Howdy folks,
Welcome to the August exclusive newsletter-only preview of my next Sheriff Sol Redding adventure. This is from the first draft of the book as it stands today – it may change a little (or a lot!) by the time I publish. I just wanted to give you a taste of what’s coming…
The scene: Sol and Jasper track down an outlaw to a local whiskey haunt- the Double Aught saloon. Sol wants to go in alone, but Jasper’s dog has other ideas, leading to disaster…
*starts*
“AWFUL QUIET IN there.”
Sol squinted at the batwing doors of the Double Aught saloon, swinging and creaking in the breeze. He looked up and down First Street from his vantage point across the intersection with Main Street. “Awful quiet out here, too.”
Jasper bit his lip and nodded. His dog Gizzard scampered away and squeezed under the boardwalk out the front of the restaurant across the street. “All the more reason to let me join you.”
“No, stay here.” Sol held Jasper back as he walked slowly towards the saloon. Jasper tried to duck under the sheriff’s arm, but Sol grabbed him by the collar. The pair struggled up onto the boardwalk outside the Double Aught. Sol shoved Jasper against the wall and pulled out his Colt Walker. “I’m only goin’ to say this once,” he growled. “This here blunderbuss is a big enough handicap. The last thing I need is you gettin’ in the way.”
“You can’t go in there on your own,” Jasper sputtered. He patted the canvas satchel hanging from his shoulder. “You need backup. To watch your back, you understand?”
Sol sighed, then pointed at the batwing doors. “Fine, but all bets are off once we get inside. Let’s get this over with.”
A mudwagon rumbled past, stirring up clouds of orange dust in its wake. Sol stepped off the boardwalk back out onto the street. He jammed his Colt into the worn holster hanging from his gun belt. He stared along Main Street, stroking his chin. Jasper followed his gaze. The thoroughfare was quiet.
The street silently watched them back. Sol reached for the Double-Aught’s swinging doors. Gizzard suddenly burst into view from under the restaurant, bolted across the street, hurdled the boardwalk, and headed straight for the saloon’s entrance.
Jasper cursed and dived for the dog but missed and stumbled into Sol. The sheriff flew headlong through the batwing doors and disappeared inside. Jasper yelled in terror and leaped off the boardwalk. He took off, arms flailing, down Main Street and disappeared around a corner.
Inside the saloon, Sol staggered off-balance and almost toppled over a table in the dim light. A gun boomed in the darkness and the sheriff fell to the floor. Gizzard yelped and ran back out into the sunlight, covered in blood.
The street watched silently. The Double-Aught’s doors swung and squeaked in the breeze.
What did you think? Like it? Hate it? Let me know at nick@nickbrumbywesterns.com
