(Requoted from the Two Months After The Fire Posting)

The fact that Maddock is understaffed in law officials certainly hasn't been overlooked by those who appreciate a good place to crash with little notice by busy lawmen. Rumors have begun to spread that a gang of rogue cowboys has taken up camp in the mountains and often come into town to visit what has now been dubbed as Shady Lane. Local ranches have also reported that an unusually high number of cattle have gone missing and rustling is assumed. Many of the local ranch hands have taken to carrying rifles and side arms with them at all times, self-appointed vigilante riders just waiting to catch them in the act.

The scourge of rustling has continued, even with the addition the Texan man Jack Barron as the new town sheriff. As Marshal Tucker was soon to learn via telegraph, the rustling is quite prominent throughout the entire county, some of the events happening simultaneously in regions too far to reach in one night. It would seem that someone has organized quite a little operation for themselves. Many have noted the ragged look of both men who have been quite busy riding out to local ranches in an attempt to catch a lead on these rustlers.

Course the local ranchers are not taking this lying down. Christopher Quintan took precautions to arm his men, triple his perimeter patrols and post a bounty for information. While the younger Quintan was in Great Falls with Karl's body, his men even managed to shoot one of the offenders down. Too bad they couldn't (or wouldn't) follow directions well enough, depositing the body without so much as a note on the Sheriff's doorstep. (Seems Christopher will have to purge himself a few men who are still remnants of the Karl Quintan regime.)

In addition to catching (killing) one of the rustlers, it appears the man was riding a horse from the Brandt Ranch. The animosity between the two ranches has been known for a long time. Perhaps someone is trying to start a range war?

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