The scruff of which legends are made…

Newly appointed to keep the peace in the small Arizona town of Sorrow’s End, U.S. Marshal Sean Rankin’s sorrows are just beginning. No sooner does he arrive in town with his new-found companion, Joshua – a Shakespeare-quoting Indian in need of a coffee fix – than he must chase after banditos who have kidnapped a young Apache girl.

Forming a posse, however, proves nearly impossible when the locals refuse to ride to the rescue of a hated enemy, no matter how young. Fortunately, the Army proves more cooperative – if not by much.

In league then only with Joshua, a couple of less than impressive Army recruits, and a scout the Apache have named The Shadow That Runs Before, Rankin rides to the rescue.

One rescue, however, leads to another when Rankin learns the banditos are holding other kidnapped children at the ranch serving as their headquarters.

Faced with a far superior force, Rankin must rely on help from a ragtag band of revolutionaries to help even the odds.

The trick then will be in telling the good guys from the bad.

(Western / Action Adventure – 63,000 words)