Snake Oil Justice

Carson Elkund moved slowly through the town, his eyes darted about, looking around, looking for trouble he knew was out there, he was wanted by many, and moved with care. He had bounties aplenty on his head, the papers claimed he left many men dead, Carson would bristle when he read their words, anyone he’d killed got what they deserved! Worst still, the town was alive and hopping, a salesmen stood on a wagon, hawking, but he had no choice, he had travelled far, had no food or bullets, was nearly starved. He knew bounty hunters awaited him, claiming to do good, while bathing in sin, but there were four dozen people out here, who was hunting for him? It was not clear. The whole of the crowd was before his eyes, the people were of every shape or size, women in dressed, kids toddled along, a ***** blacksmith just behind the throng, cowpunchers in town from weeks on the trail, soiled doves in bright stripes, made up and pale, a livery man in weathered overalls, even the town preacher, lanky and tall. Then he spotted far on the crowd’s right end, a figure at home amongst the roughest men, smoking a cigar, with scars on his face, pistol on his belt, looked quite out of place. Carson moved in to escape the man’s view, he thought him a threat, if he only knew that man’s small daughter was holding his hand, that he was a rancher, known through the land. The he saw another, off to his left, a man in a suit with a double-breast. Something about him made Carson stop with a start, this fellow looked awkward, playing a part. Was he in disguise, dressing up high class? Carson kept his hand on his gun as he passed closer to the front, bodies in the way, but even here he knew he couldn’t stay, For two men away stood a bearded guy, with a cruel look in his remaining eye, tall and raw-boned, the man chewed a cheroot, kept glaring at Carson, frowning to boot. Carson’s hand tightened on his pistol grip, if trouble was coming, he’d deliver it, but then the man looked back towards the show, and Carson breathed easy, ready to go, When he heard a hammer cock on a gun, and looked up at the snake oil salesman, who said, “Now Elkund, let’s put those hands up,’ in one hand the man dangled some hand-cuffs. Carson laughed bitterly, in disbelief, the man slapped the cuff on his wrists roughly, then said to the crowd, “Sorry for the ruse, but Elkund’s been caught, so that’s some good news...”