In California, The Southern Pacific Railway was prying the West wide open, and the land was worth its weight in gold. While some men got in on the action, and some got out of the way, one group of settlers was making a stand-and holding up the railway. Turning to Alan Pinkerton's Chicago detective agency, the railroad robber barons hired the perfect agent to penetrate the settler's organization, a man who had learned a spy's trade in the Civil War. Tall, debonair, and pleasure-loving Ash Tallman can fight when he has to, lie when he needs to, and make love when he wants the right kind of woman on his side. But as Tallman enters the lush San Joaquin Valley in the company of a risk-taking beauty, he finds a fight with no clear battle lines, no sure enemies, and only one way out-by hunting the killers who are hunting him...

About the Reader

Scott "Scooter" Fortney—Voice Actor, Writer, Producer—More than 25 years experience.

Scott Fortney is a seasoned voice-over professional who began developing his voice skills at the ripe old age of 7; young Scott would create characters and adlib a storyline, complete with sound effects.

At the age of 16, Scott Fortney began his professional work in the voice-over business in local radio. Scott is highly skilled in digital audio production, character voices and copywriting; in fact, in several of his radio jobs, Scott served as Director of Creative Services. He has written, voiced and produced several award-winning ads.

Excerpt

Terror On The Railroad

The sky was suddenly lighted by an earsplitting blast. The force of the explosion instantly transformed the railway yard into a tangled mass of steel and wood. A towering ball of fire leaped skyward and the concussion shook the earth. A billowing cloud of smoke rose from the devastation, blotting out the moon.

Tallman lay flattened out on the roof of the boxcar. He stared at the distant flames and concluded that some combination of nitro and dynamite had been used in the bombing. Then he heard laughter and shouts from inside the boxcar, and realized the bombers were congratulating one another on a job well done. He wormed to the other side of the boxcar and found a handhold on the roof. Feet first, he lowered himself over the edge and swung through the open door. He landed on his knees and rolled, drawing the Colt.

"Don't move!" he ordered, rising to one knee. "I want you alive!"

Porter and Cobb were framed in the opposite doorway. A split second elapsed. Then both men pulled their guns...