After a few more drinks I staggered out of the Rusty Nail and towards the stables. I don’t know if it was the death of the actor that affected me so, but I suddenly felt the urge to see Billy, just one more time. Something didn’t sit right with me, whether it was from the only words he ever spoke to me or the cryptic message I received from Gabriel.
“Is saving the boy really worth it?” I quoted the angel under my breath. “I’ve already saved the damn kid…”
It took me awhile, but I finally managed to make my way to the house where I left Billy. I’d had a little too much of whatever moonshine that bartender had supplied me with.
Knock. Knock. Hiccup. Knock.
“Is anyone there?” I asked, pounding on the door, “I… I said, is anyone there?”
No response. I could hear someone pacing back and forth, “Mr. Godwin? I’d like ta talk ta Billy.”
There it was again. I could hear someone behind the door. Still, I received nothing from the other side.
“Now, Mr. Godwin, ya don’ wanna go makin’ me angry,” I said with a hand on my pistol. “Plenty o’ men ‘ave tried that… they didn’t like what happened next—.”
“Pardon me, gunslinger,” said a man from behind. “I reckon you better still your hand, lest you want a bullet in the back o’ the head.”
I could feel the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed up to the back of my head. I’d experienced it a few times and it never did get any more pleasant.
“Ya got me, partner,” I mumbled with my hands in the air. “Don’t go doin’ nothin’ too crazy, ya hear?”
“That’s Sheriff, to a piece of scum like you,” the man said. “I heard what you were hollering. We don’t stand for that in this town.”
“Well then I’ll just pack up an’ leave.”
“Not like this you’re not,” he replied. “You stink like a man that’s been rolling in a whiskey barrel. I reckon you’ll do much less harm to this town if you’ve had a night to sleep it off in the drunk tank”
“Now that would be a foolish decision, Sheriff.”
“Indulge me, asshole,” Sheriff Madsen said as he cocked the hammer of his pistol. “Be decent enough about this an’ I might even let you walk outta here with your six-shooter.”
“Not bloody likely.”
“Now get movin’, we haven’t got all day.” The Sheriff said.
Even half drunk and stumbling I could’ve disarmed the Sheriff in the blink of an eye, fired off a couple shots and laid to rest anyone else that tried to stop me. That would’ve meant a quick getaway and left my questions for Billy Godwin unanswered.
The Sheriff led me to jail with his gun still pressed to my head. There was a slack-jawed yokel sitting behind a desk, his name prominently positioned for all to see. He was a real slimy looking young man, greased back hair and the patchiest beard I’d ever seen.
“Nice ta meet ya, Deputy Foreskin,” I said, barely able to control myself, ready to burst out in laughter.
“That’s Deputy Forsythe, asshole,” said the young man as he got up from his chair. “Right this way, Sheriff. I’ll treat ‘im real good. Some ol’-fashioned justice, ya know?”
“Better get close with wha’ever god ye pray ta… you’ll be seein’ ‘im soon ‘nuff.” I giggled.
“Big talk gunslinger,” Sheriff Madsen said as he pushed me towards the only cell in the jail. “You’re gonna sleep it off… an’ if we still got a problem in the mornin’, then you’re just gonna have to spend another night in the slammer.”
“Yeah, screw ya, too.”
“That’s the spirit,” he replied. “Get real comfortable… I reckon you’re gonna be here for a while.”
I knew the liquor was a bad idea from the second it passed my lips, but I was a lost cause. There wasn’t any coming back from the awful things I’ve seen in this life. Most of the times, the alcohol dulled my senses and allowed me a moment of peace. Other times, I’d wind up in places like this… more times than I’d care to admit.
“Oh, an’ I’ll be keepin’ your six-shooter. I’ve gotten mighty fond of it in this short while… think I’ll just have to keep it for myself.” said Sheriff Madsen with a grin.
I sprawled out on the grimy cot and rested my arms behind my head. If I was going to be here for awhile, I might as well catch up on my sleep.