In wild west horror stories, the idea of the unknown is a major element. The unexplored territories held all sorts of terrors. There were rumors of strange creatures lurking in the canyons. Also, there are often elements of vengeance. A wronged person coming back from the dead to take revenge on those who wronged them. And the lawlessness of the Wild West means that there was no real protection, so people were constantly in fear of the next horror that might befall them.
One of the top stories could be about the famous outlaws like Jesse James. He was a notorious bandit known for his bank and train robberies. His actions became legendary and were a big part of the Wild West lore.
One wild west horror story is about a haunted saloon. The saloon was once the site of a brutal shootout. Ever since, every full moon, the ghosts of the slain would reenact the fight. Patrons who stayed late on those nights would feel cold breezes and see the apparitions of the gunfighters, their guns blazing and blood dripping from their wounds.
Common themes include the idea of the untamed wilderness. The wild west is a place full of danger and mystery. In horror novels set there, the wilderness itself can be a character. It can hide all sorts of terrors. There's also the theme of the outcast. Characters who are different or shunned often play important roles in these stories, and they may be the ones to face the horror first or be the source of it.
Another great one is 'True Grit'. It tells the story of a young girl who hires a grizzled old marshal to help her track down her father's killer. It shows courage and determination in the context of the Wild West.
Well, it can be. 'Wild Wild West' has a certain charm with its Western setting, which some fans find really appealing for creating fanfic. There are elements like the gunslinging, the frontier environment, and the potential for interesting character relationships that can fuel the creation of fanfiction.
There was a cowboy who fell in love with a saloon girl. He promised to take her away from that rough life. However, he got caught up in a range war. In the end, he was killed, and the saloon girl was left heartbroken, still serving drinks in that same old saloon, forever waiting for a man who would never return.
The story of Calamity Jane is also well - known. She was a frontierswoman who was said to be as tough as any man in the Wild West. She had many adventures and was associated with famous figures like Wild Bill Hickok. There are also tales of gold rushes in the Wild West, where people flocked to places like California in search of gold and had all sorts of wild experiences along the way.
One great wild west horror novel is 'The Darkest Part of the Woods' which combines the eerie atmosphere of the wild west with elements of horror. It has a unique setting with abandoned mines and desolate landscapes that add to the sense of dread.