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Bartholomew and Matthew enjoyed hosting parties at night in Clemency’s saloon for the townsfolk. One tradition started was hosting an end-of-the-month party to celebrate surviving another month in the western desert; Sheriff pitched the idea, and the folks appreciated it. Bartholomew poured the drinks as he always did, Matthew had the people playing poker against him (and losing to them), and Jacob played the piano. It’s what they did for every party, and they enjoyed doing it. On his end, Jacob liked to practice before every party, getting the blood flowing through his fingers in preparation for playing songs late into the night.
The desert sky was starting to transfer into some orange hues, and the sun was starting to set over the land. Jacob entered the saloon, pushing open the swinging doors with a creak and walking inside. He saw Bartholomew and Matthew sifting through the place, wiping off any dust that may have been collected on the tables and chairs. The tortoise tipped his hat and nodded silently as his greeting.
“Evenin’ Jacob,” Bartholomew chirped. “Here to practice for the gathering tonight?”
Jacob chuckled in response. “Oh, you know me too well,” he replied as he made his way to the piano in the back of the saloon.
Once slowly sat down on the wooden bench, he lifted the fallboard to reveal the black and white keys underneath. He briefly swiped his hand across the keys to rid of the layer of dust that accumulated. A swift moment later, the doors of the saloon swung open again with a similar creak to let Sheriff into the saloon. Giving a warm greeting to Bartholomew and Matthew, they noticed Jacob in the back of the room, glad to see him rehearsing on his own accord. Sheriff always liked to arrive early to welcome all of the townsfolk that entered through the doors. The reptile walked over to where the tortoise was, pulling up a nearby chair to sit next to the piano.
“Well,” Sheriff said, tipping their hat. “It’s nice to see you here, Jacob.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you here too, Sheriff,” Jacob replied as he tipped his hat in return.
As Sheriff settled into their seat, Jacob began to play a song slowly and delicately, filling up the empty space of the saloon. The reptile’s attention was put all on the playing, noticing the slow tempo that was being played at.
“That’s some awfully slow playin’,” Sheriff thought out loud. “Not that I’m complainin’, of course.”
Jacob kept playing softly as he spoke steadily. “There’s time, Sheriff. It’s important to ease yourself into warmin’ up. Can’t rush these old hands.” Sheriff nodded silently in understanding.
Slowly, the notes began to pick up in tempo, the fingers moving more deliberately across the keys. Jacob started to get more into the groove of the notes that he played. Sheriff still kept their attention on the notes, softly tapping their foot against the saloon’s floorboard to keep time. Once the playing ceased for a moment, they spoke up.
“You know, you’ve always been a key part of these gatherings. Ya always make this town more alive. Something I always respected about you,” Sheriff complimented.
Jacob smiled softly but warmly. “Oh, you always flatter this old soul,” he chuckled.
“You know I’m all for the truth,” the reptile replied with equal warmth in their tone.
Jacob placed his hands back onto the keys, starting to play some soft, aimless chords to fill the space of the saloon once more.
“You’re a good one yourself too, Sheriff,” he said, looking at the reptile as his hands were gliding across the keyboard. “You walk into a room and folks are more lively. You’re a mighty reason why we love this town. We got a good soul runnin’ it.”
Sheriff felt some kind of warmness in their cheeks as they cleared their throat. “Now you’re tryin’ to turn the flatter back on me.”
“Just sayin’ what’s true. Just like what you always do,” Jacob responded, that warm smile unwavering.
⸻
Once the sky had turned into a blanket of dark blue and purple, Clemency’s townsfolk started to shuffle into the saloon. It never took long for one person to walk to the saloon once the sun had set over the distant mountains and for everyone else to follow suit. Only a few moments passed, and soon Sheriff saw Bartholomew handing people drink after drink, Matthew handing out decks of cards to confident players, and Jacob playing songs on the piano to a lively crowd that formed in the middle of the room. It was a nice familiarity that every gathering had and that everyone enjoyed. It was the same thing every time, but never got boring.
The dynamic yet graceful notes that could only come from Jacob’s expertise had patrons nodding their heads during conversations, tapping their feet on the floorboards to the beat of the tune, and some couples dancing hand-in-hand in the center of the saloon.
Sheriff made their rounds around the place like always, shaking hands and striking up conversations with the residents, patting Matthew on the back as the hare lost another round of Poker, keeping with the lively atmosphere. They shared only a few sips of alcohol, keeping a watch on the intake. They have a town to run, so they would never become as intoxicated as some of the other folks. But through all that, they never strayed too far from Jacob.
After the last note of the song was played, Sheriff took the opportunity to speak up.
“You’ve got just ‘bout everyone dancin’ here tonight, all wrapped around your fingers,” they spoke. “I say, you’ve got some sort of Midas touch in those fingers when you’re on the keys.”
Jacob’s hands started up another song, only quieter this time to hear Sheriff. It was nothing but notes from the piano being heard for a moment; the charm of the reptile’s words often caused the tortoise to not be able to find the right words to respond to such meaningful hospitality.
“That’s mighty kind of you to say, Sheriff. But I reckon my playing’s ain’t what it used to be. Gettin’ too old for playing songs so effortlessly,” Jacob replied with a warm grin, glancing between the piano keys and Sheriff.
Sheriff shook their head and chuckled softly. “That might be, but I know you still got youth in that soul when you play. You give this here town real music, and that’s a thing to be real damn proud of.”
The smirk on Jacob’s face grew into something much more warmer and genuine. “God really did bless you with the gift of charm.”
“The truth is the most charming thing to say, I’ve learned,” Sheriff replied with a mutual grin.
⸻
The gathering carried on long into the night, long after the sun and moon switched places in the sky. The music to the drinks, the games to the conversations sustained with radiant energy without falter. The folks loved how the events could stay in full swing until sunrise if they so wanted.
But the flickering flames in the lanterns began to dim, and some townsfolk found themselves tiredly stumbling out of the saloon and back to their houses. They were less eager to leave than they were to arrive, but it was always like a spell of weariness was cast on all the patrons in the building. The music was now settled and relaxed as the last folks went to return to their houses and fall into bed.
Sheriff stayed by the swinging doors to extend handshakes and a warm "goodnight" to those who left the saloon. As the energy of the party was now ceased, Bartholomew and Matthew rested their weight against their arms on the counter to take a much-needed deep breath. Jacob’s hands played meandering chords on the piano, soft and slow, and Sheriff was now again letting themself enjoy the tender music as they resided close to the tortoise’s side. The music drifted on and about, letting each chord fill in the air. The notes eventually faded away, leaving the two to sit there in silence. Comfortable silence.
Sheriff kept their eyes on the piano, looking at the light from the lanterns flicker on the worn wood. Everything was a nice, contrasted quiet to mellow out the vibrant atmosphere that the saloon possessed not too long ago. Bartholomew was wiping down the counter, and Matthew stacked empty glasses into a neat pyramid, humming softly and aimlessly. Jacob merely enjoyed the quiet as he remained seated at the piano.
“You know, Sheriff,” he said, “I reckon you get a fair share of praise for your work here in Clemency. And Lord knows that it really well deserved.”
He took his hat off, put it to his chest, and looked at Sheriff with only pure respect in his voice.
“I just want to say it here myself now that most of Clemency’s off to sleep. You have been the greatest gift to this town. I remember having not a drop of hope for humanity before you were assigned to Clemency, and only Lord knows how grateful I am each and every day that you saved us. Sometimes I wonder if God himself sent down his best angel to get rid of them miners all that time ago.” There was a chuckle partnered with the last sentence, but unfazed honesty ran through every word.
“You give everyone here a real good reason to keep keepin’ on. You made this town into a safe haven within a heartless place. Never in my lifetime could I express how thankful I am that you run this here town. But I sure hope you know that my respect for you runs deeper than an ocean, that’s for sure.”
Sheriff was silent for a moment. They wanted to say something, but all they could do was just sit there as the words festered in their head. They respected Jacob, just like how they did when they first struck conversation all those years ago. But the tortoise’s sentiments could only have them let those words be absorbed. Only Lord knows if someone could see their breath caught in their throat and their eyes ever-so misty.
“That…” they muttered softly, “means a world more than I could say.”
They wrapped their fingers around their cane as they shifted slightly in their seat.
“I know I sound like a broken record, but I remember being a Marshal assigned to this town. Lord knows those damned miners gave us hell, and I had to give ‘em hell back. This place was real hard work to get runnin’ into a regular town even with relocating and all, but it was sure worth it. And I am grateful til my last breath that you are a part of Clemency, Jacob.”
They paused for a moment to let the right words formulate.
“You make this town more alive than I reckon I ever could. It’s real something to be able to help unite a town like you have, I say. I know this place wouldn’t be half near where it is today without your presence.”
A brief pause as Sheriff looked in the direction of the meeting hall.
“I never thought I’d find as like-minded a soul as you when I first stepped here. Thought it’d be only hell-minded miners to deal with. I’m glad to know there’s still good men like you out there, and I am forever mighty grateful that the Lord put me where you are.”
Jacob was overcome with the emotions that came from the praise, much like Sheriff had been earlier. Within the tortoise’s chest, there was a warm sensation, like butterflies fluttering around. The two were old souls, but the warmth between them were as vibrant as if they were young. Like there was a golden invisible string lassoing the two together as they looked into each other’s eyes.
“That’s mighty kind of ya, Sheriff. Mighty kind,” he spoke softly. They were simple words, but held a world of vulnerability and emotion that Sheriff could sense.
Jacob looked out of the small opening above the swinging doors for a moment and saw how dark the night sky was.
“You reckon we get goin’?” he asked, turning his head to look back at Sheriff.
“I reckon so,” the reptile replied, nodding firmly.
They both stood up, Sheriff using their cane to steady themself as they offered a hand to help Jacob steady himself the same. As they started towards the doors, Matthew and Bartholomew gave a small wave to say goodnight.
“‘Night, ya two. Get some good rest,” Matthew spoke as the two headed out.
“Goodnight to you two as well. You two always know how to run a good gathering,” Sheriff replied as they tipped their hat to the two behind the counter.
Jacob and Sheriff both stepped out into the cold night of the desert, seeing the vast expanse of the stars above them.
“The stars look awfully nice tonight,” the reptile pointed out, using their cane to point at the blanket of stars.
Jacob smiled softly and looked at Sheriff. “I reckon they always shine brighter when there’s someone by your side to see ‘em with.”
They walked for a little bit, admiring the clear night sky, unintentionally closer than they noticed but didn’t mind. They eventually reached a point between both their houses.
“Well, we best be off to bed now,” Jacob observed. “Thank you for everything tonight, Sheriff.”
“And thank you for bein’ you, Jacob,” the reptile responded. “It’s been a swell night accompanying you. Sleep well tonight.”
“Sleep well.”
They both drifted ways to their houses, content to know that they’d cross paths again in the morning. The winds blew softly, the crickets chirped quietly, and the stars shined a little brighter just for them.