Grady Hart: The Shadows of Hell’s Half-Acre (Episode 4, Part 1)

Grady Hart rode into Hell’s Half-Acre as the evening sun cast long shadows across the cracked dirt streets. The town looked like it always had—as if it had been forgotten by time—ramshackle buildings, windows dark and broken, with the weight of despair hanging in the air. Crow, Grady’s horse, snorted softly as they approached the stable, sensing the tension.

Grady slid off Crow’s back, his boots stirring up dust as he handed the reins to an old stable hand who clearly featured even less chit chat than Grady himself. The pair didn’t speak. Instead Grady just gave a quick nod and tossed the man a coin. The old man deftly caught it, slipped it into his pocket, grabbed Crow by the reins and led the horse away toward food, a stall, and water. “Sadie’s over at the saloon,” the old man called over his shoulder. “I can’t say she’ll be too happy to see you.” Grady didn’t reply.