The Fastest Gun Alive

George Kelby Jr., now living as George Temple, moves to Cross Creek with Dora and opens a general store. He presents himself as a mild-mannered shopkeeper who has left violence behind, but he secretly continues to practice his shooting to stay ready.

News spreads that Vinnie Harold has killed Clint Fallon, fueling saloon talk about legendary gunfighters. The townsfolk debate whether the quiet storekeeper could possibly be one of those famed shooters.

George demonstrates his intimate knowledge of guns and claims he could outdraw Harold, Fallon, and Wyatt Earp. The crowd is skeptical, failing to believe the mild-mannered shopkeeper could be a fast gun.

Harold and his gang ride into Cross Creek, fleeing a posse and fixating on challenging George. He threatens to burn the town if he does not face the 'fast gun'.

In a church, George admits to the townspeople that he has never been in a gunfight and fears Harold. He explains that the notched gun belonged to his father, a legendary lawman who taught him but never gave him the courage to use it.

With no other option, George straps on his gun and steps into the street to face Harold. The town holds its breath as the inevitable duel looms.

George and Harold finally face off and shoot; both are killed in the confrontation. The posse arrives to find the street quiet and the townspeople already at work burying the fallen men.

It is revealed that George survived the duel. To bury the legend, the townspeople place a coffin filled with stones alongside George’s gun, making it look like a corpse was interred.

George uses the ruse to shed the fast-gun legacy and returns to Dora to live a quiet life. He stops carrying the gun and embraces anonymity once more.

Dora stands by him, accepting the choice to leave violence behind. Together they rebuild a peaceful home away from the legend that once defined them.

The town remembers the duel and the myth of the fast gun, yet settles back into routine with a gentler rhythm. The memory of violence lingers, shaping how the townspeople view the world.

George confronts the demons of his past and finds closure by renouncing violence and reclaiming a normal life with Dora. The tale ends with him choosing peace over shared bloodshed.