The Abilene Trail by Rick Flanagan My novel, The Abilene Trail, is the sage of the Kincaid family and life in the emerging state of Texas during the early 1800s. When the two Kincaid brothers, Ken and Billy, learn of their oldest brothers arrest in Abilene, Texas, they decide to travel to Abilene to try to help their brother, Tal. On the Abilene Trail, they meet an old Texas Ranger, G. W. Titus and his Indian sidekick, Bear. The two lawmen are on the trail of an outlaw named Bart Tilson. As they talk about the outlaw, both parties realize that Bart Tilson is the man wanted for the killing that Tal is accused of. The men decide to work together to apprehend Bart Tilson, take him to Abilene, and prove Tal’s innocence. The men split up to increase their chances of capturing Bart Tilson. Bart Tilson shoots Ken in an ambush. Billy goes after the outlaw after he tends to his brothers wound. In his quest for the outlaw, Billy meets Isaac Trumble, a wealthy, Boston man, who is also on the trail of Bart Tilson. They join forces and soon capture the illusive outlaw. Billy leaves Ken in the care of Isaac and heads out to meet up with G. W. and Bear. While searching for G. W. and Bear, Billy is captured by the outlaw’s friends. The most ruthless of the band, a Mexican named Ernesto, is told to get the truth about where their friend Bart is. Ernesto is in the process of questioning Billy when G. W. and Bear arrive to save him. The group rejoins and continues on its way to Abilene. Before they get to Abilene, they come across a troop of hostile Indians. The Indians had just attacked a small settlement and were celebrating their victory when Ken, Billy and the small group observed them. A carefully planned battle ensues and the Indians are eliminated. At various times, the story shifts to the older brother, Tal and how he was charged with the murder of two people in Red Bluff. Tal drifts into a small town looking for work. The town of Mystery is like many other towns in Texas. Just a spot on the map, with no real importance. Tal meets the widow Em, the owner of a boarding house, and is immediately attracted to her. Em takes a liking to Tal and a budding romance is born. During a crooked card game at the local saloon, Tal is forced into a gunfight with a man cheating at cards. In the gunfight, the card shark is killed and Tal is wounded. While he is on the mend at the boarding house, the Town Marshal suspects that Tal has something to do with the killing at the Broken C, in Red Bluff. Tal is taken into custody and transported to Abilene to stand trial. In due time the group arrives in Abilene with the man responsible for the killing and Tal is released. There is a trial and Bart Tilson is found guilty of murder. The entire town turns out to witness the hanging and the end of another owlhoot in their midst. Ken and Billy return to the ranch with Isaac, with visions of traveling back East with Isaac. G. W. and Bear move North in search of a quieter life in retirement. Ken returns to Mystery and the woman he hopes is waiting for him … Return to Books >>