RATTLESNAKE JAKE

About the Book

Deserter Josh W. Browning heads for Kansas in search of Jake Hiller for revenge and justice. Captain Jake Hiller being near death after an Indian attack confesses to using his rank to blame others, including Josh, for murder and desertion. However, learning he would live, Jake escapes from Fort Hays, rides to Nevada, and begins his life as an outlaw. When vigilantes start hanging every suspicious man, Jake goes into the desert to hide and starts robbing and killing lone riders on the trails.

J.W. Browning finds a dead minister along his route and assumes the identity of Reverend Michael Barnes on his way to deliver Bibles to Duck Creek, Nevada. With Maggie Webber, he changes his hate to love, when he learns that his name has been cleared by the army. He stops searching for Jake Hiller.

Jake is known as Snake Man until he escapes from Marshall Judson Cooper. Judson puts out a new poster identifying Jake as Rattlesnake Jake. That inspires the outlaw to try regular robbing again. Failing to holding up a stage coach by himself, Jake decides to start up a gang to rob the bank in Duck Creek. There, he runs into J.W. Browning, alias the Reverend Michael Barnes, for a showdown.

About the Author

Jerry Barker was born in Abilene, Texas in 1940. He lived between Hobbs, New Mexico and Lubbock, Texas prior to entering military service. He returned to Texas for his last tour of duty prior to retirement. Jerry then worked in data processing in Austin, Texas.