Hell's Acres by the late British author John Russell Fearn (
ISFDB,
Wikipedia,
SFE) is his vintage standalone western historical action adventure novel, this one starring a wandering gambler left for dead, who decides to make a new life in the titular town run by the obligatory petty tyrants, whose beleaguered but welcoming locals begin to look up to the once-loner stranger who becomes embroiled deeper into their affairs, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Pioneering imprint.
This was originally published in 1950 by Scion using the pseudonym Mick McCoy and was later reprinted by both Robert Hale's Black Horse Western and Ulverscroft's Linford Western Library lines.
Currently free @
Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK and pretty much everywhere else Amazon sells worldwide, since this is being done via their KDP Select exclusive-or-else program)
Description
Left for dead…
When gambler Smoke Cavindish is attacked and robbed of his poker winnings, his assailants leave him to die in the desert.
Determined to survive, he wanders until he stumbles into Hell’s Acres – a godforsaken town where the townsfolk live under the tyranny of Mark Tarleton and his ruthless gunhawks.
Cavindish, traditionally a loner, finds himself becoming someone who is looked up to and followed in the town against the sly and cruel Tarleton.
Cavindish’s integrity and sense of justice is rewarded with friendship and financial gain and it would seem that the odds are in Cavindish’s favour in Hell’s Acres.
But the West is a cruel and harsh place for everyone.
In the midst of trouble, Cavindish meets the beautiful Trixie Lee.
But things take a turn for the worse when he clashes with Tarleton and quickly finds himself gambling for the highest stakes of all – his life and that of the woman he loves.
Does he save his own neck and go back to his lone wanderings?
Or does he stand by the only people who have ever accepted him?
Things become even more complicated when Trixie’s past appears to be catching up with her.
Trying to make a new start, Cavindish’s future business plans are being completely sabotaged by Tarleton and his cronies.
Will Cavindish be able to hang on to the girl, the business and the respect he has so recently gained?
Or will it all go up in flames?
Packed full of hair raising moments, shoot outs and villainy, Hell’s Acres is a tumultuous battle between honour and greed.
But who will come out on top when the last bullet is shot?