The Apostate and Other Stories of the Contemporary Southwest

In The Heart Of The Desert, Sin And Salvation Collide Dive into the the contemporary American Southwest with The Apostate and two additional short stories that walk the line between sin and redemption—or lack thereof. In the titular novella, a shocking carjacking in the parking lot of a bustling Tucson shopping mall sparks a frantic chase across the rugged landscape of Arizona and New Mexico. As a burnt-out college professor and his unwanted companions hurtle toward an unknown fate, their journey becomes a harrowing quest for salvation in the face of uncertainty and death. "Panhandle" follows Buddy Harris's return to Seco, Texas, fresh out of prison and seeking solace in familiar streets. But home isn't what it used to be, and Buddy soon discovers that confronting the past means confronting hard truths, both about himself and those who put him in stir. Meanwhile, in "Cowboy," Johnny Dupree lives the life of a carefree cowboy... If a man is only as good as his word... then promises carve destinies. As the dust settles on the sun-drenched plains, Shawnee, a lone drifter with a past shrouded in mystery, rides into the heart of a battle that echoes with the thunder of hooves and the crack of gunfire. The Tell Ranch, a sprawling expanse of land that whispers tales of grit and glory, is at the center of a showdown between the indomitable Chrissie Tell and cunning attorney Jarrett Bremmer. In the wake of her father's death, Chrissie discovers that the very essence of the ranch is slipping through her fingers as Bremmer tries to steal it out from under her before she reaches majority. In this swirling tempest of ambition and resilience, Shawnee emerges as a reluctant hero, drawn into a world where bullets speak louder than words. As the clash intensifies, loyalty hangs by a thread, and the boundary between justice and revenge blurs like the heat waves on the horizon. The Tell Ranch isn't just soil and stone. It's a battleground where corruption faces off against heritage, and greed stares down integrity. Shawnee's every move becomes a pivot point in this high-stakes duel, where survival isn't just a choice but a necessity in a lawless land. Amidst the tumbleweeds and echoing gunfire, Shawnee must walk a perilous line, where the fate of the ranch teeters on the edge. In a land where shadows dance with the setting sun, can Shawnee ride against the storm and save the Tell? The answer hangs in the dry, dust-laden wind sweeping across the frontier.