The Oak Hill Boys ride to Winslow, Arizona Territory. They immediately head to the jail to clear up Jack’s good name, as he was mentioned in an article in the Winslow Gazette. Jack and Company were referred to the Grand Winslow, the largest commercial enterprise of the town.
Indeed, the Grand Winslow lived up to its name. It was a fine establishment, serving up rooms, food, and a variety of other entertainment, including women and whiskey. No one was there for a prayer circle.
Upon entering the place, they find Sheriff Caruthers having a drink with a man they later learn is Granville Hardisty, editor of the Gazette. The sheriff suggests the boys are in trouble, as Jack was the last to see Buck Thompson before Buck mysteriously escaped. Buck and a few men had unsuccessfully tried to rob the Winslow Savings & Loan a couple of weeks ago.
As Jack and the rest of the fellas explain what they were doing with Thompson, the doors of the saloon swing open. Four men enter, several of whom the Oak Hill Boys recognize from Clearwater. The rough looking men set eyes on the fellas. And one of them draws his pistol, aiming directly at Royce. “You killed my brother Zach! So you ain’t gettin’ outta here alive!”
Seems the remaining Hensley Clan had revenge on their mind. Getting the drop on The Boys, the Hensley’s got a round of shots off before the fellas could even put their drinks down.
Patrons scattered. Tables were pushed over, becoming improvised barriers. Lead flew. And as you would imagine, the Oak Hill Boys weren’t the only armed patrons at the Grand Winslow. Several others also opened fire on the Hensley Clan. While the saloon ended up getting shot all to pieces – and one innocent bystander killed – only one member of the Hensley Clan survived. Trying to escape, Hank Hensley was caught by Deputy Jacob Munz.
As the bartender began digging out bullets from the bar, it was clear for all to see that Royce, Jack, Ezra, Shady and Louis were acting in self defense. The Hensley Clan shot first. Sheriff Caruthers immediately saw that frontier justice indeed had been properly dispensed. And Granville Hardisty had a heckuva story.
After taking down everyone’s accounts of what happened, the Sheriff asked the boys to help him find Buck Thompson to help clear Jack’s name. Not particularly happy with how the Sheriff had treated the men before the shootout, and insisting they had nothing to do with Thompson’s jail break, the boys said they’d keep an eye out for the escaped convict. But wouldn’t necessarily go out of their way to find him.
The truth of the matter is Ezra had a pretty good idea of where Thompson might be. Because Buck was one third of the gang that robbed the Winslow bank 25 years ago and got away with $25,000. The Boys were very familiar with this story. Once they were out of earshot of Caruthers, Ezra suggested they go to the Thompson farm near Privilegio.
They rode for hours. The landscape became less flat, giving way to rolling foothills as they skirted the Tusacanas.
Jack held up a hand and pulled up on the reins of his horse. Louis, Shady, Royce and Ezra came up beside him. The five men looked over a small valley. Their trail went down, through, and up to the other side about 60 yards away. But it was occupied. Four men ride up on horses and line up opposite them.
Three of them are dressed almost identically. The fourth man is someone the Oak Hill Boys recognize.
A bird is perched one of the identical men’s shoulders. Buck Thompson says something to that man. With the wave of a hand, the mysterious person sends the bird high up into the air flying towards Jack & Company.
< crack >
A rifle shot from Ezra brings down the bird. The Boys see it was clutching a small bag.
Buck looks over at another identical man. That man waves his hand. And a bird appears on the man’s shoulder. The second bird takes off. And once it gets above The Boys, it releases its cargo. The bag hits the desert floor in front of them. Royce dismounts and investigates the bag’s contents. It contains a scrap of paper and a small pencil. He reads the paper and hands it to Louis, who glances at it, then hands it to Ezra. Who then gives it to Jack…
I only want what’s mine
Jack looks at his friends. Then crumples up the paper and lets the wind take it from his hand.
The bird nearly made it all the way back to the opposing force before things escalated.
This particular altercation was challenging for the fellas. Maybe it was the multiple exploding fireballs. Or maybe it was the magic that seemed to turn one of the identical men into four men.
But there was some success; Buck Thompson ended up dead, as did two of the identical men. The third magician ended up disappearing, though, in not even a cloud of dust.
Once they got some rest and healed up, listening to Royce’s guitar, the Oak Hill Boys rode back to Winston. So they could let Sheriff Caruthers know what happened to Buck Thompson.
Dry Gulch Bugle 