This name “Noontide Mess” was chosen as it’s a phrase used in the classic Don Quixote. “Noontide” is also a synonym for “high noon”, when duels stereotypically took place in the Old West. One thing to note: The original panel layouts were included the Google Doc this was copied from. However, they didn't insert into this document. The story can still be easily read without this information, but I reckoned it would be good to note. Now, on with the show.

Page 1:

* Panel A: wide shot of a dusty, sun-beaten town. Most of the buildings are made of wood, and though it may look like a typical Old West town, it is not just that. This street in particular is called Cemetery Street (now West Alameda Street), a historic place for the city. There is bold white text in the upper left corner of the panel. It reads Tucson, Arizona Territory. 1868. The sky is blue. There are no clouds. The effect of the sun is visible, with harsh shadows trailing shortly off the buildings. It is clearly close to noon.

* Panel B: A square panel, top view, looking down at the scene. The storefronts face the now visible park known as Barrio Libre (now El Presidio Plaza), which is mostly an empty dirt lot, with an unceremonious flagpole holding the American Flag and two benches on either side of it, both perpendicular to Cemetery Street. A bit of a general store facing the lot is visible on the right of the panel. It is made of wood and is worn. There are two small figures in Barrio Libre, one facing Cemetery Street, the other facing the opposite direction. They are spaced about forty feet apart.

* Panel C: a portrait of a rough, work, tired man. He wears a dark brown Stetson, a washed-out denim jacket opened to show a gray button-down (he is also wearing similarly faded blue jeans but those cannot yet be seen). The man has a beard that is starting to turn gray, and dark brown hair that is matted from sweat. He looks unamused and unimpressed. He is looking directly at the reader. 

* Panel D: same shot, but this time the man speaks. His mouth is open and teeth are visible. 

          Man: Josh. Didn’t expect to see you here. 

Page 2:

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* Panel A: sideview of the two men, the general store in the background. They both have a hand on their holster, each carrying a revolver, or, in the case of the man named Josh, two, one on either hip. Josh, now in detailed view, is wearing blue jeans as well, with a reddish-brown leather jacket buttoned up fully, and a white Stetson. He has a 5 o’clock shadow.

          Josh: William.

* Panel B: same art. 

          William: So what happens now?

          Josh: We don’t both walk away from this. 

* Panel C: closeup on William’s face. He is noticeably more tense than before. A line of sweat trails down his cheek.

* Panel D: closeup of Josh’s face. He is tense, squinting from the sun. His jaw is clenched. 

Page 3: 

* Panel A: from-the-ground dutch angle positioned behind and to the left of Josh. We \can see Josh’s back. Josh pulls out his revolver, the one on his right hip. William does the same. Motion lines and the still-frame nature of the comic make it seem as though they drew at the same time.

Page 4:

* Panel A: Josh sits, a drink in his hand. A whiskey on the rocks. We can see down to the bar counter, and the camera looks directly at his face. He is in a saloon, with people talking and drinking around. The room has no lights, but there are windows that let in sunlight. It seems to be about 2pm, but considering Josh is indoors, it’s hard to tell. There is a narration box in the top left hand corner. 

          Narration box: I killed a bad man today. My brother.

* Panel B: same scene, but Josh closes his eyes with his head thrown back, finishing his drink in a gulp. A narration box is in the same place as the last panel.

          Narration box: Maybe he deserved it. Maybe he didn’t. I still killed him.

* Panel C: same scene, but Josh looks determined now. Almost furious, eyes metaphorically ablaze. A narration box is in the same place. His glass, now only containing two small ice cubes, sits on the counter, his hand still wrapped around it. 

          Narration box: But my work isn’t even close to done.