"Chapter breakdown" / "section headings" / "episode outline" :
Joy Before Decay – Laughter in Ignorance – A Question of Names – Sins Remembered – The Severity of Cruelty – Silence After the Truth – The Price of Power.
***
They threw themselves a party in the saloon.
That there pianist started playin' his piano.
Tring-tring-tring
[ "Come on, y'all! Time to have ourselves some fun!" ]
The whole saloon filled up with hollers and cheers.
Boots stomped the floorboards, mugs clashed loud, and laughter echoed all through the place.
Folks were stompin' their boots, laughin' loud, and swiggin' beer like the end o' days was comin'.
A few fellas twirled their gals too hard, almost crashin' right into the tables.
[ "Easy there, boys!" ]
Someone hollered, followed by more laughter.
[ "Har-har-har!" ]
Hardy sat easy, sippin' his beer like he owned the place.
He leaned back in his chair, one leg stretched out, eyes half shut.
Hardy watched Emma dancin' happily with the folks.
He let out a real laugh… ain't somethin' you see much in a place like this.
The bartender slid a glass across the table, stoppin' right in front o' Hardy.
He edged in a bit closer.
[ "You were great!" ]
That's what the bartender told Hardy.
Hardy didn't turn right away. He took another slow sip.
[ "Yeah, I know… noticed it myself." ]
The bartender snorted, wipin' the table with a rag.
[ "Confident, ain't ya." ]
Hardy gave a faint smile, still watchin' the crowd.
Time passed on… the piano kept playin', boots kept stompin'.
Then Hardy spoke again.
[ "Listen… I got somethin' I wanna ask ya." ]
[ "Go ahead… ask away." ]
[ "Who's the real name of the man y'all call Evil Hand?" ]
The bartender's hand, still holdin' that rag, slowed… then came to a stop.
[ "Can't say I know… folks here, none of 'em know his real name neither." ]
He reached for a bottle, poured himself a drink this time… his face ain't lookin' too pleased.
Hardy tapped his fingers slow on the table… his eyes stayin' calm.
[ "Tell me… is he a real bad man?!" ]
He took a long swig of his drink before answerin'.
[ "Hell… rememberin' that bastard Evil Hand's deeds makes me mad as hell." ]
He slammed his glass down a bit harder than needed… the laughter 'round 'em started to fade.
Some folks glanced over… then quickly looked away.
He leaned in.
[ "Lemme tell ya one o' that bastard's cruelties." ]
[ "That fuckin' Evil Hand.. he's one cruel sonuvagun. Back in the day, he done raped a baby girl and slit her throat right in front of her ma." ]
Hardy's grip on his glass tightened just a little.
[ "Fuck… should've made him suffer first." ]
The bartender gave a slow nod.
[ "That's what happens when a Heart's power falls into the wrong hands." ]
He turned his eyes back to Hardy—now real serious.