Twice As Good — Tom V. Whatley

With the debt of gratitude paid to his Indian friend, Reed Haddok narrows in on his arch enemy, Loyd Beecham. He is delayed only briefly by his wedding to Samantha. As he travels to Fort Defiance, he realizes that his marriage has given him a greater urgency to get the Beecham matter settled so he can get on with his life. Beecham always planned well. He had bought the Two Butte Ranch long before under the alias Jake Lansford. Surrounded by seven of the best gunslingers money could buy, he hunkers down and waits to hear that Haddok is dead. Haddok soon locates the ranch and whittles down the odds a bit while having some fun at the expense of Beecham and his gunslingers. He then orchestrates a showdown on the street in Fort Defiance. Faced off with five gunfighters, and very much alive to Beecham's horror, Haddok and his adversaries experience the surprise of their lives. Finally, Reed Haddok's life is at peace, although just for a season.