I don’t know what that guy had been thinking. He may not have known the sheriff, but I did. When he said “deal with you properly” he doesn’t mean a double-guard and metal cuffs. He meant business.
The prisoner was led, protesting, into a small copse of trees. There, after much squirming and shouting, his arms were trussed up till he just stood there, on tip-toes, with his back to the sheriff.
Benboy, meanwhile, was loading a shotgun.
Things were not looking up.
The prisoner remained unrepentant. “So this is the law in these parts? No fair trial? I want a lawyer! And a judge!”
Benboy clicked the shotgun back together, with two fresh shells inserted. “I am the judge.”
The prisoner’s tirade paused momentarily. “I’m gonna need a darn good lawyer, aren’t I?”
“A professional, I’d imagine.” Benboy grinned, sauntering forward. We all clustered towards the two. “Pick somebody.” He invited, gesturing at the crowd as he rounded the prisoner, coming into view.
“Uh, well…can we do interviews or applications or something?” The prisoner gulped, trying to hang onto his cool.
“No.” A sickly-sweet smile was pasted on the sheriff’s features. “Now. Or I’ll pick one for you.”
“Erm…well.” The prisoner glanced desperately at the sea of impassive faces.
“Oh, Flash…” Benboy said. The coffee-zombie perked up.
“HIM!” The prisoner quickly screeched, pointing at me. “THAT GUY. YEAH, SOMBRERO HEAD.”
“Look who you’re calling sombrero head.” I muttered stepping forward.
“Looks like you’re on a special bit of jury duty, Con.” Benboy settled down on a rock. “Make your case.”
XD XD XD Classic.
That's the feeling I'm going for here. Classic Western.
“Five minutes. Somebody get my sunblock.” He waved a hand towards the saddlebags, still strung on the back of fidgeting horses.
I walked right up to the prisoner, and leaned in. “Thanks a lot.”
A brief silence reigned, before he decided to get us started. “Okay, so, this is all a big misunderstanding. I totally don’t know this Grubbs guy, he just showed up at my house, and then there was shooting, and I got confused…”
“Yeah, well, I know the Grubbs guy.” I said. “And the time for talking has passed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m throwing my lot in with you.” I said, and then whipped out my knife and in one clean swipe slashed straight through the rope stringing up his right hand. I shoved a pistol into it, and leveled my shotgun at the sheriff.
“I prefer knives.” The guy whispered.
“Shut up and live with what you got.” I said. Louder, I addressed the assembly. “It had been found that this man is in no way responsible for his actions, he’s merely acting on the principles of his conscience. I can no longer hesitate to do the same.”
Benboy jumped to his feet. “You wouldn’t dare…”
“It’s about time somebody did.” I said. “Anybody with me?”
Of course, Ash jumped right over. He was about the last person I wanted on my side at this particular moment, excluding Flash. It had nothing to do with his capabilities handling a weapon, but more to do with the many years of life he still had to live. I had no doubts how this was going to go down.
“That’s it.” Benboy said. “Shoot them.”
“Open fire.” I said, and promptly let loose a round. The sheriff let loose a scream that had to have shaken the hills.
-last edited on Oct 23, 2018 22:25:33 GMT by TheGreatCon
Post by TheGreatCon on Oct 23, 2018 22:24:14 GMT
As his men hurriedly dived for cover, we easily slipped behind a few of the trees in the white birch copse. Unfortunately, white birches as rather slender trees. Bullets ricocheted all around us, sending up puffs of sawdust as they imbedded themselves into the trees. Leaves fell, shaken loose by the bullets. White bark floated on the breeze. I quickly pumped a few rounds in return fire, with Ash and the prisoner adding to the scattering of shots that kept the posse pinned. They were in a bad position down there, trying to fire up a slight hill with absolutely no cover. But they had numbers. Which ultimately means more guns. Our position was good, but not good enough. I glanced through the thinly wooded area and caught sight of some boulders clumped which marked the end of the trees. “Retreat.” I said, motioning for my meager following to move deeper in.
Of course, Ash didn’t listen. Unsurprisingly, the other guy flat-out ignored me as well. This was going swell. Bullets were still flying all around us, and the trees were all riddled to pieces by now.
My tree swayed a bit, the base all eaten up by holes. I quickly kicked it in Ash’s direction, and then dashed forward, covered by the falling tree. Reaching the kid, I grabbed him by the back of his fancy leather jacket and dragged him further in. The prisoner came to his senses and followed, but not before chucking another stick of his dynamite at the group, which granted us a nice little reprieve.
“What are we doing?” He asked when we were far enough in. “We had ‘em in a good spot!”
“Yeah, well, it’s like twenty to three, so we need a stellar spot.” I said, and pointed at the rocks. “We’re holing up there.”
The prisoner shrugged. “In that case, sure, whatever.”
Ash yanked his jacket clear of my grip and straightened it officiously. He addressed the stranger. “What’s your name, pal?”
...what if...? 
![[*]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/xIQZyTih4o7KUiSh9m3I.png)
Sheriff star. 
Honestly, I CON't tell 'em apart. I just go by the logos, and princesses.