Part of Series
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 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.
