By Order of Buck Brady by W.C. Tuttle
The story is set in Mojave Wells, a small, dusty town in Road Runner Valley, where Buck Brady serves as the sheriff. The town is anticipating an influx of cowboys at the end of the roundup, and tensions are high due to a brewing feud between two cowboys, Bud Hickman and Pete Asher, over a woman named Rosie Smith. Both men, along with their respective gangs, are expected to arrive in town and potentially cause trouble. Buck Brady, known for his calm demeanor and whittling habit, is informed by Ben Dolan, a cowboy, about the impending conflict. Ben explains that Bud and Pete have agreed to a truce until sundown, after which they plan to settle their differences with a gunfight. Buck, understanding the gravity of the situation, decides to take preventive measures by collecting all the guns from the cowboys as they arrive in town, posting a sign that mandates the surrender of firearms. Despite some resistance, both Bud and Pete comply with Buck's order, recognizing his authority and reputation. As sundown approaches, the tension in the town escalates, with both men preparing for the showdown. However, Buck has secretly tampered with their guns, removing the powder from the bullets to prevent any fatalities. When the moment of the duel arrives, both Bud and Pete attempt to shoot, only to find their guns ineffective. Buck reveals his intervention, explaining that he did it to prevent unnecessary bloodshed over a woman who is no longer available, as she has married someone else. The revelation diffuses the situation, and Buck encourages the cowboys to enjoy their time in town without resorting to violence.
By W.C. Tuttle · First published 1967 · Genre: Western, Adventure, Action · 4,133 words
First lines
Buck Brady was always whittling. Thin shavings were an obsession with Buck. He would sit for hours, tilted back in a broken chair against the shady side of his little office, knees almost touching his chin, his long, thin face serious over the task of reducing a piece of soft pine to thin shavings.
Buck was the sheriff of Mojave Wells, and Mojave Wells was a heat and sand scoured, false fronted town in Road Runner Valley. The town was invisible from a distance, because even the painted signs on the business houses had been sand blasted until they were unreadable.
What this Textopian page supports
By Order of Buck Brady is listed on Textopian as a short story by W.C. Tuttle, dated 1967 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: W.C. Tuttle
- Date: 1967 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Western, Adventure, Action, Drama, Crime
- Length: 4,133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 130 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for By Order of Buck Brady by W.C. Tuttle
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Western — The narrative is set in a rugged frontier town, featuring cowboys, a sheriff, and the classic elements of the Wild West.
- Adventure — The plot involves high-stakes encounters, tense standoffs, and a dynamic portrayal of life in an untamed landscape.
- Action — The story is driven by imminent gunfights, physical confrontations, and moments of rapid escalation.
- Drama — Interpersonal conflicts, a love triangle, and moral dilemmas add layers of emotional depth to the narrative.
Tags
Western · pulp · action · adventure · gunfight · sheriff · justice · outlaw · ranch · cowboy · revenge · suspense