If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

The Outfitter: At trail's bitter End

by DM Wells

254 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0160; ISBN 1-55369-347-7; US$24.50, C$27.95, EUR20.00, £14.00

The "Outfitter" guides six unique people on a trail ride in Montana.
The trip proves to be adventurous and deadly when they clash with four women and their captors, hidden high in the mountains.

Read more!

About the book      About the author      Sample excerpts or Table of Contents      Catalogue info

Need it right now? You can download the Adobe Reader eBook version of THE OUTFITTER: AT TRAILS BITTER END from or

About the Book Matthew Mcpherson runs an outfitting business from his ranch in beautiful North Eastern Montana. His guests on this ride are four ordinary men, who are leaving all their troubles behind to spend ten glorious days in the mountains. Already two days into the ride they are met with unexpected guests, his stable boy, James and photojournalist Antonia Cassio. Matthew's worries about the boy running away from home to be with them and having to deal with Antonia's petulance, proved to only be the beginning of their problems. Tami Scofield is one of four women that were kidnapped by eight men and taken to their hiding place in the mountains. The men tried to convince them to stay willingly as their wives, but they were raped and ravaged as they held onto their hope for freedom. All of their lives were changed forever, when Tami and one of her captors stumbled into Matthew's camp. Tami had secretly given them signs for help, before returning to the hideout. Matthew was concerned for his guests' safety, but couldn't bring himself to leave the mountain without helping the women. This is the first trail ride of the season, will there be another?

---

About the Author D. M. Wells is a native of the great Pacific Northwest. She is currently working on her second novel and has plans to create a sequel to The Outfitter.

---

Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

From Chapter One

Not a warning or even a glimpse was Tami Scofield able to gain from her captors. Everything happened too quickly. Once inside, the doors slammed shut and the van took off hastily around a corner, throwing her hard against the far wall. Her head was jerked back by her long auburn hair and large rough hands were throwing her to the floor. She struggled against her assailant when her head suddenly ricocheted off something incredibly unyielding. There really are stars. Tami had always thought that it was ridiculous when a halo of dancing stars spun around some unfortunate cartoon characters head. Not anymore. With her face pressed down on the cold metal floor all she could see, before someone put a blindfold on her eyes, was a jean-clad knee. The stars are gone but it is dark and the blindfold is so constricting, it hurts. Who's crying? Is it me? No, I'm not alone, there are others. Someone jerks her up into a sitting position and binds her hands together behind her back with duct tape. She only has a moment to regain her senses and tries to listen to what's going on around her. She jumped when strong violent arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind. A man's unshaven face brushes against her still burning cheek where she had been hit.

His breath was rancid and hot as he whispered between clenched teeth into her ear. "Listen to me carefully. There will be no trouble from you, not a sound, not a struggle. If you do, I won't kill you" He placed his hot sticky lips against her forehead. "No, I'll make you watch while we have our way with the other women, then kill them." Moving one of his hands slowly down the front of her blouse caused Tami to shiver. He laughed and brought it back up to her shoulder. "If that doesn't work we will find others and keep going until you can't handle it anymore. No matter what you are to stay alive. You are a very special gift to someone and he won't care about your condition, only that you still have breath. Is that understood?" He grabbed her jaw and fiercely jerked her head up and down until she said yes. I can't believe this is happening. A gag forced into her mouth was the final act for the next few hours.

Matthew retched and rolled over then received another kick, this time in the stomach, which caused him to fall over the cliff.

Eric's shoulder was jerked out of socket when he grabbed Matthew's hand to keep him from plummeting to the bottom. "Ah!" He screamed with pain. He held fast though. "You're alright buddy. I got you."

From Chapter 14

They had all heard it. Someone had yelled but they couldn't tell from which direction it had come. Just then dirt and rocks came crashing down through the trees landing on the horses and mules causing them to spook. Everyone looked straight up at the same time. Bewildered, Matthew said; "What the hell?" Then they heard it again. Only this time it sounded like a scream. Matthew was the first to bolt followed by Eric and the others. Duke, then James, took up the rear of the chase. Matthew was able to find the trail running to the top of the rise easily. The trail up was steep and narrow. They had to climb single file, practically on their hands and knees, kicking dirt and rocks onto the ones behind them.

Matthew was a good twenty feet ahead of Eric when he broke out on the top. What he saw before him set his heart in a panic. He stood there aghast for a split second before going on.

A man was on top of a woman and he was trying to wrestle a knife out of her hands. It was hard for him to tell which one was the bad guy. Was the woman trying to protect herself from the man or was the man trying to protect himself from the knife?Matthew decided it didn't really matter. Either way the fight had to be broken apart before someone got hurt. Then the man freed the knife from her hands. Unaware that they were about to be attacked he thrust the knife deep into the woman's stomach. She released a blood-curdling scream as he twisted it and pushed it in deeper. The sudden force of Matthew's weight on Doug's back sent them both rolling dangerously close to the cliffs edge. Matthew fought futilely to get the knife away from him but the man kneed him hard in the groin.

From Chapter 4

Antonia looked down at the speedometer. "Shit!" It read ninety mph. The reason for her checking it was moving up fast in her rearview mirror. Flashing lights and all. "Great that's all I need." She slowed her SUV down and pulled over onto the soft shoulder of Interstate Ninety. Twenty more miles and she would have made it to Missoula, Montana where she was to turn off the interstate and hit the highway to Kalispell. By the time the officer reached her driver side window she already had her drivers license and registration ready.

"Good morning ma'am." He said in routinely manner.

"It seemed so up until now." She shot him a surrendering smile.

Pen in hand he pushed his hat back. "Do I need to tell you why I pulled you over?"

She avoided his 'don't lie to me' look by peering out the windshield and said, "No sir."

"I didn't think so." The officer took her papers then walked back to his patrol car.

Two more hours Antonia. Slow down. What does it matter that you're always late. Everyone else is probably already there and I won't have an excuse because I sure as hell am not going to tell.

The officer startled her as he handed her papers through the window. He leaned over and rested his arms on the door. "Our speed limit is only five miles an hour more than Washington's. It shouldn't be that hard to adjust to."

She put her license back in her wallet and hung her head while fidgeting with the steering wheel. "Yes sir, I agree."

---

Catalogue Information

---