Me and Them Cowboys by Mike Torreano

How did I come to be writing cowboy stories? Well, I grew up with those old western TV shows in the 50s and early 60s. Most every kid wanted to be a cowboy or Indian back then. There were so many Wild West series on during those years. Growing up in Ohio, I didn’t any contact with cowboys, real or imagined, but that changed in fifth grade.

My teacher took us down to the little school library the first week of school and told us to pick out a book, because we were going to read a book a week and someone was going to give a report in class, so we had to be ready.
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I looked that shelf of books over, up and down, and came across a spine with the name Zane Grey on it. I had no idea what a Zane Grey was, but I thought it was a cool name. I pulled that book off the shelf (wish I could remember which one it was), read it and I was hooked on the Old West. I could see the cowboys and Indians racing after each other beneath the red sandstone cliffs of the Painted Desert. From that point on, I read every Zane Grey novel I could and that’s where my fascination with the West and cowboys came from. And it still holds me today.

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Blurb-
New Mexico Territory, 1890
 
In a hidden cavern, a treasure trove of gold bars sits alongside an ancient relic.
 
To find her treasure-hunting brother, Lottie Durham enlists the help of an easygoing lawman she can’t stand—at first. When a mysterious woman known only as Ma asks her to join the relic’s guardians, Lottie’s world spins. Should she take on this solemn obligation?
 
Twill, leader of those secretive guardians, has sworn a vow to protect the centuries-old priceless relic. Regrets bedevil him and his dedication to his oath is repeatedly tested. But if he breaks his promise, he’ll fail Ma, the one person he’s never wanted to let down.
 
Will a looming attack by a band of determined raiders be the end of the guardians, the gold, and the relic?

Excerpt-
 
    Ma took to her knitting, but spoke to Twill. “Have you spoken with the fellow, yet?”
    Twill shook his head. “He weren’t in any shape to talk, don’t know if he’s still breathin’. Got him stashed away, will figure things out when I get back up there.”
    “Please set up a perimeter around the Peak while you do that.” Without looking up, she said, “Make sure our saints haven’t been disturbed.” She raised her eyes and held his gaze.
    “And—”
    Twill nodded. “No need to even say it, Ma. I crawled down to check and everything’s all right. Maybe a few coins, some jewelry missing. That’s about all. The relic is fine. What would you like to do with the intruder?”
    “If it’s who I think it is, he’s harmless, but still, he’s been somewhere he shouldn’t have been. As poor as he and his sister are, I figure he might be doing Richards’ dirty work. Can’t have that—you know what to do if he’s still alive.”
    “Will he be missed?”
    “Yes, by his sister, but there is nothing else to be done. Word around town will be he died lost in the depths of the Peak, unfortunately. Not the first and won’t be the last. Perhaps I can help her with a memorial service, she’s so young. Her father gone a year or so ago as well—another misfortune.” She shook her head as she purled a row. “Victorio hasn’t been good to that family.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR-
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Mike Torreano is a multi-award-winning author with a military background and a particular interest in American history and the Old West.

His debut western mystery, The Reckoning, set in South Park, Colorado in 1868, was released in 2016 by The Wild Rose Press. The sequel, The Renewal, also in South Park, 1872, was released in 2018, with a third western mystery, A Score To Settle, set in New Mexico Territory in 1870 released October 2020. White Sands Gold is his latest western mystery, also set in New Mexico Territory, 1890 and released by Wild Rose in September 2022. He has a coming-of-age novel released November 2023, Fireflies At Dusk, which is set during the Civil War era. His short story, The Trade, a tale of the Yukon Gold Rush, was his first published work in 2014. 

Mike’s written for magazines and newspapers for many years. An experienced editor, he’s taught English and Journalism at both the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

He’s a member of the Historical Novel Society, Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Western Writers of America and several other writing groups. He has appeared on the British broadcast On The Record, and he recently guested on LA Talk Radio’s Rendezvous With A Writer and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ podcast.

His novels have received two Firebird Book Awards for western fiction and historical fiction, two American Book Award finalist for mystery/suspense and historical fiction, a gold award for fiction from Literary Titan, and most recently a finalist award in the New Mexico Book Co-op program.
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He brings his readers back in time with him as he recreates life in mid-to-late nineteenth century America. He and his wife, Anne, live in Colorado Springs.

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