Partida Rol por web

-A man gets caught in his own doing.You can't change what you are, and if you try, something always calls you back. - Jered Maddox

When the Bronson men rode into town, everyone cleared the main street. You could see them hiding behind the windows, or on the sides. Some went to the second floor balconies to have a better view. But from the Church to the Marshall´s office and all the way to Harris´ General Store, the path was clear.

They unmounted their horses, and took position. It was time to finish this once and for all.

–Maddox!, he shouted once. The town held its breath.

The door opened, and Maddox stepped outside. He looked calm, but inside his heart was raging. He could hear Lucas whisper as he watched at the men who had come to kill him.

Crowe Wheelwright is on the left. Next to him, the gun hand Choctaw Lee. Watch out for him. Then Jason and Vince Bronson. And to the right, Jack Dekker. He´s  shadow walker. Walks big when he's with Choctaw, but a back shooter inside.

The nice wooden church rose towards heavens behind the Bronson men who were after justice. Or vengeance. Maddox had nowhere run. A few steps behind behind, the negro named Trinity, also known as Arch Stanton. And even further back, Mayer who walked with difficulty.

Maddox was not alone… Five men on the Bronson side, against three. All had different reasons to take part. Different scores to settle. And their eyes moved nervously from one man to another.

-Who are you, some bounty hunter or something?, the cattle baron asked measuring this man who had killed Alacran and made Dekker run for his life. –I don´t reckon this is your fight, son. But if you are lookin´ to cash in on this, I´ll double whatever reward you´re after.

Maybe this man had a price, and then it would be six to two...

Jack looked toward his old comrade Mayer. He felt betrayed and he will not hold his gun if he need to kill him.

Crowe unmounted Bolt, patting its neck, hoping to calm him down. He could bet the animal would be uneasy not only around other horses, but with the whole situation. Animals could sense this things, and everyone had ran off to hide. Sure as hell the horse wasn't going to be calm. One second later, and he was sending him off the way. 

Maybe less than a minute passed until Maddox came outside, but Crowe was relaxed. Or at least as relaxed as you could be in that situation. And while Vincent was trying to buy off one of the guys they were supposed to kill now, Crowe looked towards Jason, hoping he would be fine by now.

Mayer looked at Maddox, then Bronson… Choctaw. And Crowe. And finally Jack. His former pal was now an enemy, a foe. He was not sure if he would be ready to kill him if it came right down to it, but if these were the cards he had been dealt. No point tossing around it anymore.

Jason Bronson was nervous as hell inside, but outside he kept his cool and kept close to his father Vincent. He watched the scene from beneath his Stetson.

Pa´ll know what to do…

And he remembered Harvey Stenbaugh. The foreman had been like family to him. And this Maddox had killed him in cold blood.

The hired gun had his eyes focused on the sheriff. This was his moment of truth, the reason Mr. Bronson had hired him.

Jered Maddox, let´s see how good you really are…

He was wearing his yellow Mormon jacket, and he was positioned slightly sideways, with his left hand close to the gun holster. He looked cocky as always, like a man who knew his worth.

No thanks, this negro don't fight just for money... not this time. Trinity felt hundreds of ants dancing on his hands. He analyzed his foe's arms.

-This ain´t no fight. It´s a massacre, Choctaw said. There was sweat on his forehead, and he stood almost sideways. His face was pale, and he looked like he was suffering with each word.

He had read about the negro bounty hunter who had killed Jim Copeland and Earwin Dyer, and he assumed he had found his way to Sabbath. Choctaw and Jack were wanted men for the Delaware massacre, a crime far worse than the accidental shooting that had brought Maddox to Sabbath.

–It doesn´t have to like that, Maddox said suddenly. –There´s been enough...

It was hard to know what had changed in Maddox. The unyielding marshal who had always played by the rules, who had upheld the law above everything else… Something had made him think twice now.

He looked at Vincent Bronson. They had both been through a lot in their lives. They had buried friends and family. Maybe, it was time for Maddox to walk away. Find a quiet town, and sit out the years. Maybe, with someone he loved.

From the opposite end of the main street, Laura Shelby looked at the scene. She and Maddox went back a long way. In Dodge City they had been lovers, and neither had never really forgotten that old flame. But she was not prepared to wait in the dark afraid that he would not return, that he would get killed that day. He was a lawman, and that long cold wait forced her to leave. And eventually she met Hurd Price, and settled in Sabbath. But when she saw Maddox again, it all came back to her. After they spent the night together, she had put all her belongings in a carriage and drove to Sabbath.

If he was going to quit, she would go with him…

The eight men were ready for a fight. The chance of an outcome other than a shootout had not seemed like an option. Maddox´s words changed that, but still it was not easy to find a way out. There was too much water under the bridge, too many wrongs that demanded justice…

Jack could see a few armed men in the crowd. A shopkeeper with a shotgun and also the owner of the saloon. But they were further away to intervene.

He knew Choctaw was hurt badly in the shoulder, and he was also worried about Jason Bronson. He looked nervous and was hesitating. But his main concern was Trinity, who seemed obsessed with killing him.

Mayer had a bandage on his knee, but looked OK otherwise. Maddox went for his gun as soon as he saw Choctaw draw.

Jack had a debt with the negro bounty hunter, as soon he looked he moved his hand to take the revolver he unsheathed his weapon too. This time he wasn't going to flee until that negro was dead.