I'm pleased to report that renowned Western blogger Richard Prosch has now had a
second Western story published on
The Western Online. This tale, like his first, features hardbitten John Coburn, a man with a big reputation who fears his best years are behind him.
Coburn's past exploits have earned him the nickname The Peregrine. To some that name commands respect, in others it incites challenge or prompts derision. Now Coburn just wants to get along, but trouble has a way of finding him, and backing down is not part of his make up.
For a proper introduction, I suggest you start with the first of the series, "Last Day at Red Horizon," then move right on to the new story, "Regina's War." If you're not a Richard Prosch fan already, these two tales are sure to do the trick.
Here are the direct links:
"Last Day at Red Horizon"
"Regina's War"
And just to whet your Western appetite, here are the opening paragraphs of "Regina's War":
An awkward leap brought him down on the hardpan, bones crunching, guts piling into his throat. He refused to give in, but John Coburn was wearing out fast. He hauled himself to his feet and, stifling the urge to curse, spit into the wind. "You want to try that again?" he said.
Coburn uncoiled in the air like a whip, both hands grasping wildly for purchase. This time he caught hold, and the bull calf bellowed with rage, his back hooves kicking wildly. With both hands clamped around its tail, Coburn growled, "You ain't going nowhere now!" But another kick made him a liar, and he hit the ground.
Lightning flashed. Ignoring the taste of blood on his lips, Coburn looked at a far distant tide of green and black flowing up from the horizon toward the evening sun. Some good-sized hailstones in them clouds, he thought. As the thunder rolled over him, Coburn stood and watched the calf lope away.
This time he cursed.
This is great stuff! Enjoy the stories at
The Western Online, then be sure to pay Rich a visit over at
Meridian Bridge.
