Kid Colt Outlaw #8 — Nick Peron

Aug 19

Aug 19 Kid Colt Outlaw #8

Ambush in Lone Valley!

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Kid Colt has taken cover in an abandoned cabin when he is confronted by a fellow outlaw named Flash and his employer Mr. Cullen. Cullen offers Kid Colt the opportunity to join his posse in going in an mowing down a nearby town of Mexican immigrants so that they can take the water that local ranchers need. Soon after one of the Mexicans comes to try and get Kid Colt's help but is gunned down by Cullen's hired guns. When they try to do the same to the Kid, they find themselves out gunned and are forced to flee.

Kid Colt takes the dead Mexican to his village, Long Valley, there the locals are already upset because they are aware of the cattlemen's need of water and sent one of their own to make a deal, only for him to be killed. When the leader of the mob of locals tries to shoot Kid Colt, he easily disarms the man and then rushes off to the ranches to try and quell and further violence. As the Kid rushes off, one of the ranches and his hired men are gunned down and this is blamed on the Mexicans. Before an angry mob can be formed, Kid Colt arrives and explains the situation, but he is likewise not believed. However, Kid Colt agrees to lead them to Long Valley to show that the Mexicans have been double crossed by putting himself in the line of fire first.

When the Mexicans start shooting, Kid Colt once more disarms them and calls for peace and understanding. Just then they realize Cullen and his men have disappeared. Realizing that they might storm the village, the ranchers and Mexicans work together and begin mowing down Cullen's men as they attempt to rush the village and wipe it out. Out gunned, Cullen orders his surviving men to hide in the nearby wheat field so they can attack at night. However, this does not work out for Cullen, as Kid Colt and the Mexicans light fire to the wheat forcing the men out. Cullen is gunned down and the remaining member of his hired gun crew flee the scene. In the aftermath the rancher and Mexicans make a deal to share the water. When they try to thank Kid Colt for his help, they find that he has already left.

Recurring Characters

Kid Colt
Steel

Death Waits in the Shadows!

Easterner Richard Hamilton and his daughter Helen have come west to inherit the Long Gulch Ranch. When they try to get a carriage to the location of the ranch they are told that it is haunted and everyone who has owned or worked on it has either been killed or fled. Richard finds this story preposterous and rents a horse and wagon to ride out to their ranch. However, their first night there, Richard hears a noise and goes to investigate only to be shot. Dying, he gives the deed to the property to his daughter telling her to never sell the ranch or gun and to avenge his death before dying. Helen vows to avenge her father’s death and keep the ranch.

The following day, Helen is trying to learn how to shoot when Kid Colt happens to be pass by. The Kid decides to stop and give her some shooting lessons when they are interrupted by a local named Mr. Lawton who offers to buy the land off Helen for a reasonable price, warning her that it is haunted. He also warns her of cattle thefts in the area that have happened recently. Helen refuses and the Kid finds it suspicious that a man so concerned with Helen's safety would be interested in buying the ranch. Kid Colt then agrees to work on the ranch for Helen and hire on some ranch hands to help with the duties. The first night that the workforce is gathered one of their number is shot dead. The hired help immediately believe that it is the haunted property, however Kid Colt dismisses such nonsense and talks them men out of leaving.

The next day Mr. Foreman is once more pressuring Helen to sell. When he insults Kid Colt, the Kid attacks him and easily beats him in a fist fight. When Foreman tries to shoot the Kid in the back, Colt is a faster draw and easily disarms him before leading Helen to the lake to show her the days work. As they leave, Foreman vows to get revenge against Kid Colt. That night, the cabin where the ranch hands sleep is set ablaze, but the Kid manages to get them awake and put out the fire before it can cause too much damage.

Suspecting what is going on, Kid Colt asks to see a map of the region and finds the reason why the ranch is "cursed". The Kid deduces that whoever is causing the "curse" is trying to drive people off the ranch in order to use the mountain pass off the property to smuggle the stolen cattle out of town unnoticed. Kid Colt and the other hired hands then set up an ambush along the valley, knowing that the thief will have to make a bold move in order to sell the cattle before they are noticed. Kid and his posse easily take down the gang of rustlers, who are led by Mr. Lawton, who confesses to the entire thing just as Helen arrives with the sheriff. As Lawton and his men are being taken away, Helen turns to thank Kid Colt, only to find that he has already left.