So the posse is back from the 1930's and in their element again among the dusty, desert town of Busted Gulch. There has been many changes happening. The town is growing and so is the crime rate. They are in need of new leadership. But who will come forth to fill this important position? Will it be a townie, or will a newcomer steal the spot light? 

Items to address:

The rebuilding of the town jail and church. 

The crime rate. 

The sudden rise in pet poaching, dog dancing and all around shenanigans in the tent city. 

Will the new Mayor be able to whip this upstart town into shape? Will the campaigns run smoothly or will there be mud slinging all around? To find out join us in Busted Gulch vol 7, a fun collaborative story from writers across the globe, a western written in poetry where the story doesn't end with the chapter but continues in the comments. Save it to your library today. 

MAIN CAST LIST

3Gun- Town Sheriff who took 6 volumes to get the girl only to possibly lose her to a newcomer. 3Gun is law in this town, his pistols are deadly, his vodka is strong and if you need his help he'll be swaying in his hammock between two lemon trees, directly outside of the print office. 

Nickname: 3Gun, as his actual name is 3Gun Wild Bill Dakota Kid, Jr., Sheriff, Heartbreaker of the West, Noodle Doodle but only by a particular someone.

Horse: Has no name but will come if he sings Over the Rainbow

Homing Pigeon: Name also unknown, but answers to the song Blackbird

Authored by: lyttlejoe

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Caroline Grace- Although still prefers CG. Resident know it all and Chief editor of the Gold Pillars, She has her work cut out for her. The paper has expanded to include The Dish Rag a gossip column written by Louise McGinty, and a Hororscope... for dogs by Tent City Resident Ricky the Rat, but she's looking for some real talent to pull in the big stories and cover the Mayoral Election, but first she needs to clear herself of a trumped up murder charge, naming her the killer of her Uncle. 

Nickname: CG -still affectionately used by the Sheriff, and CrazyPants (only used by Marshall Lorne).

Horse: Crazymoose -Take care around this horse if you have any muffins, jam, cranberry juice, or bathing in lilac water, he's been know to invade people's personal space. He is good kisser... ask the cowboys at the kissing booth or possibly the Sheriff. Also, known as CM.

Cat: Kitty - Poor thing still doesn't have a name but enjoys sharing muffins, getting rides from CM, taking naps in 3Gun's hat and occasionally going on an all night bender with Billy.

Authored by: crazyp01

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Deputy Myna Darkly - A business owner, a baker, a debutante, and a deputy. She is a jack of all trades and makes the best Peaches and Cream Muffins this side of the Dixie Line. With the recent engagement to Marshall Lorne Order there is now talk of leaving some of those duties behind to pursue bounty hunting once again with Lorne at her side. Will they realize their dream? Will there be a BG wedding?

Nickname: Myna Darker, Deputy Darkly, Ms Darkly, Dessert Rose (only by the Marshall).

Horse: A Blue Roan Mustang named Lace

Authored by: MystresMyna

Margarita - Wife or now possible widow to Tex Mex. She helped the BG posse bring him to justice however it remains to be seen if she plans to make a new start in BG.

Authored by: MystresMyna

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Leung JinLi - An ex-Coolie who turned business partner to the Bounty Hunter Cafe. He's brought his own particular flavor to the Gulch. He recently had taken matters into his own hands when the Carson brothers tried to force him into fighting and back to the rails. With one brother dead and the other with a busted jaw he has won his freedom and returned home to BG and Loren will he live his days out happily or will his past come back to haunt him again?

Nickname: Ah JinLee, AJ

Authored by: AmbergrisJane

Gyn- A young woman from the tent city, responsible for helping to break up the trafficking of the Red House Girls. Gyn has found her place at the Bounty Hunter Cafe. However, time has shown her to have a penchant for troublemaking. Nothing her "Big Brother" AJ can't handle or can he?

Nickname: Little sister (by AJ)

Authored by: AmbergrisJane

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Raven- A lost soul whose been trying to find a place to call home. Keeper of the LOST and FOUND box. CS (CrookedSmile) has been worried for him as he has recently gotten in with the wrong crowds. Like Tex Mex and Stray Dog. Will CS be able to get through or will Raven find the right path to lead him home?

Authored by: leandralynx

Alister Copperclover- The gold is no longer a rumor and it currently sitting on Alister's property, he's taken on a partner StrayDog the two are searching the cavern mines, but it's not certain it's gold they want to find.

Authored by: leandralynx

Ricky the Rat- A new comer to the Tent city that has an affinity for Dogs. Writer of the Horoscopes for the Golden Pillars but this astrologist has some dark affiliations to Tex Mex and looks forward to the town burning down, which have yet to be revealed.

Pet: Smartie the rat

Authored by: leandralynx

Coal Bone- A miner who recently began selling cheese. He is desperate to find his Chihuahua. A dog named Tiger, who has recently been discovered to be a good dancer. The pup has however recently disappeared? Will the small dog make his way back home?

Pet:  Tiger - A spunky little pup who has shown himself to be quite the entertainer, dancing, singing and looks fascinating captured on canvas. 

Authored by: leandralynx

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Ruechari- A member of the Kittana Kattari (Kitt-Katt) Tribe she has recently been called away to Destiny to perform her Shaman of the West duties when Doc Vale returned to ask for help. She has charged Billy with being the protector of BG in her absence. She hopes to make it back alive and be reunited with him once again. (See DARK DESTINY)

Nickname: Rue, Shaman of the West, "the Evil One", and the Biggest Pot Stirrer in the west. (all well earned titles) however Lou is her biggest rival for that title. 

Horses: She currently is taking care of Butterfingers and Krackle, High Ride Ali's other prized race horse which she "borrowed" for good causes to help a friend, and was given the infamous SixStar by Lean Copper Clover.

Authored by: Ruechari

Billy- The historical William H. Bonney otherwise known as Billy the Kid who was betrayed and killed by a friend. He was brought back by Shari (Ruechari's Grandmother and original Shaman of the West -Read A New Destiny ) to repay for his sins and redeem his soul. He's been charged with protecting BG and could not follow Rue to Destiny. He was hoping for a second chance but hope runs thin as time moves on with little word from Rue.

Nickname: Billy the Kid - Other names William H. Bonney, William Henry McCarty Jr.

Horse: NoName not that he has no name but that his name is NoName.

Authored by: Ruechari

Loren Order- Sister and fraternal twin to Lorne Order County Marshall. Singer for the Saloon. Life was looking up of this sheltered twin especially when her relationship with AJ began. She has big dreams of becoming a real star. If a true offer of stardom is made would she take it or would she give it all up for the man she loves?

Horse: A Paint Horse name Unbridled

Authored by: Ruechari

Marshall Loren Order- He is the County Marshall, making him a federal officer. Long term friend of 3Gun. He is sees the world very black and white which make him good at his job but not much else. Somehow, however he's managed to get Myna Darkly to fall in love with him. Recently he proposed in the hopes to lure Myna away from BG and live a life with him in the County Seat only to discover there was no hope of that happening. Now he has decided to go bounty hunting with her but is there more in store for this Bullheaded cowboy?

Horse: A Mustang called QuickShot

Authored by: Ruechari

Louise McGinty- Writer of the Dish Rag and informer to Caroline Grace. Lou finds it isn't exactly easy to fit into BG. Keeping to the outskirts of town in the Tent City. She recently turns up a warrant that claims CG has murdered someone but the truth was it was all a set up for her husband to get her back again. Will she fall prey to him again or will die hard Brody win her heart? Or will it be Buck who steals her away from them all?

Nickname: Loopy Lou

Authored by: Ruechari

Shady Shamus - An Irishman who knows Lou all to well. He's giving her freedom but is he really willing to let her go. Then there is criminal past, will he pay the price for forging the documents that left Caroline in a lurch?

Authored by: Ruechari

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Ross "Buck" Buchanan - is a drifting Scotsman who prefers to avoid confrontations, yet seems to love to argue with Loopy Lou. He is a skilled woodworker and always carries his knives, which have proven to be deadly. Will he win over Lou? Will his twin brother Bruce survive the blast to make trouble for him again?

Nickname: Buck

Horse: bay stallion named Hotfoot.

Authored by: baileygaines

Bruce Buchanan- A fast talking, wheeling and dealing Scotsman who prefers to make his cash quick and to leave behind a trail of broken hearts. He's skirted justice for quite some time until Lou had him tied up in her bedroom, awaiting what fate he did not know. He was brought to the jail by his own brother Buck but when the blast happened he was not discovered. Did he make it out alive? Will he show up again to cause trouble for his twin?

Nickname: Skirt by Shamus and Brody

Authored by: baileygaines

Annie O'Capella- An aspiring writer who hopes to land herself a position with the acclaimed Gold Pillars. She knows she has a lot to prove, but believes she is up to the task. However trouble seems to dog her wherever she goes. Can she keep it together to get her dream job or will things quickly unravel?

Authored by: baileygaines

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Dixie Land - She has come to BG to try and find her long-lost cousin NWAT. Since she does not believe she is good for much other then farm'n, and out of money, she's decided to give Mayor a try after spying a BG poster.. she signed up! She doesn't have a bone to pick with anybody... however... poke her too hard... and she'll pick your bones for breakfast! Her best friends are her horse and her dog.

Horse: A Virginia bred chestnut stallion named General Nuisance

Pet: Red Feist Squirrel dog named Sarah Rose

Oh and she is partial to ham biscuits. :)

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SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

This fun group are the Towns Folk or Bad Guys of Busted Gulch. A variety of interesting characters who fill in the story. Most of these characters are not particularly authored by any one author but do tend to make frequent appearances, throughout the story.

1. Umberto B. Well - Town doctor and surgeon. Always handy to have around in pinch especially when one runs out of poultices of blueberry muffins.

Nickname: U.B. (as in U. B. Well)

2. CrookedSmile- Proprietor of the Busted Gulch Saloon. He tends bar and keeps an eye on young Raven, for whom he is deeply concerned. Not much is known about him other than he always seems to have a bottle or glass of vodka at the ready for 3Gun when he retreats to his chair under the the stair and makes a wicked lemonade.

Nickname: CS

3. Ron Boyle- The young boy who helps CG with delivering the news whose dreams of becoming a cowboy like Billy or 3Gun was thwarted when he tried to run away. Now he's currently working at the Bakery until CG returns, living at home with his Mom and sister.

Nickname: Little Ron

4. Unger - Town's Undertaker, Coffin Maker, and carpenter who dreams of becoming Undertaker of the Year....(is that a thing?)

5. Philip Stein - The pastor of the local church which he is now in the process of rebuilding.

6. Moonie - A Townie who is has been accused of starting a muffin fight in the saloon. But was quickly forgiven when she suggested the Jamboree, which had everyone singing a different toon. Owed a favor from Ruechari for her quick thinking that saved Billy for pummeling Jujube. She tries to stay out of the chapters but is often seen around town in the comments. (authored by MoonshineNoire)

7. Tex Mex-Came to run the town of Busted Gulch but was shut down by our town of heros. In the last skirmish he lost most of his gang and his wife Gordita. But not to be put off by such minor details he remarried Gordita's sister Margarita . He has sent her to spy on the town but she was recently discovered and arrested for attempted murder and sent to the county seat. He has yet to discover this but has already threatened to burn the town to the ground. (authored by Mystres Myna)

8. Hugh Bellows - The town's black smith

9. Will Barter- Drummer with a suitcase full of just about anything you might want from weapons, to tools, to books and even lady's frilly things. He was recently made deputy to transport prisoners but nearly got himself killed in the process when he tried to pedal some frilly things in the County Seat. Luckily Deputy Myna and Marshall Lorne got there in time to save him.

10. Old Teddy Wink - Uses his wagon as a traveling convenience store.

Nickname: Tiddly (as in Tiddly Wink)

Horses: Clara and Rachael

11. Old Chris 'Whip' Cracker - Stage coach driver from Rickety

12. StrayDog- A mysterious man who is interested in becoming partners with Alister if he keeps the deed. Crooked Smile and Raven however believe he may be up to no good. (authored by leandralynx)

13. Satchel and Lotta Baggage - Proprietors of the Hotel. Lotta has been known to fill in for Crooked Smile on occasion at the Saloon. Satchel also is pretty good at horse removal should you have an unwanted pest in your home or personal space.

14. Strop the Barber- Little is know about this man who just blew into town and opened up shop other then he gives a really good cut and shave.

Nickname: Strop as his real name is Billy