Chapter 4: Twin Rocks
Three weeks later, Jack was recovered enough to get out and about. He got dressed and put on his gear, once he was ready he stepped out of Doc Johnston's office. Jack walked down the street to the Marshal's office, he walked in the jail and saw it was empty except for Jessica Ballard in one of the cells. Jack saw this beautiful young woman and his heart skipped a beat, she was downright gorgeous. "Is Marshal Bennett here?" He asked her. "No, fella said he was going to the saloon." Jessica replied. Jack nodded and tipped his hat at her, he walked outside and down the dusty street through Armadillo. He entered the saloon where everyone looked at him. "What?" He asked defensively. "Nothing Jack." Marshal Bennett's voice said as he walked through the crowd. "Feeling better?" He asked Jack. "Not particularly, but enough to do what I need to." Jack replied. "Good, we have a beat on Walton's Gang. They have a few hideouts in this county, the first is in Twin Rocks. Let's head over there and clean em' out." Marshal Bennett told Jack.
The two men walked outside, Marshal Bennett mounted his Cleveland Bay horse, and Jack mounted his American Standardbreed. They rode out of Armadillo and north to Twin Rocks hideout, they rode at a steady pace. "So what's your business with the gangs around here?" Marshal Bennett asked Jack. "Can't tell you, let's just say I'm being forced to do this for my freedom." Jack replied. "Freedom? You an outlaw?" Marshal Bennett asked Jack. "Not really, I've killed a few men but I'm no Landon Ricketts." Jack replied. "Maybe you had something to do with that government man shot in Mexico, makes sense after what he did to your pa." Marshal Bennett told Jack. "You heard about that?" Jack asked. "Word travels fast around here son. Who's cutting the deal?" Marshal Bennett asked. "The FBI are making me take down these gangs in exchange for my freedom, I don't trust them but I have no choice." Jack replied. They rode up outside of Twin Rocks hideout, the two men dismounted their horses and took cover behind a rock.
Walton's Gang members were patrolling the area, two of them were on the twin rocks keeping lookout, several were on the ground and there were snipers on the roofs. "What's the plan?" Jack asked. "Take out the snipers and the lookouts first, then we deal with the fellas on the ground." Marshal Bennett replied. Jack drew his rifle out of the holster on his back, he aimed at the hoodlum on the left rock. Jack steadied himself, he squeezed the trigger. (Blam) The hoodlum fell off the rock to his death, Marshal Bennett shot the hoodlums on the roof tops. Jack dispatched of the second lookout on the other rock, when they were taken care of the two men stormed the hideout. Jack drew his pistol and quickly started doing headshots, he took cover behind a crate as he and the Marshal were getting shot at. Jack reloaded his pistol and waited for the gunshots to stop, when they did he stood up and shot the hoodlum in the head. He and Marshal Bennett each went from house to house clearing out the gang members that habited them. Jack come across a hoodlum holding a young woman hostage, he had her as a human shield and his gun was aimed at Jack. Jack aimed his pistol, he went into a concentration, time slowed down around him, he picked his shot and fired. The bullet went through the hoodlum's skull and into the wall, he fell dead behind the woman.
The woman ran to Jack and hugged him, she was in her early 20's with brown hair, blue eyes, and a beautiful face, she wore a white dress with dirt stains on it. "Thank you, I thought I was done for." She said in a relieved tone. "No problem." Jack replied. He met the Marshal outside, Bennett lit a cigarette and handed Jack one. Jack struck a match and lit his cigarette, he threw the match on the ground. "That's a good days work, let's head back to Armadillo." Marshal Bennett told Jack. The two men mounted their horses and rode south to town, Jack was satisfied somewhat but he knew there were more hideouts to clear out. They rode into Armadillo and hitched their horses outside of the Marshal's office, they entered the building, the cell that Jessica Ballard was in was empty. Marshal Bennett got an angry expression on his face, he walked out the door. "Matthew, get over here!" He shouted at the deputy. Matthew Lawrence ran to the Marshal from the doctor's office, he stopped when he reached Marshal Bennett. "Yes sir." Matthew asked. "The girl, where'd she go?" Bennett asked Matthew. "She tricked me sir, she started flirting with me and when I opened the cell door she took my gun and knocked me out." Matthew replied. "Dammit, Marston as you can see I got a lot to deal with. This girl is part of the Ballard Gang, maybe you can take them down by capturing her." Bennett told Jack. "Where is she hiding?" Jack asked. "Pike's Basin, watch yourself. Ballard's gang aren't no small outfit." Marshal Bennett replied. Jack mounted his horse and rode out of town and towards Pike's Basin.
