A single thundering blast of a shotgun puts an abrupt end to the tradeoff of gunfire down the main stretch of road leading into Purgatory.
"Put your guns down."
Everyone who wasn't a Clanton paused at the barked orders as another shell was racked into the chamber by the speaker now exiting Shorty's bar.
"Nicole." Waverly and Rachel say at the same time relief clear in their faces at the sight of the taller woman up and around so soon after her latest brush with death.
"What the hell Haught shot." Wynonna growled spinning another round into Peacemaker's chamber only to be stopped by what thanks to Doc tugging her out of the way turned out to be a simple grazed shot to her arm from one of the pistoles the red-haired woman was carrying on her belt.
"I said put your guns down, Earp." The newly alive again former sheriff snapped once again pulling the hammer back on her gun as she crosses over toward the more Clanton side of the street. Her eyes darting between each face of the 'Earp' line as she backs away.
"Nicole, baby what's going on?" Waverly begs but Rachel quickly tugs her back when she tries to move toward the retreating redhead. Mistrust clear in her young eyes when Waverly turns to scold her.
"I do not believe that is our Nicole." The gunslinger warns in agreement after a curious sniff of the air in the retreating woman's direction.
"Perceptive." Nicole, not Nicole smiles but it was wrong. It wasn't a true Nicole Haught smile. "For the last damned time. I said put your guns down." She snarls pulling a struggling something from the pocket of her jacket when Wynonna once again tried to raise her great great great grandfather's gun. "I have to tell you again and poor She-Ra here gets turning into froggy mush." She bargains holding up the cute little frog Nedley and Jeremy had been so protective of before the shootout started up.
Its Jeremy's angry curse that gives the others pause as he immediately tossed down his gun onto the pavement his hands raised at the threat much to the frog's apparent annoyance if the up kick in is croaking was anything to go by. "Well I'm sorry Nicole but I'm not going to just let her kill you—again." the nerd translates then his gaze slides to the board looking woman holding the struggling amphibian. "Where's Nedley?"
Waverly felt her stomach drop at the sight of a truly evil smile gracing the lips of the woman she loved as the pieces click into place inside her head. "Still alive. For now." The dark-eyed redhead shrugged "Just put out of commission for a little while."
"Ma'am?"
The groaned comment from the injured man hiding behind the open door of the police cruiser had everyone again not on the Clanton side of the fight or Jeremy blinking in surprise.
"Get in the truck kids." The woman that wasn't Nicole but was wearing her face orders her gun still pointing at the frog held tight in her grip. "Now." She barks when the other two didn't move.
The two Clanton 'kids' scramble toward the truck as best they can in their battered conditions.
"Now to slow you down some more."
Rachel and Waverly screamed an echoing "No." the same time Doc, Jeremy, and Wynonna all race forward when the hand holding the frog embodied consciousness of Nicole Haught was raised threatening to smash her to the ground.
Another cannon-like blast of a shotgun cuts the air startling everyone standing out in the street.
"Put the frog down nice and slow."
None of them had ever seen Randy Nedley so upset as he was holding that shotgun. Matted blood coating his hair on one side of his head as if he'd been hit by the butt of a gun and going by the way he was favoring one side of his body they guessed he'd also been shot in the leg as well in an attempt to keep him down.
"You wouldn't dare." Margot Clanton spat when the barrel was leveled at her new body's chest.
A warning shot this one aimed at the window glass of the open door at the Clanton body snatcher's shoulder blew outward at the scoff. "I said put her down." The retired sheriff ordered while the woman who wasn't Nicole hissed when some of the flying glass shards sliced into her arm.
Nicole's face twists into a snarl as she bends down releasing the trembling frog onto the pavement between them then straightens up hands raised despite the blood seeping into the fabric of the shirt they'd covered the body she'd jumped into in to warm her up after her ice bath. "Back up." Nedley instructs as the frog that was Nicole maneuvers her new body out of the way of any stomping feet should that become a concern.
Doc was the first to reach her scooping her up with gentle hands. "Good to see you're still with us Nicole." The vampire whispers cradling the amphibian against his chest.
"Get her inside. All of you get yourselves inside."
Rachel and Waverly were the first to obey hurrying after Doc while Jeremy and Wynonna backed up each with a weapon drawn and at the ready.
"We aren't finished yet. Not by a long shot." Margot warns her teeth gritted against the pain as she pulled one of the larger shards of glass from her arm.
"We are for today." Nedley answers now leaning heavily against Wynonna's steadying grip on his injured side to stay standing while the battered Clanton's got into their truck and drove away.
"It's alright now sweetie pie. You're safe now." Waverly was cooing when the three staggered their way back into the safety of the bar. The half-angel, Nicole the frog, and Rachel huddled together on the opposite side of the bar from the metal tub and defibrillator letting Doc tentatively tend to the scrapes and cuts they'd gotten in the short gunfight outside. "We'll get you that terrarium Wynonna always teased Dolls about and we'll even set it up in our room."
The teenager feverishly scrolling her phone while Waverly continues trying to soothe the shell-shocked frog resting between her hands. "What about this one?" she offers turning the phone around mostly to cover the hiss of pain at the sting of the alcohol whip Jeremy was pressing against a cut to her cheek.
"Come on Neds let's get you all patched up yeah?" Jeremy asks as Wynonna finishing hauling the groaning Nedley into one of the side booths beside Waverly and Rachel's.
"Just keep the fangs under wraps yeah?" the retired sheriff groaned eyeing Doc with a warry expression when he picked up on the soft growls the vampire was trying to muffle as he worked.
"I will try." Doc nodded passing the first aid kit to Wynonna instead.
"How you doing Froggie Haughty?" the dark-haired Erap asks reaching out a tentative hand toward the amphibian yet to move from its burrowed place against her sister's cradled hands.
An annoyed sounding ribbit followed bringing a weak round of giggles from the battered team scattered around the bar.
"Hey, hey language Nic there a kid within earshot," Wynonna warned but her teasing smile didn't reach her eyes. "Speaking of Rach need a hand here." The heir asks as she finishes cutting away the leg of the older man's pants to get a better look at his injury.
"Rachel?" Waverly asks when the teenager had yet to answer
"Wait, where is she?"
"Rachel."
Doc and Jeremy both draw their guns when the teenager reappears looking scared and being held by some invisible force. "I—I think I finally found Billy." She announces half in fear half terrified.