By western author Nick Brumby

“Don’t mess with Texas, boy, it’s the last mistake you’ll ever make.”*

This is Texas Ranger James Hawkins, circa 1875. And that’s a stare that would stop a bullet dead in its tracks.

James Hawkins enlisted in Company D of the Rangers in Blanco in 1874 under Captain Rufus Perry and rode with most of the famous rangers of his day. Later he was a lawman in Montana where, in 1894, this was written about him:

“James B. Hawkins… is a model Sheriff. He neither drinks intoxicants nor uses tobacco in any form; nor did he use a dollar in his campaign for office, while his opponents both Democratic and Republican, spent money liberally and called our subject the “ghost dance” candidate… He is both vigilant and wisely courageous and withal a genial gentleman.”

We could use a few more like him, huh?

From the beginning, the legendary Texas Rangers were part of the mystique of the Old West. Although popular culture’s image of the Rangers is typically one of rough living, tough talk and a quick draw, Ranger Captain John “Rip” Ford described the men who served him as “a company of sober and brave men. They knew their duty and they did it. While in a town they made no braggadocio demonstration. They did not gallop through the streets, shoot, and yell. They had a specie of moral discipline which developed moral courage. They did right because it was right.”

*No, that’s not a real quote from Hawkins, I made it up – but I’d like to think it’s the sort of thing he would have said to some low-down ornery bottom-feedin’ sidewinder…

About Nick Brumby

I like a good story. And of all stories, I love westerns the most.

As a kid, I spent far too many afternoons re-watching Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, picking up ‘Shane’ for just one more read, or saddling up beside Ben Cartwright when ‘Bonanza’ was on TV each afternoon.

I’m a former journalist and I love horses, dogs, and the occasional bourbon whiskey. I live with my wife, daughter and our ever-slumbering hound in a 1800’s-era gold mining town – our house is right on top of the last working gold mine in the area. There may not be much gold left, but there’s history wherever you look.

I hope you enjoy my westerns as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Happy trails,

Nick