New Release — A Ranger for Life (Lone Star Ranger Book 10) by James J. Griffin

It’s been nearly two years since Nate Stewart’s family was murdered by a gang of evil marauders on the unforgiving Texas frontier. Shot and left for dead, Nate is rescued by a patrol of Texas Rangers who adopt him as one of their own. In no time at all, young Nate, a transplanted Easterner, becomes a full-fledged Texan and the youngest member of the Texas Rangers, guided by his friend, Hoot Harrison. 

Now, the time has come for Nate, Hoot, and eight other young Rangers to prove their mettle in the most dangerous assignment of all. This newly-formed detachment of Rangers is being sent to flush out the many dangerous outlaw gangs plaguing west Texas—and bring them to swift justice. Not knowing what kind of danger they may encounter with the robbers, rustlers, and killers swarming over the entire Pecos territory, they’ve been told to expect some losses. 

Caught in a deadly trap, it looks as if Nate, Hoot, and the other Rangers may not live to fight another day. Will they manage to escape the hail of bullets? With the gut-wrenching deaths of some of this tight-knit group right before his eyes, Nate has some decisions to make. If he survives, will this lethal battle change Nate’s mind about remaining A RANGER FOR LIFE?

EXCERPT

     All the men, except for Wyatt and Marshall, removed any metal items that might jangle and make noise, giving them away. Their guns were pulled from their holsters and shoved behind their waistbands, extra cartridges removed from their gunbelts, wrapped in neckerchiefs, and stuffed in their pockets. Boots, which were much more likely than stocking feet to snap a dry branch if one should be inadvertently stepped on, were pulled off and left behind. Once everyone was ready, Hoot waved them forward. It took eight men a while longer to work through the brush than Braeden alone had needed, but they made the rim of the hollow without being detected.

     Hoot put his hands around his mouth and cooed, twice. All eight Rangers jumped to their feet simultaneously. The rustlers were caught flat-footed, and froze, dumbfounded at the sudden appearance of men, ready to shoot them down at the slightest provocation, surrounding them.

     “Texas Rangers! Don’t move!” Hoot ordered. “You’re covered from all sides. Any of you goes for a gun and you’ll all be cut down where you stand.”

     “What’re you botherin’ us for, Ranger?” one of the men said. “We ain’t stealin’ anybody’s cows. These here are mavericks.”

     “Yeah, mavericks with somebody’s brand on ’em,” Hoot answered. “I’ve never yet run across a branded maverick.”

     “You’ll never have the chance to see another one, either, Ranger,” one of the other men said. He yanked his gun and dropped behind the fire, then pulled the trigger. 

      

New Release -- A Ranger Returns (Lone Star Ranger Volume 9) by James J. Griffin

Nate Stewart and his Texas Ranger partners return to Austin from their grueling assignment in west Texas, expecting only a few days’ rest before they are sent back on the outlaw trail. Instead, they learn that the state legislature has refused to extend funding for most of the Rangers. All but a few have been given their walking papers—placed on indefinite furlough.

Forced to face an uncertain future without the Rangers, Nate and his best friend and partner, Hoot Harrison, travel to the land Nate still owns outside San Saba. With mixed feelings, the pair heads toward Nate’s family's ranch—now, where Nate’s parents and older brother are buried.

But when they reach San Saba, they’re met with guns and force. Someone is attempting to take over all the ranches in the area—including Nate's. Vowing not to lose the land his father had struggled so hard to tame, Nate is determined to unravel the plot—and the people responsible—for the hostility. The trail to the criminals, ironically, takes him back East—to his own home town of Wilmington, Delaware…and someone he’d have never suspected.

Once Nate confronts the man who means to take everything from him, he and Hoot waste no time in getting back to Texas. There, they’ll stand together once more against outlaw guns as A RANGER RETURNS…

EXCERPT

     Nate leaned back against the whitewashed west wall of the Salt Flat Café, where the Rangers had been staying. He was seeking the least bit of shade, since the temperature was already well into the eighties, even at this early hour. He stretched out his legs, and pulled his Stetson over his eyes.

     Boy howdy, a lot sure has happened to me, includin’ sayin’ stuff like ‘boy howdy’, over the past year, he mused. First, I lost my family, then I gained another one, sort of… my Ranger pards. At least the men who killed my mother and father, and Jonathan, are all dead. Me and my pardners made certain of that. I’ve learned that I don’t hate Texas, like I did when my father first dragged our family here, but love almost everything about it, except maybe the dust. I’ve learned how to care for both myself and my horse, and how to survive as a lawman. I’ve been shot by outlaws, and shot them, been in fistfights….

     He shook his head as a soft chuckle escaped his lips. ’Course, I’ve lost more of those than I’ve won. I still have a lot to learn about fist fightin’. I’ve traveled all over most of Texas, and have grown up a whole lot. Gotten a year older, too. I still don’t know what to do with girls, though. Maybe someday. I’ve had to fight white outlaws, Mexican desperadoes, and renegade Indians. Me’n Hoot have had some high times, too. I just hope someday he’ll quit tryin’ to convince me to smoke. I don’t want any part of tobacco. Just can’t stand the stuff. Wonder where we’re headed after Austin. I guess I’ll find out soon enough. Doesn’t make a difference to me. I know it’ll be in Texas, and I sure don’t hanker to ever leave this state again. Might be I’m still only fifteen, but it doesn’t seem like that matters, not any more. Jeb says I’ve proved myself as a man to ride the river with, and that’s good enough for me. Mebbe we’ll be sent…”

     Nate drifted off. The next thing he heard was Hoot’s voice, as his partner and best friend kicked at the sole of his boot.

     “Hey, Nate, wake up, ya idjit,” Hoot shouted, using his nickname for his partner. “We’re gettin’ ready to pull out. Unless you wanna stay here with the road runners, cactus, dust devils, and rattlesnakes.”