Chapter 21

As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the untouched land, Sly took Ben aside for a private conversation. They strolled away from the house, their boots crunching the dry earth. “We need to build a barn and stables,” Sly said, his voice carrying the weight of their future. “It’s crucial for the ranch to thrive. And we’ll need somewhere to keep the horses safe from rustlers.”

Ben nodded solemnly, the gravity of the task ahead of them settling on his shoulders. “How do we start?” he asked, his eyes scanning the barren landscape.

Sly clapped him on the back, his smile a mix of confidence and camaraderie. “Leave that to me,” he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “I’ll send some of my best men over tomorrow. We’ll get the barn and stables up in no time.”

Ben felt a wave of relief wash over him. With Sly’s help, the ranch would be up and running before they knew it. But there was one more piece of unfinished business that needed attending to. “What about the auction house?” he asked, his voice low. “We can’t let that horror continue.”

Sly’s expression grew serious, his eyes darkening. “Tomorrow,” he said, his voice a whisper. “Sergeant Tyller and his men are coming in the morning. They’re going to help us shut it down for good.”

Ben felt a spark of hope light within him, the promise of justice a beacon in the dark night. “Sergeant Tyller,” he repeated, the name familiar from their previous encounters with the military. “How he know it?”

Sly winked, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “I sent him a telegram, Ben,” he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. “He answer me to wait him in tommorow morning.”

The mention of the machine gun brought a shiver down Ben’s spine, goosebumps rising on the back of his neck. He remembered the brutal efficiency of the weapon, the way it had torn through the bandits’ bodies like they were nothing more than paper dolls. The sound of the gunfire still echoed in his ears, a chilling reminder of the power they now wielded.

“We’re going to need more than a few good men,” Ben said, his voice tight with determination. “We’re going to need an army.”

Sly nodded gravely, his hand resting on the butt of his revolver. “My men have been keeping an eye on the auction house,” he revealed. “They’ve counted at least a dozen guards, and they’re heavily armed. We can’t take them on alone.”

Ben’s jaw tightened, his mind racing with the implications. “We need to rally the townsfolk,” he said, his voice a mix of urgency and resolve. “They’ve seen what we’re capable of. They know we stand for something better than this.”

Sly nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought. “But we can’t trust everyone,” he warned. “We’ve got to be careful who we bring into our fold. There are snakes in the grass, Ben. If we’re not careful, they’ll bite us in the ass.”

Ben knew he was right. Lawless Ridge was a town built on a foundation of crime and corruption. Many of the town’s residents had grown comfortable with the status quo, their pockets lined with ill-gotten gains from the very human trafficking they sought to eradicate. The idea of true change was as foreign as the concept of a midget sheriff had once been.

Sly leaned in closer, his voice a low rumble that matched the distant thunder of approaching hooves. “You need to be ready, Ben,” he said, his hand resting lightly on the shorter man’s shoulder. “You’re going to be a target now. And not just for the outlaws.”

Ben nodded, his eyes never leaving the horizon. He knew what Sly meant. As the town’s new sheriff, he’d be a symbol of hope and change, but also a threat to those who thrived in the shadows of Lawless Ridge. The gold had bought them power, but it had also painted a target on their backs.

Sly broke the silence first. “What’s the name of your ranch going to be, Ben?”

Ben looked up from the plans they were going over, a smile playing on his lips. “I’ve been thinking about that,” he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “How about ‘The Hopeful Horizon’?”

Sly raised an eyebrow, his hand pausing mid-air. “The Hopeful Horizon?” he repeated, a hint of skepticism in his tone. “It’s a bit ... flowery, don’t you think?”

Ben looked at him, his smile unwavering. “It’s what this place represents, Sly,” he said, his voice firm. “A new beginning for all of us.”

Sly stared at him for a moment, then chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, Ben,” he conceded, slapping him on the back. “The Hopeful Horizon it is. But I’ve got a better name for the ranch. With all the gold we’ve got, and with Goldie being the woman of the house, I reckon ‘The Golden Ranch’ has a nice ring to it.”

Ben’s smile grew as he considered the name. “The Golden Ranch,” he murmured, liking the sound of it. “It’s perfect. It’s like a beacon of prosperity and justice in this desolate place.”

Goldie, who had been quietly listening, stepped closer, her hand resting on Ben’s arm. “And we’ll make sure it’s not just a name,” she said, her eyes shining with determination. “We’ll make it a place where everyone can find refuge and a better life.”

Ben nodded, his eyes meeting hers. “We’ll do it together,” he said, the promise in his voice unmistakable.

As the night fell and the last of their guests stumbled away, Ben and Goldie retreated to the sanctity of their bedroom. The room was a simple affair, with a single bed that had seen better days, but it was theirs, a bastion of warmth in the cold, hard world of Lawless Ridge. They had lit a candle, the flickering flame casting shadows on the walls as they kiss each other, their movements slow and deliberate.

Breaking away, Ben took a deep breath and looked into Goldie’s eyes. “Goldie,” he began, his voice serious. “We need to talk about something.”

Goldie pulled back slightly, a flicker of concern crossing her features. “What is it, Ben?” she asked, her voice soft.

Ben took a deep breath, his hand still resting on the warm flesh of her hip. “Sly’s idea,” he began, his voice tight with emotion. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t think it’s going to work.”

Goldie’s eyes searched his, the flicker of the candlelight playing across her face. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

“Sly’s idea,” Ben clarified, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her skin. “He recruiting me to be sheriff without the badge is right idea. Because if he recruiting me as a sherrief with a badge, it means we’d have to close The Blossom.”

Goldie’s eyes widened, realizing the gravity of the situation. “You’re right,” she murmured, her voice a mix of excitement and anxiety. “They’d never trust a sheriff who runs a brothel.”

Ben nodded, his gaze intense. “But if we keep it open, and I’m just his second-in-command, we can keep our ears to the ground. The Blossom is our eyes and ears in this town, Goldie. We can’t just give that up.”

Goldie’s eyes searched Ben’s, the gravity of his words sinking in. “But what about us?” she whispered, her hand sliding up to caress his cheek. “What about our marriage?”

Ben’s eyes softened, his thumb still caressing her hip. “We’ll make it work,” he assured her, his voice gentle. “We’ll use the ranch as our base, and The Blossom as our secret weapon. We’ll keep our true intentions hidden, but always be ready to act when the time is right.”