U. S. Marshall Clay Hughes was only 25 years old; the youngest Marshall in the Service, but, thought by many, including his superiors, to be the best. He was lightning quick on the draw and deadly accurate with his Colt 45. Clay was a wealthy Rancher with a beautiful Wife, but his commitment to the Badge he wore, and his duty as a U. S. Marshall, always took precedence over his personal responsibilities. Relentless in the pursuit of Outlaws, a town tamer, and respected Lawman, his sense of justice was turned upside down when his Uncle Will Mitchell, his Mentor and Friend, was maliciously murdered by a Gunfighter. He laid aside his Badge and set out to kill a man. The Author, R. O. Hughes, is a retired Lawyer and Judge who has an inexpressible love for the Old West and it's Culture and can only be a part of it through Fantasy and Fiction. His admiration of Louis Lamour and others like him is what challenged him to attempt this venture into the realm of Lawmen, Gunfighters, and Owl Hoots of the Western Frontier. Vengeance Trail Lawman By R. O. Hughes AuthorHouse Copyright © 2019 R. O. Hughes All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5462-7505-3 CHAPTER 1 All four horses were heavily lathered after riding hard from Fort Collins, in Colorado, where shortly before, the four riders, all Calvary men, robbed the Post payroll and killed the Paymaster, a first Lieutenant, and guard. Sgt. Boon Daniels. The leader of the group, slowed his horse to a walk and the others followed. "Why'd you shoot them men, Alonzo? I told you there'd be no killing. Now we got the whole United States Calvary on our tails." Daniels said, voice raised. "Cause' they was no good Blue Bellies, that's why, and besides, we got the payroll, and that Lieutenant was the one who put me in the Guardhouse." Alonzo answered nonchalantly. Sgt. Boon Daniels was 39 years old, a career Army man, having served the last 16 years of his life fighting Indians and trying to keep the peace following the Civil War. Daniels was a big man, standing four inches above six feet and carrying a muscled, two hundred and thirty pounds. He was square jawed, browned from long hours in the Sun, with a bushy mustache above his lip and salt and pepper hair hanging out from under a battered Calvary campaign hat. He selected the men and planned the robbery of the Paymaster. His plans did not include the murder of the two Army personnel. Alonzo Tubbs was in his late twenties, a tall, skinny, hatchet face character with many of his teeth missing. He fought for the Confederacy during the civil war and joined the U. S. Army to escape from the bounty hunters, after him for cattle rustling, stage coach robberies and killing a Sheriff in Abilene, Texas about one year before. He was a regular in the guardhouse due to his consistent disregard of orders. Ethan Cobb and Levi Salters were just drifters who came up from Texas on a cattle drive, couldn't find work after the drive and joined the Army to survive. Both were in their early 30's, good with their gun, and weren't particular who they hired out to or what they were hired to do. They rode for the Brand. Ethan and Levi both were good size men. They were both over six feet tall and didn't carry any fat. Their faces were tanned from chasing cattle all their lives. Levi wore his coal black hair down on his shoulders under a tall crowned, sweat stained hat. Some thought he was part Indian. Ethan was neat and careful about his appearance. His blond hair was always neat and trimmed, his clothes were usually neat and in order, giving him a rather striking appearance compared to the other three. Neither spoke as the four men, all dressed in their Army blues, walked their horses. Ethan finally broke the silence "Men, we stand out like sore thumbs in these uniforms. We're riding Army stock with Army saddles and these horses are about done. We need new clothes and new outfits. Anybody know where the closest place we can get some clothes and fresh horses?" "We ain't too far from Greely. There's a trading post there and I'm sure we can get some fresh mounts there as well as some clothes. We got money to pay and we can say we're on special assignment and need to keep moving. I doubt that word of the robbery has got out yet. Once we get new outfits, we'll light a shuck and find us a place to stay out'a site for a while." Daniels responded. "We need a packhorse and some supplies. No tellin' how long we'll be holed up." Levi offered. "Levi, when we get to Greely, you and Ethan go find a livery and arrange for our remounts and packhorse, then, meet me and Alonzo at the trading post. We'll load up quick and light a shuck. I'll take care of the clothes. Don't waste any time. We need to move fast." Daniels ordered. Greely, Colorado began as a Union Colony, founded in 1869. It was located at the confluence of the Cache la Poudre and South Platte Rivers. The town was sizeable, containing numerous business establishments, three Saloons, a Mercantile