Shepard.com invited me to pick a category of novels and select five books that exemplified the category. The Steve Dancy Tales are buddy stories, so I chose "The best westerns where friendships drive the story." Rules forbid me from picking my own books but you can click here if you want to know what five books I chose to exemplify buddy westers.
Old Haunts was a kick to write because I brought all my characters back for another romp. Here's an excerpt from Old Haunts where Steve and Jeff give each other a hard time.
“Why didn’t ya tell me ya were takin’ coffee?” Sharp asked, irritation showing in his tone.
I held the reins
in one hand and a cup of hot coffee in the other. I took a careful sip from the
tin cup before answering. “I didn’t know the hotel kitchen was up and about
when you went charging off to see if the mule was properly packed. Last minute
notion.”
“Where’d ya get that
cup?” Sharp organized his life around coffee, tobacco, whiskey, and women.
Pretty much in that order nowadays, although I believed women had become an
afterthought.
“You had my trail
gear already packed, so I bought a banged up one from the cook.”
“Coulda bought two.”
“Your right, which
would have been gentlemanly.” I took another sip and sighed contentedly. A
glance at Sharp told me I had taken this far enough. I reached behind me and
gingerly lifted my canteen by the strap to hand it across to Sharp. He beamed
when he saw a tin cup hanging over the lid of my steamy canteen.
“Careful,” I
admonished. “Use a kerchief. That canteen is hot as hell.”
We stopped the
horses, and before long Sharp and I both had hot cups of coffee. We walked the
horses slowly ahead. No hurry. Unless delayed, we should arrive at the McAllen
ranch by mid-morning.
“What ’bout water?”
Sharp asked.
It was going to be
a hot day and Sharp was concerned I had foregone life-giving water for the
pleasure of a cup of coffee.
“Cook assured me
that there was a spring about an hour out of town. We should have this canteen
dry by then.”
“Right smart of
ya,” Sharp said, “but I can’t roll a cigarette an’ hold this cup.”
“Long ride. Time
enough for all your pleasures, just not at the same time.”
“Am I gettin’ trail
wisdom from a city-dweller?”
After a few
moments, I said, “You know, I used to feel self-conscience about being called a
city-dweller. Not anymore. I like the city and the comforts of a nice home. Not
ashamed of it. But I also enjoy the wilderness. I feel comfortable in either
place.”
“That’s ’cuz ya
learned to handle yerself out here. Once ya know ya can survive wild country,
it grows on ya.”
