Jedediah McGrady
Jedediah limped a little as the train rocked. His foot was mostly healed but he still didn't like to put much pressure on it. The sawbones back in Bronzeton had said to give it a few weeks anyway. Absent his horse, now a sculpture of bones up north, Jed was going to have to walk a while.
"Serves me right." Jed mumbled as he collapsed back down in his seat.
"Serves who?" Said the curly little blonde girl, before her maw shush'd her.
"Me." Jed smiled at the girl and then touched his hat to her and her maw. "I made a bad choice a few weeks ago and got hurt. So it is sort of a just punishment for me."
"You didn't listen to your mother, did you?" The girl asked unashamedly. Her mother blanched and pulled the little living doll close.
"No. I reckon my life would have been better had I paid attention to my maw." Jed smiled sadly. The trail dust and stubby start of an off brown beard didn't mark him as civilized material. The six gun at his hip certainly didn't help matters. Nor did the poorly mended holes in his britches. Jed wondered what the woman would think if he opened his vest. Would the shiny star with it's stamped "Deputy U.S. Marshall" change her mind?
As the food cart started to roll down the aisle Jed caught the hungry look both his companions gave it. The mother just squeezed her daughter close and looked away. Jed realized he hadn't seen them eat the entire trip. With a few extra coins he got a heaping platter of taters and stewed beef, with a few rolls for sopping up all the gravy. After a few minutes of letting them smell the food Jed figured the maw's resistance was worn down enough.
"Hey, look." He burped. "My stomach is right queasy and I can't finish all this. The good book says 'Waste not want not'; could you two help me out?" He belched again and held his stomach. "Begging your pardon, ladies, but I need to excuse myself right now!"
Jed hurried down the aisle and into the car with the necessaries. After taking out a kerchief to clean up his mouth he walked around a while, talking here and there and seeing who all was on the train. By the time he got back to his own car and sat down the platter had been wiped clean and nary a crumb was in sight.
Jed just smiled and tipped his hat forward. Nap time was any time and no sense in making a scene.
Later, as the train rolled on and the night had moved in, Jed felt someone nudge his leg. He opened one eye as his hand relaxed toward the handle of his sixgun.
"I...I just wanted to say thank you." The woman was as crimson as she could be.
"No worries, Mrs..." Jed figured she had forced herself to say thank you.
"Clanton. Mrs. Clanton. This is my daughter Rosalee." Her head bowed a moment. "That was a kindly thing you did. Rosie and I are on our way to Toad Crossing."
"I appreciate you helping me not get in trouble with the good book." Jed looked at the woman and mentally reached out to her. His hands stayed where they were, though maybe not so close to his gun.
"That's not it, is it?" She twisted her hands together.
Jed cursed himself for taking so long to realized the woman and child were both wearing all black. "Your man not make it in frontier life?"
"No." Quietly she shook her head. "We have to go identify the body." A tear ran down her cheek. "There's a reward if he's dead. We were paid to come identify him."
"Not paid a lot, I take it?"
"More than he had sent back for food and rent." She sighed. "They paid for the ticket and promised the full payment once the body was identified."
"What if it's not him?"
She didn't say anything for a long time. Jed didn't press her.
Jedediah McGrady[edit]
Human Lawman
Stats
Grit - 1
Snap - 1
Wits - 1
Skills
Amity - 4
Toughness - 3
Learning - 2
Wile - 2
Wilderness - 2
Hit Points = 11
Melee Attack Bonus - 2
Missile Attack Bonus - 2
Power Attack Bonus - 2
Defense Score - 13
Mental Defense Score - 13
Does not get sick
Heal 2 points per level, per day, by sharing a drink.
Equipment[edit]
Mustang’s Army Service Pistol .41-cal: 2d4 damage; range 0-1; 6 shot; $65
.41-cal, box of 50, $15
Bowie knife: 1d6 damage; $12.
Quick draw holster with loops for 50 rounds. $11.
(Assuming clothes an the one-way ticket here are free), $47 left. Still need to shop a bit but it's nappy time.