Partida Rol por web

Maddox looked at Mayer. Memories from San Acoma flooded his mind. He had met Mayer there, and now he felt again there was a choice to be made. A choice that would define what kind of a man he was going to be for the rest of his life.

I don´t wanna end up like him, he thought. Not a spineless coward like Mayer, seeking cover under a woman´s skirt.

A crossroads. Two paths. One would take Maddox to become another “Cotton” Ryan. Another “has-been”. Back in the days, none of the men here could walk in the same sun as Ryan. Yet, there he was now, looking from a distance. Scared and alone, but with his pockets full of dollars.

Another path could lead to death, if he kept fighting. Like Trinity was doing. Even though the fight was now impossible. This was the defining moment for Maddox. Behind him, Laura was waiting. She was the guiding light and comfort Maddox had not found in the church of San Acoma. For her, he could choose a different path.

He had not made up his mind. Still holding his Colt Flattop, he was unsure. But for now, he grabbed his sheriff badge with his left hand, and threw it to the ground.

Whatever his decision, whatever the outcome, he needed to let go of that burden. –I ain´t a lawman no more, he said to Vincent Bronson. –I quit. But that doesn´t mean I´m gonna back down. I can´t see a way out of this… Too much blood on the ground, he said maybe hoping Vincent could find that way out.

The two veterans looked at each other, measuring the worth of the man in front. Vincent Bronson, the cattle baron, the richest man in the county. He had driven away the Sioux and set the foundations for an empire that was the livelihood of the town of Sabbath.

And Maddox, the unyielding lawman from Bannock. One of the last true lawmen. The kind that had tamed Dodge City, Tombstone, and other frontier towns.

Both men had seen a lot of violence in their days. They both had buried family and friends. But the times they´d changed.

But while the two prepared to end the hostilities, the battle was still ongoing on the other side of the street!

Trinity was down, but he had not given up yet. Jason Bronson approached the bounty hunter, and to his left there was Jack Dekker. Both men had their guns ready. Behind the two, Crowe was holding his gun with both hands and tried to aim even though his palms were sweaty and he was trembling.

Maybe Trinity had a choice. Mayer had run away, and Maddox was no longer firing. He was in a desperate situation. This was not really his war to start with. However, he was not a man to back down.

Trinity grabbed hold of his Colt Single Action with one bullet left, and he also drew out another gun. A Colt Thunderer he had recovered from an outlaw he had tracked and killed.

Trinity tried to use his second gun to fire at Dekker's chest and Jason chest with his gun. They gonna kill him, maybe are both shots in a million but in for a penny, in for a dollar. There was no wind, his hard breathing was the only thing he could listen, Trinity was alone and maybe, in a few seconds...dead.

-I'm gonna be dead if I can't become Death - he screamed as he started shooting.

-The hell is waitin´ for ya, Jason said and prepared to shoot. -Let´s finish the bastard, Jack!

Trinity brought the guns up and fired desperately. He knew his time was up… He saw the dark silhouettes of his enemies through the haze in his eyes. Jack on the right, Jason on the left... Both about to shoot. And further away, the youngster Crowe aiming holding the gun with two hands.

BANG! BANG!

Trinity fired away without aiming⁸⁶, just hoping to take someone with him! He missed Jason hitting the ground, but he got lucky with his other gun, the Colt Thunderer. The bullet hit Jack. It was only a scratch, but it made the cowboy take a step back, and for a moment Trinity thought he could fire again.

Crowe also pulled the trigger but missed. Maybe, just maybe, Trinity could still have a chance!

But then Jason fired⁹⁰.

BANG!

And he hit Trinity with his Lemat. The wound was not deadly, but enough to slow Trinity down. And immediately after, Jack hit the bounty hunter also⁹³, leaving him gasping for air and somewhat surprised to be still alive! But he could not think straight, and the dark figures towering above him looked like demons from Hell...

Trinity released his guns and left his arms on the ground, then he closed his eyes waiting his final, hoping that the pass to the other life was not as painful as the last shots. He was thirsty and alone... not for long.

With a kick of his boots, Jacks sent the Trinity's guns several metters away. Holding his gun over Trinity's head he think about pull the trigger or don't.

After several seconds in that position he returned his weapon to the holster and turned to walk toward his friend Choctaw to check his state.

Too much blood have been spoiled this morning. He hada lot of dead over his shoulder but he doesn't want to get another one this time.

-Jace! Jack!, he shouted to catch the attention of the two men ready to kill the bounty hunter. He had a plan, and he was pleased to see Jack had not rushed to kill the negro. -Yes, no need to kill him, he said as he had a quick look at Trinity lying on the ground. -Just disarm him, and take him to the Doc. He can be of use to us yet...

Vincent knew Trinity had tracked Choctaw and Jack to Sabbath. He wanted to make sure others would not follow.

-Jace and Crowe, take him to the Doc. Quick! And Jack, you ought to go as well, he said giving Jack a moment to see to his pal Choctaw.

The outlaw opened his eyes for a moment. He was coughing and weak, and it was difficult for him to breath. He saw his friend Jack next to him, and Rosanna behind Jack.

He tried to smile, but it hurt too much for that.  –Did I kill the lawman? Did I get him?, he asked grabbing Jack´s arm. He felt his life fading away.  

-Si, Choctaw. You kill him, she said and wiped her eyes. -You kill him good, she lied. Woman always seemed to lie better than men. And she knew how to comfort a dying man.

She wanted to be next to Choctaw now, in his last moments on this earth. She did not even turn to look when Mayer rode out of town, with his tail between his legs.

Rosanna´s teary eyes were fixed on Choctaw, and she held his hand between hers. Choctaw was with his two pals from the gang when he passed away.

At the same time, Vincent Bronson and Maddox shook hands. Some unheard words were spoken, and for these two men, their word was their bond. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Jason was not too happy about the outcome. But he obeyed his father, and in any case he had more things to worry about now. His best friend Crowe was hurt and needed medical attention.

As soon as the hostilities ended, and the shooting stopped, a crowd started forming on the main street.

All the injured participants were taken to the Lucas´ saloon, and the doctor was called there. To avoid any further problems, separate rooms were prepared for Trinity and Maddox. Sheriff Ryan let Sinta out from jail, and she and Rosanna did their best to help the doc to take care of patients. There were many wounds, and a big risk of infection.

A lot to stitch and sew. However, none of the over dozens wounds had ended up with a bullet lodged inside, which was good news according to the doctor.

And thus ended the Showdown in Sabbath. In pursue of Justice, the main street was now tainted in blood, and the town had experienced first-hand the brutality of a gunfight. None of the men involved would ever be the same again.

Many were dead already. Marc Corman, Harvey Stenbaugh, Jose “Alacran” Luciano, Choctaw Lee…Many others were fighting for their lives, with wounds that might never be healed completely. The events had changed their lives. And they would carry the scars of what had occurred.

Doctor: he can properly attend and clean 1 wound in 20-30 minutes.

He will start with Jack.

Jack (CON 11): 7HP face (Count 12 TR); 3 HP chest (Count 28 Mayer).
-7HP: cleaned OK (-7). CON check (-7+2=-5): Success!

Then he will clean Trinity´s wounds:

Trinity (CON 9): 2 HP chest (Count 26, JB), 5 HP Chest (rib, count 32 JD), 4 HP (Face, CW count 41)
- 5 HP chest: cleaned OK (-8). CON check OK

In the meantime, Sinta cleans up the wounds on Maddox

Maddox (CON 8): 1 HP knee (VB count 34), 6 HP chest (JB count 44), 6 HP head (CL count 57)
-6 HP chest: cleaned OK (nursing skill, -4 modifier). CON check OK!
-6 HP head: cleaned OK (-5 modifier). CON check OK

Since Sinta does a good job, the doc has a chance to look at Crowe:
Crowe (CON 11): 5 HP head
-5HP head: cleaned OK (-14). CON check

Mayer: 1 HP pellet arm, 2 HP pellet stomach => no risk of infection