Tales of the West: The Shootout

Journal entry by Ashford Arnold

Authentic Tales of the Wild West: Part 4

The town was buzzing with a nervous energy I had never felt or been around before. The people of Dodge City had developed such a fondness for Sweet Alice in such a short time, the hour leading up to noon became an intoxicating cocktail; a blend of anger at Fields’ threats, fear for the uncertain outcome, bravado from the partisan’s of each Gunslinger, and strangest of all, was the calm demeanor of Joyce Hislop. I won’t say he almost appeared to be looking forward to it, but I will say that the town undertaker seemed perfectly at ease.

Mr. Hislop wasn’t the only one who seemed at ease. On the one side, Denver Fields was in his element, clearly looking forward to the Shootout. Talking up his gang, cat-calling Sweet Alice; he reveled in the attention as he drank up the unease and anxiety of the townsfolk like so much whiskey.

Walking up slowly from the other end of town, Alice Sweetwater looked as if she was perfectly eager to engage in the Shootout. Not saying much beyond a polite acknowledgment of the gratitude that so many were showing her, she kept her eyes fastened straight ahead, looking dead set at Fields.

Sweet Alice stopped her march around 100 feet from Fields. Denver’s men started to spread out, one making a joke about not standing too close since she probably can’t shoot straight. It became very quiet very quickly, and seemed to stay that way for several minutes, though upon later recollection, it must’ve been only some few seconds. Suddenly Denver yelled out “You picked the wrong profession for a woman! We could’ve gotten along just fine!”

The aggressive smile on his face slowly changed into confusion. But here’s what I’ve since come to understand about a Shootout. They aren’t confusing. Someone is gonna live. On that day, I watched Denver Fields die.

— Check back next Monday for a new entry in Ashford’s journal —