Chapter 2 - Cash Dollars on the Hoof

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson keeps his position in the group and watches the approaching dust cloud.

[ateno]

Doos puts the reins of his horse on his shoulders and grabs the other horse with 2 hands.

observation [1d20]=2

"Best you get off the horse Sir. Get this straightened out."

Doos

[jemmus]

The rider's face flushes to a furious red under it's dust and his eyes instantly glower with black rage. You better jist let me be, mister! You better git both of yer hands off a property, mister. Thet's mah horse. If ye don't want to sell me a horse, jist git the hell outa the way! Ah promise you, ah will shoot you dead! The infuriated rider glances around and goes for a fast draw from the single action revolver at his belt. Directed at the face of Doos.

[ateno]

Doos know he can't beat him at the draw.

He grabs both set of reins and duck down and close the the guys horse chest. Trying to make a smaller target.

Doos

[Grognardsw]

Paladin, hoping things would remain neutral, moved his hand to his holster as Doos grabbed the rider’s horse. Men were sensitive about their horses.

As the man moved to draw, Paladin did the same.

Fast Draw 14 [1d20]=1

“You better think twice mister. Everyone calm down! We’re not lawmen. Get on your horse and go.”

That was one lightning draw

[jemmus]

Does Doos release the rider?

[ateno]

Watching Paladin whip his gun out before the rider and pointing it at his head.

"Paladin, I am uncomfortable with this, if he has killed a baby or raped some women we need to see him come to trial. I know for a fact he's lying.

I look directly at the rider. putting the riders revolver at his own head if needed.

I am Judge Jonathan Doos, you might have heard of me, tell me what you did to make you want to run son.

Luck or intimidate roll [1d20]=1

OOC: Wowza two ones on the poor man.

[redwarrior]

William speaks up as he walks his horse nearer the main group, into the natural path of the mystery rider. It sounds like this man's making his story up has he goes. I suggest we sit tight until those riders show up & we can have all the facts out in the open. If they're lawmen, we shouldn't interfere with their doing their job. His hand is in the vicinity of his pistol, but he's not drawing as yet.

[jemmus]

Doos seizes both reins of the man's horse and Paladin draws his black pistol with a lightning-fast move. William approaches and admonishes the man to stay where he is. Andreas observes from a strategic position with a clear field of fire.

A man, apparently the storekeeper, steps out of the store a hundred yards up the road and observes the situation with curiosity. The rider desperately looks around, wild-eyed. Gideon McLaury speaks up. I wouldn't try nothin, feller. A little chance a not gittin strung up is better than a sure chance a gitting six bullets shot at ya from close range. These fellers is harder men than they look. Jist ask them two tied-up horse thieves. The man sighs and looks over his shoulder, but he doesn't move his sides-heaving, head-hanging horse. The riders kicking up road dust approach. They wear the clothing and hats for farmers and ranchers, and they're carrying rifles and shotguns. One carries a short, purpose-built scattergun. They stop in the road in front of the store. Their horse's are as worn-out and lathered as the dusty rider's. The men have grim and savage looks in their eyes as they eye the group with Doos detaining the rider's horse and the two bound horsemen. They talk among themselves.


The one with the scattergun calls out. How do? Y'all done the right thing stoppin that b*stard. He tried to... molest a little girl of only 17 years old out in the woods. Would have done it too, if she hadn't screamed fer her life and two Texican fellas who was fishin come and helped her. We don't know who ya are, and we ain't gonna ask what yer doin with them two men tied up as prisoners. We'll just come git that sumbitch and be on our way. Sir, hang onto them reins fer now if ya please until ya can hand em to us. Apparently to Paladin, Friend, we wouldn't mind if you'd put that pistol away. We can handle this whatchamacallit easy enough on our own. They trot their horses up to the group and one of them holds out his hand for the reins.

(Painting by N.C. Wyeth). Actions?

[Grognardsw]

Paladin considered the situation. While there could be shades of truth to the story, he was unlikely to get a clear picture.

“Okay, disarm him.”

Paladin slightly lowered his gun but did not holster it until the accused was held and disarmed.

[ateno]

"I'll hold them for a bit longer. Gentlemen I an Judge Jonathan Doos, and I will not allow an old willy-nilly hanging.

Changes focus to rider.

"Son, could you tell me if what they say is true or are there competing dialogs?"

Doos

[jemmus]

The tired, dusty rider's face seems to brighten a little under the shade of his hat in the noonday Sun. Mister Judge Doos, I arready told y'all what happened. But these men may not a heard my side a the story yet. What happened was Edna and me took a likin to each other. So we wanted to a little privacy to talk, so we snuck off to down by the river. We found that we right off hit it off real well. Like we might become good friends in time. One thang led to another, and before ya know it we was kissin, and... you know. I'll admit that. Then these two Tejano ole boys come along with fishin poles and surprised us. I suppose she knew she'd be in trouble with her ma and pa if they found out. So she let out a yell and pushed me away, like I'd been... forcin her. The next thang I knew my friend was tellin me to saddle up and ride, cause there was a posse lookin for blood-- er a tree limb-- after me.

The lead posse man seethes throughout the story, and gets as bright red in the face with building fury as the younger man had just a few minutes earlier. But he holds his peace until the other man is done. Because interrupting and blurting out one's thoughts isn't the Texas way. The man barely opens his lips to solemnly and evenly say, He's lyin through his teeth. My Edna dint run off with him to no river. She was out just beyond the yard collectin kindlin for the stove. He saw when she was outa sight from the house and grabbed her from horseback, put his hand over her mouth, and rode with her to a brushy spot down by the river. He turns to the posse members. Ye all know the general area of it. It's behind the ole Miller place, where the water's still and thar's a lot a gar swimmin on the surface. Around there.

He turns back to Doos, William, Paladin, Andreas off a little farther in the distance and looks them in the eye. You know who that bustart is? He's a saddle bum. A drifter who don't like farm work, cattle work, town work, er any kind a work. The kind who would be cattle rustler or outlaw. If he weren't too lazy or skairt to do it. That kind of good fer nothin bum. Goes around from farm and ranch house to house with some story about how they're on their way from here to there, got robbed by road robbers, jist need a little water and hay for their horse and a spot to bed down fer the night in the barn. Y'all know the type, they's everwhere. Of course the kind-hearted families invite em in and feed em good. If jist to break the monotony out on the ranch and fer the company of a stranger with stories to tell.

The man spits on the roadbed, slowly loads a huge chaw of shredded tobacco into his cheek, and proceeds. That saddlebum is lying through his teeth, as sure as rain. And droughth. He had his eyes on little Edna the whole time my good wife was feeding steaks, red potatas, bread, and Austin coffee with sugar and cream. And as fer his "friend."
That saddle bum don't have no friend ride up and warn him whar we come from. He don't know anyone around there, and nobody knows him.

So I'd appreciate it, Judge Doos, if you would hand them reins over to Mr. Burns, as requested. We ain't got no courthouse, or even a fair-stocked general store. But yer looking at the general opinion of the community right here. He backs his mare back a few steps and looks over left and right to his fellow members of the posse. They nod back with determination, then stare at the dusty rider. The glaring yellow-white Sun beats down on the 10-foot wide brown dirt and dust roadway.

The man with the purpose-built scattergun takes his hat off off his head and wipes the sweat of his brow. He raises a hand and tired riders and and heaving horses of the posse take three steps back. Strangers, we don't want to shoot at ye. You and yer tied up prisoners. But we will. Hand the reins over and we'll all go on on out way.

[Grognardsw]

“This is not my business,” Paladin said, gun in hand and at the ready, and pulled the rope tied to the prisoners horses along. He knew the hearsay on each side was unprovable, but Paladin didn’t trust the accused.

They rode out 20’ west of the groups (assuming they’re facing each other north-south) and stopped.

[redwarrior]

William moves his hand away from his gun, and tips his hat to the posse, falling in behind OUR prisoners. He's still convinced that the man is lying. Even if the posse's story isn't 100% correct, it's more correct that the fugitive's. In any case, if the folks who found him and the girl, and the girl herself, stick to their story there's not likely a court in the west that wouldn't hang the man. Looking to Doos, William says I think they've made their case most fairly. I expect that they are men of honor and will give him as fair before pronouncing sentence. He has no actual expectation of a trial, but maybe they'll feel compelled to go through the motions before hanging him. They seem fair enough folk, considering.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson remains where he is as he listens to each in turn. Then he watches the judge.

[ateno]

To everyone.

"Like I said I'm judge Doos, I've been called a Indian lover and a emancipated man lover, but i have always been fair as i have seen them. Here is what I say.

Both sides of this argument is what the fancy courts say is heresay. That means both are unprovable. I understand that you are all lathered up to protect a woman and he feels he might have got shot if he stayed around.

The whole situation stinks. Here's what I suggest, let me talk to those fishermen, if they are with you separate from everyone and I'll make a decision on what to do next.

Meanwhile let's put down all the guns, we are not letting the man run off or shoot anyone.

Doos is watching the hunters reaction.

Doos

[jemmus]

Andreas maintains his spot with a little cover behind a telegraph pole and a wide field of fire. Paladin rides beyond the telegraph poles to 20 feet to the west of the two groups, leading the bound rustlers’ horses. William expresses his confidence in the honor of the men of the posse and falls in behind the prisoners. Judge does proposes to interview the three eyewitnesses: the fishermen and the girl herself. Gideon rides off the road around 10 feet to the east.

The men discuss among themselves in low voices. The father of the girl says, Alright, Judge Doos. But we’re takin that jasper’s gun and tying him up, they way you got them boys trussed up. And we’ll be the ones leadin his horse. The accused man doesn’t look happy at all about and starts to say something, but apparently thinks better of it. The men of the posse take the pistol from his belt and tie his hands behind his back—none too gently-- leaving him mounted.

It’ll be around an hour’s ride north on these tired horses, the leader says. They turn and head back up the road, their horses surrounding the accused man’s. The storekeeper watches the procession of two groups of riders with bound prisoners go past.

The group rides past more wire-fenced land with longhorn cattle, ranch houses, and barns. Once in a while cowboys with herds stop their labors and watch the groups on the road. At around 2:00, the hottest part of the day, the posse stops in front of a ranch. This is Juanito Garza’s place, the leader says. He’s one of the fellas that was fishin and saw the whole thing. The riders go through a gate and up to the ranch house. A man comes out, followed by a teenage boy. A woman looks through the window from inside the house. The men of the posse tip their hats to the man, and he does the same to them.

The girl’s father and leader of the posse says, Well, Juanito, we caught the bas--, the leader says, cutting himself. Gideon pipes up. Bastard. Jist go ahead and say it. A boy that age has heard that Frinch plenty enough by now. The man looks Gideon over like it's the first time he's really noticing him. Anyway, we about killed our horses doing. That... rascal was ridin like-- Hell, Gideon says. The man pauses and seems a little exasperated. Me and the girl's ma want to thank you and Mr. Martinez again for what ya done. It was the Lord's work to have two honest men fishing there at the time. Well, Juanito, this gentleman here is Judge Jonathan Doos. He'd like ta ask ya some questions. Some of these other fellows might have some questions too.

[ateno]

"I'm sorry perhaps you misunderstood, I would like to interviewer. Garza privately.

Doos give his horse to Paladin and goes to Mr. Garza.

" Could we walk to that cusp of trees for some shade.

Doos want to ask exactaly what he heard and what he saw with out bias.

Then he would like to talk to the other man privately also.

Doos

[jemmus]

Garza replies, Sure, Judge Doos. That pecan tree over there will give us some shade from this terrible sun. As they walk along he takes a snuff box out of his pocket, opens it, and offers a pinch to Doos. Care for a dip? It's too early yet for drinking, but not fer tobacco. Neither of which the church approves much of, he jests. Well, I know what's on yer mind, Judge Doos, so I'll cut right to it. Me and Mr. Hector Martinez went down to Nolan Creek to do some catfishin. We heard an awful scream of "Help me, please!" then it got choked off. We run over into some bushes where there was a horse tied. Me and Hector pulled out our pistols, that we carry when we're fishin in case a rattlers or water moccasins. And because of course, we live in Texas. There's plenty of mean creatures around here, and most of got two legs, he jokes. In them bushes was a little clearin, that man that John Polk has tied up had a girl on the ground with his hand over her mouth. She was wrestlin with him, but her strength we're no match for him. Well, the fella seen us there with our guns out, and he put up his hands and stood up. He said somethin like, "This ain't what it looks like." Then we seen that the girl was John Polk's daughter Edna. Her eyes was all fearful and her face was all ready and puffy like she'd been cryin and sobbin for a long time. And she started bawling uncontrollable right then. Just completely broke down into tears and sobbin.

So me and Hector looked at each other, and Hector held his gun on the fella and said, "Don't you move a inch, mister. Stay right there." I went over to help Miss Polk up, and as soon as I bent down that ran off to the side pushin through the bushes. Me and Hector looked at each other, then Hector turned and yelled "The horse!" and started runnin. I run after him, and as we got there that fella was swinging into the saddle and turning the horse's head. Me and Hector both drew a bead on him, but neither of us fired. I guess we just didn't have it in us to shoot a man who's runnin away in the back. Neither him or me is no gunfighter er sheriff.

Well anyway, we took Miss Polk to John Polk's house, and told John what happened, and that the fella looked like he was riding for the San Antonio-Austin highway. John didn't waste no time gittin together his ranch hands for a posse, and I see that he picked up a couple a neighbors along the way.

I'm tellin ya, Judge Doos, that fella is yer man. I'll never forgot that blasted face of his. Ya don't see that kinda awful, wicked situation ever day.

[ateno]

I'm tellin ya, Judge Doos, that fella is yer man. I'll never forgot that blasted face of his. Ya don't see that kinda awful, wicked situation ever day.[/dialog]

" Thank you for talking, could you tell me how she was tied up please? Hands, feet, across the chest? Also I would like to talk to Hector, where is he?

I got to hand it to you with your nod interaction, great.

Doos