A brand new Western adventure from Paul L. Thompson! Mary Coats sent U.S. Marshal Shorty Thompson a hand carried message by the stage driver Smokey Joe. ‘Shorty, Mallard should have been back at least five days ago. He drove twenty-five head of cattle down to Silver City. He told me it would take three days going and just over a half day coming back. When he didn’t return, I waited two days then saddled my horse and went looking. I found nothing of him, his horse or our cow dog, Brownie. Shorty, he has to be dead or he would be home by now. If you have time, could you bring Yeller Dog and come look for his body? I know he would want to be buried here at home. Your friend, Mary Coats.’