A Town Called Sunrise

Each morning, between the twin peaks of Hatter's Mountain, the sun lights the ochre coloured main street like a golden carpet that stretches the length of the small town named after that phenomenon. Sunrise. It's a peaceful place to live. Mostly agriculture, a few little cattle ranches, and many of the trappings of the bigger centres.

Sunrise had a mayor, a town council, a sheriff, a church, a school, a doctor, an undertaker, and a smithy, to name a few of the necessities for comfortable living. There was also a hotel, a saloon, a general store, and a barber shop. Sunrise even had its own newspaper. Best of all, it was a rail stop on the Big Great Western Railway line.

Life here was sedate, peaceful, and for the most part, law-abiding . . .

                                                      𝗦𝗼 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

"Dang it, Sheriff, you have to do something."

"Why? They haven't broken any laws." Sheriff Colt Treblehorn sighed inside at having to listen to yet another complaint from Mayor Edgar Bemis. It seemed the man lived for things to peeve over.

"Don't matter, they just ain't the kind of people we want in Sunrise."

"You're the mayor, Edgar, you go tell them that. I'm sure they'll take that real kindly."

"I pay your salary, Treblehorn, and I expect you to understand that." Edgar Bemis, wagged a chubby finger in the sheriff's face, his own flushing with the effort.

"The town actually pays me, Edgar - and I understand perfectly. You don't like these folks, go write a law."

"Just wait 'til re-election, Sheriff . . . just wait." The jail door slammed, rattling the big glass window beside it.

"Jer, you can come out now."

The young deputy eased back into the room, checking the window to make sure the mayor had gone. "Sorry, Colt, I thought sure you'd send me up there if I was in here."

"You can go anyway. Just see what old Eager Edgar is fussing about. Don't do anything, just check. If there's anything troubling, come back and get me."

******

Belinda Freegate greeted the deputy at the door as he entered the saloon. Her signature cobalt blue gown flowed over her body like paint, an asset she played for all it was worth. Business in the saloon was always brisk as a result, and the hostesses from the Cowpoke Lounge on the second floor, contributed their share.

"Jeremy, does your boss know you're frequenting my establishment during work?" She slipped a bare smooth arm inside his.

"Just here to see what's got our mayor all tied up, Blue."

"And here I thought you came to see me." She squeezed his arm.

"That'd be a sight more pleasurable I can tell yuh. So, where are these undesirables, as Eager Beaver describes them?"

"He must mean the three that came in while he was having his morning libation. One is upstairs," she winked, "and the other two are over there playing cards."

Jeremy let her guide him to the bar, and he leaned sideways, viewing the two men.

"They been any trouble?"

"Nope. Besides, Slant could take them both with one hand if there was."

"They're packin', Blue. Tie downs. I think Slant might need more than one hand."