"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Mature Content: Yes Language
With: Marshal Guyer, Deputy Pike, Layton Harris, Arlen Granger, Amos Conroy, Bannister, Santee, McKenny
Time of Day: Mid Morning
He saw them coming. Knew who they were and what they wanted. This was no lynch mob, this was an attempt to free Case Steelgrave and he was having none of it as the reached for the eight gauge coach gun from the rack. He broke it open and then snapped it shut, verifying it was loaded.
They pulled up with a cloud of dust lazily rolling over them in front of the Municipal Building.
“Come on out Marshal, and bring Case with ya!” Harris demanded.
“There don’t need to be any trouble, Marshal, just turn him loose.” Granger added.
“We’ve fourteen men against you and maybe that deputy. We’ll cut you ta doll rags and take him if that’s what ya want!”
Three men stepped off the porch of the hotel. Three men that would be known to all of the riders. They were just a couple of steps behind the deputy and the other man they didn’t know.
Speed stepped out onto the porch, shotgun upright, but cocked and ready. “Mornin’ boys, now seems we got a problem here. Case has been bound over for trial, and there’s no bail. But if you insist on tryin’ to walk over me Layton, this eight gauge’ll take you and Granger, maybe a couple more.”
“That’s a bluff, Guyer an’ you know it!” Harris stated boldly.
The shotgun was suddenly level. “Now Harris damn it, I don’t want to shoot you, and you don’t wanna be dead. But you don’t turn them cayuses around an head for home I’ll clear some saddles.” There was something ugly about the barrels of the eight gauge, something that instilled fear of it’s pattern when fired at short range.
“I’ll get a good number of you so please, make yer move an’ meet yer Maker!” Pike said his guns already out.
“Be enough left I could take a couple.” Amos added.
There was a silence. It was clear there were folks on the boardwalks looking on and waiting for what would happen next.
“You boys know us, know what we can do, so I suggest you take the Marshal some serious.” Bannister said flatly.
“Ain’t noneaya's gonna get home taday, lest you ride out, now.”Santee added.
“Well, guess you didn’t count on that, well, me neither. So do everybody a favor and ride out. Do it right now!” He sounded no different than he had when he walked out of the office, but he was relieved.
“You son of a bitch, Guyer! You ain’t heard the last of this!” Harris stated.
“I have Harris, 'cuz if any of you comeback, we’ll shoot you on sight,” Guyer said. “No questions, no threats, just lead. So you can ride out or die, I’m tired of talking.”
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
There was a long tense moment of silence.
Men had craned their necks to see the men behind them, and the two women that Marshal Guyer’s supporters could not see. None of the men on horseback had their hands near their guns, and every one of them knew than any sudden move like that would bring a fusillade of gunfire, because all of the men with Guyer had since drawn their guns.
Pike had learned long ago that in a situation like this, it was best to have his guns in his hands ready to do business. He chanced a fast glance at the unexpected reinforcements and felt a whole lot better about their chances.
The Marshal had laid down the law to the Evergreen riders, and, moved another step closer to posting a ban of carrying firearms I town limits, and both he and Guyer both knew the ban would only work for law abiding citizens. Meaning this scene could be repeated, or the attempted bank robbery. Outlaws would disregard the ban, even though they knew they could be shot on sight.
“Well, goddamnit!” Guyer asked
Harris glowed at him as he jerked his mount around, the others following suit as the men in the street stepped aside, their guns following the riders. Suddenly the Harris-Granger led pack broke into a gallop, and raced out of town, the men in the street watching them go, and slowing returning their guns to their holsters.
Disaster had been averted.
As the men galloped out of town, Emeline relaxed, and, as brave a front as she put on, her knees were weak, and she very well could have just sat down and cried, as soon as this was after the bank robbery. And it made her sick to her stomach to see Barnabas 'at work', and have it driven home that he could be killed at any time.
But she couldn't dwell on that or it would quickly drive her mad. Lowering the shotgun, she stepped back into her cafe and resumed her work. "It's all right, folks, nothing going on."
At the stage barn, Addy watched until the men were well out of town before retreating back to what she'd been doing before, but she kept her gun close at hand.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed remained on the porch of the Municipal Building until they were out of sight. He gave a sigh of relief and the adrenaline began to wear off. He watched as Pike and Amos made their way to the porch, but most importantly, he watched the three men he knew were Leah Steelgrave's body guards return to the hotel porch.
He had not counted on them to step out against people they had ridden with, worked with, and most likely fought beside, but they had, and he was grateful.
"Like ta had a hell of a fight!" Pike said as he stepped up on the porch. "An them three what threw in beside us, now that was a surprise. Them an' Amos here. Would'a been a donnybrook fer sure!"
"Amos." Speed greeted. "Glad you were here. Every gun made a difference this morning."
"Hell Speed, couldn't let them varmints have their way." Amos replied. "What are ya holdin' in there to have men think the town'd let 'em have their way with you, and them?"
"Case Steelgrave. The old man's likely plenty salty about it." Came the answer. "Case was going to run for County Sheriff, can't be real sure he did himself any favors. There there was this that happened. That's on the old man."
He looked to Pike. "Best you get up to the Licksillet and let Emeline know you survived."
"Oh. I seen here, you mean that nice lady whot runs the cafe? Yep, she was over't the stage barn with a shotgun." Amos said.
"I'll be go ta hell!" Pike stated. With that he was out the door.
"His fiance." Speed said. "Now, about that job."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
It was late after noon, Speed was at his desk working on how he wanted to set up security for the upcoming trial, a good chance the trial would be held on Monday, the first of May, but that would depend on the stage being on time, and it might not be the Milligan Stage, so there was no depending on Addy to be on time.
There were a few things he needed to get taken care of first. He would be required to bring the prisoners upstairs so He would be confined to the courtroom. Pike would be out there, but who else? He could depend on Amos, he would send a note out to Shade Thornton and Quentin at Lost Lake, maybe Flandry, but who else? Would he even consider Addy? Tough as she is, maybe not the best of ideas.
Payment, the town will have to pay these people, he would insist on it. Can't have folks risking their lives for free on a town matter. The alternative would not be wise, nor pretty if it went badly. There was work to be done and little time to get it completed.
TBC in Numbers May Not Be Enough III