TOM LEFTWICH

A number of my stories originate from actual events in our early west particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In the 1800s robberies were a common thing and in some cases the newspapers made hero's of the Bandits. It was also very common for the booty to be hidden if it were hard to pack off. Commonly a burial site was selected, but in many instances the robbers were killed or hung leaving the treasure lost. These were not rare incidents. My fictional mysteries involve developing solution for locating these treasures. Most of my stories are based upon real life robberies and unfound gold and lost treasure. I have been an avid student of pioneer and Indian activities in those areas. I sincerely hope that my fictional stories do not offend or embarrass any nationality or lifestyle. I have endeavored to put realism in my narratives without overly offensive language, or fantasy. My characters are drawn from the characteristics and lifestyle of men and women depicted in historical writings and diaries from the 1840 to 1885 era. This was the time of Indian wars, Renegade pillaging, Wagon Trains and major Gunfighter tales. Any student of early west settlement knows that these narratives are mild compared to the raw horrifying acts perpetrated in many conflicts . Thanks for your interest in my books. It's my hope that you enjoy the tales as much as I did writing them.

It is my desire with every story I write, to bring enjoyable, realistic, and interesting reading with satisfying short stories for today's hectic life style. A long novel is too often, lengthy to read during a commute or lunch break and a lot of the time you lose the spirit or life of the story overnight. Within these Western Fiction stories I have endeavored to include suspense, mystery, unusual incidents, some violence if necessary, light humor and romance where possible. I should apologize for my use of mild barn yard language, but in order to be realistic I try to tell it the way it was. I write in cursive sometimes and speak a little cursive too. Hope you enjoy.

It is my desire with every story I write, to bring enjoyable, realistic, and interesting reading with satisfying short stories for today's hectic life style. A long novel is often, too lengthy to read during a commute or lunch break and a lot of the time you lose the spirit or life of the story overnight. Within these Western Fiction stories I have endeavored to include suspense, mystery, unusual incidents, some violence if necessary, light humor and romance where possible. I should apologize for my use of mild barn yard language, but in order to be realistic I try to tell it the way it was. I write in cursive sometimes and speak a little cursive too. Hope you enjoy. Summaries of each story appear in the table of contents

An informal Gold Mining experience from the beginning as a Green horn and the education gained from thousands of hours, high banking, sluicing, dredging, crevicing and panning for ol'big yeller. My search has been fully rewarding in my quest for gold, but my greatest reward has been in the fun and friendships I've dearly enjoyed along the way. This autobiography records my experiences, mining techniques, inventions, gadgets and humor surrounding activities associated with a journey of 27 years gold mining. Herein I've tried to bring to life the wonderful joy of success, the occasional disappointments that every prospector has experienced and the unforgettable warehouse of memories that are shared in some measure by every gold miner. This book is my personal recollection of that long and wonderful journey. Saddle up and come along for the ride, You won't be disappointed

Five tales from the early west that deal with the sometimes humorous connections between men and women. A quest for gold mystery, a pig stampede, the command of a young girl, heroics of a cow hand and the fatal mistake of an assassin. Excerpts;' You, a saloon girl, gonna buy me a drink. Damned if that ain't the biggest switch I ever heard of. Woman, you got the wrong man here. You just scare the hell outta me. I don't know how to tell you this, but a street girl sorta swishes as she walks and girl you do swish. Pig stampede ?Their attempt was a disaster. All four horses began bucking off riders. " Bud you're as phony as a Mexican dollar. Risk your life for me almost every day. Reb, I knew from the first time I saw you in Texas that you were beautiful. Your picture on the front of the Jail. My beautiful Reb, Tonight we marry, tomorrow we get paper " At some point that evening another empty bottle of old Burbon lay by the camp fire. Fate deals some winning hands for some folks, for others Thanks for the read.

An album of five early western tales taken from the incidents and life styles common to the 850 era in our southwest. Written history states that murder and killing was common place between the mixed races at that time. Much more brutal and horrifying than the movies. My stories are written to bring, entertainment, adventure, unusual drama humor and romance where possible Violence unfortunately, was not rare. Life was short for most and shorter for others. 39 was an old man. Raiding a Cattle drive was bound to end with killing as trail driver Gyp said, " You do that I'll meet you in Gun smoke Mister Be sure to come shooting so I'll know who you are. I wouldn't wanna make a mistake thinking you might be an honest man." Thanks for the read. Hope you enjoy.

Five original fictional western stories. Featured is the innovative recovery of a buried gold train and accounts of the captures of murderous Train robbers. An interesting tale of wild horse capture. A 600 mile trek to sell 50 teams of oxen. Then dealing burro's for gold miners, (Excerpt) Big man said, '"Shut up Johnny. Look mister we weren't gonna do nothing. You didn't have to pull a gun on me." Cole said, " You're right, you weren't gonna do nothing except get yourself killed, Johnny boy, you better get yourself a new partner, this one's got Boot Hill written all over him. That left handed gun killing is cold blooded murder while a man offers you a welcome hand shake. No, big man, I'll let someone else bury you." Thanks for the read, hope you enjoy.

This work is a collection of Five fictional early west mysteries and tales of uncommon nature of the 1870 era in Arizona and New Mexico . All written to bring an enjoyable unusual, sometimes violent but satisfying story from that period of our southwest history. Follow, the solution task of Lucky, suffering from amnesia and wounded in a group of three murdered dead men lying in a wrecked Stage coach at the foot of a fifty foot cliff. Then solve the location of a barrel of gold while dodging a murder charge as young Joe's wife is forced to kill. Join young Matt Tyler's gun fighting tasks in avenging the murder of his father accused of a mystery murder, but his mother takes over bringing solution to a range war. Share the desperate adventure of Amos as he rescues a dying baby left abandoned following ambush and killing of his Father, heir to a vast Spanish ranch. And what does that tattoo mean? Finally a little man takes on the tall lady stage driver in events leading to ownership of a rifle which holds the secret to location of a massive treasure cache. Ty the little man said, "Got in trouble with the law in Tucson, but they ain't too anxious to find me. I'm kinda small potatoes when it comes to outlaws." Del said, " Hey that's better, a real outlaw to ride with. Now you're talkin. Little man you may not be so bad after all." Unusual moving adventures and incidents make for an enjoyable read. Thank you for reading this description. Tom Leftwich

Five unique short fiction stories of adventures in the old west. Break from today's politics and move back a hundred years during a commute or lunch. Experience a life threatening gunfight at sundown twisting in a surprising conclusion. Jim Kern turned away from Curley, then spun around saying , " Missed your chance Curley; you coulda shot me in the back!" Army Scout Jay Morris ,woke up with a gun in his face hearing a screaming woman say, " You're not the man I married! Who the hell are you ?" the beginning of trouble? Then Jake's "Will you marry me?" Answer, "Of all the idiotic and lame brained people I've ever met Mister you are the worst. You don't just roll off a rock pile and propose to some girl you've never met!" And the stage hold up, " Damnit! You hard of hearin? I said, I need a woman! One of them girls in there." The Jakala story, Jeanie screamed, " Oh God! Joe look here!" and with shaking hands, a one ounce gold Ferdinand. All enjoyable reads even for me the author.

A new collection of Western Fiction which includes five first print stories; Join a young boy shooting Raiders from his Mother's grave and as an orphan dealing with other killers; a young girl left orphan when her Father is murdered and joined by a gun fighting ex convict Uncle to aid her in dealing with the killers and locate Moses's gold.-Follow gun fighting cow hand Shorty as he brings help to a struggling Lady Ranch owner to stop thieves with a killing threat -" I'm the little man that'll headline the El Paso newspaper as the man that shot and killed three thieves on the Moon Light Ranch, this morning.-Wagon Train youth, Cody losing their wagon horses to Indians, then standing tall to fill the shoes of his dead father as he and his Mother travel west on the Santa Fe Trail-Bundy was hardly cold in his grave, when his body was stolen in the belief that he was tattooed with a map to a gold mine; leaving an Empty Grave.

A collection of five fictional early west adventures, most of which are based on or around historical events of the 1870 era in New Mexico and Arizona territories . All are written to bring an enjoyable unusual, sometimes violent but factual story from that period of our southwest history. Follow the trials of a young Indian cast from his tribe to die in the Apache Canyon of Skulls but determined to live using his Indian skills. The story of an outlaw trying to change his life, using tactics of Colonel Stonewall Jackson to free a girl from Jail and discover the simplest solution for finding a lost gold Mine. A young homesteader's trail of vengeance for the murder of his family. A bitter veteran of the Civil War meeting and enjoying a sometime humorous encounter with a man hating woman. A young soldier saved by the nursing given him by a mute prostitute and their adventure together in discovery of a small fortune.

Enjoy a kick back into the early west during lunch break or that commute to and from work. A Collection of Western short story fiction featuring Real Life characters from the 1850-1880 era. All tales involve people involved in unique circumstances common to that time period.Fast moving with humor, human interest and action violence only as necessary. Look for a very satisfying or surprise ending in all of my stories. Today's media is too full of bad news and trouble the world over. End your day with a smile!

These early Western mysteries offer intrigue, drama, adventure, and unique circumstances involving resolution. Gun fighting violence and western action are common place in these stories, but history records horrific incidents that pale my writing . Join a strong saloon girl as she belts a drunk insulting her. Then follow an outlaw woman seeking a fantastic treasure, it's secret location hidden in the Bible. How does a young woman's ring finger fit into the location of a gold mine. How was a $50,000 dollar train robbery performed with the money disappearing and who was the eventual thief? Murder, during a stage robbery, but there was no Strong box. Twisting and turning stories sure to provide interesting and enjoyable reading. Thanks for the summary read- Hope you enjoy.

A collection of Five fictional early west adventures around common events of the 1870 era in Arizona and New Mexico. . All written to bring an enjoyable unusual, sometimes violent but factual story from that period of our southwest history. Follow the rescue adventure of Patty Gringo prostitute as she is grabbed by a Rancher needing a wife. A young boy of fifteen joins an Apache family and joins in a perilous adventure to find a home. Follow the unbelievable journey of a young girl escapee from a house of prostitution to deliver aid to a dying soldier's mother hundreds of miles away."She cocked the gun and handed it to the dying soldier. She turned her back as he shot himself." A wounded soldier just released from prison must have a horse to get home . A ten dollar hog feed mustang starts him on an adventure of peril in Del Rio Texas, original site of the beginning of the Chisholm cattle drives. The way west to the gold fields of Calif offer an adventure for an eastern blacksmith as he joins a dying horse in the valley of death to effect a rescue which ultimately leads to a Gold mine. Unusual moving adventures and incidents make for an enjoyable read. Thank you for reading this description. Tom Leftwich

A collection of fictionalized true to life adventures as seen in Arizona Territory in the 1850 to 1880 era where Indian warfare and pillaging Raiders were common.These tales all involve realistic events that have been written in a manner to provide an enjoyable short story for the commuter or an interesting lunch break. Violence , during this period in American history was common place and has been included as necessary to provide realism.Authentic practices for training horses and gunmanship techniques are included in some stories. It's my desire to provide the reader with an interesting and satisfying story that is both entertaining and educational. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Commuter length Short stories of gunfighting, Indian conflict, unusual bravery, unusual friendships, treasure mystery and murder vengence. Wild horse capture and training based on authentic early frontier practices.The characters, conflicts, and locations are period oriented to simulate, in fiction, actual historic events.The melting pot of civilizations that came together in early Arizona and Nevada territories brought together odd combinations of friendships and marriages often resulting from tragic beginnings .These tales are also an effort to illustrate the humor and human attraction that frequently developed between men and women when they were engaged in life threatening conflic