Butchers Of Blackwater Part One: Fire And Brimstone

The Trio

Where were we?
Oh yes.

Me and Jason were ambushed by some pretend group of outlaws, like a bunch of kids playing dress up, wearing their daddy's gun belt. Although easy to underestimate, any idiot with a gun is capable of shortening your life expectancy, they fired into the air with no intention to hit anything but still managing to do so. The horses on Jason's wagon manage to get free and run off and a wheel had fallen off in the middle of the gunfight.

Jason and I took cover behind the lopsided wagon, both of us deciding wether or not to kill the other, we opened fire. Not on eachother but instead on the outlaws attacking us. My aim had improved immensely, a full year of bounty hunting and killing the toughest bastards around ought to do that to ya.

As I fired each round from my revolver watching men rain blood from their necks like a fountain of red, jason used his shotgun to dispatch anyone that got too close. Watching him handle that shotgun did not make me look forward to the end of this gunfight.

More men came and went as me and Jason dispatched the bastards trying to rob him and after they all ran off. I was last one he had to deal with.

"Yeah run you bastards" I shouted. I was promptly reminded of my situation when I felt the barrel of Jason's shotgun pressed firmly against the back of my head. "Drop em"

I thought we would have been even after I saved his ass but we had a difference in opinion, in fact he was pretty pissed off I tried to rob him. I wasn't one for begging for my life but I was still scared shitless either way. I explained that I simply needed a ride into town and that his goods were of no interest to me. That's the second time I thought it was really over for me and if I'm being honest. I was ready.

I was surprised when I no longer felt the barrel against the back of head. "Get up" he told me "fetch my horses" yet another order. Considering he spared my life I felt obliged to help him with his predicament. Plus, the shotgun in his hands paired with his itchy trigger finger was added insensitive.

With the horses fetched and the wagon repaired I was ready to send him on his way and put this whole ordeal behind me. "Shotgun" he shouted from the other side of the wagon as he hopped on, the empty reins whispering my name. "Where are you headed?" I asked him reluctantly taking the reins. "Cathartis"

The ride back to town was quiet thankfully. Me and Jason got talking while on the wagon, we found that we got on quite well and shared many interests. We told eachother stories from our pasts and laughed together like we weren't about to kill eachother a few minutes ago. Approaching a hill overlooking Cathartis I tell Jason that I have someone he would like to meet once we get into town, if I could find him that is. Jason seemed keen and even discussed finding a new line of work, something a little less dangerous.

Arriving in town we found an injured Colt resting in the saloon. Drinking a a glass of whiskey he greeted us as we walked in "Nice you brought one back for me" he drew his gun on jason while holding his side applying pressure on his bandaged wound. Jason draws his gun too. The few people in the saloon stopped and stared. Colt glared at me as if expecting me to knock the gun from Jason's hand.

I told them both to lower their weapons and sit down, I introduced the pair and explained that Jason helped me get back to town. They shook hands and had a drink together. Colt told me how he caught up with the bounty we was chasing, killed them and dragged them back to town. "They're ready to be turned in now" Colt said "good. Give my share to Jason here" I told him.

We dragged the corpses through town as some residents watched in shock and awe, others didn't give a damn.. in the sheriffs office we got quite the tidy sum for the two bodies. I put my money in Jason's hand and he swalled what I assumed was his pride and let out a sincere "thank you."

"So you two are bounty hunters"
"That we are. This man taught me everything I know about it" I answered. We told him mine and colt's story after which he told us his tale of revenge, one you have already heard.

After introducing Jason and Colt we all had drinks and told stories, it was the first time in a very long time I felt like I was having fun, I didn't have to dream about being somewhere else. I was fine just where I was. Then something dawned on me, these two men have both had their revenge while my fathers death goes un avenged.

I hung my head and the others took notice. They asked what was wrong with me. I had just cheated death once again and gained a new friend, I should've been happy. I explained how I felt and they understood. I felt unfulfilled I still felt like a prisoner to my own life.

Colt proposed that we finally go after the men that killed my father, he decided I was ready to go down that path. "I'm not sure where it'll take us. But if it's what you want, I'll happily follow you down it. Colt told me. "Good. I'm tired of selling corpses" I told them both. "Tomorrow we'll go to the house and see what we can find" I said. "You're more than welcome to join us Jason, I'll make sure you're payed well by the end of this. Who knows, this bastard might be sitting on a stash." jason took a moment to think about the offer "I've got nothing going on for a while and I could do with some extra money" he decided. "And we could use the extra gun" I replied

The other patrons in the bar did not realise what they were witness to. The sealing of our fates and the start of the most dangerous group of outlaws to ever travel the west. The start of my life.

You ever get the feeling you're exactly where you need to be?