Chapter 20: The Showdown
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the dusty streets of the town. Abilene and Buck rode into town, their faces set with grim determination. The evidence they had gathered against Mayor Boone was stashed safely in Buck’s saddlebag, a collection of documents and ledgers that detailed Boone’s corrupt dealings and his involvement in illegal mining and smuggling. It was all they needed to finally bring the tyrant down.
“Are you sure about this?” Abilene asked, glancing over at Buck. His face was pale, the wound on his side from their last battle still fresh, but his eyes were steady and resolved.
“I’m sure,” Buck replied, wincing slightly as he adjusted in his saddle.
“It’s time to end this. We’ve got the evidence, and we’ve got the sheriff on our side. Boone’s reign of terror ends today.”
Abilene nodded, her hand resting on the grip of her revolver.
“Let’s finish this, then.”
They dismounted in front of the sheriff’s office, the clinking of their spurs the only sound in the quiet town. As they approached the door, it swung open, and Sheriff Dawson stepped out to meet them. He was a tall, grizzled man with a weathered face, his eyes sharp and calculating. 
“Buck, Abilene,” Sheriff Dawson greeted them with a nod.
“I’ve been expecting you. You got what we need?”
Buck handed over the documents.
“It’s all here, Sheriff. Every dirty deal, every illegal operation. Boone’s been running this town like his own personal kingdom, and it’s time we took it back.”
The sheriff flipped through the papers, his expression hardening as he read the damning evidence.
“This is good,” he said finally, looking up at them. “But it won’t be easy. Boone’s got half the town in his pocket, and his gang is well-armed. If we’re going to take him down, we’ll need to be ready for a fight.”
“We’ve brought help,” Abilene said, stepping aside as Serpent, Red Hawk, and the rest of their allies from the Sand Vipers and River Tribe emerged from the shadows.
“These men are with us. They’ve fought Boone’s men before, and they’re ready to do it again.”
Sheriff Dawson’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of the fierce warriors, but he quickly nodded in approval.
“Alright then. We’ll make our stand. I’ll gather my deputies, and we’ll take the fight to Boone.”
As the sheriff turned to rally his men, Abilene felt a pang of worry. She turned to Buck, who was leaning against the wall, catching his breath.
“Buck, you should stay back. You’re hurt, and you’ve already done more than enough.”
Buck shook his head, a stubborn look in his eyes.
“I’m not sitting this one out, Abilene. Boone needs to be stopped, and I’ll be damned if I let you face him alone.”
Abilene sighed, knowing there was no changing his mind.
“Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”
Buck managed a weak smile. “I’ll try.”
***
The showdown was set to take place at the heart of Boone’s operation the train yard where he oversaw the transport of his ill-gotten goods. As the night fell, the group made their way to the yard, moving like shadows through the dimly lit streets. The town was eerily quiet, as if it sensed the battle that was about to unfold.
When they arrived, the yard was bustling with activity. Boone’s men were loading crates onto a train, preparing to move the evidence of his crimes out of town. Abilene could see Boone himself, overseeing the operation with a cold, calculating gaze.
“Remember,” Sheriff Dawson whispered to the group as they huddled behind a stack of crates.
“We need to take Boone alive if possible. We want him to stand trial for his crimes.”
Abilene nodded, though she wasn’t sure she could hold herself back if she got the chance to take Boone down. The memory of her father’s death, the years of running, the bloodshed it all boiled inside her, fueling her need for vengeance.
“Alright, let’s move,” the sheriff ordered.
The group split up, with the Sand Vipers and River Tribe warriors spreading out to flank Boone’s men. Abilene, Buck, and the sheriff moved straight toward Boone, using the cover of the crates to approach unnoticed.
But they didn’t remain unnoticed for long.
“Hey! It’s them!” one of Boone’s men shouted, and the entire yard erupted in chaos. Gunfire rang out as Boone’s men drew their weapons, and the battle was on.
Abilene and Buck dove for cover as bullets whizzed past them, kicking up dust and splinters. Abilene peeked out from behind a crate and fired, taking down one of Boone’s guards with a well-aimed shot. Beside her, Buck was firing with one hand, clutching his side with the other.
“Buck, you need to fall back!” Abilene shouted over the din of gunfire.
“No way!” Buck called back, gritting his teeth against the pain. “We’re in this together, remember?”
Abilene didn’t have time to argue. She reloaded her revolver and fired again, determined to push forward.
The battle raged on, the Sand Vipers and River Tribe warriors engaging Boone’s men in brutal close combat. The sheriff and his deputies fought valiantly, but Boone’s men were well-prepared and outnumbered them. The fight was bloody and chaotic, the air thick with gunpowder and smoke.
Finally, Abilene caught sight of Boone himself, standing near the train, barking orders to his men. Her heart pounded as she saw the man responsible for so much pain and suffering. This was her chance her chance to end it all.
“Boone!” she shouted, stepping out from behind cover and raising her revolver.
“This ends now!”
Boone turned to face her, a sneer curling his lips. “Abilene,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance.”
“You’ll regret not doing it,” Abilene replied, her voice cold and steady.
Before Boone could draw his weapon, Abilene fired. The bullet struck Boone in the shoulder, spinning him around and knocking him to the ground. He scrambled to his feet, clutching his bleeding shoulder, and made a run for the train.
“Stop him!” Abilene shouted, but Boone’s men moved to cover his escape, forcing her and Buck back.
Boone climbed aboard the train, shouting for the engineer to get it moving. The train’s whistle blew, and it began to chug forward, slowly picking up speed.
“Damn it!” Buck cursed, firing at the retreating train, but his shots were wild, his strength failing.
“We can’t let him get away!” Abilene shouted, sprinting after the train. Buck followed, but his injuries were slowing him down.
With a burst of adrenaline, Abilene leaped onto the train’s caboose, pulling herself up as the train rumbled out of the yard. She glanced back to see Buck struggling to keep up, but he waved her on.
“Go! Finish it!” he called out.
Abilene didn’t hesitate. She made her way along the top of the train, moving quickly from car to car. The wind whipped through her hair, the sound of the wheels on the tracks roaring in her ears. She could see Boone at the front of the train, trying to escape, but there was no escape this time.
When she reached the engine, Boone turned to face her, his gun drawn.
“You should have stayed dead, Abilene,” he snarled.
“And you should have never killed my father,” she replied coldly.
The two faced off in a tense standoff, the train speeding through the night. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down as they stared each other down, the years of hatred and pain culminating in this final confrontation.
Boone fired first, but Abilene was quicker. She sidestepped the shot and returned fire, her bullet striking Boone square in the chest. Boone staggered back, his eyes wide with shock and pain, before he crumpled to the floor of the engine, dead.
Abilene stood over his body, breathing hard, her heart pounding. It was over. Boone was dead, and her father’s death had finally been avenged. She felt a strange mix of relief and emptiness, the vengeance she had pursued for so long now fulfilled.
But there was no time to dwell on it. The train was still moving, and she needed to get it stopped before it crashed.
Abilene moved to the controls, pulling the brake lever with all her strength. The train screeched in protest, the wheels grinding against the tracks as it slowly came to a halt.
As the train stopped, she looked out over the town, the lights twinkling in the distance. The battle at the train yard had ended, the sounds of gunfire fading away. Abilene knew that Buck and the others had won, that Boone’s reign was finally over.
She climbed down from the engine, her body aching with exhaustion. As she walked back toward the yard, she saw Buck and the sheriff approaching, their faces filled with relief.
“It’s done,” she said simply, her voice tired but resolute.
“Boone’s dead.”
Buck stepped forward, his eyes full of pride and admiration.
“You did it, Abilene. You finished what you started.”