“Displaying a total lack of moral courage, Marshal Tipton has refused to even hold a hearing on the terrible events so recently transpired.
“Ollie Butrum, a man who is known not only for his prowess with a firearm, but a willingness to use it, demonstrated his skill and callousness when, with but little provocation, he shot down Billy Gilbert and Jeff Hodges, the two cowboys who now lie buried in the Fullerton Cemetery, many miles from their home.”
Putting the paper down, Fowler looked at the others. “Gentlemen, like it or not, this is what we are going to have to deal with, and we are going to be on our own. I’m afraid that it is exactly as Ian said. We aren’t going to be able to count on either Sheriff Hightower or Marshal Tipton for help.”
“Sounds to me like that newspaper fella—what’s his name?” Killian asked.
“Bryce. John Bryce,” Fowler replied.
“Yes. John Bryce. Sounds to me like he’s the only fella in town who has any gumption in him at all,” Killian said.
“Maybe so, but just talkin’ about all this ain’t gettin’ us nowhere,” Jennings said. “What we need to do is, we need to put our heads together and come up with an idea of what to do. We need some sort of a plan.”
“Well, ain’t that why we’re here?” Killian asked.
“Yeah, McCann, you called this meeting,” Tanner said. “Just what is it you have in mind? Or do you have any idee a’ tall?”
“I’ve been thinking about it,” McCann said, “and yes, I think I do have an idea. I believe we should all go into town at the same time, and when we come to the toll gate, refuse to pay the toll. If all of us stick together, they won’t be able to do anything about it,” McCann said.
“Now you’re talkin’,” Tanner said. “I’ve been sayin’ all along that if we was to all go together, there wouldn’t be nothin’ Denbigh could do to us.”
“I don’t know,” E.B. Fowler said. “I’ve been through the toll gate and the one thing I’ve noticed is, all the guards there have guns. I don’t have to tell you that, Ian, seeing as they killed two of your cows.”
“That’s not a problem. We’ll carry guns as well,” Frank Tanner said. He smiled, and rubbed his hands together
“No, Frank, no guns,” Ian said.
“No guns? What do you mean no guns? If they are armed, how are we going to fight them if we don’t have guns?” Frank asked. Frank Tanner pulled his pistol out and showed it to the others. “They don’t call the Colt an equalizer for nothin’, you know.”
“McCann is right. If we carry guns, there is sure to be shooting,” E.B. Fowler said. “And if there is shooting, someone is goin’ to get killed.”
“Yes, well, that’s generally what happens when you have a war,” Frank said. “And this is a war as sure as the one we just come through. I was at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and by God, we showed those Rebels a thing or two. If I wasn’t afeared of the Rebels, I ain’t about to be afeared of some Englishman and the polecats he’s got workin’ for him.”
“You forget, Frank, some of us were in those same battles,” Killian said.
“Then you know what I’m talkin’ about.”
“Only we was on the other side,” Killian added.
Tanner was quiet for a moment, then he nodded. “Yeah, well, we’re all on the same side now, ain’t we? All I’m tryin’ to say is, when the killin’ starts, we just need to make certain that nearly all the ones getting’ kilt are the ones on the other side.”
“It doesn’t have to be a war,” McCann said.
“Then you tell me what you’re talkin’ about, Ian,” Frank said. “Did you or did you not call this meeting after what happened to you when you tried to take your cows into the Indian agency?”
“I did.”
“And did you not just say that we should all go together?”
“Yes.”
“And what, exactly, are we supposed to do when we get to the tollgate? Get down on our knees and say, ‘Please, sir, can we pass?’”
“Not quite like that,” McCann said. “But I do think that if we present a united front, a group this large all refusing to pay the toll, there won’t be anything they can do about it. I don’t believe they would just start shooting us in cold blood.”
“What makes you think that?” Tanner asked. “They kilt them two cowboys for purt near no reason a’ tall. And don’t forget they kilt your two cows, and while it’s not the same thing as killin’ a person, it sure shows what kind of people they are.”
“Frank may have a point, Ian,” Jennings said. “I mean, more than likely Denbigh’s men wouldn’t start shootin’ us down in cold blood, but if they did take a mind to do it, oughten we to have some guns to defend ourselves?”
“If we have guns, it wouldn’t be in cold blood, would it?” McCann replied. “I know it takes some courage for you to do what I’m askin’ you to do, but I do believe our best chance is just to call their bluff.”
“Ian, let me ask you this,” Tanner said. “Did you think they would shoot your cows?”
“No, I didn’t have no idea a’ tall they would do somethin’ like that,” McCann admitted. “But cows aren’t people. I don’t think they would shoot a person down in cold blood.”
“Oh, no? What about what happened in town?” Killian asked. “Didn’t Butrum shoot those two strangers down in cold blood?”
