Leave well enough alone and go

You don’t become sheriff without reading a room from time to time and Texas was far from illiterate – a fact that might have distinguished her from the rest of the saloon’s esteemed patrons. As the two titans of the town stared each other down, the air was about as thick as Annabelle’s thighs, and perhaps almost as oppressive. Texas had noticed by now that the surrounding hum of conversation had not dulled to the ideal volume for eavesdropping. It had disappeared altogether.

The Crushed Weasel’s patrons were on the edge of their seats and ready to act. The cowardly ones would make for the saloon doors. The rest would make for Texas.

Judging by the size of some of them, Texas couldn’t imagine she’d be leaving this place with all three dimensions if she didn’t tread lightly.

“Begging yer pardon, Annabelle. I’m only responding to some rumours. Didn’t mean to cause no offense.”

Texas pulled her hand from her six-shooter and brought it instead to her hat, which she adjusted just a tiny bit. That single gesture was enough to release all the tension from the room like a pressure valve, and it seemed as though just about everyone let out the breath that they had been holding all at once. Texas included.

That was, everyone except for Annabelle who still stared down at Texas from her enormous, squared bovine snout.

“I’ll take yer apology, if you turn on those heels of yers and get yerself gone. Got no space in this saloon for tiny, no-good, nosy weasels like you.”

Annabelle spoke with enough venom that she seemed more rattlesnake than cow in that moment, and Texas knew better than to test her patience. With a final tip of her hat, Texas made for the exit, listening as Annabelle threw one final barb at the sheriff’s back.

“Besides, I know you ain’t strong enough for what I serve here.”

The thorns lodged against Texas’ spirit, but a sheriff knew better than to let herself be pricked by such senseless jibes. The question was what she’d do now. If Georgia was in town then Texas might have just made a blunder in openly declaring herself on the hunt. Who knew how quickly word travelled round these parts? Maybe she ought to hightail it back to her office and call in April for reinforcements? Or maybe she should just stick to her guns and carry on the investigation, wait for Georgia to come to her?