HOW THE WEST WAS ONE CHAPTER 3
Spring time quickly came to the small town of vedra. The trial for the Drago that they managed to catch was drawing closer and closer. Rommie on the other hand rarely talked to anyone preferring to work at Ms Valentines sweeping floors the best she could. Rev told Dylan that while her physical wounds healed the mental ones would linger. "Today is the day isn't it?" Tyr asked Dylan. So far in his role as deputy Tyr had proven quiet the capable ally. Tyr particularly enjoyed arresting Ray or one of his men. "For the trial? Yep it is.Rommie says that she will testify and I have asked the judge to bar civilians, but I doubt that will be. Everything is set in place all that we need is for Rommie to stand strong." But he had his doubts. She wanted to let her story be known true but facing one of the men that did those horrible things to her. "Everything will turn out for the best." Dylan gave a slight jump as Trance walked up with several trays full of breakfast. After Tyr and Dylan took the plates off trance put tray down. "You know trance? You would have made a good argosy spy." Dylan said munching on some eggs. "But sneaking up on people can get you killed." Tyr said. As always Tyr ate Trances cooking with abandon. Harper came into the office smiling briefly at Trance who returned the smile with a grin. "Dylan Ms Valentine sends a message. She says that Rommie will testify but she request that you escort her to the jail. This past season she has not got out much and she does not know how rommie will react to all of the attention." Trance hurried into the room handing a plate to Harper who ate it greatfully. "Very well then.Tyr can you bring the prisoner to the jail? And no roughing him up either." Dylan thought back to the day when Rommie was brought in. After they had gotten the prisoner in the cell Tyr took it upon himself to 'question' the prisoner. They finished up their breakfast and Trance took the plates and shooed them off. Harper offered to stay behind to help with the dishes but Trance refused. When Dylan got to the hotel he found Rommie sweeping the floor free of dust. Ms Valentine stood behind the counter talking to a guest who she quickly showed the stairs once she saw Dylan. "Rommie are you ready?" Dylan asked softly. Rommie looked up with her eyes sunken with fright. She placed the broom along the wall and straightened out her dress that Ms Valentine gave her. "Yes sir.I guess." Dylan had his doubts. For one thing she still favored some of her wounds limping slightly as if her leg was still broken. And for another she kept on looking around nervously as if trying to seek out an escape route. "Its ok Rommie.the Devine stands with you as do we all." Rev Bem said stepping down the steps in his priestly robes holding the book of the devine. Rommie seemed to be in a better mood once she saw Rev. "And the Devine stands with you." She replied. She accepted Dylans offered hand and they along with Rev Bem made their way out of the hotel with Bekka wishing luck.
The courtroom was packed with towns folk when they arrived. They all looked at Rommie who kept her eyes downcast as she took her seat before the judge. The judge was an older gentleman who Dylan respected. Although he did not agree with allowing the judge to permit citizens into the courtroom the judge pointed out that it was against the law to prevent public viewing. "Rommie stand strong." Dylan said as the doors were flung opened and Tyr and several deputies that Dylan hired just last month led in the Drago into the room. Rommie tensed as she felt the eyes of the man that had haunted her dreams pass over her and she only looked up at the judge when she heard him sit down. "Now that we are all gathered here we will begin.prosecution you may open. Keep in mind that this is not a jury trial, it is the victims defense that is going to present the case which could send this man to the gallows. As well as the defendant.who if my understanding is correctly made will defend his own self." Dylan muttered to himself underneath his breath.by doing that he could call Rommie as a witness. But on the brightside he was her defense. "The prosecution can begin its case." Dylan stood up and he saw reporters scribble down notes. Harper who found a new interest in the field sat down behind Dylan. "Your honor one cold night last winter my friend came into the room along with my deputy holding a woman who was viciously attacked. Later on after who wounds were tended to she wrote down a note detailing what had happened to her.she had been raped by twenty Drago Kasov who to date only one has been caught." Dylan said pointing to the Drago. "This man has been positively identified as one of the attackers by the victim." He said emphasizing Rommie. "What happened that night was no excuse your honor.after Raping and beating her they left her to die in a blizzard that scoured her flesh. I ask you judge would any civilized man or group of men do that to a woman?" Dylan thanked the devine that Trials such as these were short.rommie would not have to suffer through a prolonged ordeal. "A good opening.I have hear sworn testimonies by the witnesses so calling them would prove fruitless." He spent a while looking at Revs report which outlined the details of her more severe wounds and withheld his anger as he saw the Drago stare at Rommie smiling wickedly. "The defendant will defend himself now." The judge said sharply sending the Drago scrambling to his feet. "I am innocent of these worthless charges. I find this justice system warped and impure. What really happened that day was that that Girl came looking for some action and when she could not handle the load she broke down and cried. She wanted it so bad she searched us out and proportioned us to as she said it 'Deal with her.' And so we did. Now I will call her up to the stand and she will tell the truth." Dylan helped Rommie up who shook so bad even the judge saw. She finally sat down at the bench beside the judge and he swore her in. "When you came to us that night did you do so willingly?" He asked. Rommie look down and began to twiddle her thumbs. "No.I" "Yes or no will suffice." The Drago said sharply. "Do you deny coming to us wanting this to happen to you?" He asked gleefully. Rommie twiddled her thumbs faster and she looked. Up directly into the Dragos eyes. "I did not come to you.you took me from my home and killed my family. Do you deny that?" She spoke with such clarity and fierceness that it took Dylan by surprise. "Stay on subject wench." Rommie leapt forwards landing on the Drago. Instantly Dylan was there trying to grab Rommie off of the Drago who lay there with his face gashed open. "You bastards killed my mother! And my father! You bastards! You bastards! You bastards!" She screamed and screamed yelling and kicking away from Dylan. The judge ordered a recess and Rommie was quickly dragged outside. "Rommie calm down.easy now take it easy." Her chest was moving quickly up and down as she stared back at the courthouse with anger in her eyes. "I remember now.they came out of the darkness shooting and hollering. They killed my mother and sister and tortured my father and made him watch as they raped me the first time.then they dragged me over the mountains.bastards." Dylan was taken aback. She spoke with such a passion he knew she could not lie. "Then tell the judge that." But a window broke out and the Drago came out landing on top of Dylan. He punched Dylan in the head then turned to rommie. "Not so confidant now bitch." Rommie who had more confidence then she had in a while kneed him where the sun does not shine the delivered a roundhouse that sent him spiraling. Dylan quickly got to his feet pinning the drago on the ground. "That was for the family and the gallows will be for me." She spat on him and turned around walking back towards the hotel. Indeed the judge declared him guilty and men carted him off to the gallows where they quickly hanged him. "Western justice is the best." Dylan muttered. Now all that was left was the rest of the gang.
Spring time quickly came to the small town of vedra. The trial for the Drago that they managed to catch was drawing closer and closer. Rommie on the other hand rarely talked to anyone preferring to work at Ms Valentines sweeping floors the best she could. Rev told Dylan that while her physical wounds healed the mental ones would linger. "Today is the day isn't it?" Tyr asked Dylan. So far in his role as deputy Tyr had proven quiet the capable ally. Tyr particularly enjoyed arresting Ray or one of his men. "For the trial? Yep it is.Rommie says that she will testify and I have asked the judge to bar civilians, but I doubt that will be. Everything is set in place all that we need is for Rommie to stand strong." But he had his doubts. She wanted to let her story be known true but facing one of the men that did those horrible things to her. "Everything will turn out for the best." Dylan gave a slight jump as Trance walked up with several trays full of breakfast. After Tyr and Dylan took the plates off trance put tray down. "You know trance? You would have made a good argosy spy." Dylan said munching on some eggs. "But sneaking up on people can get you killed." Tyr said. As always Tyr ate Trances cooking with abandon. Harper came into the office smiling briefly at Trance who returned the smile with a grin. "Dylan Ms Valentine sends a message. She says that Rommie will testify but she request that you escort her to the jail. This past season she has not got out much and she does not know how rommie will react to all of the attention." Trance hurried into the room handing a plate to Harper who ate it greatfully. "Very well then.Tyr can you bring the prisoner to the jail? And no roughing him up either." Dylan thought back to the day when Rommie was brought in. After they had gotten the prisoner in the cell Tyr took it upon himself to 'question' the prisoner. They finished up their breakfast and Trance took the plates and shooed them off. Harper offered to stay behind to help with the dishes but Trance refused. When Dylan got to the hotel he found Rommie sweeping the floor free of dust. Ms Valentine stood behind the counter talking to a guest who she quickly showed the stairs once she saw Dylan. "Rommie are you ready?" Dylan asked softly. Rommie looked up with her eyes sunken with fright. She placed the broom along the wall and straightened out her dress that Ms Valentine gave her. "Yes sir.I guess." Dylan had his doubts. For one thing she still favored some of her wounds limping slightly as if her leg was still broken. And for another she kept on looking around nervously as if trying to seek out an escape route. "Its ok Rommie.the Devine stands with you as do we all." Rev Bem said stepping down the steps in his priestly robes holding the book of the devine. Rommie seemed to be in a better mood once she saw Rev. "And the Devine stands with you." She replied. She accepted Dylans offered hand and they along with Rev Bem made their way out of the hotel with Bekka wishing luck.
The courtroom was packed with towns folk when they arrived. They all looked at Rommie who kept her eyes downcast as she took her seat before the judge. The judge was an older gentleman who Dylan respected. Although he did not agree with allowing the judge to permit citizens into the courtroom the judge pointed out that it was against the law to prevent public viewing. "Rommie stand strong." Dylan said as the doors were flung opened and Tyr and several deputies that Dylan hired just last month led in the Drago into the room. Rommie tensed as she felt the eyes of the man that had haunted her dreams pass over her and she only looked up at the judge when she heard him sit down. "Now that we are all gathered here we will begin.prosecution you may open. Keep in mind that this is not a jury trial, it is the victims defense that is going to present the case which could send this man to the gallows. As well as the defendant.who if my understanding is correctly made will defend his own self." Dylan muttered to himself underneath his breath.by doing that he could call Rommie as a witness. But on the brightside he was her defense. "The prosecution can begin its case." Dylan stood up and he saw reporters scribble down notes. Harper who found a new interest in the field sat down behind Dylan. "Your honor one cold night last winter my friend came into the room along with my deputy holding a woman who was viciously attacked. Later on after who wounds were tended to she wrote down a note detailing what had happened to her.she had been raped by twenty Drago Kasov who to date only one has been caught." Dylan said pointing to the Drago. "This man has been positively identified as one of the attackers by the victim." He said emphasizing Rommie. "What happened that night was no excuse your honor.after Raping and beating her they left her to die in a blizzard that scoured her flesh. I ask you judge would any civilized man or group of men do that to a woman?" Dylan thanked the devine that Trials such as these were short.rommie would not have to suffer through a prolonged ordeal. "A good opening.I have hear sworn testimonies by the witnesses so calling them would prove fruitless." He spent a while looking at Revs report which outlined the details of her more severe wounds and withheld his anger as he saw the Drago stare at Rommie smiling wickedly. "The defendant will defend himself now." The judge said sharply sending the Drago scrambling to his feet. "I am innocent of these worthless charges. I find this justice system warped and impure. What really happened that day was that that Girl came looking for some action and when she could not handle the load she broke down and cried. She wanted it so bad she searched us out and proportioned us to as she said it 'Deal with her.' And so we did. Now I will call her up to the stand and she will tell the truth." Dylan helped Rommie up who shook so bad even the judge saw. She finally sat down at the bench beside the judge and he swore her in. "When you came to us that night did you do so willingly?" He asked. Rommie look down and began to twiddle her thumbs. "No.I" "Yes or no will suffice." The Drago said sharply. "Do you deny coming to us wanting this to happen to you?" He asked gleefully. Rommie twiddled her thumbs faster and she looked. Up directly into the Dragos eyes. "I did not come to you.you took me from my home and killed my family. Do you deny that?" She spoke with such clarity and fierceness that it took Dylan by surprise. "Stay on subject wench." Rommie leapt forwards landing on the Drago. Instantly Dylan was there trying to grab Rommie off of the Drago who lay there with his face gashed open. "You bastards killed my mother! And my father! You bastards! You bastards! You bastards!" She screamed and screamed yelling and kicking away from Dylan. The judge ordered a recess and Rommie was quickly dragged outside. "Rommie calm down.easy now take it easy." Her chest was moving quickly up and down as she stared back at the courthouse with anger in her eyes. "I remember now.they came out of the darkness shooting and hollering. They killed my mother and sister and tortured my father and made him watch as they raped me the first time.then they dragged me over the mountains.bastards." Dylan was taken aback. She spoke with such a passion he knew she could not lie. "Then tell the judge that." But a window broke out and the Drago came out landing on top of Dylan. He punched Dylan in the head then turned to rommie. "Not so confidant now bitch." Rommie who had more confidence then she had in a while kneed him where the sun does not shine the delivered a roundhouse that sent him spiraling. Dylan quickly got to his feet pinning the drago on the ground. "That was for the family and the gallows will be for me." She spat on him and turned around walking back towards the hotel. Indeed the judge declared him guilty and men carted him off to the gallows where they quickly hanged him. "Western justice is the best." Dylan muttered. Now all that was left was the rest of the gang.