The sun was just starting to sink into the western horizon, its heat lingering as it did. Only a whisper of wind offering any relief. The usual crowd had gathered, a mixture of shady characters, upstanding citizens and some just dam queer folk. Then the wind picked up, dust stirring, obscuring the stranger just riding into town. A drifter, his quiet, calm demeanor belying the havoc he was about to unleash. Still, there was something familiar about this stanger sitting atop that black horse, someone I've seen before.
Chips on the table, the cards started to fly. The first victim to fall was Nick, a local favorite from south of the border. Hopes were high for this Mexican and his little dog after last week, but Escoto's luck ran out and he left the saloon with only 1 point.
Chris, still a newcomer but becoming more familiar with the townsfolk and our ways, soon followed Nick. He to had a good showing last week, but when the locals figured him out it was only a matter of time. His 2 points can testify to that.
Miss Deb, however, was expecting to do a little better than she did. She's still the town's leading citizen and has been for weeks. But she's finally starting show signs of vulnerability and had to settle for 3 points this week.
One of the young guns, Tanner, has had a long run of bad luck here lately. But last night it wasn't the cards that did him in, it was time. He had places to be and left the table early with 4 points.
Jake was out next, barely hanging on for quite a while, had his luck and his chips finally run out and he left the saloon with 5 points.
Justin, the towns new beauty parlor operator, started out good but got clipped and had to take 6 points along with his score of 93 for his state exam.
I had high hopes of catching Miss Deb after her early exit, but I had a price on my head and Maw Crystal drew down on me. I had to give up, can't have the town's only justice of the peace in a gun fight. Still, my 7 points got me closer to Miss Deb than I've been in a long time.
The towns new schoolmarm, Markus, did pretty good and took 8 points for his efforts.
The town doctor, Stevie, another Mexican, well half anyway, showed up late but made a good showing. His 9 points will keep some distance between him and Tanner.
The meanest sidewinder this side of the Mississippi, Mark, was gunning for anyone who got in his way. A hired gunslinger of the Walton gang, Mark was doin dam good when it came down to 3. But his luck and his chips ran out when the blinds hit $400. Still, his 10 points puts him back on top of Justin, someplace I'm sure Justin wished he's spend more time.
And so the stage was set. It was way after dark and these two were out of time, patience and soon 1 would be out of chips. Maw Crystal, the biggest guns in the west, was out for blood. Her long absence had cost here dearly in points and standing in the town, and now she was back and wanted revenge. So far she had taken out anyone who stood in her way, including me and my bounty point, and there was only 1 person left to dispose of. But try as she might, the drifter had accumulated too many white chips and his luck ran straight and true all night. Maw Crystal, madder than a wet hen, finally lost her last hand but still had a good showing for the night. Her 13 points puts her within striking distance of her old nemesis, Nick.
When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the quiet stranger finally stood and then it struck me. I knew this fella, it was none other than Art! He hasn't been seen in these parts for months. One of the last TNP games he was at he nearly started a brawl when he spit beer in Stevie's face! And that's when it struck me. He was sober! That had to be the secret to his success. So Art, making his 2008 debut at TNP, walked away with all the chips, 14 points and the enmity of Maw Crystal.
Here's the census.
12. Nick 1
11. Chris 2
10. Deb 3
9. Tanner 4
8. Jake 5
7. Justin 6
6. Jeff 7
5. Markus 8
4. Stevie 9
3. Mark 10
2. Crystal 13 (including 1 bounty point)
1. Art 14
The chips are put up for another week, the holsters back on the hips of some, bonnets and parasols on others. I'll be on my way back from Branson next week, but hopefully I'll be back in time to continue my pursuit of Miss Deb. Mark & Justin have keys so they'll have the Admiral's Saloon open and ready. Maw Crystal will be gunning for the drifter and anyone else who gets in her way, so clean your gun and make sure you have plenty of bullets. Till then, may all your cards be live and your pots monsters!
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