Which eccentric cowboy in Stockton County branded Evan Sting on Shotner Hill, murdering the young man? This is what private eye Joe Boxford asks himself when he's hired by Evan's father Benny to find the murderer. Joe needs some help, and enlists the services of Tal Linear, owner of The Linear Bar. But sparks begin to fly between the two. As romance heats up between them, they attempt to solve the branding crime. As the suspects start to pile up and weird relationships unfold in West Stockton, Joe and Tal begin to unravel a heinous crime. That is, until Tal vanishes and Joe thinks his sleuth buddy is going to be the killer's next victim. Does Joe have the skills needed to be a hero and save Tal from the killer's secret agenda and solve the crime? Or will Joe fall flat on his face and lose his reputation as a private investigator as well as his new lover, Tal Linear?

Stockton County Cowboys Book

That was the life of an addict, which was my burden, and the cross that I had to bear. Addiction was the devil in disguise, and a higher power of darkness that could only reach out of hell and grasp me with a menacing hold. One slip and I could be under its dangerous power again, binging just as my mother had, and reaching death with a relentless desire to drink.


I thought of Tal instead of liquor. The man had a power over me that could draw my attention away from whiskey. I wanted to be addicted to the bar owner and not to alcohol. Why not, since it seemed safer?


Chapter 23