Kid Colt Outlaw #82
The Outlaw and the Lady
Kid Colt rides into town and witnesses an argument between Bronc Porter and a local woman named Sally-Mae. Proter insists that Sally-Mae is his girl and warns her against seeing any other men. However, Sally-Mae wants nothing to do with Bronc Porter. Ignoring the warnings of other locals, Kid Colt tells Bronc to leave the woman alone. Bronc doesn’t take kindly and tells the stranger to get lost, claiming that he is the fastest gun in Beaver Bend. Kid Colt shows he’s the faster draw and orders Bronc to apologize to the woman loud enough for everyone to hear. After apologizing to Sally-Mae, Bronc warns Kid Colt that he’ll get even with him before he has a chance to leave town. Sally-Mae thanks Kid Colt for his help and he tells her that he only did what any man would have done and leaves.
Sally-Mae is instantly smitten by this stranger and wishes he would have told her his name. That’s when her father arrives and says that he can have Bronc Porter tossed out of time. Sally-Mae tells her father that it’s fine, saying that Bronc Porter is all bark and no bite that he only acts the way he does because he’s easily made jealous. When his father asks if she is in love with Bronc, she tells him that she has no such feelings for him because he is a loud-mouthed bully and that she finds the stranger to be more attractive. This concerns Sally-Mae’s father who puts his teller in charge of the bank while he goes to keep an eye on his daughter.
In the days that follow, Sally-Mae crosses paths with Kid Colt again while she is out riding her horse. When she offers to join him on his ride, Kid Colt is glad to have her company. This is witnessed by Bronc Porter who is jealous and decides to do something about it. While they are out riding, Kid Colt tells her his real name, feeling certain that nobody will connect Blane Colt to his outlaw alter-ego, Kid Colt. When they stop at a romantic spot, Kid Colt is speechless when Sally-Mae puts her hand on his. That’s when Bronc Porter interrupts them and reveals that he knows that Blaine Colt is the outlaw Kid Colt. Sally-Mae says she doesn’t care as she is in love with the Kid.
Realizing that this situation can’t be good, Kid Colt attacks Bronc and intentionally fights dirty and threatens to kill Bronc. This is all a ruse and Kid Colt allows Bronc to beat him in a fight. Realizing that she does love Bronc, Sally-Mae denounces her feelings for Kid Colt, saying he’s nothing but a murderer. When they both ride off together, Kid Colt figures it’s for the best that they end up together as he must ride the outlaw trail alone.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
The Kid Meets Jesse James!
Entering a local saloon, Kid Colt is instantly recognized by the bartender. When the patrons try to capture him, Kid Colt draws his guns and orders everyone to disarm. That’s when he notices a lone man who hasn’t stood up to try and get him. When asked why the man says he isn’t interested in trying to capture the Kid. Kid Colt orders everyone but the lone man to leave. When the bartender tries to shoot Kid Colt from behind, the loner shoots the gun out of his hands. The two men then work together to escape town.
Once they get back out on the trail, the mystery man finally introduces himself as the outlaw Jesse James. Since he has a bigger price on his head, James tells Kid Colt that if he’s going to try and collect they should just get it over with and starts reaching for his guns. Kid Colt, however, has no such desire saying that he’d never betray a man who saved his life. When the Kid asks what brings Jesse James to these parts, the outlaw says that he grew tired of being accused of crimes and being chased by the law and that he has been trying to go straight for years. The Kid can relate, saying that he has been constantly hounded by the law for something he did while he was younger.[1] James finds this interesting to know as he figured the Kid was really an undercover ranger since stories always talk about how he brings bad men to justice.
That’s when they hear some approaching soldiers who were tipped off by the sheriff and his posse that Kid Colt and Jesse James are in the area. The two seek shelter in a nearby cave. When Jesse James suggests they ambush the soldiers and kill them, Kid Colt refuses to take the life of lawmen. This once again leads Jesse James to become suspicious of Kid Colt again. That’s when the soldiers find their horses and order the two men to surrender. When Jesse James starts shooting at them, Kid Colt wrestles the gun away and tells the soldiers they’re surrendering, despite the fact that Jesse James refuses to go down without a fight. That’s when a tornado suddenly blows through. While the soldiers run for cover, Jesse James decides to take his chances with the storm and escapes. Kid Colt decides to let him go and wait out the storm in the cave since nobody is in danger of getting killed. While he waits out the storm, Kid Colt wonders if everything said about Jesse James is true or was he a victim of circumstance like he was.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Jesse James, Steel
Continuity Notes
The crime that made Kid Colt an outlaw is not clear due to various conflicting origin stories as seen in Kid Colt: Hero of the West #1, Kid Colt Outlaw #11, 39, 79, and Kid Colt #4. What they all have in common is that Kid Colt became an outlaw for killing the man responsible for killing a family member or members.
Challenge on Main Street!
The Outlaw Kid is tying up his horse when a man challenges him to a gunfight. Quickly whirling on his feet, the Outlaw kid easily shoots the gun out of his hands. The Outlaw Kid decides to spare the shooter but tells him to clear out of town leaving the locals to wonder why he would spare the life as it puts everyone else in jeopardy.
Later, when the Outlaw Kid rides out of town a gang of outlaws spot him and prepare to bushwack him. However, one of the gang members is the man that the Kid defeated in the duel in town and he warns his boss not to tangle with the Outlaw Kid. These warnings are ignored and as they fight among each other, the Outlaw Kid manages to get the drop on them. After disarming the outlaws, he then brings them to the local jail.
Recurring Characters
Outlaw Kid, Lightning
