Dakota Territory
by
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The line of Indians, about fifteen Tap guessed after a quick look, moved down slope. Then they split, an almost equal number of warriors sweeping around each side of him. Tap cocked the Colt but held his fire, not wanting to start the fight if there was any chance he might avoid bloodshed. No chance. A warrior on his left loosed an arrow at him and Tap snapped off a round. Both men missed but Tap's shot drove the rider wide. Tap heard the clap of a rifle from his right and felt the 'thunk' of the bullet hitting the dead horse. He saw a mounted warrior, sitting, reined up, about a hundred yards out. The man put his horse into motion while quickly reloading his rifle. Tap fired a shot--too quick--then held for a steadier bead and saw, somewhat to his surprise, the horse plow into the ground. The warrior fell free and was immediately picked up by another rider, the downed warrior jumping on behind his companion.
Tap was having to fight back the panic now. He was armed with only a pistol--a poor weapon against mounted men riding fast at a distance. While the horse carcasses provided him with some protection to his front, his back was exposed to anyone who wanted to stand out there and lob in arrows or lead. He heard the pounding of feet off to his far left and saw a mounted Indian coming at him full tilt, something--a war club?--held high. Tap raised himself to one knee, getting off two futile shots before the horseman was on him. He felt a stinging blow on his head as the animal literally jumped over him, one hoof grazing his shoulder and knocking Tap back onto the dead horses. Tap got off one more shot at the Indian--his pistol was loaded with six rounds, the hammer carried between cartridge heads--before dropping the hammer on an empty. It was then he realized the 'club' had been a coup stick. The warrior had been only counting coup, to show his bravery. He could be depended upon to have a more deadly weapon next time.
(92 pages)
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About the Book
It is 1875, the last year the Sioux will spend as a free people. Pressure from settlers, gold seekers and the Army will soon bring a crisis to the Plains Indian's way of life. Added to this volatile mix are gunrunners. They provide the horse Indians with a weapon in many ways superior to what the Army has, increasing their ability and desire to make war.
Colonel Bruster, commandant of Fort McPherson in Dakota Territory, calls his old friend, Tap Duncan--sometimes lawman, sometimes Army scout--into this mix. Bruster hopes Tap might be able to stop the gunrunning and remove one element of heat from the powder keg he feels the territory sits upon.
Tap arrives at McPherson but finds his job complicated by Buffalo Lance, a Sioux who feels he has good reason to kill Tap, Bruster's daughter, Matty, a love from earlier times, her suitor, Captain Hawthorne, who likes Tap about as much as Buffalo Lance does, and the gunrunners themselves. Tap will be busy just keeping alive.
About the Author
The author has had a life-long interest in the Old West and has contributed many historical articles over the years to various Old West magazines. He also writes a monthly column for a local newspaper on the history of California's Gold Rush days.
The author retired ten years ago from a job as an electronic manufacturing manager. Since then he has devoted his time between spoiling his grandchildren, riding his horse in the Sierra Foothills, adding to his antique firearms collection and working on an Old West series featuring the frontier character Tap Duncan. He has also completed several other novels pertaining in one way or the other to the period of the early West.