Chapter 3: Suspicious People

The Imp's Inn. A single man inside hard at work. The creak of a door on repeat around him, the creak stopping midway. The InnKeeper looked up to see what stopped his continuous background noise.

"Heya Giles, got a spare minute?" His brother spoke with a joking tone as he interrupts his brother's work. His brother, the sheriff of all people, he couldn't send him away to focus on work. And he knew that with the smile plastered on his face.

"Hello, Roger, what can I do for you today?". Giles Leaning over his counter. He asked in a dull tone hoping to avoid needless chatter.

"Ahh, Don't worry Giles I won't steal much of ya time. Now, those two that came by earlier. What did ya think of 'em?" Roger's brow narrowing as he ditches his casual joke like tone. Giles, rubbing his chin as he thought hard for an answer. Letting heavy breath, he shakes his head.

"I'm not sure. Those two there a complete mystery, the little one seems innocent, but when the little guy shot the man earlier. It was weird. He seemed upset for a moment. a little remorseful but got over it as if nothing happened." Giles borderline ranting as he spoke about Dipp to his brother.

"But do you think they're involved with-" Roger stopping as his brother shakes his head. "Then what about his buddy, did you think he was fishy at all?". Leaned over Giles counter as readies himself to hear his answer.

"That guy, he's a little scary. I don't have a clue why he follows his little animal friend around like a puppy, but I don't want to get him angry. His icy cold attitude sends shivers down your spine. I'd hate to be the guy to get him angry." Giles spoke with a deathly serious tone. "If anything I'd say keep an eye out for someone harassing them. I'd be worried for one of them snapping and going too far".

"Jeez Giles. Your freaky good at ready people ain'tcha. Well then, I'll head off and let you get back to work. Thanks for the advice". Roger, leaving the room in a more casual tone as excuses himself.

"Sheriff Hawthorne!" A plump man in overalls and blood sprawled over his clothes yells to Roger. A note in his hands, he rushes over to him with a step in his stride. "Mr Hawthorne, those people came back to the Butchery!. They were outraged, one of them told me to give you this". The butcher says with a shaken voice, passing the sheriff a crumpled letter. Taking the message from the shocked man, taking a second to gloss over it before crushing the page in his fist.

"Those-" Growling under his breath. Stopping himself from going on more, he looks to the man in front of him. "Jim. Head home and spend some time with your family, don't worry, I'll sort this out". Roger rests his hand on the man's shaking shoulder. Walking down the road, confidence in his step.

"Giles,'' He says pushing open the door to his brothers. An irritated Giles looks frustrated, staring back at hin. "I know you have work to do, but it's important. Tomorrow afternoon Juno's gang will come into town. I can't let them ruin this town, any ideas?". Roger asks in an emotional voice.

"Ahh, his short temper's finally overtaken him. If his goal is to scare us into doing what he wants, we can't allow it!" Giles says in a loud voice. — Hitting his counter with the bottom of his fist.

"I know, I know, they'll be here tomorrow night, but any authorities we call won't get here fast enough even if they listen to us, we'll-". Roger finds himself cut off by knocking at the broken door. To their surprise, the door swings open under their knock.

"Sorry for the interruption gentleman I couldn't help but overhear your predicament". A well dressed Oliver speaking, accompanied by his short master behind him. The two wearing well-fitted vest and dress shirts. "If you require manpower we would be willing to help" Oliver smiling as he speaks.

"What help would you two even be?" Roger asks in a frustrated tone. Roger, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to think of a way out of this mess.

"We can fight too. We have that guys gun!. We can help" Dipp yelling from Oliver's side. Looking up to Roger with the cutest eyes he could muster.

"Look, these guys aren't like that random guy. These guys are a proper gang. Experienced, if they shoot, it's to kill" Roger says, trying to deter the pair. He couldn't ask people he had only recently met to help him.

"Sheriff, we know the risks. But my master has told me he wishes to fight with you. I would accept his generosity if I were you". Oliver spoke as rough as he could without raising his voice, trying to persuade them. Roger and Giles looking at each in thought, With a nod from Giles a smile, sneaks its way onto Rogers' stern face.

"Well, if you want to help we'll take it. How about we head to my office, and we sort out a plan?" Roger asks them with a smile on his face and his hope in his voice. Oliver and Dipp nod in agreement, the trio head towards the door. "Well, Giles. I guess we'll get out of your hair". Roger said jokingly as the three walked out into the street underneath the orange sky. Dipp and Oliver dressed now dressed to impress notice that people smile as they walk past them. The disgusted look they'd encountered several times was nowhere around. Oliver and Dipp surprised when they stop without warning. Roger walks up to a well-worn building.

"This is your office?" Dipp asked, confused by the appearance. An uneven amount of bricks and wood made up the walls. Weathered Bricks littered the walls. The bars on the windows more rust than metal. Dipp and Oliver both looking in surprise at the un-maintained building's outside. Hopping the inside was in a better state

Roger, opening the worn door to his office. Oliver and Dipp both shocked by the state of the interior. Leaves and Dirt littered the floor. Creaky floorboards made up the majority of the building. In the corner of the darkroom was Roger's desk, loose paper cluttered the top of it. Behind the messy workstation was a bookshelf. The dust coating the books let the duo know that Roger wasn't a reader. Opposite to his depressing desk was a small cell, the bars of the cell covered in rust.

"I know it's a little sad, but this old building has what we need to" Pushing the dusty bookshelf while talking. Behind the bookshelf lied a cupboard built into the wall. Aged and worn, it was apparent that it had been there for as long as the building stood. Smiling roger opens the cabinet, revealing Roger's pride collection of confiscated weapons. Guns of all sizes. Pistols, rifles, shotguns, he had them all. "A lot of crooks come through town. This cupboard is what I like to call my 'Crook stash' I hide away their weapons. Take what you need. I've got all the rounds we'll need".

"This is quite impressive, with these arms you should fight off whatever comes your way". Oliver says, reaching for a rifle, inspecting the gun. Avoiding the trigger, he looks over the weapon trying to figure out how such a device works. Roger grabs a revolver by the barrel, passing it over to Dipp.

"Now I'm not sure how old you are or how good you are in a fight. You forest people are always hard to gauge, but I need you to know. This will be a serious fight. I can't have you hesitating or overthinking." Roger warning Dipp as he hangs the revolver in front of him. Dipp staring at the gun gives a heavy nod, gripping it tight. Oliver now believing figured out the weapon, aiming it at the floor. "You two should head out and make sure your good with your weapon. I'll start roughing up a plan". The two nodding in agreement walk towards the door.

"Mr Oliver. I'm not sure how to use this, last time was an accident" Dipp says quietly under his breath.

"That's alright. I'm quite sure I've figured out how these weapons work for the most part. We'll go somewhere more secluded and practice before tomorrow". Together the two head off to the outskirts of town, ready to hone their sharpshooting skills.

Back in Roger's depressing office, he sits alone at his desk. Looking over paperwork and moving bits of stray objects around to better plan, hoping to overcome the issue of manpower. Tapping the hardwood of the desk, looking over the map of the town. A grin on his face. 'If we can't fight them head-on then we'll have to use our heads'. Thinking to himself as he places objects choke points. Happy with the plan, he stands up and rushing out the door. If the idea was going to work, he had to act fast and start getting everything ready.