BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER, CHAPTER THREE

"Holt’s Rangers have been assigned to join an extraordinary and special troop of cowboy freedom fighters well experienced in dealing with these outlaws, " the Col said as he hoped Billy would start to take disappointment like a man.

"But what about tomorrow?" Billy asked his father. "We were supposed start our trip to The Alamo to find the other half of my parent’s map. Remember, I have the other half that we took from The Black Hangman. When we put the two halves together, we’ll find my parents’ lost mine and my legacy you promised me, Dad."

The Dark Skull, The Wolf Man, and Don Diablo had stolen a shimmering black coin from Billy’s birth parents before murdering them in cold blood over a decade ago. Their former henchman, The Black Hangman had stolen half of the map leading to Billy’s parents’ lost mine. The map’s other half is inscribed inside the barrel of the cannon Davy Crockett used at The Alamo. Once the map is complete, it will lead to a mine full of a power that will change the world’s destiny, forever. The black coin, still wrongly held by The Trinity Of Terror, will act as a key to open that mine, once it is found.

Not only did Billy want to bring his birth parents’ masked killers to justice, but also he needed the stolen black coin back in his possession to unlock the mine when found. The Dark Skull and his Trinity Of Terror desperadoes, had the purloined black coin, but needed Billy’s half of the map to the mine if they were to claim jump Billy’s treasured legacy. Both forces now targeted the map’s other half at The Alamo. But The Dark Skull would take the most loathsome road to obtain the power and ruthlessly rule the American frontier.

"I’m sorry Billy," The Col told his 12-year old son. "The whole West is in this evil grasp. Once we bring in the outlaw leaders, then we can go find your birth parents’ treasure. I promise." Billy hung his head in disappointment.

Billy and Holt’s Rangers military post, Fort Yuma, was the last outpost of law, order and decency in the wild and wooly frontier-a land of grand natural beauty which was often overshadowed by the ruthless presence of those outside the law who were ruled by their bestial appetites. The stature of the cavalry crusaders symbolized civilization coming to a savage wilderness, where unknown horrors, both real and fantastic, often imperiled the innocent.

Billy Steele himself was the spirit of the American frontier in the body of a 12-year old boy. A powerful, evil force tried to silence Billy in his infancy. But with the help of a troop of courageous men, Billy was born anew in a primitive land of tremendous beauty, opportunity and promise. Billy has the drive and determination to grow and see his new home flourish. And together, with his friends, family and teammates of many colors, he will help create a new land of plenty and protect those who share his vision of progress and the building of their American dreams through virtue and dedication.

This plucky boy loved his frontier home, from the ponderosa pines to the lavender hills, and was the key to saving the golden West. If Billy were to fail in fulfilling his destiny, the ultimate evil, exemplified by The Trinity Of Terror, would engulf his beloved wilderness and use his parents’ legacy to conquer the brave, young pioneers and their undaunted spirit that would create empires from the desolate prairies.

"Can I come, too," Billy pleaded. "I know the outlaw leaders must be The Trinity Of Terror, we have to catch them. They murdered my parents and they stole the black coin, my heritage.