Astounded: Day 13

Word Count: 78,024

Summary of Events:

Penrod received a telegram saying a group of ranchers had formed a vigilante group and were out to kill innocent civilians they thought were rustlers, and was told a posse was being formed to combat them. Jemima was filled in by Penrod about the posse and everything over breakfast and tearfully bade him farewell as he set out. Penrod and the seven members of his posse headed out through the forest without any signs of a threatening attack. Jemima was visited by Mr. Bateman — who hadn't gone along because he was still recovering from his gunshot wounds that'd been worse than Penrod's — who told Jemima Easter was a week away, prompting her to set about baking while he talked. Penrod and his posse arrived at Buffalo, Wyoming, where the larger posse was gathering and Penrod met with the organiser before he and his men set up camp. Jemima continued Easter baking, along with worrying about Penrod even though she was trying not to.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Soon the buildings of the town closed in around them, and Penrod saw that there were definitely a lot of men about with guns on their hips and belts of ammunition slung across their chests or around their hips as well.

Many of the men bore badges that indicated they were sheriffs or deputies of various towns in the area, although there were other men like Penrod's posse, good townsfolk or homesteaders, also intent on defending their land from the vigilante invaders.

Penrod found the sheriff's office centred in the greatest concentration of men and horses anywhere in the town. Their getting to the building might be difficult.

Turning Clarence, Penrod tossed one of the reins to the hitching rail, which it flipped around once — all Clarence needed to stay in one place — and then swung out of the saddle.

"You all stay here," Penrod said. "I'll go see if I can find Red and tell him we're here."
The men nodded, most of them tying their horses alongside Clarence and getting out of the saddle so they could stretch their weary legs.

Penrod turned and forged into the crowd to make his way through. A man collided with Penrod's shoulder, causing him to grimace in pain, but he soldiered on and eventually managed to make his way into the sheriff's office — which was even louder and noisier than outside, mainly because all of the sound was contained within four walls.

Many of the men were talking amongst themselves, Penrod felt like there was a little bit more space inside than there'd been outside, despite the volume, and finally he found a man who looked very much like his name ought to be Red Angus.

The man he was talking to nodded and headed away before Penrod had fully approached and as the man left he turned to face Penrod.

"And where do you hail from?" he asked.

"Verdant," Penrod replied. "I've brought seven men with me."

"Glad to have your help," he said. "Red Angus."

"Penrod Haskell," Penrod replied, returning the firm handshake.

"There's over a hundred and fifty of us right now, but I think it would still be wise if we wait until tomorrow," Red said. "Give everyone a chance to arrive, then we'll set out for KC."

"I've know about the tension and whatnot," Penrod said. "But what all happened?"

"Nate Champion was barricaded into a bunkhouse at the KC by gunfire and shot to death when he tried to escape," Red replied. "He was the head of the NWFSGA."

"I heard an attempt was made on his life in November too," Penrod said. "I think that this mission by the invaders is intended to rid themselves of competition, again, and not rid themselves of rustlers."

"I think they want to get rid of the rustlers," Red said. "But they're definitely going about it the wrong way, along with thinking the wrong people are rustlers. Not that every homesteader is guiltless, but to brand them all rustlers by pure association is completely unfair.""

NWFSGA: Northern Wyoming Farmers and Stock Growers Association