Featured RP: Sagebrush Crossing

[Lady Arwen]

"Don't take your eyes off him, either. I'd prefer to not have to shoot around you," the Marshal said grimly, holstering her gun and stepping into the cell. She wrinkled her nose as she picked up Caldwell's smelly jacket and riffled through his pockets. Nothing new since the last time she'd checked them. He'd already dumped his boots, but she gave them a good kick, just in case anything dislodged.

[Bookwyrm]

"I never kill women. Break their hearts maybe, but it's hardly my fault if they pine away and kill themselves out of grief or somethin' when I ride off into the sunset," Caldwell said, staring at the gun aimed at him.

[Lady Arwen]

"Oh, good, if I ever have to kill you with my bare hands, I won't worry if you have any weapons hiding on your person, then," the Marshal shot back, bending down and flipping over the unconscious man.

[Bookwyrm]

"Nope, no hidden weapons here," Caldwell said. "Might want to wash your hands after you finish rummagin' through that turncoat's pockets. Having been deprived of my rightful weapons, I had to improvise."

[Lady Arwen]

The Marshal stared down at the unconscious man, a frown quickly forming on her brow.

"Did you know him before?" she asked as she began methodically searching for any hidden weapons.

[Bookwyrm]

"Saw him last time I was in town. Worked at the stables, I think. Disagreeable type. Got the feelin' he didn't like me even before he tried to murder me just now."

[Lady Arwen]

"Most of the people here don't like you. Did he say who he was working for?"

[Bookwyrm]

"They liked me before I killed the sheriff. After that, we hit a bumpy point in our relationship," Caldwell protested. "But he said he worked for Meyer. Seemed a bit upset that you went and put a hole in that snake's sorry hide."

[Lady Arwen]

"He must be working for Meyer part time or on contingency or something. He isn't from Meyer's gang, at least not originally," the Marshal stood and walked back out of the cell.

[Bookwyrm]

"Well, I certainly wouldn't know. We didn't associate with low-down scum like Meyer and his boys. Or we didn't before Meyer killed all of my boys."

[MountainFireflower]

Charlotte continued to keep her gun trained on Caldwell even after the Marshal exited the cell. She glanced at the Marshal, then back to the two men in the cell. "How do you know he's not working for Meyer?"

[Lady Arwen]

"He was wearing an amulet and had a vial of poison in his breast pocket. Aconitine, I'd bet, based on the symbols on the amulet. I'm a bit surprised; I haven't heard of this particular gang for quite a long while," the Marshal held it where Charlotte could see it. "Supposed to keep away bad luck. Obviously, it hasn't worked in a while."

[Bookwyrm]

"Friends of yours, Marshal? I'm disappointed, you don't seem like the poisoning type of gal."

[MountainFireflower]

Charlotte chuckled. "Obviously not." She frowned, lowering her voice. "What do you mean, you haven't heard of this gang? Does the threat extend beyond Meyer now?" Her frown deepened. "And who was he going to poison...?"

[Lady Arwen]

"Oh, I haven't heard of them for a while. That doesn't mean I haven't heard of them at all. All of the people in this particular band wear amulets and carry poison with them--very distinctive mark, helps them keep outsiders out and the like. But also very easy to track, if you know what to look for."

[Bookwyrm]

"Probably wanted to poison the Marshal. He was just going to stab me to death."