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Henry sits with his wife Eliza in a saloon which was filled by the sound of a piano a Dalmation was playing as the bartender fills his glass with some whiskey. As this is going on Henry notices his old friend James walk in. James had long ago stopped going by James and being his friend. James was now the outlaw Texas Red, an infamous Irish Setter who had done things that had made so no sane person would truly consider him their friend. Thinking back on how James had failed him so long ago Henry lowered his head to stare into his glass.
“Two of your finest beers for me and my wonderful lady,” Red said with a boisterous laugh from the other end of the bar.
The old bulldog bartender quickly gave the two their beers as Henry realized Lucy was there. He could feel the tension as Eliza stared down the conniving Corgi but tried to act like he didn’t notice. Both Red’s and Lucy's souls were dark as coal and needed to be struck down before anyone else got screwed over by them. That was the very reason they had come to Agua Fria in the first place.
“Hey you look familiar,” Red suddenly said, staring at Henry “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around town but you look so familiar.”
“I don’t believe we’ve met either. I'd think I’d remember meeting such a famous outlaw Texas Red,” Henry said, his voice taking a more gravelly sound than usual.
The Dalmation suddenly stopped playing and all catter ceased. No one ever dared call Texas Red an outlaw to his face and those that had didn’t last long after.
“No need to get all testy. It’s just that one of my old friends was a border collie. Hey did you ever work for Pacific Mountain Railroad,” Red asked, hiding his anger with his curiosity.
“No, now get out of my face or I will start a fight and none of us want that,” Henry answered defensively.
“I think I know who you are,” Red said, causing Henry to wince “You’re that ranger everyone’s been gossiping about.”
“Yes and I’m going to be the one to take you in,” Henry growled, straightening up.
“Here’s the deal then you leave this town and never come back again or we have a duel tomorrow at noon. I have to warn though no one has ever bested me in a duel” Red said with a smirk on his face.
“Okay then so be it I’ll duel you tomorrow at noon” Henry exclaimed confidently “I have to warn you though I’m the one who comes when everyone else has failed.”
“Come on honey, let's get ready for the big day tomorrow,” Red said with a fake sweetness, leading Lucy out of the bar with him.
As soon as Red left the bar erupted into a cacophony of noise. The bartender was staring off into the distance as he poured another glass of whiskey for Henry.
“What are you thinking,” yelled the bartender “You’ll be dead tomorrow. You basically just signed your life away and I don’t care how good of a shot you think you are.”
“Don’t you worry Robert. I have the angel of death herself on my side,” Henry said with a small chuckle “Come on Eliza let's go back to the Hotel. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”