The opening chapter of “The Ancient Blood“ plunges us into the dusty despair of the frontier. Jessup, a white man, wrestles with a stubborn wagon wheel, his face creased with worry. He’s been left behind by the other wagons, a stark reminder of his inexperience on this unforgiving land. The Tsis Tsis’tas, “The People,” as Jessup calls them, mark the changing seasons with the evocative “Moon When the Green Grass was Up.” Here, though, the land mocks such a title. As far as the eye can see, only short, brown grass stretches out, parched and lifeless.

Jessup’s lack of frontier savvy is as clear as the cloudless sky. Unlike The People, who’ve learned to live in harmony with the land, Jessup and his companions are burdened with a ridiculous amount of useless baggage – chairs, beds, even a music box! – overloading their horses, which leads to their overloaded wagons becoming a liability on the unforgiving plains.

The tension tightens like a noose around Jessup’s neck when Captain Jack, a boisterous leader whose booming voice seems to mask his own anxieties, separates Jessup from the main wagon train. We learn the purpose of this expedition – searching for “big bones” of creatures long gone – adding a layer of mystery to the already unsettling atmosphere.

As the sun dips lower, the weather takes a sinister turn. Dark clouds roll in from the east, a chilling wind whispering warnings across the plains that soon shatter the fragile peace of the deserted land. 

A brief moment of hope flickers when Jessup’s daughter, a bright spot in this desolate landscape, discovers a stray dog. However, Jessup’s initial apprehension foreshadows the chaos this unexpected arrival will bring. His wife’s yearning to keep the dog highlights the emotional toll of their journey – the desperate need for companionship amidst the vast emptiness.

However, little did Jessup know that this peace would soon end in shock when his beloved daughter fell victim to a sudden, brutal attack. The blood and her injuries are a stark reminder of the harsh realities of the frontier. Grief and shock paralyze Jessup. The wind, mimicking his emotional state, carries away his thoughts, leaving him speechless, in an estate of disbelief. Ahhhh! A sudden scream from his wife cuts through this sudden silence, a primal cry for help.

The horror escalates as Jessup stumbles upon the fate of his wife. Unconscious, she is savaged by a monstrous creature described as towering and terrifying. The detail of his wife’s hair, matted with blood, adds a harrowing touch to the scene.

Fear takes complete control of Jessup. He’s rooted to the spot, unable to react as he witnesses the horrific events unfolding before him. The grotesque image of the creature grinning at him with dark eyes as he chews his wife adds a layer of psychological terror to the physical threat, raising the stakes and intensifying Jessup’s fate—for the bad or the worse!

This is just a glimpse of what  “The Ancient Blood” has to offer:

“The Ancient Blood: A Story of Horror in the West” is an exceptional piece of literature that creates a vivid and immersive world. By combining horror and mystery with high-stakes historical accuracy, this novel takes readers on a breathtaking journey through the west plains, allowing them to witness the sights, sounds, and emotions of a world that has long since disappeared in fear.

Witness a terrifying creature from legend awaken on the plains, nearly wiping out a Cheyenne tribe. Walking Man, a brave warrior, makes a desperate pact with his sworn enemies—white soldiers—to fight the monster together. But as the battle rages, a hidden danger emerges, forcing both sides to become the hunted in a final, brutal struggle against an enemy that seems unstoppable—and almost undefeatable. Will they be able to kill the beast and save themselves and the town from the harrowing danger?

Get your copy to know the answer: www.amazon.com/dp/1917054645.