The thunder of hooves drew Reed's attention from the dramatic life and death struggle of the waste covered Corporal Broski. A horse and rider galloped toward his location, dust
billowing in their wake. Reed held his position, not wanting to give away his position to the oncoming horseman.
As the rider came closer, Reed recognized the familiar face of Sheriff Doody as the lawman cast his gaze about the landscape. Trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, Reed waved a tentative arm hoping
to attract the sheriff's attention to no avail.
"He's going to ride right into a bullet.", Mr. Proteau observed to no one in particular.
Jeffy nodded soberly. "Or end up getting shot with one."
Reed stopped waving as Doody rode his mount directly into the middle of Minnesota Tex's compound. He dismounted and began striding boldly toward the main house. Though there was currently a lull in
gun fire, Reed cringed, expecting each step to be the sheriff's last. The lawman made it safely to the porch, ascended the stairs and let himself into the establishment.
Proteau shrugged as Reed cast his curious gaze in the security officer's direction. The commander's eyes drifted to Mr. Jeffy and then to Orwig, his own confusion mirrored in their expressions.
Across the compound, the reaction was somewhat more animated. Lt. Scott had burst into a prolonged and very uncharacteristic narrative of obscenities. Stauch and Broski looked on with concern as the
young officer seemed to reach the end of his tirade.
"What the hell is your problem?", Broski inquired sympathetically.
Number Two threw his hands in the air. "It all makes sense now!"
"What makes sense?", VanTedly asked, still not taking his eyes from the house.
"Everything!", Lt. Scott exclaimed. "The reason we got ambushed. The reason we can't get any closer to the house. All of it!" He waited several seconds for the others to make
the connection. They didn't. "Sheriff Doody set us up!!"
The expletives flew as realization dawned on the others.
"Why would he do that?", VanTedly wondered aloud, "We didn't do anything to him."
Number Two shook his head. "I don't know", he admitted, "but I plan on finding out."
