Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Astounded: Day 7

Word Count: 42,007

Summary of Events:
Penrod arrived at the place he and the sheriff shared to find the sheriff trying to force himself on a woman, which prompted Penrod to arrest him — especially after the sheriff punched the woman in the face. Jemima thought that Penrod was just trying to get to be sheriff sooner when he told her what happened. Penrod went searching in the woods where he'd been attacked again and found the body of his attacker partially charred and covered in the latest snowfall. Jemima and Penrod discussed his discovery and the likelihood of what he'd find — if anything — that would belong to her father's body before she got upset at him for doing everything for her in the after supper cleanup. Penrod rode back to town and was greeted by an assembly outside of the town hall who'd just unanimously voted him sheriff to replace the man he'd just arrested days before . . .

Excerpt of the Day:
"Numbly Penrod took Mr. Bromender's hand and was given a firm handshake before Mr. Bromender removed Penrod's deputy pin from his coat and replaced it with the sheriff's pin.
The assembled crowd cheered and applauded as the pin was put into place and Mr. Bromender patted it somewhat roughly. Penrod didn't really know what to think. He'd been sucked up by a whirlwind and deposited in unfamiliar territory, mentally anyways.
"Now I will let our sheriff make an address," Mr. Bromender said, stepping away.
Penrod looked out at the crowd, all of whom looked particularly eager to hear whatever was going to come out of his mouth, then he glanced over his shoulder at Mr Bromender, who gestured encouragingly with his hands.
"What do I say?" Penrod asked.
"Something, anything," Mr. Bromender replied. "Surely you've been looking forward to this."
"No, actually," Penrod replied.
Mr. Bromender startled and looked aghast.
Penrod turned back to face the assembly and licked his lips repeatedly, groping for something — even if it was pithy — that he could say just to satisfy the crowd which was now beginning to look rather concerned.
Clarence turned his head and nodded toward the mountains. Penrod looked at them, then he remembered what he'd told Miss Vaughan. It wasn't exactly a speech, nor was it something that showed appreciation for having been so honoured, but it was something.
"I, would like to take this opportunity, actually, to tell you that I will be leaving shortly," Penrod said.
The assembly gasped in horror.
"Not permanently," Penrod continued quickly. "Just a couple of days, as I'm investigating a suspicious disappearance that some of you may know of already, and it will require me travelling abroad a couple of days."
Many people looked uneasy. Finally a man who looked vaguely familiar, from church if Penrod wasn't mistaken, shouted: "Who's going to be in charge of keeping an eye on us while you're gone?"
That was exactly the kind of question Penrod had been afraid of. "I don't know," he replied honestly.
"We need a deputy again!" someone else shouted.
"You can wait to leave until a deputy's arrived can't you?" Mr. Bromender asked, looking worried.
Penrod sighed. Miss Vaughan definitely wouldn't be happy, and he already felt bad enough that these killers had six months worth of head start on him that was getting nearer to seven months with every passing day.
"Only if a judge can come sooner and we can get Mr. Plumley's trial going," Penrod replied. "Otherwise I'm leaving tomorrow."
"But how will we be safe?" Mr. Bromender asked.
"Name Dr. Toews and Pastor Locke temporary co-deputies," Penrod replied.
Mr. Bromender looked somewhat stunned. "Can we do that?"
"I don't know," Penrod replied. "You're the mayor."
"I'll have to see," Mr. Bromender said. "At least wait until the day after tomorrow, though, give me some time."
"Alright," Penrod said. "I'll leave on Wednesday. No later unless the judge can come for the same day or sooner.""

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