Astounded: Day 12

Word Count: 72,014

Summary of Events:

Jemima was baking biscuits when an unsettling stranger came to her door, introducing himself as Elmer Arntzen, after she got him to leave she heard gunfire. An injured Mr. Bateman told Penrod two strangers were at the Vaughan homestead and had shot at him; Penrod rallied all of the men in town to defend the town and then went to go check on Jemima. Jemima heard Penrod approach, but remained hidden under her bed until she recognised him and he told her to stay there until he came back and told her it was safe, which wasn't until the next morning.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Ahead Penrod saw the trees thinning. He reined Massachusetts in. He saw no smoke and smelled none either. The house wasn't in flames. He could take solace in that much, but where was Jemima?

Emerging out of the trees, Penrod scanned and saw two men on horseback heading into the trees. One of the men stopped and pointed at him, the other kept going.

The one who'd pointed at Penrod drew a rifle out of a scabbard and aimed. Penrod felt for his own, then remembered that he was riding Massachusetts, his rifle was on Clarence's saddle.

Penrod signalled Massachusetts to reverse back into the trees, to which the gelding obliged.

With a loud report the gun fired. Pain suddenly tore through Penrod's chest underneath his left collarbone. Clutching at it, Penrod bent over the saddle, biting his lower lip at the pain. . . 

. . . A lightheadedness was making Penrod feel faint, but he fought against it as hard as he could. He needed to get back to town and make sure that everyone was alright. He needed to make sure the gunslingers hadn't hurt anyone else or destroyed the town.

The trees thinned ahead. Penrod couldn't help but feel relief welling up in him. He was almost to safety. It'd taken a longer time walking, being as trotting had caused too much pain, and he didn't think it would necessarily be a good idea to go any faster.

Buildings appeared in front of him. No human activity in sight. Penrod rode onto one of the streets and started winding his way toward Dr. Toews' house. Hopefully he'd be able to get an update from there.

"Sher–"

"Shh!" Penrod interrupted the man who'd appeared, his pistol drawn. "Are they gone?"

"They went into your place, looked around, and left, but they weren't happy," the man replied. "We need to get you to Doc Toews."

"I was heading that way," Penrod replied.

"They met you?" the man asked, taking the reins from Penrod's hands.

"Yes," Penrod replied. "Shot at me from long range."

"They didn't shoot us," the man said. "Although I'm pretty sure it's because we were watching them so close and all had our guns with us. I think we scared 'em some good."

"Good, that was the plan," Penrod said.

Penrod sagged on Massachusetts' back, the pain still throbbed and blackness was clawing at the edges of his mind, trying to pull him under.

He didn't feel Massachusetts stop and so initially tried to resist when hands grabbed at him as if to pull him out of the saddle.

"We're here now sheriff, let go," the man said.

More than one man's hands helped Penrod down and guided him to Dr. Toews' side door, which was open. Penrod barely managed to stagger up the steps before blackness utterly swallowed him on the threshold."