ZelZel

“We ain't trading pain, we’re trading life. We all get one.” -Unknown "We encountered the rumored Apache Warband. They were huddled up on some rocks, just above the ramp near Armadillo. It was a surprise for each side, I think. The Apache didn't expect us to ride behind them; right out of that canyon they like to hunker down in. It was the first battle I've had in years. I'm not sure how I feel about the nostalgia. Almost reliving a nightmare."

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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You can’t fight this world, you can only survive it." -Unknown ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm not sure how, but I got myself wrapped up. Desperation and frustration drove me, and here I was. Few souls managed to tame that fire, but they were gone for the time being. And so here I was. Dancing under the stars with a flaming sword, waiting to cut the devil's bread for him. And I did. A group had taken me under their wing. I followed them, aimlessly looking for an excuse to find my lost ones. Yet I dug myself into a hole, unaware that it would be the last I see the sun. I still hold that sword. Here I am." "I confronted men who abused me in town. The Spickings-- a mining company. For some reason one of the younger boys hit their guard as I was questioning. Iron was drawn, and the Lord cried. Poor guards were gunned down. I didn't even have a chance to pray before I pulled that trigger. Did what we had to do." "The men i'm with helped me more than I asked for. Tate, the kid, paid for my clothes. And the money I earned helping those men in Beecher's Hope wrangle a horse paid me with a new life. Now I got my goals to meet."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If you fail to beat the current, you will drown. If you get too close, you will be bitten. If you are too weak, you will be eaten." - Unknown "I remember a time when men worked together for the same cause. But after a while, I wondered what happens when that cause meets an end. What of the men? What of the women and children? Questions I asked every night. At each cannon being fired off, at each charge we took across the plains, and each town we sieged. What of the women and children? I crossed a river that lost it's current, and soon dried up over time. A canyon has taken it's place, and there I was, stranded on a side I wanted no part in. Yet I stood tall. And In turn, I became lost." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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New edited post detailing some of the characters in Ridgewood Ranch!

Good guy

"I finally took on what folk always told me to take. I didn't choose it lightly. Hell, I was close to not even doing it. But I knew things were in a tough spot, but I ain't so prideful in thinking a single person like myself can make any change in a place like this. But it's a start. Legally, that is. I'll take it as far as I can. Once things are done? So am I." "Harriet gave me a new horse some time after I lost Smoke. It's a Rocky Mountain; she's real passionate about this breed, and I can see why. I got Corvus, he's a real bastard. Think he takes after me more than anything. I helped train him up with Harriet as she showed me the ways of things regarding the horses. I had some idea with Bandit, but never dove this deep until now. He's a handful. But he's a real charmer." "It seemed winter came early. The weather took a turn for the worse. Clouds grew grey, and the air turned crisp and cold. Next thing we all know, the winds howl and snow starts falling. God damns me more, it seemed. I hate the cold, not built for that kind of weather. The main reason I never go up north to Ambarino. Wonder how well it'll go for the ranchers. Poor bastards." "I was in town one day when I seen Jesse, Ash, and Able running around looking for someone. I didn't have a clue what was going on, but the boys were searching. So I followed them over. Ended up following this woman with a lantern on her horse. We chased her out near Citadel Rock, trying to stop her. Though for reasons I didn't know. Turns out she were threatening to shoot Jesse, or something along the lines. Then she tried running again despite us having her surrounded. Poor girl. Corvus rammed her horse and off she went flying into the snow. She kept trying to talk, and said she was going to report Green to the Feds. Then Jesse shot her; just like that. That was that. Never brought up again."

"I had enough time sitting about. We didn't have many folk with us this time like the scouting, but I wasn't taking any chances. Me, Jesse and Allen were all we needed. Together we rode out to New Austin try and catch someone for questioning. For answers on who might be responsible. I've already had names given to me, I just needed to confirm them." "That was the end of it. It was a total mess. Far from what any of us planned on doing. Those poor Deputies, they just came in on the wrong time. In that moment, I don't know why Allen shot. But I later found out why. Maybe it was the Mexican that shot our horses, or maybe it wasn't. The situation just took a turn that we'll likely never talk about again. We're just murderers. And one Deputy got away." "The time only lasted for so long. And our anxiousness wasn't without reason. That Deputy from New Austin, the one that escaped, was in Valentine. And with him were two U.S Marshals. We all knew why they were here, so we avoided being seen on the possibility the Deputy knew it was us. Allen confessed everything at that point, realizing we were in the thick of it. His name was actually Able Clarke, and he was a wanted man already from the US Government. What a mess we all got ourselves in, but we couldn't back off now. Him and Boyd were experienced in this kind of work, so I worked with them, took it as far as we had to if we wanted to cover our tracks. We confronted the Deputy, realizing we had to put him down."

"Turner and I were visiting New Austin for her brother's grave. Something she usually did and I accompanied her for it. I didn't usually come out this far west, but when I did it brought some fonds memories of Alpine. Those good memories didn't last so long. Two mexican bandits ran up on us, held us up with them shotguns. Only the Lord knows how much I wanted to skin that iron. But we were at a disadvantage, and I wasn't going to put Turner at risk of it all. Took our things, beat me good. Then... they shot our horses. Smoke and Trigger, both gone. Food for the buzzards and the coyotes. Wasn't warranted, they got what they wanted, tied us up and all so we couldn't resist. It was just pure evil from them. They have no thought for anyone but themselves. Unfortunately for them, they weren't so smart. Saw one of them ride up to Rathskeller before coming down with his pal in the same horse and poncho. Ain't that something? Turner saw it too. They got no souls, and i'm itching to ensure that's a fact." "Turner spoke with a man called Billy Sunday. She heard around the wheel that he was a man for hire. Took up the idea she laid out and met him in Rhodes. Didn't know what I was getting myself into. Ended up joining with a posse of law; Marshals and Deputies. They were hunting a known dangerous group of wanted men. I gave Sunday my aid of an iron. Ended up finding them after all, along the side of a road with a wagon. Poor bastards were holding someone up. Got into a shootout in the trees and got one of them back into a cell. I knew him. Worked with him before in New Hanover as a posse man. Emerson. Lord, watch his soul. He ain't seem like the man he used to be. Seems lost, deranged. Often wonder if we'll all end up like that. Everyone returned to Rhodes, but spotted armed masked men along the edge of town. It was them, coming back for their boy. We knew a fight was coming at that point. Whole town erupted into a firefight. Lasted all evening and night. I got shot in the shoulder, and Emerson escaped after all. Ain't that something?" "A few days after that whole situation, and sitting on my ass with a shot shoulder, I had enough waiting around. I took the men I acquired and rode out to New Austin. It was a risk, but we had the numbers. I needed answers and more clarification there were indeed people out there in that fort. Found a lone mexican, he didn't know shit. Then of all the people in New Austin, the damn Apache rode up on us. I hate them just as much as Reno, but my fight wasn't with them today. Instead I used what they had: knowledge of the land. Paid them for it in cigarettes and money. Ain't nothing to me in that moment. The Apache took us up to the fort to scout it out, told us how to get in without the gates, and confirmed there were usual sightings of mexicans up in that area. All I needed to know, really. We left the west for now, and I planned to return."