Chuck Norris Pens Novel, 'The Justice Riders'
When you think of Chuck Norris, what comes to mind?
Screen star of the long-running TV series, Walker, Texas Ranger? Action star of more than 20 major motion pictures? Six-time undefeated World Professional MiddleWeight Karate Champion? Martial arts teacher to the stars? Writer of the New York Times Bestseller, Against All Odds?
Now Norris tackles a new venture: sharing his dynamic, action-packed talents through fiction in The Justice Riders (available from Broadman & Holman, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources). The dynamic, pull-no-punches Norris offers this thrilling novel about the ethics of war, the traps of ethnic prejudice, and the value of cultivating a strong faith that can carry us through difficult times. Norris, writing with talented co-authors Ken Abraham, Aaron Norris, and Tim Grayem, paints a timeless portrait of a slice of American history that will engage fiction lovers, as well as Norris's legions of fans.
It's a compelling story from the opening pages. The Justice Riders are an elite squad of soldiers who work on covert assignments during the Civil War. Together, led by the charismatic Ezra Justice, they must pull off raids that Washington says are impossible, sabotage the South's supply lines, obtain crucial intelligence information, snatch prisoners, and assassinate Confederate officers. If they are caught, the Union will not acknowledge them. They are on their own. And together, they can turn the course of a tragic war back to peace and freedom.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Chapter 1 of The Justice Riders, by Chuck Norris:
MORE THAN ANY MAN ALIVE, Nathaniel York knew how to interpret the often understated expressions of his enigmatic leader, Ezra Justice. Nate raised a finger to his thin, neatly trimmed mustache as though contemplating some great philosophical truth. “Think we can pull this off, Ezra?”
Justice didn’t flinch at the sergeant’s familiarity. Most of the other men rarely referred to their leader by his first name, but Nathaniel York was not just a fellow soldier. He and Ezra were best friends, practically family. They’d grown up together on a large, prosperous Tennessee tobacco farm owned by Ezra’s parents. Nathaniel York, however, was a former slave, legally emancipated by Abraham Lincoln, but emancipated a long time before that by his friend Ezra Justice. Even as a boy, Ezra had believed that all men were created equals and had defied his family’s ironclad rules for relating to “darkies.” Against his parent’s objections, he had formed a strong bond of friendship with Nate. Now, with both men fighting for the North, that friendship remained intact.
Moreover, Nathaniel York hailed from good roots. His grandfather—also a slave—had gained great respect and admiration as a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803. For his part, Nathaniel York never thought of himself as enslaved to anybody, despite the fact that his family worked long hours in the tobacco fields and lived in a shack at the back of the Justice property. Bright, articulate, and deeply spiritual, Nathaniel had committed his life to God as a boy and had adopted Jesus’ statement, “The truth will set you free” as his motto. When Ezra asked Big Nate to join him in setting other men free, Nate never hesitated. He’d fight throughout the war, a black man and a white man side by side, with his friend Ezra Justice.
Ezra peered down at the seemingly endless line of soldiers streaming out of the town. Getting to the supply line would not be easy, he knew. Getting out with their lives would be tougher still. He spoke to himself as much as to Nate. “We have to stop them, Nate. We have to stop them here.”
“Yes, sir. Word from the north is that General Grant has Lee ready to do something desperate.”
“It’s about time,” Justice replied. “That siege at Petersburg has been going on for far too long. For the past ten months, our men have been living in trenches all the way from Petersburg to Richmond. Grant’s been puttin’ the squeeze on them, and Lee’s boys are getting nervous. General Joe Johnston’s army in North Carolina is the South’s last hope. If we can keep Johnston’s troops from reinforcing Lee’s, we might be able to bring this war to a close. If we can’t . . .” Ezra’s voice trailed off.
“If we can’t?” Nate pressed.
“If Johnston gets his troops to General Lee, they will be a formidable force against General Grant’s army. They may be able to mount an attack that will split Grant’s troops and break the siege. If they do that, a lot more men are going to die on both sides.”
Nate nodded and proceeded to brief Ezra on the readiness report. “Sergeant Bonesteel has his .44-caliber rifle scope focused on the first ammunition wagon. Sergeant Whitecloud has his own brand of Injun fireworks ready on the other side of town. He can’t wait to get into the fight. I practically had to hold him down when he saw those Confederate cavalry boys.
“And the Hawkins twins are itching to try out their new invention they dreamed up for our enjoyment. Some wacky thing they call a ‘satchel charge.’” Justice smiled at Nate’s sarcasm regarding Roberto and Carlos Hawkins, two of the most ingenius, young explosives experts he’d ever known. Nate would have been content to rely on good old-fashioned dynamite charges, but not the twins. The Hawkins brothers were constantly coming up with seemingly ridiculous new methods to destroy something, and Ezra learned long ago not to be so cynical. The twins’ crazy inventions usually worked. Usually.
Nate interrupted Ezra’s ruminations. “And O’Banyon wants to go down and try to talk them into surrendering.”
Ezra’s mouth hinted at a smile as he thought of Shaun O’Banyon, the lovable, impetuous Irishman who in the past had preferred a bottle of good whiskey over fighting any day. Shaun O’Banyon believed that he could talk his way out of most any situation, and he often did. But this would not be a day for talk.
“Pass the word, Nathaniel. When the church bell strikes three, let ’er rip. There’s no way the seven of us can stand a chance against their entire army. Our goal is to slow them down by taking out their supplies. Try not to get involved in combat with their troops any more than necessary. Otherwise we will lose our element of surprise. We have to hit them hard and fast. Get in quickly and get out. If we take more than a few minutes, we’re all dead men.”
Nate rose to his knees. “Got it, Cap’n.” He halfway stood up, brushed himself off, and repeated the command. “Start the attack right after the bell strikes three. I’ll meet you back at the camp. God be with ya, Ezra.”
Ezra nodded but didn’t look around as Nate slipped away. “Here’s hoping.”
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