John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 2:40:06 GMT -5
It was an hour before John left the Saloon. All the commotion had been for nothing it turned out, and he had indeed gotten his drink. Nothing like a shot of the ol' Kentucky to wake you up again. He meant to ask Wakefield about the train schedule he'd heard about recently. Things were going to be late and such. That was the nice thing about Horsehead was that unlike places such as Dodge City and Deadwood, this place was pretty tame...well most of the time.
He hrumphed to himself softly and patted the Colt Single Action Army on his belt before making his way back to the Jail House.
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Post by Sarah Bennett on Feb 2, 2008 2:42:29 GMT -5
Sarah had the rare opportunity to watch the drama unfold from its very start. She had been sitting in the saloon, in the mask of the woman named Magdeline (or Maggie as the folks called her), playing poker and chatting it up with some of Horsehead’s finest. Specifically there were two gentlemen, one dressed in a fine red waistcoat and black derby and the other a roughish looking brute in rawhide clothes. Neither of them was particularly handsome and she otherwise would have had nothing to do with them were it not for the fact these two men claimed to have information regarding her late brother, “Blackjack” Bennett’s death.
At some point in the game, the men had run out of money and she had made a suggestion they wager a night with her (after all, they both could have the same information she needed, so one was all that was necessary). In their state, they had agreed and began playing. As it turned out, the derby man won, and the drunken brute across from him hadn’t taken kindly to it. They grabbed each other and began to wrestle around the poker table until they both fell through the entrance and into the streets. At this point, she made her way to Maggie’s room and got changed into her green and gold dress, the clothing of Sarah Bennett the Missionary. When she made her way out into the alley, she looked up just in time to see her second cousin Jack aiming his Winchester. Before she could cry out, he had taken the shot and she sank to the ground. There went all her hard work for NOTHING.
For the rest of the afternoon she watched him sit in his rocking chair, oblivious to the rest of the world. At one point, Sheriff Wakefield came back and spoke to him briefly. Afterward, she saw John get up and make his way to the saloon. She stood and pulled the small pistol from her ankle holster and pressed against a wall to wait on him to come out. He had stolen her closest link to her brother’s death, and he had a lot to answer for…She would see PERSONALLY to that.
Finally her chance came. As she saw him walk past, she pulled back to hammer on the small pistol and aimed for his exposed temple.
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John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 2:49:48 GMT -5
John heard the hammer click and instictively yanked out his Colt and aimed. Upon seeing his "beloved" (and he used that term in the most insincere of ways) cousin, he scowled causing his already think mustache to almost mimic the expression so it looked like he had two sets of lips. His eyes were narrowed into that venomous glare one gives to a person who has just done them a great disservice.
"Well, they certainly are getting pushy these days, those missionaries," he said coldly. "I must have forgotten to shine this today because you pulled that tiny little thing on me without even bothering to check."
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Post by Sarah Bennett on Feb 2, 2008 2:56:07 GMT -5
Sarah's expression didn't even falter at her cousin's sarcasm. She looked like a cross between an angel and vengeful devil. Despite her upbringing and religious training, Sarah was not known for her sense of humor or her patience. ESPEICALLY not when her cousin had just killed her leads to her brother's murder.
"I think you know full and well why we have come to this conclusion," she said. "Those men you shot today, the ones who were arguing? I NEEDED them both alive. They knew about Blackjack and you just KILLED them both! HOW DARE YOU JUST KILL THEM LIKE THAT!"
Her arm was beginning to tremble as she became more and more angry. However, despite this she never once flinched away from him and kept those icy cold eyes locked right on his.
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Jack Wakefield
New Member
Wheatgrass County Sheriff
Order out of chaos.
Posts: 25
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Post by Jack Wakefield on Feb 2, 2008 3:12:23 GMT -5
It was as if the sheriff had a sixth sense that was attuned to the aiming of guns. He watched the encounter across the street with narrowed eyes, trying to make out what was happening in the fading light. The moment he knew that guns were involved he was out of his chair, off of the porch, and across the street.
"Lawless," he said conversationally, his pistol already on the unfamiliar woman. "Ma'am. I'll have to ask you to put the guns down."
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Post by Sarah Bennett on Feb 2, 2008 9:52:17 GMT -5
Sarah, for the first time, shifted her eyes onto the man she recognized as Sheriff Wakefield. This was getting completely out of control. He didn't need to interfere like this. But at the same time, why would Wakefield be coming to the aid of her cousin, referring to him by the name he'd gained as an outlaw? Had Horsehead sunk so low that they were hiring criminals to uphold the law now?
"Sheriff, this SINFUL man is a murderer! I watched him from this very alley. I believe it's your duty to arrest him? He killed two potential converts to the church. Reverend McJames and the Lord do not look kindly on murder, as you well know. If you are indeed a man of God you will punish this man to the full extent of the law and send him to the hell which he so rightfully has inherited!"
Yes she admitted she was being a bit dramatic, but that was one of the nice things about her station as a missionary. She had the lisence to be so.
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John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 10:08:20 GMT -5
John simply nodded at Wakefield, he knew better than to be the first to speak in situations like this. Wakefield had a way of doing things which had begun to rub off on him. He was calm and possessed an unnaturally clear head, it was really impressive. For a second before Sarah went onto her rant, he considered disarming her while her gaze was averted, but seeing as it would cause more problems than it solved he restrained himself.
When she had finished, John said to his boss, "Sheriff, I was on my way back from the saloon after my ONE drink, my head was clear as crystal. The next thing I knew, this ornery creature come out and was waving that pistol in my face. I'm sorry you had to come out to settle a family spat." More than he'd meant to say actually, but again, his ability to be a man of few words was a work in progress.
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Jack Wakefield
New Member
Wheatgrass County Sheriff
Order out of chaos.
Posts: 25
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Post by Jack Wakefield on Feb 2, 2008 12:15:03 GMT -5
His eyebrows lifted at the woman's insistence that John had killed two converts, but that was his only response. Although he was certainly a God-fearing man, something about missionaries unsettled him. They pushed everybody to their limits. That never won anybody any converts.
Then John let it slip that she was family. Ahh, so it was more than just a misunderstanding; there was a history here. Unless it wasn't a misunderstanding. Wakefield gestured at John with a movement of his head, his eyes staying on the woman. "What's this about you killing two men, John?"
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John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 12:25:43 GMT -5
John nodded to him, a brief acknowledgement he'd seen the gesture and lowered his Colt. Wakefield was one of the only people he knew who could get him to back down like that. It was the silent things that carried so much weight, small wonder he was so well respected by the folks of Horsehead. He sometimes wondered what it would have been like if Wakefield and he had been outlaws together. All that loot. Oh well back to reality.
"The two drunken disorderlies, Sheriff. The ones I paid to go back into the saloon. I took a shot, but it hit the ground between them. Apparently she must have only seen me aim and shoot. I admit the crowd dispersed a bit and things got quiet, but both of them was just as alive as they had been when I eyed them comin' out of the Saloon."
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Jack Wakefield
New Member
Wheatgrass County Sheriff
Order out of chaos.
Posts: 25
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Post by Jack Wakefield on Feb 2, 2008 12:39:48 GMT -5
The notion that the squabbling drunkards had been converts to the church did nothing to raise the sheriff's opinion of missionaries. At least John didn't kill anyone while he wasn't looking. The young man was a wild one, but Wakefield trusted him, and he hated to have to be wrong in trusting someone.
And he was seldom wrong in trusting someone, because he was so slow to trust. He certainly did not trust this woman yet. His manner was still relaxed but his gun was still on her, and he nodded at her slightly as if asking her to listen to reason.
"You heard him, ma'am. He didn't kill anybody. Now, I'm asking you to put the gun down before something happens we'll all end up regretting."
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Post by Sarah Bennett on Feb 2, 2008 12:53:35 GMT -5
Sarah's face twitched. How could this old coot believe the word of a man who'd spent more time in jail his whole life than anyone she knew over her? Her grip tightened on the pistol and she kept it level at his head, despite the fact John had lowered his own. Seeing as the Sheriff himself would not back down, however, she finally unlocked the hammer and lowered the gun.
Her eyes shifted from one man to the next wildly. She looked like a wolf that had a bad leg and was caught in a trap. "This is conspiracy," she cried. "You, the BOTH of you. Both of you are hiding the truth, but fear not. Satan has room in hell for the likes of you. Outlaws becoming the servants of the law. Well know this, there is only ONE law I abide by and it is the law of the Almighty!"
At this she jerked out a pistol again and fired a shot right into John's left shoulder and ran as fast as she could into down the street in the direction of the old church.
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Jack Wakefield
New Member
Wheatgrass County Sheriff
Order out of chaos.
Posts: 25
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Post by Jack Wakefield on Feb 2, 2008 13:05:31 GMT -5
Wakefield lowered his pistol slowly when she did hers, impassive in the face of her righteous rant. Who did this woman think she was, barging into his town and calling him a liar? Oh, right -- she thought she was an emissary of God. Well, if this woman was really bringing the message of God, then he was going to have to rethink his beliefs a bit.
Then she shot John. A person with a more acute sense of irony would have wondered if that was part of the Almighty's law, shooting people. But the sheriff just made a note of where she had gone, slid his gun into its holster, and turned his attention to his deputy. The lunatic woman would have to wait. He had a feeling she would.
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John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 13:12:49 GMT -5
John recoiled as the bullet hit him. It felt like someone had taken a white hot poker and jabbed it right in his shoulder. Despite the pain, he only managed to stumble back a step and remained on his feet. At least she hadn't winged his good side, he could still shoot her if need be. Crazy damned twit she was.
He used his good arm to pull out his Colt SAA and stepped from out of the alley and nearly took aim until he noticed Wakefield watching him. With a deep sigh he winced and holstered it. "She won't get far....I figure she's gonna run to that crazy old Reverend she's gotten herself in with. The problem is, you can't really blame a man for makin' your closest blood relative crazy, 'specially when she was already a crazy old shrew to start with."
He covered the wound with his good hand. Blood was covering his shirt now and his hand was soaked when he pulled it back. Wonderful.
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Jack Wakefield
New Member
Wheatgrass County Sheriff
Order out of chaos.
Posts: 25
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Post by Jack Wakefield on Feb 2, 2008 13:36:17 GMT -5
It was at least a relief that John had managed to stay on his feet, and Wakefield thought he could probably go chase the crazy woman after all. His face darkened at the mention of the Reverend. He couldn't really kick people out of the county just because he personally found them obnoxious, but oh would he love to. "Take care of that," he said pointedly to John. "Sit down somewhere. I'll go take her in." A night in the jailhouse might calm her down a bit, or rile her up more, but at least she wouldn't be able to inflict herself on anyone else. The sheriff strode toward the church, putting his hand on his gun but not drawing it. It didn't feel right to draw his gun while walking into a church.
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John Gray
New Member
Are you gonna do somethin' about it, or just stand there and bleed?
Posts: 22
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Post by John Gray on Feb 2, 2008 14:12:35 GMT -5
John knew better than to argue with Wakefield. In his condition, he'd only get in the way anyway so he took the advice and strode back to the Jail House where he could get some scraps of cloth, a bottle of strong liquor he kept in his desk for these occasions, and a needle and thread. He hated patching himself up but since there was no doctor as of late, his options were limited.
He sat down by the lamp light and started work, first making sure there was not an exit wound (which there wasn't), removing the bullet (which hurt like hell obviously) and then sterilizing the wound with the liquor. After a time his shoulder began to throb and go numb with pain, probably best for when he started to stitch the wound up.
During this, he hoped bitterly Wakefield would give him two seconds with that damnable cousin of his. He figured he wouldn't though. Wakefield was smart enough to know that John had a temper and a thirst for vengeance against his attackers.
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