It Happened in a Stormy Night

5. Meanwhile...

"I wanna go back to my warm bed," Rango thought wailingly, when a cold squall was blowing into his face. He felt shivery. He felt so damn ugly, but he wanted to have an answer. He didn't want to call up the others to ride with him, in case, if he was wrong. For this reason, he preferred to ride alone.
It was still late in the night.
"Well, the moon is shining at least," he muttered and looked to the sky.
Meanwhile, he had reached the hills, which didn't lay far away from town. He was passing some big rocks like the town people told him.
He yawned loudly. "UHHHaaaa... I need my bedAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Suddenly, something big and strong grabbed him with large force and yanked him up in the air.
For a short moment, Rango didn't know where was top and bottom. Everything was spinning around him until some burning eyes looked into his face.
"Well, well, well," a familiar said. "If I were a stupid animal and hadn't recognized that incomparable voice, I had already killed you."
Rango swallowed, when the rattlesnake squeezed him a little more.
"Good evening Jake, or good night. Well, I don't mean, it should be a time for sleeping, you know..."
"SShhh," Jake hissed. "I don't like strenuous talks at so late an hour. But I know, my stomach is empty."
"Isn't it a little too late for a midnight snack?" Rango asked carefully.
"If we make a game before it, maybe I will forget my hunger."
Rango forced a smile. "Nice offer, but not yet. I'm sorry Jake, I'm on a mission."
With that Rango tried to wriggle himself out of snake coils, but Jake didn't loosen his grasp.
"So, does exist something more important than me?"
"Oh, don't be silly, Jake," Rango tried to make a joke. "Now, let me down. I haven't much time."
"Oh, really? I was hoping you'd chat with me a little."
"Later, maybe. But not now. I'm really in a rush."
Suddenly Jake wrapped his body closer around the chameleon.
Rango gasped for air, when Jake pressed his nose on his nose. "So, what's so important?"
"I guess, that someone wanted to kill someone, and I want to find out, whether this person is alright or it was a mistake."
"And who?"
"Why do you want to know?"
Rango swallowed. Jake hated Bill beside some others.
"Why don't you answer, or do I have to squeeze it out of you?"
"Bad Bill," Rango said quickly, but he got the squeeze anyway.
"Well, you spend your time with that stinky lizard rather than with me?"
Jake's eyes became redder.
"Jake, please. I have no ti-."
He gasped. Jake began to choke him.
"May-be- a-nother- time-," Rango panted.
"Alright. It's too dark to make a fight."
He released the chameleon instantly and the sheriff slumped on the sandy ground.
"Watch out for your environment, sheriff," Jake said and slithered away. "There are hungry animals in the near, who could kill you."
With that the rattlesnake disappeared.
With a groan, Rango stood up and cleaned his clothes.
"Such a scoundrel," he muttered and rubbed his ribs.

Kinski stood speechless in the room and read through the letter again. Then he let it sink in his hands and looked perplexedly at his comrades, Stump and Chorizo.
"Where did you find it?" Kinski asked at Stump.
"I already told you. At the door, rammed with a knife in the wood."
"They mean it seriously," Chorizo muttered and pointed at the paper. "Look at that blurred bloodstain on it."
"It's real blood," Kinski agreed. "But it could also be blood from whatever."
"What do they demand?" Chorizo asked.
"100 gold nuggets."
"Consarn it! Why no water? We could have stolen it in Dirt with ease."
Suddenly someone knocked at the door of the old hut.
Kinski put the letter away and looked around one. With unsure eyes, they stared at the door.
Who was visiting them in the middle of the night?
Stump and Chorizo shrugged their shoulders. Kinski sighed and began to speak.
"Who is there?"
"The sheriff."
All three looked at each other with irritation until they took out their guns and stepped next to the door. Clicking sounds made a circuit when they were making ready their guns.
"What do you want, Sheriff?" Kinski asked loudly. "It's late. Couldn't you wait until the sun comes out?"
"I have no time to observe the time," Rango's voice came from behind the wood. "It's a matter of urgency. Is Bill with you?"
Kinski and Chorizo looked at each other with surprise.
"Why do you ask?" Kinski asked back distrustfully.
"Answer my question," Rango replied. He didn't want to embarrass the gang leader if he was wrong and Bill was okay. "Is he at home or not?"
Chorizo gave Kinski a sign. "That sounds suspicious, doesn't it? Do you think he sent us the letter?"
"With real blood?" Kinski scratched his hair. "What sort of new awful police methods should these be?"
"Hello!" Rango's voice sounded eager. "I have no time the whole night. Is he there or not?"
Kinski pointed at Stump, then his finger pointed backwards. "Go through the back door."
Stump looked at him irritated. "We have a back door?"
"Through the window," Kinski hissed.
"Ah, okay."
With that Stump disappeared.
Rango crossed his arms and looked at the blocked door nervously.
Something wasn't right. If Bill was home, he wouldn't make such a stupid game. Maybe.
With a deep sigh, he took his gun and walked along the house to the corner.
"That's childish," he began with calm voice. "If you don't shoot me, I will not shoot you. Come out."
He leaned against the house wall.
He didn't wait long until Stump peeked around the corner.
"What's your wish, sheriff? We didn't rob a gold mine yet."
"So, that was your plan? Guys, stay there. I have a nervous gun in my hand. Don't force me to wake it up."
Kinski and Chorizo who had already opened the door, stopped and stayed in the door frame.
Rango turned around and pointed at his revolver.
"Boys, I think we can talk like sane adults and can put away our dangerous toys."
Kinski snorted. But then he agreed and all put their guns away.
Rango nodded with satisfaction. "Nice."
He put his revolver back into the holster and walked by Kinski and Chorizo into the hut. Stump followed him.
Rango tried to stay relaxed and crossed his arms on his back.
"Well, I see, Bill isn't at home, is he?"
He felt the eyes of the gang members and turned around.
"What do you want, sheriff?" Kinski asked again and closed the door.
"What concern is it of yours where Bill is?" Stump asked.
"Yes, and..." Chorizo thought about what he should say next. "Ehm... yes."
Rango looked from one to another. "Does one of you know where he is?"
"Why do you want to know it?" Kinski asked back.
Rango's hands tensed a little. "Because I suppose that he could be in troubles."
"What troubles?" Stump crossed his hands behind his head. "We did nothing."
"That's not what I mean. I'm not here to arrest him. No. I think that someone other wants to make troubles to him."
"And who?" Kinski tried to hide his knowledge. All three knew what happened. But why should they speak with a sheriff about criminal personal matters?
"That's an important part of the question, which I want to solve. Because I guess, that Bill was attack in near of Dirt."
He waited for a reaction. But the listeners ignored him.
"That's whack!" Kinski said.
"Well, well." Rango turned around and grabbed something from the table.
"Is that whack, too?"
Kinski bit his underlip.
Rango wagged the blackmailing letter and narrowed his eyes.
"I think we have to talk."