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Rosstrum Publishing

Rosstrum Publishing is a division of The Border Company, LLC

 

8 Strawberry Bank Rd.

Suite 20

Nashua, New Hampshire

   
Sample pages
 

  

 

   ONE
Making Ready


    
A STRING OF BELLS hit the door to the outfitter’s store. George Severe pushed it open and stepped over the wood threshold into the warm room. After he removed his hat and opened his jacket to the warmth, he walked past the hot stove to the counter where the clerk and several others had stopped their conversations.

      George looked down to the average-sized man and extended his hand. “Hello! My name’s George Severe. I’m supposed to meet an A. J. Strummond here.”
     The clerk answered, “Glad to meet ya, Mr. Severe. We was just talkin’ about you. I’d be Tom Franklin, owner of this store. It’s surely nice to meet the man who just about doubled my sales for this time of year.”
     “Well, as much as I’d like to take the credit, I didn’t make the arrangements.”
     “No matter. I’m sure I can give ya anything ya need and for less money than you’d spend in Durango.”
     “I don’t doubt it.” George placed his gloves and hat on the counter and looked toward the other men standing nearby.
     “I’m Stan Maszewski.” The heavy dark man extended his hand. “Mark Waxman sent me to help you with your monitoring equipment. Strummond should be here soon.”
     George shook his hand as the bells on the door clanged. George and Stan turned to see the new patron. “Speak of the devil,” the clerk said. “Looks like half your bunch got here OK, Annie.”
     George looked at Stan and said quietly, “Annie?”
     “Strummond,” Stan answered. “Our guide.”
     George found it difficult to believe that A. J. Strummond was a woman. She walked into the outfitter’s wearing clothes that best resembled those of an old-time prospector. Her stringy, knotted hair was short – just covering her ears below her dusty hat. And her face was weathered. Even her voice did not reveal her true sex. “That’ll do for now,” she said to the clerk, “if one of them be this Severe character.”

 


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