Broken Trails

[✡]

Drake stumbled out of the still flaming camp. Damn, he thought, was it really worth it coming here all the way from Maryland?
Sure he acted like a local of the West, but he was still a city boy at heart. Drake kept walking, trying to shield the image of the burning camp from his mind's eye. Sure they were outlaws, but did they really deserve such a death? No matter. He kept walking, now if only he could find a horse and get on with his life...

[serpington]

max saw the fire start. "time to shine." he fired, the shot ringing out like five snare drums getting hit at once with a loud 'click clack' between the first and second shot. quickly finishing the two sentry's. he turn his attention to the pit and watched over James killing anyone that popped up before James even had a Chance to noticed them. once done he packed up, grabbing the empty casings and riding down to the pit after packing the rifle away. "you with them?" he asked another stranger walking away from the burning camp.

[✡]

"no sir, no I am not!" Drake appealed to Max's sympathy. "I was just an innocent caught up in their game!"
As a last attempt at proving his harmlessness, he whipped out his revolvers and set them on the ground in front of them. "Now we ain't gonna have no trouble are we?" Drake inquired

[Mr.Mustard]

James, on his way back to the horses, noticed one of the sentry's he had seen earlier. Quickly tackling him, James brought his face up to the bandit's. "You listen, and you listen good. I aint gonna take no shit from a lowlife like you, so you better give me answers, and fa- Drake?"

James had finally realized who the man was. Drake, the informant who had led him to Lorado in the first place. James released his grip, apologizing. "Hell, I apologize... Didn't recognize you, pal..."

[✡]

"Came on like a ton of bricks, you did" Drake stood up and brushed himself off. So maybe his speech was still a bit posh, but he wasn't an Easterner anymore..
He smartly picked up his discarded revolvers and turned to Mustard. "now then! you're going to fill me in on what the hell is going on, how 'bout that?"

[Mr.Mustard]

"Well, I made it to Lorado, just like you suggested, and met this fine sharpshooter there... His name's Max. Got into a little trouble at the local saloon, and managed to take out a squad of officers. One of them had a map with these cannon pits, so we decided to clear them out first. Now we're on our way to pick up an asset. You still got those phosphorous bullets I gave you?" Max explained, reloading his pistol and dusting himself off.

[✡]

" 'course I do!" Drake flipped out a revolver and spun it around. God was he ever so fond of of showing off his revolvers. They were his pride and joy..
"Now explain this asset? Sounds like a mess o' fun!"

[Mr.Mustard]

"You ever hear of a Gatling gun? 120 rounds a second... And you don't even have to cock it..." Mustard said, fantasizing about the tool of destruction.

[✡]

"Sure as hell I have! Down South heard a little rumor 'bout a Texas Ranger who owned one, 'course that guy is six feet under now... and you say you know where 'bouts we can find this thing?"
Drake felt the excitement of the coming chase growing in him. This was his chance to finally own the fabled Gatling, then the entire West would respect him!

[Mr.Mustard]

"Did you happen to see a wagon being pulled in, with something large covered in a tarp?" James yelled back happily. He knew that if Red had his hands on the gun, this war would not end well.

[✡]

"yeah," breathed Drake, "but they wouldn't let me hardly see any of it. like they suspected I was a damn traitor, guess they were right..." he looked back at the burning camp.
"But this Red guy, if he's still alive then that could mean disaster, if needed I'll kill him myself," Drake's voice turned angry

[serpington]

"so we're going after it and him? well at least their's three of us now. your lucky i didn't see you from the mountain. you seem to love those guns, here's my most prized possession." he pulled out the large black rifle and showed it to drake and James.

[✡]

Drake took it in his hands.
"such artistry...." he muttered as he ran his hands along the black barrel. Max took it back from him, Drake held on to it for a second, not wanting to let it go...
"so where is this Red guy now?"

[Mr.Mustard]

"From what I've acquired, he's somewhere under these mountains..." Mustard stated, a far-off look in his eyes.

[serpington]

"we should get going, this little victory will attract attention." max said putting away the rifle and mounting his horse.