Nineteen-year-old budding gunslinger Ben Wylie sparks the interest of Cal Decker, the real thing, when the older man keeps the younger from a needless killing. Smitten, Cal attempts to reel in the hotheaded Ben, only to be drawn into such an extent he assists the kid in escaping after a shooting. Even as Cal sees Ben as the worst kind of killer, the kind looking for more, he cannot resist Ben’s youthful attributes. Cal uses his years of experience to outwit the law, but can these men have a life together on the run? Cal is willing to try.

Roughshod

I rode until dusk, stopping twice at the river to drink alongside Red, to rest and piss such as was needed. I half expected to come upon Ben lying on his bedroll, dozing in the shade, hand in his pants. I’d done that often in younger years. Now I always waited until dark surrounded me to indulge.


I wasn’t going to try and get Ben to go back to Tombstone and face justice as that would deprive me of his company. His business with the law was not my concern. Ours was a personal connection, I reasoned, and I could pursue that without breaking the law, though the law might see it different.


He’ll stay in Contention, I decided. Or no, he’ll camp outside town after taking a meal there. And a drink or two. I could see him strutting in a saloon, that fifth man weighing on him in the worst way, stirring him up instead of shutting him down.


Chapter 7