The Tales Of Robert Lowe

By Michael J. Moore

For fans of westerns and positive/faith-based books, The Stories Of Robert Lowe is a collection of short stories adapted from a trilogy of award-winning films from Director Wayne Shipley. These four short stories follow a man in a mid-western town during the early 1900's who's life takes several unforeseen turns. With the west

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael J. Moore
• Release date: Aug 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088250143

Book preview

I

The Fortune of Robert Lowe

II

The Trial of Robert Lowe

III

The Lessons of Robert Lowe

IV

The Loss of Robert Lowe

PROLOGUE

By the early 1900's, the west was getting settled and pioneers were finding their way in the new frontier.  People of various backgrounds used their God-given skills to build their lives in an unforgiving land. Many young men who weren't born into a family business or were uneducated had a difficult time finding their proper path in life. Doing odd jobs wherever they could find work was a way of putting food on the table and sheltering a young family.  Often, men would turn to a life of petty crime before finding their rightful place in the world.  Sometimes, petty crime led to more serious criminal activities.  But most young men were able to turn their lives around before it was too late to find their way down a more righteous path. Such was......

THE FORTUNE OF ROBERT LOWE

Robert knew there would be trouble. But he was there anyway. After all, in the American west of 1910, to survive, a special skill was needed in order to make your way in the world. And Robert Lowe's special skill was his way with a gun. Shooting came naturally to him. He didn't know why. His father wasn't particularly good with a gun. As far as Robert knew, the man wasn't particularly good with anything. But he never really thought about this talent. He just instinctively knew how to hit his target every time. And now his special skill got him a meeting with notorious gang leader Paul West, who was looking for someone good with a gun.

Robert was the best around. It should have mattered to him that he would need to use his talent to do wrong. But he was tired of not being able to support his wife. Living in her daddy's old house, barely scrapping by doing odd jobs, eating whatever game he could hunt, watching Mary do without, all made him feel like a lesser man. Working with West and his men could be his way out of a useless life.

It was a clear and sunny day with a slight breeze which helped to cool Robert's nervous sweat as he slowly approached the gang's hideout. Robert knew a member of the bunch and used his connection to set up the meeting. But as he got closer to his chosen future, Robert became apprehensive about taking his life in this direction. Other than a few minor indiscretions in his youth, he had always been on the right side of the law, which certainly made things easier for him where his best friend was concerned. Taking this step would destroy that friendship.

Still, Robert moved forward. He dismounted his horse to get a better look at where he was told to meet West, a man who, along with his gang, was responsible for train and bank robberies in multiple territories. And, they were known for leaving no witnesses. With a healthy reward on his head, West was constantly being hunted by lawmen, bounty hunters and amateurs alike. But he was always able to avoid capture. His last outing cost him a few of his best men and now he was looking to bolster his crew.

Robert peaked out from behind the boulder providing him cover. In the distance a small group of men gathered together, most of them off their horses, eating, resting, waiting for their leader to tell them their next move.

The time had arrived. Everything looked clear. Robert made sure the red handkerchief he was told to wear so he wouldn’t get shot as he approached was in place. As he prepared to step out into the open, Robert knew that once he moved forward towards the gang, his future would be nothing like his past. Would Mary be accepting of his decision? He would soon find out.

Just as he was about to make his presence known, there was movement in the brush to his right. He instinctively crouched low and drew his pistol. Was it one of West's men? He watched for several intense moments, wanting to be certain of what he saw. But seeing no further movement convinced Robert it was an animal that caught his eye. Telling himself his apprehension was causing him to be paranoid, he placed his gun back in his holster and prepared to move forward.

Suddenly, gunfire erupted all around him! The edge of the woods came alive. Robert looked towards the group of men waiting for him. Two were already down while the others were running for cover, not much of which their chosen location provided. West's men were dropping as gunfire continued to ring out.

Robert didn't know what to make of this. Was it a rival gang? A vigilante group? The law? Someone obviously planned to execute this attack. He knew no one had followed him so he was sure he didn't lead anyone there. But he had come dangerously close to putting himself in the middle of it all!

Slowly, Robert backed up, making sure he was out of sight to everyone in the woods, knowing if he couldn't see them, they couldn't see him. When he was finally at a place where he could mount up and ride out quickly, he did just that. He kept low in the saddle and rode away as fast as his trusted Appaloosa could carry him. No bullets raced past his head as he made his escape. Had he been lucky enough to get away without being seen? He dared not slow the horse's pace or look back for fear of ruining his good fortune.

When the sound of gunfire had faded behind him, Robert slowed his horse so as not to push it beyond its limits. The slower pace gave Robert an opportunity to reflect on what had happened. Suddenly a rush of shame and regret washed over him. What had he been thinking? He had never, ever considered doing anything like what he almost committed to just a few minutes ago. And desperation for a few dollars was no excuse to change now!

Thank God I was a little late he thought to himself, suddenly realizing that he had never thanked God for anything. Why not? He had good things in his life. He was fortunate to have a loving wife. He had a roof under which to sleep each night. He had friends. And he had talents and abilities that had carried him this far in life, even if it wasn't quite far enough for his liking.

As he got closer to town, to his existence, it occurred to him that his life wasn't all that bad, because he had life itself, simple as that! Now he just needed to figure out how to make sure he kept it and did something with it, rather than wasting it.

Continuing at a steady pace as he approached the town’s edge, a look over each shoulder confirmed no one was following. He slowed his pace so as not to draw attention to himself as he rode into town, allowing his horse to catch his breath and, Robert realized, allowing himself to do the same. What a day!

*****

The sun was starting to set as he rode up to his humble home, a two-room house that had belonged to his father-in-law, the local preacher for many years. Since his passing, there hadn't been a reverend living in town, so only when a traveling preacher came through were church services held.

Fort Bowers was a small but important town along the Milwaukee Road rail line, which ferried passengers from the east through Chicago onto western destinations. The town was always bustling with some kind of activity. No doubt it would soon be buzzing with news of the shootout Robert had witnessed, although he would never tell a soul he had been there....except Mary. He never kept anything from her. But he wondered if maybe it made sense to not tell her about today. If he were to admit his plan to her, she would certainly be disappointed in him. But would she be angry? And which was worse?

He rode up to the front of his home as Mary was lighting an oil lamp inside. He could see his beautiful wife through the window, her long brown hair flowing down her back, wearing a pink dress that clung to her slim figure. She was no doubt waiting for him with a plate of food and some hot tea.

However, Robert was too tired to even think about eating. Or talking. But he knew Mary would expect an explanation as to why he was so late and she deserved one. He tied his horse to the post in front of his home, knowing he would come back to put it in the stable later, figuring he might need an excuse to leave the house after he related the events of his day...and of his plans that were, thankfully, foiled. Robert dusted himself off, trying to remove as much of the day as possible from his clothing as he prepared to walk through the door.

There you are. I was beginning to worry. Mary greeted her husband cheerfully as he entered their home. But there was concern in her voice.

Robert looked at Mary without responding, simply taking off his coat and removing his gun belt. Mary didn't like guns and would not allow Robert to wear one in the house. First thing he did every time he came home was remove his belt and hang it on a hook by the door. That was a rule not up for debate.

Mary looked at her husband inquisitively, her brown eyes pleading. Are you OK?

With a heavy sigh, Robert replied, "I'm