Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men

The hotel in Denver was lit up wonderfully that night. Adorned with Christmas decorations from the stone floor up to the marble ceiling, ruby bows lined the stairway as well as gave the lights a festive touch, wreaths had been placed on the doors and along the walls and in the center of the busy lobby sat a glorious Christmas tree to greet the customers with its beauty. Only the rich were able to walk these floors and enjoy the beauty and warmth away from the blizzard raging outside. Gentlemen and ladies emerged from the doors bundled in thick fur coats letting in the slightest amount of snow before shutting out the cold. That was when the three that didn't belong arrived…

The doors swung open, blowing in the freezing air and a drift of snow. The first man, a tall dark haired figure with an eye patch covering a missing or bad eye, he stood barely huddled in his long black jacket as the two others entered scoping out the lobby as if memorizing every detail. The other two came rushing in behind him bundled up in their coats as the cold did indeed have an effect on them. Due to their strange attire they did not go unnoticed by the highly dressed individuals also occupying the hotel lobby. Crude and curious stares were sent their way but none had the guts to make a comment.

"Y-you think he's here boss?" stuttered one of the men as if afraid of the tall man he'd traveled with.

"Oh, he's here alright," the tall man said as he took his hands out of his pockets and made his way over to the decorated front desk.

The old man behind the counter took a gulp as the three men approached, but due to the way they were dressed he still found it necessary to stick his nose up. Instead of asking 'How can I help you sir?' as he was supposed to when a properly dressed gentlemen approached his counter he quickly sneered and asked, "yes?" as if these poorly dressed western folk were simply in to ask directions to the next bridge to sleep under or to the next disease infested brothel to fester in. The tall man, before he could speak couldn't help but smile as he read the clerks face like a book.

"I'm lookin' fer' Scottie, Scottie August-" the tall man replied as he leaned on the counter as if he owned the place.   

The old man, at such a request only stuck his nose higher and straightened out the papers on his desk as if putting off the impression that he'd better things to do then answer such questions, "There is no Scottie August here," he snipped without the decency to call the tall man 'sir.' "I suggest you take your party elsewhere," he added as he nodded towards the police standing by the door.

The tall man still leaning over the counter raised his brow and lazily looked over at the coppers, only men in ridiculous clothes to him. He turned back around with a chuckle, "I'm not gonna ask again old man," he said as he straightened his back and stood up tall to look far more intimidating which worked.

The clerk took a gulp as he took in how tall the man was, but he was as stubborn as ever even as he tugged at his collar. The two men standing behind  the one eyed man also began to get nervous as they prayed the man would just give their boss what he'd come here for before… things got out of hand.

The hotel was about to become far less…wonderful.

The tall man turned around and took off his gloves; he took out a small towel and wiped it over his face and hair which instantly took off the disguise as if it was magic. He turned to reveal the red hair, sadistic expression and the scarred face of none other but Jesse J. Adler himself. The old man just about fainted as Jesse effortlessly pulled out a rifle and swung it up right into his face. Everyone in the lobby gasped, a couple of screams rang through the halls making the big tree shiver. The alerted police raised their guns to Jesse only to have Jesse's men raise their guns loyally to protect their boss, their nervous faces gone. Jesse glared at the clerk through his clouded eye waiting for his answer.

The clerk, nose no longer raised, put together Jesse's image in his mind as he stood backed against the wall shaking. Not only were gang bosses a rare find in this part of town but Jesse J. Adler who normally terrorized Mexico and the more southern states here in his hotel, obviously he'd come for a reason and he wasn't just going to turn around and walk back home not according to the stories told about this man.

Becoming more frustrated then he'd intended Jesse reached over the counter and grabbed the old man pulling him over the desk and holding him in the air he dug his gun into his throat, "Where the FUCK is he?!" Adler screamed which only made the people in the lobby duck where they stood and whimper.

"Sir! I'm going to have to ask you to put the man down and back away slowly!" yelled one of the policemen.

Jesse's eyes lazily rolled over to the brave little man in uniform. As his gaze bore into the deputy for interrupting the young man took a step back, realizing that this was a man twice his age that had seen and survived way worse situations when he was only half his age. It was obvious by the trembling of his pistol that this boy was no threat to Jesse, but still he'd interrupted him. Jesse swung his rifle over and the shot rang through the halls followed by screams all too familiar to Jesse and his men. As the deputy fell to the ground gasping for air Jesse raised his rifle to the other two policemen, "I've killed for less gentlemen," Jesse assured them. The two exchanged glances before slowly putting their guns on the floor and putting their hands up.

Jesse dropped the old man to the floor and cocked his gun before swinging it down to the trembling man. "Now, Scottie August…" Jesse squatted down to the old man's level and gave him a faint sarcastic smile, "He's got my girl you see, and I'd like her back, if I don't get her back I'll turn you, your hotel and this WHOLE FUCKING TOWN INTO ASH! NOW WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?!" he screamed at the man as he stood back up, smile gone for good.

Gun between his eyes, he was quite sure Jesse was capable of turning the city of Denver to ash, "Top floor! Top floor!!" he cried as he cowered against the counter. Instead of being pleased with the man's answer Jesse turned the gun around and hit the man across the face knocking him out cold. He turned to the stairs, dragging his gun behind him he made all in his way flee and scramble out of his way. He stopped at the stairs and turned to one of his men, "Go tell the others outside, nobody gets in or out of this place," he said as he dug into his coat for a cigarette, his eyes looking at the decorations with disgust. He lit up his cigarette and turned to go up the stairs, "This hotel is MINE." He said with one last growl to the cowering rich folk in the lobby.