As some of the heroes voice their thoughts, the Sheriff and Monsieur Poirier approach. The two arrivals take off their hats to Mrs. Knight and acknowledge Mr. Knight with eye contact. The group -- now eight total -- is gathered around the horse hitching post outside of the Prickly Pear. Other locals have taken notice of that fact.

"Ici. These are the men who flew with me, Sheriff," says the frenchman. He introduces each of the four adventurers by surname -- substituting "professeur" for "monsieur" once.

"Messieurs, il est Sheriff Andersen."

Before anyone else can interrupt the silk magnate's speech, he continues.

"It seems, em, Mr. Knight has found you. Tres bien. We were coming here to tell you about, em, their need. Are you helping them?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:44, Thu 21 Mar 2019.

In reply to Alphonse Poirier (msg # 67):

Earnest nods to the sheriff when introduced.

We have indeed agreed to help them, we were just about to seek the both of you out to let you know and to find out what the sheriff can tell us about this "gang".

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 68):

The Sheriff, for the first time, speaks to those gathered at the hitching post.

"Jacob knows everything I know about El Presidente's gang. He rode with us; I reckon he held a candle to any feller in the posse. We could not find their hideout, but now Jacob has the Paiute guide ... and ye men. Monsieur Poirier," he says, prounouncing the name in a similar but not exactly the same drawl as the Texan, "tells me all four of ye're men of the first water, with a providential set of skills."

He pauses. "Come claim yer guns whenever ye're ready. And thank ye for agreeing to help Jacob and Miriam."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 69):

In the slight pause before any of the four heroes can reply, Jacob Knight addresses the Sheriff.

"Much obliged, Aaron." The rancher turns to Mrs Knight.

"Come along, Miriam."

Miriam complies with her husband's imperative, but not before turning to the four travelers.

"Blessings to all of you. Thank you," she begins, apparently with the intent to say more until cutting herself off after another look from her husband.

The Knights begin to depart, turning away from the Prickly Pear and walking towards a small buckboard with a two-horse team. Dave Walker had noticed it when he had scanned the area several minutes ago -- some 25 yards away and resting parallel to the road.

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 69):

and

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 70):

and

In reply to Miriam Knight (msg # 71):

~Waal, this one ain't no greenhorn,~ the Texan concluded after studying Sheriff Andersen over the amount of time that it took for the lawman and Monshure Pwa-reh-eh to stroll over to the foursome. Andersen had a few years on him, but didn't give the impression that he would be ready for a front-porch rocking-chair any time soon. He also gave the Texan the impression that the lawman was accustomed to leading from the front and to being the man in charge.

"See y'all in a bit," Jacob replied to Missus Knight's departing words, favoring the woman with a kindly nod.

Turning to face Andersen, Jake spoke again. "Sheriff, you just now menchunned that you din't find El Presidente's hideout. From what Mister Knight said earlier, y'all lost some men out of the posse. I taeke it that you were ambushed an' got the short end of the stick?"

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 72):

Sheriff Andersen studies the Texan. "We lost one man. So we came back. No ambush . . . an accident. Nuthin' to do with the bandits."

Andersen's eyes scan the four men.

"No need to be a lawman to guess that ye'all have questions. If Jacob Knight invited ye to his ranch to get tacked up, he aims to tell ye everything he knows. Jacob is the most forthright man I know. Ye cannot larn anything from me different than what you larn from the Knights."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 73):

Earnest rubs his chin.

Maybe so sheriff, but each man holds things with different importance so it's usually good to ask anyway... Let's talk as we go to retrieve our firearms shall we? Now, have you had other dealings with this 'El Presidente'?

Earnest will start walking towards the sheriff's office, if the sheriff seems amenable for it.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 74):

Walker was overall impressed - the Sheriff made a good impression and seemed matter-of-fact regarding the circumstances around the death, but the man was dead - and that girl was still alive at the hands of El Capitan out there somewhere. It seems like every hour matters, unless they are holding her for ransom.

~ El Presidente ? Ha ! ~

Walker couldn't bring himself to call a man like that Presidential - didn't seem right.

~ More like "Pedazo de Mierda" ...right Darla? ~

Walker again couldn't contain a slight smile as he walked along with the others. He didn't know much Spanish at all and it was funny how that came to him. He sure had some interesting friends back in New Orleans.

"Be nice to get our guns back - right Tex? Hey - I'm thinkin' maybe if we can take care of this we may be able to be deputized or somethin'. You think?"

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 74):

The Sheriff readily agrees to return to his office, as that was apparently his intention in any case. Turning to walk towards his office, while listening to the professor, he replies.

"No. Nobody even knows who he is, for certain."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 73):

Tracy nodded his goodbye to the Knights along with the rest of the group, then listened closely to the Sheriff speak about the situation.

Careful not to interrupt ENS but obviously eager to speak, Tracy followed the Professor with some questions of his own.

"And do you know what El Presidente wants? I'm a little confused why we aren't rushing to save Elizabeth right now. Are we sure that he'll wait around for someone to come rescue her again? What does he gain from all of this trouble?"

The whole situation was a bit strange to the investigator. Perhaps the imminent meeting at the Four O'Clock would answer some of his concerns. For now, he awaited the Sheriff's response.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 77):

"I'm with you kid - they don't seem in too much of a hurry..." Walker said under his breath to Windham.

"I think I would have kept on goin' instead of turnin' back with the dead man. Seems like findin' a trail or scoutin' those men while I could and maybe findin' the girl would be more important."

~ It's never simple is it Darla? ~

Edit: missed an ing
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 77) and Dave Walker (msg # 78):

The Sheriff listens as he walks, stopping in front of the small two story structure that serves as his office, home and jail.

"Elizabeth went missing three days ago. Jacob searched soon after, with some of his hands. I gathered others 'n we rode out thet night . . . we rode for two days and two nights . . . 'til the accident. We returned last night. We ain't exactly sittin' on our hands."

He pauses, letting that sink in. "Now, three days later . . . would ye give up looking for your disappeared daughter? I reckon not. Neither has Jacob."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 79):

"Take it easy Sheriff, I have a rough, straight-up way of talkin'... takes a bit o' gettin' used to I guess."

"We're all on the same side here. Based on your story I'm thinkin' i'll plan for two weeks out, not sure how much ammunition to bring though."

"Any idea how many people you were tracking, and how many men El Capitan has?"

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 80):

Sheriff Andersen nods when Dave is talking about supplies and ammunition. He offers no opinions beyond what he had already suggested, but he seems to understand why Dave is thinking aloud about provisioning.

When Dave Walker asks two more questions, after the Sheriff had stated more than once that Jacob could answer all of the men's questions, the Sheriff frowns.

"Listen boys, I understand a hunnerd percent why ye're asking all these questions. I ain't bothered by the questions. It's just thet I told you more than once thet Jacob could answer anything I could answer. Ye're wasting time, now, is all. Come get yer guns and mosey over to Taylor's and let Mr. Knight explain every little thing we know about El Presidente's gang and Elizabeth's disappearance."

Without listening for a reply, the Sheriff turns and enters his office, leaving the door open behind him.

A crisp breeze sweeps its way through the thoroughfare that divides the small town of Grafton into north and south sides of the road.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Mon 25 Mar 2019.

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 81):

Earnest follows the sheriff into the office.

Fair enough sheriff, I have just one more question: Do you have any thoughts on why it was Elizabeth that was taken?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 82):

With an exasperated sigh, the Sheriff answers somewhat tersely. "Not specifically, no."

Opening a tall cabinet, the Sheriff hauls out the various weapons the men had put into Monsieur Poirier's custody.

"Please keep 'em holstered, slung or carried by the barrel while in town. Everyone knows ye by now."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 81):

Tracy followed the Sheriff and the others into the office to collect their gear. He had resolved to save his questioning for Jacob, as the Sheriff had now made it exceedingly clear that that was his only option.

"Thank you, sir," the investigator said to the lawman as he received his own. Holstering his Colt and smoothly pocketing his Derringer, Tracy moves back towards the door.

"I'm ready to head out and gather some supplies as soon as you all are. I think it's best we talk to Mister Knight as soon as possible."

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 82):

He looks to Tex "... one more question he says..." laughing in his mind, a wide smile this time - looking for the Sheriff's response.

~ That's the third time today, must be a good day! ~

In reply to Tracy Windham (msg # 84):

and

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 85):

Jake chuckled at Mister Walker's comment, and nodded to Mister Windham as he first buckled on his Schofield, then slung his Winchester diagonally across his back, passing the leather strap across his chest.

He agreed with Mister Windham that 'twas time to get a wiggle on and head over to pick up their provisions, ammunition, and what-not. The sooner they got that out of the way, the sooner they could head out to the Four O'Clock.

~That's a right odd naeme for a ranch. I'll have to remember to ask Mister Knight about it. Come to think of it, I could ask the sheriff, but . . . naw, best not.~

"All right, gents," he said, glancing around at the others. "Like Mister Windham says, let's us-uns git ourselves geared-up, courtesy of Mister Knight."

In reply to Sheriff Andersen (msg # 83):

Earnest grins after the sheriff's exasperated reply.

Thank you sheriff, apologies for the bother.

He receives his Colt and shotgun, putting the shotgun in his bag and removing his coat to don the shoulder holster and then holstering his gun before putting the coat back on.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Tue 26 Mar 2019.

With Tracy Windham in the lead, the four men depart the Sheriff's office, once again having all of their possessions on their persons.

Moving towards the Trading Post on the southern side of the thoroughfare, Tracy sees the silk merchant speaking to a tall, scrawny fellow in a rumpled suit. Just now, Poirier and the man who must be the proprietor, Taylor, shake hands as the four adventurers approach.

"Messieurs, il est Monsieur Taylor. I have informed him of your agreement with the Knights and he is ready to assist. Alors, au revoir, mes amis."

Poirier begins to walk away, towards the Prickly Pear, while the thin man in the suit watches your approach.

In reply to Alphonse Poirier (msg # 89):

"People simply call me Taylor," says the proprietor of the Grafton Trading Post. He motions with a long, slender arm for the men to enter his establishment.

OOC: The players should feel free to converse amongst themselves and with Taylor. But every detail of their acquisitions here isn't required. The Judge would ask each PC to make a list of what they desire. The Judge will then decide what can be provided easily,  what might require a roll, what might require a little time, or what might be substituted, etc.

Please don't waste time asking Taylor all of your questions about Elizabeth and the outlaws. Taylor does know something helpful to the PCs but it will come out in the course of his interaction with the heroes, without interrogation.