Have
Courage: Longmire Stories
by Craig Johnson collects a number of the holiday stories that he wrote over
recent years and g away as free reads in his newsletter. The second of such
books, following in the tradition of Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire
Stories, (a great read if you have not read it) includes the all-new
short story, “Angel Shot with a Twist.”
After
the introduction by A. Martinez, Jacob Nighthorse, the book opens with “Warms
You Twice.” Set on Christmas Eve of December 1972, Walt Longmire is a new and
relatively untested Deputy. Sheriff Lucian Connelly decides it is time for Deputy
Longmire and he to go out on their first call out together and warns him not to
do anything stupid. The cantankerous Sheriff is taking him to see Willis Dietz who has troubles of his own.
Also
set in 1972 and a few months earlier, “The Perfect A,” comes next. Walt
Longmire was hired days earlier and is pretty much alone when the call comes in
at the Absaroka County Sheriff’s Department. Doctor Bloomfield wants to go
check on one of his patients, Salvatore Ibarra, up at his mountain camp. He’d
been in town earlier and that visit concerned the good doctor. So much so he
wants somebody to go check on Mr. Ibarra, a sheep herder, at his camp in the
mountains. Doctor Bloomfield wants to go too and to do it now during an ice
storm.
Sheriff
Longmire always heads out alone, for a day or two around Christmas. He doesn’t
explain himself. In “Known Associate” we find out why he does what he does. Of
course, he does it for good reason and it is nobody’s business at the office
but his.
One
never wants a hostage situation. Especially at Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve in
“Land Of The Blind” and that is what is happening out at the Congregational
Baptist Church out at the edge of the county. The deputy known as “Double Tough”
and Sheriff Longmire head over in an attempt to end things peacefully. Easier
said than done.
What
got Eddie in jail and a lot more is explained in “Elven/Twenty-Nine.” It is
also a tale of grace and redemption as are many of the stories in this read.
The
Sheriff of Campbell County, Sandy Sandburg, and Sheriff Walt Longmire are on
the hunt for a murder suspect, Mike Embersoll. That hunt has led them to the Crow
Butte Mine. “The Percentages” takes readers on the hunt for Mike Embersoll who is
a heavy equipment operator at that mine. Going to a working mine is dangerous
enough before you throw in a possible murder suspect that can operate heavy
equipment.
For
the third year in a row, somebody has stolen the baby Jesus from the church
nativity scene. Deputy Santiago Saizarbitoria has been working the case from
the start. He is taking the latest theft very hard in “Away, In A Manger.”
Soon, Sheriff Longmire arrives at Saint Matthias to assist with the latest
investigation.
It
is Christmas Day in Powder Junction, Wyoming, and there is quite the commotion
at the unofficial local trailer park. The Kropky brothers are all large men.
They are all currently in mutual and destructive combat with household goods
sailing out into the yard around the trailers. In “Who’s your Daddy” familial history has suddenly come to light
and the news has not been universally well received.
Barrett
Long is the part-time dispatcher. He wants to tag along as Longmire and his dog
head out on Christmas Day for a domestic dispute. The call is to the Murdochs’ place
and one the good Sheriff have visited many times before. So, after they talk a
bit, Longmire decides to let his future deputy come along. In so doing, he
gives the man a glimpse of the job in
“Musical Chairs.”
It
has happened again at the “Durant Home for Assisted Living” and it needs to
stop. In “Recidivism” the former Sheriff and current resident, Lucian Connelly,
is of little help. Can not really tell you more without blowing up the tale, so
I won’t.
“Starter’s
End” is next where Ruby, the dispatcher, has entrusted Longmire with a jar of sourdough
starter. The stuff dates back over 150 years has come down through Ruby’s
family. In the here and now of the story, Ruby, as a member of the Methodist
Ladies Baking League was supposed to hand it out to various ladies of the
league. But, she has to go out of town and has turned it over to Sheriff Walt
Longmire for feeding and monitoring. He, in turn, has to deliver the jar of
stuff to Barbara Graff, at a precise time. He is on a schedule with the stuff
while he is also supposed to doing his duties as Absaroka County Sheriff with
nearly everybody in the department gone. Boy, howdy.
Barbara
Graff makes a repeat appearance in the next story, “Scents Of The Season.” She
was hosting a Christmas Eve holiday party and everything was fine. That was until
a skunk got inside her place and all the guests fled outside. With it being a holiday
resources are limited, so Longmire and Undersheriff Victoria Moretti have to
deal with it and more.
“Angel
Shot with a Twist” is the all-new tale that concludes this short story
collection. Bernadette Ochoa needs help this New Year’s Eve. She’s been well
known to local law enforcement for many decades now. She has been drinking at
the only bar for miles around that will let her in their establishment, the Chicken
Shack Bar. Now the seventy-two-year-old woman is a hostage and needs help.
Have
Courage: Longmire Stories
by Craig Johnson is a highly entertaining short story collection. Filled with
many historical nuggets and true facts, characters that are like family, and
the idea that in the end things work out, the read is a good one. Well worth
your time, Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson is
perfect for this and all holiday seasons.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B0aElo6si
My
digital ARC came from the publisher, Viking, through NetGalley with no
expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
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