Case File 2017.10.09
Alex sat at a table with a good view towards the upstairs area where his partner Howie had disappeared to with one of the saloon girls of Old Hallow. One of the few places still dotting the West in the late 1800's as it bordered on the turn of the century. He'd been keeping to his business, enjoying his drink, when a scream sounded upstairs and woman, followed by a man in pursit-- acting like a large wounded animal gave chase. The young woman stumbled down the stairs as Howie rushed after her, gun drawn and with a hair pin sticking out of his right eye. Attempting to shoot the gun, he only succeeded to make one of the liquor bottles behind the bar explode as he fell down the stairs and lost his gun. He pulled his knife, still in pursuit fo the girl that'd fled before him...her eyes focused on Alex, knowing he'd been with the other man prior, pleading for help. The matron of the saloon, Gwen Teller, didn't stand for the injury or disruption of her business...no one messed with one of her girls. So it was little surprise to Sheriff Winchester that while he was attempting to mediate the situation-- Gwen picked up the fallen gun and shot Howie to splatter the insides of his head around those within close proximity. Alex found it almost comical as he cursed Howie while the scene unfolded before him, but there wasn't much to say after Gwen shot him dead. Not much, but he was concerned about the young woman that'd only moments prior had been with Howie, something about her grabbed his attention and where perhaps he might not have spoken...he did check to the woman's health. Gwen made only minor apologies to the sheriff for the mess as she took Delilah away to check the girl over and calm her down from the incident. Left to clean up the mess of Howie's dead boddy, the Sheriff knew that he was one of Val DeWitt's boys and there's be an answering for Howie Wolcott's untimely death.
Night passed without further incident, Alex was tending to his steed, a black and white American Painted Horse, while the rest of the town went about its business for the day. Since Doc Sterling was outta town in Havensfield a few days ride east, care for the ill or injured fell to Miss Rhea Walsh in his absence. Gwen had brought Delilah in to be treated by the woman, it was fairly routine by this point-- girls being roughed up by the out of towners or even those same individuals with injuries after Miss Teller found out they'd roughed up one of her girls. A couple cracked ribs were the worst of the prior day's scuffle, but those were still hard to heal. Rhea informed Miss Teller that Delilah would need at least a couple fortnights to mend, and that didn't seem to phase the other woman...assuring that her girl would get the needed rest and then some as the two women collected themselves to head out back to the saloon. Outside a ruckus had started, Val DeWitt had come into town...calling the Sheriff out as he saw Howie's body in a pine box, demanding to have the individual responsible for this slight against him. Rhea followed the two women outside of the clinic as the yelling started, noticing Gwen stiffen at the sight of the stranger as Sheriff Winchester was attempting to mediate the situation.
Val didn't seem to believe the sheriff was the responsible party to killing his boy, even as the Winchester took the blame and stated the situation. Howie had tried to kill someone and he was put down, no one was claiming bounty-- Val could even take the body if he didn't want the man buried there...doing his best to advert any trouble. The tension rose and since Sheriff Winchester was sticking by his story, Val...not believing him promised to be back by night. It seemed he'd be leaving without incident as he road his horse out towards the gates, but he yelled back to the sheriff at that far distance as a shot rang out...and Sheriff Winchester was collapsing to a knee with an impossible shot. Gwen scrambled and to help the sheriff as well as zeroing her gaze on Alex that was close by to lend a hand while Delilah and Rhea hurried back in to help prep for treatment. Unfortunately, the sheriff was fading fast despite the fact that bystanders were on-hand to get him to care quickly. In his last breaths, Sheriff Winchester looked to Alex and named him Deputy...in turn becoming the new town's Sheriff for Old Hallow as he passed. Leaving the young man with the task of preparing to face his father, Val DeWitt, this evening when he returned.
