Brimstone / Robert B. Parker / 293 pages / November Challenge Deceased Author

"We risk our lives to do what we think is the right thing to do."  Lawman Virgil Cole parrots back to his sidekick, West Point-trained, Everett Hitch.  They plan to challenge the owner of Pike's Palace.  Pike had made an unholy alliance with Brother Percival to close down all the competition.  Pike and the Reverend had shared Allie French and a mother/daughter pair they had rescued and brought back to town.  With Allie and Pony's help, Cole and Hitch battle the forces of evil and return the town control to the good guys.  Allie longs to return to Appaloosa and a civilized lady's life since she is now responsible for Laurel's well-being.  This is the third book dealing with the exploits of Cole and Hitch, and although it is a bit slow in parts, it is an enjoyable read.  I'm not sure, however, if the four-letter-word language present in the book was typical of the Old West.