Boquillas Crossing
by
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Stepping into the lobby from inside his office, the stationmaster pulled two short fat cigars from his shirt pocket and introduced himself. “My name is Edgar Clemens. Welcome to Marathon.”
Turning to accept the offered cigar, Daniel considered how the simple act of sharing tobacco created a momentary bond between unacquainted men. He leaned forward so that Edgar could light the cigar. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he said, “Thank you.” …
Edgar pointed his cigar at Daniel.
“You’re a government man, aren’t you?”
Daniel bit down on his cigar and reached for his gear. “Thanks for the cigar. I appreciate the hospitality, but I should find the hotel before it starts snowing.”
“As it might,” said Edgar.
“Where will I find the Chambers Hotel?”
“Walk east along the tracks. The Chambers Hotel is the only two-story building on the south side of the railroad track.” …
Daniel adjusted his gear on his shoulder and left the station.
Edgar closed the door and watched through the large windowpane as Daniel walked toward the Chambers Hotel. “That man isn’t an engineer,” he whispered to himself. “He’s a filibustering soldier of fortune if I ever saw one.”
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About the Book
It is January of 1915 when destiny and a dangerous scheme bring two former West Point classmates together once again. Samuel Jenkins has lured Daniel Taylor to Terlingua, Texas, with the promise of earning high wages at a quicksilver mine. Although Taylor suspects Jenkins’ motives, he has no idea that Jenkins is secretly hoping to involve him in a fraudulent deal to rob Pancho Villa of his remaining wealth before the war ends.
Upon arriving, Taylor forms a tenuous friendship with a naïve commander who is awed by Taylor’s experiences, yet disturbed by his relationship with infamous war profiteers. It is not long before Lieutenant Jack Thompson is ordered to assist Marshal Navarro, who repeatedly uses the young commander and his soldiers as violent instruments of his unique form of border justice. Ultimately, when Navarro bushwhacks Taylor and Jenkins during the Second Punitive Expedition into Mexico, the Lieutenant is forced to make an agonizing choice between duty and friendship.
Populated with dynamic characters drawn from the 1910 Mexican Revolution, Boquillas Crossing weaves a lively tale of adventure, deception, and love as it celebrates monumental historical events and the natural beauty of the Big Bend region of far west Texas.
About the Author
Rawles Williams is a wildland firefighter, yoga teacher, and naturalist with thirty-five years of experience hiking, boating, and exploring the Big Bend region of far west Texas and northern Mexico. He currently lives in Alpine, Texas, where he is renovating several old houses and completing his second novel.