The Sherriff's First Day, Part I

When Sherriff Connolly came to Red Flat’s town, Tte citizens came in from all around, they had hotly anticipated this, for too long they felt they had been helpless. Now Connolly had heard of their travails, all lawmen who had come before had failed, a year ago the last of them had died, sought to do right, got shot down when he tried. The Sinter Gang had long bird-dogged this place, they’d robbed people, ran wild, pillaged, raped, until a big rancher, Clinton DeWills raised a posse, and saw Jack Sinter killed. The gang had shattered after that red night, it’s said eight people were killed in the fight, even since then, things were not quite settled, and Connolly was prepared for a battle. To the local town jail he made his way, set down his things and prepared for the day, a lawman had to establish himself, if they thought you weak, things wouldn’t go well. But fate, it seems, didn’t want him to wait, he had barely sat down to contemplate when an old man skidded in through the door, breathing heavily, sweat dripped on the floor. “Sherriff!”he cried, “Clinton DeWills is dead! He’s out on his range, bullet through the head!” Connolly leapt up, strapped his guns back on, and thought to himself, that didn’t take long! He and the old man, who was named Maccombs, mounted up on horses, off they did go, they hurried but couldn’t keep up a sprint, the ranch was far off, the horses would wind. As they slowed the sherriff turned to the man, said, “I’m afraid I an new to this land. I heard of the Sinters, and the violence, but little of DeWills, who was he then?” Macombs frowned, and said, “He could be a jerk, but a lot around here look to him for work. He was a strong man, didn’t fear the gun, when the Sinter’s came, DeWills didn’t run. “I didn’t believe it, seeing him there, and I admit, it is cause for despair, I don’t know what comes next for this old 'hoss, I worked for DeWills, now my job seems lost.” Connolly just frowned, at the ranch-hand’s words, fearing for a job right now seemed absurd, but he held his tongue, and just kept riding, until they came into sight of the thing. Four men were there, clustered around DeWills, all were his cowpunchers, were stoic still, just took off their hats when Connolly came, he saw DeWills’ corpse, and then did the same. There was no mystery about the death, bullet through the head had stopped DeWills’ breath, Connolly dismounted, looked to the ground, searching for some tracks, which he quickly found...