Dear Prissy, my my girl, I am sorry you had to miss the excitement this afternoon. It sure was something! I thought Wyatt Mitchelson was gonna shoot Dan Bullard right in the middle of the Church! He might have too, if the Marshal hadn't have gotten involved. But I reckon I should start from the beginning.
The meeting sure was packed. Never seen the Church that full, and that is an honest shame. But people were standing all in the back and up the side aisles. And there was still more trying to look in the windows. Reverend Pierce called the meeting to order and said an opening prayer. He talked about how we are on the edge of damnation and the need to turn away from the wild violence and evil that have been stalking the town. He then asked Miss Daisy to sing a hymn, but before she could even start, Dan Bullard stood up and said "Is this a damn Sunday Sermon, or a town meeting? Let's get on with it!!" Several people seemed to agree, so poor Miss Daisy sat back down. Poor thing, I felt bad for her. You know how she loves to sing in front of people. Well then Silas, the newspaper man stood up and gave everyone an accounting of what's been going on in town since Sherrif Barker was murdered. He spoke of Kid Holmes' arrival, and how he killed Mr. Barker right on the street. Then how Snake came to town, the stealing of Mitchelson's horses, (sorry to bring it up dear), the shootouts in the hills and in Rose's Saloon. He also spoke of the near riot in front of the jailhouse the other day. Then they asked the Marshal to get up and say his piece about Holmes and the strange men behind the attack in town.
Now the Marshal seems like a good, honest, fearless man, but a public speaker he is not. I swear Prissy, the poor thing looked almost ill when he had to get up to speak. First he went into the history of Kid Holmes. Did you know that he killed the Marshal's brother a few years ago??? What a monster this man must be! Then he talked about the raid on the Circle M Ranch, and the shootout the following day. And this is where things went sideways.
Bullard started making a fuss about the Marshal using local townfolk to go after Homes. He blamed him again for the deaths of the two young men. My John stood up and said "We all knew what we were in store for. The Marshal warned us it was dangerous to go. No one forced Kevin and Jimmy to ride up to those hills with us. They understood what they were doing!"
"Nobody is saying they didn't!" said Bullard as he walked down the aisle to the front of the church. "What I am saying is they should not have been givin the opportunity to go after such a dangerous man. Those boys had no training hunting down fugitives! And from his own lips we have all heard that the Marshal knew how deadly this outlaw was! Maybe he was so blinded by his own lust for revenge that he just didn't care who he put in the line of fire!"
"God damn it Bullard!" A loud voice roared from the crowd as Wyatt Mitchelson stepped out. "I am sick and damn tired of hearing you whine and wail about who did what to who! This bastard murdered Lloyd Barker right in the middle of town! I don't hear you goin on about that!"
"We all mourn for Lloyd, Wyatt!" said Bullard. I could see his face start to turn red. "But that ain't the point!"
"Then what exactly is the God damn point?" Said Mitchelson as he moved up front to confront the Saloon owner.
"Gentlemen!" called out Reverend Pierce "I remind you that this is the Lord's House! Watch your tongues!"
"Sorry Reverend."said Wyatt. "I know you Dan Bullard. I know you better than most in this town. I know exactly who you are and what you are capable of. And you best not think for one damn minute that I don't!"
"What are you saying Wyatt?" Bullard's voice dropped low and cold.
"You know God damn well what I am saying, Dan. You want me to believe these boys that shot up Rosie's the other night, just happened to be here by accident?!? You think I am that stupid?"
"Watch yourself rancher." Bullard's voice was almost a whisper, but I could make it out. "You don't know what the fuck you are doing."
At this point Snake spoke up and tried to get between them. "All right now. We are not gonna travel this road today. Ya'll need to sit back down. Now." The two of them continued to stare at each other. "I am giving ya 10 seconds to sit or I am gonna haul both your asses to the jailhouse right now!"
"I am not gonna sit down Marshal." said Bullard as he turned back to the crowd. "This meeting is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I guess a man ain't free in this town anymore to speak his mind. Fine. If that's how you people want to live, that's just fine. But I know what's right, and what's not. I am willing to stand up for myself, even if the rest of you aren't." He turned back to Snake and Wyatt. "You gentlemen have a nice day." With that he turned and walked down the aisle to the front door. At first a few of the men who work for him rose and followed him out. Then Johnathon Dukes, the banker, stood and left as well. Then a few more. And a few more. Soon it seemed like most the church was leaving.
"Friends!" said Mitchelson trying to stop the flow. "Friends, we need to stick together in this! We need a plan to protect our town!!"
"Let them go Wyatt." said Snake. "What we need to do, most can't help with anyway."
"What do you mean?" said Mitchelson.
"You want to protect this town? So do I. The person I care most about in this whole world lives right here and is in danger. I am gonna find and kill this son-of -a-bitch once and for all. Me and my deputies. But I need your help. How far you willing to go Mitchelson?"
At this point Snake looked at John and I. John turned to me and said. "You should get on home to the boys now Sally." I looked at him puzzled. "Go on now. You shouldn't be here anymore. I will be home shortly."
I felt a hand at my elbow and turned to see Ruby Rose trying to lead me out. "Come on darling, let's go." We walked out and they shut the door behind us. "Did you hear the Marshal say he loved someone here in town?" Asked Ruby. "I wonder who he was talking about?"
I think I know the answer to that Prissy. We need to talk.
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