Kait got sick again which delayed my workout schedule which makes me forget what day it is. That is my excuse for the late Bannock post.

They made quite the parade as the followed the voices. Felicity gripped the pistol in her hand, the deputy had his nose buried in his sleeve trying to staunch its flow, Laure juggled the heavy metal chains and Schroeder was left trying to put as much distance between his suit and the man’s fluids.

As they went, the speaking grew louder and louder. They rounded the general store to see a raised wood platform. A noose dangled ominously in the centre, the long bar capable of stringing nearly seven bodies at a time. It spoke to the town’s need to prosecute thieves and hinted at just how profitable their mining was.

Sheriff Plummer took the centre, addressing the gathered crowd. Behind him stood the accused. Felicity expected him to be screaming his innocence profusely but he had some distant look in his eyes as if he’d long accepted his fate. Ranger Hayes stood steely by his side, holding the rope bounding the outlaw’s hands and slowly twisting it in his gloves.

But the most dissatisfied individual on the stage was Nicolai himself. His fine suit of extravagant silk was beginning to darken along his pits and Felicity guessed it wasn’t just due to the heat. The magnate seemed to regard all the men on the stage with equal suspicion and disgust. Felicity slipped Schroeder’s pistol into the waist of her pants and took the manacles from Schroeder’s hand. She motioned for the sharpshooter to take a position before handing the restraints to Laure.

And that is when they heard the sheriff speak.

“My fine folk of Bannock, too long have we toiled beneath the fear and savagery of bandits and murderers. For too long have our children and businesses been ravaged by evils of lesser men. The crimes of this Mr. Hopkins are too numerous to mention. They extend far beyond a simple bridge or missing crate. They’re the monthly losses of good ole Malcolm trying to keep enough together to provide us with our simple basins and hoes. They’re the nights little Annie has to go hungry because Mr. Truestone can’t afford a simple loaf of bread with his wages snatched from impenetrable safes!

“But my people of Bannock, I – Sheriff Henry Plummer – have strove to end this suffering. I have cast far and wide in search of these outlaws. Endless hours and nights we’ve spent in our hunt. We would not let the fathomless expanses hide this villain. No dark hole was dark enough to keep him from justice. It was my duty, nay, my pleasure to serve you fine folk who toil daily to keep this the finest town on the frontier!

“Throughout the entire trial, this despicable Mr. Hopkins refused to speak a word against the heinous charges laid against him. He refused to acknowledge the terrible price he’d extracted from your hard labour. He didn’t defend his actions after the news of the destruction of the Glorious Belt Bridge. He would make a mockery of our systems and our justice. For that, only the heaviest punishment can be afforded. Only the graces of the Lord and his divines can judge the true weight of his sin. All we can do is hasten him to those white walls and golden gates. Let those of nobler spirit than ours see fit if he holds a place in the Kingdom or if he’s to be turned out to the Wilds amongst the untamed that he so embraces.

“If there be any man who finds our process unjust, then let him speak. Else bring the outlaw forward so that he may face divine retribution for the suffering he has wrought!”

Sheriff Plummer turned, motioning at the man and the noose. As Ranger Hayes forced him forward, the outlaw’s boots echoed against the wood boards. But another sound broke over the solemn silence. A great applause thundered through the proceeding, causing heads to turn and voices to whisper. Felicity stepped forward, the crowd parting to let her applause and clanking prisoner through.

At first the sheriff turned, a look of confused amusement on his face. But when he saw his deputy barely dressed with hands shackled and split shirt stained from his bloody nose down turned in embarrassment, the fat man’s smile waned.

“Remarkable speech, sheriff. I reckon, perhaps, you misjudge your place as humble lawman. You be better suited for the high halls of coastal magistracy with their double talk and betraying smiles.”

“What’s the meaning of this!” he huffed, his whiskers bristling. “You best have a good explanation for this depravity towards my fellow!”

Felicity ignored him, fetching the letters from her pocket and holding them proudly as she turned to address the crowd.

“I ask you, fine folk of Bannock, with your marauding bandit captured where is your stolen goods? Where are these riches that would drag your distant and uncaring magnate to your door?”

Nicolai seemed to stir at the barb but curiosity simmered his anger. However, as she approached the stage, two of Plummer’s men moved to intercept. She paused as they drew their weapons but when they made to take the letters, she pulled away.

“Let her pass.”

Nicolai’s voice broke the momentary tension. The goons turned to the sheriff who cast a quick glance at the Ranger. Felicity’s fingers unconsciously drifted towards the borrowed pistol.

At last, the sheriff nodded and Felicity began to climb the platform. The wood clattered beneath her boots as she took the steps two at a time. Sheriff Plummer looked absolutely fuming but raised not a word as she drew defiantly before him.

“Now what this about?” Nicolai demanded. Felicity held up the letters but didn’t turn from the sheriff.

“I hazard that, despite the cajoling of our good sheriff, he was unable to procure the location of your missing ore. And should Dirty Hopkins have elected to speak, I reckon he’d profess ignorance for any robbery of your line. But why would he when clearly the court arraigned against him ain’t no greater than a pony show with little interest in either truth or justice?”

A murmur rose from the gathered townsfolk. The sheriff eyed them warily before turning upon Felicity.

“Are you saying this man is no outlaw? You who brought him back to us, wounded by your own rough handling?”

“I make no claim towards his character,” Felicity spat. “He is both craven and merciless. If those be your charges then you can hand me the rope and I will string him myself for all those that have perished by his hand. But if my people are to die, it won’t be in vain.”

“This is a farce,” the sheriff said. “Remove her!”

Felicity turned to Nicolai but he didn’t immediately object as the sheriff’s boys came to her side. The two men that had intercepted her earlier flanked Laure, taking the deputy’s chains from her hands. Felicity pulled her coat free, turning to the Ranger as they snatched for the papers.

“The only farce is putting a scheming ne’er-do-well in charge of doling out justice! Your deputy has already confessed your sins, sheriff. Your plot’s been revealed.”

The sheriff turned to his manacled man, and his heavy gaze caused the sniffling deputy to cower further. But a shift was certainly affecting the crowd. No doubt the deputy had worn his fearsome mask in his dealings with them. This half undressed, soiled and simpering fool was a shade of the scarred lawman.

“I know not what tortures you’ve enacted upon him nor even what purpose you insinuate of my nature.”

“Murder and theft as well as an untamed scheme to bring ruin to the very folk you preach and preen before. In my hands I have correspondences with your buyer for the ores you stole and seek to pin on this man! These fetched from your desk beneath the direction of that blubbering caitiff.”

“I-I’m sorry, boss!” the deputy pleaded. “She… she is an untamed. Near slit my throat…!”

Laure kicked him unceremoniously to the ground, strangling his voice in a great cloud of dirt. He snivelled at the people’s feet as her guards pulled her roughly away. The sheriff rounded on Felicity.

“Salacious lies! Who are you to challenge my authority? You’re just some honour less bounty hunter preying on the weak and needy for your coin. Hand me those papers!”

“I think I look first,” Nicolai finally said.

“Sir, we should not entertain these deluded claims. No doubt she is in league with Hopkins himself and this is some scam to discredit our efforts and play you the fool!”

The sheriff snatched at the papers but Felicity dodged his hands. However, the sheriff’s men were many on the platform and were fast upon her: pinning her arms behind her back and claiming the documents for their leader.

“See here!” Nicolai cried.

But as he stepped forward, hands fell to weapons. The magnate’s look was as hard and steely as his office’s facade. But in that moment, it was clear he was outnumbered. His hired lawmen turned not to him but the sheriff. And their posturing was clear.

“Come now, sir Nicolai. Your gracious patronage has brought peace and order to this town. Let us do our duty and deal with these outlaws.”

“Sheriff Plummer…!”

But Nicolai held his reply as the sheriff’s men drew their guns.

“This will all be over soon,” Plummer cried. “Order will be restored to Bannock. Even if we must string up Hopkin’s conspirators as well!”

“Truly?” Felicty laughed. “And do you expect these people to forget that a Ranger has gone missing? Or you reckoned his murder would be forgotten once you had some necks to twist in your ropes?”

The sheriff spat as his men handed him the letters.

“You should have made your way from town once you had your pay,” the sheriff sneered, stepping close. His great stomach pressed against Felicity as he leaned in so his round face was inches from hers. “But perhaps you have some feelings for this degenerate. Seems you leave me little recourse than to string you up with him for your impetuousness.”

“Or maybe we’ll look at those documents before we make any hasty decisions.”

A click of the hammer caused the sheriff to straighten. Ranger Hayes had his rifle raised and leveraged at the fat man’s chest.

“You still have failed to explain my brother’s disappearance.”

The sheriff shrugged.

“How am I suppose to know where your kind go, Ranger? They prowl the endless plains. He could have run afoul of hostile savages. Or maybe he stumbled upon this villainous pair and they got the better of him. Perhaps they tossed his body unceremoniously into them canyons.”

“Then it won’t be an issue if we take a look at the little lady’s evidence,” Ranger Hayes replied, his gun unmoving.

The sheriff gave only the briefest of glances at the papers in his hand to confirm their identity. Then he shook his head and gave a hearty laugh.

“Likely forgeries, anyway. Why would I keep such incriminating documents if I were so devious?”

“Perhaps to blackmail your correspondent if he reneged on his end? Or maybe you ain’t so untamedly bright. But I reckon I’d rather peruse them then have a word with your deputy myself before we continue.”

The sheriff’s smile melted away as his thick lips churned his predicament. He looked at the deputy still lying face down in the dirt.

“You fool,” he sneered. “You lowly, heat stricken fool. Don’t think I won’t deal with you later for this.”

The sheriff reached quickly for his coat pocket but a sudden thunder clap broke the air. All attending flinched at the sound. Felicity regarded the Ranger’s rifle but it still laid cocked in his hands.

The wood at the sheriff’s feet was cracked from where the bullet struck. Still standing with hand in his coat and letters shaking slightly in his fingers, the fat man turned. A mass shifted upon the roof of the General Store as Schroeder made a show of adjusting his aim.

Felicity quickly disentangled herself from her captors’ hands, rushing the sheriff before he could wage his chances against the Ranger and the sharpshooter. She snatched into his pockets and fetched the gun from its holster. With him disarmed, Ranger Hayes approached and grabbed the letters from the sheriff’s hand. He then turned his rifle towards the sheriff’s lawmen ordering them to drop their weapons. Ever so slowly, they obliged, the guns clattering against the floor.

As the Ranger turned to the documents, Nicolai stepped boldly forward.

“What do they read?”

“It’s as the lady inferred,” Ranger Hayes said. “Appears the sheriff was stealing supplies all across town and selling them off for his own. Even makes mention of hiring an outlaw to blame the whole business upon.”

The magnate ripped them from the Ranger’s hands, looking them over as well. His face grew even redder as he read, his fingers shaking with rage and embarrassment.

“To think I listen to you all morning striding smug before me,” Nicolai growled. “And the destruction of the bridge, you blithely destroyed years of work and preparation! I want these men punished, Ranger! Punished! This… this is unacceptable!”

The governor spat on the sheriff’s fine suit.

“As if you’re any better,” Sheriff Plummer sneered. “You growing fat and wealthy with nary a consideration for the folk that do all the digging for you. You rail lords ain’t nothing but thieves in better dress. You twist the law to your bidding, ruling worse than the nobles back across the waters! You thought you the only one that could manipulate these people. You’re just as stupid as the rest of them.”

“Hang them! And squeeze this fat lout into the cage!” Nicolai’s brow twitched as he stood but inches from the sheriff, quivering with fury. “Your soul goes nowhere. Let vultures pick you clean like you picked me.”

The magnate turned, heading for the stairs. Ranger Hayes regarded the other lawmen, beginning to follow the magnate’s words. In that brief respite, the sheriff grew desperate. Laure called out, slipping her arms free and knocking over one of her guards with a swift strike of her wrench to his gut. Her hands fell upon the gun of the other and the weapon seemed to fall apart in her fast fingers. But the sheriff struck lightning quick, bringing his fist heavily upon Felicity’s hand. The sheriff’s pistol fell from her fingers and in that moment the sheriff snatched at the weapon tucked into her hip. He grabbed her roughly, angling her body between him and the sharpshooter as he raised the gun to her head.

“Die, whore!”

He pulled the trigger.

And he pulled it again.

And he pulled it a third time.

He blinked at this seemingly divine providence right before Felicity drove her elbow hard into his gut. Pain wretched him forward and she slammed her fist into his face, crunching his nose beneath her knuckles. A spatter of blood shot out as she grabbed the collar of his vest, pulling his retreating head into her forehead. The already softened cartilage crunched again as he howled in pain before she drove her leg hard into his groin, keeling him onto his knees.

She scooped up the guns on the ground and without a word, let loose a single shot right into his fat rump.

He squealed like a pig, collapsing on the ground and rolling in pain. His hands knew not where to go between the bloody mess of his face, his throbbing groin or the shot in his ass.

The Ranger regarded her.

“That really necessary?”

“Perhaps not,” Felicity shrugged. “But it’s satisfying. Ain’t nothing that’ll finish him and it’s the least Pacal deserves. Make sure justice is seen, lawman.”

She emptied the sheriff’s pistol over the edge of the stage before tossing it in the pile at the Ranger’s feet. Before anyone could say otherwise, she moved to the steps, walking quickly from the platform and through the crowd. Schroeder was already clamouring down from the store when Laure and Felicity reached his side.

“Well, that was thrilling!” Laure said.

Felicity paused, turning to Schroeder.

“Appreciated.”

She held out the pistol raised against her moments ago. Schroeder reached for it with a smile.

“So, what was that about me needing proper care? You could say I saved your life right there.”

She pulled it back, twirling the gun into her hand and raised it to his head before clicking the trigger.

“There, now it’s square,” she tossed the gun into his chest. “Don’t let it happen again else you might be able to do more than shoot up some wood.”

He fumbled his catch and as he picked it up, she gave one last glance back at the stage. With the sheriff incapacitated the rest of the lawmen easily bowed before the Ranger. Many of the townsfolk assisted with the arrests, almost a little too eager to bring the gang that once held order to heel.

Then Schroeder looked back at Felicity, calling out as they made their way towards the train, “Wait, that doesn’t makes us even at all!”