Unshaken

Scouting or Saving?

Liam walked to Colter and rode out into Rhodes. It was seven in the morning now. Liam decided to buy some clothes since he now had the money and desperately needed some. He walked into the general store. He kept his face low so no one would recognize him. He went to the wardrobe and put on some new clothes. As he removed his old clothes, he studied his body in the standing mirror. He noticed the scar from where his father had cut his chin open that night was still there. He hadn't noticed how much more muscular he'd grown. Now that he was eating adequately and not going long bouts without food, his body grew stronger. He now had a bigger chest, biceps and abs were showing. His legs had also grown thicker with muscle. "Ah, stop looking at yourself, you ugly fool." He said to himself as he changed. He put on a black button up everyday shirt, some fine leather suspenders, everyday pants, some brown leather shotgun chaps and some deluxe spurs. He felt intimidating to a degree. He didn't want anyone to approach him. He tied his black bandana around his neck and his bandolier over his chest, paid and exited the store.

The dusty town hadn't changed. He didn't expect it to, though. He'd only been gone for about a month. Posh women and poor men still walked through town. The dumb sheriff sat on his ass not doing anything. Liam looked around to see if he could find any leads. He then saw a civilian on the side of the gunsmith looking at the ground. Liam grew curious and approached him. In the basement floor of the building was a young man. "No, no! Please don't leave me here!" The man cried through the bars of the window as the civilian hurried off, not wanting to get involved. Liam was now in front of him. "Kid, I've been trapped down here." The young man told him. "Why are you dressed up like that? I've seen some sick fetishes in my time, but this one has outdone it." Liam commented. "No-no-no-no wait, please. You gotta help me! It's that crazy gunsmith. He made me dress up like this. He's got me chained to the goddamn bed." The young man begged. "Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do." Liam told him. "Please, he's never gonna let me out of here!" The man said as Liam entered the store.

"Welcome, partner. First time?" The gunsmith said. Liam had his hat low so he wasn't recognized by the gunsmith. He quickly slid on his bandana and pulled his revolver out of its holster and pointed it at the gunsmith. "Woah woah now. Let's calm down." The gunsmith said, scared. "I wanna see what's in that basement of yours. Show me, right now!" Liam demanded in an intimidating tone, hoping the gunsmith couldn't see him shaking. "Nothing of no worth down there, I swear it." The man pleaded. "Why don't I be the judge of that? Open it! Now!" Liam yelled as the man opened the first door to the entrance of the basement. "Alright, alright. I ain't got nothing to hide. I got my boy sleeping down there. Such a shame to wake him." The man said while opening the trap door. "You know, you could always come back after he wakes up." The gunsmith said. "I ain't asking." Liam said as they walked down the stairs.

"You... you just stay away from me!" The young man yelled. "Now what did I tell you about talking to your Pa that way?" The gunsmith asked in a sick tone. Liam's eyes widened at the sight. The young man was chained to the bed in a sailor suit. Liam kept his gun on the gunsmith. "Oh thank God!" The captive man said as he climbed out of the bed. The gunsmith then came out of a trance and again noticed Liam's gun aimed at his face. "Don't shoot me, please! Just, just leave us be!" The man begged. "Why are you wearing that sailor suit?" Liam asked the young guy. "That crazy maniac put me in it! He thinks I'm his kid son! Kidnapped me, he did. Do I look like a kid?" The man told Liam. Liam was sure the young man was older than he was. The gunsmith, with his hands still in the air, nervously laughed. "Always such a rush to grow up these days, aren't they?" He said. Liam then looked at the young guy. "Please. Please help me. He's got me chained up here." The young man pleaded. "Don't take him away from me, he's all I got." The gunsmith begged. "Don't listen to him. He's crazy!" The young man begged. Liam then shot the chain off the man's leg.

"Oh, finally. Thank you! Thank you!" He told Liam with relief. The young man walked to the stairs. He turned to the gunsmith. "You sick son of a..." he was cutoff by the gunsmith. "I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I know it was wrong, I just couldn't face the fact that he was gone." The gunsmith said. He then explained how his son had gotten dragged away by a current eventually killing him. "I'm sorry, please forgive me." The gunsmith told the young man, now on his knees on the floor. "It's too late for apologies. You just count yourself lucky that I don't kill you for what you did." The young man said running up the stairs and fleeing the store.

The gunsmith sobbed on the floor. Liam turned around and saw a weapon case. He opened it up to reveal a brand new Lancaster Repeater. He'd always wanted one. He checked the sights and put it around him. He took one last look at the pitiful sight of the gunsmith and walked back up the stairs. He took the money out of the register. He also decided to take a double barreled shotgun, a Springfield Rifle, and a Rolling Block Rifle with a scope. He grabbed all the ammo he could and loaded the guns. He also grabbed a new gun belt with two holsters, instead of the one he had. Liam decided to take a volcanic pistol to put in his off-hand holster. He whistled to Colter from the back of the store and loaded all his new guns onto him. He had every gun a man could want. He'd hoped Arthur would be impressed.

He climbed onto Colter and continued looking for leads.