So when I first entered the Silver Rush, of course like an idiot I ran past the guards before the meeting was over. They all turned hostile and begin to attack me, so I went running outside and of course the game autosaves.

I had been playing for several hours, so my last save is all the way back before I even got to Novac, and I'd rather not have to go all the way back to that point.

"Solutions" I have found that did not work for me:

• Talk to the bartender across the street and pay him to make them forget your crimes. He refuses and says there's nothing he can do, so no luck there.
  
• Run away and hide, then wait for 24 hours. I tried this, and upon return they still attacked me and followed me even further this time.
  
• Kill them all. I'd really rather not do this even if I could, but I did try and I just can't. I tried hiring TWO body guards back where I first came into New Vegas near Mick and Whoever's, and they won't help.

This is very poorly designed, a simple solution would be to NOT HAVE IT AUTOSAVE if you have people that are bent on killing you who are going to follow you until they succeed.

But it's too late now, so is there anything I can do or am I just going to have to return it (I have it rented out)?

Thanks.