Category: Western Publisher: PublishAmerica
ISBN-10: 1606728792
Type: Fiction
Pages: 174
Copyright: August 1, 2008
ISBN-13: 9781606728796
True to form western fiction set in the late 1800's. Written to be just the first in a continuing series of exciting adventures.
"The Empty Shotgun" is true to form western fiction set in the late 1800's. Written to be just the first in a continuing series of adventures, the story depicts a wild journey with the title character named Riley Bennett who was born and raised in the mountains of Virginia. Bennett's father and best friend are murdered and his younger sister is abducted by a gang of outlaws. This exciting and compelling rendition tells the story of Riley's journey to attempt the rescue the young girl and to deliver his own brand of justice to those responsible for the murders of the others.
Excerpt
The riders abruptly pulled their horses to a halt directly in front of the cabin as Riley, his eyes studying their movements, stepped silently from the doorway onto the porch. It was a cool, clear night and the moonlight shone brightly on the mountainside. Riley remained in the shadow of the porch roof and could see the men clearly in the moonlight.
A big man, obviously the leader of the rest, stood in his stirrups and barked loudly toward Riley who was barely visible to him in the shadows, "We have a man hurt here, he needs help." Riley, already feeling surly from having his sleep disturbed and more than a little irritated by the man's arrogant tone, replied, "The nearest doctor is in Cartersville, `bout eight miles south on the main road." Riley could see one of the riders leaning forward in his saddle, nearly falling from it at that point. Angered by Riley's matter-of-fact attitude, the big man quickly stepped down from his horse and Riley slipped the leather thong from the Colt revolver that now hung from his right hip. The big man took one step toward the porch and spoke again, even louder this time, "We ain't got time for all that, this man needs help now!”
Riley, at age twenty, had been in more than his share of fights and was accustomed to winning most of them however, he had never shot a man nor even been involved in any kind of gunfight. He also knew that he would stand very little chance against the three healthy and armed men that he now faced but as usual, his temper quickly overtook his good sense. The black hair on the back of his neck bristled a bit as he stepped out of the shadow into the moonlight toward the bigger man, and in a flat and meaningful voice he said, "There's no one here to help him, take your man and ride out."
The big man had once again started toward Riley who now stood on the top step to the porch, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Riley heard the slight creak of the cabin door behind him, but he didn't turn to look, and staring straight at the big man he could see his eyes in the moonlight looking past him. Standing motionless for a long moment, as if trying to make a decision, the big man turned and climbed back into his saddle. He looked directly at Riley and growled viciously, "You're a mighty unfriendly sort boy, there'll come a time when you'll regret that."
Riley had to grit his teeth but didn't reply. He stood ready, watching every movement of the men as they turned to ride away. Only when they were gone from his sight did he turn to see Claudia standing in the doorway of the cabin in her mother‘s robe, their father’s double-barreled shotgun still at her shoulder and a terrified look on her face. Riley took the heavy gun from her trembling hands and hugged her warmly as they entered the cabin and lit the lamp hanging in the kitchen.
Claudia, obviously shaken by the events of the night, sat down quietly at the table and stared at the floor, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to keep them from shaking. "That was a fool thing to do Sis," Riley said as he turned to look at her. "But I’m sure grateful, are you alright?" It was several minutes before Claudia spoke, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "Do you think they'll come back, Rye?" Riley thought for a moment and said, "Seems to me they were in too much of a hurry to be hangin' around very long, but don’t you fret none, I'll be keepin' a close watch."
He thought of the big man that he had faced and the cold viciousness that had been in his voice. Even as Riley spoke he opened the shotgun, more out of habit than anything conscious, just to check the loads. Once again the hair on the back of his neck bristled, but not from anger this time, as the shotgun was empty!
Professional Reviews
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Western fans will be thrilled with J. R. Primm’s Riley Bennett in The Empty Shotgun. When outlaws murder his father and kidnap his sister, Riley begins the hard journey that will bring him face to face with danger, hardship, and pain in his quest to find his sister and seek justice. Movies are made of this caliber plot. I like a good western, and Primm certainly writes one. Riley Bennett in The Empty Shotgun is written in a simple, pleasant style sure to please readers.
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