Astounded: Day 15

Word Count: 90,002

Year to Date: 300,026

Summary of Events:

Penrod and the posse from Verdant pushed on to get home instead of camping out for one more night and found some human remains Penrod guessed to be Mr. Vaughan's. He called on Jemima early and she made breakfast for him before he told her about the discovery, which led her to weep in mourning again. After Penrod had fed the animals Jemima gave him some chocolate pie and then got upset at him when he told her she'd be going to stay with one of her siblings shortly. After crying for a long time Jemima thought about how she'd fallen so hard for Penrod when he didn't seem to love her in return. Penrod got back to town and was told by Mr. Bateman that Susanna had come to visit, which he'd forgotten, and unfortunately things fell apart quickly . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""And you're coming to their aid!" Susanna snapped.

"And why shouldn't I?" Penrod challenged. "She needed help."

"Because your woman, the woman you promised you would marry is the only one who deserves such treatment from you!" Susanna retorted, stalking past Penrod and out of the hotel room.

"Susanna, you told me that part of what you liked about me was my courtesy and my gentlemanly manners," Penrod replied, following her down the stairs. "And I strive to be a gentleman at all times, which includes helping anyone who may have a need. That is also part of my duty as an officer of the law, and as a Christian."

"Have my trunk brought down from my room to the stage office at once, thank you," Susanna said to a stunned Mr. Jackson, who mutely nodded.

"Susanna, you can't leave!" Penrod exclaimed.

"Yes I can, and yes I am," Susanna snipped, stalking out the door.

"But Susanna, I haven't done anything wrong!" Penrod protested. "I've merely done what I ought to do based on my occupation and my morals!"

"And such wretchedly skewed morals they are," Susanna snapped, whirling around to face him for a moment before stalking on. "On top of being horribly deceptive."

"Deceptive?" Penrod asked. "How have I deceived you? Any other woman would have no problem with my conduct."
"Well then go find them!" Susanna roared, coming to a stop beside the waiting stagecoach. "I am through with you!"

Penrod stood dumbfounded as Susanna stalked into the stage depot. He couldn't believe it. He absolutely couldn't believe it.

"I am going back to Rock Springs," Susanna said, reappearing out of the office. "And should you dare follow me there I will make sure that Father, Paul, and Arthur are all notified to shoot you on sight!"

Mr. Jackson appeared with her trunk, which was loaded onto the coach. Susanna watched them, her arms crossed, then turned to look at Penrod one more time.

"We are not getting married," she snapped. "And should I ever see your wretched face again it will be too soon!"

Turning back to face the coach, she climbed inside and slammed the door emphatically. Stunned, the driver got into his place and snapped the lines without a word. Mr. Jackson looked at Penrod like he didn't know what to say and hurried away quickly.

Penrod watched as the stagecoach set off down the street, a cloud of dust in its wake, carrying the woman he'd been fully intending to marry away from him for what she seemed to intend be the rest of their days.

Footsteps hurried up to him, but Penrod kept watching the stagecoach.

"Sheriff Haskell," Dr. Toews' familiar voice barely reached his ears. "I do believe I've got a positive identification on the remains."

The stagecoach disappeared among the trees.

"The remains belong to Henry Vaughan."

Dropping to his knees, Penrod burst into sobs. What had he done? What had he done?"

The next post will be on April 2.

Astounded: Day 14

Word Count: 84,010

Summary of Events:

Penrod struggled with his gelding as the posse rode out to find the invaders, being as his gelding wanted to run. Jemima was called on by Mr. Bateman and Mr. Magnan, and she refused to admit them. The posse approached a ranch and found the invaders inside, the shooting began. Jemima baked and worried about Penrod some more, although not as much as she had been. After two days of shooting Penrod was woken by approaching horsemen and found it was the Army come to intervene and stop the fighting; one of them willingly started to search the dead for the men Penrod suspected killed Mr. Vaughan, as Mr. Albers was numbered among the dead . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"Two of them. Four left.

"Louis . . . There . . . Thir . . . ?" he looked like he was struggling.

"Threlfal," Penrod replied.

"Is that what it says?" he asked.

"What are you finding their names on?" Penrod asked.

"They have cards with their names typed on them saying they're employed by the GLA Ranch of Sheridan, Wyoming," he replied.

Penrod nodded. That was interesting, and not necessarily a bad idea. He had half of them. Maybe he should stop by that other body on the way home and see if he could find one of those cards.

"Arntzen you said it was?" he asked.

"Yes," Penrod replied.

"Here," he said.

Only two left. Penrod was impressed. There weren't many left among the dead, though.

The cavalryman straightened and shook his head. "No Whenam, no Simants."

Penrod sighed. He had two left to look for.

Alarmed conversation came from the barn and several soldiers hurried out, struggling to hold a convulsing man. One soldier sat on each limb while another soldier tried to attend to the struggling and agonised looking man.

Everyone watched quietly for a long time as the man struggled, until finally he started to weaken. The soldiers got off of his limbs once he'd settled down some. Soon he went completely still and the last soldier rose, shaking his head.

"He's dead," he said succinctly.

"What happened?" Penrod asked.

"Something poisoned, I guess," the cavalryman replied, not bothering to look back and see who'd asked him.

Penrod looked over at the soldier who'd been inspecting the dead for him. The soldier quickly hurried over and checked the pockets. "Simants."

Penrod nodded as the soldier who'd been trying to save Mr. Simants looked at his fellow soldier with puzzlement. Penrod had one left.

Looking toward the barn, Penrod scanned the faces of the men standing inside. The sun had now fully crested the horizon and was shining brightly on the scene — a bright and vibrant light that didn't look the least bit suitable for the scene of dead bodies, soldiers, armed men, and a bullet-riddled barn.

A dark haired man with equally as dark eyes met Penrod's gaze. His gaze was dark and severe. Penrod had a feeling he was looking on the face of the last one: Jules Whenam, and it looked like Mr. Whenam had revenge on his mind.

Penrod raised his chin and looked down at Mr. Whenam. Suddenly Mr. Whenam drew his gun, aimed, and fired.

A hot streak of pain like a hot knife slicing the surface skin stroked across Penrod's cheek, causing him to flinch slightly. Several cavalrymen quickly went into the barn and disarmed Mr. Whenam, who still looked at Penrod with a ferocious expression.

Once the Army was done with Mr. Whenam Penrod had a feeling he was going to have a caller, and he was going to have to be well prepared, lest his life be taken."

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

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."

Astounded: Day 11

Word Count: 66,012

Summary of Events:

Penrod met with the man who'd bought Mr. Vaughan's cattle and found the man more than willing to legally buy the cattle from Jemima and give Penrod a couple for Jemima's brother to keep. Jemima helped Penrod put the cattle away and then got dressed to go to town and open a bank account in which to put the money from the sale. Penrod was impressed by Jemima's confidence in the bank, and got upset at one of the men in town whose morals he disliked who tried to flatter Jemima. Jemima compared Penrod and her father and thought about how much they were alike and how she'd much rather marry Penrod than Mr. Bateman. Penrod received a letter from his fiancée and was then sent to get the doctor for Mr. Plumley, albeit too late.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Sliding his finger under the flap, Penrod broke the seal and opened the letter. It was another one of Susanna's, and he felt it'd come too quickly to be a response to the letter he'd last sent to her.

Unfolding the paper, Penrod looked on Susanna's neat and looping script, elegant and well-written, evidence of her mother's emphasis on good and proper education being given to her children despite the lack of a school in the area.

Dearest Penrod,

I'm writing to tell you that positively the worst thing has happened for me. Father approved of Mildred courting Mr. Griffith Sissons, the young hand Mr. Primrose hired to replace you. The two of them have been positively besotted since they first set eyes on each other, and now Mr. Sissons is coming over to dinner and everything.

I have been positively desperate in my longing to see you again as it is, but I've solaced myself that your return to wed me this summer would come soon enough, but now it is that I cannot stand it, I absolutely must see you again before summer comes.

Father says that I can wait, and that I should, as none of the boys can be spared to escort me, and being as Mother still has Mary to school, along with Irene somewhat, although she's pretty much learned everything, she can't either, but I absolutely must, and being as I am going to see my fiancé I really don't think that I need an escort.

I have decided, though, that I will not come in all due haste, as much as my heart begs me to do so, I am instead going to enforce upon myself a greater patience, and I will come to visit you the week before Easter.

I also think it would be wise for us to get together and discuss some of the affairs regarding our wedding, such as what date we should like to be wed on, and how we should be transporting all of my things to your residence.

I do desperately look forward to the week before Easter and hope that we will be able to have an immensely enjoyable time together for the last time before it comes to pass that we will be wed, which it is that I greatly anticipate.

Sincerely with all my love,

Susanna

Shifting his jaw, Penrod refolded the letter. Right. He was getting married this summer. He needed to find a place to live. He couldn't share this place with Mr. Bateman and Susanna. She'd detest the idea.

He was also pretty sure Susanna wouldn't like to live in a house attached to a barn either, she would want to live in a proper house, so Penrod could leave Mr. Bateman in this place and go find one of his own."

Astounded: Day 10

Word Count: 60,005

Summary of Events:

Jemima thought about Penrod and how, in all truth, she really wanted to marry him. Penrod was out looking around in the woods, thought he was being followed, discovered he was, and successfully arrested the man he was certain was his attacker; when he returned to Verdant, though, he found Mr. Bateman was away visiting Jemima again. Jemima was disinterestedly listening to Mr. Bateman tell his life story when Penrod rode up furious and tore a strip out of Mr. Bateman for leaving the town unguarded, going against orders Penrod had given him. Penrod interviewed Mr. Hindley, the man who had, indeed, been a part of the attack on him, and learned some valuable information. Jemima told Penrod to be a little easier on Mr. Bateman and had her suspicions aroused that Penrod was trying to get her and Mr. Bateman married.

Excerpt of the Day:

""Tell me what you did, heard, and observed on the thirteenth of August last year," Penrod said.

"I got up at sunrise, as usual, and had biscuits, eggs, and sausage for breakfast," Mr. Hindley replied. "And then I went out to check the stock."

"There was nothing particularly significant heard in the morning conversation, or did you eat alone?" Penrod asked.

"No, there was nothing significant," Mr. Hindley replied. "A couple of men were going to head out west to spell the men already out there."

"Who were the men they were going to spell?" Penrod asked.

"Arntzen, Greene, Threlfal, Roland, Whenam, and Simants," Mr. Hindley replied.

"When had those men gone out?" Penrod asked.

"The week before," Mr. Hindley replied.

"Do you recall anything significant about their departure?" Penrod asked.

"No," Mr. Hindley replied.

"They didn't mention any plans for catching rustlers?" Penrod asked.

"No," Mr. Hindley replied.

"Did they bring the horse back?" Penrod asked.

"I didn't see 'em get back, I just saw 'em around, and then I went in the barn to ask the boss a question and I saw the new horse, and then I saw him fillin' out the bill of sale for it," Mr. Hindley replied. "I thought it was odd, he usually made sure the bill of sale was written up for anything he bought before he brought it home. He didn't tell me who we'd bought the horse from when I asked either."

"What are the full names of the six men who came back that day?" Penrod asked.

"Elmer Arntzen, Robert Greene, Louis Threlfal, Albert Roland, Jules Whenam, and Clovis Simants," Mr. Hindley replied.

"Did you notice any black cattle around the yard?" Penrod asked.

"No," Mr. Hindley replied. "Didn't notice any black cattle until they were sold a couple'a weeks later."

"Who bought them?" Penrod asked.

"Lionel Fringe," Mr. Hindley replied.

"And who is he?" Penrod asked.

"Owner of Bar E Angus Ranch," Mr. Hindley replied.

"Near Sheridan?" Penrod asked.

"Yes," Mr. Hindley replied.

"I would presume the Angus he runs are black," Penrod said.

"Yes sir," Mr. Hindley replied.

"You didn't ask Mr. Albers where the black cattle came from, did you," Penrod said.

"No," Mr. Hindley replied. "It didn't matter to me."

"When did you hear that Mr. Vaughan was no longer proving to be a bother to Mr. Albers?" Penrod asked.

"I didn't find out until the roundup when I never saw him," Mr. Hindley replied. "We usually saw him at least once on our roundup, I asked and they said he'd gone to the big roundup in the sky."

"You didn't suspect anything?" Penrod asked.

"I knew what they meant," Mr. Hindley replied. "Isn't the first time."

"Oh it isn't?" Penrod asked.

"I'm not tellin' you about those times," Mr. Hindley said. "You only want to know about this one, it's all you're gettin', you can dig the rest out of them if you want to know.""

Astounded: Day 9

Word Count: 54,020

Summary of Events:

Jemima thought about Penrod, his apology, and what she felt about him. Penrod went and got the mail, which included a letter from his fiancée that left him feeling uncomfortable; he got word from the mayor that a deputy was coming and then went to visit Jemima and talked with her about his visit to the ranch near Sheridan. Jemima was then visited by the new deputy, whom she couldn't say she entirely liked. Penrod returned from investigation to find the new deputy wasn't in the office like he'd expected, instead . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"Penrod looked up and saw Mr. Bateman on his sleek, sidestepping chestnut heading toward him. He had a somewhat dreamy looking smile on his face and seemed completely oblivious to Penrod's presence as he dismounted.

"What called you out of the office?" Penrod asked flatly, inclined to think he wouldn't be pleased with the answer.

Mr. Bateman startled. "Oh! Sheriff! I didn't see you there! You're back already?"

"I am," Penrod replied.

"Things didn't go so well?" Mr. Bateman asked.

"No, they went fine," Penrod replied. "I'm not just not one who appreciates being ignored."

"I'm not ignoring you," Mr. Bateman said, looking astonished.

"I asked you a question," Penrod replied. "And you've yet to answer it."

"What question?" Mr. Bateman asked.

"What called you out of the office?"

"Nothing," Mr. Bateman replied.

"Then why did you leave?" Penrod asked.

"Sitting around in a rather bare office all day isn't terribly entertaining," Mr. Bateman replied.

"Where did you go?" Penrod asked.

"I went visiting," Mr. Bateman replied. "Might as well get to know people in the area."

"Who did you visit?" Penrod asked.

"You seem awfully suspicious," Mr. Bateman said.

Penrod crossed his arms and glared firmly at the young man in lieu of a response.

"I found a trail through the woods, I thought it was kind of suspicious at first, but the I found it led to a house," Mr. Bateman replied. "She said her name was Miss Jemima Vaughan."

A wave of fury and rage unlike Penrod had ever known before swelled through him at the mention of her name. He wanted to grab Mr. Bateman and give him a beating, and yet he hadn't the faintest idea why.

Inhaling several deep gulps of air, Penrod suppressed the rage and managed to ask with a relative calmness: "And what did you learn from her?"

"Not much, mostly where she's from and whatnot," Mr. Bateman replied. "Well, other than the fact that she's beautiful. I've a mind to marry her if she's willing, although she didn't seem to be terribly interested in me, she didn't look at me the entire time, and she seemed slightly uncomfortable."

Penrod found himself feeling pleased, but he said nothing. He didn't entirely know what was coming over him anyways.

"She said she knew you, too," Mr. Bateman said. "She's so beautiful, though. I've never seen such gorgeous blonde hair. I can't imagine what it looks like down."

"Good," Penrod replied firmly. "Don't."

"What, you want to marry her?" Mr. Bateman asked.

Penrod startled and looked at Mr. Bateman aghast. "Of course not! I've got my own fiancée I'll be marrying this summer!"

"Well then why shouldn't I dream of Miss Vaughan?" Mr. Bateman asked.

"Because you have better things to do," Penrod replied. "Like making sure that law and order is being upheld in this town. As calm as it is now, I have a mind it's going to waken like a spring bear.""