The town was dark, not a soul on the street.
Even the saloon was dark, the outside door closed and locked.
The sheriff, who was lying on his cot, heard a distant clip-clop coming down the road.
His eyes opened, and he listened.
He felt a chill. The slow movement of the hooves that thudded down the street sounded like danger on horseback. The sound was faint at first, and then got heavier as it got closer. Sometimes when a gunman, or any other cowboy that didn’t want to be seen, rode into town, he would sneak in under the cover of darkness. Knowing this might mean trouble, the sheriff got up, and swung his stocking feet over the bed, and onto the floor.
And then the sound stopped right in front of the door of his office.
He turned his head and looked at the door. He heard scuffling bo
