Just a little flavor text to get a feel for Cowboy...

" Yeah boys, I'm serious. Commander Todd is so pee-oded at me this time he's shipping my butt off to the big show." Cordell "Cowboy" Ransom chuckled as he tossed away his hand.

"No wonder," replied the officer seated next to him. Harley Wilkinson had been Cowboy's partner for nearly a year, " you slept with his daughter."

All seven players at the table burst into laughter. All of them were off duty Protectors, and had been in the 11th Precinct at one time or another. It was sort of a tradition at the Eleventh that they stay in touch, and all were invited to poker night at Broken Stock Saloon.  Ransom shrugged, with a cocky smirk," I can tell you one thing, there wasn't much sleepin' goin' on, I shit you not."

That only stoked the laughter a bit more. From somewheres behind him, Cowboy heard a deep voice bellow," Keep it down a little."

"Aww shadddup." Ransom said, adjusting his stetson as he slid his chair in and picked up his next hand. "You know this is ona the things I'm really gonna miss. Odds are them stiffs in Chi-Town don't play poker. "

"don't fool yourself." Said the dealer. " Remember Detective Glass? She sure knew how to suck the chips out of your stack." He immediately grimaced as he realized what he said.

The others snickered a bit as they knew cowboy wouldn't miss a set up like that. He didn't want to dissappoint. "Not the only thing she ..." He never had a chance to finish as he was drowned out by his friends.

"I said keep it down." Came the voice again.

Picking up his beer, he answered with a single fingered salute over his shoulder. "Keep that down, Bubba." Setting down the beer bottle, he picked up his cards and had to hold in any emotion as he looked at a pair of aces. He bid low to draw in the other players., and several of them did stay in the hand. Without looking up from his hand, at the sound of a collective gasp, he knew what was going on, " Got up, didn'he?"

"Yup." Harley replied lowly.

"Big sucker?"

"Uh huh"

"Shit." Cordell hung his head. "Ah'ight boys, last poker night before I get shipped out. I'm gonna put on a show. Place yer bets."

something massive slapped Cowboy's shoulder," You got a problem, asshole?"

By the way the others were looking up, Ransom knew the guy was big, but when he realized it was a hand on his shoulder, he couldn't help but grin. It didn't curb his response any," Just with some buffalo that's got a problem with a guy havin' a good time with his buddies."

The massive hand clenched Cord's shirt, bringing him to his feet. He turned and looked right into the other man's chest line. He took off his hat and passed it to Harley as he looked up into the man's face and grinned.

Behind him, he heard the dealer, "Cordell, your bid. 3 of hearts, Jack of Spades and ace of spades on the flop. You folding out so you can play?"

"Hell no. Harley, put me in for twenty five."  He replied.

"Brazen little turd, ain't cha?" sneered the bigger man.

" You know you prove that everything is bigger in Lone Star. Even the manure piles." He never gave a chance for his comment to sink in before his knee came up blindingly quick into the other man's groin.

 A collection of winces filled the Broken Stock as Cowboy tried to follow up with an uppercut that got blocked. Instead he got hoisted in the air and slammed down onto the ajacent table, splintering it. As he got to his feet, he heard, " Just you, Jess and Garvin still in the post. Bid is twenty to you, Garvin already called."

"Call" Cowboy said, coming to his feet, lashing out with a boot to the bigger man's knee.

As he blocked a pair of haymakers meant to decapitate him, he heard, "Jack of Clubs on the turn. Jess bet 50, Garvin's out."

" I call the 50." He managed to get out before eating a jab. He shook his head before letting loose with pair of shots that spurted blood from his opponent's nose.

The big man relaliated with a bodyshot that nearly cost Ransom his supper as it doubled him over. " The river came King of diamonds. Jess checks."

Cordell had to catch his breath, but the big man grabbed him around the waist and slammed him through another table. " I bet 35."

"Make it a hundred even to see my cards, Cowboy." Jess shouted back as the attacker went to stomp down on Ransom. Cowboy caught the foot, and deathrolled over the ankle. " I call Jess."

Jess laughed, " Stubborn bastard. Full house, Jacks over Kings. Thanks for the creds, Ransom" He was looking ahead where two more large men had seen enough and were coming to their friends' aid. He let go as he  felt a sickening pop as the big man screamed out.

Cowboy came up to his feet and wiped a rivulet of blood from his lip. One of the men was hiding something in his hand, and Cody guessed a knife. "Sorry Jess, not good enough," he pulled his CFT Peacebringer from the small of his back in a quick motion and aimed at the two men," Pocket aces always come out on top," he grinned, cocking the hammer as his friends burst into laughter again while he held up his badge in the other hand.