Black Range Revenge

Book excerpt: Gold fever hits Andrew Jackson Colton. Hard. At eighteen, the opportunity to acquire wealth calls to him. In August 1863, Andy rides into Birchville, the southwestern New Mexico Black Range town, headquarters for anything gold. Andy claims a spot along the stream and pans for gold. Unsuccessful, by first snowfall he’s ready to go home, try again when it’s warmer. However, friend Thomas O’Malley convinces Andy to join him—head farther into the Range to the mining berg of Mogollon. Andy encounters Apaches and is wounded, O’Malley killed. Andy stumbles into Mogollon, which has already been raided. He locates the single cabin occupied by a runaway slave, Dawson, who saves his life. Dawson forces Andy to work, and then hides him when Andy’s older brothers come looking. Dawson convinces the Apache to buy Andy, but the Apache keep Dawson and Andy as slaves. The Apache leader uses Andy as a lure for Andy’s brothers. The leader’s only objective: revenge for his brother’s death at the hands of James Colton. Still looking for Andy, the Colton brothers ride into Birchville, raided by the Apache. Andy and Dawson are used as bait and the Coltons take it. Everyone fights for their lives.