Walter L. Bryant

 The Preacher's Legacy

by

Walter L. Bryant

Tom Deegan's fight for survival begins when he rescues a child from a burning stagecoach, held up by the murdering Preacher and his gang. The Preacher dies and Tom takes the loot and hides it. Years later three killers are looking for Tom, and the money. But protecting himself, and his adopted son Billy, is only made more difficult by the local rancher, whose hired guns want Tom dead. By using his fighting skills can he protect them both? And can he remain silent about the whereabouts of the cash?

Tom Deegan was only a boy when his uncle dragged him into a stagecoach robbery that ended in bloodshed and massacre. The one good thing to come from that tragic day was the infant Tom rescued and raised as his own son. Years later, however, the past comes back to haunt him.

The surviving outlaws have finally been released from prison and are determined to recover the stolen loot. A gang of hired guns working for a local rancher adds to the trouble, driven more by cruelty than any real cause. Worst of all is the arrival of a bounty hunter known as Slim, a relentless killer willing to do whatever it takes to get his hands on the missing fortune.

Tom and his adopted son Billy are soon fighting for their survival. While Tom's only concern is keeping the boy safe, Billy proves he is far tougher and more capable than anyone gives him credit for.

Complicating matters further is Alice Green, whose brother was among those killed during the robbery. Billy has fallen for her, but he knows that any future between them depends on telling her the truth about what happened all those years ago, even if that truth drives her away forever.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It got better the more I read and I finished it in a single sitting. While I wouldn't rank it among the very best Black Horse Westerns I've read, it was still a solid and entertaining story.

Bryant filled the novel with memorable characters. Billy was particularly likeable, while Slim stood out as a determined and dangerous antagonist whose focus never wavered from the prize he was pursuing.

This is the first Bryant novel I can remember reading, and if I come across more of his work, I would happily pick them up.

Once again, this book demonstrates why Black Horse Westerns remain so underrated. Anyone who enjoys a good western adventure should give them a try. 4/5.