Chapter 46
Sarah didn't need to be able to see the others across the street and to her left to know they were prepared for what was about to come.
After hearing the men in the group talk to each other, she was resolved in her decision to launch a preemptive attack on them.
There was no longer any question in her mind that they were coming to do terrible things to her home and her family.
As the first row of men passed by her, laughing and joking to themselves about what they were going to do, Sarah held her breath and steadied her aim.
None of the others would fire off a shot until they heard hers ring out.
It wasn't time yet. She had to wait a few more seconds if she wanted them all to be in a clear line of fire.
When she could see the end of the group, Sarah let out the breath she had been holding and took aim at one of the last of the men's legs.
Squeezing the trigger, the shot rang out over the silent terrain for a split second before the second shower of bullets attacked the men.
Instantly, the air was filled with gunfire and screaming.
Sarah's heart was racing as she took aim at one man after another. Of the group, five were on horseback, including the mayor. She took extra caution with those individuals and managed to knock off all of them between her gunfire and her family’s.
When the few individuals still standing dropped their guns in surrender, Sarah called for a ceasefire.
She didn't waste any time asking the fallen gang if they were surrendering.
While several of them called out, Sarah didn't hear the mayor's voice assuring her they would not shoot.
Still, it was a calculated risk she was willing to take.
She kept her weapon at the ready as she slowly stepped out into the clearing behind the group of downed men.
Instantly, every pair of eyes in the group turned to glare at her.
Sarah didn't care. They were all still moving and didn't appear to have any immediate casualties.
She was proud of the work her family had done.
She looked around, and after several moments, Sarah found the mayor off to the side of the rest of the men who were giving up.
As she approached the man who called himself the town’s leader, she noticed he was bleeding from his arm.
She could tell quickly that it was only a minor wound and the man would be fine with some time to heal.
“Your men are giving up, and you’ve taken a bullet as it is,” Sarah said. “Next time, we won’t be shooting to wound. We’ll be taking the shots that make it so you don’t get to have a life, understand?”
The man nodded.
“Now, for all of you who can hear me now. Your reign of terror is going to end now. You are welcome to stay in the village, but it’s going to come with certain rules. If I hear anything about any more brutality, I’ll personally execute any of the people who are responsible.”
“You’re going to let us go?” one man asked.
“Yes, but if I find out that you haven’t changed your ways, I’m going to come looking for you, and the results will be different. Does everyone understand?”
There were several who agreed with her and a few others who nodded.
Sarah never wanted to hurt anyone, but they had ideas of their own that she couldn’t stand by and allow to happen.
As she glanced around at the men who followed the mayor, it looked like they were all afraid for their lives.
She knew the fear they felt alone would lead them in a different direction in life.
“Now, I need to make sure you all understand the consequences you’ll face if you defy my orders. Does anyone have a problem with anything I’ve said?”
Looking around their group, Sarah noticed right away that none of the men would meet her gaze this time.
They were obviously beaten and terrified about what was going to come next.
Several of them were already trying to stand and get away from her and the invisible army she had in the forest. They weren't having much success.
They would need to work together to get their wounded back to the village in time to save everyone.
Still, Sarah had no pity for the group. It wasn't her fault they were sheep following a maniacal mayor.
They had made their decision, knowing how much damage their actions would cause to Sarah and her family.
She loved that they had no way of knowing how many of them there were.
It was a detail she would keep to herself.
Sarah wasn't going to let the men leave so easily.
Not with all the ammunition the group had wasted while going after the posse.
Sarah wanted some retribution for the men's actions.
The lives they could potentially lose and the pain they were enduring were not enough.
What would stop them from going back, handing off their guns to someone else, and letting another round of villagers finish what they had started?
“Not so fast,” Sarah yelled. “No one is leaving until they drop all of their weapons!”
The men who were already starting to flee turned back, and for a moment, she could see them considering running despite her orders.
She lifted her gun a mere few inches, and the fleeing men quickly dropped their weapons before continuing to run.
Sarah couldn't help but smile as the others followed in the same suit.
Her eyes narrowed on the mayor. She hadn't yet decided if he would be able to flee as easily as his minions.
She vaguely remembered a saying about cutting the head off a snake, and at that moment, it sounded like a wonderful idea.
“What about you, Mr. Mayor?” she hissed.
“Yeah, I have a damn problem with it,” the mayor said as he stood up.
“Well, I’d look around if I were you. It seems to me you’re the only person here who has an issue with what I’m saying,” Sarah said. “Let’s ask them, shall we? Does anyone have a problem here?”
Again, none of his men met her gaze. She knew he was alone in his stand, and so did he. Without men to back him up, Sarah hoped he would back down and return to what little life he could have. Judging by the way he glared at her, it wasn’t going to be as easy as she had hoped.
“There’s nothing left here for you to fight with, Mayor. It’s over, and you’ve lost. Just let it go. We can all live in harmony together, or you can go out by yourself and try to make it on your own. The choice is yours.”
“If you think this is over, you’ve got another think coming,” he seethed. “This isn’t over by a long shot. I’ll hunt you down, and then I’ll hunt down every person you have here with you. I’ll find others who will follow me. Bigger and stronger men than these.”
Sarah scoffed and turned before turning back to the delusional man.
“You’re a rabid dog, and you need to be put down.
If you want to play that game, we can play, but you won’t like the outcome.
Then again, you won’t be around to like or dislike anything.
Walk away while I’m still giving you a choice in the matter. ”
“You’re going to regret this. I promise you that.”
“Walk away. It’s the last time I’m telling you.” Sarah glared at the man.
Sarah turned away from the mayor and started to walk in the direction of the guns that the fleeing posse had left on the ground.
She was happy the entire event had transpired without any lives lost. Plus, they had recovered more than what they needed in weapons and ammunition.
Sarah wasn't a heartless person. She knew some of the men were simply led astray or threatened by the mayor into joining up with him.
Several of the guns were shotguns that were the only source people had for hunting now.
Honestly, she knew in the days and weeks to come, if any one of the men approached her and asked for the guns back in a respectful and apologetic manner, Sarah would gladly return them and hopefully make a new friend.
All she wanted was to live a peaceful existence for herself and her family but also for the villagers as well.
No one deserved to live under a tyrannical leader like the mayor.
Suddenly, she heard something behind her and quickly spun around just in time to see the large man lunging at her with a blade in his hand.