Peck's Prisoner Promise 2

Red, Blue, and Black

Peck continued sweeping the jailhouse like his life depended on it. Outside, he could hear the whoops of the townsfolk, in an absolute panic. The Buzzards had them absolutely surrounded, and, once again, Peck was no help at all.

Barnstormer jeered at him from behind his bars. "Well, not so easy to fly my magnificent machine, is it? Not everyone can be a top pilot."

"Well, maybe my piloting skills were exaggerated," Peck admitted, "But when it comes to deputy-ing, I'm an ace!" He tried to make himself feel better. He may have lied to the townsfolk about his pilot abilities, but he knew he was a brilliant deputy. He was an ace at plenty of other things, too. He just needed to remember that.

And he didn't need to listen to someone behind bars.

"Poppycock! Anyone can sweep, but you couldn't get my magnificent metal machine into the air unless someone like me sat behind you telling you everything to do!" Barnstormer crowed. Peck rolled his eyes. "And yet, here you are behind bars."

That seemed to strike a nerve, but only for a minute. The Bad Buzzard grinned. "And yet, here you are, sweeping away. That's the only thing you're good for anyway. I bet a clean jailhouse is the only thing you're good for."

"Says who?"

"Ask anyone!" The Barnstormer crowed. "It's bandit legend that Nice N Friendly Corners is the easiest place to rob, all because of it's no-good deputy! You're so gullible, even the most thick-headed of bandits could trick you!"

"Now, that just ain't true. Fool this deputy three times, and he starts to catch up." That was the wrong thing to say. Barnstormer fell over laughing. "Oh! OH, that was hilarious! You really are the worst deputy in the west! You couldn't catch a cold if it was thrown right at you, much less a bandit!"

Peck rolled his eyes. "I'm telling you, that ain't true."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself." The Barnstormer got over his laughter. "All you're good for is sweeping. Bless us the day y0u become sheriff. Oh, wait...you won't!" More laughter.

Peck went back to sweeping, rolling his eyes at the buzzard behind bars. But the bird wouldn't quit. "Tell me, is it true you actually helped a trio of dogs rob a gold vault? All you had to do was put them in jail, but you were so scared of them, you helped them instead!"

That was sort of true. Peck hadn't meant to. He'd done his best but, as the buzzard said, he had been to scared to disobey the simple command from the bandit. "Take those handcuffs off our boss!"

He did handcuff himself to the boss instead. But all he had to do was walk past them using the boss for blackmail. But no. He was too scared.

Barnstormer carried on. "All you did to me was put handcuffs on me. All I need is for the sheriff to take a vacation and leave you in charge. Then, I could just strut in and clear you out!"

Peck whirled around. "You know, I'm not obligated to listen to someone standing behind metal bars!"

"Ah, but you are, aren't you?" Barnstormer hummed. "like I said, all you do is sweep. Anyone can sweep! I'm sure you lied about your piloting skills just to feel better about your poor eputy skills!"

Peck went back to sweeping to the buzzard didn't see the tears on his face. He reminded himself over and over not to listen to him. He was in jail. He was nothing compared to Peck.

But he knew it was true. Peck tried so hard to be a lawman, but all his attempts failed. He just wanted to be something more than what he was born to be...

"Oh, the irony! You always act like you're some brave and strong deputy, when you're no more than a gullible scared little child! How old are you? Twelve? You'd better leave the law stuff to the grownups. I'm sure Callie only made you her deputy because it's easier for her to babysit you!"

"I don't babysit him."

Peck turned to see the sheriff walking into the jailhouse. Dirty Dan and Dusty were standing outside by a freshly dug hole. Peck didn't need to know what happened.

"Peck is my right hand man. I couldn't ask for a finer deputy." Sheriff Callie stood up to the buzzard, who only snorted. "Oh, please! Every bandit in the west knows you only keep him around for a clean jailhouse. He's nothing more than your pet! Even you have to admit, every plan goes wrong with him around!"

Peck swallowed. That was true. Every time he went with the sheriff, he only seemed to make things worse. Why DID he lie about his piloting skills? Probably because he was a no-good deputy, that's why.

It was all in his blood.

Callie didn't back down. "peck is a huge help to me, and to the town."

"It doesn't seem so. He let my big sister sneak right by him, remember? And he ruined your chances of catching those bandits. All he ever does is make things worse."

Peck turned around, determined to defend himself. "I don't see you doing a better job."

"Hmm, is that right?" Barnstormer smirked at him. "Are you trying to convince me, or yourself? Need I remind you about a friend of mine? Phineas Foolery, was his name? He said you were the easiest fool he'd ever met."

"Whatever he needs to tell himself to sleep at night." Peck shot back. Sheriff Callie put a paw to her mouth, features etched with worry.

"Just go ask those townsfolk! I bet they're finally realizing what a horrible deputy you are! Even worse than the pilot you made yourself out to be!" Without waiting for an answer, he stuck his head out the bars of his window. "Isn't that right? Did he continuously lead dangerous bandits into your town? Didn't he let them get away? Twice? Three times?"

Peck finally noticed the crowd. The entire town was out there, watching them argue. Had they been making that much noise?

There was a murmur amongst the crowd. Callie approached Peck, and put a paw on his shoulder. "Peck," her voice was very soft, "Are you...c--!"

"Oh now look! The little bird's crying." Barnstormer interrupted. That was the last thing Peck heard. He found himself barricading the attic door of the jailhouse, wanting to be alone.

He looked out the window, wiping tears from his face. His mother had been right. There was nothing in his family blood besides red. Plain, evil red.

He knew the barnstormer told the truth. He couldn't remember doing a single thing right. That was why he lied. He just wanted to be a good deputy, but he couldn't even do that right! His Red Blood kept getting in the way.

He heard a soft knock on the door, but Sheriff Callie ushered it away. He knew it was Toby. He didn't want to see his prickly pal right now. Toby deserved better than him.

Peck grabbed an old sheet, and wiped his face. Then he looked in the mirror. He saw what he always saw. A little bird playin dress-up, a dream that was shattered from the start.

It was time to go back to doing what he really was an ace at.

Peck removed his gepi, and left it on a box by the window. He placed his badge down next to it. Before he left, he caught his reflection one more time.

He couldn't go back like this!

He rummaged around and found some scissors, a comb, and some fabric. He cut his feathers and combed them until his bangs hung over one eye, half-covering it. He then dipped the edges into some black ink and blue ink, giving himself a rather rakish daring look. HIs brother would be surprised.

Peck saw things others couldn't see. It was time to use that power to it's full potential. 

He used the fabric he'd found to touch up his vest. He gave it blue accents, and sewed the family logo onto the back in dark black cloth.

Finally, he left.