Grab your hat, step into your boots, and strap on those spurs. Your cow pony is saddled up and ready to ride the trail from San Antonio to Abilene.
First Drive
A Seph Vermillion
Western Adventure Book 1
by David
Fitz-Gerald
Genre: Historical
Western Adventure Fiction
Grab your hat, step into your boots, and strap on those spurs. Your cow pony is saddled up and ready to ride the trail from San Antonio to Abilene.
Seph Vermillion
grew up dirt poor. As long as he can remember, he's been pushing a plow and
arguing with a mule. A couple of times a year, a trio of bandits ravage the
family farm and make off with their savings.
Pa never returned
home after the war. Seph's siblings have been gone so long, he doesn't remember
what they look like. When Ma dies after a long illness, Seph trades the family
farm for a horse named Sheriff. The kid next door tells Seph about the Deatherage
Longhorn Cattle Ranch. The allure of adventure beckons. They partner up and hit
the trail. Lacking skills, they are the last cowboys hired and agree to work
for half pay.
The outfit's top
hand, Stoke Moreland, pranks, taunts, and threatens Seph. Why does the seasoned
cowboy seem intent on driving him off? Seph doesn't know much about
self-defense, but he is tired of being a victim and feeling violated. How long
can he turn the other cheek?
The trail is
fraught with hazards from perilous river crossings to the mother of all
stampedes. When they realize they're being tracked, followed, and hunted, a
growing sense of doom overwhelms the fledgling outfit of cowboys who are still
wet behind the ears. The outlaws that plagued Seph's past have followed them
and they are determined to take the herd. Their plan is simple: pit the cowboys
against each other, pick them off one by one, and stampede the beeves.
Since they left
San Antonio, the drovers have looked forward to whooping it up at the end of
the trail. That was before somebody began killing cowboys. Now, Abilene seems
like an impossible dream. Will anybody make it to the end of the trail?
Grab your
slicker, fetch your bedroll, and swing up into the saddle. Sign on with the
Dagger D, Angry R brand—First Drive is calling your name.
Character Profile – Meet Torp: Seph’s Little Brother on the Trail
In First Drive, Thomas “Torp” Orpington is the beating heart of the story—a young cowboy whose tragic past fuels his determination and whose resilience, alongside his bond with Seph Vermillion, underscores the power of brotherhood. Orphaned at a young age, Torp brings vulnerability and grit to the rugged world of the Deatherage outfit. His relationship with Seph offers readers a poignant glimpse into the transformative strength of found family and mentorship.
Torp’s life was shaped by profound loss. First, he lost his mother:
“A drifter killed Ma. Hit her with a big stick while she was coming back from church. Took what little money she had. It wasn’t enough to be worth dying for.”
After her death, his father turned to drinking, only to meet his own tragic end:
“I wasn’t always alone,” Torp said quietly. “Pa slipped on a rock by the river. That’s what they said. I found him there two days later, half in and half out of the water.”
These early tragedies didn’t break Torp; instead, they forged his determination to prove himself in a world where work dominated every waking moment.
For Seph Vermillion, Torp becomes the little brother he never had. Seph sees Torp’s struggles and steps into the role of protector and mentor, offering guidance when others ridicule or dismiss him. In helping Torp navigate his struggles, Seph discovers his own strength as a leader and mentor, forging a bond that shapes both of their journeys. Torp, in turn, looks to Seph as a steady presence in a world that has often been cruel:
“Stoke asked me if you changed my diapers and burped me after meals. He’s calling me a baby, ain’t he?”
Seph wanted to lie to the kid, but couldn’t do it. “Some people like to be mean, Torp. I know it is hard to overlook, but sometimes I don’t think they can help it.”
Seph’s compassion helps Torp navigate his insecurities, but their relationship is not one-sided. Torp inspires Seph with his perseverance, reminding him of the strength found in vulnerability and the courage to keep going.
Though small in stature and often underestimated, Torp works tirelessly to pull his weight. Whether it is riding drag through the choking dust or calming a skittish longhorn, Torp
approaches every task with tireless determination. His longing for recognition is encapsulated in his emotional request to Seph:
“Seph… if you ever have a kid, could you name him after me? Just so… just so folks remember I was here.”
Seph’s response—an unshakable promise to carry Torp’s memory forward—cements their bond and shows how deeply Torp’s presence impacts those around him.
Despite his hardships, Torp earns his place on the cattle drive. His underdog spirit and unyielding heart transform him from an orphan to an irreplaceable member of the Dagger D, Angry R crew. Whether managing the cranky beeves at the tail end of the herd or lifting the spirits of his fellow cowboys, the Deatherage Longhorn Cattle Ranch would not be the same without this diminutive drover.
EXCERPT
April 23, 1868
The sharp crack of gunfire sliced through the air, jolting Seph Vermillion from a daydream. He sat up tall in the saddle. The skin on his forearms prickled. A familiar punch detonated in his gut. That blast in his belly signaled danger.
His ear twitched, and he blinked rapidly.
The first shot was followed by several more, each one closer than the first.
Seph glanced down at the buttstock of his rifle. His father called the Hawken Uncle Yves, but Seph never knew his grandfather's brother—or why his father had named it after his long-departed uncle. He considered drawing the gun from its scabbard.
His heart thundered in his chest. He glanced at his partner, Slaw. The look on his friend's face mirrored his own sense of dread.
They had hoped to avoid trouble on their journey to San Antonio.
The sound of pounding hooves on the trail behind them grew to a rumbling thunder. With an urgent nod, Slaw signaled a detour off the trail.
Seph dug his heels into the side of his claybank dun, a fast horse named Sheriff, and dropped the lead rope on his pack mule. Immediately, Seph was on the heels of his partner's horse, a dapple-gray called Win, short for Winter.
Dirt chunked from Win's hooves, pelting Seph. Seph hunched over Sheriff's neck and squinted, hoping to keep the gravel from stinging his eyes.
As they raced across rugged terrain, Seph spared a glance over his shoulder. Dread coiled in his belly at the sight of three familiar figures in hot pursuit. The approaching riders hooted, hollered, and howled.
These weren't random bandits. Seph knew these skunks all too well. He couldn't count the times they had raided the Vermillion family farm. They'd gallop into the barnyard, help themselves to whatever they wanted and ride away, heckling and cajoling. Seph was always left to deal with the aftermath.
But this time was different. Seph was no longer a helpless victim. Never again, Seph told himself. He gritted his teeth, urging Sheriff onward. Determination flowed through his limbs, and Sheriff lengthened his strides.
He was thrilled to own a horse that loved to run.
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/First-Drive-Vermillion-Western-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0D3JM8LYC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/first-drive-a-seph-vermillion-western-adventure-by-david-fitz-gerald
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213012434-first-drive
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Dead Heat
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About the Author
David Fitz-Gerald
writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books,
including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave
is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue
Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of
the Historical Novel Society.
Alpine landscapes
and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an
Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s
highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four
thousand feet above sea level.
Dave is a
lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no
surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous
trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.
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