The barn doors slid open soundlessly, revealing the complete and utter chaos that he had been sent to fix.

“I told the Sheriff if he didn’t do something about these fools I was going to kill them dead and I mean to keep my word.”

“Please ma’am calm down. I’m Sheldon James and I work for the Sheriff. He asked me to find your horse thieves. I followed this man into your barn. I will take it from here. Whatever you do don’t shoot him or else you will make matters worse for yourself.”

“I ain’t gonna take it anymore. He’s gonna tell me where he took my other horses and then I’m going to end his life.”

“Shelly. That’s your name isn’t it.”

“Yes. Shelly Rachel Wilson. The woman who is fed up with these criminals.”

“I know you are mad Shelly, but you can’t shoot him”

“You see... he said you can’t shoot me. Tell this crazy lady she can’t shoot me. It’s against the law.”

“I told you to shut your trap. Ain’t no one doing anything lawful tonight. But if I have my way… justice will be served.”

“Please Shelly I give you my word that these men are not going to get away with what they have done to you. And, this is not the only one. It is a gang of thieves stealing your horses. Killing this man will only draw attention to you. You don’t want that kind of attention.”

Shelly thought for a brief second and then put her gun to her side.

“Let me do my job, and I’ll take him to jail. We’ll round up the other men and you’ll get your horses back.”

“Fine, but you had better do it quick before my mercy runs out.”

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Shelly had just about loaded up the last of her crafts onto her wagon when the dog barked loudly. She looked up to see a dust cloud and images of two men on horseback. Behind them were three horses she recognized as her own.

When the dust settled, she stepped away from her chore and focused on the Sheriff and the man she recognized from the night in the barn.

“Sheriff. I see you found my horses.”

“I told you I would find them for you. There’s no need to be running around with an itchy trigger finger.”

“Well they look pretty thin, but I am sure glad to have them back. I must thank your deputy for his hard work and quick thinking. If he hadn’t shown up when he did, that boy would have died.”

“It’s all in day’s work Ma’am. I’ll take the horses to the stable, so they can adjust to being back home… where they should be.” The young deputy said and nodded.

“I’d say you are lucky that Sheldon showed up when he did. From what he tells me there were more men in the woods that night. Had they heard a gunshot, you may have been in more trouble than you could get yourself out of. I still say you need a man around these parts…”

“I could stay for a few days… just to be sure you are safe.” Sheldon said and smiled.

The End

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Thanks for Reading!

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Thanks to @snook for this super cool gif!