COMING TO AMAZON LATE FALL 2019:
Injured gunslinger and wanted man Wyatt Black is out of options and almost out of time. He's about to take a chance and do something he has never done before in his entire life; place his trust and his life in a complete strangers' hands...
Widowed farmer Lars Gunderson has seen a thing or two more than he lets on and knows he should send this man away but something in his young son Will's passionate plea to save the strangers' life makes him relent, a decision that will profoundly change all three men forever.
The violent world of gunslingers and cattle rustlers colliding with the peaceful world of farmers and settlers sets the backdrop for this epic tale of coming of age, first love, friendship, and redemption.
Tags: NA, A, MM, MMF, Romance, May/December
Triggers: Alcohol, toxic relationship
"Paw! Paw!"
Ethan's father snapped back to reality as he felt his hands overflowing with blood.
"We have to help him. You're gonna help him ain'tcha paw?" His young son looked at him with pleading eyes. "Paw!"
Lars looked down at the unconscious man, rapidly bleeding out under him right on his front porch. The clothing he was wearing alone bespoke of trouble and the shiny six-shooter at the man's hip only further confirmed it. There was no telling just what kind of danger the man had been entangled in or how more could soon be following behind him.
"Son, you don't know about these things like your daddy. This is not a good man. We cannot get involved. Best thing for us to do is get him back on his horse and send him on his way."
Will looked at his father in complete shock and disbelief. "Paw! How can you say that? We don't know anything about him! We can't just send him off and let him die! We HAVE to help him!"
Lars struggled to find a compromise as the stranger's blood began to overflow out of his hands from the wound in his back, a small river of ruby red snaking its way from underneath him and across the pristine white paint of his front porch steps...
"All right then boy. If you insist on gettin yerself involved then I'll stay with him while you ride into town 'n fetch Doc Ryan."
"Paw! He'll be dead by the time I get back 'n you know it! Now, what would our mama have done? Would she send you into town while a man bled hisself out on our front porch or would the man already be inside with you tendin' to him?"
Lars did not want his son to be right. ANY other time but now devil be damned! He looked up at the heavens knowing full well his beloved Ingrid was calling to him and his sense of Christian duty. He looked at his son who was looking down at the rough face of the stranger, tenderly brushing the man's long hair out of his eyes as if to offer him some comfort in what could very possibly be his last moments. Will looked up at his father, hot tears streaming down his flushed face.
"Daddy... please!"
Lars saw the look in his boy's eyes. A look of fear and panic as would be expected in such a situation but also something more. Something that he didn't recognize and wasn't sure he was ready to acknowledge. He couldn't think about that now. His beautiful wife's voice in his head reminding him "You always know the right thing to do Lars..." was enough.
"Grab the oilcloth n lay it on your bed. Boil some water n fetch my bag. Be damn quick about it boy! We ain't got much time...