The Bone Orchard — Abigail Roux

A Haunted Blender Tale

After leaving a trail of terror and death in his wake, the notorious “Missouri” Boone Jennings finally meets his match in San Francisco when US marshal Ambrose Shaw catches up to him. The story of his capture, and the marshal's bravery, has already become legend back east by the time Pinkerton inspector Ezra Johns gets off the train from New York City to testify in the murderer's trial.

When Ambrose is unable to give witness to the evils he's seen, Ezra becomes their lone hope for putting Jennings in a noose. But if Ezra thinks that's his biggest problem, he's got plenty to learn about life -- and the afterlife -- in the spirited West.

Fortunately, Ambrose is there to assist, and more than happy to oblige Ezra -- in the courtroom or the bedroom. He spent his life bringing justice to the Wild West, and if he has a say in it, that's how he'll be spending his death too.

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This novella is also included in the My Haunted Blender's Gay Love Affair, and Other Twisted Tales anthology.

Word count: 30,200; page count: 124