The Green Ladies: Part 8-Sentenced to Sacrifice

Hawthorn said nothing as the iron bars were slammed shut, sealing both he and Dance in Fort Greer’s cells.

“Sorry it had to come to this, Hawthorn,” McGuire said.

The bounty hunter shrugged. “Just another turning of the sun,” Hawthorn said.

“Yes. Another turn that will end up with you hanging from a noose,” The scarred lieutenant, named Bannister, said. The colonel had let him accompany the group to the cells in an attempt to pacify his damaged ego.

“Huh. And here I am thinking I was innocent until proven guilty,”

That made the young officer reach for his cavalry sabre.

Gordonson grabbed him by the wrist. “Control yourself, boy!” The lieutenant looked at the colonel, then nodded slowly.

The colonel released him and looked back at Hawthorn. “Before a decision can be reached concerning your sentence, Hawthorn, you will be confined here until further notice and kept under guard at all times. Same goes for Mister Dance.”

“Whatever,” Hawthorn said.

“Don’t I get a say here?” Dance pleaded.

Gordonson ignored him. The two soldiers left to lead McGuire out of the fort.

“So, what to say what to say,” Dance said to Hawthorn through the wall separating their cells.

Hawthorn growled.

“I just find it interesting how fate plays with twists and turns. There you

were standing on the other side of my cell back in town, and, in less than an hour’s time, here we both are in the same situation! I thought bounty hunters were supposed to stay on the right side of the law.”

Hawthorn hocked a wad of spit onto the ground at the foot of his cell. “These bastards ain’t the law. They’re everything the law’s against.” He glanced at the thief. “Your kind of people, Dance.”

The thief chuckled scornfully. “They hardly seem like my kind of people.”

Hawthorn growled and leaned against the railing. Just then he heard footsteps approaching.

Lieutenant Bannister came back a moment later with five men. They opened the cell.

“Step out,” the lieutenant said, an arrogant smile creeping up the corner of his lip.

Hawthorn had a feeling he wouldn’t like where this would take him. And he still felt the same way after he’d been struck in the nose, back, and stomach with rifle stocks. He collapsed to his knees as blood trailed down from his nose and over his lip.

He glared up at the lieutenant, who then finished him with a strike to the temple.