Involved: Day 15

Word Total: 90,007

Year to Date: 90,007

Summary of Events:

Reaching Main Street the next morning, Samuel was astonished to see the street lined with wagons and impressed to learn that they were all laden with donations for the miners who were out of work because of Kelly's incarceration. The following day Charlotte was one of several people helping hand out the foodstuffs and other non-monetary donations in the town's church building  . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Alright, just what is going on here?” an accusatory male voice demanded.

Charlotte startled and stood up to see two men standing in the middle of the room.

One she recognised as Valentine Allison, who was a younger, less grey-haired version of his uncle Virgil; the same light brown hair, hazel eyes, narrow face, pointed nose, thin lips, and lean frame, as well as the same ostentatious suits.

Standing beside him was a shorter man with hair that appeared to be greying — Charlotte couldn’t see the natural colour because he was wearing a hat — and had a badge pinned to his vest engraved with the word Sheriff; the sheriff, she noted, was shorter than Mr. Allison, which she thought made an interesting contrast.

It wasn’t a great height difference, the crown of the sheriff’s hat made him look the same height as Mr. Allison, however, it was clear by their shoulders and their eyes being at different levels that the sheriff was shorter, just by a small measure.

“We’re giving aid to the needy miners of Georgetown who are unable to work because their employer is presently incarcerated,” Mr. Annesley replied levelly, although with a hint of accusation toward the end of his response.

“Unable to work,” Mr. Allison scoffed. “Really? You think these louts are unable to work? They just don’t want to work. I would readily give them work if they’d just get up off their sorry rear ends and do something.”

Charlotte put her hand over her mouth, scandalised.

The miners currently in the building turned toward Mr. Allison, looking quite angry — and Charlotte didn’t blame them in the least.

“If they were decent and respectable citizens they would work,” Mr. Allison sneered.

Some of the miners stepped in closer and Charlotte saw Mr. Allison’s arrogance falter slightly.

“We work for living wages, not slave wages,” one of the miners growled.

“Regardless of the respectability of these men or their deservedness of these donations, this gathering is illegal, and I hereby declare everyone in this building under arrest and all items in need of return to where they came from,” the sheriff declared loudly.

Charlotte looked down at Ella, who was looking at the sheriff and Mr. Allison. How could he place children under arrest?

“Excuse me, but you have no authority over this event,” Charlotte — and everyone else — turned to look at the speaker, a man wearing a nice grey suit with matching vest, whom Charlotte had already observed to be close to Pastor Carrington’s age.

“I’m the sheriff of this town, I am the law around here,” the sheriff replied hotly.

“And I am Mr. Howard Wells, State Legislative Representative for the area encompassing Georgetown,” the man replied firmly. “I have come to oversee this distribution for the State, as a result, this event is State-sanctioned, making it outside the purview of a town sheriff. No one is under arrest, and no donations will be returned, and if you cause any harm to anyone who is receiving these donations it is you who will be arrested and taken back to Denver for trial.”

The sheriff looked quite furious, but said nothing; instead, he turned on his heel and stormed out. Mr. Allison surveyed everyone arrogantly and followed the sheriff out the door.

Next Post: 1 February.