Outlaws #5

Colonel William Walker leads his small band of men on a bold, delusional campaign to seize control of Mexico, declaring the Republic of Lower California and marching toward Sonora with grandiose confidence. As his forces face betrayal from within and resistance from Mexican troops, he turns to the outlaw Melendrez, forging a dangerous alliance to outmaneuver his enemies.

Jerry Pendleton arrives in Denver with his peculiar pet cricket, Bill, claiming the insect can lead him to copper—much to the amusement of locals like Rosco Cheever and Jane Conway. When Jerry stakes a claim near High Ridge, the town’s tension rises, especially as Pageon and his gang grow desperate to keep their hidden operations secret, leading to a tense standoff that hinges on the mysterious cricket’s true purpose.

"Avenger's Train" follows Special Officer Ray Steele as he boards a heavily armed train disguised as a regular freight, hunting the notorious outlaw gang led by "Ace" Diamond, "Patch" Wilson, and "Tiny." After a series of ambushes and narrow escapes, Steele tracks the gang to a remote bar, where he finally confronts them—only to find himself outnumbered and wounded. The story builds toward a tense showdown, with Steele determined to bring the killers to justice, no matter the cost.

In the rugged frontier of Montana, writer Judy Krandell races to complete her latest book, *Montana Madness*, after uncovering the secrets of a mysterious valley called Lost Ravine. After receiving threatening letters and narrowly escaping an attack, her friend Brock Johnson becomes the prime suspect when she is found dead—framed with her own gun in hand. Now on the run, Brock must piece together her hidden notes and follow her trail through remote terrain, searching for the truth behind the lost ravine and the deadly conspiracy that threatens to silence her forever.