Don't Tamper with Horses

...Continued from November 7.

Half a dozen citizens gathered in the stable. The bartender stood firmly, front and center, with determination in his stern face. Three other men looked uncertain as they stood beside a stall. They looked ready to bolt. A wrinkled woman of at least sixty years of age frowned up at Moss, holding a Bible in one hand and the hand of a woman about forty in the other. "I am Sarah Hadley. Mr. Hayes, I dearly hope you aren't planning to get all our citizens shot up," she said sternly. "Adelia and I are here to make certain nobody goes off half-cocked. I agree that we have to do something, but we must do something smart." Beside her, Adelia nodded.

Moss gave her a half-grin, blinking as his split lip pulled. "You're sure right. I ain't asking none of you to join me in a head-to-head fight. That's stupid. What I am asking is that each of you folks be ready to take on one man. We'll split them up and get them one at a time."

"Even one-on-one they're too strong," one of the men said, leaning against the wall. "We're not gunmen. We can't shoot guns out of outlaws' hands like you and Annie Oakley."

Moss nodded. "So that's our first step. We've got to make tough fighters as gentle as baby calves."

"And you've got that answer too, don't you."

"I do," Moss said, ignoring the sarcasm. He turned to the women. "Ma'ams, do you have ipecac in your homes?"

"Yes, most of the women in Far 'Nuff have some." She broke out into a grin that took decades off her appearance. "Mr. Hayes, that is smart."

The bartender huffed nervously. "So we get them pukin'? Just how are we going to give all of Deveney's gang ipecac?"

Moss's grin stretched his lip again. "That's where you come in, Jim. We're going to spike all the whiskey with ipecac." He turned to include all six of his audience. "Better spread the word. Far 'Nuff's whiskey will be off-limits unless you want to lose your breakfast."

...To be continued