Alex Karnes - A Hard Fall but A Soft Landing

By George M. Goodwin

When Alex Karnes wakes from a two-week coma in the home of a neighbor and learns what happened he finds the world he spent the last eight years building has all been taken by a madman out to rebuild the Confederacy. At least, that what the men who follow him have been led to believe.

While recovering from his injuries, he falls in love with the young widow and her son, who nurse him back to health. Along with some Texas Ranger friends, he sets out to find the man who'd done this to him and many others.

Ride along with them to see what happens. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pale Horse Publications
• Release date: May 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227374868

George M. Goodwin

George was born in 1960 in Jefferson County Alabama. The fifth of nine children, eight boys and one girl. The family was raised poor, but not poorly raised. At home, George was taught morals, ethics and respect. Reading, writing and arithmetic at school. Love, honor and obedience to God at church. He grew up on John Wayne movies, country music and the writings of Louis L' Amour, Robert Louis Stevenson, H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.  

Book preview

Chapter 1

What I knew right now , I knew only from other people told me. For the past two weeks I have laid in a coma hovering somewhere between life and death. In the two days since my waking, I have remembered only small glimpses leading up until now.

Horrible visions of a large fire and then a great herd of cattle running all out. When I woke, I was in a soft bed in a strange room and knew not where I was although I knew it wasn‘t my own room.

The door opened and she came in to check on me. I knew her at once. Her name was Gayle Segars. She lived on a small ranch only a few miles west of my own place. I knew her only in passing.

I remembered her husband had died in a fall from their barn loft just over a year ago. Now, she and her young son lived there alone, although I wasn’t sure how they made it. The boy was no more than six and I knew he couldn’t be of much help around a ranch. Even a small one. I saw the surprise in her face when she saw that I was awake. Mr. Karnes, you’re awake, she said. Bless the good Lord.

How, why am I here? I asked in a raspy voice I barely recognized as my own.

We’ll get around to all that later, she said. Right now, I’ll get you something to eat, you must be starving.

More thirsty, I told her.

From a jug beside the bed, she poured me a cup. Then she helped me sit up, so I could drink.

Cool, I told her.

Tim brings in a fresh bucket every morning, she told me. I’ll be right back, she said, after laying me back down. With that she was out the door and gone.

I’ll sit up on the bedside while she is gone, I told myself. Try as I might though, I soon saw that I hadn’t the strength to do so. Lord, what has happened to me? I wondered.

Very soon she was back with a small tray holding a bowl of broth with several pieces of beef in it. Again, she propped me up in the bed and after pulling a chair over close, she began spooning the broth to me. That simple broth tasted better than any food I had ever eaten.

Didn’t know I was so hungry, I said, my voice beginning to become normal again.

You’ve been out near two weeks with nothing save for a bit of this broth I’ve forced down you.

Two weeks, I said looking at her in surprise. What happened? I asked her.

Do you remember nothing at all of it? she asked me.

Only a few bits and pieces, I told her, or even that may have been only dreams. I do remember a large fire and a herd of running cattle. I finished the broth and she asked if I wanted more. Not for now, I told her.

Please try to eat at least one piece of the beef, she said. It will do much in getting your strength back Mr. Karnes.

I put a small piece of the meat in my mouth and chewed slowly.

What is the last thing you do remember clearly? she asked.

I thought for a moment and then said. I remember leaving the courthouse in San Antonio. I was a juror in a trial. I camped that night and made it home late the next night, so I went upstairs and straight to bed. I stopped and thought, but for the life of me I could remember nothing more until I woke up a few minutes ago.

Chapter 2

T hat’s about it, I told her.

I’ll bring you up to date with what I know, she said. Two weeks ago, I was awakened in the night by a pounding on my door. Dr. Higgins was there. He’d been on his way to town and saw a huge light from fire in the sky. He first thought it to be my place and came here. As soon as I walked outside, I told him, that’s the Rocking ‘K’ Ranch. We both jumped in his buckboard and headed over there. A few minutes later, we were almost overturned by a large stampede of cattle."

What of my home? I asked her, and my men?

Hanging her head, she said, by the time we got there the house was fully in flames. As for your hands, I’m sorry Mr. Karnes, but the ones who weren’t killed by the stampede had been shot. We were just about to think you wasn’t at home when Dr. Higgins walked around behind the house and found you laying there. It appeared you had jumped or fell from an upper window. There was also a bullet wound to your head and some few of the cattle had run over you. We brought you here, being the closest place. He did what he could to your wounds and said the rest was up to you and to God.

Chapter 3

Isat quietly for a moment, then said, I guess that explains those flashes I had.

The next day the sheriff rode out here to check on you, said Gayle. The same night your ranch was hit, so was the jail. Those two men you helped convict was broken out of jail that night and his deputy was killed. I guess that brings us up until now Mr. Karnes.

Would you please call me Alex? I asked her.

If you’d like, she said.

I would, I told her. I also don’t believe I’ve told you thank you for taking me in and caring for me all this time. I haven’t exactly been the best neighbor, I’m sure."

You’ve never done any harm, she said. "Adam, my late husband worked himself near to death on this place. He told me more than once he couldn’t imagine trying to run an outfit as big as yours. We knew you were not unfriendly,