Spurs spin on the back of a pair of worn boots. Your legs feel weary and yet you continue marching pulling your horse beside you. Your button down shirt as well as your wool California Style pants are wet from the sweat of the dry Texas summer heat. Your .45 Colt Single Action growing in weight on your right hip with every step.
You finally see a town coming into view. It's Bandera, a relatively large settlement home to many travelers and ranchers. You remove your traditional cowboy hat and wipe the sweat out of your hair and seat your hat back on its perch.
Enter [[town]].Walking down the road many buggies, wagons and horses pass you by. You see the local saloon on your right, the jailor up ahead, and the barber on your left sitting next to the church.
You tie your horse to the saloon post and begin walking into the saloon to get refreshments after the journey.
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Enter the [[saloon|bar]]
You approach the bar and ask for a beverage, a young woman walks up to the bar next to you and also orders a beverage. You attempt to ignore her existence however she (link:"persists,")[persists,
"I don't think I've seen you 'round here before stranger."
You respond in a disgruntled (text-style: "rumble")[rumbling] voice "Yeah well I won't be here long, now leave me alone."
"Now is that anyway to tre-"
She is cutoff by yelling coming from outside.
Go [[outside]].]You see a young boy arguing with a familiar (link:"grizzly man.")[grizzly man.
"Watch where you're going! You almost hurt my horse boy!"
"But sir you were coming too fast I couldn't get out of the way."
You suddenly realize why the man is (link:"familiar,")[familiar, It's Glenn Heid a notorious gang leader. He is of decent build with a long grey beard, he wears a nice suit and is always accompanied by a couple cronies.
Heid shouts at the boy,
"Now you listen here sonny, you better watch the way you talk to me. Those words may be your last."
The young girl runs out the saloon and yells to the boy,
"Caleb what are you doing! Apologize and get over here!"
Caleb responds,
"Sis he hit me! I didn't do anything wrong!"
Heid begins to reach for the Henry Rifle hanging off his horse...
Do you [[Shoot first]]?
[[Watch|Dont do anything]]?
Or do you [[Take the bullet|Take a bullet]]?]]You use years of muscle memory to quick draw and shoot at Heid's feet.
Glenn looks over to you and begins a speech,
"Well, well, well, if it ain't Grahm Johnston, the 'Unkillable Cowboy' from what I've heard. Bold of you to draw on me ain't it."
"Now, now, Heid, I did the courtesy of not killin ya where ya stand. How 'bout you and your fellas get on up outta here."
Glen chuckles to himself and climbs back onto his horse with some parting words,
"You better watch yourself Johnston, I heard you left Hugo Dallas, I'm sure he wouldn't mind hearing the 'Unkillable Cowboy' was dead."
Heid rides outta of town and you succesfully protected [[Caleb.|save caleb]]You stand and watch with the young lady at your side as Heid draws his rifle and points it at the young boy.
(textstyle:"bold")+(link:"Bang")[Bang!]
The boy flops to the ground with blood rushing out of his chest.(link:" A lethal shot for sure.")[ A lethal shot for sure.
The lady next to you screams in pain, you begin feeling a sense of guilt for not doing anything.
Heid notices you standing next to the woman screaming.
[[She runs over to the young boy and holds him while staring daggers at Heid.|shoot after]]]Heid pulls up his rifle aiming at the young boy and with a flash you appear in front of him to take the round.
(textstyle:"bold")[Bang!]
You're hit square in the chest, blood begins to rush out and you grasp your chest in pain. You fall to one knee and pant heavily. In your daze you hear a thump noise come from behind you.
The young woman you spoke to early screams from the porch of the saloon,
"Caleb!"
[[You look up to see Heid laughing.|penetrates]]The young boy runs over to the woman you spoke to earlier crying her name.
"Maria! Maria!"
She hugs him close and comforts him while looking at you,
"Thank you so much sir. I can't thank you enough."
"Yeah well I was just doing what anyone else would do."
She settles Caleb down and buys you a drink,
"Is there any other way I can repay your sir?"
"Yeah you can leave me be. I did what I did and it's done. Now would ya mind getting out ere."
She gives off a small frown and walks away taking Caleb with her, you get a nights rest in one of the bunks and wake up at day break. You begin to grab your belongings and strap your pistol to your waist. You grab your horse and [[mount up.|caleb leaves]]Your horse begins striding towards the watering hole to fill up your canteen and you notice the young woman from yesterday saying goodbye to her brother.
"Go back to Ma and Pa, you coulda been hurt yesterday. It's too dangerous out here for you."
"But sis you'll be on your own!"
She smiles gently at him for reassurance,
"I'll be fine Caleb, you know I can take care of myself, Pa taught me how."
The young boy looks disappointed but agrees as he sits in a wagon supposedly headed back east by the looks of it.
You go to fill your [[canteen.| maria follows]] Heid takes off his hat to reveal a bald top, he begins to exclaim,
"Is that who I think it is? The man I've been looking for appears right in front of me. The 'Unkillable Cowboy' Grahm Johnston; Hugo Dallas sends his regards my friend."
(link:"You grip your .45 and prepare for a fight,")[You grip your .45 and prepare for a fight,
"Dallas can go to hell, and I'll send you there to meet him if you don't watch yourself."
Two local lawmen come up and place Heid under arrest. They take him to the jailor and lock him up. His parting words to you were,
"I'll be seeing you around Mister Johnston."
You walk over and offer to help the woman with the young boy, you take him to the local graveyard and proceed to [[dig.|bury]]]You place the boy in a small coffin and into the grave with a small post above him that has his name written on it, (textstyle:"italic")[Caleb Colwall].
You step back from the finished grave and with tears in her eyes she thanks you for helping her.
You head to the Inn and get some rest. You wake up at daybreak, grabbing all your belongings and strap your .45 to your hip.
On the way you hear news of how Heid's goons broke him out of the jailor earlier that morning.
You quickly pack all of your items onto your horse and head for the watering hole to [[fill your canteen.| maria follows]] You turn around to see the young boy slumped to the ground and blood flowing around him. Due to how close the shot was fired and the type of round, (link:"it penetrated completely through you and into the boy.")[it penetrated completely through you and into the boy.
The young lady rushes to the boys side and holds him as he pants and cries.
Heid gives out a big chuckle,
"If it ain't the 'Unkillable Cowboy' Grahm Johnston. I been looking for you son. Hugo Dallas isn't too satisfied with you leaving his company out of the blue."
You look back at Heid and notice his guard is down. You draw your .45 as if you were never wounded and (textstyle:"Bold")[Bang], you shoot him in the shoulder.
He falls to the ground and the rifle falls out of his hand. His gang draws their guns on you but see that [[you are uninjured by the bullet.|They notice]]]As you're getting water the young lady approaches you a (link:"third time.")[third time.
"I'm Maria by the way, Maria Colwall."
You reply
"Well Miss Colwall you certinally don't take no for an answer do ya?
She attempts to perk up and delivers a (text-style: "italic")[fake] smile confidently,
"If you could get rid of me that easily I wouldn't be able to survive out here on my own now would I."
"I suppose not. Can I help you with something?"
She inquires about his status,
"That man said you're the 'Unkillable Cowboy', you famous or something? To be known across Texas at your age has to mean you're pretty special."
"My age huh? Well if I am famous it ain't for a good reason, you better watch yourself young lady, if you hang 'round me it ain't gonna be good for you."
She comments back quickly,
"Well my Pa taught me how to shoot and I can take care of myself! Besides without Caleb here I don't have much reason to stay."
"Do what you want, I'm heading west towards Odessa."
You begin your journey with Maria following behind, you walk until sundown and make [[camp]].]Sitting at camp you begin cooking some venision you had left over in a stew, you sit on one side of the fire while Maria freezes on the other side.
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You chuckle to yourself and she looks up at you (link:"confused.")[confused.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing Miss 'I can take care of myself'."
She frowned and with a fiesty response says,
"Shut your hole."
"I told you not to come with me, I don't care for the company."
She speaks her mind,
"How can someone live such a lonely life like that?"
You frown and continue stirring the stew until you hear the trodding of hoofs. You stand up and feel something pierce your stomach, you look down in confusion and see blood flowing.
Maria screams,
"Grahm!"
You can either [[protect Maria using your body|protect maria]]
or [[push Maria behind the rock she sits on.|push maria]]]Before you know it you hug Maria and feel the lighter .45 caliber bullets pierce your flesh over and over again. Each one you scream in agony but successfully [[protect Maria.|maria pistol]]You quickly jump over to Maria and push her behind the large rock she was sitting on next to your horse.
You stand up and draw your pistol and attempt to fire back at the [[three bandits circling your camp.|maria arms]](link:"Bang! Bang! Bang!")[Bang! Bang! Bang!
For ever shot you squeeze off another is returned into your body. Maria quickly grabs your henry rifle off the horse and (link:"returns fire.")[returns fire. She downs one horse while you stop the other two. You approach the men and one attempts to shoot however you're quicker on the draw. The second cowers in fear as you walk past him to the third.
"What are you? Some kind of demon! You're a monster!" the third bandit yells as you approach him stuck under his horse. "I'll kill you with my barehands if bullets won't work!"
(link:"You stand over him")[You stand over him and squeeze your trigger with no remorse,
You walk back to the second goon blood pouring out of you in heated anger yell,
(textstyle:"bold")["Who sent you, which one of those animals wants me dead?!"]
Quaking in his boots he replies,
"I-it was Glenn Heid, he didn't take too kindly to you shooting him sir! Please let me go, I was only doing what I was told!"
You give a passive nod and the bandit takes off running back towards [[Bandera.|8 holes]]]]]Maria grabs your Single action .45 out of its holster and begins putting led into the horses in an attempt to stop the unknown enemies. She puts all 3 horses down with decent shooting and with them, the assilants fall.
You grab your Henry Rifle and finish off two of the three bandits, you aim your rifle at the last one. Coughing up blood and yelling you ask,
"(text-style: "bold")[I assume you're with Heid, aren't you!]"
The bandit winces and cries out,
"Yeah! He told us to come kill you for what happened in Bandera! Please don't kill me, I was just doing what I was told!"
You take a deep breath and compose yourself,
"Get outta here, and tell Heid he is going to have to try harder than that."
The lone bandit runs off into the darkness back towards [[Bandera.|5 holes]]You look down to examine your injuries and you notice five wounds, 3 in your stomach, one in your chest, and one on your arm.
Maria cries out,
"Grahm! Y-you're shot... H-how are ya still walking with those injuries?!"
She jumps up from behind the rock she was using to protect herself to help you with your injuries. As she walks over to you she sees the 5 bullets expunge themselves from your body, falling to the ground with quiet thumps.
Her dismay turns to complete confusion,
"W-what're you?"
You sit down in your original spot and take a [[big sigh.|power?]] When the bandit finally leaves view you suddenly drop to your hands in knees (link:"writhing in pain.")[writhing in pain. You feel 8 individual gunshot wounds posted across your body. Three in your gut, two in your left arm and one in your right. Your legs buckled under the pressure of one wound in the thigh and another in your calf.
For a moment your head clears and you hear Maria (link:"moaning and groaning from behind the rock.")["moaning and groaning from behind the rock."
You spring to life almost forgetting your injuries and run to check on her.
"Hey! Hey, you alright? Did you get hit? Where at?"
She rolls over to reveal a slight graze on her arm.
"It's nothing bad, but what about you?! Y-you have-"
You tear a part off of the blanket your saddle sits on and quickly bandage her arm.
"I'll be fine. Just takes longer with more injuries."
She looks at you in disbelief,
"W-what takes longer?"
One at a time the bullets fall out of your body with slight tings as they hit the ground, [[you groan in pain as they're disapelled from your body.|power?]]]]You begin packing up camp and load up your horse with Maria asking repeatedly,
"Who are ya? 'The Unkillable Cowboy' makes sense now. How are you fine like nothin' even happened? Where ya from?"
(link:"Finally breaking your silence you lash out,")[Finally breaking your silence you lash out,
"Shut up will ya! It's none of your business who I am or where I'm from. We gotta get to town before they find us out in the open again."
(link:"Maria gives a pout and under her breath comments,")[Maria gives a pout and under her breath comments,
"If it's not my business then why'd you save me from getting shot."
"I saved ya 'cause I knew it can't kill me and it (text-style: "bold")[can] kill you. I've lived longer than you know young lady and have watched too many people die."
You both continue walking west to find the next town, you come across a little place called [[Medina.|new town]]]]Coming into Medina you split with Maria to find a place to sleep and find other goods required for a journey to Odessa. You both agree to meet back out in front of the courthouse.
After finding a bunk for the night you start to head to the courthouse to find Maria but as you hit the door to leave, a (link:"familiar face appears.")[familiar face appears.
"Good afternoon, mister Johnston."
Heid pulls a gun and puts it to your stomach, his 3 henchmen draw their fire arms on you.
"How's it going Heid? I assume you ain't here for the rooms?"
He grabs your gun out of your holster and motions his gun towards outside. You start walking through the door with 4 guns on you.
[[Walk outside.|Glenn]]]After exiting the building you notice he walks you towards the courthouse and with a sinister smirk he claims,
"Actually mister Johnston, I'm here to offer you a proposition. My boys told me what happened at camp, now I'd love to have a man like you on my side, or at least that power for myself."
"Course you would, but I left that life behind, and if your boys told you what happened I'm sure you know a couple guns can't hurt me."
(link:"Heid chuckles loudly,")[Heid chuckles loudly,
"Yeah but they never hit you in the head, and from the rage you went in, I imagine that it didn't feel too good to be shot now does it."
You begin to wonder where (link:"Maria is.")[Maria is.
"Let him go!" Maria yells while holding your Henry Rifle.
Heid gives a good laugh,
"You realize its 4 against one darlin'? Plus what do you want with him anyways, he's a theif, a no good outlaw."
Maria yells,
"Just let him go! I'll [[shoot!"|armed maria]]]]Heid orders his gang to take aim at Maria while he keeps his gun on you.
"Now Johnston, I'd like an answer or I'm gonna shoot her then you. It better be an answer I like."
"What makes you think I'd ever go ba-"
(textstyle:"bold")[Bang.]
You feel a hole get torn in your stomach and you drop to your knees.
Maria cries your name,
"Grahm!"
You look up from the pain and yell,
"Don't do anything stupid now! I'll be fine get outta here."
"Now, that won't work until you give us a straight answer Johnston."
Heid looks down at you on your knees waiting for a reply.
Do you [[agree to his deal,|agree]]
[[decline his deal,|decline]]
or [[give Maria a subtle wink.|wink]]"Alright, alright, I'll come back with you. I never really got the chance to leave anyway, now will you let her go."
Heid smiles wide and comments,
"Absolutely, great doing business with you Mister Johnston."
Maria drops the rifle and looks at you with a confused look,
"I thought you were done watching people die, I thought you wanted out of that life."
With the smallest hint of regret a smile crests your face as you stand up,
"Yeah, well there is no escape for me. I was destined to be these way."
The most convincing lie you've ever told brings Maria to tears.
"Now get outta here girl, or you'll get hurt."
You walk over to grab your rifle and then turn away from Maria knowing it's for the best if she isn't around [[you.|need]]You look up while in pain and say,
"I'll never go back, I'm done with that life."
"Well that's too bad ain't it, shoot her boys."
(link:"Suddenly a full gunfight breaks out,")[Suddenly a full gunfight breaks out, Heid fires three shots; two into your chest and one that grazes your head thanks to Maria. She takes out Heid and a henchmen leaving two more standing. They empty their revolvers into her and you quickly pick up Heid's gun and launch two rounds, one into the chest of the last remaining men.
You see Maria bloodied and [[lying on the ground.|want]]]Maria stares at you and the bandits, you give her a subtle nod and a (link:"wink.")[wink.
She aims directly at Heid and pulls the trigger, at the same time you elbow two of the 3 bandits in the stomach and Maria dives for cover.
You pick up Heid's gun and the third bandit shoots you twice.
(textstyle:"bold")[Bang! Bang!]
You respond in kind with two of your own and drop the henchmen. The other two realize Heid is no longer breathing and throw their guns away.
"You two boys better leave before I change my mind."
The bandits get up and hop onto their horses and ride back towards Bandera faster than the wind.
(link:"You run over to where Maria took cover,")[You run over to where Maria took cover, she jumps out and hugs you.
"You fool, you coulda' been killed."
"Now you should know better than that. Are ya hurt?"
She smiles,
[["No, I'm fine."|balance]]]]Maria turns away from you, a ball of emotion, tears falling down her face and you grit your teeth. You mount your horse along with Heid and his gang to head back to Bandera, leaving Maria in Medina alone and confused. You find some comfort in knowing that she'll be alive and find another way to live.
Your horse starts striding in the direction of Bandera and stops at the end of town.
"Let's go Johnston."
Not looking back you reply,
(link:"Yessir, lets get to work.")["Yessir, let's get to work."
The End.]You run over to her not caring about your own injuries and (link:"hold her as she utters some final words to you.")[hold her as she utters some final words to you.
"Y-ya know Grahm, y-you don't have t-to do it alone. F-find someone, who can go w-with you, wherever you go."
(link:"She coughs up blood onto your clothes,")[She coughs up blood onto your clothes, for the first time in years you feel a slight stream of tears flow down your face.
"I'm so sorry Maria. I was afraid this would happen."
(link:"She smiles back up at you and whispers in a raspy voice,")[She smiles back up at you and whispers in a raspy voice,
"Maybe now you can move on from your past, to your future."
The light in her eyes fades away and you let out an ear piercing [[yell.|bury 2]]]]]You grab your horse and go to the inn you were planning to bunk. You're clothes now riddled with bullet holes you decide to replace them with a spiffy new button down and new pair of wool pants.
You clean off all the blood and go over everyone of your wounds to (link:"check them,")[check them, you find nothing of interest, not even a scar.
Maria walks in and notices that all of the bullet holes have vanished.
[["Now you got some explaining to do sir."|happy]]]You take Maria back to Bandera as fast as you can and begin (link:"digging in the grave yard.")[digging in the grave yard.
With the help of the graveyard keeper you place her coffin into a large 6 foot hole. You personally carve out her name onto a wooden plaque to place in front of her grave.
With each letter your body shuts down one thing at a time, experiencing the worst pain you've ever felt.
(link:"M")[M
Your legs give out and you fall to your knees.]
(link:"A")[A
Your eyes swell and over flow with tears.]
(link:"R")[R
Your arms begin to weigh more than a load of bricks.]
(link:"I")[I
Your fingers become numb making it near impossible to finish carving.]
(link:"A")[A
As you finish the last letter you drop your knife and with it your heart.
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You compose yourself and place the plaque in front of her burial site. You hop back on your horse and continue your journey west to Odessa. Trying to leave your old life behind. Not once does she ever leave your mind on the (link:"long trip.")[long trip.
The End.]]]After a night in the inn with good food and water, you saddle up your horse with yours and Maria's belongings and begin your long journey to Odessa. Looking for a new life, seperated from your past, with the woman that lead you to your (link:"future.")[future.
The End.]You stand between the hurt boy and the young lady,
"Now git on outta here, less you wanna' be next."
The men grab Heid by each arm and began to carry him away. His feet dragging across the dirt.
You turn around and see the young lady still clutching the boy in her arms.
"C'mon lets get him out of the street."
You go to pick up the boy and she relinquishes her grip. You take the boy to the local graveyard and bury him with a wooden cross reading,(textstyle:"italic")["Caleb Colwall"].
(link:"Standing over his burial")[Standing over his burial she asks,
"Mister Johnston was it? Thank you for trying to save him."
Tears well up in her eyes,
"Are you alright sir? You took a bullet didnt you?"
She looks down towards the wound and you quickly cover it by crossing your arms.
"Didn't hit me." You grumbled "I was too slow."
You head to the inn and clean your clothes as well as yourself to rid yourself of bloodstains. You rest in the inn for the night.
At daybreak you grab your belongings and strap your pistol to your hip, and head to the watering hole to fill your canteen.
[[ maria follows]]]