“Come one—Come all!”

Season 13—Adventure 11—Deadwood! Episode 7—Scene 1… At Nottal & Mann’s Saloon… “LADIES and GENTLEMEN,” James Butler Hickok announced in his best showman’s voice, “Come one—come all! To a fast draw shooting match competition between five of the deadliest women in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! This afternoon on Stagecoach Road, five miles south of Deadwood!”

“LADIES and GENTLEMEN”

“Place your bets now. Competing will be Deadeye Shouse, Gunner Cooper, Never-Miss Halvorson, Calamity Jane and One-Shot Miller!”

“They’ll each draw and fire one shot—ONLY ONE—At a target—24 inches in diameter SEVENTY-FIVE FEET in distance!”

Hickok completed his announcements, “The competition will begin at three this afternoon—BE THERE!”

There was much mumbling among those present:

“Ain’t nobody can hit a target that small at 75 feet.”

“I’m gonna bet agin them all!”

“Dayam! I gotta see this!”

Wyatt Earp spoke-up, “We’re taking bets now at this table—c’mon ladies and gents—make your wager!”

One by one the suckers—er—patrons lined-up at the table.

Many bet against any of the ladies hitting the target at all.

Ragnar’s Eagle Rider took note of all this and scurried back to Ragnar’s house with the news.

Episode 7—Scene 2… At Ragnar’s home… “There’s going to be a shooting-match between all the women law enforcement people, Ragnar, at three o’clock this afternoon.”

“There’s going to be a shooting-match between all the women…”

“Where?”

“Five miles south of town on Stagecoach Road.”

“Have your crew ready—have them watch the event and identify the winner. I will personally kill her—leave her for me!”

Episode 7—Scene 3… At the event on Stagecoach Road… Most everyone from anywhere near Deadwood were at the site of the match standing on the hill by the railroad tracks—the excitement growing as they awaited the arrival of the five female gunslingers.

At the event on Stagecoach Road

Side-bets were being made—mostly betting against any woman hitting the target at such a long-range. Those who took those bets didn’t know it yet, but they would win a significant amount of money—but you suspected that—GENTLE READER—right?

One of the people attending thought to bring a yardstick and walked out to the targets, “Yup!” he shouted, “Them circles is 24 inches, jest like Hickok said.”

No one there had eyesight strong-enough to see the bald eagle circling high above—save Ragnar—who was standing among the attendees. In fact, he was watching the event through the eyes of that eagle.

The five female gunslingers arrived—laughing and joking with one another, “I bet I place my shot dead-center on the target, Linda!”

“No bet, Chris. I’ll be happy to nick the edge of the target.”

To be CONTINUED…