Rockabye County

Bradford Counter stood six feet three and weighed two hundred and twenty pounds. He was a graduate of the University of Southern Texas's Police Science and Administration Class and had passed the Federal Bureau of Investigation's training course for police officers with honors. His black belts in judo and karate were backed by a thorough knowledge of roughhouse brawling and dirty fighting. By virtue of his expertise with firearms, he was a member of the F.B.I.'s exclusive 'Possible Club' and his scores on the Police Combat Shooting Course of the Rockabye County Sheriff's Office earned him an extra sixteen dollars a week.With such qualifications Brad knew plenty about the theory of modern law enforcement. But before he had held his badge for thirty-six hours, he found himself up against a pair of professional killers who never hesitated to use their guns. Under those conditions experience counted, and theory was of little use. Because in a real gunfight, there was only one second prize awarded … death! J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

Gusher City, Texas...Two terrorists had seized hostages, demanding an aircraft to take them to Cuba...Then 'Crazy Doc' Christopher had escaped from the penitentiary, hell-bent on vengeance...But when Walter Haddon-one of the FBI's ten most wanted men-strolled into Gusher City, all four men found out what other criminals bad discovered to their cost. Breaking the law in Rockabye County was fraught with peril. For they were up against men like Sheriff Jack Tragg, Deputy Sheriffs Brad Counter and Thomas Cord and the rest of the lawmen of Rockabye County J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

Jack Tragg, sheriff of Rockabye County, Texas, was a powerful, sun-bronzed six foot one. Although he owned traditional cowhand style outfits, he usually wore a business suit or khaki uniform. His gunbelt was a modern combat-shooter's rig, with a single Smith & Wesson .41 Magnum. Jack had a stable of fine horses at his disposal, but most of the time he travelled by car, airplane or helicopter.Like his Old West predecessors, Jack's duty was to keep the peace and maintain law and order in his bailiwick. Tough-fast with a gun-Jack was the jet-aged lawman! J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

Tom Cord was within three months of retirement when bushwhack lead cut him down. No lawman ever allowed one of his fellow officers to be murdered without making every effort to get his killer. Deputy Sheriff Bradford Counter, a modern-day gun wizard, had been Tom's partner; Woman Deputy Alice Fayde was Tom's niece.Together they began the hunt for the old deputy's killer. The search took them across the Rockabye County rangelands, through the slums of Gusher City's Bad Bit and into the upper-crust district of Upton Heights. At last the trail ended, with Brad Counter's gun-skill matched against the two professional killers who shot his partner down. J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

A modern Texas deputy sheriff spends more time riding in a car than upon a horse, and uses every scientific aid available in fighting against crime. One thing, however, has not changed since the days of the Old West. A lawman still must know how to handle his gun with deadly speed and accuracy.When a gang of criminals, trying to make an escape to safety across the Rio Grande, use Rockabye County, Texas, as their base, they threaten to employ terrorist tactics against the law. Sheriff Jack Tragg sets up Woman Deputy Alice Fayde and her partner, Deputy Brad Counter, as targets to draw the gang into the open.Faced with a member of the gang armed with a sawed-off shotgun, only Brad's speed on the draw can save his life. At that moment either Brad or the outlaw has only one quarter of a second left to live J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

Deputy sheriffs Alice Fayde and Brad Counter looked at the body. It was that of a shapely, luciously-curved young woman. There were six bullet holes in the torso. And there was no face-only a hideously battered mass of blood and pulp. Sometimes the work of a modern peace officer can be even tougher than in the days of the Old West. J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

"Even with a psycho there's a point of contact in the killings," Sheriff Jack Tragg told Deputies Fayde and Counter as they went to investigate the third apparently unconnected murder in which the same gun had been used. "Find it and at least you'll have his motive." Yet there seemed no point of contact between the victims – and old moonshiner, a visiting theatrical producer and the bust-out man of a crooked floating crap game. So the deputies searched and at last found the point of contact. But finding it gave them the name of another possible victim … Woman Deputy Alice Fayde herself! J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

At first most people, even the majority of his victims, regarded the Owlhoot as something of a joke. Armed with a long-barreled Colt Peacemaker, masked by a bandana and dressed like an old West cowhand, he robbed couples necking in cars on lonely roads. Woman Deputy Alice Fayde and her partner, modern-day gun wizard Deputy Bradford Counter, did not think he was a joke. Especially as they stood looking at the two bodies sprawled by the Pontiac convertible. They had been shot at close range by the .45 caliber, black powder-powered bullets from the Owlhoot's revolver. The deputies' fears had been realized. No longer was the Owlhoot a joke. Now he was a killer who had to be located and arrested before he used the Colt again. J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

On vacation in Mexico, Woman Deputy Alice Fayde and her partner Deputy Sheriff Bradford Counter hoped for some R&R. Giving a lift to an English girl, they found themselves involved with hired killers and entangled in the world of international espionage. And so they began a desperate run for the border. The deputies would need all their gun-skill, courage and intelligence if they hoped to reach Rockabye County alive. J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time. Rockabye County is J.T. Edson's version of a modern-day Western.

The downed cop was a rookie. The shooter was scum, part of a gang planning the biggest bank heist in Gusher City, Texas. The only witness was a fat man too scared to talk. Now, working under legendary sheriff Jack Tragg, Deputy Brad Counter-great-grandson of Mark Counter from Ole Devil Hardin's floating outfit-was as fast with a gun as his ancestor. His partner was Alice Fayde. Her weapons of choice were her looks and her brains. They had a plan for catching these lowlifes ... it involved two pretty call girls, an unwilling civilian, a slimy informant, and a trap that would catch a rat-or cost Alice and Counter their lives. J.T. Edson brings to life the fierce and often bloody struggles of untamed West. His colorful characters are linked together by the binding power of the spirit of adventure -- and hard work -- that eventually won the West. With more than 25 million copies of his novels in print, J.T. Edson has proven to be one of the finest craftsmen of Western storytelling in our time.