"Yeah!" Bill replied. "Whatever that treasure's worth... it's gotta be immeasurable, as Melander said, no doubt!" Bill started reloading as well, and paused as he noticed the crystal. "What in the hell? He really think THAT'S goin' to work? The sheriff's lost 'is marbles!" Bill murmured as he finished reloading, and then fired off another shot.
Across the street, Rango called back to Beans. "Well this guy just came in here and started shootin' the place up! Not a real friendly sort, either! And he doesn't die easily either!"
As Chip held up the stone, Bandon's eyes widened, and for the first time, he actually seemed fazed. "Where the hell did you get that?" he demanded angrily, the glow resonating more strongly now as Chip brandished it like a weapon. Sure enough, it seemed to have an effect. As Bill's shot struck Bandon's backside, his healing power seemed to retard, and slow to a crawl. It was still working... but at a much slower rate.
Growling as he felt that shot, Bandon began to back off now, and raised his gun at Chip, but didn't immediately fire.
"Hey that silly rock's actually workin'!" Bill exclaimed, firing off another shot to see if the effect would continue, and it did, the bullet horn closing up at a much slower rate than before.
Grunting a bit in pain, the chuckwalla started falling back to the saloon before firing a shot at Chip's throat. "This isn't over!" he roared, and leaped onto the back of Stirrup's roadrunner, hacking the bird loose with his claws, and digging his spurs into its side. It screamed out, and began carrying the chuckwalla off down Dirt's main road. "We'll be back! That stone won't protect you forever!" he shouted over his shoulder, firing the last of his bullets in his first gun towards Stirrup and Bill as a parting assault.
Bill had to quickly duck down out of the way behind a barrel, and prayed it was full, which it fortunately was, and his hide was saved.
