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Bain's name is a combination of my paternal and maternal grandfathers. John Henry and Bain being their given names were combined to create my bounty hunters full name. Two men that were very important to me as a child. I used the name for my days competing in SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) better known as Cowboy Action Shooting. At the time I wrote the first story about him, I chose the name because of the connection to my Grandpa and my PaPa. Since both my granddads were old, the first tale I featured John in he was old.
When I wrote his first adventure, this man, an aging former gunfighter turned gunsmith, must drag his guns out one more time. I don't remember much about what other's thought of the story, but I liked it, and I really liked Bain. The teacher, a wonderful woman now in her late 80's or early 90's, loved it and began to urge me to write more.
I continued to write about Bain on legal pads and kept them in a box. At some point, I can't quite remember exactly when I started writing longer stories about other characters. That notwithstanding, I returned to Bain often, writing about different periods in his life. I never attempted to get any of John Henry's stories published but kept those short stories in the same box as all my other writing.
In the late 70's I did try to get stories published. Had one novel that a publisher said, "Show's promise, make these changes, and we will review the book again." Unfortunately, I was going through a divorce at the time, then a remarriage and yet another divorce. So, five years after the fact I open my box to make those changes (and yes much too late to have the publisher remember it) and all my notes, short stories, outlines, and completed novels have been shredded.
This event set me back, about 25 years. Eventually, I rewrote the full-length novel, a western. Now, I'm exploring Bain once again. If you are a fan of westerns, you might check it out John Henry Bain Bounty Hunter, right here on Storiesonline. Follow me on Facebook, or check out my webpage.
A new western submitted for you're approval. John Henry Bain, Bounty Hunter ... The Texas winter of 1868-1869 was mild on the plains now known as the Texas Panhandle. On the lonely plains, ten fleeing bandits bent on freedom had no Idea how violent the Comanche defended their territory could be. The posse trailing them had thinned to just one relentless man, and the bandits figured they would lose him in the twisting canyon ahead. The ten desperate men rode into the Palo Duro Canyon, with John Henry Bain following a few hours behind. The bandits had thought that Bain was their biggest problem - until they encountered the Indians. Following them into the canyon, Bain tracked them. Would he capture them, or meet his end at the hands of the blood-thirsty Comanche?
I got my next tale of the old west back from the editor a bit earlier than I thought I would. I posted it for you guys to read and hope you like it. What is it they say about hope? It springs eternal, right. Any way this one is set in October of 1865 and features a character I'm pretty fond of, Deputy US Marshal Wounded Hawk a half-bred college educated Indian. Eighteen-sixty-five is probably a tad bit early for a man of mixed blood being a deputy marshal, but if you can't stretch the truth a smidge now-n-again why write at all? So, I hope you take a cotton to Hawk as well, pull up chair, sit down and check out this little account I call Beyond the Mountain.
Deputy US Marshal Wounded Hawk is ready to head back to Golden City, after taking a prisoner to Estes Park, Colorado. But when a group of bandits decide to pick that particular bank to rob, Hawk and the local Marshal's posse set out in pursuit. The half breed Marshal will need all his Indian tracking skills to catch up to this band of outlaws. But the posse are ill prepared for the gang leader's relentless pursuit of freedom.
I'd appreciate it if you took the time to read the story. If you like it hate it or even if you think it's the worst sort of trash ever written feel free to drop me a note saying so. Good, Bad, or Ugly your opinion matters to me.
I'm embarrassed to admit I had to go back and edit this!
I'm preparing another western short story to put up on here. I should have it up by Monday, it's called Beyond the Mountain. I Wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my first story on here in forever, Missing the Mark. Those who voted for the story, thanks a million, no matter what the vote was. Contractual obligations with my publisher prevent anything they publish from being published any other way. This mandated that I remove my work from here, but recently I have started posting free stories with online magazines. They aren't for sale, so they can be released here also. I may also publish short stories just for here.
I have my own website now and have a blog on there also with different entries than on here. If anyone wants to know my website, just drop me a message and I'll give you a link to that. You can sign up for a newsletter on my site if you want and receive information from me (I don't bombard anyone with junk).
It is doubtful that I post anything during November, as I will be doing the NaNoWriMo thing again this year. It's a great event, a worthy cause, and a lot of fun to try and write a complete novel of at least 50,000 words in 30 days. Wish me luck. I failed last year, for the first time, in my attempt. I have titled the novel which I have already outlined for the contest Michelle Tanner Deputy Marshal, and it will be published by Red Kitty's Publishing. Writers and readers, I urge you to check out NaNoWriMo. Participate, contribute, and support school libraries all over the world.
Well, that's enough for now. All the best to all the folks here, you're the greatest group of readers.
After a prolonged absence I have returned to post some westerns to Storiesonline to post a western or two for your reading enjoyment. The first story for your perusal is called Missing the Mark and it is the tale of a deadly shootout between the best of friends. What could drive two men who share livelihood, food, booze and even women do that would make them want to kill one another? Did one cheat the other at cards? Steal the others best gal? Did he short sheet his bed? No, he burnt a pancake.
Give 'er a read and drop me a note letting me know how you like it, dislike it, love it, or even hate it. It is a short, short story, so won't take you long.
Missing the Mark
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