The Short Branch Saloon

Posted on 5/24/2009 at 6:31:35 PM

By Michael Fahrion,  photos by Kim Fahrion & Lulabelles

Early Saturday the Medicine Park Marauders rode into town. A strange partnership between the lawmen and the outlaw gang brought an uneasy piece to the streets. Both sides were heavily armed but not a six-gun barked all day. It seems they had a mutual investment in a new enterprise: The Short Branch Saloon, a temporary establishment quickly set up in a tent in Town Center. Law and outlaw worked side by side like old pards a peddlin’ beer. They were also running a side line of fresh minted t-shirts.

Marshal Payne, Calamity Lee, Doc Holyday and Miss Vycke along with help from the beer delivery crew and the fire department, quickly pitched camp along side Medicine Creek and hung out the Short Branch shingle. They picked a good day as a large herd of folks had gathered in town for the Red Dirt Ball. Doc Holyday and Miss Vycke volunteered to take on the first shift tendin’ bar. Little Britches and Marshal Payne trailed in and took over around 2:00.

Twern’t long before the afternoon heat caused a stampede and beer was  a flying out faster then Rattlesnakes could draw his gun. Speakin’ of Rattlesnake he came ridin’ up just in time to lend a hand with the beer slingin’. Seth and Slim were spotted handing around. Both were disguised to blend in the crowd. Guess they didn’t trust the truce with such a high price on the wanted poster, but the law honored the agreement and let ‘em go.

It was gettin’ near 5:00 when Calamity Lee came back from tendin’ chores on her ranch to pitch in with driving that herd of beers to market. Shortly after Calamity rode in Marshal Payne & Little Britches headed out looking for the chuck wagon.

A late evening thunderstorm rolled in causing an early closing of the Short Branch. But the two feuding factions had only agreed to a one day truce anyway. With the tent stowed away for another day the Marauders rode off with good days take. Which will most likely end up with another gunfight between the lawmen & outlaws over the dividing of the loot.