Boot Hill: Pima County

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OOC No please, I welcome the assistance with dealing with Big Jim. I just didn't want to step on anybodies toes if they had wanted to pursue a seperate course of action like say, build a social network at the ranch.
 
(OOC: Ok, if you don't mind back tracking, then I am going to move on a bit.)

Since MacRegan gets no response from anyone at Cisco's table. He will finish his drink, go back to the bar, order one more shot, and ask the bartender:

"I'm new to these parts, I hear tell that there's a ranch hereabouts called the JBar. Where might that be?"

Once Benson tells him the way to the JBar, MacRegan will ride out of town towards the ranch.
 
(OOC: Ok, if you don't mind back tracking, then I am going to move on a bit.)

Since MacRegan gets no response from anyone at Cisco's table. He will finish his drink, go back to the bar, order one more shot, and ask the bartender:

"I'm new to these parts, I hear tell that there's a ranch hereabouts called the JBar. Where might that be?"

Once Benson tells him the way to the JBar, MacRegan will ride out of town towards the ranch.
The fat man behind the bar responds, "New in town, eh? Well, welcome to the Yellow Rose. Long as your money's good, you're welcome here or my name isn't Pete Benson. So, you got business up at the Big J Ranch, eh?"
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Pete Benson

He looks at you skeptically and advises, "Just head up Main Street. It turns into the trail to Tucscon, but maybe midway there you fork to the right and it'll lead you right up to the Big J's gates. Take you a couple hours unless you're aiming to kill your horse, haw haw haw!" His belly shakes as he laughs. "Were I you I'd stay the night in Saguaro and head out in the morning. You don't want to take that trail by dark." He winks at you and suggests, "If you want company, I hear there's agreeable gals at the cantina--if you like 'em Mexican. Just ask for María Dolores and tell her Pete said you're okay--I get what you might call a finder's fee, haw haw haw!"
 
"Much obliged. Maybe when I get back I'll visit one of those ladies"

(OOC: what time is it?)
 
"Much obliged. Maybe when I get back I'll visit one of those ladies"

(OOC: what time is it?)
"Who said anything about ladies? Haw haw haw!"

It's close to 4:00 p.m. for the group in Saguaro. Sunset isn't for another 3 ½ hours. You're pretty sure he mainly wants you to stay in town longer so he has more opportunities to part you from your money.

Is MacRegan heading out now on his own?
 
He finishes his drink and will ride out to the JBar, hoping to get there before sundown.

(OOC: what does the sky look like? Is it clear or overcast? I believe it's a full moon tonight?)
 
He finishes his drink and will ride out to the JBar, hoping to get there before sundown.

(OOC: what does the sky look like? Is it clear or overcast? I believe it's a full moon tonight?)
The moon can't be seen yet but will be in third quarter tonight.

As MacRegan mounts up, the sky is clear and blue, except where the brightness of the midafternoon sun shines a white glare that makes it unbearable to look south for too long, with few clouds in sight. Fortunately your route takes you north with the sun at your back. Saguaro, though booming, is by no means large, and it's not long before the last false-fronted buildings fade into the scenery behind you and you find yourself passing by a couple of clapboard shacks and tents set up on the outskirts of town in the scanty shade of a copse of velvet mesquite, desert ironwood, and catclaw acacia trees.

Tracks and ruts in the dirt trail make it clear that it's well-travelled, though rough. It's forty feet wide but soon narrows to about twenty feet across at its widest point. On either side of the dirt road, the land is a rolling plain covered in loose rocks and sparse greenery aside, the sun having baked most plants to a brown or yellow hue. Here and there you spot a soaptree yucca, a four-wing saltbush, some ragged nettlespurge, a cane cholla, tall crested saguaros, and plenty of Santa Rita prickly pear cactus.

After about an hour, you come to the fork that Pete Benson described. You see a Wells Fargo Concord coach, blazing its trademark red and drawn by four horses, traveling south from the road to Tucson, presumably headed to Saguaro. The shotgun messenger eyes you warily until he's satisfied you're alone and not the van of a bandido ambush. The ground around the trail here is rocky and covered with trailbrush, providing plenty of cover for highwaymen.

If you try to hail the driver, the stagecoach merely speeds up to get away from you in response. If you decide to chase the coach for some reason, let me know and disregard the following and we'll play that out instead.

After the fork, you round a bend in the the road to the Big J Ranch where the trail detours due to some huge boulders long since rolled down the side of the Santa Rita Mountains, in whose foothills you now ride. Your trained eye notes a confusion of hoofprints indicating some kind of fight or altercation took place here not long ago, but there's no sign of anyone now.

It's about 6:00 in the evening as you approach the open ranch gate guarded by two fence-sitting, leather-faced sentinels toting rifles. "Rider comin'!" calls one to the other. "What's your business with the Big J?"
Big J Ranch.jpg

Here things may get a bit tricky chronologically as you've actually arrived at the ranch while the other PCs who left town earlier lost time scouting the trailbrush and won't turn up for another half-hour. I have a solution that may work depending on what MacRegan does.
 
"I am here to see Jim Wayne on personal business." MacRegan says as he slowly sits back in the saddle, takes a match from his vest pocket, and lights his pipe. "Marshal Clary said I should come up and talk to him. It's been a long ride, and I don't fancy sitting out here any longer than I have to. Now if one of you gents'd be so kind, I'd like to finish my business with Wayne, and be on my way." He looks at the two while taking a puff of his pipe, ready should they try anything sneaky.

8369
 
"If'n the horse is bred to the mountains and deserts, sure," agrees Rydell. He stops to light a corncob pipe and begins to smoke, squints a while, then says, "Now this Jethro Beauregard Jackson fella, him 'n Big Jim came out from Texas together the way I hear it, then somethin' soured atwixt 'em. Some folks say it was a woman, which I don't doubt as womenfolk is few 'n far betwixt hereabouts. I don't know no Tuskakloosa Kid, but horse thieves 'n cattle rustlers is to be expected. I don't blame 'em none for brandin' a few questionable cows. Like as not the big brands done the same when they was small. Stealin' a horse is a whole other thing. Out in the desert, 's a kinder thing to shoot a man dead than to steal his horse 'n leave him on his beetle-crushers. What you got against Buckskin Johnny 'n Honcho? Ain't showin' 'em where I got my claim staked, as I opine they'd like as not jump it if'n they thought they could get away with it, but then again they'll like as not buy a fella a round or two when they got money, so I got no quarrel with them. There's no shortage of desperados hereabouts, but what can you expect you can belly to the brush across the border from here?"
'My apprehensions of Johnny and Honcho are exactly as you describe,' replies Cisco. 'They strike me more as bushwhackers than prospectors, and I would not be the least surprised to learn that the gold and silver they present to Mr Schein were obtained first by the toil of other hands.' He extends a hand to the prospector. 'If you find yourself in need of legal representation over your claims, please do not hesitate to call upon my services, sir. Leave word for Samuel Kidd at the Western Star, across the street.' He pours one more drink, for MacRegan, and offers the rest of the bottle to Cougar Rydell.

MacRegan will address Cisco, and the table.

"If you and your friends are still planning on going to the JBar, I've finished my business with the Marshal, and I am ready to ride."
Cisco nods to the shot on the table. 'As promised, sir.'

He turns to Juan. 'Has Pa Sommer discovered the absence of his daughter yet?' he asks.

Since MacRegan gets no response from anyone at Cisco's table . . .
OOC: Hey pard, we were talking to the prospector while you were with the marshal. Should I retcon my post?
 
"I am here to see Jim Wayne on personal business." MacRegan says as he slowly sits back in the saddle, takes a match from his vest pocket, and lights his pipe. "Marshal Clary said I should come up and talk to him. It's been a long ride, and I don't fancy sitting out here any longer than I have to. Now if one of you gents'd be so kind, I'd like to finish my business with Wayne, and be on my way." He looks at the two while taking a puff of his pipe, ready should they try anything sneaky.

View attachment 8369
"Marshal Clary said, eh?" The first guard turns to the second and says, "Tanner, you go see what Hernández says about Big Jim seein' anyone." The second guard makes haste toward a big adobe ranch house and the first guard say, "Mister, it's not that we don't believe you but there's been a killing and outlaws about of late. Can't be too careful."

A few minutes pass and Tanner returns with word: "Well, sir, I guess you got lucky. Seems the boss is curious enough to see who you are and what you want. Just take your horse over to that stable and they'll treat her right, and Hernández will let you into the house."

'My apprehensions of Johnny and Honcho are exactly as you describe,' replies Cisco. 'They strike me more as bushwhackers than prospectors, and I would not be the least surprised to learn that the gold and silver they present to Mr Schein were obtained first by the toil of other hands.' He extends a hand to the prospector. 'If you find yourself in need of legal representation over your claims, please do not hesitate to call upon my services, sir. Leave word for Samuel Kidd at the Western Star, across the street.' He pours one more drink, for MacRegan, and offers the rest of the bottle to Cougar Rydell.

Cisco nods to the shot on the table. 'As promised, sir.'
Rydell eagerly shakes hands and even more eagerly takes the bottle.
OOC: Hey pard, we were talking to the prospector while you were with the marshal. Should I retcon my post?
If Shemek hiTankolel Shemek hiTankolel agrees, we can assume this took place prior to MacRegan's ride to the Big J Ranch, in which case Black Vulmea Black Vulmea, AsenRG AsenRG, and Bunch Bunch should all read posts #487 and #488 and if you want you can converse "during the ride" and then we can pick up with all of you seeing Big Jim Wayne (or just MacRegan if Cisco, Juan, and Jesús have something else in mind).

The other option is for Cisco, Juan, and Jesús to ride up shortly after MacRegan, in which case they'd arrive just as MacRegan is being let past the gate. Then Tybalt, Quinn, Corbin, Eugene, and Mary would arrive shortly afterwards. Lars, of course, has been there quite a while by then and has already met Big Jim Wayne.
 
I'm fine with a conversation having happened before the game began.
 
"Marshal Clary said, eh?" The first guard turns to the second and says, "Tanner, you go see what Hernández says about Big Jim seein' anyone." The second guard makes haste toward a big adobe ranch house and the first guard say, "Mister, it's not that we don't believe you but there's been a killing and outlaws about of late. Can't be too careful."

A few minutes pass and Tanner returns with word: "Well, sir, I guess you got lucky. Seems the boss is curious enough to see who you are and what you want. Just take your horse over to that stable and they'll treat her right, and Hernández will let you into the house."


Rydell eagerly shakes hands and even more eagerly takes the bottle.

If Shemek hiTankolel Shemek hiTankolel agrees, we can assume this took place prior to MacRegan's ride to the Big J Ranch, in which case Black Vulmea Black Vulmea, AsenRG AsenRG, and Bunch Bunch should all read posts #487 and #488 and if you want you can converse "during the ride" and then we can pick up with all of you seeing Big Jim Wayne (or just MacRegan if Cisco, Juan, and Jesús have something else in mind).

The other option is for Cisco, Juan, and Jesús to ride up shortly after MacRegan, in which case they'd arrive just as MacRegan is being let past the gate. Then Tybalt, Quinn, Corbin, Eugene, and Mary would arrive shortly afterwards. Lars, of course, has been there quite a while by then and has already met Big Jim Wayne.


(OOC: I'm OK with what ever makes sense for the game.)
 
Shemek hiTankolel Shemek hiTankolel, Black Vulmea Black Vulmea, AsenRG AsenRG, and Bunch Bunch: We'll assume you met up at the Yellow Rose and rode up to the ranch together. If you want to converse with each other "en route," go ahead; otherwise we can pick up with all four of your PCs at the Big J as per the prior posts wherein MacRegan arrived and was allowed in to see Big Jim Wayne.
 
'My apprehensions of Johnny and Honcho are exactly as you describe,' replies Cisco. 'They strike me more as bushwhackers than prospectors, and I would not be the least surprised to learn that the gold and silver they present to Mr Schein were obtained first by the toil of other hands.' He extends a hand to the prospector. 'If you find yourself in need of legal representation over your claims, please do not hesitate to call upon my services, sir. Leave word for Samuel Kidd at the Western Star, across the street.' He pours one more drink, for MacRegan, and offers the rest of the bottle to Cougar Rydell.


Cisco nods to the shot on the table. 'As promised, sir.'

He turns to Juan. 'Has Pa Sommer discovered the absence of his daughter yet?' he asks.


OOC: Hey pard, we were talking to the prospector while you were with the marshal. Should I retcon my post?
"Yes, he is. And he's enojado como un demonio", Juan answers. "Worse, his other daughter - the one I went to notify about her sister - got angry and raised lots of noise. Claimed I'm abusing her...can you imagine?"
He stops and gulps.
"I'm not going to call her the names she deserves, because a man doesn't speak like that even for a girl con moral suelta...but that's just mean. I wasn't even close enough to reach her, and never made a move like that."
He shakes his head and looks down.
 
MacRegan walks into the house and looks around the room. As soon as he is led to, or meets Wayne he will extend his hand to shake Wayne's, and introduce himself.

"Wayne, my name's MacRegan, Inspector MacRegan of the Dominion Police out of Fort Garry, Manitobah."
(MacRegan will pull back his lapel to show him his badge)
" I am on the trail of some no account bushwhacking horse thieving scum that murdered six good men. They go by the names of McCoy and Jones. Marshal Clary said that you might be having problems with the same fellows, and that I should talk to you. I have a writ for them, dead or alive, and the Marshal and your Governor has given me the power to deputise locals. I mean to see those villains hanged and buried, one way or another. I've been on their trail since the Cree Territory, and I would be obliged if you could tell me anything, or better yet, where you think their whereabouts might be.

(OOC: MacRegan won't reveal to Cisco or the others that he is a law man until after he talks to Wayne)
 
MacRegan walks into the house and looks around the room. As soon as he is led to, or meets Wayne he will extend his hand to shake Wayne's, and introduce himself.
Hernández, a barrel-chested swarthy Mexican man with a grizzled beard, leads you into the austere foyer of the ranch house. A few colorful serapes are draped across a wooden bench to make it more comfortable and the room more lively, but other than that the house is spare as the desert. Hernández stands behind you with his Winchester Yellow Boy cradled in the crook of his arm and you hear the heavy tread of big boots and the jangle of spurs emerge from a darkened doorway as a deep voice drawls, "I'm Wayne. I'd remember your face if I knew you. Say your piece."
Big Jim Wayne.jpg
Big Jim Wayne
"Wayne, my name's MacRegan, Inspector MacRegan of the Dominion Police out of Fort Garry, Manitobah."
(MacRegan will pull back his lapel to show him his badge)
" I am on the trail of some no account bushwhacking horse thieving scum that murdered six good men. They go by the names of McCoy and Jones. Marshal Clary said that you might be having problems with the same fellows, and that I should talk to you. I have a writ for them, dead or alive, and the Marshal and your Governor has given me the power to deputise locals. I mean to see those villains hanged and buried, one way or another. I've been on their trail since the Cree Territory, and I would be obliged if you could tell me anything, or better yet, where you think their whereabouts might be.
"Hell, I'm sure they're nearby. Roughed up two of my hands today, in fact. Probably hiding up in the Santa Ritas or across the border. Those sons of bitches've taken me for a dozen good horses and probably taken as many more from the Andersson brothers and Laura Kerrigan's spread. One of my men was in Tucson picking up some supplies and heard talk about McCoy and Jones yoking up with some Mexican bandidos. Also heard the Tuskaloosa Kid was up that way with his right-hand man Ned Starkey. I'd bet the ranch all those saddle bums being in Pima County at the same time is no coincidence. Dahlgren and McKay were riding at the northern edge of my spread when they were attacked, so you might start there."
 
At the big adobe ranch house, Corbin sees the entry is guarded by a solidly built, bearded Mexican man with skin like worn leather sitting in a wooden chair by the door. He wears a big sombrero and holds a Winchester Yellow Boy across his lap. He also wears a strapped-down Remington on each hip and looks like he knows when and how to use them. When Corbin inquires about staying the night, the man looks up at Corbin and says, "Boss ain't seeing visitors tonight. Man at the gate ought to of told you there's no extra room in the bunkhouse but your party can bed down in the barn or stable. Anybody says otherwise, tell 'em to ask Hernández. You got business with the boss, it waits till morning."
"Much obliged Sir"

Corbin heads to the barn to get some shuteye, eager for a day of bandit hunting in the morning.
 
"Much obliged Sir"

Corbin heads to the barn to get some shuteye, eager for a day of bandit hunting in the morning.
"Corbin! Where am I supposed to sleep?" gasps Betsy.
 
We'll assume you met up at the Yellow Rose and rode up to the ranch together.
OOC: 'kay. Instead of his usual voluble self, Cisco quietly contemplates what they've learned so far during the ride.

Hernández, a barrel-chested swarthy Mexican man with a grizzled beard, leads you into the austere foyer of the ranch house. A few colorful serapes are draped across a wooden bench to make it more comfortable and the room more lively, but other than that the house is spare as the desert. Hernández stands behind you with his Winchester Yellow Boy cradled in the crook of his arm and you hear the heavy tread of big boots and the jangle of spurs emerge from a darkened doorway as a deep voice drawls, "I'm Wayne. I'd remember your face if I knew you. Say your piece."
MacRegan walks into the house and looks around the room. As soon as he is led to, or meets Wayne he will extend his hand to shake Wayne's, and introduce himself.

"Wayne, my name's MacRegan, Inspector MacRegan of the Dominion Police out of Fort Garry, Manitobah."
(MacRegan will pull back his lapel to show him his badge)
" I am on the trail of some no account bushwhacking horse thieving scum that murdered six good men. They go by the names of McCoy and Jones. Marshal Clary said that you might be having problems with the same fellows, and that I should talk to you. I have a writ for them, dead or alive, and the Marshal and your Governor has given me the power to deputise locals. I mean to see those villains hanged and buried, one way or another. I've been on their trail since the Cree Territory, and I would be obliged if you could tell me anything, or better yet, where you think their whereabouts might be.

(OOC: MacRegan won't reveal to Cisco or the others that he is a law man until after he talks to Wayne)
Cisco waits quietly until MacRegan says his piece, listening intently while pretending to take in the surroundings. After the lawman is done and Wayne has his say, the attorney introduces himself. 'Samuel Kidd, esquire, with Tybal Crenshaw's outfit, along with Juan and Jesús, here. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.' He looks around. 'Did Mr Crenshaw and his hands arrive safely? They left town awhile before us'
 
OOC: 'kay. Instead of his usual voluble self, Cisco quietly contemplates what they've learned so far during the ride.


Cisco waits quietly until MacRegan says his piece, listening intently while pretending to take in the surroundings. After the lawman is done and Wayne has his say, the attorney introduces himself. 'Samuel Kidd, esquire, with Tybal Crenshaw's outfit, along with Juan and Jesús, here. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.' He looks around. 'Did Mr Crenshaw and his hands arrive safely? They left town awhile before us'
"Been no visitors till you, not counting rustlers," says Big Jim.

As if on cue, Hernández enters and briefly confers with Big Jim by the door, who you hear respond that he's busy right now.

Big Jim then tells you, "Seems your friends just arrived. They're bedding down in the barn. I can tell you if that one-loop rancher wants his cook back, he's gonna have to reimburse what I advanced the Swede."
 
OOC whoops I didn't realize that both parties had met up together at the same time. okay time to swing into action.
 
"Sir please, I have two cattle therefore I am at least a two looped if not fully looped de looped rancher" Tybalts says as we greets Big Jim. " A rancher who wants to remove an annoyance of yours that has been troubling the region for far too long"
 
Betsy bursts into tears and sobs, "You think I'm just a dumb animal!"
Corbin takes a deep breath.

"Betsy I think no such thing...look mon cher we've no option but to sleep in the barn and seeing how that is so it's best we sleep away from each other...for propriety's sake you know"
 
"Sir please, I have two cattle therefore I am at least a two looped if not fully looped de looped rancher" Tybalts says as we greets Big Jim. " A rancher who wants to remove an annoyance of yours that has been troubling the region for far too long"
Tybalt is in the mess tent with Lars, Quinn, Mary, and Eugene last I checked, and Corbin was turned away at the ranch house door because Big Jim is busy with others* at the moment. Corbin and Betsy went to the stable to find a place to sleep.

* MacRegan, Cisco, Juan, and Jesús
 
Corbin takes a deep breath.

"Betsy I think no such thing...look mon cher we've no option but to sleep in the barn and seeing how that is so it's best we sleep away from each other...for propriety's sake you know"
Betsy stalks away in a huff and finds herself a nice hay bale on which to recline in a corner away from Corbin.
 
Tybalt is in the mess tent with Lars, Quinn, Mary, and Eugene last I checked, and Corbin was turned away at the ranch house door because Big Jim is busy with others* at the moment. Corbin and Betsy went to the stable to find a place to sleep.

* MacRegan, Cisco, Juan, and Jesús
Eugene looks to Crenshaw, and says "I s'pose we best seek our audience with Big Jim, afire it gets too late..."
 
(OOC: Well what's the next step? Big Jim has told us where he thinks the two that MacRegan is after are laid up. MacRegan wants to get them, so my course of action/desire is obvious, but what about the rest of the group? )
 
"yes Eugene I suppose it is time we introduce ourselves to our host" Tybalt leaves the mess tent and goes to meet Big Jim.
 
Jesus is starting to feel at home. Finally back on a ranch. Jesus keeps his eye out to see if there might be other good work to be had here.
 
"yes Eugene I suppose it is time we introduce ourselves to our host" Tybalt leaves the mess tent and goes to meet Big Jim.
At the big adobe ranch house, Tybalt sees the entry is guarded by a solidly built, bearded Mexican man with skin like worn leather sitting in a wooden chair by the door. He wears a big sombrero and holds a Winchester Yellow Boy across his lap. He also wears a strapped-down Remington on each hip and looks like he knows when and how to use them. When Tybalt inquires about speaking to Big Jim Wayne, the man looks up at Tybalt and says, "The boss is in the middle of a meeting. Who're you?"
 
"Been no visitors till you, not counting rustlers," says Big Jim.

As if on cue, Hernández enters and briefly confers with Big Jim by the door, who you hear respond that he's busy right now.

Big Jim then tells you, "Seems your friends just arrived. They're bedding down in the barn. I can tell you if that one-loop rancher wants his cook back, he's gonna have to reimburse what I advanced the Swede."
Cisco nods, wondering to what the Swede committed himself. 'I will be sure to discuss that with Mr Crenshaw when we have a chance to palaver,' replies the Texan. OOC: Does Big Jim have a discernible drawl which suggests his origins? 'Let me begin by offering my sincere condolences on the passing of your cook,' Cisco continues. 'Some of your hands were posting bills in town this morning, offering a reward for the capture of Mr Jackson, his alleged killer. It seems unfortunate that the marshal, Clary, was inspired to remove them - he expressed doubts about their authenticity.' He lets that nugget of information fall, then seems to interrupt himself. 'Oh, Mr MacRegan, the shopkeeper, Parsons, mentioned someone with the name Tuskaloosa, in Saguaro very recently, did he not?'

OOC: Let's see if that busts anything loose from the Du . . . I mean, Big Jim. :wink:
 
OOC: Does Big Jim have a discernible drawl which suggests his origins?
He's said to have come from Texas and he sounds like it. You'd suppose somewhere between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.
'Let me begin by offering my sincere condolences on the passing of your cook,' Cisco continues. 'Some of your hands were posting bills in town this morning, offering a reward for the capture of Mr Jackson, his alleged killer. It seems unfortunate that the marshal, Clary, was inspired to remove them - he expressed doubts about their authenticity.' He lets that nugget of information fall, then seems to interrupt himself.
"Marshal Clary's knife is so dull it wouldn't cut hot butter. He must think his reputation is a horse the way he's been riding on it so long. Guess he thinks nobody notices how he hides in his little office and always uses the same excuse about how he can't leave town on account of he has no deputy. Ever wonder why he's never hired anyone in the two years he's been marshal?" answers Big Jim with a doubtful expression. "Okay, so some of the boys got carried away and put up their own wages as a reward. They didn't ask my permission on account of I'd have said no. Still, you have to admire their loyalty to the brand. It sure wasn't on account of McCabe's cooking. Anyway, I got no truck with lawlessness. This afternoom I sent a man to Tucson to ask Sheriff Ott to send a deputy to look into the killing."
 
Jesus is starting to feel at home. Finally back on a ranch. Jesus keeps his eye out to see if there might be other good work to be had here.
One of the Big J men, passing nearby with a branding iron, notices your interest and casually mentions, "If you're huntin' a job and can rope 'n ride, there's always plenty of work here. Name's Slim Crutchfield and I'm foreman here. Didn't I see you in town this morning out front of the Yellow Rose? Ever been on a cattle drive?"
Slim.jpg
Slim Crutchfield
 
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... 'Oh, Mr MacRegan, the shopkeeper, Parsons, mentioned someone with the name Tuskaloosa, in Saguaro very recently, did he not?'

"I don't recall Parson's mentioning Tuskaloosa, but Marshall Clary gave me this." MacRegan takes out the wanted from his inside coat pocket and shows Cisco the poster "He didn't want any tenderfoot getting killed going after him."

8389
 
He's said to have come from Texas and he sounds like it. You'd suppose somewhere between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.

"Marshal Clary's knife is so dull it wouldn't cut hot butter. He must think his reputation is a horse the way he's been riding on it so long. Guess he thinks nobody notices how he hides in his little office and always uses the same excuse about how he can't leave town on account of he has no deputy. Ever wonder why he's never hired anyone in the two years he's been marshal?" answers Big Jim with a doubtful expression. "Okay, so some of the boys got carried away and put up their own wages as a reward. They didn't ask my permission on account of I'd have said no. Still, you have to admire their loyalty to the brand. It sure wasn't on account of McCabe's cooking. Anyway, I got no truck with lawlessness. This afternoom I sent a man to Tucson to ask Sheriff Ott to send a deputy to look into the killing."

MacRegan softly laughs... "Your Marshal used the same line on me about not having a deputy when I asked him to ride with me after Jones and McCoy. He couldn't sign the writs fast enough with that fancy pen of his. I've seen it before. A man does something he figures that he oughtn't have been able to do, and gets away with it. Sometimes this can spook some people real bad, and they spend the rest of their days not wanting to push their luck. Marshal Clary probably figures he dodged a bullet, and has a good number in Saguaro. Why rock the boat? I just met him, but I am sure that when push comes to shove he'll do the right thing. Just needs a bit of a kick is all.
Wayne, who's this Sheriff Ott you just mentioned? Is he someone worth talking to? I spoke with Marshal Phelps in Tucson, and he was about as obliging as Clary. I could use some help if I am going to get McCoy and Jones. Normally I'd keep goin' after them myself, but I don't like the odds if they've teamed up with some Mexican bandits, and if this Tuskaloosa Kidd, and Starkey fellow is mixed up with them, well that changes things in a big way.

Turning to Cisco and the others.

"Like I said, these papers I got from Clary are signed by your governor and authorise me to act as a lawman in these parts. I don't care one way or another about the others, but McCoy and Jones have to pay for what they did. That poster for the Tuskaloosa Kidd says he's worth $1000. I will use that as payment, split equally, for anyone who is willing to be deputised and join the posse. I know that you have other things going, and probably don't need the money, but that includes you as well Wayne if you're so inclined. There's also a bounty for McCoy and Jones for ₤1000, but I mean to give this to families of the 5 Constables and Sergeant that they killed. Some of those fellows had wives and kids. Up until Tucson, McCoy and Jones still had the 6 horses that they took from the troopers. If they still have them anyone that rides in the posse can have what ever money the horses and tack fetch, split equally. "
 
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