Pierce takes a moment replacing the spent cartridge, then saddles up. If the ouburst of violence had any effect on him, he's not showing it.

"Lead the way, I'll be right behind you."

After a few moments, he asks: "Why is there a yankee marshal in the middle of Texas?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Mon 21 Nov 2011.

"Heh. Right." Seven says, though he moves in such a way that his back is, at no time, to William. He hikes himself on to his horse.

"Well, before he came, the last Marshal wound up full of some suspicious holes after siding with Dr. Ward, the local cattle baron, against some sheep herders during a range war out here. Weren't no Marshal in the town for some time after that, just the Dust Adders. The Yankee came to town selling tinctures and cure-alls and all kinds of snake-oil, and wound up fighting some band of outlaws that decided to raid the town. The townfolk wanted to elect him, my boss figured there weren't no harm in it, and so there we are. As for why he's in Texas in the first place, well, that you'd have to ask him. The undertaker's an Yank, too. Lots of folk moving between the borders now that the war's done."

Pierce smiles to himself. There were only a few people who trusted him enough to turn their back to him. Incidentally, it was the same group of people he'd be comfortable having his back to them.

"And who is your boss?" He asks, quite innocently. As Spades hesitates to answer, he adds: "Now that I saved your life I think I'm finally deserving some answers, wouldn't you say?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:25, Tue 22 Nov 2011.

"Saved my life? From a half-dead negro?" Seven scoffs, cocking an eyebrow over his monocle. "A little presumptuous, I think. Not that I don't appreciate your assistance, mind."

He strokes his beard. "Well, I suppose I can toss out this little tidbit. My contact in town is a fellow who prefers to go by the colorful sobriquet of Mr. Mistoffelees in our dealings, and his boss is someone he refers to as 'Old Deuteronomy.' I neither know, nor care, what their real names are, nor their actual occupations. All I know is that they are powerful people and pay well for someone of my skills and talents, and thus I seek out their employ whenever I come through town. If you have any further questions, you can ask him yourself once I've arranged the meeting."

((OOC: While the pair of you are talking, make a Notice Check for me.))
This message was last updated by the player at 07:23, Wed 23 Nov 2011.

OOC: 09:50, Today: William Pierce rolled 4,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3. Notice, Alertness.

A lone figure is picking her way toward the pair. She's a pretty, mousey girl with brown hair up in an untidy knot. She's dressed in a blue floral dress, unremarkable except for the tears and rips in it and the unlaced bodice which leaves her petticoats exposed. There's a darkening bruise on the left side of her face from some recent mistreatment. She staggers off the road and dives into a nearby bush when she spots William and Seven.

Unfortunately for her, Seven spotted her just as she dives off the road. "Shit. Another complication to deal with." He growls, pulling his engraved pistol and nudging his horse toward her.

((OOC: 10:09, Today: The Seven of Spades rolled 6,9 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+3)9. Notice.))

Pierce keeps Spades to his right and up front, but follows his pistol still holstered.

Seven rides closer to the brush, pistol at the ready.

"Hey!" the gunslinger shouts. "You there! Come on out of there. You aren't fooling anyone...I can see you quivering like a leaf. We ain't going to hurt you...just come on out."

From what William can see of the girl, she's not quivering. What she seems to be doing is feeling around for something on the ground, possibly a rock or a branch to use as a weapon.

And beside her, standing out in the open, is a shadowy figure that stares at William, watching his every move. Seven doesn't seem to have noticed the shadow, but William has seen it before. Seen it many a time, in fact, usually after one of those dreams that send him sitting straight up at night, drenched in cold sweat...

Pierce swallows, his left hand trembling.

"What are you doing, she's injured, don't scare her", he manages to say, and he forces his eyes away from the Shadow, watching the girl and Spades and his right hand moves toward the grip of his peacemaker, and he prepares to draw.

He feels time slow somewhat, his nostrils widen, trying to get in the smell of the surroundings. He's felt like that often before - seconds away from a gunfight. But he wouldn't start it. Not this time.

But I'll finish it when I have to.

OOC: If Spades makes a move to shoot the girl, I want to draw the gun and Intimidate him. If that fails, shoot to wound. I don't want him to shoot the girl, but don't want to take the first shot either. I'm making some rolls, in case they're needed...
12:04, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,5 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5. Agility. to interrupt. Does the Quick Edge do anything here?
12:04, Today: William Pierce rolled 6,3 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Intimidation.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:00, Sat 26 Nov 2011.

Seven looks at Pierce, his eyes narrowing as he sees the man's hand near his holster. He hesitates, probably calculating several things: the speed he can turn his pistol around, the chance he can snap an accurate shot off before William clears leather, whether William's own shots would score against him (especially at this close range), and a dozen other factors.

"You want to start something with me, friend?" He growls. "Calm your ass down. I'm just trying to ascertain the situation here. Nobody's trying to frighten nobody."

Still, he lowers the pistol and holsters it. His glare promises that he will remember this incident, but the image of William blowing the pony express rider's head to tiny pieces in the space to two heartbeats is probably too fresh in his mind.

"Look, why don't you go in after her? See that she's all right and such. Go on. I'll wait right here."

((OOC: Quick doesn't help in this, no. Since he wasn't in the middle of a combat action, the roll to interrupt isn't necessary...this would be just an out-of-combat Test of Wills, Intimidate vs. Spirit.

Seven attempts to resist the test of will. 00:03, Today: The Seven of Spades rolled 3,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Opposed Spirit. With the +2 from his Strong Willed edge, that's a total of 5. That's not enough, and he'll choose to back down for now. You've also angered him...and he's the kind of guy who carries grudges.))

"Just making sure your triggerfinger ain't itchin... friend."

Pierce dismounts, slowly and walks around the bushes.

If he wanted you dead, he'd have plenty opportunity already.

"Don't worry miss, we're not gonna hurt ya. I'll take you to a doc."
If there's one in Blackthorn, that is...

The girl glares up at him, holding a jagged rock at the ready. "Like Hell you are." She snarls. "I have a better idea. How about you and your friend mind your own business, eh? Just turn around and go. I don't need your help...I can take care of my own affairs." She frowns a bit, reconsidering. "Though if you're feeling generous, perhaps you can spare a knife or gun or something else I can use to defend myself..."

He ponders that, for a second.
"I'm afraid I can't, ma'am."
He throws a quick glance at Spades.
"And I'm afraid he won't."

He's silent for a moment, thinking about something. He stares over the woman's shoulder at the shadowy figure still standing there.

"If you come with us, you have my word that I'll take you to a doctor, get this injury looked at."

Another glance at Spades.
"And if you want, we can rest up here for a minute while my partner rides up ahead."

OOC: I'm way better at intimidation than persuasion... ;-)
09:57, Today: William Pierce rolled 3,3 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+1)5,5. Persuasion, unskilled, White chipped.
09:57, Today: William Pierce rolled 1,1 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Persuasion, unskilled.

"So what you're saying is, I'm your prisoner?" She says, glaring daggers at him. "Well then, come and get me, if you can. I'm not going back. I've already lost my lover and his partner to that hellpit of a town. You try to take me back and I'll smash your skull in."

"Can you hurry this up?" Seven yawns. "I'm getting bored here."

Pierce frowns, puzzled.

"You right up ahead. We'll meet at the saloon, like you said. I'll be right behind you."

Then he continues talking to the woman.
"I'm not here to take you prisoner. I'm new around these parts. What... what's going on here?"

"Right." Seven says, rolling his eyes. "Just keep her away from...back there, alright?" He spurs his horse onward and rides off down the trail.

The girl gives him a nervous, high-pitched giggle at the question. "What hasn't happened in Blackthorn?" she squeaks. "Our little group came to town to do some work, and wandered into a warzone! It looks like the marshal decided to man up and hire a bunch of deputies to take on the Dust Adders. And worse, he brought in this crazy Texas Ranger and a psychotic bounty hunter who've been egging things on. Over the last couple days there've been shootouts and riots and even a couple explosions! McCavity and Rum got caught in the middle...I just barely escaped! Hell, I expect that bounty hunter to be after me any moment now..." She bats her eyes at William. "Please, sir, do you have a knife to spare so I can protect myself should he find me?"

Bounty hunters....

"Why would a bounty hunter be after you?" There's bigger fish here, after all....
"This bounty hunter have a name?"

"Because he's a lunatic that likes to hurt people, and because the Ranger uses him as her attack dog against anyone who gets in her way." Jenny replies. "His name's Jericho Cantrell...ever heard of him?"

((OOC: Roll Common Knowledge))

OOC: 20:07, Today: William Pierce rolled 11,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,3. Common Knowledge.

William has, in fact, heard about Jericho Cantrell. He remembers reading a newspaper about the bounty hunter helping the Texas Rangers bring down John Westley Hardin just a month or so ago, and numerous other criminals brought justice (usually in body bags "because they resisted arrest"). The man was once a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, drummed out because he'd ordered a massacre of Indian refugees at the Texas/Coyote Confederation border.

He sounded like bad, bed news. Of all the people a wanted man in the CSA would want to avoid, Cantrell was at the top of the list.

"His name rings a bell...", William admits. He stares off into the distance.
"My name is Pierce. William Pierce. If what I heard about him is true, he might know my name, too. If he does, he'll forget all about you, ma'am. I know his type. Greedy, bloodthirsty, self-righteous killers."

God, he hated bounty hunters.

"If he finds you brandishing a knife or gun at him, he'll gun you down and don't think twice. What about that ranger woman? What does she want with you?"

"Oh, he'll try to hunt me whether I've got a weapon or not. He won't stop if he gets through you...he'll just claim you as a bonus." The girl scowls. "And don't give me that shit. I'm not some wilting wallflower that screams and shivers at the sight of blood. I can fend for myself. As for why she wants me, well...I don't think I should tell you that. You might get the wrong idea."

"I didn't take you for a wilting wallflower. And he won't come through me."

Pierce's tone isn't bragging, he sounds like he's stating a fact.

"Will you tell me your name, then?"

OOC: Was there a weapon that the undead pony express rider had?

"Well, ain't you confident?" The girl giggles, but she looks a little more relieved. "I'm Jenny."

((OOC: He had a gunbelt, from what William saw, but he never reached for it. If he did have a weapon, it would be back at the bloody campsite.))

Pierce gives her a half-smile, then is serious again.

"So what now? I need to go Blackthorn. If Cantrell really comes after you, you won't outrun him. And there's bandits about. I've come across a pony express rider that was done in. Are you willing to die in the wild? Who's that gonna help?"

He pauses, letting that sink in.
"Come back with me and face the music. Don't be afraid for the rest of your live."

OOC: 21:28, Today: William Pierce rolled -1,0 using d4-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. Persuasion, unkilled. Yeah, I really suck at this.