California. July 23rd, 1856.
A small bar in a dusty town on the side of a long winding road was filled to the rafters with people. Most were here just for the afternoon, to stop in for a drink before continuing on. They were headed north, towards the gold mines and their fortunes. Some were coming back, with broken dreams and empty wallets. A few, though, were residents of the town itself, and they sat in the center of the commotion. "Did ya'll hear about the train wreck down near Philadelphia?" one of the men asks, looking around at his fellows as he shuffles a deck of cards. "Horrible business it was, so I hear," he adds when none of the other men respond. "Two hundred dead, so they say." One of the other men lets out a low, soft whistle, and another crosses himself. The fourth just shakes his head. The men at the table sit in silence for a while as the first deals the cards, but before their game can commence there's a bang as somebody shoves open the door and it hits the wall. The building falls silent and every eye is on the newcomer as he stalks up to the bar, pulling a crumpled piece of paper out of his satchel. He slaps it down in front of the bartender and snarls, "This man was last seen here. I hear tell you two are in cahoots; that makes you just as responsible as him for what happened." The bartender cowered back, whimpering in fear. "I don't know what yer talking about! Leave me be, else I'll-" The newcomer grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, growling straight into his face, "You'll do what? Kill me? Hah!" He let go of the man and pointed one thick finger into his face. "You'll give back what you stole, you bastard, or I'll do worse than turn the law on you." The bartender whimpered, cowering against his shelves of liquor. Turning, the tall stranger addressed the crowd. "I'm looking for man, calls hisself Black Billy. He's wanted fer train robbery, bank robbery, murder, and the kidnap of one Charlotte Aubrey. You find him, don't worry about bringing him in alive." With that he left, and in the silence everyone could hear the thunder of his horse's hooves as he galloped away. The four men glanced at each other, then resumed their card game as the bar filled with chatter again. About a mile away, Lucky Jack Aubrey kicked his horse to go faster, leaning forwards in the saddle. He'd rescue his sister if he had to go to the ends of the earth and back to do it.
Unfortunately, he'd need a bit of help.