FIRST PAGE: The Last Chance by Mike Blakely, Forge, 1995.

The Last Chance by Mike Blakely Vintage 1995 First Edition Forge Weste – Monster Books and Items

SYNOPSIS:

When Indians massacre an army troop, Ross Caldwell's wife fears he's among the victims. But Caldwell is on the run, pursued by bitter enemies from the Civil War.

Caldwell finds refuge in the arms of the sultry madam of Last Chance Gulch. But his bloody past catches up with him. A murderous ex-soldier is on his trail, and his wife has tracked him down as well...

Page 1:

They called her Chug. Ross wondered why, but he didn't ask. You kept your mouth shut in this man's army. You followed your orders and you didn't bother anybody with questions. When your sergeant said, "Private, you'll ride Ol' Chug today," you saddled Ol' Chug and awaited your order to mount.

She was the smoothest-riding horse Ross Caldwell had straddled since taking the Union oath. The other troopers bounced all around him on swaybacked nags, but he rode at a glide on Chug. He had covered hundreds of miles on stiff-legged cavalry cobs rough enough to split you in two from the crotch up, but this big gray mare could waltz.

You and your rump ought to be grateful, he thought. But he was not. Good fortune in the cavalry service tended to rouse Ross's suspicions. There was something wrong with all this. The other troopers should be grousing more. They should be coveting this mare. Ross hardly knew this Sergeant Parkhill, or any of the other men in this detachment. Why had he been given the privilege of riding Chug today?

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The Last Chance by Mike Blakely Vintage 1995 First Edition Forge Weste – Monster Books and Items