As we are two players down I created a short encounter. A missing stagecoach. On it, the monthly wages for Steaming Rock workers. Bandits. Bears. Oh my.

Snow has come to Steaming Rock, winter is here, a raging storm and low temperatures has kept most folks in doors. But not Sheriff Fletcher.

Deputy Cody, Winston and Dutch are having drinks and a chat at The Homestead Inn. Sheriff Fletcher enters, brushing off his thick winter coat and fluttering snow around as he shakes his hat.

Fletcher heads over to Cody's table, “Got a job for you Cody. Stagecoach hasn't come in, was due at midday and it's close to five.“

The Sheriff leans in close, whispering, “It's got all the months wages for the miners and loggers. Things will get ragged if we don't get them what's owin’. Rockcliffe has been round to my office twice already today.”

Cody looks at his two pals, “Fancy a little ride?” They sigh and nod.

Within an hour they are ready for the road, visibility is low but they follow the road south for a few hours before Winston spots a track going off up Elk mountain and in the brush, covered with snow, a dead horse.

As they head up into the mountains, following the coach tracks and more horse tracks, they first hear gunshots then a scream which is quickly cut off.

Doubling their efforts they continue to track through the snow, Dutch is shivering, almost falling from his saddle it seems the tracks also indicate two men walking or being dragged behind a coach.

An hour later they come to a junction, they think about going up - higher into the mountains, but in the end go down as they find no tracks on the upward path. Winston is gutted, worried that he's lead them down a dead end.

Luckily, down below, they come across the stage coach, battered and broken, it looks like it has skidded off the road. The men tied behind the stagecoach are dead - both wearing the livery of the Butterfield Overland Mail, one has been attacked and partially eaten. There are more tracks of horses heading down into a valley and grizzly bear paw prints. Big grizzly prints.

As they descend into the valley, they come across a frozen horse and there are more gunshots and shouts from further ahead. Their horses are tired, breathing hard after beating a path through thick snow but they spur them on, reaching the valley floor, a woodland clearing.

In the clearing is a dead man, his skin and hair nearly torn from the bone, a chunk of his neck missing, large puncture marks and more bear prints. There is also a stink, something putrid and unclean.

Up on the opposite side of the valley is a dim light. They move on, shelter is now paramount, the temperatures have dropped and the snow storm isn't letting up. They rush ahead coming upon a cave with a camp fire burning. Guns out they rush in, finding an injured man and a steel box, the wages from Santa Fe. The man tries to bargain with them - he's weak, his leg shredded to the bone, he's barely able to remain conscious.

Before the group can respond, there is snorting then a roar from behind them, standing there is a ten foot tall grizzly bear, a putrefied wound across it's head and snout, it charges them.

Guns fire, lighting up the dark. Winston is thrown backwards by a swipe from the creature. Blood seeps from it's many wounds as it leans over Winston it's jaws widening, foetid breath and spit covering our grifter. Winston, eyes wide, pulls out his pistol emptying it into the mouth of the beast. It collapses on top of him.

After helping Winston out from under the carcass, they contemplate helping the man in the cave, but decided to let the fates decide. Cody offers him whiskey, they all settle down to sleep. The man dies during the night, they haven't even found out his name. They contemplate keeping the wages, but decide, narrowly, against this. Rockcliffe is responsible for the miners and loggers getting their wages on time, maybe he’ll be appreciative.