Check out our new series page for the Luck of the Draw Series!

Join Drew Woodson and his sidekick Tommy as they have adventure after adventure playing poker and seeking gold in the Old West!  The excitement starts with The Devil's Game where Drew Woodson strikes it lucky...until Tommy and his gold end up missing.  The saga continues in The Fifth Ace when young Tommy gets into a poker game that turns deadly and is charged with murder and sentenced to hang.  In The Wild Card, the last book in the series, Tommy is tricked into gambling away his share of the Lyra Shay mine, and Drew finds himself partners with his arch-enemy, Matt Ferris. Will Drew ever straighten Tommy out, find true love with the woman of his dreams, Lyra Shay, and make a success of the mine and life he has worked so hard to build...or will he lose it all on the luck of the draw?

THE DEVIL'S GAME

Drew Woodson thought he was running a lucky streak. First he won a claim from Blackjack Logan in a poker game, and then it yielded a lucky strike. But the feeling turned when his stash of gold and his young partner, Tommy Garth, turned up missing. Drew realized that Blackjack Logan, who threw in with Reno Slade's gang, had taken revenge by capturing Tommy and stealing his gold. Drew dreaded telling the beautiful Celene, Tommy's fiance that Tommy had been kidnapped and probably murdered. But he keeps his doting feelings for her to himself as he delivers the crushing news. In pursuit of the robbers, Drew finds, not Tommy, but one of the bandits hanged, and he must face the possibility that his own partner has betrayed him. Determined to discover the truth, Drew is forced to become a player in the Devil's Game.

THE FIFTH ACE 

A friendly poker game at the Red Elk Saloon ends with gubernatorial candidate Oren Perley dead at the table. The other three players claim a disguised stranger shot Perley from the doorway and fled. The only clue is a fifth ace found near the dead man's feet. Fierce gunmen swarm into Leland intent on avenging Perley's death. Drew Woodson's mining partner, Tommy Garth, is wrongfully blamed, but the remaining poker players, afraid to tell the truth, are sticking to their fabricated story. Woodson must save Tommy and find the real killer before the witnesses are eliminated one by one or an innocent man is hanged. The vigilantes soon find that Woodson, too, has his reasons for wanting Perley dead. Now that he's saved Tommy, will he be able to save himself from the hangman's noose?

THE WILD CARD

Drew Woodson's arch-enemy, Matt Ferris, becomes his new mining partner when Tommy Garth gambles away his share of the Lyra Shay mine in a fateful game of poker. Ferris, wasting no time trying to gain full control of the mine, attempts to sink Drew so deeply in debt that he will be forced to sell out. When Tommy's step-daughter, Marlene, is kidnapped, Drew is forced to borrow heavily against his share to pay the ransom.

Tommy, distraught over his step-daughter's kidnapping and insistent that Ferris cheated him, is vowing revenge. Soon, the situation erupts in violence. Just when Drew thought poker was the worst of his troubles, Tommy turns out to be the wild card in an even more dangerous game.

Link to THE LUCK OF THE DRAW SERIES

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 Kindle Unlimited!

Two Contemporary Western Mystery Novels about Vigilante Justice

     Vigilante justice is often associated with the Old West, a lawless time when people were likely to take justice into their own hands.  In these two very different tales of the "new Old West," criminals take it upon themselves to mete out justice as they see fit. 

Two different sheriffs..one male and one female... tackle two very different crimes.  In The Executioner's Hood, Sheriff Jeff McQuede must solve the mystery of who murdered Judge Grayson and left a black executioner's hood over his face.  

In Stone of Vengeance, Sheriff Kate Jepp discovers a stone placed beneath the head of a victim, a known "calling card" of Tom Horn, a man accused of killing many in the Old West. 

In each case, the hood and the stone symbolize some aspect of justice and betrayal. 

THE EXECUTIONER'S HOOD

Who killed Judge Grayson?

When Sheriff Jeff McQuede finds Durmont's highly respected judge, Phil Grayson, bludgeoned to death in his study, a black executioner's hood shoved over his head, he faces his toughest case yet.

The judge has many enemies, including Darin Keefe, sentenced by Grayson and just released from prison. McQuede soon finds out that Keefe's case is linked to a city scandal that may involve Grayson. Seven years ago the judge's best friend, John Harwood, was believed to have taken a bribe from Keefe Construction and to have committed suicide rather than face conviction.

Had Keefe, taking the fall, left prison intent on revenge?
Or is the the judge's murder the result of a robbery gone wrong? Grayson died surrounded by his fabulous Old West outlaw collection, including a death mask, a famous Peacemaker, and other rare artifacts. The intruder could have been after some unknown item of great value.

Is the judge's murder a simple burglary gone wrong or a case of modern-day vigilante justice? 

Click on link to order The Executioner's Hood.

STONE OF VENGEANCE

Wealthy cattle baron Charles Kingsley is fatally shot in his home, a flat granite stone placed beneath his head. On the wall above his body among Western memorabilia, Kate Jepp notices an original invitation to Tom Horn's hanging. This notorious gunslinger, who tracked and shot cattle rustlers in the late 1800's, also left behind a stone as a symbol of vengeance. Alerted by this link to Wyoming's bloody past, Kate looks for would-be seekers of revenge. Kingsley's new bride has displaced his niece, Mary Ellen, as his heir, and he has been engaged in a fierce battle with Sam Swen, whose foreman, Ty Garrison, may be a modern-day hired gun. Each step Kate takes places her in the path of deadly vengeance.

Click on link to order STONE OF VENGEANCE

Collection of Short Stories about Pioneer Courage on the Kansas Plains

Hello, Readers,

Check out our newly released ebook about pioneer settlers in Kansas and the dangers they faced with strength and bravery.  These fictionalized stories are based on true events, many that occurred within our family and are part of our family history.  

Click on link to order HOMESPUN COURAGE 

Courage, this is the American heritage, the basic quality possessed by those who left city and county of birth to settle an unknown land. Courage, as existent today as in pioneer times, takes many forms. In these fifteen stories, some are engaged in fierce battles against the elements: blizzards, fire, flood, and the devastating destruction of a tornado. Others must take a stand against people who oppose them, from the school bully to hostile Indians. The last form of courage, though not the least important, represents the inward struggle of a person trying to hang on to a dream, or of one attempting to rise above an inward flaw and make a new start. All deal with the interwoven pattern of family, community, and self and come together as Homespun Courage.

Women Gamblers in the Old West

Gambling wasn't just a man's game.  Woman also played, dealt, and ran businesses centered around fast-paced games of chance.  Woman like Eleanor Dumont, referred to "Madam Mustache," started establishments in several states including Montana and South Dakota.

These women were as tough as any man.  One of them stands out, Kitty LeRoy, who opened the Mint Gambling Saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota.  Her entire life was marked by gunfire and danger.  She was shot in by her fifth husband, Samuel Curley, who then killed himself.

 The black-and-white photo is courtesy of the South Dakota Historical Society (http://www.sangres.com/history/pokeralice.htm) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Among the most well-known woman gamblers was Colorado's Poker Alice, who after the death of her husband began playing poker to support herself.  Alice discovered she had a certain skill at cards; she was a good player and a lucky one.  Alice began to expand her operation, traveling and gambling all over the West.  She ended up in Deadwood, South Dakota, where she became a local legend.  Her "poker face" or deadpan expression gave her great advantage.

In Deadwood Alice met her second husband, Warren Tubbs, and for a while she gave up gambling to help him with the ranch.  In 1910 Tubbs died of pneumonia--she had to hock her wedding ring to pay the burial expenses.  Again penniless, she returned to the poker table.

Read about the women who made up the Old West in Tainted Ladies: Female Outlaws, Renegade Women and Soiled Doves of the Wild West  Only $1.99

Click here to download a Kindle copy

Click to order other formats

 

AARP MEMEBERS OFFERED AMAZON DISCOUNT THROUGH OCTOBER 31

Many of our mysteries and westerns are published by Amazon Encore.  They have a big sale going on and if you are an AARP member you can go to the link below and type in your AARP verification to get a big discount on our titles and many others.

Our Western titles that are part of this promotion are The Devil's Game, The Fifth Ace, The Wild Card, and Death Comes in Pairs.  

Also included in the promo are the first three books in our Jeff McQuede mystery series: Murder in Black and White, Whispers of the Stones and Stealer of Horses.

To view details of the promotion go to:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1001927991

This special promotion will run from today until October 31!

About the Drew Woodson The Luck of the Draw Series

In the 1850 into the 1900s gambling was prevalent in the Old West.  Almost all cowboys, miners, and settlers played games of chance.  Gambling was an integral part of their risk-taking nature.  This environment, one of quick profit (or loss), of mystery, excitement, and vengeance, seemed a perfect setting for our gambling series, The Luck of the Draw.
In this three-book series, Drew Woodson, along with his young, devil-may care partner Tommy Garth, experience danger and adventure as they try their luck at mining and at the poker table.  The series consists of three standalone novels.  An over-arching theme concerning Tommy’s past spans all three books.

The Devil's Game

The first book of the series finds Drew Woodson winning a mining claim from Blackjack Logan in a poker game.  But the minute he yields a lucky strike, Blackjack and his gang kidnap Tommy and steal the gold.  Drew must tell Tommy’s fiancé, Celene, who he Drew secretly has deep feelings for himself, that Tommy has been kidnapped and most likely has been murdered by the bandits.  When Drew finds one of the bandits hanged, he must face the possibility that his own partner has betrayed him.  Determined to discover the truth or die, Drew is forced to become a player in The Devil's Game.

The Fifth Ace

A friendly poker game at the Red Elk Saloon ends with gubernatorial candidate Oren Perley dead at the table. The other three players claim a disguised stranger shot Perley from the doorway and fled. The only clue is a fifth ace found near the dead man's feet. Drew Woodson's mining partner, Tommy Garth, is wrongfully blamed, but the remaining poker players, afraid to tell the truth, are sticking to their fabricated story.  Vigilantes soon swarm into Leland intent on avenging Perley's death.  Woodson must save Tommy and find the real killer before the witnesses are eliminated one by one or an innocent man is hanged.  The sheriff soon find that Woodson, too, has his reasons for wanting Perley dead.  Now that he's saved Tommy, will he be able to save himself from the hangman's noose?

 The Wild Card

Drew Woodson's arch-enemy, Matt Ferris, becomes his new mining partner when Tommy Garth gambles away his share of the Lyra Shay mine in a fateful game of poker. Ferris, wasting no time trying to gain full control of the mine, attempts to sink Drew so deeply in debt that he will be forced to sell out.  When Tommy's step-daughter, Marlene, is kidnapped, Drew is forced to borrow heavily against his share to pay the ransom. Tommy, distraught over his step-daughter's kidnapping and insistent that Ferris cheated him, is vowing revenge.  Soon, the situation erupts in violence.  Just when Drew thought poker was the worst of his troubles, Tommy turns out to be the wild card in an even more dangerous game. 

How Two Sisters Started Writing Westerns

Vickie Britton and Loretta Jackson  photo by (c) Cupham

A deck of cards—many were found in the home where we were raised.  Our five uncles played small-ante poker, always laughing and having a good time.  As kids, we learned the rules and, emulating them, willingly traded our pennies for a share in the fun. 

Both of us became intrigued by the history of the Old West, fascinated, in particular, by the gambling that reigned for years unchecked.  We have spent much time visiting historic mining and cow-towns and in studying the men and woman who populated them.  We've never believed that most of these stories were simply myths, but found them very well-documented.  It is hard not to admire the strong and determined, not to mention risk-taking, people of our nation's past.

This interest, blended with our love of writing, caused us to create plots and characters, male and female, on a fast track to trouble.  The Luck of the Draw Series starts with Drew Woodson and his young partner, Tommy, in danger because of a poker game.  This theme carries through three books and planted the seed for the modern-day Sheriff Jeff McQuede.  He appears in the High Country Mystery Series, his relative and namesake, a frontier sheriff from the Luck of the Draw series.

Our stand-alone, Death Comes in Pairs, was inspired by our travels through grasslands and rugged mountains, the site of bloody cattle and sheep wars.  Our latest western, Rails and Aces, opens with a poker game on a train through Wyoming. 

Most of our writing is in the mystery genre, and this love for a puzzle carries over into our westerns. 

For a limited time, from May 20 through June 21 Amazon Encore is offering The Devil's Game, first in the Luck of the Draw Series and our standalone Death Comes in Pairs for only $1.99 per Kindle copy. 

Click on link to order The Devil's Game for $1.99

Click on link to order Death Comes in Pairs for $1.99