Still a little high on adrenaline, and definitely more alert of his surroundings, Jack found the rest of the night passing by fast. Connor seemed to have Hank under control, and as long as the man’s whining wasn’t too loud, it wouldn’t be an issue. Jack’s encounter with their pursuers didn’t seem to amount to more than just a little scare that night, and Jack started to forget about it.
When they reached the little town, Jack’s eyes automatically mapped out roads made for a quick getaway. It likely wouldn’t be necessary since he was carrying out a legit job for once, but old habits were hard to kick, and he’d rather figure out his route of escape now instead of when the bullets were flying.
“Well, that ain’t much, but hopefully there’ll be a fella who can fix the horses,” Jack said, looking back at his travel buddies. His bandana was still tied around Hank’s mouth, so Jack couldn’t hide his face when hey entered town. Hopefully none of his wanted posters had reached South Fork yet...
“Wheredya wanna stash that guy? Sure can’t just bring him into the saloon, where he might stir up a ruckus. Ya think they have a holdin’ cell? Cuz I am just as comfortable with just tying him to a tree in the outskirts.”
When they reached the little town, Jack’s eyes automatically mapped out roads made for a quick getaway. It likely wouldn’t be necessary since he was carrying out a legit job for once, but old habits were hard to kick, and he’d rather figure out his route of escape now instead of when the bullets were flying.
“Well, that ain’t much, but hopefully there’ll be a fella who can fix the horses,” Jack said, looking back at his travel buddies. His bandana was still tied around Hank’s mouth, so Jack couldn’t hide his face when hey entered town. Hopefully none of his wanted posters had reached South Fork yet...
“Wheredya wanna stash that guy? Sure can’t just bring him into the saloon, where he might stir up a ruckus. Ya think they have a holdin’ cell? Cuz I am just as comfortable with just tying him to a tree in the outskirts.”
Sydney watched the brothers with Lance. More and more it was seeming unlikely that Lance knew the men or Dorothy. However, he could just be a really good actor. This could all be to throw them off from their trail. To secure their own escape. While he may want to cut the man loose for now they needed him to serve as a guide to get to South Fork.
"Can you get us to South Fork in the dark?"
Sydney kept his eyes trained on Lance waiting for his answer. Depending on the answer would likely determine Lance's fate with the brothers. He felt confident he could stave off them killing the man once they reached the city. However, he was not sure that Lance would arrive completely uninjured. Both of the brothers seemed to be itching for a fight. Not that he could blame them. They had been on the road for quite some time. Only stopping in towns long enough to get some rest and restore their supplies.
"If you are proven not to know them you can leave. Until then I ask you come with us."
"Can you get us to South Fork in the dark?"
Sydney kept his eyes trained on Lance waiting for his answer. Depending on the answer would likely determine Lance's fate with the brothers. He felt confident he could stave off them killing the man once they reached the city. However, he was not sure that Lance would arrive completely uninjured. Both of the brothers seemed to be itching for a fight. Not that he could blame them. They had been on the road for quite some time. Only stopping in towns long enough to get some rest and restore their supplies.
"If you are proven not to know them you can leave. Until then I ask you come with us."
“I wouldn’t recommend leaving him out here. A coyote might get him.” Said Connor with little to no compassion.
“We’ll have to take him with us and see if there might be a place we can put him. If anything we can take turn watching him.”
“We’ll have to take him with us and see if there might be a place we can put him. If anything we can take turn watching him.”
"I'd be more worried 'bout them bounty snatchers," Dorothy said, casting a sideways glance at Jack that suggested Hank wasn't actually the one she was worried about. Still, she agreed with Connor that leaving him tied outside somewhere wasn't a great idea. They were stuck babysitting until they could find somewhere safe to keep him. She squinted a bit in the dark as they passed a building (2) with a sign above it. Her mouth moved silently and anyone paying close attention to her might tell that it took much longer than it should have for her to decipher the words written there: South Fork General Store.
"Got a general store at least," she said.
The saloon and inn (13) was recognizable enough for what it was that she didn't need to try to read 'Hungry Huntsman' on the wooden sign hung out front as they brought their horses to a halt. There was a hitching rail there, though no other horses were around at the moment.
"Wanna see if anyone's up?" she asked, sliding off her steed's right side.
"Got a general store at least," she said.
The saloon and inn (13) was recognizable enough for what it was that she didn't need to try to read 'Hungry Huntsman' on the wooden sign hung out front as they brought their horses to a halt. There was a hitching rail there, though no other horses were around at the moment.
"Wanna see if anyone's up?" she asked, sliding off her steed's right side.
"Can you get us to South Fork in the dark? If you are proven not to know them you can leave. Until then I ask you come with us."
Lance turned his angry gaze toward Sydney. "Asking huh? Don't seem to me I got a lot a choice in the matter."
He huffed, glaring at Sydney, Bones and Charlie in turn. "I can get ya there. Idda done it for free, but ya know, somehow I ain't feeling such kindness in my heart now." He jutted his chin toward the dead mountain lion. "I want the bounty on the cat."
"What?!" Objected Bones. "Ain't no way. That thing nearly killed Charlie!"
"Then maybe ya can find yer own way," Lance said stubbornly.
Charlie gestured to the Marshal and to Bones to come closer so that they could speak privately together. "If he's lyin', won't need ta give him nuthin'. But if not, wouldn't hurt ta split the lion's bounty with him."
Lance turned his angry gaze toward Sydney. "Asking huh? Don't seem to me I got a lot a choice in the matter."
He huffed, glaring at Sydney, Bones and Charlie in turn. "I can get ya there. Idda done it for free, but ya know, somehow I ain't feeling such kindness in my heart now." He jutted his chin toward the dead mountain lion. "I want the bounty on the cat."
"What?!" Objected Bones. "Ain't no way. That thing nearly killed Charlie!"
"Then maybe ya can find yer own way," Lance said stubbornly.
Charlie gestured to the Marshal and to Bones to come closer so that they could speak privately together. "If he's lyin', won't need ta give him nuthin'. But if not, wouldn't hurt ta split the lion's bounty with him."
Jack shrugged at his partners’ agreement that leaving Ha k unattended would be unwise. As he’d said, he didn’t really care if they brought him or not. He wasn’t going to be able to run either way, and since they were out of official business this time, who was going to tell them to cut him loose?
“If he’s draped o’er a horse or a bench, ain’t really gonna matter much,” Jack said. He looked at the saloon, which looked like it could still be open. If they had a cheap enough room, it could act as a temporary holding cell, until they found out if the town had a proper jail. They weren’t going to be there for that long, so even if Hank had to stay in the saloon, it wouldn’t hike up any astronomical bills.
“If they ain’t got room for him, my vote is on just knocking him out again.”
———————————-
A little away from the newly arrived travel party, was one of the houses in South Fork that had most recently received new owners. After the death of Nathaniel Briars, the newlywed Glen and Shay Winstead has moved in. A few days later, they were joined by a live-in maid: Mary Keller.
Mary’s real name was Maggie Greene, though she kept that to herself. With a bounty on that name in Georgia, Maggie made sure to use clean aliases upon arriving in new towns. In a small town like South Fork, it may not have been necessary, but she’d learned to hard way that one couldn’t be to careful.
At the same time as Dorothy, Jack and Connor had arrived, Maggie had woken up in her maid-chamber, struggling to breathe and with her red curls damp from sweat. She’d had a nightmare again. They’d been more and more frequent since she’d arrived in South Fork, and they were always the same. Still, she ignored it and wrote it off as a consequence of the alcohol, she was too fond of. Maybe it was the food? Her mistress had also been suffering from nightmares as well.
She quickly realised that she wasn’t going to fall asleep again immediately, and she would wake up her employers, if she started her tasks. She did, however, just have enough time to go get a drink at the saloon. It would take her a little while to get presentable, but then she could get straight to work when she got back home.
With a sigh, Maggie lit the candle on her dresser, and then began raking her wild curls into a bun. There was no need for a bonnet this late, but she needed to wear more than just her shift.
“If he’s draped o’er a horse or a bench, ain’t really gonna matter much,” Jack said. He looked at the saloon, which looked like it could still be open. If they had a cheap enough room, it could act as a temporary holding cell, until they found out if the town had a proper jail. They weren’t going to be there for that long, so even if Hank had to stay in the saloon, it wouldn’t hike up any astronomical bills.
“If they ain’t got room for him, my vote is on just knocking him out again.”
———————————-
A little away from the newly arrived travel party, was one of the houses in South Fork that had most recently received new owners. After the death of Nathaniel Briars, the newlywed Glen and Shay Winstead has moved in. A few days later, they were joined by a live-in maid: Mary Keller.
Mary’s real name was Maggie Greene, though she kept that to herself. With a bounty on that name in Georgia, Maggie made sure to use clean aliases upon arriving in new towns. In a small town like South Fork, it may not have been necessary, but she’d learned to hard way that one couldn’t be to careful.
At the same time as Dorothy, Jack and Connor had arrived, Maggie had woken up in her maid-chamber, struggling to breathe and with her red curls damp from sweat. She’d had a nightmare again. They’d been more and more frequent since she’d arrived in South Fork, and they were always the same. Still, she ignored it and wrote it off as a consequence of the alcohol, she was too fond of. Maybe it was the food? Her mistress had also been suffering from nightmares as well.
She quickly realised that she wasn’t going to fall asleep again immediately, and she would wake up her employers, if she started her tasks. She did, however, just have enough time to go get a drink at the saloon. It would take her a little while to get presentable, but then she could get straight to work when she got back home.
With a sigh, Maggie lit the candle on her dresser, and then began raking her wild curls into a bun. There was no need for a bonnet this late, but she needed to wear more than just her shift.
South Fork Map
North - Dark Canyon (previous town, 2-3 day ride), South - river,
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
The saloon might not have been officially open at this pre-dawn hour, but there was a lamp burning in the front window and the heavy wooden front door was not locked.
Inside, there's another lamp burning at a table where two men are conversing over a shared bottle of whiskey. But what likely catches most folk's attention immediately are the various mounted animals that decorate the main room of the Hungry Huntsman. There are several deer heads on the walls. A pair of wild ducks are hung midway through the room, suspended from barely visible wire, positioned with their wings spread, as if in mid-flight. There is a black bear hide hung on the left wall. A fox carrying a pheasant in its mouth in one corner. And a beaver gnawing on a tree in another. There are a couple sillier items as well - a jackalope head mounted above the bar and a squirrel on the counter beneath it; standing upright with a miniature cowboy hat, a doll sized vest, and a tiny wooden gun in its paw.
The two men look up as the newcomers enter. "Odd hours to be traveling, folks..." says a man with a heavy brown mustache as he stands up. He looks to be in his mid-forties and a bar towel slung over his shoulder suggests he either works here or is the proprietor. Though he has a welcoming smile on his face, he has a tired look to him, as one that has not been getting nearly enough sleep.
The other man was slightly younger... maybe in his mid thirties and with darker skin of mixed white and black heritage. He seemed to take the arrival of Conner, Jack and Dorothy as his cue to leave. "Guessh it's ... pret-tay late, ain't it. Shee ya tomorrow, Luke," he said, drunk enough to slur his words, but still able to walk his way past the party and head toward the door, tipping his hat to them on the way past.
"G'night, Joe," the innkeeper acknowledges before returning his attention to his new customers. "You folks in need of rooms?"
Outside, Joe pauses a moment to stare at the bound and gagged man on the horse. He shakes his head as if he's attributing the site to being drunk, then slowly makes his way south.
If Maggie heads toward the saloon soon, she would likely pass him and recognize him as Joseph Chatham, who lives in the southernmost house (12) in South Fork with his wife and daughter.
Sydney could have taken a different approach when it came to dealing with Lance. Now, he was trying to negotiate with them. While it seemed like he had no choice in the matter Lance still had a choice to make. He was not going to force the man to show them the way. Sydney wanted him to show them the way willingly, or now for a small fee. The marshal looked between the brothers. The feline did almost kill Charlie and he should be compensated for his injuries. Sydney looked back towards Lance.
"Four way split for the bounty. You can have half of my share for the trouble," Sydney said pausing for a moment. He was deciding if he wanted to make an offer to Lance. It could not really hurt to see what the man was inclined to do. It was his share of the profits he was offering up. "If ya feel inclined ta make a little more cash, help us in locating and apprehending the fugitives I'm looking for and ya can have my entire share of the bounty."
Sydney kept his eyes on Lance to see if this would smooth matters over. While free would have been good for the guidance the marshal was inclined to reward people that offered their assistance. He would have given the man some money regardless of how this entire thing went down.
"Four way split for the bounty. You can have half of my share for the trouble," Sydney said pausing for a moment. He was deciding if he wanted to make an offer to Lance. It could not really hurt to see what the man was inclined to do. It was his share of the profits he was offering up. "If ya feel inclined ta make a little more cash, help us in locating and apprehending the fugitives I'm looking for and ya can have my entire share of the bounty."
Sydney kept his eyes on Lance to see if this would smooth matters over. While free would have been good for the guidance the marshal was inclined to reward people that offered their assistance. He would have given the man some money regardless of how this entire thing went down.
It took a few pins to hold back Maggie’s hair, and even in the dim light of the candle, she could tell that it looked haphazard and messily done. She opened the top drawer of her dresser, and found a silver barrette clip, she’d been gifted a few years ago. Back then it had been new, beautiful, and way too precious for a maid to own. But now, matte and grey by oxidation and a lack of polishing, it could easily be passed off as a hand-me-down from a former employer.
Maggie placed the clip in her hair, and hoped that it could help distract from how messy it looked. She closed the top drawer, and opened the second where she found a clean shirt and a pair of stockings. In the drawer beneath, she picked out a skirt that didn’t need the support of a bustle. She put both shirt and skirt on over her shift, and squinted in front of the mirror, to make sure that she didn’t look as tired or stressed out as she felt. She then rolled on the stockings and fastened them just above her knees with garters.
The Winsteads didn’t live for from The Hungry Huntsman, and Maggie almost bumped into Mr Chatham as she left through the kitchen door, and headed out towards the road.
“My apologies, Mr Chatham,” Maggie said, exaggerating her Georgia accent slightly. She’d come to find that people found it endearing. “I hardly even saw you there. It sure is dark still.”
It didn’t take a detective to figure out, Joseph Chatham had had a glass or two. Maggie could both see and smell in on him, though she kept herself from frowning at him, or lecturing him. That was Mrs Chatham’s job. But Maggie didn’t simply say goodbye either. She’d seen Joseph and Lydia’s daughter, though they hadn’t spoken. She had grown up without parents, and she wouldn’t forgive herself if she was the reason, another girl had to do so too.
In all fairness, there weren’t many things that could harm a drunk man heading home in South Fork. However, those extra minutes, it would take Maggie to walk Joseph home safe, would help calm her. And, she thought to herself help people perceive Mary Keller as less of a suspect, when I eventually get what I need.
“Let me walk ya back home, sir,” Maggie said with a smile. “I can help ya get in so quiet, the missus won’t even notice, ya went out.”
Maggie placed the clip in her hair, and hoped that it could help distract from how messy it looked. She closed the top drawer, and opened the second where she found a clean shirt and a pair of stockings. In the drawer beneath, she picked out a skirt that didn’t need the support of a bustle. She put both shirt and skirt on over her shift, and squinted in front of the mirror, to make sure that she didn’t look as tired or stressed out as she felt. She then rolled on the stockings and fastened them just above her knees with garters.
The Winsteads didn’t live for from The Hungry Huntsman, and Maggie almost bumped into Mr Chatham as she left through the kitchen door, and headed out towards the road.
“My apologies, Mr Chatham,” Maggie said, exaggerating her Georgia accent slightly. She’d come to find that people found it endearing. “I hardly even saw you there. It sure is dark still.”
It didn’t take a detective to figure out, Joseph Chatham had had a glass or two. Maggie could both see and smell in on him, though she kept herself from frowning at him, or lecturing him. That was Mrs Chatham’s job. But Maggie didn’t simply say goodbye either. She’d seen Joseph and Lydia’s daughter, though they hadn’t spoken. She had grown up without parents, and she wouldn’t forgive herself if she was the reason, another girl had to do so too.
In all fairness, there weren’t many things that could harm a drunk man heading home in South Fork. However, those extra minutes, it would take Maggie to walk Joseph home safe, would help calm her. And, she thought to herself help people perceive Mary Keller as less of a suspect, when I eventually get what I need.
“Let me walk ya back home, sir,” Maggie said with a smile. “I can help ya get in so quiet, the missus won’t even notice, ya went out.”
Jack looked around at the decor. It sure fit the theme provided by the name of the place. He didn’t have much of an opinion on interior design, and as long as the saloon provided a room above his head, shelter from the wind and whiskey for his throat, Jack had very few demands or expectations to the establishment. If they wanted to have a theme, fine by him.
“We hit a bit of a bump in the road,” Jack told the saloon keeper, without paying much attention to the drunk patron, who was seeing himself out. If he could remember seeing them the next morning, Jack would be impressed. “Horse lost a shoe. Slowed us down a wee bit, but we thought we better press on thru and get ‘ere at an odd hour, rather than risk mountain cats goin’ for us or the horses if we camped on the road.”
Jack felt no need to clarify the odd groups internal relations to the man. He looked more than willing to let them stay there, without explaining who they were, or what they were doing there.
“Aye,” he confirmed. He sent Dorothy a slight smirk, and then looked back at the innkeeper. “Three rooms’ll be good. Two single ‘n a double. We got another buddy out front. Ya want payment up front?”
They’d been given money by the Sheriff of Dark Canyon, but Jack wasn’t going to use that to pay their rooms. His pockets were always generously lined by Esme Black, whenever he headed somewhere on his own. What better time than now to flex a little of that gold?
“We hit a bit of a bump in the road,” Jack told the saloon keeper, without paying much attention to the drunk patron, who was seeing himself out. If he could remember seeing them the next morning, Jack would be impressed. “Horse lost a shoe. Slowed us down a wee bit, but we thought we better press on thru and get ‘ere at an odd hour, rather than risk mountain cats goin’ for us or the horses if we camped on the road.”
Jack felt no need to clarify the odd groups internal relations to the man. He looked more than willing to let them stay there, without explaining who they were, or what they were doing there.
“Aye,” he confirmed. He sent Dorothy a slight smirk, and then looked back at the innkeeper. “Three rooms’ll be good. Two single ‘n a double. We got another buddy out front. Ya want payment up front?”
They’d been given money by the Sheriff of Dark Canyon, but Jack wasn’t going to use that to pay their rooms. His pockets were always generously lined by Esme Black, whenever he headed somewhere on his own. What better time than now to flex a little of that gold?
Lance hesitated, considering his situation and the offer. He was tempted to be stubborn and insist on the full amount, but he wasn't thrilled about the idea of sitting here until morning with his hands bound while these bounty hunters went through his stuff. Sooner they could get to South Fork, the better. He didn't actually live in there, but he was confident enough that the constable would vouch for him.
"We'll split it then," he agreed, though was still scowling and made no comment one way or the other about helping them apprehend these fugitives.
And soon enough, he was leading them southward through the dark. Bones had untied his hands again so that he could ride, but both the Goller brothers were keeping the business ends of their revolvers trained on him.
Three rooms... Jack must be taking this escort job seriously since he was getting a double room for Hank so that someone could keep guard over him. Annnnd shoot... Dorothy had volunteered for the early morning watch which was likely going to translate into her being the one to get stuck watching him.
"Need stabling too then?" the innkeeper asked, nodding about wishing payment up front. He dug out three keys with wooden tags labeled 2, 5, 6. "Rooms can all sleep two. One dollar a night for a room and 25 cents for a stall and hay." There didn't seem to be any discount for the night being more than half over already.
"Can get breakfast for 25 cents too. But you can decide that come morning if ya want," he added.
"Mish ...ah ... Marg-ry, right? Sure ish nicsh of ya," Joseph Chatham slurred and nodded agreeably to Maggie's offer to walk with him. "Couldn't ya sleep neither?"
He then half-chuckled like something she'd said was funny. "Cain't get nuthin' pasht Liddy." The pair are an odd couple for the times. A white woman married to a half-black man. But it seems here in South Fork no one gives them flak, nor really even any dirty looks.
As they pass Raoul Zoltan’s House (11), Maggie might notice a lamp burning behind a closed curtain. Apparently, they are not the only ones awake at this early hour. She's probably not yet met Raoul. He tends to keep to himself and rumor has it that he's an odd stick that spends his days pouring over books. No one in South Fork is quite sure what he actually does for a living.
"We'll split it then," he agreed, though was still scowling and made no comment one way or the other about helping them apprehend these fugitives.
And soon enough, he was leading them southward through the dark. Bones had untied his hands again so that he could ride, but both the Goller brothers were keeping the business ends of their revolvers trained on him.
Three rooms... Jack must be taking this escort job seriously since he was getting a double room for Hank so that someone could keep guard over him. Annnnd shoot... Dorothy had volunteered for the early morning watch which was likely going to translate into her being the one to get stuck watching him.
"Need stabling too then?" the innkeeper asked, nodding about wishing payment up front. He dug out three keys with wooden tags labeled 2, 5, 6. "Rooms can all sleep two. One dollar a night for a room and 25 cents for a stall and hay." There didn't seem to be any discount for the night being more than half over already.
"Can get breakfast for 25 cents too. But you can decide that come morning if ya want," he added.
"Mish ...ah ... Marg-ry, right? Sure ish nicsh of ya," Joseph Chatham slurred and nodded agreeably to Maggie's offer to walk with him. "Couldn't ya sleep neither?"
He then half-chuckled like something she'd said was funny. "Cain't get nuthin' pasht Liddy." The pair are an odd couple for the times. A white woman married to a half-black man. But it seems here in South Fork no one gives them flak, nor really even any dirty looks.
As they pass Raoul Zoltan’s House (11), Maggie might notice a lamp burning behind a closed curtain. Apparently, they are not the only ones awake at this early hour. She's probably not yet met Raoul. He tends to keep to himself and rumor has it that he's an odd stick that spends his days pouring over books. No one in South Fork is quite sure what he actually does for a living.
South Fork Map
North - Dark Canyon (previous town, 2-3 day ride), South - river,
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
“It’s Mary, yes Mr Chatham,” Maggie confirmed with a soft laugh to keep the light mood of the conversation. She didn’t need the drunk man to go all soppy on her, simply because she offered him a walk home. It wasn’t that terribly far anyway, and it wasn’t as if Maggie didn’t get anything out of it, even if her reward wasn’t in cash.
She didn’t reply to his question about sleep. Her nightmares were better left forgotten and behind her, than out in the open and shared with a man, who was yet to be more than an acquaintance. She therefore just shook her head, and offered her arm to the man, should he need the support. She did it, however, in a way that would make him look like a gentleman escorting a lady, rather than a drunk who needed extra balance.
“Let’s see, if we can make an exception to that rule,” Maggie played along. She had no doubt that any silence or other stealth, she could borrow Chatham, would be gone the moment that he stepped through the door to his home. “But if ya do get caught, I’m sure Mrs Chatham will be understanding.”
As they passed Mr Zoltan’s home, Maggie nodded at he light in the window, to draw Chatham’s attention there. She knew the inhabitant by name, but hadn’t yet met him.
“Looks like we ain’t the only early birds around here, Mr Chatham,” she pointed out casually.
She didn’t reply to his question about sleep. Her nightmares were better left forgotten and behind her, than out in the open and shared with a man, who was yet to be more than an acquaintance. She therefore just shook her head, and offered her arm to the man, should he need the support. She did it, however, in a way that would make him look like a gentleman escorting a lady, rather than a drunk who needed extra balance.
“Let’s see, if we can make an exception to that rule,” Maggie played along. She had no doubt that any silence or other stealth, she could borrow Chatham, would be gone the moment that he stepped through the door to his home. “But if ya do get caught, I’m sure Mrs Chatham will be understanding.”
As they passed Mr Zoltan’s home, Maggie nodded at he light in the window, to draw Chatham’s attention there. She knew the inhabitant by name, but hadn’t yet met him.
“Looks like we ain’t the only early birds around here, Mr Chatham,” she pointed out casually.
Like Jack, Connor didn't have much of an opinion on all the animal trophies lining the walls of the inn. His eyes were ever focused on threats as always and he shot some glares at the drunken patron leaving the inn. Unlike Jack, he'd keep that face in his memory just in case.
For now, the Brave was simply glad that the innkeeper wasn't rising a fuss about having an Injun in his establishment. Nor that Jack tried to do some underhanded business such as getting himself a room with Dorothy while Connor was stuck watching over the prisoner. It looked like everything was proceeding smoothly for now, so Connor kept silent and with his arms crossed as he usually did.
Just as Dorothy had said a long time ago, it felt like every word Connor spoke cost him a whole silver dollar. He never said anything unless absolutely necessary.
For now, the Brave was simply glad that the innkeeper wasn't rising a fuss about having an Injun in his establishment. Nor that Jack tried to do some underhanded business such as getting himself a room with Dorothy while Connor was stuck watching over the prisoner. It looked like everything was proceeding smoothly for now, so Connor kept silent and with his arms crossed as he usually did.
Just as Dorothy had said a long time ago, it felt like every word Connor spoke cost him a whole silver dollar. He never said anything unless absolutely necessary.
“Stabling would be ‘preciated,” Jack said with a small nod, as he picked a leather pouch out of his pocket, and began digging around for the needed money. They’d had their sleep interrupted by the gunshot and yelling in the dark, and despite owing his companions a drink, he reckoned that they could all use a little sleep for the time being.
It didn’t take Jack long to dig out six dollars - a little more than needed, but hopefully enough to make the keeper appreciate their patronage and not ask any uncomfortable questions later. He slid the money across the bar, and then put the pouch back in his pocket.
“We ain’t sure ‘bout breakfast yet,” Jack said. Even if there was enough to cover for breakfast in what he’d paid, there was no need for the man to prepare them anything, if they were already out of there as soon as they’d rested and gotten the horse’s shoe fixed.
Jack tossed Connor and Dorothy a key each, and then tried to catch Connor’s gaze long enough to nod in the direction of the door, hoping that the Brave would get his hint to pick up Hank. In the meantime, Jack went on to distract the barkeeper.
“Anyone capable of fixin’ a lost horse shoe here in town?” Jack asked, and nodded his head at one of the bottles behind the bar, as if to ask for a shot of it. He casually placed the pouch on the bar as he took a seat, purposefully a little away from the door. “We ain’t gettin’ far as long as the poor beast keeps limpin’ all the way.”
It didn’t take Jack long to dig out six dollars - a little more than needed, but hopefully enough to make the keeper appreciate their patronage and not ask any uncomfortable questions later. He slid the money across the bar, and then put the pouch back in his pocket.
“We ain’t sure ‘bout breakfast yet,” Jack said. Even if there was enough to cover for breakfast in what he’d paid, there was no need for the man to prepare them anything, if they were already out of there as soon as they’d rested and gotten the horse’s shoe fixed.
Jack tossed Connor and Dorothy a key each, and then tried to catch Connor’s gaze long enough to nod in the direction of the door, hoping that the Brave would get his hint to pick up Hank. In the meantime, Jack went on to distract the barkeeper.
“Anyone capable of fixin’ a lost horse shoe here in town?” Jack asked, and nodded his head at one of the bottles behind the bar, as if to ask for a shot of it. He casually placed the pouch on the bar as he took a seat, purposefully a little away from the door. “We ain’t gettin’ far as long as the poor beast keeps limpin’ all the way.”
Sydney would leave the brothers to watching Lance. They had come to an agreement to split the bounty on the feline. He made sure to place the cat upon his horse before they headed off into the dark. There was no sense in someone else coming along and taking their bounty. This would ensure that they would receive the money. Sydney rode in silence through the dark. He had never been to South Fork before. From what he knew, the village was small.
"What is South Fork like? What is common there?"
Sydney would break the silence trying to gather a little more information. There could be numerous places for Dorothy and her companions to hide in the town. It really all came down to what the town had to offer. He suspected most of the basic amenities. However, he was searching for more of the other places. Abandoned houses, brothels, other places where they could stay that was not the local inn.
"What kind of places are there?"
"What is South Fork like? What is common there?"
Sydney would break the silence trying to gather a little more information. There could be numerous places for Dorothy and her companions to hide in the town. It really all came down to what the town had to offer. He suspected most of the basic amenities. However, he was searching for more of the other places. Abandoned houses, brothels, other places where they could stay that was not the local inn.
"What kind of places are there?"
South Fork Map
North - Dark Canyon (previous town, 2-3 day ride), South - river,
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
Lance looked back at Sydney, his unhappy gaze passing over the Goller brothers and their guns pointed at him. He huffed an aggravated sigh. "Ain't a whole lot goin' on in South Fork," he answered. "Ain't been there in a few weeks, mebbe a month. But they got a good waterin' hole and a little store. Some houses. You need anything more than the basics, Danby's the better bet. It's a little ways to the west."
He then added as an afterthought, "Oh, got a sawmill too. Blythe and whoever he's got workin' for him now."
"Got girls at the saloon?" Bones asked, already thinking about how he'd spend his share of the bounty on the mountain lion.
"Ain't that kinda saloon," Lance said. "Only girls you'll find there are Luke's wife and daughter. Don't 'magine he'd take too kindly to you treating 'em like saloon girls."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Bones assured. But he was already wondering just how old the daughter was and if she was pretty.
The group continues on the southward trail toward the town of South Fork that sits near the center of a wooded area, not far from a fork in the river. The woods are almost eerily quiet. There's no singing of crickets or frogs or cicadas. Only the steady hoofbeats on the hard packed trail.
Finally, the party emerges into a large clearing. A crossroads lies at the center of this glade, where the trail intersects another and several structures come into view. Calling South Fork a 'town' is something of a stretch. It's little more than a collection of twelve small wooden buildings that stand alongside a combination inn and saloon built from stone known as the Hungry Huntsman.
"Let's wake up Gene and get this mess sorted out..." Hank prompts.
"Mmmm..." the saloonkeeper rubs his chin with his hand, then stifles a yawn. " 'scuse me. There's a farrier from Danby comes by every couple weeks or so. Remind me in the morning and I'll see when he's due."
"How far away's Danby?" Dorothy asked, not real pleased about the idea of staying here for a week or longer waiting around for a replacement horseshoe.
"Ain't real far. Couple hours walk 'long the Danby road."
He seemed to catch Jack's request for a drink and pulled a clean shot glass from the shelf and made to flip it right side up. Except it slipped from his grip just a moment too soon. Luckily, it bounced on the wooden bar top and did not shatter. "Oops. Sorry bout that," he said, hurriedly righting the glass. "We got Thistle Dew, Old Crow, & O.K. Cutter." He suggested some of the more expensive brands since this fellow seemed to be a high roller.
Mr Chatham followed Maggie's gaze over to the window in his neighbor's home. "Prolly pourin' through them books a his. I was in there once," he rambled as they made their way toward his home. "Got more books than I knew was in the whole state a Wyoming."
As they reached his home, Joseph released his hold on Maggie and tipped his hat to her, "G'night Miss Mary," he said and went inside.
"Joe! Do you know what time..." the door closed behind him and Lydia's worried voice was cut off. So much for sneaking him in.
Sydney made a note of any noteworthy places that Lance was saying. There was not that many places where the three criminals would be able to hide. They should be able to locate them in a matter of time. Unless they decided not to stick around the town. Or if they headed in a different direction. Based on what happened during the night that option seemed unlikely.
After arriving in the town of South Fork the marshal took in the town. His eyes slowly roamed over the area. Most of the buildings he could guess what they were before getting too close. Others he was not quite sure about based on appearance from a distance. Likely houses in his mind. It was small town but held a somewhat quaint feel to it. It partially reminded him of some of the towns back in Colorado.
"Where can we find Gene to sort this out?"
As they continued to walk closer to town Sydney kept an eye out for the horses the others could have stolen. The town was mostly asleep but there was still a few people who mingled about in the dark. He lead his horse with the large feline still on it. It would take long before they would arrive at their destination. After a few minutes, they would be standing before Gene.
"We have a bounty for you," Sydney said.
After arriving in the town of South Fork the marshal took in the town. His eyes slowly roamed over the area. Most of the buildings he could guess what they were before getting too close. Others he was not quite sure about based on appearance from a distance. Likely houses in his mind. It was small town but held a somewhat quaint feel to it. It partially reminded him of some of the towns back in Colorado.
"Where can we find Gene to sort this out?"
As they continued to walk closer to town Sydney kept an eye out for the horses the others could have stolen. The town was mostly asleep but there was still a few people who mingled about in the dark. He lead his horse with the large feline still on it. It would take long before they would arrive at their destination. After a few minutes, they would be standing before Gene.
"We have a bounty for you," Sydney said.
South Fork Map
North - Dark Canyon (previous town, 2-3 day ride), South - river,
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
East - Laramie (1-2 day ride), West - Danby (fictional town, 2 hour walk)
Charlie was trying hard not to be a complainer, but getting raked across the shoulder by the mountain lion's claws had him hurting worse than he'd like to admit. Sydney had done a decent job patching him up, but now he needed rest. So as they passed what looked to be a saloon... with a lamp burning in the window no less, he made up a quick excuse to Sydney and Bones. "Hey, I'll see 'bout getting us a couple rooms and see if anyone's seen Dorothy and whoever she's travelin' with," he said, then veered off toward the Hungry Huntsman.
Bones just shrugged and followed Sydney and Lance to the home of Constable Eugene Wyat (4), who did not take long to answer his door, already fully dressed. He was middle aged, with a neatly trimmed beard mixed with dark and grey hair. There are heavy bags beneath his eyes and he looks tired, almost haggard.
"A bounty?" he asks, looking questioningly from Lance to Sydney, crinkling his nose at the remnants of skunk smell coming from Lance. Bones slipped his gun back into his holster, deeming it no longer needed to keep their prisoner from running off.
"On the cat, Gene," Lance started right away, pointing back at the dead mountain lion. "But these folks is bounty hunters looking for some outlaws. And they got it in their dang fool heads that I'm in cahoots. Told 'em you'd set em straight!"
"Bounty hunters, huh? I've known Lance a long time. What are your charges against him?"
Looks like he was stuck playing fetch again. Connor caught the key and glanced at Jack, understanding his meaning. The Brave walked out the door and headed for their prisoner all stretched out on the saddle. Now, how was he supposed to bring him without actually carrying him? It wasn't as if he could just throw him in the stable.
Shaking his head, Connor undid the binds on Hanks ankles and pulled him up to his feet, hoping that the man was conscious enough that he could simply lead him up to the inn room.
Shaking his head, Connor undid the binds on Hanks ankles and pulled him up to his feet, hoping that the man was conscious enough that he could simply lead him up to the inn room.
Dropping the glass like that didn’t seem like something that was typical of the barkeep. Granted, Jack had no idea of knowing if it was, since he didn’t know the guy and it was very early. The chances of him being poor at his job or just plain tired were just as big as the chance of something else going on. Still, Jack made nite of the incident, should something odd happen later.
“Take an Old Crow,” Jack said, nodding at the bottle. “Bringing it to my room. Ya seem like ya could use some rest.”
After getting the shot, Jack nodded in the barkeeper’s direction, and headed to the room to get a brief nap before unsaddling his horse. He hadn’t slept much, and doing a task while tired was almost as effective as not doing the task at all. An hour of shut-eye could do wonders for productivity and thoroughness.
“See ya in the mornin’!” He managed to half-yell to Connor, before retreating for the time being.
“Take an Old Crow,” Jack said, nodding at the bottle. “Bringing it to my room. Ya seem like ya could use some rest.”
After getting the shot, Jack nodded in the barkeeper’s direction, and headed to the room to get a brief nap before unsaddling his horse. He hadn’t slept much, and doing a task while tired was almost as effective as not doing the task at all. An hour of shut-eye could do wonders for productivity and thoroughness.
“See ya in the mornin’!” He managed to half-yell to Connor, before retreating for the time being.
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