volume one IN THE D U D L E Y C L A R K - Ohio Vine Tours

politician in need of the young convict’s hanging, if he is to be
re-elected; a fat, blustering banker, filled with the pride of his
own certitude, whose portmanteau is stuffed with the currency
he has embezzled from his own bank; and one of the sons of
Cochise—Humping Maiden—on his way to the stockade at Fort
Bixby on the Arugula River—a stoic, smoldering, blue-eyed
man for whom the fine lady from Virginia can’t help but feel
loathing—and lust.
Their chances for making it to the Fort are slim-to-none.
Without their scout—Roy Weston—and his amazing coalblack
steed, Presto, they won’t stand a chance.
The Ghost Dance is bringing all the tribes together—Pawnee,
Sycamore, Seminole, Coco Puffs, Shoshone, Moose, Elk and
Shoehorn—and only one man knows all their tongues, knows
all their customs, most of their recipes, as well as their favorite
flowers—and that man is Roy Weston, Indian Scout!
Off in the distance, war drums have begun their rhythmic
booming.
Like the rumble of cannon at the Battle of Bull Run.
Like the sepulchral lowing of cattle late of an evening—
bangbangbang
—late of an evening, when the—
bangbangbang
—when the men are ranged around the campfire—
bangbangbang
—the campfire, and the yarnin’ starts—
Someone is calling Roy’s name.
The voice is far away, but is growing closer.
—and the yarnin’ starts, and the bottle and the bowl make
their rounds—
bangbangbang
It is a familiar voice, too.
BANGBANGBANG
Roy’s eyes snap open.
Even with the Bose headphones covering his ears, he can hear
someone banging on his door.
He starts awake and props himself up in his creaky bed.
2 0 ROY ROGERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY