“I said shoot them!” she screamed, taking two steps back and looking for an exit, James thought.
James caught Jason’s eye and realized he didn’t know this was going to happen.
“We’re okay now, Jason,” said James, seeing the relieved look on his face. They both saw Kate turn and head for the emergency door in the back of the building.
“Hey,” shouted the deputy. “Hey, stop right there!” But she was gone, and without power the emergency door alarm would not engage.
“She’s getting away,” said Jason, worried all over again.
“It doesn’t matter,” replied James. “What about you, Judge?” he added. “Are you going to run again?”
“Why would I?” he replied defiantly.
“You sentenced us to hang, if I remember right.”
“Or to leave town quietly, and in all my years on the bench I never once gave my defendants a choice of sentences—don’t forget that,” he replied, still looking out the window.
“Hands behind your back, Judge,” said the deputy, catching him before he could leave and cuffing him tightly.
“This is all just a misunderstanding,” the Judge said, only now changing his tune. “Kate did it—she killed Sheriff Johnson! Shot him right in the head and threatened me to stay quiet. I’ll testify to all of it; just give me the chance.”
“Mr. VanFleet?” came the question from the front door.
“That’s me,” James replied, waving his arm to the soldier in full combat gear.
“It’s good to meet you, sir,” the soldier replied, shaking his hand. “The Colonel will be by in a few days, but we’re here to secure the area and oversee a transition of power. It looks like you already started on that,” he added, looking at the deputy with Judge Lowry in his grasp. “The Colonel likes a man who steps up; most of these towns we’re working with wait until we get there to do the dirty work.”
“It was just timing, I guess,” said James. “So how does this work, at least to start?”
“Colonel’s orders: you are now Sheriff of the town of Weston. Your Deputy Mayor, uh…Jason Davis,” he read off a notebook page. “Where are he and David Jenkins?”
“Here,” said Jason, holding up his hand. “I’m Jason, and David is at the hospital for a checkup. Should I go get him?”
“No, just inform him he is now Mayor.”
“Where’s the now-former Sheriff?” he asked.
“She headed out the back door,” said James. “You just missed her.”
“All right,” he said, jotting a note down on his notebook. “And you must be the Judge?” he asked, nodding to the handcuffed man.
“I am, and I’m afraid there has been a bit of a misunderstanding here, but I’m sure we can work things out where all parties will be satisfied.”
“Is this guy for real?” asked the soldier.
“I’m afraid so,” said James.
“We will take good care of him,” the soldier added, motioning for his MPs to take him into custody. “Good luck, James, and thank you for doing your part. Together we can get this country back online. The Colonel will pay you a visit soon and discuss the next steps.”
James looked at a stunned Jason, who looked like a homeless man who had just learned he hit the state lottery. “‘Deputy Mayor Jason Davis’ still has a ring to it, and I’m sticking around to enjoy it.”
“You sound a bit better, Jason,” said James.
“I’m feeling a whole lot better, wouldn’t you know!”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Twenty-nine
Weston, Colorado
“Let’s get to work,” replied James.
He called a town meeting for everyone that could attend tomorrow at noon and gathered his few remaining deputies, asking them to spread the word. “It will be right outside the Weston Grill and Tavern.”
James locked the door of the jailhouse, getting his deputy friend’s spare keys.
“I hope this building stays empty,” he told Jason on the way home.
“We didn’t even have to stay long,” replied Jason. “Thank you, James.”
“For what?”
“We met, and you and Janice brought my family into your home. Thank you for everything from the first day, making me Deputy Mayor, and now this today.”
“You’re not upset about missing out on the Mayor position?” asked James.
“Not at all. If we were a band, I would like to be playing bass guitar or drums. I get to have some influence but don’t have to make the tough decisions. Besides, a Mayor can’t be throwing up every-other meeting; it just doesn’t look good.”
James laughed. “Things have been crazy lately, and I, for one, think you have handled yourself like a leader.”
* * * *
Janice was happy to have her man home, and Jason’s girls squealed so loudly it got Chance up and running around the house. Neither woman expected them home already.
“Things just seem to fall into place when you’re living right,” said James, as little Billy jumped onto his lap.
* * * *
The restaurant area was bustling, starting before 10 a.m., with the rumors of a new Mayor and Sheriff almost spot on. David and Jason stood with James but agreed to have him lead the rally of sorts.
James addressed the large crowd from the restaurant’s upper deck, waiting a full two minutes for the applause to stop.
“My fellow citizens of Weston,” he started, as they cheered once again. “I have been designated by the United States Military as your new Sheriff, effective immediately.”
The cheers he expected turned quiet, and the chatter started, first in whispers and then louder.
“Why was the Military here, anyway?” shouted a man near the front.
“It sounds like they are in charge now,” shouted another, getting cheers from a dozen or more around him.
Jason, standing next to James, looked
