As Tex climbed off ole Britches, the dust that had accumulated over the weeks on the trail began to take toll. It was about time to belly up to the bar and wash away memories as well as the thirst. Baldy was tending bar, same as he was the day Tex left. Most things in Stoney Gulch stay the same, it's only the method of death that changes. Over the last three weeks Tex had seen plenty of that, in many different ways and many different forms. Tex let his eyes wander over the room that was seemingly lit only by the cracks in the wall. He was hoping that Sally Lou was still here, but of course she was, after all, nothing really changes in Stoney Gulch.
Sally Lou had waited for Tex. She was wearing the same thing she had on the day he left. There she was, over by the stacks of Gold River Beer that was delivered the day he left. She hadn't moved since he entered the bar, or perhaps she did and Tex didn't notice, but that was doubtful because Tex always noticed everything about Sally Lou. As he started over to her he could feel the miles of hard riding taking their toll. She didn't respond to the approach of her long time friend and lover. With the next step, the light fell upon her, the light was enough to let him know that something was wrong! Her long blond hair looked dusty....dusty? What in blue bells? (Tex used that term when danger was in the air) The thin line of caked blood frozen where it had once trickled down her soft, creamed colored neck, the neck he had longed to touch, to taste....there was a faint odor of souring flesh...several flies were covering up the dark rich eyes he saw every night the past three weeks. As Tex spun around to question Baldy, the mirror behind the bar caught the reflection of a gun barrel drawn in haste and catching the sunlight setting in the west. The survival instincts kicked in...diving under the nearest table, rolling and pulling out ole Pete (Tex's cast iron six shooter) and firing towards the reflection of the light that had caught his eye. Three quick blasts and it's all over, the body of a man he had never seen before falls through the only glass window in the bar. Baldy cane scurring from behind the bar and shouting "eeehaw, that flea bitten, worm eaten, whishey sucking, hired gun has been there three days waiting for you. I tired to warn you Tex but"...the sound of Texs' fist hitting Baldy was second only to the shout that came from Tex as he hit him.
With the added light from the broken window, Tex turned his attention towards Sally Lou, or what was once Sally Lou. Gently lifting her from her resting place of twenty one days, the legs and arms remained in place. Tex slowly headed through the doors and onto the wooden walk that ran by the bar. With tears cutting away the grime upon his face, he had a second thought. Tex stopped and re-entered the bar. Baldy nearly knocked him down in his effort to leave the bar before Tex could hit him again.
Placing Sally Lou lovingly on the once polished bar, Tex turned and threw the would be assassin out the window through which he came. He was not worthy of being buried with the woman Tex loved...or once loved...his thoughts were confused and mixed with anger and hate! The match that started the fire was a blessing to Sally Lou, at last she would be at rest. With the flames licking up the walls, Tex again leaves the bar only this time without his woman, thinking with all he had been through, there would still be no rest until the killer paid. It would take another killing before his thrist would be quenched, in more ways than one!
The next morning the towns' people wondered what had caused the fire in the town's only bar, and Baldy wasn't talking! After a bath, shave, a well deserved hot meal, and a sleepless night, Tex mounted ole Britches and headed out of town. Thoughts of the past wouldn't leave Tex. Six men had come to town three weeks ago, butchered his mother and father, and left him for dead after placing an axe between his shoulder blades. With the help of Doc Brooks, ole Britches, and Pete, Tex had hunted down and killed five of the six men before returning to Stoney Gulch. Three of the men were easy to find and kill, they were hiding in the old mine shaft outside of town. By hitching a rope to ole Britches and tying it to the only post holding the air shaft open, it was easy to sit by a fire that night listening to the men scream for help, until they would scream no more! The other two had to be hunted down for weeks as they hid in the mountains. But soon they lusted after women and drink, and during their drunken lust Tex found them. Pete didn't miss his target that day as they both faced Tex with their pants down and Pete up their noses. Blue Bells! It didn't take long for the buzzards to find the gray remains of what used to be their brains scattered over a good part of the mountain. The sixth had to be found, this one would be for Sally Lou!
After hours on the trail, the mystery man, the sixth, had found Tex. Tex was stooping down to get a much needed drink of water from the stream when the arrow struck him in the leg. Ole Britches began charging the wooded area to the north when the second arrow found its mark in the center of ole Britches breast. The sound of the woods and brush crunching under the weight of ole Britches seemed to go on forever! Tex freed Pete and eased himself into the stream. By allowing himself to float with the current, Tex was able to out flank his prey and struggle upon the bridge which looked down upon his attacker. For the first time, Tex knew who was behind it all, for the first time he could begin to tie it all together. The sight of Max startled Tex at first, sitting with the crossbow upon the rocks over looking the stream, Max...Max... It was Max who threatened him years ago not to testify in the stagecoach robbery. It was like another life time, three folks were shot in the robbery, no one was killed but three lives changed in moments, the families affected, three women who somehow had to provide for children as well as invalid husbands. Tex hadn't thought twice about testifying in court. It was the right thing to do. Max had paid his debt to society, and was now out. But what about Tex? His parents? Sally Lou? Ole Britches? It was time to put an end to it. Pete would deliver the justice this time. The crack of four shots rang out through the valley. The first three were for pain, one each in the hand, knee, and lung. The fourth shot was between the eyes, only after Max had time to turn and gaze upon Tex. Max died smiling, knowing he had killed Tex too, and with more pain, for Tex's pain was from within.
Tex returned to the town of his childhood. And over the years the pain eased somewhat. As Tex opened the new bar in town, Pete was kept on the shelf under the bar, the bar named the SALLY LOU.