Emerald Horizons, Art Gallery

“Emerald Horizons!” She announced, tugging on the rope. The curtain fell, revealing the newly constructed store: a wooden, two-story tall building with an elegantly crafted sign with green etched lettering with a black fox head between the two words with green eyes. “Our town’s first art and photography gallery!”

There were a few murmurs among the crowd, some were confused while others were intrigued about the idea. Sheriff Texas was in the former category as her eyebrow raised.

‘Why would someone set up a gallery all the way out here?’ She thought, mind going through multiple scenarios.

“And now for the proprietor of this fine, cultured establishment. Give a warm welcome to Gold Springs's newest resident, Rory Gilligan!” Vivian spoke, clapping as she stepped away from the podium. The rest of the crowd clapped in response as Texas looked up as a new figure came into view.

She did a quick double-take, mistakenly seeing April for a second until she noticed the difference. For an obvious starter, this fox was male, which whether that’s good or bad was up in the air. His fur was a darker shade of red with a small patch of white fur forming a beard. He dressed like he came straight from the city with a black cloak covering what she thought was a dark red checkered vest, a white buttoned shirt, and black jeans. The fox had a notch out of his left ear and his eyes…

A deep green like the store’s namesake that shined like jewels.

“Thank ye kindly, mayor. And all ye find folk for makin’ dis son of the isle feel at home!” He spoke, an Irish accent laced in his words. “Now, I know what some of ye thinkin’ ‘What’s dis eejit doin’, settin’ up some fancy art store out here? Unless he finds da tumbleweeds and manure interestin’.’”

That brought a chuckle out of the crowd as he kept going.

“Dat’s da beauty of it, untapped potential. I’ve photoed and painted many things but found da call of da west da most interestin’. Grand mesas, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, da untamed nature of the wild, and da lure of da frontier. I simply capture da spirit of da west as ye call it, so folks far and wide can appreciate the pure splendor of yer home and those who live in it.”

All who attended gave a warm applause at the speech, some even had a few tears in their eyes. Texas watched as the warm smile on the fox morphed into a small grin as he continued.

“Not only dat, I heard dis town had a wide variety of lovely lassies from all over, so forgive me as I sample da locale. Unless yer husbands have a say in things, wouldn’t be da first time me mouth got me on da other end of a barrel.”

That got a real laugh out of the crowd and even had some women blushing and waving at the silver-tongued devil. Rory chuckled as, with a wink and a flourish of his cloak, moved from the podium towards the front door of his shop.

“I’ve rattled me mouth off long enough and I be bakin’ in dis gaudy cloak!” Unlocking the door, he pushed it open. “And with dat, welcome. Emerald Horizons, where prices be worthwhile and memories, eternal!”

The crowd gave one more round of applause before dispersing. Some went about their day while others decided to see what the store had to offer. Texas stood back, watching everything that had happened.

‘He’s good with words, ah’ll give him that.’ She watched as that snake Vivian walked up and chatted with the fox. She had that smile she always wore in public, but the sheriff noticed it seemed a bit more **** than usual and she looked a bit nervous as well. All the while the artist had that easygoing smile on his face.

“Rory Gilligan? Just who are you?” She muttered under her breath.