Tira Canyon

9/29/17 Sheriff Jim rides through the valley looking for signs of trouble. Everything seems quiet. A hawk from a nearby peak flies over and rests on a cactus, eyes the sheriff curiously.

⤓ Tira CANYON

10/03/2017 Sheriff Jim rides early, scanning the dawn for any signs of the bandits escape. The valley is rugged and broken and even from his ridge he cannot see very far. "They cannot get very far carrying those heavy safes. I know they have not had the time to drill them out.", he growls lowly and squints his eyes.

He has been just a few hours behind them for two days. He is close now since Flatfoot Pete can't make too much progress in these badlands, nor can he travel at night. In fact, he has been picking his way through the valley since before dawn, forcing his way along the broken trail. The pack horse is worse for the wear. Looking back as the dawn illumines the ridge line he sees the silhouette of the sheriff. Pete scoots his horse to take full cover in the shade. "I ain't gonna get much further with this sheriff on my trail." Pete thinks to himself eyeing the weakening pack horse. "If I do this right, I can take care of that varmint and get a fresher horse, to boot." Flatfoot Pete ties the pack horse to his horse and gives it a hard slap on the rump. "I will catch up with you later." Pete start to climb up the steep cliff face and takes a spot where he can see the trail.

10/10/17 Pete holds the rifle stock to his shoulder gazing down the barrel at Sheriff Jim as he rides through the narrow gap.

Pete squeezes the trigger and watches Sheriff Jim fall from his horse. Jim feels a burning pain in his shoulder push him from his horse. Autonomically, Sheriff Jim tightens his core and rolls quickly behind a rock, gun in hand. Jim scans the ridge for any sign of this attacker; Flatfoot Pete curses under his breath as he sits against the rick. Pete turns and takes a quick peek, but the sheriff is not in sight he can't get a clean shot. Sheriff Jim wants to escape this kill box he finds himself in.

10/11/2017 Crouched behind the rock, bleeding out his shoulder, Sheriff Jim scans the ridge line with the sights of his revolver. There is no sign of movement or of the shooter. "maybe he has moved along?", he thinks to himself, "just as likely waiting for me to move." "That is correct, Sheriff." Flatfoot Pete says aloud to himself picking up the sheriffs thoughts rising on the heatwaves from the burning sands. Sheriff Jim takes a deep breath centering himself and lets his energy run to ground. His wound stops bleeding but begins to ache. He is not happy being pined down."Can I draw him out without getting myself killed?", Jim puzzles while resting in his light trance.

10/12/2017 Flatfoot Pete fires a hasty shot at the sheriffs head. Lead buries it self into the sandstone above where the sheriff is taking cover. Sheriff Jim sees the powder smoke up on the ridge in a cleft in the rock. Pete squeezes off a shot as the sheriff ducks behind a rock. The shot misses as does Sheriff Jim's quick return shot. Flatfoot Pete drills two more shots into the sandstone where Sheriff Jim is taking cover. Sheriff Jim scans the ridge with the sights of his revolver. He sees a slight shift in the shadow and fires off a shot. Damed if it don't graze the rock line kicking lead and rock into Flatfoots face; shaking him with anger more than injuring him. Pete squints through the blood and dust in his eyes and fires off two more shots that just kick up dust. Sheriff Jim lobs three bullets in a row up the ridge without effect. Wiping his face Flatfoot Pete reloads his rifle and concentrates his attention on the barrel at the outcropping of rock. Pete takes his hat off and waves it above his head in an attempt to make a shadow the sheriff can see. Sheriff Jim leans out to take a look. Pete squeezes the trigger, misses. Sheriff returns fire and misses. Pete stands and fires. Bullets wiz by his head but his is given a clear shot. Sheriff Jim reels back, his shoulder burning in pain. He fires back wildly but misses Pete by a mile. The front of his shoulder is bleeding now and his left arm is nearly useless.

10/13/17 Sheriff Jim fires a shot and hits Flatfoot Pete.