Gold Fever
by
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I was lying between two rocks and I could see a rattlesnake coiled to strike not six feet from me. He was by a juniper growing from under a rock giving him shade. He kept shaking his tail every minute or so. The sound sent chills up my back even though it was blistering hot. I could feel sweat running down under my shirt as the sun was intense and I had no shade. It was real quiet except for the buzzing of that rattler. I wondered what the strike length was for that critter. I didn’t want to find out, but the question was pertinent.
Now as scared as I was of that rattler, he didn’t concern me nearly as much as them five Apaches who had us pinned down. Apaches are a patient breed, they can sit in one position for hours when stalking an animal. The animals this time were me and my pard, Bill Shields. It’s times like these that I would ask myself why I left my daddy’s farm in West Virginia. I had to work from sunup to sundown, but when the sun went down I was fairly certain I would see it the next day. The prospect of seeing the sun tomorrow didn’t seem so likely right now.
Bill and I were riding along about half asleep when an Apache arrow came at me. It missed me and killed a good horse. The arrow must have hit his heart because he went down like he’d been hit with a sledge hammer between the eyes. On the way down, I had shucked my Winchester, cleared the saddle, took one bounce and landed between these two rocks. I didn’t know what happened to Bill. There hadn’t been a sound after that except for the buzzing of that snake.
I really wanted to know where Bill was located, but I wasn’t of the mind to ask him right now. I knew enough about what happens to the captives of an Apache to give me the patience of Job in the Scriptures. I had been lying in one spot for nearly an hour now. That snake just sat there staring at me. Every time I would move a muscle he would start that buzzing again. I decided I should get into a better fighting position snake or no snake.
It was about four in the afternoon when I heard a bird call. Now I ain’t no pilgrim so I knew the difference. I pulled my peacemaker and put it in my waistband. I sat up with my back to the larger of the rocks and pointed my Winchester at a forty-five degree angle to have it in position. Sooner or later they were bound to come for me or I would die of starvation or thirst because I wasn’t moving.
I heard three rapid shots off to my right and a split second later an Apache jumped over the rock in front of me. I shot him in the face and his momentum carried him to me. I shoved him in the direction of that rattler and the snake struck and bit him. I guess it just wasn’t his day.
I knew I had to move so I was up and running toward Bill. I nearly tripped over another Apache who Bill had sent to the “happy huntin’ land.” When I got to Bill there was another dead Indian at his feet. Bill was just sitting there with an arrow sticking out of this midsection. I looked around as rapidly as I could.
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About the Book
Gold Fever is written in the first person as the author wanted his readers to see the story of Everett “Easy” Edwards through his eyes as he experiences his trials in life. The book starts with an action packed situation on the first page where his partner, Bill Shields and he are under siege by Apache Indians. The story moves quickly in a rapid action packed adventure. Easy travels on to the goldfields. Along the way he meets two miners that become life-long partners in this adventures. The three meet two young people, Al and Karen Harris and the six establish a lucrative gold mine. During this time Easy also meets a powerful, unscrupulous mine owner, Clay Brett, who befriends him then turns on him and hounds him throughout the book. Easy falls in love with Brett’s step-daughter, Myra, and elopes with her. This only adds fuel to the fire of Brett’s hatred for Easy.
Easy is ambushed and is rescued by a fifteen year old orphan girl, Lara Adams, whose parents and brother were killed by Brett’s men. She becomes Easy’s unlikely partner and is featured in every adventure of Easy’s life. The reader will love this girl as she is clever and unique. Their many adventures and narrow escapes will keep the reader on edge throughout the book.
About the Author
William Post was reared in the West Texas town of Colorado City. He was educated at Texas A. & M. then served in the United States Navy. After his service he became a land surveyor for the Southern Pacific Railroad. This took him to the wilds of the Southwest where he learned the lore of that area. This becomes especially apparent as he has been to all the places he describes in Gold Fever.
William is a professional engineer and holds licenses with the state of California in Land Surveying and Civil Engineering. He retired as the Chief Engineer of the Long Beach Water Department.
Taking an early retirement he moved his family to northern California near Nevada City, the heart of gold country. He has dredged and sniped for gold in the Merced and Yuba rivers. He has been in the gold mines and explored much of that country.
William is an evangelic Christian and this thread is seen throughout the fiber of his stories.
He is married to Brigitte Wittstock and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with their extended family.