Medicine Park Marauder’s Comic Book is Here!

Posted on 5/28/2009 at 7:35:41 PM

That’s right, The Great Stagecoach Hold-Up, is now shipping! Limited first edition (first printing 150 copies). Each copy is numbered. 20 page full color featuring some of your favorite Marauders. Story by Muriel & Michael Fahrion, edited by Muriel Fahrion, illustrated & Layout by Michael Fahrion from Photos used to generate illustrations by Robert Dean. Price is $5, $1.75 shipping. Will also be available locally from the Laughing Lizard Trading Post or contact Michael Fahrion 529-2920.

Appearing in Stagecoach Hold-up

The Medicine Park Marauders, Medicine Show and Perils Thank you for your order!

First Medicine Park Marauder Comic

Available NOW! Click here to purchase online.

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.

Marauders in Lawton Armed Forces Day Parade

Posted on 5/16/2009 at 8:45:27 PM

by Little Britches

The morning began with “are the guns loaded?” in place of the usual “good morning”. Both the cellphone and land line were ringing at the same time checking to see if everyone would be on board. Rain or even more rain the Lawton/ Ft. Sill Armed Forces Day parade was going to happen. So we strapped on our guns and headed into town. The Medicine Park Marauders: Rattlesnake, Little Britches, Marshall Payne, and Miss Vycke were aboard the Medicine Wagon along with Fortune Teller and Ms. Goodbody our local Floozy. Following us was the Giant, can’t miss it, Rubber Duck representing Medicine Park’s  annual Rubber Duck Race accompanied by Marshal Odie and Slim.  Seth Wright and Pack Mule rode on the Firetruck, piloted by volunteer fireman Andy and copiloted by fire dog William along with Paisley Pam.

The first part of the parade the giant yellow ducky seemed to grab all the attention is least from younger set. Making Miss Vycke to wonder out loud why she had even bothered gussying up this morning. Some of the audience demanded we fire our guns and we obliged. The fortuneteller promised to read the fortune of any one coming to the Park. And the Marauder’s took turns letting the audience know about the Red Dirt Ball next weekend. Miss Vycke (the softer side of Marauder’s) with the help of Rattlesnake and Marshal Payne handed out carnations to ladies that lined the parade route. Later as we passed by the troops that had come to rest near the end of the parade route, all eyes turned toward Miss Goodbody, perched atop the Medicine Wagon wielding a double barrel shot gun. She let loose with Medicine Park Marauder’s “Shoot Out, Shout Out” to all those serving to protect and defend the US.

Random Marauding for Mom’s Day

Posted on 5/10/2009 at 9:18:15 PM

The lawman, Marshal Payne, joined up with the outlaw Little Britches declaring a truce on account of because it was Mom’s Day. They were there to welcome the Moms visitin’ Medicine Park on their special day.  They cobbled together a card with a little silk rose as a token of the Marauder respect for Moms. Yes, even them gun totin’ Marauders have Moms. While Little Britches handed out the cards and best wishes, Marshal Payne offered to arrest any kids that were bein’ to rowdy fer their Ma.

We crossed trails with Nancy Mace of the 107 Broadcasting Ranch. She was honoring her Grandma. And who’d we’d meet up with none other than Sheriff Kenny Stradley treatin” his beautiful Ma and his pretty bride to good eatin’s at the Old Plantation. His Ma said she was blessed and proud of her son and she keeps him in her prayers.

It was fun and not even the damp drizzlin’ rain seem to deter the crowds coming out to dine. We gave out ‘most 100 cards, bringing the Moms a little smile and a nice remembrance of Medicine Park.

School Tours

Posted on 5/8/2009 at 12:54:55 PM

by Little Britches (aka Muriel Fahrion)

Medicine Park played host by students from Lawton public Schools. On Tuesday the first graders Crosby Park came with their teachers and some parents and grandparents.  And on Wednesday it was the 3rd graders from Whittier. Charley Wright, who brings the book, Trapped in Death Cave, to life, held court again as he furnished details on the local writer’s, Bill Wallace, book. He explained what part of the book was fictional and what parts of the book were based in reality. Charley has taken on the role for a seemingly endless parade of schools and school children. Odus Hennessee, who has been a partner in these presentations, brought out his guitar and sang the Possum Song which has become the unofficial anthem of Medicine Park. And enjoyed by visitors of all ages.  The Marauders showed up as well with Michael Fahrion as Marshal Payne, Randy Hansen as DOG, Lee Hibbetts as Calamity and yours truly, as Little Britches joining in to help tell the history of the Park. Always part  of the presentation is Charley’s guided tour of the Park pointing out places that were referred to in the story. More groups are scheduled in including the Burkburnett and Ft. Worth Texas school kids.

Thanks, Charley

Stage Holdup

Posted on 4/18/2009 at 4:39:55 PM

It had been a peaceful spell in town, nothing stirring since last fall. Everyone was hopin’ that the Seth Wright Gang had been run off for good. Town folk and local law had gotten a bit complacent so no one took note of the the gang ridin’ into town. They’d holed up someplace over the winter and hit the trail into Medicine Park lookin’ to increase their depleted stores of loot.

Arrivin’ just ahead of the noon stage they were greeted by pair of floozies. As the stage rounded the corner Rattlesnake stepped out and let go with a shotgun causin’ the driver to pull up short. The blast startled everyone back to realizing the Seth Gang was still raisin’ Cain. Rattlesnake was told keep an eye on driver so he couldn’t escape with the stage. Passengers were forced to disembarked and line up along the stagecoach. Rattlesnake herded the driver out behind the stage, but as always his itchy trigger finger caused his six-gun to bark. As Rattlesnake stepped out from behind the stage Slim ask what happened. To which Rattlesnake replied; “Shot him.” “Well,” Slim said, “I guess they don’t have any plans now.”

Little Britches noted the passengers looked like a good bunch for “nice donation”, all lined up fer a purse pluckin’. Slim had a bag for the loot, but as he went to use it it turned out a rattlesnake was hiding in it. Slim discarded the rattler at a passenger just to scare ‘em.

Madam Olga Seesall, local gypsy, rushed in and grabbed up the snake like the missing card needed for fillin’ an inside straight. Turns out it was Wilber, her pet. With Wilber wrapped securely around her neck she proceeded to read the fortunes of the passengers. Slim ask to have his fortune read too. His was more of a misfortune then fortune. The Gypsy lighten Slim’s load of valuables with one hand while dealing out his fortune with the other. She did rightly predict there was trouble just around the corner for the Seth Gang, and it was a comin’ RIGHT NOW! No sooner had she uttered those words then the law arrived.

Marshal Payne dealt the law in with a round from his Colts .45. He figured they had the Gang beat; “Caught ‘em red handed robbin’ the stage.” But Little Britches weren’t ready to fold her hand and replied; “There weren’t no Lawman big enough to arrest her. And if there was she and the gang could just get one of those government bail-outs.” Which seem to only go the crooks.

While the law argued over whether or not they’d still get the reward if they just shot ‘em, Slim raised the stakes by grabbing a hostage. Little Britches said; “How come Slim always gets a hostage. I’m gonna get me one too.” With the outlaws holdin’ a pair of hostages the situation degenerated into a standoff.

Odie wanted to shoot them all and sort it out later; the Marshal didn’t want to waste bullets on hostages ’cause there was no reward on them. As the law disputed the finer points of remaining somewhat legal, Olga ask the crowd to vote on whether or not it was okay to shoot the hostages. She ask them to text message from a cellphone (whatever that was) which made us a wonder what she was drinking to come up with that idea. Turned out it was her fortune telling skills seeing to far into the future. So she ask for a show of hands.

The vote count was in dispute like everything else. The Marshal pulled out the warrant to see if there were anything about not shootin’ hostages. It just said; “SHOOT ‘EM.” There were some fine print at the bottom, but nothing about hostages. It did say the law could arrest any known member of the Seth Gang, and if they tried to resist shoot ‘em. There was a $200 reward on any any member, and an Oklahoma special this month only of any two members of your choice for $500.

With no restraints in the warrant, Odie called with; “Shoot ‘em.” Rattlesnake upped the ante by askin’; “What if them hostages are some big shot like the governor, or kin to him?” That law back off a bit with this idea, thinking they might end up with a dead or alive reward on them. But they figured they could cover the bet by blaming the killin’ on the Seth Gang and the reward would be bigger.

With their eye on Slim and Little Britches holding the two hostages, the law didn’t notice the rest of the gang steppin’ back from the game. They figured it was time to fold ‘em and haul freight out a town. Seth cut loose with his six-shooter at the law distracting them while Slim and Little Britches discarded the hostages passin’ them to the enchanting Miss Goodbody. The outlaws skedaddled with the law in hot pursuit. Colts .45s filled the air with gun smoke. Doc Holyday was minorly grazed about the time both sides ran out of bullets. Town budgets bein’ in sorrowful straits allocated jist six bullets per peace officer. So once again the Seth Gang got away to ride and terrorize Medicine Park another day.

Click for more pictures (Opens in a new window)

Rattle Snake comes to Town

Posted on 3/14/2009 at 5:09:51 PM

3D Animation and Character by Muriel Fahrion
(aka Little Britches)

Marauders Go Caroling

Posted on 12/15/2008 at 6:16:45 PM

In the spirit of the season the law and the outlaws declared a shaky truce for bit of Christmas Caroling.  A wagon was hauled over from the wagon yard and parked in Town Center where we set up a singin’ camp.  We were right next to big, fancy tree with lights and ribbons and all sorts of decorations. Mamie Fossett had staked out a spot next to the tree where she was havin’ youngins make more doodads to for prettying up that tree even more.

Odie brought in the sound gear and got it set up. Then Calamity Lee and Odie climbed into the wagon and got their gee-tars and singin’ voices warmed up.  Marshal Payne and Little Britches came a wanderin’ in looking more like pards then law-oultlaw adversaries. I guess this time of the year tends to slow down the gun play as not Colt spoke  up the whole weekend.  Miss Floozy rode up with some new fangled electric music making machine that looked like piano keys stuck on a little black box. But it sure made for a pretty sound and went right well with Calamity’s gee-tar.

We all gathered around the wagon where Calamity rode lead on the singing and made some pretty music.  I reckin’ Marshal Payne was riding drag as he did tend to get behind in some songs, but kept up with jinglin’ the sleigh bells.  Odie had to head out to take care of some marshilin’ business, but Rattle Snake wandered in and help fill out chorus.   Mamie Fossett took a break from making tree decorations and joined in singing. Thanks to Calamity we had the words to the Carols so we could all keep fairly close to the songs. There were a few times when we had stop round up stray song sheets when the wind stampeded them.

There was the usual visitors havin’ us pose for pictures, and Marshal Payane had rein in a young outlaw.  The Marshal turned him over to his Ma after she took a picture of his arrest.

Photos by Rita Lee Worthington & Big Rock Works.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Posted on 12/3/2008 at 5:46:33 PM

(Marauder Style)

by Michael & Muriel Fahrion

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and in the old bunkhouse
Not a creature was stirring, ‘cept maybe a field mouse;

The tall boots were set by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Marauders in bedrolls were all snuggled down,
With visions of six-guns shootin’ all over town;
I had just a hung’ my hat up for the rest of the night
Geared up to bed down ‘n blow out the light,
When out in the corral there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Grabbin’ my six-gun and cockin’ the hammer,
I slipped to the window in the shiftiest manner.
The moon on the blue stem of the prairie below
Gave the barbed wire and fence posts a strange, spooky glow,
When, what did my keen eyes catch in the moon beam,

But a pint sized wagon, pulled by an eight mule team,
With a little old skinner, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Faster then jackrabbits his mules they came,
And he whistled, and hollered, and called them by name;
Now Cactus! now, Chico, Loco and Bingo!
On, Stardust! on Smokey! on, Joker  and Gringo!
To the top of the fence! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As tumble weeds before the wild tornado fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the ranch top the mules they flew,
With the wagon of loot, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The clopping and pawing of each nimble hoof.
As I holstered my gun, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was decked out in homespun, from head to foot,
And his outfit was tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of loot he had flung on his back,
Why he looked like a peddler opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks all sun burnt, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little smirk was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
His jingling spurs were both shiny and bright,
And glittered and sparkled by my lanterns  warm light;
He had a broad face and a little pot belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
I squinted and stared at that dusty old sprite,
I wondered out loud if it could be Seth Wright.
No gun belt encircled his middle spread,
Which went to convince me I had nothin’ to dread;
T’wernt a jawin’ a bit, but went straight to his work,
And filled all them boots; and then turned with a jerk,
Puttin’ his trigger finger along side his nose,
He gave me a nod and up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his wagon, to his team gave a whistle,
Off they skedaddled like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him hollar, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

The Great Tractor Roundup

Posted on 11/21/2008 at 10:20:31 PM

The Seth Gang and the lawmen sling lead at each other again and again, but everyone is always still standing when the gun smoke clears. Which leave most folk a wonderin’ if they’re all such bad shots.  Well, let me tell you a tale of the Tractor Round Up which will help to clear up as to why no one ever get winged in them gunfights.

A few weeks ago a large Ramada of horseless plowing machines came a chuggin’ into Medicine Park. I’m sure it weren’t no posse hunting a fugitive as they couldn’t get up enough velocity to catch one if they saw him.  Of course this bazaar sight brought both the Seth Gang and the law a runnin’. They reined up short a wondering what those noisy contraptions were.  Soon Seth, Little Britches, Rattlesnake, Doc Holiday, Marshal Payne & Marshal Odie were all clumped together tryin’ to figure out exactly what them things were. Seems that these new machines were fixin’ to take over the job of perfectly good horses. As it turned out the Seth Gang & the lawmen were secret pards and joint owners of the local feed business.  Without the need for a lot of horses them feed business profits would be a hurtin’.

They determined something was needed to rein in this menace. The lawmen quietly slipped their badges into pockets.  Together the Marauders approached the intruders meaning to run those machines clear out of the territory.  Nearing where the tractors were corralled Seth demanded to know who was the head wrangler of that outfit. He was pointed out and, with drawn six-guns he was quickly taken hostage. They figured with the head honcho of those varmints hobbled and threatened they saddle up and vamoose.

But as it turned out he was leanin’ a little to the Marauder side so he was recruited and given a hat and a .45 Colt.  The Marauder gang got the idea if they got the feller holding’ the high hand would have a lot of loot which could be appended to the mutual Marauder investments. It appeared to be a fellow named John Deere as he had his brand on most of them infernal machines.  But no one in the outfit had that handle.

Since John Deere was not ridin’ with that bunch the Marauders got the inspiration to steal one of them tractor machines and hold it for ransom. That’s when trouble flared up. There were two real pretty mechanical mounts in the herd. Little Britches had a hankerin’ to haul freight with an orange tractor and Seth was spinning his rope for a large green one. Both were good looking mounts, which split the Marauders into two camps. The dispute quickly escalated into gunfire, which once again, ended when they ran out of bullets.

The skirmish over, a deal was cut with the tractor outfit. They’d be let allowed to depart with their scalps intact if they hauled freight out of town after grabbin’ some chuck at the Riverside eatery.  They were so grateful not to get shot up they even bought the Marauders a round of lunch.