The Stockton Saga 6: Mean to the Bone

Land west of the Mississippi in the late 1870’s is tagged ＂Wild West＂ by eastern civilization. Law abiding travelers are accustomed to malicious road agents, thieves, and other scoundrels who make a living taking from hapless folks who can’t defend themselves. Johanna Stockton rides the stagecoach from Bismarck, in the Dakota Territory toward the Colorado Territory when, without warning, the coach is attacked by a gang of outlaws. The driver and all passengers are robbed at gunpoint, then murdered. That is, except for Johanna who is held hostage as the band sets out for Mexico. Cole and Clay Stockton get wind of the situation. With one thought in their minds--＂they have our mother.＂ The lawmen set out in pursuit. A cavalry unit from Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory is on patrol when a few in the group kill their officer and other men before they desert and ride toward Montana and the gold strikes. They wreak havoc on innocent settlers as they pillage their way North. A troop of Cavalry along with U.S. Marshal Cole Stockton are on their trail. Doctor Carlin Simmons is kidnapped at gunpoint from his office by two hard men. He is taken deep into the Colorado Territory wilds to save several gunshot bank robbers from dying. The abductors threaten the doc with ＂them’s kinfolk. They die, you die.＂ The doctor closes his eyes in prayer that the ever-vigilant Cole Stockton reads the subtle signs in his office and links them to the robbery. Smokey Joe Walker, a friend of U.S. Marshal Cole Stockton is arrested and held in the Denver City Jail for breaking into the Wells Fargo and Company during the night. He is caught rummaging through files, but manages to telegraph Cole Stockton for help. When trail hardened outlaws escape local posses, a certain brand of lawman is summoned. These men know the territory that they ride and can read the trail signs. There is no place to hide from justice when the United States Marshal is on their trail.