Short Westerns

Provocations of the spirit world leave us no alternative but to welcome the modern Western prose of David Randall Shorey, and his story about the legendary anti-hero known as Mojave Miles. This tale tells us that the only war worth fighting is for the protection of wayward ladies and no-good horses! Never officially ordained as a vigilante, his vengeance on the Amargosa was accepted as having been handed down by sage angels.

Finding out what really happened to Gunplay Maxwell was not easy. He was a bank and train robber known for the skill with which he pulled off every job. Yet, when one of those explosions in a baggage car left him hard of hearing and nearly blind in one eye, there seemed to be no future for him. He was reduced to raiding backyard chicken coops to stay alive. But his last ride would make him a rich man and remain alive to tell about it.

Alice came to Robber's Roost to write a story - and found herself the kiss-besieged heroine of a big bad wolf...and a guitar-strummin' ghost. She got first-hand savvy on romantic plots - when a phantom desperado haunted her house...and her heart. One of the most popular settings for romance stories was the old west, where men were men and women were women. As many a swooning damsel could attest, "There's something about a cowboy."

Morgan Scanlon came home from town to find his wife and three children slaughtered by marauders. He begins a search for six killers.

Sycamore Smith has been moving from town to town in search of his brother and his girl for nearly a year. Now, while working a cattle-wrangling job with a motley crew of riders, further details of his brother’s disappearance are about to become known.

Tessa and Jake had known each other since infants. But it took one drunken night for them to realize that they were made for each other. The Cowboy's Bride by Danielle Lee Zwissler is one of 2013's sweetest love stories. It takes an arch, a romantic cowboy and a dream of forever for this couple to get together.

Lovely Lucky made a reckless bet with conniving Caleb - hoping to find a way to handsome Sid's arms. Her betting folly won her a kiss - and an unwelcome sweetheart.

Beth didn't mind being an empty-headed flirt - if her arms were full of Jimmy. Jimmy's intoxicatin' caressin' had her dizzy in the head - until she learned the luscious reason why he was practicin' his technique. One of the most popular settings for romance stories was the old west, where men were men and women were women. As many a swooning damsel could attest, "There's something about a cowboy."

Stories of the old West were filled with bad men who lived by the speed of their gun hands. Well, meet Buck Tarrant, who could outdraw them all. His secret: He didn't even have to reach for his weapon. This original blend of the Western tale with a story of the uncanny, "The Draw" was written by Jerome Bixby, an American short story writer, editor, and scriptwriter best known for his work in science fiction, although he also wrote many Westerns.

A massive swarm of grasshoppers threatens every ranch in the area. There's only one way to save everyone - set fire to one man's land. But they may have to shoot him first.

A motley crew, banished from a Western town, find strength, and weakness, in each other.

When Callie jumped on a plane to Montana and the ranch of her cousin, she couldn't remember ever having done such a reckless deed before, but looking up into the sexy eyes of Joel Masters, she didn't regret a single thing. Callie knew this vacation would be short-lived, she had an established career in music to return to, but she wasn't sure if that life appealed to her any more. After only a few short days in the vast plains of Montana, living amongst people whose values were based on actions and not appearance.

It was 1862, and what a year it was. A man by the name of Jesse Wells was about to become a legend, but not the kind of legend to be proud of. Jesse had a mean temper, and when the Saloon doors swung open things got quiet, and people scattered. Jesse would enter the Saloon, spit a wad of tobacco juice on the floor, and shoot his six-shooter in the air and say, "Where's my whiskey?"

Donald P. Lassiter was sent to Waco, Texas, to get a story on one of the last cowboys to ride the trail behind longhorns. He found Cade Cody "Skeeter" Sawyer. Skeeter spent his early years with a circus, then as a lawman and soldier. He tried to be a mountain man. Follow along as Skeeter tells his story in his own words.

During General Woll's invasion of Texas, the phrase, 'Remember the Alamo' is a powerful bond for some of those who face him and his army at the Battle of Salado Creek.

Gather round the campfire for these tall tales and 14 more in this collection of weird Westerns by Paul Victor Wargelin. Saddle up with Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill Cody, and George Armstrong Custer on uncanny adventures never covered in the history books, and where witches, werewolves, and zombies can be found among the cacti and sagebrush.

In the early 1890s, after the financial panic, Colorado is changing from mining to ranching. A local merchant, Eli, holds most of the money and the power in the county. Then a stranger arrives and starts to court the merchant's daughter - and the problems begin.

As he comes of age, Ed Raleigh disobeys his wealthy rancher father, Pete Raleigh, and escapes to the Bald Eagle Mountains to prospect for ore. When he stops at the town of Sierra Padre, he visits his father's old haunts and meets up with many of his father's old friends. One former friend, Jim Martin, however, is now his father’s sworn enemy who he has vowed to kill Pete Raleigh for taking away the woman they both loved, now Ed Raleigh's mother. Ed Raleigh is shocked and worried, for how will a declared murder attempt on his own father be prevented?

Six stories continuing the search for treasure and the questions of the Old West as seen through various perspectives. Total of 28K words, this is part 2 in the series, and the stories are interconnected.

Sometimes it's tough to be Lucy O'Rourke. Disasters of all sorts seem to seek out this globe-trotting photographer. Whether it's on a raft in Cataract Canyon, a crocodile attack on the Amazon, a hurricane in the Gulf Stream or even the two-legged kind (men), Lucy just can't seem to help making the wrong choice at precisely the wrong moment. This collection of eleven linked stories features the unique blending of romance and adventure that is the trademark of Pam Houston.