Only Fools Rush for Fools Gold
By Jason Harris
Section Jump: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
It's been a whole 2 days in this cell Sheriff, when are you going to let me go?"
"Your bail will be posted tomorrow."
"You better have my bail by tomorrow or if not, I can't say what's going to happen."
"Your threat isn't worth it, I'll overlook it because the Mayor usually bails you out on time. He sees it on our side over here that justice has to prevail because you're the jackass shit disturber that keeps me in business, Boyd."
"Ya, spoken more like a true maid than a man Sheriff."
"I love your kind words Boyd. Next time I'll make sure bail isn't posted for a week and you can get used to our stale bread and water."
"I'll make sure I take care of you before that ever happens."
"Never in your dreams Boyd. Never in mine either. We've actually become kind of friends since I've had you come into my jurisdiction."
"I'm not counting, stupid."
"Because stupid doesn't count." snapped Sheriff Sanderson.
He stares and smiles with a toothpick in his mouth staring into Boyd's eyes up close between the bars of the cell. It was like he meant what he said and he's had enough toying with the conversation.
"Now that's lights out Boyd, I'll have to play games tomorrow, but I know I'll hear from the Mayor before it's too late."
Boyd just gives a frown to the Sheriff as he returns to sitting on the wooden bench in the back of the one person cell. He's always getting caught for drunk fighting in the Saloon in Guffrey. It's like he enjoys getting beat up and spending time with the Sheriff on his good days. His real problem is his wife was the sister of the Mayor from Falls Canyon before she died. It's the only reason the Mayor puts up with his idiocracy and Sheriff Sanderson. He locks up and turns out the kerosene lit lights before he exits at midnight and returns home in Guffrey.
Now, Sheriff Sanderson is his name and catching criminals is his game for a little over 9 years, He's held the position in the peaceful town of Guffrey during that time. He's in his mid 50's and in great health because he's refrained from smoking and drinking the good ol' doctor tells him. There's nothing else on the planet that he loves other than his job and the respect for its inhabitants. He can qualify to be a Marshall if he wants, but that's a bigger job than the one he's got now. Ever since the judge made him Sheriff, they've held a very close friendship. The judge knew Sanderson would be the cream of the crop for the Sheriff's job out of its candidates. He was tough, had a keen sense of the truth, and was fair. The judge and sheriff envisioned what they had to get accomplished from day one and that was to build a County Courthouse in Guffrey. The Sheriff influenced the judge to buy the big property on the outskirts of town because he felt their dream would come closer to reality. Well it did. A County Courthouse was constructed in 1853 and a new jail was constructed by the State of Texas the following year. It housed about 40 men and 10 women. It's nickname was Guffrey's Hole because it had the most State criminals. Former Falls Canyon Marshall Bill Weatherby is the Warden of the jail and his State Marshall's run it. The jail in Guffrey is more modern too with heavy steel metal doors and bars and brick walls in between them, making it impossible for a jail break (or so they seem to think so). The jail falls under Federal Penitentiary Law which is tried in Guffrey's Courthouse. It draws a lot of tourism now that Guffrey is a permanent dot on the Texas Frontier map and its criminal cases. Once a newspaper editor and Confederate sympathizer John Newman stopped into town and wrote about outlaw Jesse James and referred to him and his gang to that of the Robin Hood mythology and it was a huge success from day one. Jesse James would steal from the rich but only to benefit the poor. People came from all over to catch word on the Jesse James clan. A few of his men were tried and found guilty of train robbing in Falls Canyon and were sentenced to 3 years of jail time in Guffrey's hole. Jesse got away. A $10,000 reward was put up for the capture of Jesse James and his gang in 1881 from a judge in Missouri who Jesse was ironically shot in the back of the head by one of his accomplices, Robert Ford, for the reward money when Jesse was 34.
The laws in Falls Canyon are different because the Mayor of Falls Canyon has his own rules to follow and if you break them it's death usually by hanging. It's in his bloodline of family members. If he doesn't like you, his sinister side will come out of him, so if you don't like that kind of lifestyle of lead and bullets or who shot John? You'd better leave quickly. Many outlaws and bandits make their retreat over there because it's the best place to hide from the law. Just work in the coal mines. Falls Canyon has 2 coal mines fully operational that employ roughly 300 people. They live closer to the mines in shacks than the town itself. The Mayor figures it's better to get richer than spending it on the infrastructure. This blunder has led many to live on the streets and fend for themselves because there is overcrowding in the town. A lot of crime happens at nights and finding another spot to live on the plains can be more dangerous. The Mayor of Falls Canyon is the third generation of Falls after his founding father, John Falls in 1810.
Its corruption started from day one when two families had a feud over oil on their property and the other gold. At first the Baxter family decided to check for oil after John Falls reluctantly did some dynamite blasting to loosen up some solid rock looking for traces of gold. The blasting perked up some crude oil onto the surface giving the Baxters a sure sign there was oil. John Falls found gold alright but he rushed to claim it before checking it and to his shame it was Fools Gold. Pyrite. It's pretty much a useless mineral. This enraged John Falls so much he gathered his henchmen and began to feud with the Baxter family. John Falls couldn't stand to lose at anything and a gun battle ensued. Soon enough, the Baxters fell innocently one by one and were very outmanned and gunned. John Falls went out to claim the land for himself but before that, he had to explain what happened to the Baxters in front of Bill Weatherby the State Marshall. John Falls said the Baxter family began shooting at him first over his own zealousness over what he thought was real gold and that caused the Baxters to shoot first. With no witnesses and a classic case of who shot John? Falls was evidently believed and the land was surprisingly not even Baxter's land. It went on the real estate market real soon and Falls bought it for a hefty price amongst many other bidders. He sold his shares in his train stock to pay for the science of harnessing your own oil and half the shares of his coal companies. After 2 failed attempts, in 1829, he struck oil big. Falls later died in 1831 after being assassinated by a distant Baxter that claimed revenge.
The next Falls was Gus Falls who screwed up John's oil production company after getting sucked into gambling, booze, and prostitutes. He blew it all and could barely afford to pay his taxes after one year of being the Mayor. He sold the oil company to a new petroleum based company in Texas, but that just brought him back to square one. He lived in an old barn for travelers on the outskirts of town drunk as a skunk. Soon enough when he started to get things back in order, the crime in Falls Canyon was getting out of hand, he fell off an embankment in the coal mine in J.F. Co. and died instantly in 1837.
The present Mayor has been doing it for 25 years and has cleaned up Gus Falls mess. He owns the 2 coal mines now and has inherited the town. The inhabitants are mostly miners and oil workers. Its population is 400 with some being criminals not accounted for. It boils down to the Mayor being the most diabolical good guy when he prefers the lifestyle of the old West without judicial reform. Sometimes the State Marshall frequents Falls Canyon and his name is Anthony Mills. Falls Canyon doesn't have much of anything except 3 Saloons, (Most notable is the Lucky Dice (the gambling hub) and a whore house called Sassy's) a really good gun and ammo shop, as well as the train station.
Guffrey's residents are more civilized. A Center Square with live entertainment splits the 2 main roads - Guff Street and Courthouse Street - from the middle of the town. Flowers surround the Stage and a waterway with Chinese Goldfish swimming in it. There's more shopping here with: 6 fashion clothing stores for men, women, and children, a Saloon called Tucker's Retreat, 2 barber shops, 2 general stores, a flower mill, and a Whiskey Distillery owned by the Smith's. What's new is a doctor's office, a Veterinarian office, A toy shop, a candy store and a State bank. All these shops are extraordinary because of Guffrey being a new tourism destination. There's plans for a bed and breakfast to be built for the upper class as well as a hotel next year in 1859. The Sheriff has a deputy named Nelson and two other deputies to keep the peace on the streets. With more State law officials around, the criminals mostly stay away from Guffrey. A rickshaw route was developed by the Mayor to drop off Guffrey's residents. Like a cab service, it created employment for the out of work ranchers again to run it. The Mayor's idea was uncontested and actually was a very good idea.
There's an entrepreneur from far away East, Georgetown, named Joe Chandler. He is an expert in tailoring leather clothing and saddles. His shop is getting good business as he is located on the main drag on Guff street. His wife Lauren and him moved to Guffrey after leaving Georgetown with aspirations of opening a leather upholstery business in a more remote spot.
Joe is a young adult at 23 years of age and his wife Lauren at 22. The new citizens accepted them right away and it was quite a stir when they found out they were from Georgetown. Not many visitors make it across the desert that far with the Natives running wild.
Little do people know about Joe Chandler is he knows quite a bit about guns, but especially how to shoot a rifle repeatedly. He owns a rare Repeater Rifle that can shoot automatically with a cartridge and pump action reloader without having to stop and reload like a musket or ordinary one shot rifle. A very useful tool for its rate of taking out multiple objects quickly. He likes to fire at targets he sets up at the back of his house for practice in sequence, like old tin cans standing on the wooden fence in his spare time.
He tells people he bought it, but the truth is he won the "ghost at dusk mission" a military secret ops mission in an old ghost town that was flocked with a posse of 6 criminals who killed the law in the area. When he was 19 years old he cleaned the posse up using his 1947 Colt Walker Revolver by shooting all 6 members. When it's time to go shooting, Joe is a force to reckon with, a good guy. Him and Lauren barricaded themselves behind their stagecoach against 8 wild raving natives who tried to kill them for their belongings and they held them off.
Just then, a slightly older man than Joe tied his horse up on the trough outside and walked into the store with a rolled cigarette in his mouth. He was wearing a sheepskin coverall, bluejeans and shiny star pointed spurs, on his boots. The real McCoy of young cowboys, Joe smiles at the blue eyed, handsome, slightly older young man, and says "Welcome! Is there anything I can help you with today?"
The young man stays quiet and slowly walks around the store eyeing the new leather saddles ignoring Joe.
"If you like the leather, then I got your good weather," said Joe like it was a nursery rhyme.
"That tan brown saddle you're looking at is a reasonable price of $20. All saddles hand crafted and stitched by yours truly. There's a money back guarantee on all saddles if it's just not the right one for you."
"My horse has to approve first." says the man.
Lauren cuts into the conversation and says "Well of course, it's all about the horse."
"You two aren't from Guffrey originally?" he questioned. "I can tell by the lingo," with a forced grin.
Joe replies, "Oh yes, the smell of freshly made leather is to savor the moment with. Believe me I know and that's half of what keeps me loving leather. The other half is that it's fashionable."
Lauren says "And protective."
Joe gladly comes out from behind the register and walks over to the saddle the man was eyeing. He grabs it and says "Well let's see what the horse says sir."
The man says abruptly, "I wouldn't put that on just yet, you see my horse doesn't take to strangers lightly."
Joe replies, "Oh that's just nonsense, I'm a horse extraordinaire. I've saddled up hundreds of horses." and Joe exits the front entrance.
With a KIK,KIK, noise from the man's voice who followed Joe, the horse gives him its full attention. "I'll have to put that on. He doesn't like strangers," said the man in a coarse tone this time.
Joe doesn't listen to the man and begins: "Now horsey, now horsey, woow, woow, naa, horsey, you're going to like this one, naa, naa…" and up comes the back end and a high kick in the air like a true Bronco would triggering Joe Chandler to lose his footing and fall backwards on his back. Saddle on top of him too.
Lauren gives a chuckle and says "I told you my mom says men don't listen sometimes. They think they know how to do everything wrong." she laughs.
Joe just lets out a groan in pain.
Meanwhile the man stands by Joe's head looking down into his eyes and says, "Now for your cooperation, I'll handle it from here."
The man says "NIKITAA, NIKITAA," he whistles between his teeth and the horse succumbs to his next wish.
He straddles the saddle on top of the beautiful tan horse fastening it tight around its back and torso area. The leather saddle matches the tan color of the horse. The horse swings its tail back and forth gently as if it approves. The man says "Yep, the horse approves," and gives Lauren $20.
By this time Joe Chandler was back on his feet and said, "If the horse approves a fine leather saddle, well we definitely have the best Leather Upholstery shop from here to Georgetown my love." as he looks at his wife Lauren and they hug and kiss each other.
"Thanks again!"
They both say to the man with the new saddle, and he gently nods his hat to them like a true cowboy would and he scampers off on his horse towards the crowd surrounding Guffrey Center Square.
Center Square had a stage where every two weeks during Spring and late Fall, the Loyal Order of Ladies performed their Minuet dancing routines with their long dresses and high kicks in synchronized fashion in the air; it's for a good cause. To raise money to help feed orphaned children.
There was a man dressed very distinctively named Melvin Cunningham at the podium on Center stage ready to make his weekly announcement. He always does on Saturday mornings looking for new and old recruits to join his expedition for gold. He's a very rich man and a top Prospector for this Western Region of Texas. For years there hasn't been any major gold deposits in the bank from Guffrey's residents, but it all changes when Melvin takes the stage holding his carat gold watch and chain and one solid gold tooth in his smile that makes you believe him. He actually does provide work for people
"Finding gold is like finding a rich man's dream." he begins… "It's true, just like the day my grandpappy said, 'There's gold here! here in Guffrey that is.' I want you to have the same dream as me and he showed me where to pick when I struck gold with my pick ax by myself at the early age of nine. I've had a natural instinct to find gold ever since and I haven't stopped yet. The most valuable spots I have found are in your backyards and that's just around the corner from us to Baxters Peak. It's rich in Pyrite and quartz, sure signs of it.. Those interested to join me and my expeditions, will earn $4 an hour plus food and camping equipment will be provided. We pick and pan for gold for 3 weeks before returning back here to Guffrey. Please carry your firearms with you on the trip because of those darn Bandits always wanting a piece of the pie. Even the Apache's will skin your scalps so those who are brave enough to accompany me will also receive a bonus for the amount in weight of gold you find. During that three weeks of work.
It's a beautiful thing, Gold that is, and once you feel its power through your blood, you'll end up just as successful as me and my Grandpappy before me. So what are you waiting for? There's a sign up list on the center stage to put your name down and I will return by 4 o'clock to read those names and further instructions will be announced, and… (he pauses to tell a joke) Do you know how to confuse a rich prospector? Tell him you got gold from a Pirate, and he turns around and says 'no Pyrite for me you fool that's fools gold,' (the crowd laughs) Another thing people! If anyone comes across these rare Mexicano coins, I will buy them for $100 a piece. (He shows the crowd just what he's talking about by holding the coin high in the sky and he then gives it out to be examined by the others) I call them Mexicano Coins that have been recently discovered illegally in our and the Mexican monetary fund. The thing is, they don't belong and are mostly pyrite gold with a strange red tinge color to it. It's not worth a thing because of the pyrite in them, but I know a few Mexican Generals that will grant me access to some rare collectibles in exchange for some, so it's a personal mission for me. me to give them back. Another danger is the Mexican Army may choose to execute you if found in your possession. $100 I will pay a piece.
The same caucasian man spoke up to Mr. Cunningham who was standing in front of the podium on Center Stage, "Ahh, Mr. Cunningham sir, why so much for this coin. None of us have ever seen one yet?"
"Well that's just it. The Mexican government has pleaded to find out where these coins originated claiming it's not one of Mexico's legal tenures. Now, I need 2 groups of 2 people.to track where these coins are being made. They are red in color with an insignia of a mistress in gold color with a saying in Spanish tongue famulus el Dayann meaning… Well hell what do I know about the spanish language and that's a definite peculiar saying though. The mystery is that no one can figure it out or just where these coins have entered our circulation. If I can have 2 sets of 2 desperados to find out the whereabouts of these rare coins, you come on back and tell me.
"Ola senior Cunningham, We will hunt for the coins, my carnelle (cousin) and I." said a Spanish man in the front crowd. "We don't know what it means either Senior." The Spanish man lied. He knew the first word; but in fact, the second word was puzzling? To him.
"Okay, a couple of takers for the mission. That's what I want to see. I want another set of two cowboys who know how to survive out there on the mountainous terrain to the West of here. Let me know who you are? Someone not Spanish this time and can bravely come back in one courageous piece. Cunningham peers amongst the crowd… He begins.
"I'll make sure you have some money and to be reimbursed when you get back. I have to keep my reputation at bay here folks. It's a dangerous task ahead I tell you. You must keep it a secret and remain anonymous from anyone else. Bring me back a coin or two or just the information about where or how these coins are being produced and I will make you a rich offer indeed and I say, RICH!" concluded Melvin Cunningham. And a cheer was given but no takers yet.
Again The caucasian man in front of the podium said, "Well if the saying doesn't make sense to even the Spanish brothers, How do I know your information is correct? Cunningham looks at the man and says
"Trust me, my reputation is good and I've never told a lie to someone about an expedition for me. You think I'd send someone blindly out there, No I wouldn't. And I believe that's why I keep a good reputation around, you see, employees are the very own backbone of an operation. Most valuable to any company I'd say. You're valuable to me citizens of Guffrey. I need someone who's a good tracker. It's dangerous with the War going on out there between our Confederate soldiers and the Mexicans trying to establish a New Mexican border. I'll take care of your beneficiary of your choice as well, but please come back in one piece. Ok, Spanish brothers and who else?"
The man with the white and tanned beautiful Bronco put his hand up and said, "I will, I'll have to ask my partner something first."
The crowd in Awe looks at the lone Cowboy.
He went to Chandler's Leather Upholstery store quickly to inquire about Joe's interest to possibly hunt for these rare coins.
The man says "Would that interest you Joe about maybe setting off under the sunrise tomorrow to hunt for the location of these rare coins, I ask you?"
"Well I didn't pay too much attention," said Joe Chandler. How much is he paying I reckon?
"$100 a coin or just for the information we can raise the price on and we'll be rich, split both ways?"
"Hmm, Are Royalties included?"
"Yes they are, Mr. Cunningham will take fine care of us."
"I'll have to run it by my wife, but I don't see it being a problem."
"I'll come by your shop tomorrow at 8 o'clock, Be ready and carry your firearms with you at all times going across these plains. I'm asking you because I find you must have traveled 50 miles West to get here and you survived it."
"Well thanks Mr.? I never did get your name but I'll take the compliment."
"Blake is the name, just Blake."
"Ok then Mr. Blake, I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'm due for an adventure around here."
"Good, now I'm going to talk to Cunnigham and get us set up for our expedition together."
"That's fine by me Blake."
Blake turned around on his horse and returned to the bigger crowd surrounding the Center Square, all just wanting to earn a little bit of money mining for gold. Blake spoke out to Melvin Cunnigham and said, "I got a partner for these rare coins." His name is Joe.
Some people laughed when they found out it was Joe Chandler because he was a gentleman by nature. He was actually a bigger man per say with his two guns he owned. Blake knew Joe was the man he needed because not any of the others would have made that 50 mile trip from Georgetown to Guffrey. They're not skilled enough with their weapons.
And to Cunningham's glee, he smiled with the golden grin and said "Well we got a couple more golden geese who want to take off and return with their flock this time."
The crowd cheered to Mr. Blake and his new partner Joe Chandler who got patted on the back by some as a congratulatory gesture.
Cunningham hired Blake one time before to track a thief who stole from his art treasure, to Falls Canyons coal mines and Blake successfully did. The two were acquainted but kept business and friendship separate.
Section Jump: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
The judge posted bail for Boyd at $300 that morning and sure enough the mayor and his mob came stampeding into town to bail Boyd out. They were a bunch of Wild Out of work Ranchers who seem to be the Mayor's muscle. Sheriff Sanderson didn't care about them and sure enough it was 12 o'clock noon.
"Well, it didn't take you long to get over here on time Mr. Mayor. Looks like you bought your coyotes with you too?" said Sanderson sarcastically.
"Have you ever heard of the skinwalker Sanderson? If you do Sheriff, my miners have reported there's one showing up at the abandoned coal mine outside Dickson's property to the North-West of here. More sorcery goes on lately than any other news in my part of the woods lets say, but if anyone was for hire, you have them pay me a visit."
"I thought that was an old folklore Indian tale about a coyote being a witch in disguise."
"You know Sheriff, I'm getting more stories of mysterious things going on lately that the Apaches are saying too. I guess they are forbidden to go near Dickson's now too in fear of the skinwalker."
"I don't believe in this stuff Mr. Mayor."
"Well you should take an interest because it is around and more stories are being told about it."
"You can take care of it, Mayor and if anyone comes around here telling me stories of a sorceress and witchcraft, I'll send them over to you."
"Nope Sheriff, I want to keep this between you and me you see. Alright, here's the bail money now, send the little muskrat out because I'm going to do something to him and his rantics once and for all. I guarantee he won't be bothering you guys here anymore."
Sheriff Sanderson entered his station and grabbed the keys to let Boyd out of his cell. "Are the boys mad Sheriff? Mad they had to come and get me?"
Boyd looked as if he saw a ghost or something.
"No Boyd, they're not mad, you can relax now but I'm getting real sick of you coming here and assaulting my townsfolk. Now you promise me something. Don't get into any more trouble because now your boss is going to handle it. Not me."
Boyd made a screech because he was petrified. His legs began to shake a little as he put on his hat and slowly his gun belt and revolver. He never lost sight of the doors the whole time.
The mayor and 4 of his henchmen came into the station all standing behind the Mayor himself who was about 6 '3 feet high and weighed about 280 pounds. He was a solid average sized man but big and real mean when he wanted to be. He was wearing a gray trench coat and had a black cowboy hat on. His belt buckle was in gold saying the Mayor of Falls Canyon with a picture of a canyon and a miner with a pickaxe in a big oval shaped buckle. He wore black boots and even his spurs were in gold. He inherited the town in 1838 after Gus Falls and his father John Falls who passed away at an early age in 1831. He's got the railway and 2 coal mines he profits from and if there's a buck to be made, he's already doubled up, so you just have to have a keen sense of observation and body language to figure him out, knew Sheriff Sanderson.
"Well Boyd, what's a matter Boyd? Did you just pee your pants?" laughed the Mayor and his entourage.
"No boss, but I'm really shaky, I need a drink real bad, can we go home now?"
"Isn't that the reason why you end up here because your bar tab is too high in Falls Canyon so you sneak over here and run it up and then get into a fight so I have to come and bail you out every time?"
"No boss, Evelyn is gone boss, she was everything to me and now it's gone. All gone."
"Ya, I know Boyd and I miss her too. But you have to get off the booze as of today or don't go out and have me bail you out again because it's not happening anymore. I'm going to tell the Sheriff and Deputy Nelson to lock you up for good the next time this happens, Boyd. Okay you two out and you two stay." The Mayor gave instructions to his men at that moment.
"Now Boyd, when I say this is the last time, I mean this is the last time; Sheriff the next time this little muskrat climbs into your jurisdiction drunk as a drunken fool, arrest him and don't let him back. You can lock him up in that big jail you have here in Guffrey no questions or trial needed. You will be gone for a while Boyd. Now step outside with me and these boys. We have your horse ready for you."
Sheriff Sanderson thought he'd stay out of this one and let the Mayor take over his plan to deal with Boyd. Sheriff Sanderson was sick of dealing with the muskrat too and didn't care what happened to him at this point.
Boyd followed the men outside, being the last one with the Mayor in front of him. Boyd saw his horse there like they promised and he felt relieved when all of a sudden, two of the Mayor's henchmen started to wrap and tie rope around Boyd in a timely fashion. Boyd yelled, "NNOO!! Why this Boss, why me?" he fell to his knees and the two cowboys continued to wrap him up with a tight squeeze. They made sure he was wrapped up real good and picked him up to his feet. They then led him over to his horse and all 4 henchmen lifted him up and laid him sideways across the horse as they strapped him to his saddle still tied up like bandages on an Egyptian mummy.
"Sheriff Sanderson, help me please. Sheriff??" pleaded Boyd.
"Boyd, sometimes you have to learn the hard way for all the hardship you cause everybody when you're drunk. I'm done here Mayor. You can take him out."
"Alright boys get rid of him." and the henchmen all slapped the horses behind and it began to run with Boyd strapped on its back with no control of it as the horse picked up speed running in the direction of Falls Canyon.
"I guarantee he won't be back again Sanderson and send my best regards to Deputy Nelson when he comes back."
"I most certainly will do Mayor."
"I got a lot of horseshit to take care of today but nice town and keep up the good work around here of keeping things clean and looking nice."
"I will Mayor and thanks again for the compliments."
The Mayor and his former cattle ranchers left and the townsfolk walking by were able to walk freely again minding their own business.
Lauren prepared breakfast the next morning for her husband Joe as he was up and looking like a cowboy, clean shaven, and bathed. "You know what Lauren? If we find just the source of where these rare coins are coming from, we will be rich and I want to open up a gun shop here because we don't have one."
"There's probably a reason for that, Joe, the people want things to remain peaceful in Guffrey. It seemed like a lot of trouble stemmed from gun play in Georgetown where we used to live."
"Well guns do get a bad reputation sometimes but I've taken an interest in them. How they're made, by who, model, and ammo."
"Well honey, you'll have to check into it and make an appointment with the judge of the town and see if he'll allow one to be here."
"He should, there should always be at least one gun and ammo shop in a town anyways."
Blake walked in right on time.
"Well come over here Blake and sit down. Would you like some tea?" offered Lauren.
"No, that's alright, I want to talk with your husband first."
"Sure enough," She said and exited the kitchen.
Blake saw Joe at the table and said, "I want to discuss our inventory before we go out and our first destination is Falls Canyon to snoop for some information about the coins."
"I guess Falls Canyon is a gold mine for information around here. I've only been there once to the gun and ammo shop they've got."
"What do you carry with you?" asked Blake.
"My 1947 Colt Revolver and my own special surprise with me. She's available when there's more than one target to shoot at."
Blake smirked and said, "Now just what that may be?"
"Yes, Bethy is special, she's a Repeater rifle."
Blakes eyes grew big as he was astounded to hear that. Joe asks "What are you carrying?"
"I got an Enfield P53 rifle and I got $200 from Cunningham to spend on our supplies. Or whatever else we may need. I have full canteens, snake oil, porridge, and corn. You?"
"Matches, sleeping mats, a hammock Lauren weaved last year, Plus $200."
"That's good, well I've tracked people, shot people, been the bad and good at different times. You have to be a bit of both to brave yourself out there."
"I'm new to killing people unless it's in self defense," said Joe Chandler. Why, I wouldn't want to go to jail."
"Well the West in Texas has been different for me, but just follow my instructions on this expedition and you should live."
"I can take care of my own Blake. I had to scare off Apaches with my guns on my way from Georgetown. With the help from Bethy and Lauren."
"Just be prepared when they come around. I know some characters who are not always friendly in these parts and the game begins in Falls Canyon so let's geddy up!." said Blake hastily.
Joe kissed Lauren one more time and promised her he would return to her safe and sound. Lauren had a lot of confidence in her young husband. She would take care of the shop in the meantime and hire someone for work till Joe gets back. The two cowboys rode off on their new horses and looked like a couple of good guys minding their own business as they trotted in the direction of Falls Canyon.
Section Jump: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
Once in Falls Canyon, the pair under Blakes command stuck together and asked some locals if they knew anything about fake Mexicano Coins. They were getting nowhere until the other group, the 2 Spanish brothers, approached Blake and said they had one coin in hand and were told that the rest of them were to be found near the New Mexico border West of Falls Canyon. About 70 miles west on the last railway stop on the Southern West border called El Dorado. A Confederate Army outpost aka. The Calvary. Both men thanked them and tipped them $10 for the information as they went on to the gun shop asking anyone they could for more details of these coins? For a hefty price, a big Mexican slave named Benitez (Ben-ee-tez) who has opposed the law from the day he was born, said they'd never make it there. It's too treacherous and evil forces would cause them death. Blake remained humbled like Joe after hearing this because It was the first time evil forces was brought up so Blake's next question was, "What do you mean evil Forces Benitez?"
One that would cost $50 to tell. This time Joe handed the big Benitez the money and said, "Okay Mr. now tell us what you know."
Benitez laughed and said, "Her power is very strong and she has found refuge to the West in a special rugged mountainous terrain that even the two couldn't survive. Beware for she is seeking a new land to lay her roots again. One more to relax and one that is rich to her advantage."
Blake asks quickly, "Is she some kind of sorceress,"
Benitez says, "Ci,Ci,Ci, Seniora, Oh, Ci, Ci, Seniora," and that was all they were going to get. Blake didn't understand Spanish, but Joe did a little and Benitez just rudely went on singing about women.
The two then decided to check the gun shop out and then get a train due West to El Dorado. Those out of work cattle ranchers were keeping an eye on Blake and Joe as they made their way to the train station which was always a very busy stop on the railway.
Finally upon the train, Blake and Joe get to relax and have close to a 10 hour trip. They happen to overhear another conversation by a fellow tracker saying out loud being drunk, "The origin of these coins are only given to a certain few people who now the clan believes must obey their rules like their own secret society. The coins were for recruitment purposes to invite newcomers in. Their intentions are to live freely and call their own separatist region in Mexico as theirs only. A colony on their own, their Colonists, they believe in Black Magic and that can propel them to defeat their enemies. Some collectors have offered $150 for these coins because you are guaranteed in their council and be a significance to their newborn society."
Blake and Joe were astounded that a secret society even exists, but with the struggle of power between the Confederation and Mexican army leader Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his men. They couldn't understand how one could easily exist undetected. Joe thought as long as they remained neutral and built up their resources they could stay hidden but possibly trapped.
"We'll camp out in El Dorado before heading out for this secret society. We'll use this information to our advantage when negotiating our pay."
"Fine by me Blake, ya it's pretty valuable now, I reckon." said Joe.
The two got off the train late at night. It was already the next day so they decided to take up sleep in a horse chandelier where they stored the Cavalry horses and stray people could bunk up amongst the hay that provided the horses with a ruff overhead.
Blake is confident they'll uncover something to the mystery of this secret Colony tomorrow after a good night's rest. Joe Chandler offers grub to Blake and curls up on his desert mat upon some hay lofts and asks Blake, "Do you think we'll get the real deal about these Colonists and a coin and a location by tomorrow?"
"Keep thinking about it, but not so much so you can fall asleep tonight," said Blake.
It was sunrise and Blake was up before Joe Chandler. He decided to pack up and ask the locals for any information about this secret society so he did, leaving Chandler to himself for the time being. Blake knew they would find something out today, proof. He paid a local $5 for information that the 2 Spanish brothers who have also joined the hunt, are fakes. They are after those who seek the coins and colony. Blake was surprised and thought he'd get back to camp after hearing that news, he was thinking about his pal, Joe Chandler.
Joe was caught in peril against those very same Spanish brothers who tried to raid the camp on him but Joe decided to fight back with his Repeater. Soon the two brothers couldn't do much hiding behind a big rock hoping not to get hit by Joe's Rifle as he had them to his own mercy hiding behind it. Blake arrived and was amazed. Joe said, "Now give me your coin and you can go freely."
"But my Carnelle is hit in the arm, he can't move it."
"It doesn't matter, you tried to rob me first. You can give the coin to my partner and leave. We won't kill you or turn you in."
Blake took the coin from the Spanish man as he loaded up his wounded cousin on the one horse and he hopped on his and escaped. At the same time, Joe took their pistols they were carrying. "Well Woo-Wee!" said Joe Chandler. They ducked and didn't come up after I turned Bethy on them. Huh, She wouldn't let them breathe."
"It's a dangerous country out here amongst the plains. Anything can happen." said Blake.
"Don't leave me by myself again Blake. It was a little scary until I repeatedly shot Bethy 6 times at them. Huh! They wished they hadn't picked this gun fight now."
"Ok I won't, let's see what they took though. I imagine you were sleeping when they crept up."
"Yep, I was," said Chandler, "I took them by surprise, faking that I was asleep still. Then ambushed the two of them from behind."
"That was some nice outsmarting them Joe."
The only thing left was the coin the Spanish cousins had left behind. Both men looked at it and the insignia of a lady mistress and the saying in Spanish still made you feel like it was something this region has never seen before.
Joe can't even make out the wording on it. He pronounces it 'famulus el Daayan' and thinks for a moment. "Yes, the first word I'm pretty sure means family, the rest I don't know." concludes Joe.
"Well this is a great clue. We now have a councilor," said Blake in a comical tone.
"We should press on in case those two cousins have more friends out here," he said. "I've tracked their horses' hoof prints to go South from this point. Well that's where were going."
Joe Chandler smiled and was feeling mighty proud of himself, but out here, that can get you killed too. The two partners carried on to a rugged terrain that had a little bit of a rocky edge to it and a trail that got through it. There was only one way in and one way out.
"This may sound like a gamble, but that coin just bought us insurance if we blow our cover so let's take it quietly through this trail and will hide out if there are any other compadres coming our way."
"Ya I think just observing will be our best bet. Save being heroes for another time." said Joe Chandler.
Section Jump: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
The two traveled through the rough rocky mountain terrain carefully and ran into an incoming stagecoach they detected before it detected them. There was no one steering it and they decided to intercept it and check it out. When Blake gets the horse to settle, they find that there are 2 dead bodies in the coach, one woman and her husband bloodied from their heads with an eyeball plucked from the both of them. It was an eerie sight and one Joe Chandler couldn't fathom well. "Geez Blake, you think it was this secret society that did it to those people?"
"I don't know Joe, I just don't know." Blake checks the dead for valuables but finds out someone has beaten them to the punch.
He sends the stagecoach on its way. "Well we have to press on…" just then a hallucination of a hideous creature appears on the next plateau to climb, but only Blake sees it and says "Do you see that Joe?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nevermind." As the image vanishes in thin air. "I never believed in Black Magic before but I'm starting now." confided Blake.
"Is everything okay Blake?" asked Joe, puzzled by Blakes remark.
"Ya, I'm okay Joe. Just seeing things." as they carry on.
Another mile presses on and all Joe Chandler has in his head is hurting and killing his partner for the coin for himself, it's almost turning him into a wanna be psychopath so he jumps off his horse onto Blake taking Blake and himself right to the ground where they both start fighting for their own lives. It was a good tussle but Joe succumbs to defeat after a good five minute fight.
"You know this mountain range is playing with our heads. It's like all the worst thoughts can't escape your mind and that has come with magic power over us." said Blake to Joe.
"All I could think of is hurting you badly for the last 10 minutes, which is not me at all," said Joe. I was going to kill you and take credit for the coin myself."
"Same for me," said Blake.
"Well down below we get through the next pass but let's be careful because I think we're getting closer," said Blake.
Just beyond the pass below, the 2 of them hold still and get behind an indent in the ridges but can observe what is happening in the open round circle of flat terrain.
They are quick to hide and remain undetected. In the distance were 4 normal looking citizens and finally the Money swindlers. There was a band of 5 of them with the 4 people pleading their cases to become one of them and there were human skulls on sticks, human hair, shiny possessions, and lots of gold spilled around the entrance of a cave at the other end. A native member trots over on his horse to check the two of the 4 people out.
The native man looks at the coin from the nicely dressed couple and stares at them for a moment and says do not fear us oh rich soul before you is our little colony known as the 'famulous el Dayaan' which stands for family of the witch.
The native man says, "She has great magical powers and by becoming one of us, you can have all the riches you want to help lead our regime into the promised land.
"The greedy rich man asks, Can we help ourselves to some of your treasure by the cave?"
A Spanish man dressed in torn clothing rides over on his horse and says you must ask our Queen first and says you may go over to her dwelling and help yourselves.
The man and woman are quickly running to the treasure, but then all of a sudden a man's dead body rises and 2 more dead Calvary men rise too. They walk like the dead to the two greedy people where they both are now petrified and the woman screams when the dead man pounces on her and takes a bite to her neck. The other man runs away and says "Now please spare me, because I can give you a very large amount of money."
The two dead Calvary men fall to the ground and shoot a small earth tremor towards him where a big worm of some kind comes up briefly to devour the man in the desert dirt and vanishes.
The next ones in line are very humbled and unphased by what just happened. The men are standing together.
"Now that was a waste of skin that man was." laughed the belligerent one of the men as he approached the Spanish man on the horse and says, "My brother and I have a coin each and would like to lead you more South to General Santa Anna where he has promised me you will not face opposition and will be lead by his army to the Promised Land."
"It's very true. In fact we have proof of it by having this letter of approval by the General himself."
"We will lead you there and be a part of your, Our, new family."
The Spanish man on the horse rides over to the cave where the Native man rides over to the two men.
"Our queen wants to address the situation personally."
There was a screech of a witch within the cave and surely a woman with white zombie eyes comes out and starts to wind her arms in the air where more dead bodies arise. They surround the 2 brothers but fall to the ground again as the witch drops her arms from the air. She was deathly looking and old. Something Blake and Joe would have never imagined.
"Do you know I have existed for hundreds of years before you and We will prevail." she says.
"Oh yes ma'am," says the belligerent man. "We have honored you and your family for a year now and we are finally here. Let's continue our quest, my queen."
The other man bows.
"I can see your spirits, they are rich with truth, but you are both not capable of taking us to our new home. Your cowardness has sealed your fate."
"Both men started to quiver and the belligerent man said, "Now we're not cowards, we took a year to plan this now listen to me,either we go, or they'll know."
"Foolish man, your death will be a painful one. Meanwhile your brother must die too for you have a bloodline of empty promises and cowardness."
"The brother begs for mercy and begins to cry, I only followed the fat pig the whole time, He's always made the wrong decisions and I only listened. Not by my own choice though."
The five members consisting of 3 natives and 2 Spanish men circle both men and round they go on their horses making a circular ring around them.
The younger man begging for his mercy lunges at his older brother and a fight ensues in the middle.
The witch begins to levitate chanting gibberish in the air waving her arms around as she has the fat man gain muscle, so much he snaps his own brother's neck and the five men continue to circle the older brother now.
"They will come for me you Bitch, and your death defying smelling rotten men will be dead so help me god."
The witch is still levitating and casts a shadow at the big fat man where Blake and Joe could only hear a painful agony scream and they could barely see between the men circling the man. The Witch's body drops to the ground and the five members' faces turn to skeletons as a great surge of magical power gets shot to the man's body in the middle of their ring. The witch then subsides in her new form and the 5 members subside to their old selves. Blake was speechless and scared, Joe Chandler couldn't stand to watch. Then the fat man has his eyes popped out and his intestines out his belly button and says now we have two more visitors. Come out to face your fate or fortune. Blake says, "Kid carry your weapons but only pull the trigger when I say Trigger Joe. Got it?"
"Yep," said Joe. We're not dead ducks yet.
"We're still in this crazy world." Joe.
The five members ride fast to the entrance of the small enclave and surround the two Cowboys with the Fat Man announcing now "Our last test of courage, truth, and wisdom arrives in front of us. The chosen ones are finally here."
The band members shouted with glee and fired their guns in the air. "You may enter my dwelling and find a shiny hair brush and brush both your hair 3 strokes with it. Then give it to me."
Blake rushed into the cave while Joe went for any gold coins and treasure he could find. Blake noticed all kinds of fake coins, human corpses, dolls, and junk collected by these bandits and found a shiny brush in which he quickly ran out to show the Fat Man and the members the brush as he held it high in the air so they could see. Joe Chandler was smart and gathered 20 gold coins of legal tenure. Blake said, "Now here's your brush and I will brush my hair first."
Joe Chandler followed suit and the Fat Man said, "Now bring me the brush."
The big man starts chanting in some form of Ancient Latin, then in English he says "This hair will confide with me all the black magic desired to keep you with us and your partner at all times. I curse thee to die of old age if we do not reach the promised land," They now assemble into one group and move out the way they came with Blake and Joe leading the pack. They make it out of the rigorous canyon terrain and onward south again deep towards Mexico. They were in real dangerous territory now and as they continued, Blake and Joe were aging. Her power was even stronger being next to her. Over some desert Terrain and a nightfall they finally reached their destination. The Promised Land.
Section Jump: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
It was a beautiful Canyon embankment deep into the earth's crust with an oasis in the middle, cactus's, two wooden huts and food was abundant amongst the vegetation mostly being ruby red grapefruit. Golden shiner fish in the stream and freshwater clams. Quartz that glittered so shiny in the bigger rock coming out of the streamline and black sands all around shadowed the whole oasis. It was a real gem and a place the men could absolutely stay for as long as they wished. They walked the remaining cliffs down until they reached the bottom where the grotesque fat man entered one hut and the other for Joe and Blake. The other men never slept and kept guard nightly hidden from any enemy below. Joe got up to hunt for clams while Blake took to the vegetation for red ruby grapefruit. The men enjoyed a small feist with cactus juice for a delight. It was roughly four hours later and Joe had enough. Enough Animosity to overcome death and says to Blake. "I'm going to die anyway, so I'm going for the brush. My hair is turning gray."
"You reckon that's a better idea than?" asked Blake.
"Yep I'm going for it. Then we'll quietly escape here and shoot the dam brush. I'm sure that will break its curse."
"Alright then Joe, I'm with you if that's what you feel is best."
"Okay, I'm going to sneak in and find it and see if I can grab it and go."
"What about the others?"
"They won't budge, I got a hunch."
"Hey Joe, you are the only friend I got so we're in this together."
Joe smiled and shook his new found friend's hand and quietly exited the hut and into the Fat Man's domain. He was in his slumber. Joe tiptoed around to its carcass and removed the brush ever so gently from its upper chest pocket. He got it and quietly exited the hut with the other members standing around facing in all other directions not noticing him. The two rounded up their gear and began to head the route they came across before shooting the shiny brush breaking it and its curse in a safe distance from the oasis. They were overwhelmed with glee and began a triumphant run back to El Dorado where they couldn't wait to get home to Guffrey in their heads.
"How many gold coins did you get?" asked Blake.
"About 20, it's $200."
"Well I'm going to say it like this, Hello Melvin, we got some coins but these are not for you, but Melvin we most importantly have the information of where the gold actually exists. And that includes Quartz shining within the rocks of the stream just practically glittering under the moon's sky, with black sands making a dark shady shallow all around the vegetation and big Cactus plants. He'll be so flabergasted, he'll offer anything we want and I'll say how about total with the information and his last rare coin, We split 4 grand each."
"Oh, he has the last coin. That's the most precious one now. He has been a Saint most of his life too." concluded Joe.
"Or does he really have the last coin Blake?"
"I don't know Joe, I don't know."
The duo finally made it back to El Dorado where they came across those 2 Spanish brothers who were trying to cash in their gold. It looked like they panned and were turned away being told all they had was Fool's Gold and to find a real job somewhere else. Blake and Joe shared a laugh when they saw that one as the two Spanish brothers just kept disgruntled looks on their faces.
The train was coming for 1 o'clock that afternoon where they would arrive in Falls Canyon 10 hours later. They had a 2 hour gap to wait for the train. There were a lot of injured soldiers around El Dorado's train station. There was big cargo on a cargo car that was going to be loaded onto a box car on the train with the Mexicanos doing the work passing it off to some Calvary men. Blake thought for a moment, 'Mexicanos and the Cavalry soldiers are bonafide enemies so why are they getting along so well?' oh, that's it, getting paid for a job is the only way to keep them happy like that. He wondered what the cargo they were shipping was. Blake says to Joe "Keep an eye on that cargo Joe. There's something fishy about this."
The men decided to get a bite to eat at Maria's Mexican Grill, the most pride El Dorado had to offer that was good to eat. They both enjoyed a Fajita each with the best of toppings and salsa. Mexican food was foreign to them both, but it sure tasted better this first time. The battlefront took place just East of El Dorado, the most Western point of the Texas railway. Texas had won its independence at the battle of the Alamo in San Antonio in 1936 against the Mexican National Defence Army already. It was establishing a New Mexican border that they kept pressing for. The men enjoyed a drink of whiskey at the Saloon.
They boarded their train at one o'clock and Blake still was feeling uneasy about that cargo loaded on the train with 2 black tarps covering its contents. He decided to kill his curiosity so he went in between the cab cars and waited to climb until he was on top of the train cars. He did so after the train started to depart, about ten minutes after, and he walked on top to the boxcar where there were Cavalrymen in it too. He decided to wait up top and light his match and bandana on fire where he was able to throw it in the boxcar undetected. away from the cargo and unto some hay that laid in the back corner of the boxcar. About 15 minutes later, all the men but one had exited the car. He screamed Fire!!! and that's when Blake jumped in from its cargo door on the side tackling the lone soldier to the ground knocking him over unconscionsly. He quickly doused the fire as best as he could.
Blake was surprised to see it was pure South American coffee without the duty free fares stamped on the packages. It was getting smuggled in and dropped off to the Mayor in Falls Canyon before being shipped across the Eastern hemisphere to his various customers that pay him big bucks for getting it in too. It was pure Peruvian coffee. "Very good," said Blake.
"Hey Soldier, can I trade your attire for mine?" he joked and he stripped the soldier of his attire to pull off his next plan perfectly.
Blake came back to the cab car to brief Joe about his plan. "Now Joe, I'm on to something and all I need you to do for me is cover me with your repeater if stuff goes ugly. I found out the Mayor is smuggling pure Peruvian coffee into America without paying the tax on it so he's charging whatever he wants for it. Probably sky high, so I'm going to bring it to the Marshall Anthony Mills attention when we are there in Falls Canyon. I owe the Mayor one that jackass."
Joe just smiled and said, "I'll be damned again Blake. Let's do it for the Baxter family."
And Blake put his hand on his Shoulder and said, "Well, I'm one too." Joe just couldn't believe what was going on but was excited to back his friend up.
As they arrived in Falls Canyon, everyone began to get off including Joe Chandler as he went to position himself in case his friend Blake needed him. Blake was looking at the cargo and started yelling for Marshall Anthony Mills. "Anthony Mills, Mr. Mills!" yelled Blake. Mr. Mills was talking to the Mayor before he came over looking mad and asked, "Now what is the problem soldier?"
"I'm afraid Mr.Mills that I've discovered something that you need to handle."
"And, any bullshit moves here, you won't be alive for much longer. Now don't make a scene."
"Well, I'm afraid we have to notify the food and agriculture statesman just what's going on here because I believe in my government of Texas."
"I assure you this is none of your business now scram and report for duty soldier."
"I did, duty free stamps Mr. Mills. I hate to say it but this is staying right here till we get a government official here to witness this."
"I beg your pardon. Look, just scram and I'll make sure you're paid too on this one. Name your reasonable price?"
"Well I would be going against my government and I can't do that Mr. Mills. Now why are you going against your government Mr. Mills? They employ you?"
"Now, I'll count to three, one, two,"
"Is this a threat Mr. Mills?" Blake says louder.
The Mayor came by wondering what's the holdup. "Now Mills! Why haven't you taken care of this yet?"
"This impotent soldier is stalling Mayor. He says he favors his government and that the food and agriculture statesman should be informed about this and its duty free stampage not being applied."
"Ya, so what? Do you realize who I am soldier? I'll just kick your ass for holding up the freight train. This has to go. Is that clear? I'm bigger and badder than you so don't try anything stupid either."
"Well Mayor, you've been caught red handed smuggling again and now I'm afraid you'll have to be tried on this one in Guffrey." said Blake.
"Says who, you? Geez go back to Mama little Bugle boy. It happens everyday here so worry about your mother at home who's crying over her cute little johnny hasn't come home yet from the war, boo-hoo, now scram before I get really uptight."
Blake looked at Joe and Joe began to have his repeater ready as some more attention was gathering around.
"I will not have you bully me to get your way again Mayor! This time you're going down for smuggling domestic imports into the country without paying the tax on it. Big trade coffee especially when it's illegal!"
Just then, shots rang out at the crowd from an unknown source, but the Mayor stood there unphased, everyone else hit the deck. Joe Chandler started firing his repeater at the boxcar And into the crowd of people hiding behind a skid of railway tracks. More shots were fired. It was a shooting gallery. Anthony Mills got hit, Joe Chandler did too. Blake barely got hit and the big tuna himself, nothing. Screams were heard down the train deck and babies were crying.
"Ha, like I said, you can't defeat me Bub. Get up and you're dead. Lie down and you're a hero around here, I'm still the bad guy." The Mayor stomped on Blake hard for three times consecutively and said, "You're going to jail, mister, for trying to assassinate the Mayor of Falls Canyon. To Guffrey's Hole you go and don't ever interfere with my plans again. Mills, take him. Mills was shot but made sure his other officer took Blake to the Sheriff's office in Guffrey to be locked up.
Once in Guffrey, both gentlemen were the new celebrities of the town as the folk were celebrating, but also dismal that both Joe and Blake were suffering. They were holding a dance and party at Tucker's Retreat Saloon for them the next day but Joe was in the doctor's office recovering from a gunshot wound in his arm while Blake was behind bars. No one knew if the plans were going to carry on or not. Melvin Cunningham caught wind and went after the partners returned. He went straight to the Sheriff's office to talk to Blake.
Blake told him It's all a hoax and Cunnigham said he was nuts for saying so. Blake said, "I didn't plan on getting arrested but I did and Joe and I are telling the truth. That rare coin you have is just Fool's gold for Fools who rush into things.
Melvin Cunningham was a gullible man and wanted to know more about where they had to go and Blake said I'll have to charge you double for this so Cunnigham agreed. Blake went on to say that Black Magic is true and the witch possesses it. She can make the dead rise while reviving them by entering their bodies. Blake said for all for nothing he'll disclose a gold deposit and its location to him in the oasis. Cunningham was excited and paid Blake $4000 for his information and bail.
Now he said go see his partner Joe Chandler for his $2000 and Cunningham obliged. He paid Joe's doctor bill and $2000. Blake finally had enough to purchase that property on the outskirts of Guffrey where Joe Chandler found his home once again in the town with his happy wife Lauren. The two of them were friends but remained distant for Joe lived a different life than Blakes. If they had to be partner's again, they'd do it in a heartbeat because that was one adventure they're never going to forget for the rest of their lives.
The Court Case had so much media involvement because there were allegations against both parties the Mayor and Blake that in the end, Blake got off scott free but the Mayor only looked at a conditional sentence which allowed him to only confide in Falls Canyons affairs from now on till death do him part. There was a bounty on Blakes head once the Mayor got back to Falls Canyon, but that's a different story to Reckon with…
The End
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This content is original content by Jason Harris. Please do not use this content in any way, shape, or form, without explicit permission from him. Hope you enjoyed 'Take a Chance'. Questions, comments, or feedback about the story are welcomed via email. Be sure to come back soon for more stories by Jason at Writing for Change.