Carl Bernard writes ‘westerns’ under the pseudonyms of

Abe Dancer & Caleb Rand

......The hooves of the lone horse marked the sandy border of the creek, then they climbed the rising bankside before swinging east towards the timberline of the Sierra Nevadas.  The two riders who had been following the trail for more than a week knew they had their man now. Yule Kater, the elder of the two brothers pulled off his sweat-stained hat for a moment and scratched his straggly black hair.

‘Sumbitch won’t get far now, Marl,’ he said. ‘That timber’ll slow him down. By first dark, he’ll be our dead meat.’

Marlow Kater wiped the heel of his hand across his flattened nose and spat. He didn’t answer Yule, but kicked his weary mount forward, urging it away from the creek.........