Title Echoes of Lazarus
By: Christine Tellach
See trigger warnings at the bottom of description. This is the complete story. "The itch was a rattler coiled tight in my gut, its rattle near to shakin' loose." A ruthless outlaw named Will Carter grapples with his dark past after a mysterious resurrection. Reborn as Eli, he embarks on a journey of redemption, battling his violent nature while encountering kindness that challenges him to his core. He reluctantly aids a young woman protecting Apache children, discovering a newfound strength in protecting those he cares for. As Eli confronts his demons and past, he finds a chance for a new beginning filled with hope and the possibility of love. "Just as the trapdoor gave way beneath me, a thought flickered, sharp and fleetin': 'I coulda done it different.'" Trigger warnings: gun and knife violence (not exceptionally gory for a Gothic Western), death, attempted suicide, history of childhood abuse discussed between characters