From the massive archive…
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
Material was purchased last month using funds in my Amazon Associate Account in order to read and review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015, 2021
Posts
4 comments:
Cool. Were the short stories reprints or original to this e-chapbook?
I think he told me they were reprints. Can not swear to it now all these years later.
These stories sound good, Kevin. I got a copy to read.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, TracyK.
Post a Comment