Tanner's Law Author:Charles G. West Tanner Bland leaves his Virginia home on foot to fight for Dixie and rides back on a fine horse. Most folks would call that a profit-until they consider his loss. With everyone thinking the soldier dead, his younger brother marries Tanner's financee hours before he returns. — His home no longer his own, Tanner heads west to join an old army p... more »al and hit the gold mines of Montana. But the wagon train the men join is not what they are hoping for. In the train with them are the four Leach brothers, each one meaner than the next. Now, if Tanner and his buddy want to make it to Montana alive, they'll have to keep their enemies close....and their weapons closer.
Cora Leach gazed longinly at the joyful dancers. One of the soldiers noticed her and, before Cora had time to retreat, he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out into the firelight. Seeing no sign of her husband or his brothers, she permitted herself to enjoy the reel before darting back to her place in the shadows, where she found Joe Leach waiting. Cora froze abruptly. Without a word of warning, Joe struck her with his fist, driving the hapless girl out of the shadows to crumple, dazed, to the ground.
Having seen all the abuse he was going to stand for, Jeb strode over to help Cora.
'God damn you,' Joe shanrled, 'Get your hands off my wife!' It was all he had time to say, for Jeb whirled around and planted his fist squarely on Joe's nose. He put everything he had behind the punch, hoping to drive his fist right through the scoundrel's skull. Tanner would swear later that he heard Joe's nose crack from across the circle of wagons. Joe staggered backward before tripping over the wagon tongue and landing hard on his back.
'You're pretty damn good at beatin' on women,' Jeb spat. 'Let's see how you like it with somebody who'll fight back.'« less