Noose – chapter 1 October 22
A Noose for Slim Sherman.
On a calm and cloudless blue sky day in Laramie, a family travels home from town. It's a perfect spring day until they find a noose hanging from their barn roof. Every 15th day afterwards, is an escalating nightmare and no one knows why.
Author's Notes:
This story makes reference to an episode entitled "Dark Verdict," but it can be read alone, as the back story is revealed. Rated T for safety.
Warning: This story deals with the angst of the major characters as each month progresses and each dilemma escalates. There is a descriptive chapter that may be disturbing to some. Please read with caution and be aware that I love our Laramie characters and would never leave them to their fate. An unusual rescue is going to happen.
Chapter 1~ April 15
"It's such a perfect day," Daisy Cooper, surrogate Ma to three young men exclaimed. She swung her arms in the air as if she wanted to embrace the beauty all around her. Her two eldest merely grinned at each other.
"Daisy, one would think you'd never been in Wyoming in the spring before!" Jess shouted to her. He was riding besides his friend, make that brother and partner and couldn't see her delighted face.
Daisy sighed. " I just love it when we're altogether enjoying this warm day. Aren't the flowers just beautiful, Slim?"
Slim Sherman groaned inwardly. He had an inkling that she wanted to stop and pick the flowers for their table and there were so many chores to do at the ranch.
"Daisy, if you want, we'll pick you some flowers when we're out in the meadow later. Slim knows where." Jess caught the look from Slim and pursed his lips shut.
"We'll all pick flowers for you, Daisy," Slim told her, "but after chores, right?" he asked their adopted son, Mike Williams and Jess.
The two young men nodded. There wasn't anything they wouldn't do for Daisy or each other. Mike guided the wagon down the dusty road and thanked his lucky stars that Japanese entertainers had found the Sherman ranch all those years ago. After the deaths of his parents in an Indian attack, he was found to be the only survivor. Shivering with fever, he had been literally picked up and cared for and deposited at the first ranch the entertainers had come to, his current and only home, the Sherman Harper Ranch. Now 12, he was taller and stronger than when he first arrived and with the gentle and sometimes firm hands of his adopted fathers, he was learning how to be a rancher.
"Are you looking forward to your visit with Mort, Mike?" Jess called from behind the wagon.
"Sheriff Mort," as Mike referred to his Godfather, "told me we were going to a carnival and stay in the nicest hotel in Denver!"
"It's such a nice way to celebrate your good grades, isn't it Mike?" Daisy told her youngest 'son.' "Just think, you'll be gone for two weeks! We'll miss you." She resisted ruffling his blond hair. " Who is going to be his deputy while he's gone?"
"Guess!" Slim asked as he rode up.
"Jess?" Her eyes twinkled.
"He wouldn't trust anyone else with his town, Daisy," Jess rode up on the opposite side of the wagon. "The only thing he wanted me to do was to leave the town standing upright."
"And that wasn't all, " Slim smirked, "he warned you not to get into trouble! "
"Who me, get in trouble? " Jess asked innocently.
"Oh, only on days that end with a 'y!'
"Whadda ya mean? " The confused Texan asked as they neared the slope downward to their ranch.
"Oh, Monday, Tuesday, Friday," Slim's grin stretched from one end of his mouth to the other in a gentle tease.
"Just you wait!" Jess scowled and silently contemplated his revenge.
Their perfect bubble burst when they heard Mike's fear tinged voice. "Slim, Jess, look! On the barn, it's a noose!"
It was a noose alright. It was hanging from the barn roof, its tendrils tightly coiled around each other, a symbol of death.
Daisy sat, frozen in fear. Evil had come visiting her family. "How, how can we get it down?" her lips barely moved.
"I'll get it down, Daisy," Jess answered. Gun drawn, he opened the barn door and peered inside.
"Careful, Jess," Slim stood behind him.
They both looked inside. Everything was in its place. Nothing appeared stolen. Together, they grabbed the ladder and laid it against the barn. Jess climbed up while Slim braced the ladder.
"Hey, there's a letter up here, attached to this here rope," Jess called down.
"What's it say?"
"I think I would like to read it when I'm on solid ground, Pard," Jess murmured as he worked his way back down.
"So, what does it say?" Mike asked as they all crowded around Slim.
Slim's face turned pale beneath his tan as he read the words. "You'll Pay, You'll Pay, You'll Pay." He swallowed hard and he handed the letter to Jess. "It's written in blood," his voice shook.