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Chuckwagon Trail
Series · 5 books · 2017-2022

Books in series

The Chuckwagon Trail book cover
#1

The Chuckwagon Trail

2017

Johnstone Country. Frontier Spirit Lives Here. National bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone spin a breakneck tale about a heroic chuckwagon cook who knows just what to do when cowboys get hungry—for revenge . . . THE CHUCKWAGON TRAIL Framed for murder, Dewey “Mac” McKenzie is running for his life. Though Mac’s never even made a pot of coffee, he talks his way onto a cattle drive heading west—as a chuckwagon cook. Turns out he has a natural talent for turning salt pork and dried beans into culinary gold. He’s as good with a pot and pan as he is with a gun—which comes in handy on a dangerous trail drive beset with rustlers, hostile Indians, ornery weather, and deadly stampedes. Mac can hold his own with any cowboy twice his age. At least until the real showdown begins... Trail hand, Deke Northrup, is one mean spit in the eye. Before long, he’s made enemies of all his men. When Mac learns that Northrup is planning to double-cross the herd’s owner, he stands up to the trail boss and his henchman. He might be outgunned and outnumbered, but Mac’s ready to serve up some blazing frontier justice—with a healthy helping of vengeance... Live Free. Read Hard. www.williamjohnstone.net
Die by the Gun book cover
#2

Die by the Gun

2018

In this thrilling frontier saga, bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone celebrate an unsung hero of the American West: a humble chuckwagon cook searching for justice—and fighting for his life. . . DIE BY THE GUN With one successful cattle drive under his belt, Dewey "Mac" McKenzie is on a first-name basis with danger. Marked for death for a crime he didn't commit and eager to get as far away from the territory, he signed on as cattle drive chuckwagon cook, to save his own skin—and learned how to serve up a tasty hot stew. Turns out Mac has a talent for fixing good vittles. He's also pretty handy with a gun. But Mac's enemies enemy are hungry for more—and he's hired a gang of ruthless killers to turn up the heat . . . Mac knows he's a dead man. His only hope is to join another cattle drive on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, deep in New Mexico Territory. The journey ahead is even deadlier than the hired guns behind him. His trail boss is an ornery cuss. His crew mate is the owner's spoiled son. And the route is overrun with kill-crazy rustlers and bloodthirsty Comanche. To make matters worse, Mac's would-be killers are closing in fast. But when the cattle owner's son is kidnapped, the courageous young cook has no choice but to jump out of the frying pan—and into the fire . . .
A Hill of Beans book cover
#3

A Hill of Beans

2020

Johnstone Country. Come and Get It. With two trail drives under his belt, Dewey “Mac” Mackenzie has proven to be more than a good chuckwagon cook. He’s good at serving up justice, too—with a side of hot lead . . . A HILL OF BEANS Mac Mackenzie has enough problems on his plate. He’s got bounty hunters on his tail, no one on his side, and no place to hide. Just when he thinks it can’t get any worse, he hears the rumbling of a cattle stampede—heading straight for his camp. Mac’s got two choices: Get trampled like a weed or saddle up and help get the herd under control. At first, the traildrivers ain’t too pleased to have a stranger help them out. But once they realize Mac’s not a rustler, they ask him to join the team. Mac takes them up on the offer—especially after he meets the cowgirl Colleen—and quickly impresses everyone with his cooking skills. There’s just a few more problems: Mac’s new employers are the real rustlers. And Mac’s stepped out of the frying pan into the fire . . . Live Free. Read Hard.
Biscuits and Gravy book cover
#4

Biscuits and Gravy

2021

Dewey “Mac” Mackenzie is no ordinary chuckwagon cook. He’s a marked man on the run who works cattle drives to stay one step ahead of his enemies. If these hired killers catch up to him, he’ll be slinging guns instead of hash—with a side order of revenge that’s best served cold . . . HOT BISCUITS. COLD GRAVES. A hot meal, a hard drink, and maybe a friendly hand of poker is all Mac Mackenzie wants when he drifts into the small town of Harcourt City, Montana. When he defends a saloon girl from the unwanted advances of some local toughs, he earns the wrath of the town’s powerful namesake, Oscar Harcourt. Harcourt rules this place with an iron fist, ugly greed, and an even uglier gang of thugs. Now he has his eyes on a ranch belonging to the saloon girl’s brother—a ranch they won’t give up without a fight. To raise funds, the siblings arrange a cattle drive to Rattlesnake Creek, and they want Mac to join them. But with so many devils ridng on their tails, Mac is ready to turn up the heat—and send them back to hell . . . Live Free. Read Hard.
Settling His Hash book cover
#5

Settling His Hash

2022

Legendary national bestselling Western authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone return with a new installment in the rip-roaring, gun-blazing Chuckwagon Trail series. JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE MEN STAKE THEIR CLAIMS. A chuckwagon cook who’s also deadly with a pair of six-shooters, Dewey “Mac” Mackenzie is a man who has no qualms filling men’s bellies with food—or lead. Finally cleared of a crime he didn’t commit, he’s able to enjoy the fruits of his labor on the trail without looking over his shoulder. But even his best served grub can be spoiled by those with evil appetites . . . TOO MANY COOKS After traversing California from one end to the other, and finding nothing much to his liking, Mac Mackenzie is heeding his heart’s call to return to Texas. Lucky for him, a group of cowboys heading for the Lone Star state need someone who knows their way around a chuckwagon. Their previous cook’s temper boiled over during a saloon brawl and ended up in jail. With no love for the cook—or his food—the cowboys just want to head home peaceably, share some quality meals with good company, and give their boss the small fortune they’re carrying from the herd they sold. Otis Bradley knows he’s no gourmet, but that’s no excuse for his fellow cattlemen to leave him rotting behind bars. He still earned his share of the payroll for this time on the trail—and after befriending outlaw Stack Ketchum, Otis has a gang of gunfighters ready to dish out some revenge in exchange for the loot. But Otis and Ketchum’s badmen haven’t reckoned with the likes of Mac, a man who will settle their hash—raw and bloody . . . Live Free. Read Hard.

Author

William W. Johnstone
William W. Johnstone
Author · 500 books

William Wallace Johnstone was a prolific American author, mostly of western, horror and survivalist novels. Born and raised in southern Missouri, Johnstone was the youngest of four children. His father was a minister and his mother a school teacher. He quit school when he was fifteen and worked in a carnival and as a deputy sheriff. He later served in the Army and, upon returning to civilian life, worked in radio broadcasting for 16 years. Johnstone started his writing career in 1970, but did not have any works published until 1979 (The Devil's Kiss) and became a full-time writer in 1980. He wrote close to two hundred books in numerous genres, including suspense and horror. His main publication series were Mountain Man, The First Mountain Man, Ashes and Eagles and his own personal favorite novel was The Last of the Dog Team (1980). He also authored two novels under the pseudonym William Mason. Johnstone had lived for many years in Shreveport, Louisiana, yet died in Knoxville, TN, at the age of 65. J. A. Johnstone is continuing William W. Johnstone's series.

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