CH.3: Runaway Peck

The following morning Peck was packing up in his office, all of his belonging were packed away in a case. The only thing not handed over was his badge. Oh the shiny gold badge, his Deputy badge he had since who knew when. So many memories came from this badge and the good he did with it, well, what he and Sheriff Callie had accomplished. Hearing the door open he thought it would be her…but instead he saw the smug face of Riley.

"I see you have decided to leave…I think it is for the best. Sheriff Callie needs a real partner who knows how he feels, what he can give her to provide for this town. I promise I will honor that badge till the day I retire." Riley was so smooth, man he really did not like this guy.

"You know before you came into this town…things were going good. Crime was low and morale was the highest it's ever been. You think you can keep that up…focus on the job and not mess with the Sherrif-?"

Riley moved in close and he had a predator like snarl pushing forth from his sharp mouth. "Callie needs someone who can handle the job…not a worthless bumbling buffoon who goofs off more then does the job right. And besides…you weren't ever going to tell her how you felt…were you?"

Peck was about to retort but he hit below the belt, well, if he wore a belt. Still he was right…in all his time he knew Sheriff Callie he never once told her how he felt. The thing was he hadn't known how he felt till Toby pointed it out to him. Riley and Callie had history, real history and somewhere between the lines there were shared moments. What type of moments did he and Callie have?

"You never had a chance Peck. You were stuck in the friend zone the entire time and once there you are stuck for life. Last night I proposed…and she said yes. So Callie and I will be settling down here and laying down the law our way. What real point do you have here…you possibly won't be seeing much of her anyway."

Peck wanted to shout at him…do something but he was never one for confrontation. Peck had no violent bone in his entire winged body. Riley was giving Callie what she wanted…and he…he was better off leaving town while he could. Toby would find a new best friend and Clementine would serve Riley well in keeping justice in this town.

"You won't be needing this anymore." Riley reached for the badge and then something just snapped in Peck. He smacked his paw away and glared at him.

"No one touches the badge…I repeat nobody, not you not any stranger I don't trust. I normally don't go off like this but…something isn't right here. You might have Callie convinced…but not me." He looks at the badge then places it on the desk. "I will find out the truth…so…don't get too cozy."

Peck left the office then putting as much distance as he can between him and Riley. The guy just rubbed him the wrong way and he felt like leaving before he got his feathers rustled further. He hadn't told anyone he was leaving, well except Toby who stood there waiting for him by the wagon heading out.

"Do you really have to go Peck? I mean sure this Riley and Callie are getting married but that shouldn't get you down…I mean it isn't like-."

"I love her Toby," Peck says as he keeps his back to him, his beak pointed at the ground and then as he turns he sniffs. "I love Sheriff Callie and she is marrying someone else. He says he can be a better Deputy then me…probably could sweep better than me too."

"No one can sweep better then you Peck," Toby says and Peck smiles at that, "where will you go?"

Peck shrugs as he hands his bag to the guy and looks around. "I don't know…wherever it is it won't be as good as this place was to me. I will miss everyone here…including you Toby. Tell the Sheriff…I mean Callie that I had some family issues to resolve. Until I get back Riley will be the new Deputy…and take care of Clementine for me, she likes to be petted four times each morning and she loves her carrots."

"Peck…I am going to miss you." Toby goes to hug him but then stops.

"Well…just this one last time ok Toby…but make it quick." Peck hugs his best friend and doesn't mind the pokey in him…he'll likely cry about it as he leaves. Pulling away he wears a weak smile before hopping into the wagon as it pulls out of the town. Looking back he can see a few people coming out to wave goodbye to him and he finds himself crying, from the pokey…but mostly from seeing how people had cared.

Toby felt sad. Normally he was quite the happy camper and looked on all the positive but now…now his best friend had left town and he had no one to play with. Ever since this Riley came into town it was gloom and doom…the guy hardly smiled and he never parted ways from Sheriff Callie's side. It made him awfully suspicious and he would've gone and seen what he was up to but saw Sheriff Callie making her way over. Oh no, what he was supposed to tell her?

"Hey there Toby…have you seen Peck anywhere? Riley says he left in a hurry and I noticed he was wearing Peck's badge, you know Peck doesn't ever take off that badge. I'm worried…and since you two hang out the most you must know right?"

Toby looks off at the dust the wagon had left then shook his head. "Uh nope…no wait…he said something about relatives…and visiting."

"Well…that was sudden…did he say when he would be coming back?" Callie asks. Toby tapped his chin in thought.

"I don't think so…oh he said Riley would be deputy in his place till he gets back." Toby thought he saw genuine worry in her face.

"That is unlike him…but…if he has to tend to family I guess I wish his family well and all. I wish I had known ahead of time though. I mean Riley is a good guy…but…there should have been time to transition to a new Deputy." Callie walked off and Toby then headed off to see what ole Riley was up to.

He noticed Riley had made a call and was sitting with his back to the door. He seemed rather quiet so he had to strain his ears.

"Yeah its me…I'm here in this town and met an old friend of mine, yeah that is her. Anyway looks like a great place to settle in…get to know the people…and rob them blind. I got rid of that Deputy beak or something like it. I'll hold things down till you come here, love ya." He hung up and Toby backed up when he heard Riley turn.

"Whose there?" Riley glowers at the door but Toby is nowhere to be seen, thankfully he can pose quite well for a cactus. After Riley stares a bit, right through him he might add he sat back down.

This was horrible…Sheriff Callie had to be warned. And Peck was right…something was wrong about this guy…and now he was gone. He just hoped it wasn't too late to stop Riley.