Four Peaks
The Final Campaign
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Clint, at this moment in time, wasn’t thinking about Lisa, Lena, Connie, or his ranch. He was staring at the letter in his hand. It was from his friend and fellow ranger, Tom Williamson.
Tom, a charter member of the Arizona Rangers, started out as a first sergeant, was later promoted to captain, and is now a major. He is currently in charge of field operations at the regional headquarters located in Flagstaff. A desk job, he’s quick to tell you, that he’s thankful to have.
In earlier times, Clint had ridden alongside his friend on a couple of key campaigns in central Arizona. The biggest campaign, without any disagreement, was the raid on Wes Baden’s vast Mogollon Rim Ranch. Baden was not only one of the largest cattle ranchers in Arizona, but an unrepentant lawbreaker as well. He was guilty of providing a safe haven for many wanted fugitives, and for allowing his gang of cutthroat riders to kill anyone that wandered onto, or near, his land.
In the summer of 1892, Baden and his roguish outfit were put out of business by the valiant rangers. The defiant sixty-year-old rancher did not survive the raid, nor did his top gun hand, Billy Blackheart, a.k.a. the Tonto Basin Kid. The Kid, true to his nature, refused to be taken alive, and was ultimately killed in a hail of gunfire.
The second biggest campaign occurred in the fall of 1894. It involved the defeat of a band of raiders hiding out in a makeshift shack at the bottom of scenic Salt River Canyon. Only five of the eleven raiders initially survived the courageous assault launched by the rangers on that action-packed day. Cole Miner, an eighteen-year-old killer and thief, escaped during the assault. Cal Amare, Aikey Hart, Tull Oaks and Forrest Woods were taken into custody. Sadly, Ranger Jess McCain lost his life when Cole Miner later ambushed him. While fleeing to avoid capture, the young outlaw tried to shoot it out with his pursuers, but he couldn’t match the speed and accuracy of Ranger Clint Wells.
Jess was buried atop a low ridge overlooking the beautiful rushing waters of the Salt River. Miner was buried in a shallow grave a mile south of the canyon where Clint caught up to him. Scrub growth and cacti surround his grave.
With the four remaining raiders in custody, it appeared that everything was neatly “sewed up” and moving forward as it should. But, as the rangers traveled north to Show Low with their prisoners, things started to unravel—with disastrous results.
Even though sincere efforts were made to save him, Tull Oaks died en route from shock and blood poisoning due to a nasty gunshot wound to his thigh. During the night, Oaks’ pals, Amare and Hart, managed to escape on foot. And, before taking flight, Amare fatally stabbed his outlaw companion, Woods, for cooperating with the rangers. The two cagey fugitives made their way to Show Low, misappropriated some horses and guns, and then rode west toward Payson. By pure chance, they stopped at Clint’s ranch looking to steal fresh horses.
As previously mentioned, Amare, determined as always to avoid capture, ended up tragically murdering Clint’s wife, Lisa. The final outcome: Amare and Hart died that day at the ranch. Clint killed Amare, and another person at the scene killed Hart.
Clint had vowed on that terrible day that he would never again ride with the rangers, but over time, God healed his broken heart. Not long after that, he carefully rethought his opposition to helping the rangers fight crime in the Arizona Territory. A few months ago, after consulting with Connie, he let Williamson know that he was emotionally and mentally fit, and ready for duty. Williamson had been elated by the news, and took immediate steps that day to see to it that Clint would one day be properly rewarded for his past service to the Arizona Rangers.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
As long as ruthless outlaws continued to run amok in the territory, Arizona would never be granted statehood—and statehood was something the citizens dearly longed for.
The governor was under pressure from his constituents to do something. He promptly issued a mandate:
Clean out the last big stronghold of outlaws that were presently terrorizing the citizens of the Arizona Territory.
He didn’t care how it got done—as long as it got done, and the sooner the better.
He assigned his top aide, Mr. Henry Watts, to put his directive into action. The question on everyone’s mind: Was anyone truly capable of carrying out the mission? The governor’s man didn’t have to think twice about what agency he needed to call—the Arizona Rangers. He would also ask for assistance from all other law enforcement agencies as well. Every sheriff and town marshal would be called to assist. If they could not come, they would be required to send a deputy from their department.
Butch Kantrell, the leader of a large band of outlaws, was hiding in the shadow of Four Peaks. Along with his lieutenants, Russ Thorpe and Two Scars, he had nearly fifty men under his command. He thumbed his nose at the law, and felt that his gang was unstoppable.
Clint Wells, along with his fellow rangers, would do all that was necessary to bring Kantrell’s reign of terror to an end. Law and order, in this campaign, would come at a high price—to those on both sides of the fight.
About the Author
CRAIG MAIN, a United States Air Force retiree and “baby boomer,” is an inspiring new author of western novels. Four Peaks: The Final Campaign is his third novel, and the last in the Clint Wells, Arizona Ranger trilogy. It is the sequel to Raiders of Salt River Canyon, which was a sequel to Shadow of the Mogollon Rim.
Though relocating recently to his hometown of French Lick, Indiana, he lived in Arizona for most of his adult life—beginning in January 1965. Arizona still had a significant Wild West ambiance in the sixties, and numerous unspoiled places were always waiting to be discovered. Many ranchers still rode their horses into town on a regular basis. Western wear was the uniform of the day.
Craig spent a good deal of his free time camping, hiking, mountain biking, and hunting throughout central and northern Arizona, which includes the Four Peaks, Salt River Canyon and Mogollon Rim regions. He is very familiar with the locations mentioned in this exciting new novel, and has even driven his four-wheel drive vehicle to the top of Four Peaks. (The Brown Trailhead is located in the “saddle” between the peaks.) His character, Clint Wells, reflects his Western spirit. This is a novel that young adults and “baby boomers” alike can enjoy.