Set your story in a desert town.

Posted in Adventure on Jun 23, 2023

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✍️ 53 stories

“BROTHERS IN ARMS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #204

BROTHERS IN ARMS The fusillade of shots sent the two Curry brothers scampering back into the empty saloon. Virgil, the eldest, crawled behind the bar. His brother, Josh, known as Kid, rolled away to the right of the swing doors. “Jesus, Virg, there must be a dozen o’ them bastards out there”. “You hit?” “No. Leastways, I don’t think so. You?” “Just a nick; left hand. Damn, it stings”. Kid checked himself over. One bullet had pierced his left boot; clean hole-but had missed his foot. “What now, Virg...

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“King of Hearts” by Davie McGuinn

Submitted to Contest #204

{T.W.: Multiple} Kate lifted her groggy head out of the stale whiskey and saliva cesspool. The morning sun rays shined through the wavy leaded glass windows and baked the empty room. The stool in front of the piano was unoccupied, as were all of the other barstools and chairs in the saloon besides her own. The barkeep must have trusted her in good faith not to walk out of there with all of the booze, for he, too, was absent. She managed to pull herself from her barstool, adjusting her gun belt and straightening her lacy, burgundy c...

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“The Water Bearer” by Anita Beauchamp

Submitted to Contest #204

Nimble fingers race to finish braiding the last tufts of Tierra’s hair while she diligently applies kohl to the waterline of her eyes. A young girl kneels before her, securing strings of delicate shells to her right ankle.The curtains at the entrance of the room part forcefully. An old woman with a limp and cane hobbles in, waving her free arm.“They’re here. They’re here,” she whispers to the room of women. The pace of the braiding quickens.“She’s almost ready, Mama Althea,” one of the braiders responds. Her fingers twist and turn with fervo...

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“Raise the Dead by Starlight” by Casper Sparks

Submitted to Contest #204

Lester’s milky white eyes scraped open, and he gave a fetid yawn before stretching and sitting up. Right away he noticed things were amiss. Rather than waking up in bed, he was outside on the sandy ground looking at a starry night sky. His body was encircled with stones of various sizes, some holding burning candles. “The Gods are good and so is wise Master Erdem. Arise Master and teach this Seeker your ways” Lester turned with a jerk toward the source of the voice. A young woman kneeled before him; her light-colored cloak shone in the m...

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“The Wrangler” by Celina Mcfadden

Submitted to Contest #204

She really didn’t understand why he told her no. The sun glared into her eyes. Most unfortunately, she had lost her hat about a half mile back, when the wind twister of dust and cactus debris blew into her path nearly sweeping her off her feet. This day was hot and dry. Just like every other June day. Her lips were already cracking, even though it was only 9 in the morning. The crickets were stirring up her thoughts, invading her silence. "Why did he tell her no?" she wondered to herself. She trudged on, finally descending int...

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“Desert Darkness” by Jonathan Gartner

Submitted to Contest #204

Night was beginning to fall. The desert winters brought a cold chill to the earth in the wastelands of Arizona. The reprieve from the scorching heat brought about longer nights and with those longer nights had come a new and unknown terror. The mining community of Prospect, Arizona was smitten with a dark and unspeakable scourge. Recent disappearances could not be attributed to any known source other than a black shadow creeping into the town in the dead of night. The disappearances began with the elderly and helpless of the community, many ...

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“Bugs 1863” by Rebecca Grist

Submitted to Contest #204

Bugs 1863 &nbs...

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“Tinker's News” by Brittany Fleming

Submitted to Contest #204

Cripple Gorge gets its name from what you can’t see. The gap sneaks up on wanderers. It can’t be seen from a distance, and it’s barely seen up close. Many passers get thrown off their horses at the very last second, and the gorge swallows the bodies. Bandits, gangs, and outlaws use it as a passage to remain hidden. It’s a fine place to hole up. It’s where we go to lay low every time Lucky Winters gets himself in trouble in the neighboring town of Coalrise. This is the third time I’ve had to scoop his ass up and haul him out of a situation i...

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Set your story in a desert town.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“BROTHERS IN ARMS” by Charles Corkery

“King of Hearts” by Davie McGuinn

“The Water Bearer” by Anita Beauchamp

“Raise the Dead by Starlight” by Casper Sparks

“The Wrangler” by Celina Mcfadden

“Desert Darkness” by Jonathan Gartner

“Bugs 1863” by Rebecca Grist

“Tinker's News” by Brittany Fleming

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a stranger coming to town and shaking up the order of things.

Write a story about someone undertaking a long, dangerous journey.

Write a Western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.)

Write a story about someone seeking revenge for a past wrong.

Contest #204

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

94

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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