Crucifixion River: Western Stories

In the Spur Award-winning short novel,Crucifixion River, husband and wife authors Marcia Muller and Bill Prozini collaborate on a Western for the first time, and earn a Spur Award for their efforts. Set at a stage station where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers merge, an impending storm forces the stage to stop so that its passengers can take shelter.

On the stage are a cowboy and the wife of a wealthy rancher who are on the run, a Pinkerton detective, a wanted man, and a traveling salesman with mysterious wares who sees their dilemma as a way to make some quick money.

The unanticipated stop goes on without a hitch until Luke Kraft arrives looking for his wife -- and intent on revenge against the man who took her away.