The Six-Gun Solution (TimeWars 12)

“Stay out of it, Jenny!” Scott snapped.

“I will not stay out of it! Bill, this is murder! You’ll hang for it!”

“Maybe I will and maybe I won’t.” Curly Bill replied. “I’ll take my chances. I’ll give you a fair chance, Kid. Pistols loaded this time. Let’s do it for real.”

“How do I know you won’t just shoot me as soon as I turn around?” asked Scott.

In reply. Curly Bill lowered the hammer on his Colt and put it back in its holster. “I’ve holstered my pistol. Ask Jenny if you don’t believe me.”

Scott frowned. “Did he do it, Jenny?”

“Yes,” she said, in a small voice.

Scott glanced at her. “You’re too close. Move back.”

“Scott.

“I said, move back!”

She stepped back up on the boardwalk, watching them both fearfully.

“Go ahead, Kid. Turn around and make your play.”

Behind them, some people saw what was going on and made haste to get out of range of any stray bullets. Scott moistened his lips. Something was wrong here. Curly Bill knew he could beat him. Surely he wasn’t going to give him an even chance. Unless, of course, there was another gun pointed at him somewhere…

Still standing with his back to Brocius. Scott said. “I’d like to give Jenny a kiss, Curly Bill. Just in case. That all right with you?”

“Sure. Why not? Be quick about it, though.”

“Jenny..

She came running to his arms. “Scott..”

“Listen, Jenny,” he whispered in her ear, urgently, as he put his arms around her. “Look up at the roof of the saloon and tell me if you see anybody up there.”

He felt her stiffen, then she pressed her cheek against his as he hugged her close, so she could see behind him. He heard her sharp intake of breath.

“Oh. God.” she whispered. “Scott. I can see a man up there! He’s got a Winchester!”

“Okay. Jenny, keep calm.” Scott whispered back. As he held her close, with his hands behind her back, he popped open the hinged cover on his warp disc. Pretending to kiss her neck, he looked down behind her and quickly programmed the disc, hoping he could reedy estimate the height and distance…

“That’s enough!” said Brocius. “Let’s get on with it!”

“Jen. as soon as I let you go. I want you to get out of here.” said Scott. “Don’t ask any questions, just run. Can I count on you?”

She nodded. He gave her a quick kiss and let her go. She ran back toward the saloon.

“Okay, Kid. Turn around and make your play.”

Instead of turning around. Scott quickly hit the button on his warp disc and disappeared.

Brocius quickly drew his gun, then blinked and stared with disbelief. “What the.

Scott reappeared on the roof of the Oriental Saloon, directly behind the rifleman. The man still hadn’t recovered from his shock at suddenly seeing his target vanish into thin air.

“Psst! Over here,” said Scott.

As the startled man spun around. Scott fired. The bullet took him in the chest and he went flying off the roof to land in the street below.