the men and women who built our nation and established the character of the nation. American western without varnish or foul language. 5 stars!
C.J. Petit has written an excellent story. Truthful, realistic, the story of the challenges, griefs and joys of Western frontier life. Not a work of finely crafted literature which loses you in the words and structure, it is a finely crafted tale about some of the men and women who built our nation and established the character of the nation. American western without varnish or foul language. 5 stars!
June 14, 2022
Louis L'Amour lives on
If you liked Louis L'Amour, you'll like Gus. This is a kind of feel good book about a good man that good things, and some bad, actually happened. The timeline moves a little fast. He is married (for eight minutes), loses the love of his life, but finds a new love of his life about a chapter later. Oh well, it's good fun and since so many BAD things happen to good people it's nice to read about one who is happy and does well in the end.
If you liked Louis L'Amour, you'll like Gus. This is a kind of feel good book about a good man that good things, and some bad, actually happened. The timeline moves a little fast. He is married (for eight minutes), loses the love of his life, but finds a new love of his life about a chapter later. Oh well, it's good fun and since so many BAD things happen to good people it's nice to read about one who is happy and does well in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews