I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
As soon as the gunshots fired, Charlie rushed outside to see what was going on. Marshall Guyer had left him in charge of the office and he was babysitting two local ranch hands who had gone on a bender the previous night celebrating the birthday of one of them. The night had been a long one and the two of them were still sleeping it off.
He had been filling in some paperwork, which he found a bit tedious at times but it was all part of the job but now that was totally forgotten as he made his way over to where the shooting had occurred. The undertaker, Mr. Jolly had arrived shortly before him, which didn't surprise Charlie, as the man had unusual speed whenever a shooting occurred.
"Och Mr. Guyer, ye've done it again and a fair wee job ye've made of it too!" he cooed, looking down delightedly at the freshly dead slab of meat that had seconds ago been a living breathing human being, if a despicable one. "Much more o' this and it's expanding ma premises I'll have to be aboot."
Charlie looked over at Guyer to see what he would do next.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"And what was it I was supposed to do. Mister Jolly, give Barnes a free shot or two?" The he laughed at the thought. "He'll live. Probably need Doc Danforth to have a look-see. Patch him up enough for the noose."
He watched as the undertaker took measurements of one Caleb Barnes. "Well Charlie, we've lost two of the biggest troublemakers in the past couple days. Should be a bit more on the quiet side in town, at least for now."
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
Charlie nodded, "Yeah, let's hope."
Seeing a young boy, who had come to see what was happening out of curiousity, Charlie went over to him and told him to go fetch the doctor. He then turned back to Speed, "I guess the next thing we should do is find out what Barnes was doing here in town considering he's not welcome."
Want... dolls!
Hearing that Barnes was at least bound to hang eventually for his crimes, Mr. Jolly retreated, at least half-satisfied, muttering something about "Och, if I just bide a'wee the fellow will come into my hands by and by: a dram o' patience is all that's required!"
While Marshall and Deputy were coolly discussing what to do with the shot man, and onlookers idly watched as he squirmed in agony on the ground, gripping the bloody wound in his shoulder, the only person who seemed at all concerned was the girl whom Caleb has so sourly thrust out of his way. Bridget walked into the bar, a little scared as it was a forbidden place and made her way to the bar, where a big man with a big beard was stood.
"Need water" she pointed back out of the swing doors "For poorly man!" she smiled her vacant smile at Ralph, hoping that would help him understand.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"I can wait on the Doc and haul him over to the jail if you want to head on home. You can stay if you like." Speed said as he drew his pistol, opened the loading gate to extract the spent cartridge and replace it. A common practice with men who might need a full load at any given moment, even if it was quiet in town, and there were no appreciable threats.
"Chased the hombre the better half of the day. Stole my horse after buffaloing me. Stole old Hank Norman's horse, then led me over half the county before he shot Joe Hooker and stole his horse, but why come here? I know he and-"
"Marshal, Deputy. Not sure you know, but Caleb killed his Aunt and Uncle this morning, robbed them of whatever they had that he could sell. Anyway, I'm glad you got him." John Anderson volunteered. "It'll be a pleasure to see him hang!"
Speed looked to Charley. "I'll be, that explains a lot, except him coming back to town. I now he and Grimes were partners of a sort, but to risk being caught for the killings? I don't know, Charlie, I just don't know."