Second Harvest - Page 110/146

Following Buddy's eyes, Roy saw what the man was staring at. Roy kept the gun pointed at the sheriff. Parked in front of the sheriff's office sat a new horseless carriage. People were gathered around the machine.

"How much did you spend on that iron horse, piece of junk, Buddy?" Roy pushed the barrel between the sheriff's eyes thumping the bridge of the man's nose.

"It was, ah, ah gift."

"Horse apples Buddy. You have any papers associated with that contraption?"

Buddy slowly reached into the top drawer and fished some papers out. Roy snatched them from his hand. Grabbing a pair of handcuffs off the desk, Roy thrust them at Buddy.

"Put those on."

The sheriff started to protest, but Roy tapped the gun barrel to the man's forehead, leaving a red mark. Roy pulled the hammer back on the pistol.

"Put them on now, Buddy."

Once the cuffs were locked, Roy released the hammer on the pistol and tucked it into his pants. Roy then grabbed Buddy by his ear and started twisting it. Buddy cried out, but Roy dragged the man out of the office by his ear.

People stared in disbelief as Roy pulled Buddy in the direction of the bank. As Buddy staggered screaming in pain, Roy tightened his grip and walked toward the bank. When Roy forced the door open again, the bang of the front doors to the bank caused the patrons to jump once more. Roy walked straight back to the president's office and roughly tossed Buddy into one of the nearby chairs. Buddy began rubbing his sore ear with shackled hands.

"What's this all about Roy? Have you gone mad? Sheriff, are you okay?"

Roy pulled the six shooters out, dumping the bullets out of each gun and laid everything on Grover's desk. Then he pulled the sheriff's badge out and threw it down on the desk, the torn flap still attached.

"He isn't the sheriff any more Grover. He's a criminal." Roy tossed the automobile papers down on the desk. "Seems Buddy here, bought himself fancy new duds and one of them iron horse machines with the bank's money."

Mr. Matting looked at Sheriff Dinkins in disbelief. "Buddy, is this right?"

"That's not the truth Mr. Matting. I only borrowed a little bit."

"Shut your mouth Buddy!" Roy put his angry face into the sheriff. "Did you know that your stupid stunt nearly cost me my life and that of Sara and her boys. I suggest you start talking about where that money went."

"Roy, the sheriff came to me about two weeks ago and purchased the title to nearly a hundred acres of land. He said he came into some money from family that died."