Clear Stone, Wyoming: THE TRAVELER #4

The deputy sheriff had a craggy face with scraggly black hair and mustache. He had his chair leaned back and his arms folded around his rotund belly. His boots were plopped up on the desk as if everything was right in the world.
"What can I do for you, stranger?"
"My name is Jed Jenkins. I'm here to find out what you're planning on doing about those hooligans and ruffians that are coming to your town? Your people are going to be tormented and terrorized by them. They have no morals at all and don't care who they hurt."
“I don't want to get killed. Besides they'll be moving on in a couple days. Or they might just ride straight through after they have a drink"
"Who elected you deputy?"
"No one. The sheriff was elected. He hired me. I work for him."
"Where is the sheriff?"
"He's out of town delivering a prisoner to Hayes City. Won't be back for a week or so."
"So you're just going to sit there and let those men take over the town and possibly kill someone?"
"As I told you, I plan on living long enough to see my kids grow up."
I looked him in the eye. "I would recommend you turn in your badge and find something else to do.