A Town Called Sunrise

The Show Must Go On

"It's just a crease. What the heck is all the excitement. Where are the other two, that's what matters now?"

"They ran and got lost in the crowd." Jeremy said, panting from his jog from the livery. The Doc was packing up his bag and lighting a cigar.

"The assayer!"

"Casey's watchin' him, I wouldn't worry. That shotgun he carries scares me." He wrestled Arley to his feet, and had him face the wall with his hands behind his back.

"Run him over to the jail, and then we'll look for the others. I have to speak to Blue about her broken railing." Colt thanked the doc for the patch on his arm and went inside.

"Just a chat." Blue was leaning backwards on the bar on her elbows as Colt came in.

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"You know you scared off half my business."

"They'll be back, and Slant'll have them drinkin' up a storm while he tells them his version of the shoot-out." He stretched his arm.

"You going to live?" She slid a full shot glass toward him.

"Depends." He swallowed the drink and told her about the broken railing. How Arley had tried ducking as he fired and slipped, crashing through it onto his head on the ground. "I'll get Fred to fix it all up and see that the town pays him for the work.

"So you missed him?"

"Yeah, well I was ducking too."

"Yet he hit you."

"Is there a point, Blue." Colt pulled face and shook his head.

She hid a smile and winked at Slant behind the bar. "No, no point. Just a little surprised."

"Yeah, well . . ." He nodded and walked to the doors, stopping part way through. "I saw the wink." Blue and Slant laughed at the swinging doors.

Colt was stopped a few feet from the saloon, his eyes rolled and he sucked in a deep breath as the mayor and two councilmen braced him.

"Your actions are jeopardizing the celebration, Sheriff. We've had a few parents take their children and look to leave."

"I'm sure you convinced them all was well, Edgar. Sorry if executing my duty as Sheriff has interrupted your big day."

"I'm not sure I like that attitude, Treblehorn." Edgar's face flushed as he took a defiant pose. His two council member associates backing him up - less confidently.

"Maybe you'd rather like havin' the assayer murdered, along with any other folks in the vicinity instead. I got work to do, Edgar." He pushed past and hurried through the crowd.

Edgar stood pale-faced, mouth hanging open. His associates staring at one another wide-eyed.

******

"What was Arley thinkin'?" Jitter peered out from behind a ring toss booth, checking the crowd.

"Damn fool, that's what. Now he's in jail. Lucky that sheriff missed."

"But Arley got him."

"Bah! Scratch on the arm." Bowie spit into the dirt. "We need to get to Waites and make sure that claim don't get registered, then we need to do somethin' about Arley."

"We should go and tell Baron." Jitter faced his partner.

"Are you nuts? He hears that and you can be sure as your little doll there, he won't miss. You do as I say, and we get this job done."

"Who made you boss?"

The finger pushed Jitter's nose up, and his head banged against the back of the booth.