I Am A Roving Gambler: Two Stories
Of The West by Bill Crider features two previously
published in the late 90s western short stories. Each tale also features a hero
that is, in fact, a roving gambler who will also solve a mystery. A hero that
found the intoxicating allure of gambling despite the presence of a preacher father
who did a fiery sermon in a booming voice as he rode the circuit in the old
west.
In “Wherever I Meet With A Deck Of
Cards” our hero has been invited by Red Collins, owner of the Bad Dog Saloon,
to play for the house. He is an honest gambler and prefers to stay on the move,
but he could use some steady money and Red clearly could use the help. He has
two gamblers working for him already and both of them are lousy. Red is
losing a lot of money each night and he needs the help of the man some call
“The Preacher’s Kid.” The deal between them is struck and our hero best keep
his wits about him at the poker table as well as away from it.
That western mystery tale is
followed by “Lay My Money Down.” Told as a detailed reminiscence, the gambler
spent some time in a really bad town known as Vinegaroon years ago. Possibly
named after a scorpion, Vinegaroon is a place is on the Rio Grande somewhere
west of the Pecos. The Sunset Railroad went through this hell hole as tracks
were laid towards El Paso and that created a lawless boomtown of sorts.
October and rain brought the gambler
into town looking for a place to get dry and bed down for the night.
Considering the town is mainly made up of huge tents huddled together and very
few buildings, as well as what is on the floor of one of the salon tents, this
isn’t a place to linger. Finding a card game to occupy his time in this place
might be a really bad idea. But, playing poker is what he does and there are
games to be had.
These two highly entertaining tales
feature a hero that is complex, mysteries within a western setting, and plenty
of action as the stories work through twists and turns. I Am A Roving Gambler: Two
Stories Of The West by Bill Crider is a short read over way to fast as
well as a good one.
I Am A Roving Gambler: Two Stories Of The West
Bill Crider
Self-Published
February 2012
ASIN# B0077SFAGM
E-book
28
Pages
$0.99
Material was purchased last month using funds in my
Amazon Associate Account in order to read and review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
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2 comments:
Thanks, Kevin!
Good stuff!
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