The Showdown
by M.C.
The sheriff of a frontier town confronts an outlaw gang.


The sheriff of Dry Gulch sat at the desk and waited...it wouldn't be too much
longer now. Arresting, and then humiliating, the drunken son of the notorious
outlaw leader - Abe Walker - was bound to cause problems but, as an officer of
the law, the sheriff had a duty both to protect the citizens of the town and
to punish wrongdoers. The Abe Walker gang had been robbing and terrorizing the
people in the territory for far too long now and the previous sheriff was
afraid to challenge them. The new sheriff was elected on a promise to finally
reign them in and now the hour of reckoning was drawing near - and everybody
knew it. Off in the distance the sound of galloping horses approaching could
be heard... it was almost time. Outside in the streets, the townspeople began
to scurry indoors; nobody wanted to be caught in broad daylight when the
outlaw gang arrived - especially if there was a going to be a gunfight. As the
sound of hoof beats grew louder, the anxiety level in the town increased.
Everyone was afraid - everyone, that is, except the sheriff... she simply sat
at her desk and calmly waited.

Shannon Nelson showed no outward trace of fear of the upcoming confrontation.
To the contrary, the beautiful 30 year-old woman seemed even more relaxed than
usual. Noticing that her deputy, and longtime friend Raymond, was shaking like
a leaf on a tree in a windy day, she tried to calm his nerves." Oh just relax
Ray," she said softly," you won't have to deal with them...that's my job."

" But Shannon, you don't know these men. They're tough, mean. By arresting
Rick - and spanking him in front of the entire town - you offended and
infuriated Abe. Now, he'll stop at nothing to free his son and avenge his
humiliation...absolutely nothing."

Shannon smiled," that's what I'm counting on, Ray. His gang has been flaunting
the law and intimidating people around here for far too long. Ex-sheriff
Johnson ( Shannon's predecessor ) was too scared of them to do anything about
it; he simply looked the other way and let them run roughshod all over the
territory. I think it's about time somebody put these outlaws in their proper
place...prison; and that's exactly what I intend to do."

" But - but you're just one woman Shannon. Before you became the
sheriff here you were a pony express rider. What chance can you possibly have
against a half dozen of the roughest,  toughest, meanest men in the territory
? "

Shannon had to laugh to herself when she heard this. " Raymond, I guess this
will be a learning experience for you also. Haven't you ever heard the
phrase,' you should never underestimate the power of a woman' ? "

By now the outlaws had reached the edge of Dry Gulch. They slowed their horses
to a canter as they approached Shannon's office. " Sheriff," Abe bellowed,"
I'll give you just this one chance to release my son and hightail it out of
town...and don't you ever come back. If you refuse, then - woman or not -
we're going to string you up in the town square for everyone to see. Nobody
opposes the Abe Walker gang...and nobody humiliates my son ! " >>From his jail
cell, Rick - Abe's son - began to laugh. " Your days here are numbered girlie.
My dad's gang is gonna kick your ass but good. You'll be sorry you ever messed
with us."

Shannon sighed as she rose from her desk. " Well Raymond, it looks like it's
time for me to do my job...a woman's work is never done." Seeing that her
deputy was still shaking from head to toe, Shannon put her arm around him and
playfully tweaked his nose. " You stay in here Raymond, I wouldn't want you to
get hurt. Leave the Walker gang to me." Shannon then strapped on her gun belt,
opened the door and bravely stepped out into the street to face the notorious
outlaw gang.

As she emerged from her office, Shannon saw five large, tough-looking men
standing in the street before her. Off to the side, sitting on a horse, was a
sixth - Abe. " Well now boys," she began," if you all just throw down your
guns and come peaceably with me to my nice, comfy jail cells then nobody
has to get hurt. If not, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to teach you all a
lesson." The six men began to laugh at her hubris. Outnumbered six to one,
this five foot - six inch, 140 pound woman was facing the most feared outlaw
gang in the territory, all by herself. What possible chance could she have
against them ?

Shannon didn't begrudge the fact that she was outside in the street while
Raymond was inside - safe and sound. In fact, that's the way she wanted it.
Because she had a crush on him for many years now,  Shannon was actually
relieved that Raymond lacked the courage to accompany her in the showdown with
the outlaws. If he had, it would only have made things more complicated for
her. She would then have to worry about protecting him also...and she had
enough on her mind as it was. The fact that he wasn't tough and brave didn't
bother her either. He was a very kind and sweet person and to Shannon, that's
all that mattered. That's why she insisted he become her deputy; she simply
liked having him around her. He didn't have to be tough; Shannon was tough
enough for both of  them. But was she tough enough to overcome the entire
Walker gang by herself ? That, she was now about to find out. " Very well then
boys," the intrepid woman said," have it your way."

For a moment there was absolute quiet in the town as the beautiful woman faced
the six desperados. A surreal moment when time itself seemed to have stopped
in it's tracks. One lone woman stood facing six tough outlaws on the deserted
streets of Dry Gulch. And then...

Nobody knows who drew their guns first - Shannon or the outlaws. But what
is beyond a doubt is that the lightning fast reflexes of the gorgeous brunette
proved to be too much for the entire Walker gang. Reaching down for her two
six-guns, Shannon drew, aimed and fired in an blink of an eye. So fast and
accurate was she, that the men never had a chance. Shannon was even able to
just shoot the guns right out of the hands rather than shoot them. Three
seconds later, the brave woman stood before her stunned - and now unarmed -
rivals. Had she wanted to, Shannon could have simply arrested them on the
spot...but that would have been too easy. These bullies have been making life
miserable for all the inhabitants of the territory for much too long and
Shannon had no intention of letting them off so lightly. Holstering her guns,
the woman stared at the surprised men and laughed." Well boys, it seems that
one woman was too fast for all of you. Now, let's see what you rough, tough
bullies can do with your fists."

She stood facing the men she had just humiliated; calmly smiling with her
hands on her hips. " Well, don't just stand there men," Abe screamed from his
horse," GET HER ! " The five men  charged the beautiful sheriff of Dry Gulch.
Each one was larger and, it appeared, stronger than she. It certainly looked
to be an unfair fight - five large men against one woman - and it was. The
first man to reach her took a wild swing which Shannon ducked under. She then
connected with a hard punch which sank deep into his stomach. A solid uppercut
to his jaw flattened him. Moving quickly to the next man, she nailed him with
an amazingly hard right cross which sent the 200 pounder spinning around; and
down. " Boy, you guys really are wimps," she laughed. Looking over at Raymond,
who was standing in the doorway with his mouth wide open, Shannon winked and
blew him a kiss. The remaining three men all converged on her at once.

As fast as she was with her guns, Shannon was equally fast with her fists.
While Abe watched in disbelief from his horse - and all the townspeople began
to cheer - the magnificent woman sheriff easily battered the remaining three
members of the gang around; laughing as she did so. After about five minutes,
all of the members of the once dreaded Abe Walker gang lay unconscious in a
neat pile in the middle of the street...all except Abe. Turning towards him,
Shannon smiled and said," O.K. honey, now it's your turn."

After watching this amazing woman beat up his entire gang Abe - the most
feared outlaw in the territory - lost his nerve. He whipped his horse and
started to race out of the town. Shannon put her fingers to her mouth and
whistled. Almost immediately, a horse appeared from a side alley. As her
horse charged past her, Shannon reached up, grabbed the saddle and mounted her
steed at a full gallop. She then began to chase after the fleeing outlaw
leader. So swift was her horse, that she was able to overtake him before they
even got to the end of town. As she drew near, Shannon reached for her lasso.
Whirling it around above her head, she threw the rope perfectly. Her lasso
landed completely around Abe's body and arms, snagging him. Shannon then
yanked him off his horse and he fell to the ground. " Well, I certainly
enjoyed that," she giggled as she began to drag the helpless man through the
streets and back towards her office - much to the delight of the cheering
citizens of Dry Gulch.

For years they had lived under the dark shadow of Abe and his vicious gang.
Now, in one afternoon, their amazing woman sheriff had put an end to his reign
of terror...forever. As Shannon dragged the humiliated gang leader through the
streets, practically the entire town came out to congratulate her. It was a
day none of them would ever forget; the day Shannon Nelson, alone and
single-handedly, destroyed the Abe Walker gang.

When she reached her office, Raymond was there to greet her. Another man might
have felt humiliated - that Shannon beat up the entire gang while he stayed
safely on the sidelines - but not Raymond. " Honey, you were
magnificent...totally awesome." They then embraced in a long and passionate
kiss. " Thanks, sweetie pie. Now, can you please help me carry these sleeping
beauties inside and into a nice jail cell ? " He grabbed one of the battered
gang members by the shirt collar while Shannon grabbed two; one in each
hand. As they dragged the men into the office, Rick stood there speechless. "
You looked kind of lonely in here all by yourself Ricky," Shannon giggled," so
we brought you some company. You'll all be spending a lot of time
together...in the State penitentiary."

The showdown was over. With the feared outlaw gang finally put behind bars,
life in the town of Dry Gulch returned to normal. People began to move about
on the streets again. "Well now," Shannon smiled at Raymond," I guess things
will be quiet and peaceful around here for awhile. Maybe you and I can take a
bit of a break sweetie pie...there's a room in the back with a double bed."
She held out her hand and gently took his. Together they entered the room, and
closed the door.