Patch: United States Marshal

US Marshal Arliss “Patch” Elkins sets out to bring to justice a rich 14-year-old boy accused of murdering his parents. When someone puts a $100,000 bounty on their heads with a single stipulation - kill them - Patch and his prisoner must fight for their lives. The journey to bring the boy to trial turns into a bloody gauntlet from hell when every murderous thug within 500 miles goes after them for the bounty money and the hunter becomes the hunted.

In this story, Helen sends a letter to Longshot Hanson, asking him for help when Patch arrests the brother of a gang leader for murdering the mayor during a town council meeting. In a desperate bid to secure his brother’s release, Cord Stoddard and his gang kill the school’s teacher and kidnap the students, including Patch and Helen’s daughter and Gus’ twin sisters.

Deputy Sheriff Gus Roundtree has a bad feeling as he rides into the town of Barrett Creek, hot on the trail of a fugitive from Shady Grove. The feelings intensify when he walks into a saloon, oddly called The Spider’s Web. But he has a job to do. The young lawman learns too late that he should have listened to his gut.