Bloodshed in Antelope Springs
Bloodshed in Antelope Spring
Following on from
Wayne Winkle’s A Dangerous Beginning,
we find John Tailer Bishop’s talents are in demand.
*****
After a successful
hunt for Maggie Rankin, John Bishop is asked to look for a missing man and his
wife. Their trail led to Antelope Spring, Arizona Territory.
A young man named Cruz Andrus goes with him and provides some help. One great help
is that Cruz can cook. That’s what seals the deal for Bishop.
Grant Stratman is buying all the land he can around Antelope Spring to provide
timber and beef for the railroad workers when the tracks are laid. Bishop finds
the man and his wife may be “guests” of Stratman’s.
In order to find the couple, Bishop must first get past a hired gun, Reuben
Blake, then a hired killer, Saunders. Even then, there’s no guarantee the
couple is still alive.
Surprise after surprise greet Bishop on his journey.
*****
It seems a simple
enough job, doesn’t it? To go and search for a missing couple in the area they
were last seen. The trouble is, Grant Stratman doesn’t see it that way. He’s dreaming
of the future. A future that – if things go his way – will make him rich and
influential. Very rich. And incredibly influential. And the missing married
couple? Well, they’re standing in the way of his dreams.
And therein lies
the problem. Greed – pure and simple – makes usually sane people act in stupid
ways. That, and an overconfident, bullying nature makes Stratman think he can
get away with anything to secure the future he wants.
Well, he can
certainly try. But if there’s one thing were learning about John Bishop, is
that he can’t abide bullies. And when it comes to doing the right thing, he’s
doggedly persistent, and will see things through to the end, ensuring we’re in
for one hell of a ride.
As before, the
pace of the story rolls along at an engaging tempo. There’s plenty of action.
Sharp dialogue. We learn a lot about Bishop’s values. About the philosophy of
those settling the wide open reaches of the far west. About the hurdles they
have to overcome in everyday life. It involves you from the outset and keeps
you rooting for the good guys.
So, what can I say? Other than I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to what Bishop gets up to next. . .
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