NEW RELEASE — BUST OUT by W. M. SHOCKLEY Giveaway!

Two outlaws set out on yet another bank robbing heist to add to their “stash”, but things go awry when Buddy, the mastermind, decides to kill the teller.  Merle, his accomplice, manages to get away, and Buddy sends a prostitute to find Merle and hatch a plan to free him from jail. But when Merle shows up, he realizes he’s been framed, and in the chaos of getting away, he snatches up twelve-year-old boy, Reuben Solomon, to ensure his safety out of town.

Reuben Solomon has finally been allowed the responsibility of making a delivery from his father’s store—then all hell breaks loose. Gunshots ring out, and the next thing he knows he’s being hauled out of town by a stranger. This is the beginning of his big adventure, and his new life. Merle sees a different side of the boy who has been stifled by his alcoholic father. During the short time they ride together, Merle teaches Reuben the things the boy’s father should have taught him about life—until Reuben begins to think maybe he might not want to go back to the life he led in Shasta.

When Reuben returns home, it’s just as bad as before—even worse, since he’s learned about the world outside of Shasta. When he receives a gift from Merle, he knows he must head back out to find him when he turns fourteen. But Buddy has escaped the hangman, and with several murders to his credit, he knows that Reuben is his key to finding Merle—and the money that Merle took when he left to start a new life. Nothing will stop Buddy in his relentless search for the partner he believes double-crossed him, and now must pay. Can Reuben find Merle before Buddy has a chance to murder his old partner?

EXCERPT

     Shasta had the feel to it—Merle couldn't ever describe the feel, but he knew it when he got it, and knew it was real. Something wasn't right. Lots of things weren't right. Still, he forced himself to walk the horses into town just like Buddy had ridden out of Red Bluff—slowly. On one side of the street there were fifteen or so buildings under a tree covered hill. On the other side was the jail building with a clock tower and some other buildings in a field. At least three other buildings were in various stages of completion.

    He stopped in front of the bakery at the end of the street—they were baking something, and it smelled too good for Merle to pass up. He checked the clock tower above the jail building and saw he had time, so he tied up the horses and went inside. The smell was even better: real food after five days of rice and beans and pan-burned biscuits. He bought several rolls from the fat woman with a funny accent and went back outside where he put some of the rolls in his saddle bag.

    When he came out, the big clock showed 11:46. Merle leaned against the hitching rail and ate a roll. He split another between the horses. He'd been able to rest them pretty good, even as they came into Shasta, so they were ready to run when he busted Buddy out.

    If he busted Buddy out—the feel kept coming back on him. The town looked normal enough with only a few people on the street, mostly going into or coming out of the dry goods and general stores down the way. Across the street, the jail building didn't even look to be open. No, everything looked peaceful and quiet. But the feel told him it wasn't so. 

Has something bad happened to you that actually turned out to be good?  Be sure and leave a comment for a chance to win a free ecopy of BUST OUT.