Ayasha nods at the lawman's words, but when the big guy returns, she listens to his speech, too. "Your friend is not wrong", she says to the lawman, "this truly is not your affair. Just tell me the way to the red river please, and I'll be on my way."

The indian girl tries to look confident, but she obviously doubts that she would make it on her own. She has leaned against the wall, her knees still shaking a bit.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #40):

As the man peers into the tent...

If I was joking I would have said "red isn't his color."

Travis spits as he takes an extra step away from the tent.

So I answered your question, now answer mine.  Is he a friend of yours?

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #40):

Cole steps aside slightly to let the man pass.

I reckon you don't know my friend here, so it seems to me you wouldn't be the best judge of who might be making jokes, or not.

Indeed he discovers that Artemus follow him back. At this point he says nothing but backs up JEB.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #39):

Slow down there cowboy. I'm not getting in the middle of this affair, but the good lord has put this woman in our path again so I mean to set it straight. We'll deliver her to the marshal and that's all.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg #42) and Cole Trayne (msg #43):

The man stares into the tent for several seconds. He turns around after the men from the NBO have spoken. "Fuck you and the horses you rode in on." He returns to the thoroughfare.

The others gathered nearby utter phrases such as "What did you see?" and "Is there a dead man in there?" but the man ignores them.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #46):

Cole totally ignores the man as he leaves the tent.

He then turns to face the crowd and speaks in a matter of fact manner.

I'm right sure the sheriff wouldn't want me to talk out of turn about what went on here. I'd suggest if any of you have any questions, you'd best take it up with him.

Reckon he'll be along shortly.



Cole then settles in and waits for the sheriff to arrive.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #47):

Some of the people gathered there exchange puzzled glances after Cole speaks. One of them speaks up, somewhat timidly.

"I heard the sheriff is out of town right now. Why do you expect him soon? Is he back already?"

Baffled by JEB's reply, Randy opines, "I figgurs you best steal off to one them tents.  They is a crowd out by that tent with the feller what's dead.  It's gonna get nasty right quick they see some Injun done this."

Randy's frustration bubbles upward.  "You don't does that, I is gonna pick you both up and does it.  That there's a fact!"  His promise to protect his trail mates might, Randy thinks, just mean man-handling them.

edit: removed unnecessary word (could)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Thu 02 Dec 2010.

Ayasha looks quizzically at the big cowboy after he 'threatened' to pick her and the lawman up and deliver them somewhere. She has no idea where he wants her to go, so she just keeps leaning against the wall. She is pretty sure though that if there is a crowd of palefaces who see that she killed the would-be-rapist, they would rather kill her instead of waiting for that mar-shall person. Her pride keeps her from asking for help directly, so she just says: "I have done nothing wrong.", raising her chin up slightly.

Her eyes betray her pride though, darting from here to there, searching for any escape route.

Before Cole Trayne can respond to the person who asked feebly about the sheriff, two men edge their way forward among the small gathering, which now consists of about a dozen men and a few women.

Travis and Cole recognize one of the advancing men from the guardhouse this morning, where the men from the NBO turned in their weapons.

"Let me see those hands," he says, showing his policeman's badge.

-----------------
OOC: The judge so wanted to write "What's all this, then?"

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #51):

Travis shows his hands and wiggles his fingers.

Ten fingers. Your Tin Starness.


-----------------------
"What's all this then" Simpsons Scotland Yard Motto?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Fri 03 Dec 2010.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #51):

Cole shows his hands, palms up, then palms down.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg #52) and Cole Trayne (msg #53):

The policeman continues to speak. He has a holstered Colt, while the second man carries a rifle.

"Keep 'em in plain sight. I remember you fellers--friends of that sheriff. But until I understand what the hell is going on here, I'm not takin' any chances."

Assuming the men from the NBO comply, he continues. "What do you know?"

In reply to Ayasha (msg #50):

An uncomfortable silence follows the Indian woman's statement. She stays against the wall, visibly shaken as JEB faces her. Randy hovers between them and Artemus stands a step behind JEB's left flank.

About 10 feet away, a door swings open, creaking--almost grinding--on it's hinges. A woman tosses a bucketful of something before she looks. Fortunately, the group stands far enough away to avoid the spash. The woman sees the cowboys and the Indian.

She grabs the door handle and slams it shut.

Randy is confounded, which isn't unusual.  Why hadn't JEB said nothing back?  I guesses he needs a bit of 'couragement.  He steps up to JEB and pushes his shoulder.  "Now ain't no time to dream about Mizzou."

"You, gets outta sight 'til I gets a place to puts you." Randy calls to the troubled woman.  "And don't do nothing you ain't told.  Major wouldn't let me kill you before, he ain't told me to do it now.  I keeps you safe."

"You, sits down, outta sight 'til I gets a place to puts you.  Hold these apples over your bloody bits." Randy says to the troubled woman.  "And don't do nothing you ain't told.  Major wouldn't let me mess you up before, he ain't told me to do so now.  I keeps you safe 'long as I can."

Turning to the nearest flap or door, Randy pops it with his hand.  "Who's there?" he calls in a bold voice.

"Archie, gets back and keeps the fellers there.  JEB and me will gets her hidden so's the mob don't kills her.  I meets you when I can to get to the marshal safe-like.  Don't," he emphasizes, "let them come 'round here, no matters."

edit: clarification with JM's assistance
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Fri 03 Dec 2010.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #55):

JEB takes the Indian woman by the forearm and leads her back to the tent: Let's go, I believe the deputies have arrived.

Ayasha looks confused from the big man to the lawman and back. One seems to want to hide her, while the other wants to drag her over to the group of palefaces, who probably won't react with any kindness as soon as they realize what happened.

When the lawman grabbed her arm and starts to pull her towards the mob, Ayasha resists, saying: "Wait! Do you want to throw me to the wolves? Look at them!"

"JEB, NO!"  Randy stands in his way.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #54):

Cole looks the lawman in the eye.

We heard a bit of a ruckus comin' from there here tent. We then saw a bound, bloody Indian woman running from it. JEB went after the woman, I entered the tent to see what happened.

I saw a feller inside, lying in a pool of blood. I have some medical learning, so I tried to help him. But he was too far gone.

I then thought it would be best to wait for law.

Art takes a look at his hands to see how bloody they might be.

Looking to Randy, Artemus holds up a finger and says "This ain't the time." Turning to JEB he adds "But we don't need no mob 'justice.' Maybe we ought to take her to the Marshal."

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #60):

"Do you know the dead man?" asks the policeman, stepping closer to Cole and the tent.

"'Swat I means to do, without no mad mob killin' her and maybe us."  Randy's agitation is evident.  "Now, we gots her, you gets them.  Or trouble!"

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg #61):

JEB considers Carson's suggestion for a brief moment, then nods his head and begins to lead the Indian woman in a different direction: Allright, to the Marshal then. Randy and Art, shield her from the crowd. Let's go quickly.

JEB leads the group to Marshal Hickock's office.

"This ain't over JEB - the Major ain't gonna like how you'ns fellers been handling things of late.  Not one bit.  Any blood spilt is on your hands.  Any body lays a hand on any of us, you ain't gonna like how it ends -- that I promises I does."  Begrudgingly, Randy complies with JEB's order.  His scowl transmits his displeasure.

The pissed-off powerhouse is not subtle about unsheathing his knife as he escorts Ayasha on her right-hand side.  He holds her arm carefully as not to drag or harm her.


edit: added a clarification of action
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Sat 04 Dec 2010.