Violence Begets

"Any last words, cowboy?"

"None you'd understand, sodbuster."

"Funny. That's Marshall Sodbuster to you. But I meant some last nugget that would help us in the adjudication of the myriad offenses counted against you and your gang. I wasn't asking for penitence."

"I came to town late, after the other's of my so-called gang had already been long gone. Whatever those men did here, I wasn't part of it."

"But you've been part of plenty else, haven't you? Been witness to or perpetrator of the maiming and killing of man, woman, and child all over the area. Took from hard working people the well-earned fruits of their labor?"

"I seen a lot. As has any poor soul trying to survive the hard scrabble life of western expansion. But nothing I've done with my own hands warranted hanging."

"Yet, hang you will. Let it be a signal to all other would-be outlaws come to these parts. Violence will be answered in kind."

"No violence have I committed, except in defense of my own life. I could have shot you, threatening my person at gunpoint as you were. But I chose to let the system work from beginning to end. This outcome is expeditious at best and antithetical to the Constitution of the United States at worst. A document, I believe you lawmen are sworn to uphold. I am guaranteed a trial and to face my accusers after all."

"Accusers are plucked from the living. There are none now alive to bear witness to your atrocities. Murderous slug, that you are."

"Again you blaspheme your position and authority, and slander my name with your foul utterances. I'm telling you I'm innocent of what I'm being accused. You're seeking revenge, not justice, and by proxy. Let me go and you'll have both with your own hands."

"That's the first interesting thing you've said, pardner. Tell you what, I'm famished. If you're still at the end of that rope and alive when I get back from supper, we'll talk some more."

"I hope supper is already on the table."

"What day is it?"

"Tuesday."

"Nah. Supper's late on Tuesdays. If I were you, I'd stay still and try not to sneeze. Looks like the dust is kicking up a bit."

"Hope it's a tornado and takes your town with it."

"You never know."

"Alright, I'm back. Pork chops and mashed potatoes. Even broke out the good whiskey tonight. You still alive?"

"Yeah. Didn't happen to bring any of that whiskey did you?"

"Not the good stuff. But, if you're still looking for a way out of your predicament, I'll give you a swallow of some I made from donkey piss."

"I'll take it."

"Alright, where do we begin."

"We head North. Maybe West after that."

"Kind of a theme with you outlaw types?"

"It's just where the least amount of law is. Where would you go after you did a bunch of bad things?"

"I don't do bad things."

"Yeah, well, we'll see. North of here is Deadwood, South Dakota. That's where we'll start looking."

"You sure that's all you'll be looking for there?"

"Man can do more than one thing."

"Not if he's trying to make up for something else."

"You know what making assumptions does, don't you, Marshall?"

"You'll have to forgive me for not anointing you straight into sainthood. You can call me Jack. It'll save my ears a few syllables from your ramblings."

"Jack, I'm Brad."

"That your outlaw name or given one?"

"All names are given, Jack. But Brad is the one my mother gave me."

"Alright, Brad. Fair enough."

"I knew you and I would become friends, Jack. I could tell by the way you tied that noose around my neck. Put some serious thought into it."

"You gonna talk the whole way?"

"Be an awfully short story if I didn't, don't you think?"

"Who are you winking at? Anyway, if you won't shut up, why don't you tell me who we're looking for."

"They don't have a name. Not like the James Gang or the Cowboys. They're just bad men who find real work beneath them. I could give you the names of everyone of 'em and it wouldn't matter a bit. That's how they've managed to stay alive so long. They keep themselves out of the spotlight. Killing every witness and lawman they come across. Killing their dogs too, just in case. The only thing that will help you tell them apart from any other dirty frontiersman is their green scarves. That and they aren't shy about spending what they've stolen. They're never all in one place so you can't go in guns blazing at every splash of green you come across. You shoot one and the rest come up behind you and put a bullet in your head."

"So, how do we get them all? Gather a posse?"

"You have to take them out quietly. Stealth-like. Take out one or two at a time with nobody even knowing."

"How do we do that?"

"I'll show you, Jack. I've been doing this a long time. It was my job in the war."

"Which side?"

"Any side that paid. I don't carry any beliefs one way or the other."

"A mercenary."

"I've been called worse."

"Deadwood. Two miles ahead. Won't you be recognized?"

"Like I said when the rope was around my neck, I'm not really with these guys. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. And we're not gonna just go trapsing down main street. 'Sides, they seen you too."

"True."

"Did you fight in the war, Jack? You don't strike me as the hardened killer type."

"I fought."

"Let me guess. You were an officer. You go to West Point?"

"No."

"No? That's all I get. We're riding into the jaws of danger or worse and all I get out of my partner is no?"

"We're not partners. I don't trust you. I don't particularly like you and you don't need to know what I did in the war."

"Can you at least tell me which side you fought for?"

"I didn't fight for anyone. They called me to fight, so I fought. There didn't seem to be much choice in the matter."

"Alright. You did what you had to, right?"

"Sure."

"We're here. You ever been here before?"

"No."

"Okay. There's a hotel and casino on this end that's for the most impoverished among us. With them being flush with cash from whatever they took from your town, they will surely be farther in. Maybe at the Gem. Let's hole up here and reconnoiter for a bit. See where we need to start."

"That works. Guess I'm paying."

"Well, you did confiscate any money I had."

"Guess you're paying then."

"Prick."

"Been called worse. Let's go."

"Pay for the room and get situated. I'll talk to the manager. See if he's heard or seen anything."

"Alright. I know what you look like remember? So don't run off."

"I'm going to need you before this is over. To pardon me. I ain't going anywhere."

"We'll see."

"Jack? You awake?"

"Yeah."

"We're in business. They're all downtown. I say you stop by the Sheriff's office and get them involved and we can take them from all sides."

"Let's go."

"There's the Sheriff's. I'll wait outside if you don't mind."

"Alright."

"Sheriff ain't going to help. Says it's not his jurisdiction but he won't stop us from doing what we need to do."

"Better get started then. They'll be gone in the morning."

"There. Green scarf just went inside that building."

"That's the Gem. That place won't notice a little extra violence."

"Don't mean we need to court it. Be cool as long as you can."

"You're the boss."

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Hi Marshal. Hi Brad. Long time no see. Hotel manager down the street said a couple of dudes matching your descriptions were asking after us. A deputy sheriff opined on the subject as well. We've been waiting for you."

"Great, there goes the element of surprise. Well, I brought you the Marshall. That's got to count for something?"

"You bastard."

"Tell you what, let the Marshall go home, and I'll let you guys have my percentage going forward. How's that sound?"

"We already have your percentage, Brad. We don't need you. Don't need to be looking over our shoulders, either. Let's take a walk outside."

"When I signal you, start firing, Brad."

"What?"

"Now!"

"Are you crazy!? We're outnumbered 6 to 1!"

"That's a bullet for each of 'em. Make 'em count!"

"I'm hit, Jack."

"So are they. Sheriff got who we didn't. Guess, he didn't like one of his deputies getting involved. Just lie still and hold this tight."

"You ain't got enough rags, Jack. I'm bleeding out. It's alright. Just get out of here."

"Here. I lied. I did bring the good whiskey."

"Thanks, partner."

"I lost my family in the war."

"What?"

"You asked what I did in the war. When I was called up, they sent me after folks who sided with the North in the war. Had me burn down their houses and do whatever it took to change their minds. Some did. Not enough, though. I did the job to the best of my ability. Gained quite a reputation, too. At the time, doing what I was called on to do seemed honorable. By the time I realized I was wrong, no matter the excuses, it was too late. The Union sent a unit to avenge the sympathizers I'd killed. They burned down my house with my family in it. When those boys with the green scarves came through and tried to take everything I had left. Well, it set me off, I guess you could say. I knew you weren't involved. I just needed help finding 'em. Thank you for that. And I'm sorry for what I done. To you and everyone else. I won't ever be able to assuage what I've done in this life, but every bad guy I take out is one less family taken too soon. I don't expect you to understand or forgive me, Brad. There ain't no forgivin' what I done. But we all gotta ask, I guess."

"Brad? You still with us?"

"Well, goodbye, partner. May you receive a cooler welcome than I'm heading for."