Sam Bolton Ex-Texas Ranger: Book 1: Duty Bound

A Western Adventure by Ronnie Ashmore

For ex-Texas Ranger Sam Bolton life was good. He had a successful ranch, a beautiful wife, and was content. Until he gets word a dangerous outlaw is coming for him. An outlaw that has built a reputation that rivals any Sam has ever heard of. Now all Sam has worked for has been threatened, forcing Sam to make the toughest decision of his life. Tom Bowdry made his reputation as killer. Lightning Sam Bolton made his years ago as a symbol of justice. When these two meet, bullets will surely fly.

EXCERPT
Caroline dropped her rifle. Sam appeared in the opening of the cave. Then she was in his arms and the tears were flowing. Sam held her and let her cry. Not rushing her, not talking. Just holding her and stroking her tangled hair.
Shiloh usually went somewhere else when they hugged on each other. Now he had nowhere to go. So, he picked up the rifle Caroline had dropped and pretended to examine it.
Eventually, Caroline broke the embrace and stepped back. Sam looked at Shiloh examining a rifle.
“Shiloh didn’t think you were around.”
Shiloh looked at Sam, “How’d you know to get back here so fast?”
Sam looked at Caroline, then at Shiloh, “Just did. Although I wasn’t in time to save the house or the men.”
“No. Bowdry set fire to the bunkhouse and pinned the boys inside. Me and Shiloh were in the main house. They fired it. But I took our route we talked about.”
“You did good. So did you Shiloh,” Sam said.
Shiloh looked at him, “Boss, I failed in everything. I lost the ranch. I lost the men. We had to run to a cave to hide.”
“Shiloh, your main job was to protect Caroline. She’s alive. You did a good job.”
Shiloh was silent a moment, words caught in his throat. He felt a tear forming in his eyes. Sam saved him the embarrassment.
“We have to get off this mountain. Two of Bowdry’s men are dead. Although you get credit for the one gut shot.”
Briefly, Sam explained the happenings outside the cave.
“Bowdry ran off?”
“Yeah. He proved himself a coward when it comes to one on one. Now he has to kill us. His reputation will take a hit if he don’t. Once word gets out, the big reputation he built will crumble. So, as we go down, keep a sharp eye out. He will try to kill from ambush, I think.”
No one said a word. Each knew what must be done and the man out there that wanted them all dead.