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Choctaw ends to roll the cigar and starts to smoke.
- What will happen if Maddox is not a reasonable man? Only to be sure that I understand ya, boss.

He exhales the smoke and smiles

-You fancy a bit of tin star, eh?, Harvey said smiling. Choctaw and the foreman had had their differences. Ever since the cocky gunslinger and his friend, the shadow walker as Harvey liked to call him, came to work for Mr. Bronson. But if it really came down to the bedrock, he´d prefer to have these men on his side if going got tough. Not that he needed any of them…

-I don't like to see you backing off, Vince. You're making a mistake.

-I don't see it that way. I want to step around this. The lawman is not to be touched, ya understand?, Bronson said looking at Choctaw, Dekker and Stenbaugh and making sure everyone in the room heard him loud and clear. –We´ll try it my way. All of you carry on with your work and life as usual these next days, I´ll keep ya informed. And keep clear of Maddox. Sinta is OK, Ryan said. I´ll make sure she stays that way.

An elderly Indian woman entered the room and spoke a few words to Bronson.

-Our food's been laid out. Vern, Hurd, will you gentlemen be my guests? Choctaw, show 'em where to get washed up.

The men washed their hands and followed Bronson to the nicely decorated dining room and started eating. Initially, they were not in a mood for talking and laughing, but gradually they all got more relaxed.

Bronson made small talk and asked Vernon about his ranch and herd, and Price about his farm, and about his woman Laura. The boss was clearly making an effort to talk about other matters than the situation with the lawman. When they finished eating, Bronson put a box of fine quality cigars on the table. The conversation got lighter, and he brought up the shooting competition the men had organized this summer. Even though it had been done with some secrecy, the boss was obviously in the know. Every few weeks, some of the Bronson men would meet in an improvised shooting range, close to where the chuck wagon was kept. They used old frying pans as targets. All just a bit of fun to keep themselves occupied. And a chance to win a bit of money placing bets on the outcome. The following day, it was scheduled for Choctaw to face one of the cowboys, Crowe.

–I was talkin´t o Crowe earlier, Jason said smiling as he cut his cigar. –He reckons he´s faster than ya, and that he´ll beat you tomorrow, Choctaw. Jason was good friends with Crowe, had been ever since their childhood. Crowe had won most of the the other cowboys, and he was no doubt good with the gun.

Hurd tried to relax and enjoy the meal. His usually busy mind had new worries to deal with, but Mr. Bronson was showing a great deference to them so being a good guest was the least he could do. Hurd talked with a certain pride about his farm, explaining how he was planning to build an irrigation system following some article he had read in Harper's Magazine.

When they started talking about a shooting competition, he couldn't avoid his thoughts going back to the night in Bannock. He grabbed a cigar from the box, lighted it and sat back, listening to the conversation while he smoked quietly.

At a time when no one listens to them Jacks approaches and says Choctaw:

- I am with you pal, if Maddock isn't reasonable we need to take care of him ourselves. I am going to try to find Alacran tonight, he has a lot more than us to loose.

Choctaw was quiet during the meal. He eats in silence and speaks with Jack when they are in private. He mutters
- This is a good job, let the old man do his job. If fails, we must go on our own. Alacran is easy to find, we only must speak with Rosana. I think that the old man is a bad beast. We speak later, when we be in private.

Takes a couple of cigars, one to smoke later, the other to his mouth. He smiles with a twisted smile to Jason.

- Are you sure about Crowe's victory? I bet you a bottle of whiskey that both are wrong. 

-OK, you´re on Choctaw. We´ll see what happens tomorrow, he said and sealed the bet with a handshake. Jason was not at all sure about Crowe being faster than the outlaws. But a bottle of whiskey was not going to make him poor even if he lost.

The evening continued. Bronson got up and walked to the back porch and sat on his arm chair. From there, he had a view of all the surrounding lands. Harvey went after him, and they exchanged a few words. Then the foreman left to go to his room.

Bronson sat alone, thinking in silence. He looked as if the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders.

Inside, the chatting continued. Jason was telling to Vern, Choctaw, Jack and Hurd about a new thoroughbred he had purchased. After a while, when they looked out the window, the chair was empty.

-Hurd, it´s getting late. If you wish to stay here and sleep in the bunk house, don´t worry. I´ll ride past your farm on my way, and I can check on Laura.

Laura had taken the old carriage Vernon owned to town earlier to get some supplies. She should be back by now.

-Yep, it's late. I'm going. Jack, I need to talk to you, come on. 

Choctaw is not tired, but he wants to talk with his folk. He goes out and makes a gesture to Jack to accompany him.

Hurd had been hesitating about approaching Mr. Bronson for a brief business talk, so for a second he thought about staying. But the man was no longer around and today was probably not the best time for such matters anyway. He better went back home now. He wanted to tell Laura about what was happening.

- Nah, I reck'n I'm comin' with ya, Vern. I want to check what that woman's been spendin' my money on today. - He chuckled and put on his hat - See y'all around, fellers. Take care.

Vernon got up with Hurd. –G´nite, gentlemen, he said putting on his Stetson.Despite the worrying news, Vernon seemed calm and even relaxed. He preferred to deal with things when they happened. No point thinking about them too much scratching your head, it sure as hell was not going to help. And he had a ranch to run. He had made up his mind. -I didn't kill nobody that night in Bannock. I've got no quarrel with the law. I´ll just stay close and mind what's mine, and stop him if he comes after me, Vernon concluded with a firm voice.

Vern was silent most of the ride from the Bronson ranch to the high country. It was well passed midnight when they got to the crossing for the Hurd´s farm and stopped for a second.

–Don´t worry too much…, Vern started, -about the carriage I mean, he added with a smile trying to get his friend to think about something else than this Maddox and his list. –I´ll come by in the morning, OK? And take her then. Also, I ought to have some news from Dusaine for you by then.

Richard Dusaine was the town Registrar, and he had promised to find out the requirements for Hurd to claim the farm land to his and Laura´s name. Vernon had similar business to sort out with Dusaine also. There was more paperwork than expected since Sabbath was a fairly new town founded very close to an old Comanche Indian territory.

Choctaw and Dekkers goes to their cots, when we are alone, Choctaw starts talking.
- Well, here we are, what do ya want to discuss? We can speak freely now. There's nobody listening us. What dou ya think about all of this, compadre?

- Thanks, Vern. - Hurd smiled back but he was a bit absent; he'd been so all the way from the Bronson ranch. His mind was at work and he yearned to discuss the situation, but he knew his friend was not keen on rambling about stuff. Hurd knew well that, while he was a thinker, Vern was a doer. And bless him for that. - Oh, Dusaine, that be great. I'll prepare some good breakfast. Alright, it's late, let's talk tomorrow. G'nite, pal.

He turned around and headed home.

- In no way we can be caught. We are wanted for our times with the Lee Clan and the gunfight on Santa Acoma, will be hung up for sure - says Jack worried - If mr. Bronson doesn't manage to convince the marshal to come back to Sabbath without us we only have to options. Run away again ... or kill him.

- We need to talk with Alacran so we can confront the marshal together, and  I have seen our old firned Mayer on the brothel, perhaps he is also interested on get rid of the marshal. Maddox can't be a match to four of us.