Ride the Desperate Trail continues the saga of Free Anderson and Parks Scott whose friendship began when
they were in the Union Army. Free Anderson is an ex-slave, and Parks is a white mustanger. Free has married
Clara and the two of them are establishing a Texas homestead.
Free and Parks are on a rescue mission when a couple of rogue outlaws, bent on revenge, kidnap Free's wife
and kill his mother, who also lives at the ranch. The action is non-stop and the suspense is in high gear as the
two follow the trail left by the outlaws. The pregnant Clara, putting up a fierce, innovative fight against the
men, is taken through the Sand Hills of Texas to the Guadalupe Mountains. A band of Apaches are also after the
outlaws, and manage to kill both men. Clara is then taken prisoner by the Indians, one of whom plans to make her
his slave. They travel to an Apache winter camp in the Big Bend country, with Free and Parks in hot pursuit.
Mike Kearby manages to give us great insight into the minds of the heroes, the outlaws and the Apaches in
this exciting adventure of the Old West that is laced with accurate historical detail. The characters are
compelling, and the multi-level plot keeps the action in high gear right up to the exciting climax.
Mike includes a glossary in the back of the book with word, phrase, and name meanings in English slang,
Comanche, Spanish, and Apache languages. There is also a page of discussion questions to help gain better
understanding of the history and theme of the story.