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Laura was looking down at her gloved hands. She was nervous about this whole ugly matter, and all of a sudden there were no less than five men around her. –Yeah, Hurd, we were talkin´ , and it was ´bout ya, and the others. I mean, I know ya ain´t a murderer, or Vern for that matter.

Or poor Sinta, she thought holding back the tears. –But some of the men on the list, men Bronson has hired… we don´t know if they are willing to settle this.

-You mean, if they´re wanted for other crimes?, Lucas asked looking at Mayer and the rest. He had gathered bits and pieces of the story, and he did read the papers. Choctaw Lee and Jack Dekker had a history written in blood in Delaware and New Mexico. –Look, time has come to put the cards on the table. I like my life here in Sabbath, this saloon of mine, the townsfolk. I don´t wanna see it go away. This town ain´t gonna survive without Bronson´s business, we know that. Hell, I ain´t sure if the county would survive! Pardon my French, Miss Shelby, he said quickly. -We ought to find a way to win some time, to get Maddox to lower the pressure and for Mr. Bronson to stay calm. To find another way out than dumb gunplay.

Lucas downed the whiskey and looked at each men around him. –We ought to play this hand right. Crowe, you say Bronson wants to talk. That´s good. Mayer, you might have your work cut out here in town. The store keeper Luther Harris has been stirring up trouble ever since Marc Corman´s death. And I don´t reckon the sheriff Cotton Ryan can handle this. And you maybe lend a hand to Crowe here.

Then he looked at Hurd and Vernon. –It´s best you don´t get involved. Maddox doesn´t know you, or where you live. Finish your business here, and go back to your farms and then the Bronson ranch. Take Jason Bronson and Harvey Stenbaugh with you. See if you can help to cool down the Bronson clan. We´ll send word as soon as we have news. We can work together to step around this.

Well, that’s good enough I guess… – he thought as he drank again from the glass of whisky, thinking that he could ask Mayer about what Maddox had told him that one time.

He couldn’t focus with all that screaming going on upstairs, and the thought of missing something because that girl couldn’t shut her mouth while opening her legs made him furious. He looked towards the stairs and exhaled, notoriously exasperated by the sounds. But his attention came back quickly to the chat as Laura finished talking.

Good thing was that Lucas was on their side, or so it seemed. Crowe drank the rest of the whisky while he listened him talk, nodding when Lucas said something about Bronson wanting to talk. But even if he had nothing against Mayer, working with someone who clearly didn’t trust him didn’t sound as such a good idea. Of course, in Crowe’s mind, everything was a bad idea with a probably worse result.

Anyway, it’s worth the shot.

I’d really appreciate that – he said, nodding again as a sign of gratitude. 

I brought my attetion back to the conversation, just trying to ignore the annoying screams upstairs.

Lucas was damn right. Sabbath didn't need a bloodbath: that wouldn't benefit anyone, so we had to try to make things peacefully, as much as I thought Maddox was right. Those men Bronson hired were outlaws and killers, and I knew it for good. I think everyone deserves a second chance in life, but those fellers didn't change a bit since last time I met 'em, and they deserved to pay for their crimes.

Also, I didn't like the idea of working with that Crowe feller, but I had to if I wanted to keep my life in Sabbath as I knew it 'til now. Or, at least, just to keep it. I just wanted not to face my old pals Dekker and Lee. I had nothing to tell 'em, but I wasn't sure about their reactions meeting me again after all this time.

-Sure -I agreed with helping Weelright.

Hurd scratched his face as he listened to Laura's answer. He felt a bit dumb for asking the obvious, but he kind of enjoyed forcing her to say it. He was becoming tired of subtleties. Thus, he almost thanked God when Lucas talked in such way, straight and clear. Hurd really needed that today. Besides, he liked what the man was saying. Lucas thought there could be a solution to the matter, and a peaceful one at that. And that was a hopeful thought.

Hurd cleared his throat. The saloon's owner's showing his cards gave him confidence to talk more openly. The whiskey helped also.

- Mr. Decroux, believe me, I'm of the same mind as you. If'n we can settle this in a civilized way, so much the better. I hear this Maddox is... a hunting dog, that he won't back down easily. He's already killed one man. - He took a drag on his cigarette and shrugged - But I guess ya know him better. If ya reckon we can make him turn back in sum way that ain't at gunpoint... Well, I just hope ya're right. - He looked at Vern briefly, and this time he took the liberty to answer for the both of them - We'll gladly take yer advice.

Lucas refilled the glasses on the table, pondering the issue.

“Killed one man”, yeah, ya say. The Widowmaker. That´s the handle folk ´ve given to Jered Maddox.

-I ain´t sayin´ it´s gonna be easy, fellers. But it´s worth the gamble. He looked at the men in the room. He couldn´t help to feel some sympathy for each and every one. Lucas had seen his share of rough outlaws in the frontier, back in the days of San Acoma and Canyon City. Men like Choctaw or Dekker. Ruthless cold blooded killers. But Maddox never could see the difference between those men and cowboys like Hurd or Vern. There were no second chances with him. No forgiveness. He held all men down hard.

-Maddox holds the law above everythin´ else. And so high, it makes it hard for him to see from where he stands. I hope you find a way to deal with him…., he said and raised his glass to wish ´em luck and to mark the end of the improvised meeting.

-My, it´s beautiful, Luther Harris said and caressed the soft fabric he was selling to a lady. All of a sudden, she whispered: Oh! That´s him!

-Who…?

The shopkeeper stopped mid-sentence as he saw the lawman from Bannock walk by slowly.

Look at him. Strollin´ as if he owned Sabbath. Well, he doesn´t. And he ought to be told that! He ought to be told we don´t need him here in Sabbath. He can take his Justice and tin star somewhere else.

Harris watched Maddox with anger as the lawman entered Registrar Dusaine´s office. Earlier Harris had been palavering at the church with the Mayor Bolden, Moss, Dusaine and the others. As members of the citizen council and distinguished persons in Sabbath, it was their duty to take action. They were all going to his shop to address this business with the lawman…

A saloon girl named Rosanna was looking through the window of her room. The Scarlet Room they called it. She had been given this nice room with a good view and even its bath tub when she arrived some months ago. Some change from the time she worked as a Cantina Girl in New Mexico. In another life…

Rosanna watched the lawman everyone was talking on the main street. People stepped aside, and then spoke behind his back. He looked determined, tough, unyielding. Like a locomotive.

She could see her reflection in the glass. Her hair and her clothes looked different, but there was something else. She did not recognize her own reflection at first. She pushed away the memories of yesterday, and the worries of today, and sighed.

As she walked down the stairs, she was expecting to see an empty saloon, or maybe maybe Mayer would be there. Instead, she encountered a full table of men discussing something that looked important. She did not recognize any of the men, but smiled politely as she headed for the bar to pour herself something to drink. She had learned not to ask too many questions.

Rosanna was an exotic looking Mexican beauty. She had dyed her dark hair, highlighting her black eyes even more. She observed the men in silence, and then turned her attention to the bottles and glasses, knowing that all the eyes in the room were probably fixed at her.

Vernon Adams finished his drink and got up. The noises coming from upstairs had finally stopped, and he did not want to overstay his welcome. –We better get goin´ then, he said determined as always. –Hurd, ya take Laura and finish the business with the Registrar, I´ll get the carriage and I´ll wait for ya at Moss´ saddle shop.

-I'm with you in a minute. You can wait outside, I just need a quick drink -I said to Crowe as I walked towards the bar. I wanted to ask Rossana a few questions before leaving, so I moved next to her for a private chat*. I didn't mind I Lucas was going to think something strange 'bout us because he could see us chatting: I could always say I spoke to her just for education while drinking, that I was curious about the noises and if they had annoyed her, just as a funny anecdote.

He drank the content of the glass at once when the meeting was finished, and stood up - Sure thing, Mayer - he said as the cowboy walked away towards a beautiful lady that had just come downstairs. 

Thanks for the whisky and the talking - he extended his hand to Lucas, shaking his firmly - I'm sure Mr.Bronson will very much appreciate it as well - he added with a polite but not so gracious smile. He was not a handsome fellow, and there was no doubt about that fact. 

'Til we see each other again, fellas - he tipped his hat towards the group - ma'am - and then one more time just for the lady. After that, he walked though the door, waiting patiently for Mayer to stop flirting.

Everyone deserves a break sometime, he thought.

-What happened up there? Where's Jason? -Even whispering, I was very clear, we had no time to lose. I was serving myself a whiskey shot while talking: last thing we needed is Lucas suspecting there was something between us-. I don't like him a bit. Has he... done something to you?

-Nothin´ happen, Rosanna replied abruptly, but then smiled as if Mayer had told her a funny joke. She was well aware of Lucas watching them, and she did not want to raise unnecessarily suspicions.

-He ask me questions, then he go sleep with Laila. Now he gone, out the back. You think it was me with him?, she asked looking somewhat offended. -You know I no scream like that, she said and looked at Mayer with her deep dark eyes. 

The law above everythin' else.

The sentence echoed in Hurd's mind like an ominous bell tolling. There was something in those words that gave him the goosebumps. He looked down a moment, then he stubbed the cigarette out abruptly, as if it had transformed into something disgusting. He stood up and nodded at Vern.

- Will do – he answered, and courteously helped Laura pulling her chair out.

- Yeah, thanks, Mr. Decroux. - he said after Crowe, hoping no one noticed he had not touched his glass after Lucas had refilled it – We'll be waitin' yer news. Mayer. Crowe. Y'all take care.

Hurd took Laura's arm and walked to the door. He didn't like the idea of visiting Dusaine's office again, but he liked even less the idea of stumbling upon Maddox. It may be true that the lawman had never seen him before, but he rather not take any chances. He stopped on the door to take a peek across the street before coming out. And only when he was sure Maddox was not there to be seen, he stepped outside grabbing Laura's arm a bit tighter.

- Aright, dear... Let's finish this and get hum.

I smiled. That was just the way she was, so natural, so spontaneous.

-He said he was going to speak with you upstairs. I just wanted to make sure he did nothin' more: as I said, I don't like that feller a bit.

I drank my shot, and smiled again.

-Glad to see you're ok. See ya later... I've gotta help Lucas with some important bussiness here in town.

-Si..., she whispered. For a moment, Rosanna looked like she wanted to add something more. Something she had found out when talking to Jason. But was not the place nor the time.

-I see you later, she added quickly and then she carried on with her work without looking back.
 

Moss was pouring some more water to the horses inside the stables when he saw Maddox walk in the Registrar´s office opposite on the street.

-Damn, he is like some bloody hound dog with a bone.

L.G. Moss was one of the first in Sabbath to meet the lawman the day before. When he left his horse, he had also asked about farms in the area, and general directions. But Moss had not told him anything.

-This town owes Vince Bronson a helluva lot. I ain´t gonna help that murderer...

Now Maddox had entered Dusaine´s office. Moss was somewhat worried he would get maps of the territory and other information from the Registrar.

-Hope the Englishman knows how to put a cork in it and shut up!

As soon as he saw Maddox walk out again and head back to the hotel, Moss dropped the water buckets and hurried towards Harris´ store for the meeting.

Hurd saw from the corner of his eye how Maddox crossed the main street and walked back into the hotel from the Registrar´s office. Behind Hurd, Laura was waiting and her eyes were also fixed on the lawman.

As soon as Maddox had entered the hotel, one could feel certain relief from the townsfolk who had literally been holding their breath. Hurd and Laura quickly walked towards the Registrar´s office to finish their business and get out of town.

In the meantime, Crowe and Mayer were standing together outside the saloon entrance. Maddox had entered the hotel, and a number of prominent people of Sabbath were now gathering in Luther Harris´ General Store to discuss this lawman business. That meeting concerned Lucas greatly, as things in the West could easily get out of hand when the people of a town felt they should join together to get or serve Justice.

-Ready to go -I said, standing next to Crowe, when I came out of Lucas'. I wanted to end all this as soon as possible, and continue with the poker tournament and my life in Sabbath-. We movin'?

Hurd's legs almost faltered when he saw Maddox coming out of the Registrar's. One minute, just one minute later and God knew what could have happened.

- Tha'was close... – he said to Laura as they waited for the lawman to get off the street – Hope Dusaine got them papers ready... C'mon now.

They crossed the street and got into the office as if they were late.

- Mornin' again, Mr. Dusaine. Back as promised.

He greeted the man politely, trying to keep some composure. But he was paying more attention to the window and the street outside. This time he didn't want to lose sight of where Maddox was.