“This is a fast-paced story full of endearing characters, which is sure to entertain and amuse the reader. Excellent action an dialogue, along with an intriguing story premise carries swiftly through to the end. The author has come up with some impressive and innovative judgments for Joe to make. Well done.”

— Roundup Magazine, Volume XVI, No. 3, February 2009

“Here's a solid genre western with a slightly weird premise...a fun, lighthearted western with colorful characters and plenty of atmosphere.”

— Booklist, December 1, 2008

Joe Bratt grew up like an unbroken mustang, and trouble never bothers to move out of his way. He has had to claw and scratch his way through a life of hard knocks and daily struggles. Fortunately, these trials have taught him three things: fight when you must, never sit down to a fixed game of chance, and never, ever, get involved with a good woman.

Joe holds true to his three rules until he meets up with Raylene Stanfield, a judge’s well-educated daughter from the East. Joe has never met a more headstrong woman in his life, but he owes the lady, and he always pays his debts. Although running from the law and a hired killer, Joe takes on the chore of becoming the town judge—a job about which he knows practically nothing!

As usual, trouble is ready and waiting for Joe in Gold Butte. It’s a town ruled by greed and power, with a sheriff who is more concerned with collecting taxes than making Gold Butte a safe place to live. Genuine judge or not, Joe determines to do what is right... even if it means taking on a passel of gunmen and maybe getting killed in the process!

Terrell L. Bowers sometimes thinks he was born with boots and spurs. His father was his inspiration. He provided Terrell with his own horse and cows to ride and rope. Whether on small acre lots or fair-sized farms, he always had a horse and rope handy. Terrell shared his father’s enthusiasm for westerns and grew up rooting for Bob Steele, Johnny Mack Brown, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne. Western blood is in his veins, and he loves to create a new story, new characters, and then let his imagination run wild. “Fortunately,” Terrell writes, “I have a beautiful, loving wife and two angelic girls, who understand and accept my endless hours at a typewriter. My principal desire is that somewhere there are western lovers who find my stories entertaining.”

Avalon Westerns by Terrell Bowers:
JUDGMENT AT GOLD BUTTE
NOOSE AT SUNDOWN

The Broken Spoke Western Series
FEUD AT BROKEN SPOKE
GUN LAW AT BROKEN SPOKE
CROSSFIRE AT BROKEN SPOKE
DESTINY AT BROKEN SPOKE