Name: Colton Wade
Age: 37
Occupation: Livestock Inspector
Affiliation: Hand for the Cowboy Mafia
Gender & Pronouns: Man (he/him)
Colton Wade comes from a long line of cowboys who’ve been in Paxton for generations, their roots tracing back to the original hands of the Necktie Ranch. His family once owned a large portion of land on the outskirts of Paxton, and while much of it has been lost to developers, Colt has managed to hold onto the last remaining parcel. Raised on stories of the old west, of Wyatt Earp and outlaw justice, Colt’s life has been shaped by a deep sense of loyalty to his heritage and community.
He grew up on the range, learning the cowboy way from his father, who fought tooth and nail to preserve their land in the face of rising taxes and urban sprawl. Colt’s father died when he was in his twenties, and ever since, he’s carried the weight of keeping the Wade legacy alive. The ranch has always operated on razor-thin margins, and with the fires recently destroying some of the best grazing land, Colt is now faced with decisions that could break him. Selling the land is unthinkable, but bankruptcy looms.
Colt is a man of few words, hardened by years of struggle and loss. He’s fiercely loyal to his people and his land, and once you’ve earned his trust, there’s no one more dependable. However, he’s also stubborn and unwilling to compromise, seeing every developer and outsider as a threat to his way of life.
Though tough and stoic, Colt has a deep well of emotion, particularly for the land that’s been passed down through his family. He’s known to retreat into himself when the burden becomes too much, riding the ranges alone to clear his mind. Colt doesn’t show vulnerability easily, but those who know him best understand that every decision he makes weighs heavily on him.
Colt’s driving force is preserving his family’s legacy and the cowboy way of life in Paxton. He feels the weight of generations on his shoulders and refuses to let developers like Obsidian Holdings turn his home into another soulless tourist destination. The recent murder only deepens his resolve, as he now seeks justice for his fallen friend while navigating the delicate peace between the two sides. The fires have brought him to the brink of a decision he never wanted to make: sell the land or risk losing everything.
Colt’s stubbornness is both his greatest strength and his biggest flaw. He’s unwilling to bend, even when it could be the smarter option, and this has led to more than a few lost opportunities. His distrust of outsiders, particularly anyone connected to Obsidian Holdings, blinds him to potential allies, and his bottled-up emotions often lead to explosive outbursts when the pressure becomes too much.
Colt’s Brand Story
Colton Wade earned his brand and hand title from the Cowboy Mafia not just through his work as a Livestock Inspector but also by playing a critical role in protecting their drug trade operations. Livestock routes were used to smuggle drugs and Colton’s position put him in close contact with law enforcement, making him the perfect insider. When a government investigation began closing in the CM needed more than just intel—they needed the investigation shut down.
Colton was tasked with sabotaging the investigation. Late one night, he broke into a government warehouse where confiscated livestock records, transport logs, and drug-related evidence were stored. The documents directly linked the CM to illegal operations. Under the cover of darkness, Colton torched the records, destroyed transport logs that tracked suspicious shipments, and disabled security cameras to make it look like random vandalism. Not long after Colton was branded and became a hand.
