With his rifle in his left hand, Sam drew his Colt and leveled it at the men.

“Stand fast!” he shouted. “Drop the guns! Hands in the air!”

Bootlip Thomas and Murray Bratcher wouldn’t hear of it. They came to a halt, but their pistols came up firing. One shot whistled past Sam Burrack’s head before he let the hammer fall. Bratcher twisted in a half circle, then collapsed with a bullet through his chest. Another shot grazed Sam’s forearm as he turned his aim to Bootlip Thomas, re-cocking the big Colt, and dropped him face-down in the dusty trail.

Sam stepped forward with caution. He reached out with his boot and kicked the still-breathing Bootlip’s pistol away from his hand. Bootlip gasped and tried to raise his face and speak. All that came out was a choked cough.

“Save it,” said the Ranger, “I’ve heard it all before.” “Cotton’s blend of history and imagination works because authentic Old West detail and dialogue fill his books.” —Wild West Magazine