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Tracker nodded and headed for the stable doors to close them. Those who had been recording started babbling as they posted it to social media. Shutting them now might be too late, but we needed to protect the horses from the mob that was about to descend.

Even as we moved, phones pinged, and people began heading towards us. Those who had initially caught the haunting argued with us as we slammed the doors shut firmly. I pulled the radio from my pocket and hit the talk button.

“We are going to need some help at the stables,” I called

“What happened?” Bow demanded.

“We had three unwelcome visitors, and they were witnessed. The stables are now currently starring in Merritt’s haunted house shitshow,” I complained.

“The three horsemen?” Inglorious inquired.

“Not unless they were former miners who were hanged here apparently,” Tracker stated. “Before we could stop them, they’d already posted on social media. People were heading here even as we locked the stable down. They are going to start banging on the doors soon, and that’s going to distress the horses.”

“Shit,” Inglorious growled.

“I won’t have idiots frightening them!” Tracker exclaimed, agitated.

“We need to put them in their field where they’re safe,” I agreed. A loud bang made us jump, and the horses whinnied in startlement. Their ears folded back, while some pawed the ground. More thuds hit the door as people began yelling.

“Get the others here now!” Tracker barked. He stomped towards the door and yanked it open. The crowd outside had tripled. Their babble rose as horses grew agitated, and several neighed loudly. Numerous phones were pointed at Tracker as the mob attempted to look around him.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Tracker roared, and the sound subsided for a few moments. “I’ve got horses in here, and you’re frightening them!”

“A ghost was seen. We want to see!” a man called.

“And that gives you the fuckin’ right to terrify my horses?” Tracker shouted in his face.

“We’re entitled to…”

“You advertise this place…”

“Who do you think…”

I moved forward as the mob surged and the horses reacted. Loud whinnies drowned out the crowd, and several kicked the stalls. The noise made the idiots fall silent.

Bow and several of our brothers pushed through the crowd and stood in front.

“Back the fuck up now!” Bow snapped. “None of you are entitled to be here like you believe. We don’t advertise Merritt as anything but a former Wild West town. Anyone who doesn’t move ten steps backwards will be arrested for public disturbance!” Bow threatened.

Moments later, Law arrived with Dee and Inglorious, and the crowd was forced away.

“What do you need?” Inglorious inquired.

Horses loudly neighed, clearly distressed, and some people broke away, ashamed.

“Gotta move them to their pasture. They’ll calm down then. They’re picking up on the crowd’s agitation,” I replied.

“Not a problem. Law, Bow, Dee—can you keep them back?” Inglorious asked.

I caught Dee threatening someone with, “Just try it, you little prick.” She was the one who’d applied for the deputy’s job. Thank Christ she had some balls.

“Yeah, get the horses safe. Poor fuckin’ things. Give them some extra sugar lumps,” Bow said.

I didn’t bother answering as we let Inglorious and our brothers slip in, shut the doors, and left. I glanced at my phone. It was only half-past nine. This would be a long day.

Vortex

That added footage of the three ghosts hanging in the stables turned the town fucking berserk. In the end, to control the crowds, we threw the doors open, lowered the barriers, and let people peer inside all day. Now that the horses were in their pasture, it was safe. Inglorious called an emergency church session tonight to discuss the security implications of what we were facing.