Ronnie opened his mouth to lie his ass off, but he paused. He’d spent so long, risking his life, all for his plan to end up in flames. He couldn’t stop the rising surge of anger from escaping.
“You know what? Send me to prison. I don’t care. Do you have any idea what I had to do to even get the key!? I’ve risked my life over and over again. I could have been squashed or turned into panties. There are countless ways a lawman could get squashed or permad!”
The judge didn’t stop his outburst. Once he was finished, he expected her to chastise him or sentence him then and there. Instead, she did something that made his blood freeze.
“There are a lot a ways someone like you can get squashed, isn’t there? Especially in Gold Springs.”
He did not like where this was going.
LINE BREAK
Texas was alone in the department. April had left to check the postal office for mail. The weasel paced back and forth across the room. She was at an impasse. There was a string of missing cattle, no doubt Smiling Jacks being involved in some way. There were also reports of Roxxie around town. She never came around these parts unless she was planning something. But she could only be in one place at one time.
A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. She frowned. April wouldn’t bother knocking. She walked over to the door and opened it. It was Ronnie standing on the other side with a defeated look on his face. He held an envelope in his hand.
Texas tensed, ready to leap into action. “Ronnie? What are you doing here, you low down varmint!”
Ronnie sighed. “Here. This letter should explain it,” he said as he held out the envelope.
Texas took it and opened. Her eyes quickly scanned the paper. She scratched her head once she was finished. “I can’t say I expected this,” she said. “The judge sentenced you to work here until you paid off all the damages from your crime?”
He scoffed. “That’s what it says, doesn’t it?”
Texas raised an eyebrow. “That ain’t a way to talk to a superior, now is it? Says here that if you get fired, then the judge will give you another different.”
“Fine, sorry.”
“Well, I’m not going to take it easy on you. In fact, you’re on thin ice after everything you’ve done. Slip up again, and you’re fired. I don’t think the judge will go so easy on you again.”
His shoulders sagged. “I understand.”
Texas nodded. “And don’t think about two timing us again. It also says here that if anything happens to either April or me, then your employment will be considered terminated, too. And that means the judge would have to find another punishment for you.”
Ronnie rubbed the temples of his head. “Well, what’s next?”
Texas smiled. “You came just in time. Roxxie’s been spotted around town. I know she’s up to no good. I’ll be taking care of that. As for you, there’s been a bunch of cattle going missing. I have a feeling Jacks’ is up to it, but that’s for you to find out,” she said as she playfully slugged him in the arm.
Ronnie suppressed a groan as he rubbed the newly formed sore spot on his arm. He had received a couple of paychecks from his time. They were far from remarkable. It would take years, if not the rest of his life, to pay back everything he’s ever sold. It would take a miracle for him to survive.
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