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Pinto Flats - Texas 1873-78
Ex Marshall, Cliff Baron. 29 years old. 6 feet 4 inches, neatly trimmed wavy brown hair turning gray at the temples. He has whiskey colored eyes and a pencil thin mustache on his upper lip. He’s a stout man weighing about 190 pounds. He dresses immaculately with a flower in his coat at all times. He’s always clean shaven, however today, he has a three-day growth of beard.
He’s on his way to Shortland, Texas to pick up the man who cost him his job. He hasn’t stopped for three days straight, riding at a leisurely pace, so as not to push Blaze, a big Liver Chestnut stallion with a white blaze down his forehead. He’s stopped only to relieve himself, grab a piece of jerky, drink a slug of water, give some to Blaze, then back in the saddle. He has his pistol, a Colt.45 caliber 7 1/2 inch barrel Peacemaker Single Action Army Revolver, tied low on his right hip. He’s not a very fast shot, however, he is extremely accurate and hits what he shoots at, although it’s a rare occurrence when he does shoot. He’s one of the best negotiators in the county.
He’s been a lawman for almost ten years, here in this small town, until Montgomery Mayfield, his best friend since childhood, stabbed him in the back by lying to the court about how everything happened.
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"They wanted to take my pistol when they took my badge. No way, the only way you take my new .45 is off my dead body."
He purchased his new Peacemaker only a month ago and was still getting the feel of it. It has a beautiful gunmetal gray barrel with carved Mammoth grips, 11 inches overall length with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. He’s found it to be very accurate shooting at bottles and cans, however, shooting a man can be a completely different experience.
He was one of the first lawman in the territory to order the new Peacemaker directly from the factory in 1873. He’s become very proficient with it and is considered to be one of the deadliest shots in the territory. He isn’t particularly fond of this reputation. It’s just happens to be one of the hazards of being a peace officer.
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His family migrated to this small Texas town when he was three years old. He grew up here and had all the ups and downs as any kid growing up. When he was twelve, his two sisters, his brother and his parents were killed in a wagon accident. Life was made a little better because of Montgomery Mayfield. Monty’s family took him in and treated him as one of their own. Monty became his best friend and confidant. They shared everything. He was the only person who could get by with calling him by his full name. Clifford Eugene Baron.
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Montgomery Mayfield has been his best friend since they were teenagers. They did everything together. They attended the one room school house together. They were so close, people called them the brothers from different families. They shared their hopes, their dreams and what their future would be. They dated the same girls. At different times of course.
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“What happened to Monty to make him do it? What did I do that he would turn against me like that? I know He never accepted that the town hired me instead of him as sheriff. But that was almost ten years ago. We’ve shared many things in our lives, in the years, since then.
He’s been a successful lawyer all these years. Sure, we’ve had our disagreements, our fusses. Even came to fisticuffs on a couple of occasions, but all families fight. And Monty is family, at least that’s how I feel about him.
The town council claimed Monty was an eye witness to me robbing the bank and killing old Mr. Watson, the owner of the bank. The only reason I wasn’t arrested was my reputation. However, my reputation wasn’t enough for them to let me continue as sheriff. I had to turn in my badge and leave town.
Monty had left town. His lady friend from the Birdcage Saloon said he went to Shortland. A small town in central Texas. If I wanted to clear my name, I was gonna have to go to Shortland and bring him back.”
The council wouldn’t even agree to me staying the night and leaving in the morning.
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“We would appreciate you leaving immediately. The citizens want you gone.”
I packed enough goods for a week and mounted Blaze, the finest horse in the territory. I turned in the saddle to see the council watching me. I tipped my hat and rode out of the place I had called home for the biggest part of my life. It was a sad time that caused an ache in my heart.
“Danged if I ain’t gonna cry.” I reached up, brushed the tear from my cheek, swallowed the lump in my throat, and continued on my way. “Ain’t no sense trying to do anymore here? It’s all been said and done, but it ain’t settled. My only hope of clearing my name is to track down Montgomery Mayfield and bring him back to tell the truth.”