“As I was trying to tell you, on that ship of mine we are taught about bio matrix reformation.”

“I’m quite impressed Yoland. It’s not normally known about.”

Yoland stopped as she saw the old style frontier town.

“Why are we on Earth in the nineteenth century?” she asked in horror.

“Look at the three moons’. This is Walli on the planet Doran. About five years ago, I made friends with the sheriff. I just want to see him again.”

Yoland shuddered.

“It looks pretty unsafe to me,” she commented.

Just ahead, down the dusty main street, tall wooden buildings stood against the bright sky. Hotels, bars and the town jail stood on that famous thoroughfare. Beautiful, brown horses were tied up outside.

“I suppose he will be at the jail,” Jerrix said shaking him.

“Are you sure that you are okay?”

“Stop nattering Yoland. Like the ship I have to run myself in.”
“Oh I see. Well, let’s go to the jail then.”

As they approached the rowdy bar, a shot rang out followed by an armed man running into view. Jerrix saw the dusty clothes and white cowboy hat quite clearly. He also saw the six-shooter.

“Hit the dirt,” the cat yelled fearing another bullet.”

The gunman ignored them and mounting a horse, rode into the distance. They scrambled up and Jerrix sprinted inside the bar. When she joined him, they saw a bleeding man lying upon the floor. The clientele mostly sat drinking as a doctor attended.

“Sheriff Mathew,” Jerrix said reaching him.
The injured man looked up, squinting.

“Jerrix. Silly time for you to turn up.”

“Don’t speak. How is he doing doc?”

The medical man, dressed in black clothes, shook his head.
The cat knelt at his friend’s side.

“I told you to retire mate.”

The injured man pulled off his badge and held it for the cat,
“I’m deputising you Jerrix. You are now sheriff. Find the killer for me...”

His eyes rolled and closed as life left his body. The cat pinned the badge to his dark blue cloak and stood up.

“You heard my late friend. I’m now sheriff. I want to know what you all saw.”

The barman tapped his shoulder. Turning around, Jerrix regarded the tall, dark haired gent.

“It looked like one of the Jerry brother's sheriff. Mathew was drinking with me when he burst in and shot him in the back.”
Jerrix thanked him.

“Anyone else?”

There was only silence.

Jerrix shook his head and marched out heading for the town jail. As Yoland caught up, he hissed, “Whoever did this is a dead man.”

“I can understand your ire, but surely this is no way to live safely.”

The cat stopped.

“Are you telling me you wish to leave?”

“Of course not Jerrix. I just don’t want you to lose another life.”

“Thanks for the concern Yoland. Now let’s see what our deputies are like.”

He marched into the jail and saw an old gent sitting upon a chair holding a loaded shotgun. Another empty chair sat at the far side.
“Who might you be?” he asked noting the badge.

“Jerrix Tau mate. Who’s that in the cell?”

“Ian Jerry mate. Sleeping it off.”

“Wake him up now,” Jerrix demanded.

“I see the badge mister but I don’t take orders from you.”

The cat shook with rage.

“Mathews is dead and I think this rogue had something to do with it.”

“Oh I see,” the deputy replied. “Why did you not say so?

“I’m telling you now,” Jerrix replied.

The gent stood and slowly unlocked the door before stepping aside.

The cat marched in and slapped the sleeping man’s face.

“Wake up you scoundrel.”

The young thin prisoner, dressed in dark frilly top and trousers woke with a start.

“Hey, lay off sheriff.”

The cat held him tightly by the throat.

“Why did your brother have Mathew killed?”

The young man looked quite shocked.

“He would never do that. Tell him Rawlings. I’m only here for drinking too much.”

Jerrix released him and turning, faced the grey haired deputy.

“Is that right?”

“Sure is sheriff. The Jerry brothers may be rowdy, but they ain’t no killers.”

In desperation now, Jerrix glanced at Yoland for support.

“You could have been lied to,” she suggested.

The cat pushed his way out of the cell and ordered it locked. He spotted the rail of weapon belts and pulled one on. He examined the six-shooter as if contemplating using it.

“This is about revenge you know,” Yoland warned him. “What happened to justice?”

“There is a time and place for everything Yoland. This is personal.”

“Oh I can see that my friend,” she commented.

“Who told you it was a Jerry brother?” Rawlings asked.

“The barman did.”

“If I were you,” Rawlings told him. “I would go back there and demand the truth.”

The cat gazed at him and nodded.

“Come on Yoland. I’ll beat the truth out of him if necessary.”

The annoyed feline walked up the dusty street and pushed open the half size doors of the bar. As everyone looked, he marched up to the bar and slammed his paw upon it.

“You liar. The Jerry brothers did not kill my friend. If you don’t cough up, I’ll blow your brains out.”

“That’s murder sheriff,” one of the drinkers said.

The cat ignored him.

“So what will it be barman?”

The tall owner seemed to think it over as Jerrix fingered his holster.

Rather coolly, the barman turned and shouted, “Molly. Get in here.”

As a younger woman dressed in a large woolly outfit walked behind the bar, the owner indicated that Jerrix should follow.

As he was led into a rear room, Yoland followed.

She saw that it was a rather small living area with simple bed and cooking facility.

“Okay sheriff you win. Truth is I was in here when Mathew was shot.”

“Who was running the bar?” Yoland asked.

“Callum was. He is the blacksmith.”

Jerrix thought back.

“I did not see him.”

“He slipped out the back sheriff. Thought better of getting into trouble.”

“Very well barman. I’ll speak to this Callum. Pray that he confirms your story.”

With that threatening statement, the cat and Yoland walked away.

“I think he is telling the truth now Jerrix. So don’t shoot this Callum.”

“I have no intention of doing so Yoland. We will get to the bottom of this right now.”
---
They found the blacksmith working happily inside his workshop, lazily shoeing a brown-skinned horse. Yoland glanced at his young, topless well-muscled body. She noted the brown trousers with frills.

“You Callum?” she asked pleasantly.

“What if I am,” he replied without looking up.

“I’m Jerrix the new sheriff. You saw Mathew killed.”

The blacksmith stopped, patting the horse lightly.

“Yeah I was there mate. What do you want to know?”

The cat smiled.

“Now we are getting somewhere. Did you recognise the gunman?”

“Actually no. Never seen him before.”

“I take it this is a small neighbourhood?” Yoland asked.

“Pretty small.”

“So this killer does not live here,” she continued.

“That’s right mam. Probably came from the plains.”

“Many killers there?” Jerrix asked casually.

“Quite a few sheriff. At least a dozen out there. Travelling ain’t safe anymore.”

“I believe him,” Yoland said confidently.

“So do I,” the cat replied.

“Do us a favour Callum. If you see this man again let me know.”

“Sure thing sheriff.”

They walked off towards the town jail where Deputy Rawlings waited.

“Find out anything?” the deputy asked.

“Not much,” Jerrix confessed. How is our prisoner?”

“Ready to leave,” Ian replied.

“You’ll go in the morning,” the cat told him.

“Oh great,” Yoland muttered.

“How about me?” Rawlings asked.

“You go home now. We will look after the prisoner. See you in the morning.”

The old deputy placed the shotgun inside the weapons rack and hobbled outside.

The cat sat down.

“Take a seat Yoland. It may be a rather long night.”

She sat on the far side and folded her arms.

“Cheer up Yoland. Your security duties must have been just as boring.”

“Oh it’s not that Jerrix. I’m just afraid of being filled with lead.”

The cat glanced at her and smiled.

Soon after sunset, they heard wolves crying from the distance. Their prisoner had fallen asleep, looking forward to his forthcoming release.

“Sounds fairly quiet out there,” Yoland commented.

“I want it that way. Makes listening quite easy.”

“You have a plan don’t you?”

“Oh I may have. Let’s just see shall we?”

The hours passed slowly, as sounds of animals drifted through the air. Jerrix suddenly heard hooves pounding toward them. He pulled his weapon and leapt up.

“Get ready Yoland. This could be interesting.”

The former guard produced her laser pistol and stood beside the closed door. The sounds stopped.

“They may just be passing through,” Yoland whispered.

“I sure hope so.”

Moments later, the rear wall was blasted open by dynamite and a startled Ian was dragged outside. Yoland and Jerrix dashed out the front, just in time to see their man riding into the distance with three others.

“That’s all we need,” the cat hissed. “They made mugs of us.”

“So who knew about him I wonder?”

The cat glanced at her.

“Surely everyone can’t be lying to us?”

“Unless everyone is dead scared of the Jerry’s,” she replied.

They padded back inside the wrecked jailhouse as people came out of the buildings to investigate.

“Some damn mess,” the cat said.

At that moment, old Rawlings hobbled back in.

“Too late my friend,” the cat said grimly. “The bird has fled the cage.”

“No worries sheriff,” the old gent said. “We’ll have it fixed up before morning.”

“Glad to hear it. I find this terribly embarrassing.”

“At least you are alive,” Rawlings said. “You should think yourself lucky.”

The cat grinned as the old gent left once more.

“Come on Yoland, time for bed,” he said sitting himself down. “These chairs will do.”

Neither one of them slept very well sitting up. When morning came, they were both quite knackered.

Old Rawlings arrived with a squad of builders.

“Think you can put that right?” he asked.

“Sure thing deputy. A couple of hours should do it. Morning sheriff.”

He nodded and decided fresh air was far better than sitting there.
He left the builders to it as Yoland joined him.

“If you are thinking of going after them don’t bother,” she warned him. “There is far too many.”

“I was thinking of that,” he admitted.

“Thought so.”

“Just a short trek, promise.”

“We had better find a horse then,” she suggested.

“You can ride?”

“Of course I can. How do you think I kept in shape?”

He was really surprised by this and they visited the blacksmith once more. As usual, he was topless and working away.

“Morning sheriff,” Callum said cheerily. “Hear you had some trouble.”

“Sure did. We need two mounts. Can you help?”

The blacksmith stopped his work and led them to a side shed. Inside were four waiting horses.

“Take your pick sheriff. Just don’t lose them.”

Yoland chose the black steed while the cat went for a brown model. They led the animals out and climbed on board. Digging their knees in, the horses galloped out of town.