The Bollard Twins
The Year is 1912, one year ago the Marshal of armadillo, his deputies and an unknown accomplice had assasinated the two twin leaders of the bollard twins gang, ike and willie bollard, this dealt a servere blow to the gang. There surviving non twin brother, gus bollard, took the few remaining members and fled New Austin, hiding, waiting.
In 1912, The bollards came out of hiding, led by Gus Bollard, there newly appointed leader. They Set up there newly formed gang in a warehouse in thieves landing, a lawless town, where corruption, violence and sin was abundant. Gus bollard was only concerned with the money, and the power the gang could have, and focused only on achieving said power, stepping on all to get it, even friends, and fellow gang members.
Kyle McGinty was just an average member in that gang. Kyle was a grizzled looking man with blonde hair and beard, he looked an old veteran but was only that of age 33. Kyle worked in the thieves landing warehouse with the gang. Since the gangs takeover, the gang was using the warehouse to store arms and ammo. Kyle was simply a guard, and somtimes helped work with the unloading and loading of the crates into carts and wagons, ready to be sent off to deals. Kyle was packing boxes into the crates one day, it was hard work, these crates were being sold to a buyer from somwhere in gaptooth ridge. Kyles best friend walked into the warehouse, shep thomas. Kyle and shep had fallen into the gang together, and have been thick as thieves ever since. Kyle was also 33, and had an eyepatch over one eye, he had long brown hair and a beard to match.
"Should of known a big bad gunslinger like yourself would be giving crappy packing work again" said shep, jumping up onto a crate next to him and sat down on it, he then took out a ciggarette, lit it, and took a long drag.
Kyle slammed the crates lid down. "Gus is riding ass again, he seems so obsessed with this deal."
Shep exhaled his ciggarette smoke. "Whats he dealing this time, i hear its pretty heavy duty"
"explosives, dynamite. And a few shotguns to the mix aswell." said kyle. He sat next to shep on the crate and lit up a smoke aswell. " this is pretty heavy shit, i feel sorry for whoever has to escort it."
"well Ians the one driving it there isnt he, i feel sorry for him" said shep with a laugh, he put out his smoke. "come on, ians gonna be here soon to deliver these, we should load them up in the yard."
They loaded some boxes up onto a Trolley and wheeled them out into the loading yard, a large maze of boxes and crates. Guards were patrolling on top of them and snipers were stationed in little nests with in the crates. To see a place this well defended truly gave kyle a sense of how much the bollards have grown. Kyle and Shep wheeled the Trolley over to the loading bay and took a rest, They sat down on the crates and relaxed. When they sat down they recognized one of the guards as there friends, Robert. His real name was LS Roberts, but friends call him by his second name. Roberts was older than shep and kyle, age 45. he had black hair, mutton chops, and a large yellow coat. despite his age though, he was a very seasoned fighter.
"hey hey, kyle, shep. how the hell are ya!" he said in a warm tone of voice.
"hey friend. Havent seen you since you went on that trip to armadillo to deal with the waltons" Kyle said whils shaking roberts hand.
"those top hat bastards turned on us, but we got away, after i introduced them to my equalizer here" winked roberts, showing off a rather impressive Schofield revolver.
"Bullshit, Its cause i was there to save yo ass!" came a voice from across the way. It was Jason, another friend of Theres, Jason was african american, and was the youngest of them all: 27 years old. he ahd a white bowlers hat and a blue shirt worn under a black waits coat. the four all gathered round, a circle of friends.
"Shotgun beats revolver." He said to Roberts with a jokey look in his eye.
"depends on whose using it, and i thought i used it pretty well when we got shot up in armadillo." came back roberts.
"Buuuullshit" said Jason sarcasticly and laughing. The group was laughing and smoking when a bullet thuded into the ground around them. It was the boss.
"That was your only warning shot now get back to work!" he yelled from his window
The four sighed and dispersed. Kyle looked at shep, with an angry look in his eye, not angry with shep, but with gus bollard. Shep also shared that sentiment. The two then resumed work
"oh, guys, Bo and Ian are coming back later. What do ya say, poker and whisky down at the saloon?" shouted shep towards Roberts and Jason, walking towards the warehouse.
Jason waved back at them "My favourite combonation. its a plan man!"
The gates of the loading yard opened and in thundered a wagon, with two screaming men on the reins. Ian conners was driving into the yard with Bo Schram on the back drinking a bottle of whisky, both screaming wildly. The wagon halted infront of shep and kyle. Bo jumped down, staggering about, slightly drunk. Bo was around 34, he wore a white cavalry brimmed hat and a white buttoned up shirt.
"YEEEAAAAH BABY! MOTHER FUCKING YEAAAAH" he screamed, thowing the empty bottle of whisky at the wall.
"whoaaah Bo calm down" Kyle said grabbing hold of him
"The deal went down man, more money for everyone, Booze all round! YEAAAH! I need more dammnit!" he took three steps and fell over in the mud.
"Or not" he said from the ground.
Ian got down from the wagon. He was 37 years old, wore a brown cattlemen hat with a brown leather wastcoat and chaps.
"sorry about Bo, He got drunk" ian said. "we all down the saloon later?"
"Yeah partner, were all playing poker tonight" kyle grinned.
Sadly the mood dropped as Gus bollard walked out to talk to Ian
"how much did you make?" he snapped. And snatched the money off of ian.
"uh, more than expected, The buyer paid more for to us than we thought, so that means more for you without effecting all our cuts." He said nervously.
"funny. i dont remember saying youd get cuts" Bollard said and turned away and walked towards the warehouse.
"you bastard!" said Bo, still drunk on the floor face down. Gus continued on without hearing. "i neeeed booze".
Kyle stood up and sighed. "hey guys were gonna load these up, when were done, wel see you at the saloon."
"sure" said ian. "what about you Bo?"
Bo was snoring, asleep on the floor.
"fucking lightweight" said shep laughing. Ian Picked him up and walked towards the warehouse. Shep and kyle resumed work. Kyle did not seem to happy about things at the moment, and only had tonight in the saloon to look forward to.
"OH YEAH! King High Club Flush!" Shouted Shep raking in his pot. It was night and The six friends were sat around the poker table with there drinks and cards, all with there hats off. The Saloon was packed with people, and piano music was being played, to liven the spirits of everyone. Despite the nature of the place, and the fact it is one place to get drunk and violent, Ironicly the saloon was one of the safest places in the town. Kyle was sat there without his jacket on, and seemed pretty down. Jason walked over with there bottles of whisky and sat down.
"Kyle, Buddy, you seem down. Come on man, were all friends, you can tell us whats up?" said ian assuringly whilst dealing the cards
Kyle folded his pair of Sevens, proving that he was upset and sighed.
"Gus, Gus Bollard, thats whats wrong." he said with an angry tone of voice, not angry with his friends, but with gus.
The Table fell silent...
END OF CHAPTER ONE...