This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this anthology are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.

A CENTURY OF GREAT WESTERN STORIES

Copyright © 2000 by John Jakes

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

Book design by Jane Adele Regina

A Forge Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor.com

Forge® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension. 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A century of great Western stories / edited by John Jakes.

p. cm.

“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”

Includes bibliographical references.

eISBN: 978-1-250-20590-2

1. Western stories. 2. Frontier and pioneer life—West (U.S.)—Fiction. 3. West (U.S.)

—Social life and customs—Fiction. I. Jakes, John, 1932–

PS648.W4 C46 2000

813’.087408—dc21

99-462096