"Tales from the Dead Lands (End)"
by AEParker007
The next morning, the four presented themselves at Katherine Bradley’s doorstep with their story and evidence in hand. She listened carefully and sighed with relief as they told her how they’d destroyed Deputy Black.
“I will need to arrest the Sheriff, I suppose,” she said. “For bringing a great evil to our town. Forgive me for being so peculiar with you yesterday. I was much a’feared for my family, should I cross the Sheriff by talking to you overmuch. I wasn’t sure how he found out his information.”
“We understand completely,” Marion assured her. “We deal with this sort of thing quite often.” Kateri, Rose, and Abie nodded.
“We do not know where he is, however,” Rose said, “nor do we know if he is aware of Black’s…departure.”
“I will take care of him,” Katherine Bradley said.
“We’d best be on our way, then,” Kateri said, standing. She put out a hand and Katherine shook it.
“Godspeed, ladies,” she said. “Thank you for your work in Dolan Springs.”
“Our pleasure, Ms. Bradley.”
The return trip upriver was uneventful. The women made their report to Agent Plant and were asked to return to Fort Five-One for their next assignment.
Welcome to the Weird West. The year is 1879, but the history is not our own. The guns of the Civil War are silent thanks to a tense cease-fire between North and South. California is shattered by the Great Quake of ’68, a new superfuel called ghost rock is revealed in the flooded channels and buried in the cliff faces that loom above. Powerful Rail Barons strive to be the first to complete a transcontinental railroad, and the Great Rail Wars exact a bloody toll on an American frontier divided between not only the Union and Confederacy, but the Sioux Nation, the Mormon state of Deseret, and the Independent Commonwealth of California. Amid the chaos, fortunes can be made by those bold enough to make their way West. These brave souls have more than plain old human violence to contend with. Something’s going on in the West, something downright nasty. Fear stalks the land like a hungry beast, and abominations from man’s myths and nightmares haunt the High Plains. Legends tell of ancient and powerful beings that thrive on the fear created by these horrific creatures. All around, the night grows darker and the shadows grow longer as evil twists the land. Arrayed against the forces of darkness are the heroes of the Weird West: Grim gunslingers, spell slinging hucksters, brilliant mad scientists, and wizened Indian shamans stake their souls and fortunes on the battle against the evils of the frontier, and often lay down their very lives for the cause of righteousness and light. And sometimes, death is not the end. Back in the Saddle!
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One Comment on “Tales from the Dead Lands (End)”
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I love this story. It ended too soon. Good job, but I need some background. Who are these ladies? What drew them together, that sort of thing. The sign of a good story is to leave the reader wanting more.