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

I knew where Ian lived, or at least stayed at while he was out of the cage. Sharp Alley was known for its hookers, meth, and the location to buy a gun. 482 Sharp was an abandoned button factory that had been closed for the last four years. Its offices were now used as residences for drug users, hustlers, and down on their luck strays in the city. Homeless people lived in the basement, if they could survive the cold winters.


Ian and a bunch of his loser pals resided on the second floor, which I visited. Tal wanted to come along for the ride, but I knew it was too dangerous and told him he wasn’t tagging along, protecting the man.


The elevator inside the building was nonworking so I made my way up the single flight of steps, which smelled of rat shit and various types of vomit. Once on the second floor I made a right, walked down a narrow and dimly lit hallway, and came to a wooden door. I heard loud country music playing behind the door and cowgirls hooting.


Chapter 34