The First Shot by the late British author E. C. Tubb (
ISFDB,
Wikipedia,
SFE), perhaps best known for his long-running science fiction Dumarest Saga, is his vintage standalone western historical action novel, this one starring a nearly lone man out to defend his family ranch (with limited help from the remains of said family) against encroaching cattle barons and a competing rival with deadly intentions, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Pioneering imprint.
This was originally published in 1957 by John Spencer under the title
Colt Vengeance using the pseudonym James R. Fenner and was later reprinted under the title
Colt Law using the pseudonym Chuck Adams.
Currently free @
Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK and pretty much everywhere else worldwide that Amazon sells, since this is being done via their KDP Select exclusive-or-else program)
Description
Out for blood…
The Circle Bar used to be a thriving business for the Willard family.
Six years on and Rex Willard’s brother is missing, his father has become a useless drunk and the ranch is all but finished.
Ruthless cattle barons are circling, desperate for their part of the failing ranch.
To make matters worse, Daren, the deadly foreman of the Flying W Ranch, is out for his blood.
With enemies at every turn, can Rex hold on to his inheritance and what’s left of his family?
Whatever the outcome, death will claim its victim.
But who will take The First Shot?