The Fastest Gun Alive

1889. Ever since they moved there four years ago, married George and Dora Temple have owned and operated the general store in the generally peaceful town of Cross Creek in the frontier of the American west. While most men in town carry a gun, most have never shot at another human being, while pacifist George doesn't even own one. These facts don't stop most of the townsfolk, especially the men, still marveling at shooting skills, as such some thinking deep in their hearts that George is less of a man in not carrying a gun and not having a manly job such as a rancher or farmer. Those feelings are only strengthened when news, via a Cross Creek eyewitness, reaches the town that a self-professed fastest draw alive, Vinnie Harold, challenged another "fastest draw alive" solely to prove his assertion, Harold coming out the victor in killing the other man in a shootout. The continual talk in town about Harold and the under the breath talk about George is more than George can tolerate, he having a history with guns about which only Dora knows, that history which is the reason he no longer carries a gun and which led to his own guilt about the death of his sharpshooter father. But the situation is heightened when Harold comes to town, he a group of three bank robbers on the run. Being on the run is of lesser priority to Harold than new news to him that there is another fastest gun alive in Cross Creek, he determined to another shootout with said person to the death at any and all cost.