Dominion: Frozen Trail. (Seven)

It wasn't until they had put sixteen miles between them and Malford that the snowfall had slowed considerably, the path leading to Thorneridge was still quite frozen. They rode the slow winding trail making their way into Mineral Valley, the town of Pyrite was the same distance as Thorneridge, and there, they could bed the animals and fetch a hot meal and better prepare themselves for Thorneridge, and the marshal in Pyrite was an old acquaintance of the Forge brothers, but unlike the one in Thorneridge, Marshal Remy Robichau wasn't an ally, in fact he was known for his hatred of them, so any information that he could provide would not be biased.

They rode into Pyrite a full four hours ahead of the new storm that was blowing in from the northeast, now there were three of them and although Billy Two Trees was concerned about being hung as an Indian horse thief, Elias assured him that there was no bounty on his head. Pyrite was a clean presentable little town, with a saloon, cafe, hotel, a barber and the usual shops and business's, and what helped to retain the peaceful setting was most outlaws and highwaymen avoided it like the plague, as it was the preferred watering hole for Pinkerton's and Lawmen from miles around, and Marshal Remy Robichau was a large angry Cajun man, and was known to be an iron fisted, no nonsense lawdog, who didn't tolerate the brutish behavior of trail bums and cowboys. 

He was tall, like Elias, well over six foot two, broad shouldered, and had a lean, mean appearance, he had long dark hair and steel blue eyes that sat beneath a low crowned wide brimmed black hat, and a single army colt which hung at his side. He was an intimidating man, and as they rode up in front of his office, and got off their horses and tethered them, he'd spotted Elias immediately and came walking across the street to greet them. He reached out to take the hand of Elias Crowe, all the while studying Blind Dog and Billy Two Trees suspiciously. He turned to look at the bodies of William Stanhope and Joe Shine, and then turned to Elias once again.

William Stanhope and Joe Shine, I'll get the bounty for you from the city council in the morning." He looked back up at Elias. "Where's Frog Barret then?"

"He tried to backshoot Blind Dog and Billy stuck him with a knife, he's buzzard food now, I reckon." Elias told him with a straight face.

"Well, get these animals over to the Toussaint Livery, and I'll get some of the boys to take these bodies to the undertaker. Then you can all join me over at Uncle Sam's Saloon for a drink." He smiled, nodding toward Billy. "You can come too Billy, hell ol Frog was a worthless sack of shit anyway, so you did the world a favor." He laughed, nodding toward the Saloon.

 They took their horses the livery where they met Abel Toussaint who then unloaded their animals and even gave them a place to store their saddles and tack, they all grabbed their saddlebags and headed for the Golden Palace. They walked slowly taking in the sights of the main street of Pyrite, the whole town was clean and well-kept, there was a hotel and a boarding house with baths, a barber shop, general store and cafe, and then of course there was Uncle Sam's Saloon. When they pushed their way through the double swinging doors the room was large and bustling with energy, there were elegant chandeliers lit with oil lamps hanging from the ceiling, they soon caught the eyes of Marshal Remy Robichau, he motioned from each of them to sit at his table, where he was drinking coffee but poured each of his guests a glass of whiskey.

"You know Elias, I never expected to see you riding with ol Blind Dog Butler, let alone Billy Two Trees, but if you trust them that's good enough for me, and as for them low down Forge Brothers, they ain't too far away, when word gets out that you killed William Stanhope, they may not be waiting for you to find them, they have a couple of more fellows riding with them by now, from what I hear Zane Grimm and Josh Clay. Zane tested me awhile back, but I run his ass off, don't know much about Josh Clay, but I hear he's fair with a gun, if they're smart, they'll keep they're asses over in Thorneridge, but smart, ain't never been their long suit. They'll be looking for you, because they don't know any better." Remy said.

Elias eyes looked first at Blind Dog and then at Billy.

"Well, I can't speak for these two, but if the Forge Brothers come for me? That'll be their mistake, those other two? I'll deal with them if the time comes."

Elias took another drink of whiskey, his eyes suddenly shifted toward the door as two men came walking in carrying guns. both were dirty looking, with long shaggy, bristled hair, their unshaved faces, looked worn and leathered, like they had been on the trail for months without a bath, the guns looked heavy on their hips, their hands twitching at their sides impatiently, their eyes searching the crowd as if looking for someone in particular. Remy turned in his seat, quickly looking both men up and down with cold calculating eyes, he abruptly rose to his feet. Elias, Butler and Billy Two Trees instinctively stood up to back his play.  Remy calmly walked over to greet the two men. 

Zane Grimm turned to face them fully, his dark eyes staring intently at Elias, his fingers tapping nervously at his pistol grip.

"Well, Elias Crowe." Zane said. "I guess it ain't hard to find a snake if you kick over enough rocks."

"Zane, Josh, you're going to have to leave those guns with my deputies, you'll get them back when you leave, you know the rules. no guns in the city limits unless you're wearing a badge." He warned.

Zane Grimm turned to face him, but Josh Clay looked uncertain, Remy's eyes stared them down as Elias walked up beside him, Grimm scowled, his eyes moving quickly between Remy Robichau and Elias Crowe. He went for the gun as Remy's shot ripped through his right forearm causing him to stagger backward dropping his gun, Josh Clay held his hands up realizing that he was seriously out numbered. Remy Robichau's two deputies came in a minute later, he told them to take them both into custody and to take his and Josh Clays weapons. They took them down to the jail at gunpoint, The Pyrite Jail was the biggest in four counties, it boasted a large main office area, and Jail cells kept in a separate locked room, they led Zane Grimm and Josh Clay down the long hall and locked them in two cells at opposite ends of the long hallway, their guns locked in a cabinet in the main office. Clearly there was no way out. one stayed to watch over them while the other deputy went for the doctor. Remy stood in front of the closed cell door looking angrily down at Josh Clay, he shifted uncomfortably on the bed, there was a nervous glint in his eyes, his growing fear betraying him. 

"We know you and Zane have been riding with the Forge's, and I know for a fact that they are close by, you tell me where they are right now Josh Clay, You've been ridin' with murderers and horse thieves son, they rape and kill women and children, and are scoundrels of the lowest order. Now if I am to assume you are like them, well then Mr. Clay, this isn't going to end well for you or your friend Zane over there." Remy warned.

"Orson and Amel Forge are my friends. I can't tell you where they are." Clay countered.

"Now, listen here, son."  Remy's voice fell to a growling whisper. "if you pledge allegiance, and align yourself with such scum, then you will be found guilty of their crimes, and you will hang for them. Now make no mistake, Orson and Amel Forge will be found out, and they are going to die, by Elias Crowe's hand, by my hand, or at the end of a rope with a noose around their necks, but for their crimes, die they shall."

Elias Crowe appeared over his right shoulder and leaned in whispering, Remy Robichau listened intently. Elias turned and walked out.

"Well, you can just sit here Mr. Clay, and wait for fate to do its job, Judge Collins will be back the day after tomorrow, you can plead your case to him. It would appear circumstances have changed, and we no longer require your cooperation. God be with you, son."

Elias, was waiting for him in his office, Ben, Abel Toussaint's son, who had just returned from a trip to Beaverton pass near Thorneridge, on the way back he'd picked up the trail of the Forge Brothers, Zane Grimm and Josh Clay. They'd finally made camp just five miles to the northeast of Pyrite.  When Grimm and Clay left the small group he'd known in his gut that they were up to no good, so he followed them, when he'd heard what happened in the saloon and what happened after, he saw the badge and told Elias Crowe everything he knew. Upon hearing this, Remy and Elias went back to the saloon, where Blind Dog and Billy were waiting with young Ben Toussaint.

"Marshall Robichau." Ben said. "Them Forge Brothers are camped out near the notch at Sutters Creek by the stream, there are three cottonwoods, they're camped out right beneath them, well that's where they were when I followed those two fellers here."

"How far off is that storm that was following us in? can't be that far out by now, Sutter's Creek would be right in its path." Elias said.

"Yeah there were dark clouds comin in over the top of the peak right behind them, storm looked like it had a pretty good grump on, snow, rain, and the wind was kicking up too." Ben told them.

Remy rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"There ain't nothing out that way except cottonwood's, bur oaks, dirt and rocks, they're going to be looking for shelter soon, Nathan Potter has a small farm out there past the edge of town, he's the only one out that way, he'll probably put them up for the night for a price, and Orson Forge used to break horses for him so he knows them." Remy concluded.

He turned to Ben.

"Ben go help your pa get their horses ready for riding, and be quick about it son."

Ben Toussaint nodded and ran out the door. Remy turned to Elias.

"Nate Potter's place is a short ride from here, we should have plenty of time to get there and set up at the edge of his property, we could be waiting for them."

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