Part 1
Dogs barked, mothers scooped up young children, and men retreated into the shadows. Fear overtook the small western town as three dark men clad in black, their eyes covered by their hats, made their way through town.
Whispered words spread down the street like wildfire.
"It’s them!"
"It’s the Dark Banditos!"
"I heard they’ve killed several men."
"Someone needs to get the sheriff."
Smiling inwardly, they heard it all. Satisfaction in knowing their reputations preceded them was their reward.
Halfway down the street, a tall blonde man stepped in the middle of the street squaring off against the three men on horseback.
In a deep voice, the tallest of the three said, "We’re looking for the school house."
"There’s nothing there for you."
"Where we go is none of your concern."
The tall blonde pushed his coat to the side to reveal his six-shooter and the silver star. "I’m Sheriff Carter and this is my town. What goes on in it IS my concern. Now clear out. We don’t need the likes of you here."
"Not before we finish what we came here for."
The sheriff started to draw his gun but the other two dark riders were faster.
"We don’t want any trouble, Sheriff," said the shorter of the group. We just want to see the school teacher."
"She doesn’t need the likes of you interfering with her day."
The other man fired a shot at the sheriff’s feet saying, "And she doesn’t need the likes of you protecting her."
From the door of the jail came a voice. "Let them pass, Nick. The school house is at the end of town," he said pointing in the direction of the school house.
The three men looked in that direction to see the schoolhouse standing quietly as if empty.
The sheriff looked to the man, "Yes sir, Mr. Littrell."
The taller of the men looked to him. "Thank you."
Sheriff Carter moved back to the jail as the three men moved on towards the schoolhouse. He said, "Why’d you tell them where it was? I could have taken them."
"Not before they killed you. Besides, there’s plenty of time for killing. Right now, I want them to know she’s MINE…BEFORE I have them killed."
