Ralph Compton Ride for Justice

Informationen zum Autor Robert J. Randisi Klappentext In this fast-paced new installment in bestseller Ralph Compton's The Gunfighter series, a man wrongly convicted of a crime is out of jail and looking for vengeance. Matt Wheeler was a legend in the West. His fast gun and dedication for justice made him a sought-after lawman for hire, but all of that vanished one dark night. Matt was convicted of murder for killing the man who killed his woman. Now he's spent his time in jail and is looking to even the score against the men who set him up. Leseprobe Chapter ONE   After prison, 1889 . . .   The main gates of Yuma Territorial Prison opened. A man walked two steps forward, stopped, and took a deep breath. Just a few feet away from the prison, and the air smelled different.   His clothes were loose on him. When he had gone to prison seven and a half years ago to serve a twelve-year stretch, he'd been a bigger, healthier man. Now he was about thirty pounds lighter-even with the governor's pardon in his pocket.   He looked down at his shirtfront and could see the pinholes left from where he used to wear his badge. They had been hard on him when they sentenced him because he had been a lawman. But the new governor had given him his pardon because he was an ex-lawman. So the tin had gotten him in, and the tin had gotten him out.   He started walking. No one was there to greet him or pick him up, but that was okay. He wanted to walk, because these were his first steps as a free man in seven and a half years, and he wanted to enjoy every one of them.     Matthew Wheeler was released from Yuma with enough money for a meal and a hotel room. HeÕd had a shave and a quick bath before being released.   When he got to the center of town, he paused to take in the activity around him. People were going about the business of living. In prison, they went about the business of just existing, just trying to get by, to survive until they were released or died.   Here people walked around with smiles on their faces, without haunted looks in their eyes. Granted, some of them looked at him and could tell he'd just been released. But several women actually smiled at him, and those smiles lifted his spirits, even though he knew they stemmed from pity.   He stopped in the first restaurant he came to, a small caf, and ordered a steak dinner. The waitress, a middle-aged, faded-looking woman, brought him a mug of beer while he waited for his meal.   "On the house, honey," she said, "'cause you just got out."   "Thank you."   His first sip of beer in seven and a half years went down as smooth as silk. His first bite of steak was a revelation. After that, he wolfed down both the meal and the brew, and the waitress brought him a second mug.   "No more after that, though, honey," she said. "You're gonna have to get used to drinkin' again."   "Thanks."   "You're also gonna need a job," she said. "We could use somebody here to wash dishes."   "Wash dishes?" he repeated.   "Look," she said, putting her hands on her hips. Other diners were watching the exchange. "We've had lots of ex-cons work here when they first got out. They saved their money and then moved on. You can do the same. And there's a rooming house near here that's cheap. Interested?"   "To tell you the truth," Matt said, "I ain't thought past this meal."   "Well, think it over while you finish," she suggested. "You can let me know when you're done." She started to turn away, then turned back and said, "Oh, yeah, if you take the job, this meal's on the house."   While Matt finished his meal, he wondered how many other places in Yuma offered the same extras-a job and a place to stay. And what did they get from it? Satisf...

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Ralph Compton, Robert J Randisi, Robert J. Randisi
• Editore: Berkley Publishing Group
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 31.10.2020
• EAN: 9780593102268
• ISBN: 978-0-593-10226-8
• Pagine: 320
• Dimensioni: 106 mm x 171 mm x 22 mm
• Serie: The Gunfighter Series
• Categoria: Narrativa > Romanzi