Cut Through Valley

Reverend Dan Thompson, on his way back from a career ending affair, has been pastor of the Methodist Church in the sleepy little coal mining town of Baird, Kentucky, for only eight months when he gets the most unusual request of his entire ministry. Calvin Haines wants him to officiate over a funeral for his dog. Normally, Dan would throw anyone making such a request out of his office, only this church has no office. Besides, Calvin's a sweet old man and his dog was not just any dog.

Erasmus Wishbone Haines was the most famous, prize winning-est, rabbit hunting-est beagle in the entire state of Kentucky, and he was the handsomest to boot. And he didn't just die, he was murdered--kicked and beaten to death. As Calvin says, "Whoever done this, hates with cruel hatred."

When Dan and Constable Ray Hall arrive at the Haines farm for the funeral they discover that Calvin has been murdered too, hanged from a rafter in his barn, and the scene arranged to look like a suicide. Now its up to them to discover what hatreds and secrets are running silently below the surface of beautiful, picturesque Cut-Through Valley.

Their search will lead them to the dark corners of Durel County, where hill people raise dogs to fight for the amusement of their owners, and a backwoods Mountain Mafia controls all criminal activity and the money that can be made from it. It will take them to the second largest junk yard in Kentucky, an eerie maze of smashed and mangled vehicles. A crazy man who lives there and is rumored to live off the rats he catches with his bare hands. And it will bring them face to face with three mysterious men--newcomers to Baird--who inflict pain because they like to and can do it without leaving a mark.

And, finally, their search will lead them back to Cut-Through Valley and the daughters of Calvin Haines: beautiful, vivacious Blessing, who hates the mountains and the coal mines that took her husband from her in a freak accident; and stunning, aloof Treasure, who left Appalachia and fled to the city as soon as she was old enough to buy a bus ticket only to find a harsher, more severe wilderness amid the brick and asphalt.

Who killed Calvin and Erasmus Wishbone Haines? And why does the killer hate with such cruel hatred?

Find the "who", as Ray says. And the who will tell you why, if you can survive long enough to hear it.

I unzipped the bag and looked in. Underwear, socks, shaving kit, a couple of shirts, and a gun. I just looked at it lying down there in the bottom of the bag like an ugly, black, deadly monster from some far away galaxy.

Ray stooped next to me and looked into the bag. "Colt Python," he said. "357 Magnum with an eight inch barrel." He reached into the bag and pulled the gun out, holding it around the trigger and cylinder. He pointed at it with his other hand as he spoke. "Double action. That means you just point it and pull the trigger. Kicks like a son of a bitch so use both hands just like you see on the TV cop shows."

"Is it loaded?" I asked, not taking my eyes off of it.

"Five rounds. One chamber is empty so you don't shoot it accidental. . ." He handed it to me. It was heavy and it fit my hand comfortably. I know this sounds dumb, but it felt, well, masculine. . .

"This gun's got only one purpose, Dan. It's for killin' people. NRA can go on all it wants to about targets and huntin' but this gun's a mankiller. You have to point it at someone, you point it at the biggest part of his body and you pull the trigger three times at least."

I brought the gun up in front of me with a two-handed grip just like my uncle had taught me.

"If you have to use it you'll be stressed and you'll feel hurried, but don't be. Just seein' you with this thing will give a man pause. That'll give you time to level it and squeeze off three rounds. Put it in the bag," he said.

"Keep it beside your bed. If they come tonight, they'll come loud. That's their style."