"Sara"

by Rivers Walker

Cover by Brian Mango
Copyright ©2001
ISBN: 0-87714-622-5 eBook edition
ISBN: 0-87714-736-1 PB edition

All rights reserved by Denlinger's Publishers, including the right to reproduce this electronic book, or portions thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

THE AUTHOR

Rivers Walker is a native Texan, who attended both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, majoring in Business. Before embarking upon his professional career, he served in the United States Air Force.

His Cadet Class, from which he graduated in 1943, included extensive ground school training in engineering, aeronautical engineering and navigation. His service record was quite notable and was highlighted by a number of decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Good Conduct Medal. Among his many foreign citations was the Royal Order of the Flying Cloud from the Republic of China. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain at the conclusion of World War II.

After the war Rivers had a very successful career developing real estate: building houses, developing raw land, general contracting, and all the other ingredients that go into those activities.

Then another career presented itself: He became a stockbroker. He started selling stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and was a total security analyst. He was permitted to sell securities on the New York Stock Exchange, The American Exchange, the NASD, and all the other related securities houses.

In early 1973 Rivers moved to Houston and formed a company with an architect, who was designing office buildings. Immediately, these two men realized that each possessed talents needed by the other, that a profitable partnership could result from this fortunate meeting. The firm successfully constructed and developed almost one-half billion dollars worth of real estate in Texas, Louisiana, and other sections of the country, for their own account as well as the accounts of others. In his lifetime Mr. Walker has initiated upwards to three-quarters of one billion dollars worth of construction and development.

Recently the Walkers returned to their hometown, Houston, Texas, where he is now writing novels full time. With such an eventful, exciting life behind him, Rivers can draw on actual experiences to make his characters come alive in his manuscripts. Throughout his life he was known as a great storyteller, and now his writing techniques allow him to put thrilling stories into print. His eventful life has given him the ammunition for drama.

THE BOOK

Sara Ryan was a beautiful eighteen-year-old girl, born on a huge cattle ranch eight miles due west of an outlaw town named Green Spring, Texas. Sara's mother died giving birth to Sara's younger brother, Bobby. Her father, Tom Ryan, and his children successfully ran the cattle ranch named the Rocking R, until Tom mysteriously disappeared. It was apparent to Sara that she couldn't depend on the local law enforcement agencies to help her find her father, so she went to Austin, Texas, the state capitol, to see if there were any other groups to help find her missing father. While she was in the Capitol city, she became smitten with the study of law, and she began studying to become a lawyer. For the next two years she made several trips back and forth to the capitol, visiting the law libraries, checking out books, and became proficient enough to sit for the law examination in the biggest state. She passed the examination with extremely high marks to become the first woman lawyer in Texas. Meanwhile her younger brother mysteriously disappeared.

To practice law in the state, an applicant must be introduced to a court, any court; it was just a formality. The governor of the state sent two Texas Rangers to Green Spring to introduce Sara to a court and to see what they could do to find her missing father and brother. Green Spring, Texas was an outlaw town, with a crooked sheriff. To reach Green Spring it was necessary to enter by one of two mountain passes. A few men, who could prevent anyone from entering or leaving the town could, easily man the gorges, or passes. The town was a natural hideout for felons with a price on their heads.

Texas Rangers, Sam Ware and his partner, a half-breed named Trace, delivered to Sara the good news she had passed the bar, and they were going to introduce her to a circuit court judge named Jim Baker. The circuit judge was not only pompous but crooked. When Sam Ware asked Judge Jim Baker if he could introduce Sara Ryan to his court, the judge said sarcastically, "Ain't gonna be no skirts in my courtroom." Sara had received lots of publicity by being the first woman lawyer in Texas, so when she was to be introduced to Judge Jim Baker's court, the leading reporter for The Austin Herald was on hand to cover the story. When Sam escorted Sara down the aisle to the judge's bench, she wore her missing brother's pants. The judge was furious. The news spread like wildfire across the nation; Sara Ryan was a celebrity, and the crooked judge was branded 'No skirts in my courtroom Baker.'

The Hackman spread was a neighbor to the Rocking R Ranch. Ned Hackman, the owner of the ranch, had three sons, who were worthless, rotten to the quick. They stole from their own father to support their habits of wild women, strong drink, and gambling. The more Sam Ware and Trace, the two Texas Rangers, investigated the missing Ryans, the more the finger of guilt pointed to the Hackmans. Eventually the Rangers had enough proof to file charges against all the Hackmans, and Sara Ryan was appointed special prosecutor to try the murderers of her father and her younger brother, Bobby.

Sara eventually was faced with a dilemma: she could enter politics, and become a famous politician representing women suffrage for the nation, or she could marry Texas Ranger Sam Ware, with whom she had fallen desperately in love. Sam Ware felt it would be disastrous for Sara to marry him, because a peace officer never knows when the next bullet will be his last. He simply couldn't put her through that; his love for her was too great. To add to the story was a tribe of tame Indians. The Indians become United States citizens, and the courtroom scenes are colorful. The end of the story is very upbeat and warm.

If you enjoy novels about the old west, and the development of civilization as we know it today, then Sara is for you.

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