First of all, Thank you so much for the encouraging reviews. I am feeling incredibly pressured to write a good story... ahhh... feel free to bail on the story if it's not going your way :)
Secondly, this chapter is just part of the story... I promise you Thirteen and Cameron will meet in the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 2: Uncle George
"Sheriff, s-sir, there is a man at your office... h-he wants to speak to you as soon as possible..."
"Can't you see I'm busy, Sergeant?" Sheriff Johnson threw a couple of chips into the pile and fiddled with his cards distractedly. The other gamblers looked up at the panicky sergeant curiously.
The sergeant bent down nervously and whispered something into his ear. What he said made the sheriff widened his eyes. He composed himself and cleared his throat, "Sorry gentlemen, I'm afraid I have business to attend to."
"You're a hardworking man, Sheriff!" The man in business attire commented.
"Sir, It's no secret that I'm extremely dedicated to protecting this town..." The sheriff said as he touched the tip of his hat to bid them farewell.
The sergeant rolled his eyes behind his boss' back as the both of them left the pub quickly for the office.
Allison made her first stop of the day at Uncle George's Herbs and Other Ingredients. She found her clinic quickly running out of medicine and anaesthetic because of the increased number of theft cases that left more and more policemen injured.
"Allison dear!" Uncle George greeted her with a warm hug. She loved hugging Uncle George; it was like hugging a bear.
"Got anymore Wild Feverfew? And tiger snake venom?" She asked after giving him a kiss on his rosy cheek.
"Got plenty! I've been asking my boys to go picking more Feverfew lately." He said as he placed a bunch of herbs in Allison's basket.
"Is it safe for them to be out of the town?" Allison asked worriedly, "Those outlaws... they seem to be everywhere."
"Ah, my boys are good with them guns! Trained them myself you know!" Uncle George said with a big smile which Allison found infectious.
"Two boys ain't gonna be enough to take on all thirteen of them outlaws!" An old woman in the shop spoke up.
"Thirteen of them? I thought there were only seven!" Another woman piped in, looking panicky.
"No M'am, its one man with thirteen guns, that's what I heard!" A young boy said.
The two women gasped in horror at this new information.
"That's why they call him Thirteen! He is so coo-" He continued but was quickly shushed by his mother.
Allison took a look at the wanted poster of Thirteen hanging in the shop, "Well, all I know is that if I ever see one of them... they're going to wish they never met me." she said with confidence.
Uncle George laughed cheerfully, "I know that damn old father of yours taught you to shoot a gun well!"
"He sure did!" She said proudly.
"How are your old folks anyway? Aging well I hope!" Uncle George laughed heartily.
"They are doing well up in Blackwater... got a telegram from them two weeks ago telling me about all the gentlemen they've picked out for me." Allison rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"That reminds me. I'm supposed to pick up my telegram from the Sheriff's station later." He said distractedly. "Well, anyway my dear, any man you fall in love with is lucky to have you!" Uncle George said before kissing her forehead.
Allison blushed and shook her head shyly, "Thanks Uncle George..."
"Come again soon, dear" They waved goodbye to each other before Allison left the shop.
"I want the drugs delivered from here and I want it to happen now..." A man dressed in a black overcoat and a suit threatened as he cocked his gun and pointed it to the shaking Sheriff.
"It's impossible! N-none of my m-men are brave enough to deliver it to Black-Blackwater..."
"Do you think the government cares about whether you useless imbeciles are brave or not brave enough?" He said in a low menacing voice, "You think we're just going to let the packages be grounded here in Wheeler for an idiot like you to use for yourself?"
"N-no s-sir..."
"Those packages are important for our relations with Mexico... if every town in this state is afraid of some fucking amateur horse-riding bastard outlaws, we don't get the drugs! And we're paying Mexico FOR NOTHING!" The man raised his voice in anger.
The sheriff fell to the ground groaning as he felt the steel gun hit his face forcefully. He clutched his bloodied face with his hand and whimpered.
"Do something about it... or else."The mysterious man warned before heading for the exit.
"S-sir, what about t-those outlaws..."
"You don't have to worry about them... much. We're ever closer to catching them." He said vaguely and left the office.
Sheriff Johnson slowly got off the ground, spitting out a few teeth and some blood in the process.
Just then, the mysterious man popped back in with a frightened man in tow.
"You might want to do something about him..." He shoved Uncle George into the office, "caught him listening to everything we just talked about..." The man left again, closing the door behind him.
Sheriff Johnson drew his pistol immediately and pointed it straight at Uncle George's forehead. The shopkeeper raised his hands in the air in surrender.
"She-Sheriff, I just ca-came for my t-telegram... I swear I didn't m-mean-"
"SHUT UP!" He yelled. "Come with me..." He turned poor Uncle George around and pushed him out the exit. The town was dark and quiet at night. Too quiet for a gunshot to not worry people.
"Not a sound... or your boys get it." Johnson threatened, pushing Uncle George with his pistol into the deep forest that surrounded the town.
They walked about twenty minutes out before Johnson forced Uncle George onto his knees.
"Please... P-please I beg you, Sheriff... I won't say a word to anyone! I swear!"
The sheriff cocked his pistol and aimed it directly at George's head.
"S-sir please... I have a fa-family... I have two young boys..." His voice and lips quivered as tears filled his eyes.
Johnson faked a yawn and asked, "Any other last words, Mr. Campbell?"
"N-No no please, don't, no, please do-"
A loud bang was heard followed by fluttering of birds in the dark and quiet night of New Mexico.
If I don't keep my promise, you guys can shoot me :)