PREFACE

A tenacious man whose violent and cunning ways of living sustained him through years of danger is compelled to teach the same lethal skills to his mute son.

      The above sentence implies that this story is mostly about violence; that is misleading. Violence is the foundation of the tale so when compassion and love are displayed they create a stronger spectrum of emotions. The rage is not absurd, but is striking. This tale was written to entertain young thinking people who want fresh and new ideas for adventure. Many likable and memorable characters are Hispanic, Black, Caucasian, Native American and German. True little known but enjoyable moments in history are woven into this adventure and the dates are correct to the day. You can trust this story and will forget you’re reading fiction. I can’t emphasize enough how I constantly stay close to truth and realism. Factual and abnormal events that are mingled with so many avenues of interest will always prick your imagination. To reveal how precise this story is, it begins on June 20, 1844 and on that day there was a fire at 159 Hudson Street in New York City. There really was a fire at that address in 1844. The Samuel Colt letters are copies of the originals. There are evil events; real people and history brought them about, I didn’t. This story requires the truth. Even if you have a thick skin, occasionally tears will appear. Strong emotions will rise and fall in your mind as if they were breathing. Many pages that you turn will bring about fascinations.

Readers will have cold hearts if their eyes don’t get glassy when a young mute boy, while holding his dying mother in his arms tries to form the words, ‘I love you.’ The mother weakly says, “I know” and then dies.

To believe the awesome abilities of Sam Jamestown it’s essential in the beginning of this tale to establish how life forms the abilities of Brad his father. This adventure becomes realistic as we follow the ways Brad teaches his mute son.

 At the age of twelve, Brad Jamestown and his parents move to New York City. His parents are teachers by trade and as parents the love they give to Brad is endless. His life changes swiftly and his good qualities are beaten to the back of his mind when he becomes a street kid in New York City; the most horrid city of the times. The dastardly actions of hoodlums and the everyday immoral behavior of the populous, grooms Brad’s hate and develops his street-gutter heart. Buster who gives Brad his first beating starts Brad’s fanatical desire to know how to street fight. Before Brad develops a heart of flint, situations and people come into his life and turn him from his journey of destructive repayment.

Two tough, but decent men, Jason and Mr. Von who own a saloon bring the first positive changes into Brad’s being. He is fortunate to learn how the men withstood the grime in existence. They are survivors and their lives blend with Brad's to protect him. Brad’s mind is brimming with hate, but they find what his backbone is made of and know they must bring him back to decency. Jason knows Brad should master the streets. Learning to survive the hoodlums, bullies and killers is Jason’s first contribution to Brad’s fearlessness of the city. I wrote you can trust this novel that I present to you. It is bursting with odd facts, realism and truth. Even the methods Brad uses to win his brawls are taken from actual confrontations in my youth. Approximately seventy percent of New Yory City’s deaths were children, and child prostitution was rampant.

 Brad is given many kinds of teaching. Jason tells Brad, “If you’re going to fight with every jackass you meet, be prepared to fight every day for the rest of your life.” Brad while he’s still wet behind the ears asks Jason about women. Jason gives him a different kind of lesson. “You’re too young to be a lover, be a liker and remember there are enough women in the world that want to fool around, don’t pick on the one’s that don’t.”

     It’s not necessary be a baseball fan to enjoy the oddities and factual sports information. They are used to bring about relaxation. Brad attends the first professional recorded baseball game on June 19th, 1847. In that contest, the first player’s fine was applied. The pitcher, Davis was fined six cents for swearing at the umpire. Another game that Brad goes to is the first game that started the longest rivalry in baseball history; a Giants and Dodgers exhibition. Years later, the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter, was Joe Borden, on May 23rd, 1875. Before the end of the season arrived Borden’s arm went bad and he became the groundskeeper. The names Borden and Davis are fact, an enjoyable research coincidence for me.

    Violent deaths force Brad to leave the saloon, but he is quick to grasp opportunity. One of his jobs is with the New York Daily Times.  He learns about society and the world. John, a reporter at the Times becomes one of his mentors. He teaches Brad not to be bamboozled into false interviews. John gives him the example of a young man who got the New York Sun to publish an article which stated that some immigrants were brought into America from Europe by balloon. The man who completed the actual hoax was none other than, Edgar Allan Poe.

John tells Brad he should patronize high class restaurants in order to rub elbows with the rich. One night a visit brings a female relationship into his life. The lady is a very expensive and gutsy prostitute with a touch of class. When they first meet Kathleen asks Brad what his nationality is. Brad said, “I’m, English, Irish, Scot and Welch.”

Kathleen replied, “You must argue with yourself a lot.” Later she enjoyed taking his virginity.

 The next time Brad goes to rub elbows he sees a mugging taking place. With Brad’s unique fighting abilities he saves the life of Mr. Samuel Colt, the famous weapons manufacturer. They become friends instantly, and Samuel convinces Brad to go to work in Connecticut for him. Mr. Colt builds the largest weapons armory in the world. Brad becomes an expert with weapons.

     Brad has a restless spirit. A few years pass and he decides to go west by way of the Oregon Trail. During this journey Brad meets the love of his life. It’s a very unusual romance, not the typical, ‘Bring me flowers and a box of candy’ affair.  Brad and Ann are married and settle in San Fernando, California. Ann gives birth to a healthy baby boy. They name him after Sam Colt. At the age of two Sam develops a very long diphtheria illness; which takes away his ability to speak.

 Brad and Anne raise their son with gentleness. Brad doesn’t realize how much his son is going to need physical and mental aggressiveness. Sam is not a weak young man, but strong willed like his mother and father. Still Sam must toughen his mettle and grit because of the townsfolk's large amount of social ignorance. Many town folk consider Sam to be stupid or cursed by God. Unhappy events manipulate the mind of Sam  that create the same dangerous level of anger that his father had as a boy.  One day at the age of thirteen, Sam comes home from school where several older boys and a man beat the hell out of him. The next morning Brad straps on his guns. His wife thinks he’s going into town for retaliation.

     Ann asks, “Brad what are you going to do?”

      He points to his bruised son, “You like what you see?”

     “No,’ said Ann.

     Brad continues, “Nobody will beat, Sam again----at anything.”

      Brad hands Sam his weapons and they go to the back corral and the schooling begins. The son becomes the beneficiary of Brad’s cunning and violent capabilities. The young boy becomes more skillful with weapons than his father because of his physical limitations.  Since Sam can’t speak his senses of sight and touch are more sensitive. What better assets are there for handling a weapon? Also, since he does not have to converse with people he is more aware of their bodies tell tale signs. When Brad uses his son’s given name Sam knows something of extreme importance is about to come his way. “Watch the whites of a man’s eyes Samuel.  If they widen he’s excited and is going to draw his weapon.” Underneath all of the father and son’s violent and shrewd personalities there is a trail of decency and caring.

A Mr. Bell and Brad rub each other the wrong way. Bell sells horses to the army. Any prisoner that is released or escapes from prison is assured a job at the Bell ranch.  He has three nasty sons and he enjoys dominating tough ex-cons that would slit a man’s throat for talking too much. The ranch is violent and has an unusual wild pig pen. It is just one way Bell puts and keeps fear in the minds of the man. There are rumors about the pen but only Bell knows the truth. The men know Bell keeps the wild pigs half starved and they fight to cram live eating in their guts. Bell always puts on a show to instill fear in the minds of the newly employed cons. Some vomit when they see the blood and innards flying around in the pen. Some blood lands on their faces.

 Sam does develop a female relationship, but it creates trouble that can’t be undone.  As far as Sam’s learning goes, Brad’s wife did say, “If you teach your son to handle a gun better than you, some day he’ll kill with it.” Death creeps into Sam’s life just as it did with his father. Many have heard the phrase, “Vengeance is mine,” Vengeance means retaliation and that can become a long road of repetition.

     All of the adventures elements burrow into place to create events that will constantly keep you mentally involved and filled with anticipation. To reveal any more information now would weaken your enjoyment of this stimulating adventure. 

BONUS 

THERE IS A BONUS AT THE END OF THIS NOVEL. IT IS AN ADAPTATION TAKEN FROM, ‘SILENT BRAND’ FOR A TELEVISION SERIES. YOU WILL ENJOY THE FIRST EPOSODE OF ”YOUNG SILENT JUSTICE.” THE FIRST TELEVISON EPOSODE IS PUBLISHED IN THIS NOVEL TO ESTABLISH A CONCREATE ORIGIN Of  WORDS AND EVENTS INTO AN ESTABLISHED COPYRIGHT. ‘YOUNG SILENT JUSTICE’ REVEALS THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG TWENTY YEAR OLD MUTE SHERIFF. IT IS FRESH AND  FOR THE YOUNG IN MIND. THERE IS A NEW APPROACH TO DRAW US CLOSER TO ADVENTURE. THESE EPOSODES ARE UNIQUE BECAUSE SAM JAMESTOWN IS NOT CREATED OUT OF THIN AIR; HE WAS BORN IN SILENT BRAND. YOU KNOW WHAT MADE SAM THE WAY HE IS AND WHAT HE’S CAPSBLE OF DOING.  THE STORIES MOVE WITH HISTORY AND CREATIVE REALISAM TO ENTERTAIN WITH ANTICIPATION AND AWE. WITHIN ALL OF MY WRITINGS THERE WILL BE AN INTERESTING TWIST; PERHAPS YOU’LL RECOGNIZE IT.