How The AFC West Was Won

By BlandaRocked:

I'm watching the town folks gather over at the saloon. Looks like there's a neck-tie party a brewin'. The crowd goes quiet as Calico Jack steps into the room. Calico will put reason in all this nonsense, and steps up on a chair to stand on one of the poker tables.

"Hang 'im!" says Calico. "Hang 'im high!"

"I got the rope!" says Bama.

"Let's get over to Marshall Take's jail house 'n take 'im!" yells Ole H.

Men reach for their weapons and head out of the saloon's swinging doors labeled Gallery-Sims.

"Where ya all headed?" shouts Psycho, arriving late.

"We're gonna hang 'im," yells Panty from the middle of the pack.

"Schweigert?"

"No. McCown!"

The crowd gathers in front of the jail house on Main Street, and Marshall Take steps onto the porch.

"Whatcha all want?" askes Take.

"There's been enough justice," calls NYRaider. "It's time for a lynchin'!"

"Four games!" Take lowers both barrells of his shotgun in the direction of the crowd. "Judge Kiffin says the trial's not over yet. We need four games."

"Look, I don't like it any better'n you do," says Take. "But them's my orders."

"What's Mayor Davis got to say?" asks a voice from the crowd.

"He says the authority belongs to Kiffin," answers Take.

"McCown's jes been able to 'scape justice cause a tricky lawyers like Blandarocked," yells Heartland.

"Trial's not over," repeats the Marshall. "When the trials over, then we'll hang 'im, and not before."

Blandarocked steps on to the porch along side the Marshall.

"What y'all plannin'?" asks the lawyer, feeling for the shoulder holster under his three piece suit.

Psycho, with three weeks growth of beard and dirty clothes, takes a long pull from his near empty jug.

"Time for a little tree top justice," says Bama.

The Marshall turns to Blandarocked.

"I agree with these here folks," says Take. "Judge Kiffin looks like he's willin' to let things go on jes a little too long."

"Justice takes as long as it takes," says the lawyer, "otherwise it's not justice."

"I have a mind to let this crowd have 'im, jes like I did Schweigert this morning. He's hangin' from that old oak jes outside a town."

Psycho pulls the jug from his lips mid gulp, wasting cheap whiskey all over himself.

"Schweigert?" he says. "I missed Schweigert's lynchin'!?"

"You were passed out," says Holy Roller.

The crowd falls silent. A big man dressed all in black rides down the street on a silver horse. He looks straight ahead.

"Why that there looks like Cole Pepper," says H, "he's the fastest gun in these here parts."

The crowd parts as the silver horse approaches the jailhouse porch.

The man on the horse looks down at Marshall Take and Blandarocked.

"Is it true?" asks Take. "You Cole Pepper?"

"Yep," answers the man. "Mayor Davis hired me. I'm lookin' for a man by the name of McCown."

Gun shots are heard behind the barn down the street.

"Whatcha got goin' on out behind that barn?" asks Pepper.

"That's the guy Mayor Davis hired before you," says Take. "He showed up late and is out behind the barn practicin' his quick draw. That's why Davis musta hired you."

"Mayor Davis asked me ta take out a man by the name a McCown," says Pepper, "an that's what ah intend to do."

Blandarocked steps up in front of Marshall Take.

"Judge Kiffin says it's not your time," warns Blandarocked.

"My time is... my time." says Pepper.

Blandrocked feels again for his shoulder holster, and for the daringer tucked inside the sweatband of his boller hat.

"Man here in town," says Blandarocked, "by the name of T.J. Pope, says you ain't as good as advertised."

"You wanna try me?" asks Pepper.

"Not me," says Blandarocked, stepping aside.

"I had some trouble down Florida way, in a place called Fishville, with Pope's family," Pepper reflects. "I figure to settle that trouble down there in two weeks. But first things first."

Hey, I writes 'em as I sees 'em.

"Well shoot!" says Arizona. "Seems to me we kin save ourselves a hangin', and jes let these two, McCown 'n' Pepper, have at it."

"Yeah, but where?" says Nate.

"I got an idea," says Take. "Why don't we have both men walk into that place down the street," he says pointing. "The man that comes out will be the man that Russell runs out a town when he finishes practicing."

"Huh?" asks Calico?

"I get it," says Raider00. "Once they go in there, it's kill or be killed. The man who lives is the man for Russell to run out a town."

"But that there's a dog pound!" yells Calico angrily. "And them inside is all dawgs!"

"I can live with that," says BlandaRocked, and he nods for Take to produce McCown. "Whoever lives, lives until Russell is finished practicin'. Can't think a anything fairer than that."

(story to be continued after week 3)