To Davey, Laramie was nothing more than a small-time nobody, not worth a second glance.
Of course, that had always been the case.
Dealing with Laramie wasn't worth Davey spending any real effort. So when Laramie was sent to the Valentine Police Department jail, Davey didn't even bother to look in his direction.
Sheriff Malloy sent officers to pass along his thanks for Davey's help. Laramie was already a wanted criminal in New Hanover—there just hadn't been enough manpower to apprehend him.
Now that he'd been captured in Valentine, it was undeniably a notable achievement for Sheriff Malloy.
More importantly, as Valentine's economy continued to grow, Sheriff Malloy's status rose right along with it.
...
Night.
Valentine Police Station Jail.
Laramie looked around. There were only two officers on duty.
"Hey, fellas. If you're willing to let me out and give me a horse, I'll pay you a thousand bucks."
"Believe me, even if I don't have it on me right now, I'll have someone deliver it."
"After all, there's no guarantee I won't end up back in this jail again, right, officers? That's a thousand dollars."
Bribing jail guards was nothing unusual in the West. Plenty of wanted criminals had walked free that way.
That was exactly why the West was known as a lawless land—even if criminals were let go, officers rarely faced serious consequences.
Truth be told, a thousand dollars wasn't even necessary. One or two hundred would usually do.
Many small-town deputies had once been criminals themselves.
Out here in the West, who hadn't robbed or killed someone just to survive?
The reason Laramie offered such an outrageous sum was partly because he didn't have any cash on him, and partly because of Davey.
The two deputies exchanged looks, clearly tempted. A thousand dollars was more than two years of their wages.
But…
"I'm sorry, Mr. Laramie. We can't let you go. You crossed Mr. Callander."
"Mr. Callander carries a lot of weight here in Valentine. Because of him, my child will be able to attend school after Christmas this year."
"If we let you walk, we wouldn't be able to stay in Valentine. I like it here—Mr. Callander included."
"So even though a thousand dollars is incredibly tempting, we can't take it. Ah… that really is painful to say."
After only a brief hesitation, the officers rejected Laramie's request.
It wasn't loyalty that stopped them. It was because their families—and much more besides—were already bound to Davey.
And they had no desire to cross him.
Hearing this, Laramie's face turned deathly pale.
He knew there was no way out. Even though he still had men under him, they clearly weren't that loyal. And even if they tried to rescue him, Laramie didn't believe he could actually escape.
...
The next day.
Valentine's gallows.
A noose was placed around Laramie's neck.
Sheriff Malloy of Valentine stood atop the gallows, delivering his speech.
Below him, hundreds of people had gathered—many of them farmers and ranchers who had rushed over after hearing the news.
The reputation of the Laramie Gang was notorious among those who worked the land and ran ranches.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the authority of the law!"
"Anyone who violates the law will receive no mercy!"
"You, Laramie—today, you will feel the full weight of justice. Repent for the crimes you have committed, and pray for God's forgiveness."
"And today, our duty is to send you to meet your God."
The crowd immediately erupted into furious shouts.
"Kill him! That robber! That murderer!"
"This sinner robbed my good friend's farm! My friend nearly went bankrupt because of him!"
"The Laramie Gang—I've heard about them plenty. Those filthy criminals. Investing in Valentine was the right decision after all!"
Feeling the passion surging from below, Sheriff Malloy was visibly excited.
His gaze drifted toward the back of the crowd, where a photographer was taking pictures.
Sheriff Malloy knew this was Davey's doing. Soon enough, photos of him and Laramie would appear on the front pages of the New Hanover Gazette, the Blackwater Town Chronicle, and the Saint Denis Times.
Valentine—and Sheriff Malloy himself—would become known to even more people across the United States.
Sheriff Malloy lifted his chin slightly and continued, "This Mr. Laramie is no stranger to many of you—a gang leader who committed numerous murders and robberies throughout the West."
"They stopped at nothing, eagerly serving unscrupulous employers and seizing others' property through illegal means."
"For years, he has shown no remorse, and we should show him no pity."
"It is time to face the judgment of the law, Mr. Laramie."
After a brief pause, Sheriff Malloy shouted into Laramie's terrified eyes, "Now—drop the trapdoor!"
An officer beside him pulled the lever. The wooden platform beneath Laramie's feet snapped open, leaving his body hanging in midair.
At that moment, the sound of camera shutters rang out.
Sheriff Malloy and Laramie, frozen at the instant of execution, became a single black-and-white photograph.