Late afternoon sun shone dismally through the dusty saloon windows. It gave an eerie sort of glow to the place and coupled with the unusual emptiness of it, made for quite an ominous scene. Most of the citizens of Moonbrook were sat around a makeshift conference table made up of a mishmash of other tables and chairs around the bar. Chuck Williamson had just dropped the bomb about his vampire theory and he was currently taking in the baffled silence he'd been met with.
"V-v-vampires, Mr Williamson?" repeated Gus Thompson.
"Yessir, I'm inclined to believe so," nodded Williamson.
Boles buried his face in his hands. "Is this really necessary, Williamson? Can't we try not to scare the livin' daylights out of all these people?" he tried, exhasperation clear in his voice.
"They have to know Marshall. There's no hidin' from this. The more we know, the faster we can git these bastards," proclaimed Williamson, banging his fist on the table.
"Alright, g'head and make a fool of yerself," Boles gave up, rolling his eyes.
"I reckon' it were that yack of a deputee. He couldn't shoot the hind quarters of a donkey if it were twixt his sheets. That's why the vampir got away. An' trust him to scream out like a yello' belly," suggested Lucille Compton.
"What's a whore doin' here?" demanded Boles.
"You'd best watch your tone, Marshall, as my most popular girl, Lucky has a tendency to acquire very valuable information," warned Madam Loretta Auckland.
"A whore's a whore, Madam. And Deputee Johnson only walks the streets in the daytime hours. Hates the mosquitos." She glared at him but stayed silent, placing a protective hand on Lucky's shoulder.
"I s-s-s-still think this v-vampire business is c-c-cracked" stuttered Gus. There were a few mumbles of agreement.
"I assure you, the threat is real," stated Williamson.
"You're a learned man, Mr Golbrassen, what do you think of the situation?" piped in Father Jack Aimes.
"Call me Doc," he replied. It was clearly more of an order than a pleasantry.
"Apologies, Doc, any input?"
"I am a doctor. I cannot have any part in ending a life," he said simply.
"Understandable, very understandable. I find myself in a similar position. But one must remember that these creatures of the devil are not children of God. Their lives are worthless to him, as they must be to us, the warriors of his will," urged the preacher, "Worry not, Doctor. He will forgive us." He chuckled and scratched his beard. The doctor regarded him curiously.
"Apologies, Senors y Senoritas, but perhaps the culprit was one of the gang members who keep stealing my chamber pots?" suggested Juan-Ernesto Gonzales, "They were making a great deal of noise outside my store last night and when I looked out the window I saw that Heathers McNulty was not with his compadres."
There was a rumble of discussion for a moment. "That must be who done it then, lets get that scallawag," cried Carson Marsh, throwing up his arms and knocking over his glass. There were cheers of agreement and people began to stand.
"Wait! Fellers! McNulty tried to mug me last night, it couldnt've been him," protested Tom Parker. There were mumbles of disappointment and everyone sat down again.
"Tried, Tom?" questioned Carson.
"Yessir, well, all my gold was in the liquor store, so there weren't nothin' to mug," explained Tom bashfully.
"We gotta pick someone, friends. We can't risk lettin a vamp run around our town to feed on us and our children," said Williamson.
"Where is the d-d-deputee this afternoon anyways? Don't vampires b-b-b-b-burst into f-flames in the sunlight? Maybe that's why he ain't here," asserted Gus.
"That's a myth. But I reckon Ms Lucky's point may have merit," stipulated Williamson.
"Well, we ain't got nothin else to go on, I say we hang the bastard," declared Carson. There was another rumble of agreement, and again, people began to stand.
Boles glanced around in shock at his protectees. "Y'all must be off your rockers! You can't go lynchin' my deputee! I won't allow it!" He shouted, standing up. Nobody stopped. "Stop, God damn you!" he followed the crowd outside.
"Come on fellas, lets go get Johnson," called Williamson, and he and three others ran off down the road towards the deputees house. Boles made after them. Everyone else congregated around the hanging podium.
Charlise Milton ambled out of the hotel, strucken by curiosity at the scene outside. She stopped next to Guldbransen. "What's going on, Doctor?" she asked.
"There is a vampire or two on the loose, Madam," he answered.
"Ohh, vampires, hmm?" she replied, unconvinced.
"Indeed. They're hanging the deputee on suspicion of being one of them."
"Can't even pronounce their 'g's and they're taking lives into their own hands." She shook her head sadly. They turned in the direction of the angry shouts that were approaching. The four men held Deputee Johnson tightly, practically dragging him along the dusty ground. The look of fear and confusion on his face was haunting. Marshall Boles leapt around them, punching and kicking and pulling desperately at the captors in attempts to free Johnson, but his efforts were in vain. They watched as the throng moved up the stairs to the rope. The onlookers began to hoot and holler as the noose was tightened around the panicked man's neck.
"I wonder did I make a mistake in coming here," sighed Charlise sadly. Carson Marsh pulled the lever that would end Johnson's life.
"I often wonder the same," agreed the doctor, watching in silence as Johnson's feet kicked slower and slower. Finally he was still. Chuck Williamson approached the body and opened the dead man's mouth. He peered into it for a moment, then hesitantly ran his fingers along the man's teeth. The noise died down as the crowd awaited his verdict. His head fell. He removed his finger and his hat, shaking his head sadly. The silence was dead. The body spun slowly, still affected by the dying man's motion.
"ARE YOU HAPPY NOW??" screamed Boles, his face red, his eyes watering. "WELL? ARE YOU??" Nobody said a word as they began guiltyly leaving the scene. Boles fell to his knees beside his friend, where he stayed till he was the only one left to mourn the loss of an innocent man.
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Deputee Travis Johnson (bestusernameever) was lynched. He was NOT a vampire. Doi. Vamps, I'll send you a pm if you're killing next.