Unshaken

El Hombre, El Mito, La Leyenda

"Oh, very good. Very good indeed, sir. What a great way to improve border relations. Illiterate outlaws crossing the river, coming into this civilization and butchering the local peasants." An older white man standing outside of a building said as he stood up. Liam shot his head around as he heard the man speak up. He looked familiar to Liam but he couldn't quite pinpoint who it was. He had streaked gray and brown hair with a handlebar mustache and goatee patch. He stood on the platform for a moment. "Thank you very much, sir." He said as he walked towards them.

"Don't mention it, old man." John shot back. "You kill peasants, you become a peasant." He told John. "I never aspired to be anything more." John said as the man walked in front of them, looking at the bodies. The man huffed. "Ah, a socialist, huh? No wonder you three left America." The man said. "We're many things, most of them bad. But men of political principles, no." Arthur told him. "Then I fear Mexico ain't for you three." The man told them. "Don't you worry about us." John said. "Oh, but I do worry about a man who handles a gun as sloppy as you." The man told John. Liam raised his eyebrows and wondered if this man was gonna get shot by Marston too. "I can handle a gun okay, partner." John said in defense.

"Yeah, as long as you're killing quail, or peasants. The man said pointing at the bodies. But if you have to face another man, you don't stand a chance." The man told him. "And you do?" John asked. "I can show you a few tricks. Come with me." The man told them. "Hold on, what's your name?" Arthur asked. "Ah, that doesn't matter anymore. And y'all?" The man asked them. "I never had a name, mister. I was raised in an orphanage." John said. "Mine don't quite matter much neither." Arthur replied. The man looked to Liam. "I guess I'm still making a name for myself." Liam replied. "Real Americans, huh? Wonderful, just wonderful." The man said, shaking each of their hands. They followed him outside of the village.

"I wanna see the way the three of you shoot." The man said as they walked outside. "Here, shoot these bottles. You first." He said to Arthur. Arthur eyed the bottles on the crates for a moment and shot every one down in the first try. The man was impressed. Liam and John were too. "You don't seem to need much help at all, big fella. I judged you poorly." The man said to Arthur. "People tend to do that." Arthur joked. He told John to stand and shoot next. John stood up and shot at the bottles, hitting most, but a lot slower than Arthur. Liam feared what his would look like. "Well, you won't make it in the circus, but you can shoot. Keep on practicing." The man said as he sat down. "Thank you, old man." John said as he shot again.

"Now, who are you three?" He asked. "No one interesting. Who are you?" John asked as he shot. "Landon Ricketts. Not a name that means much anymore." Landon said. John stopped shooting as the three looked at him in surprise. "It means a little. You were famous when we was kids." Arthur said, looking at John, then his eyes moving back to Landon. "I read stories about you. All those legends." Liam said. "Yeah, killing men is a strange kind of fame. I was the fastest in my time, I must've been. I'm the only one left." Landon answered in his calming voice.

"What are you doing here?" John asked. "Living quietly, waiting." Landon replied. "For what?" John asked, looking through the sights of his revolver. "I don't know, and you three?" Landon asked. "We're looking for a man. Francisco Martinez. He's from here." Arthur said as he sat down beside Ricketts. The famous gunman passed the three each a cigarette. Arthur lit it with a strike of a match from his boot. "It could be, this whole place is teaming with Americans on the run, mercenaries, locals hellbent on revolution." Ricketts said as Arthur lit everybody's cigarettes. "Revolution, another one?" Arthur asked. Liam had no idea about the political turmoil the country was in. "Yeah, never really ends. This whole place has been a hot bed for revolution since before the Spanish left. Now, there's another local guy running around promising peasants their freedom." Ricketts said. "I used to know a guy like that." John said. Liam took a drag and shook his head in agreement. "Ah, just like the last two to three. Local government, foul bunch. Colonel Allendé, he runs this place like a feudal king. He's an awful individual." Ricketts said. Liam could tell he felt strongly about the situation. "Is that so?" Arthur asked. "Yeah, until someone puts a bullet in his head. Come on, let's get back to it." Ricketts said, standing up and looking at John again.