Shame

There was a lot of corn that needed shucking. Even after bringing two large baskets to the front of the house, there was still a fair amount of corn left, and Maria just kept packing it up and bringing it forward. In many cases, the damage was superficial, and the kernels themselves were mostly unharmed. They could hang in the heat of the sun and air dry.

"How's it all going?" asked Maria, bringing forward a fifth and final basket. "Working okay?"

Ruiz slipped his knife back into its scabbard. "Don't worry about me, señorita," he smiled. "I'll have this taken care of in no time."

"Good," called Jed, walking around the side of the house. "The faster you take care of this, the faster we..." He trailed off as his eyes caught sight of something coming up the road. He immediately dropped his train of thought as he made his way inside the house to grab his slingshot. Sensing the sudden change in tone, Ruiz drew his own and stood up on his hind legs. Just over the golden wheat that grew in the front of the house, he spotted the two black-coloured gryphons making their way up the road, led by a brown stallion in a leather vest.

As poor luck would have it, the trio turned onto the property and made their way up to the house. "That's close enough, sheriff," called Jed, holding up his empty hoof. "What possible reason could you have for coming out here?"

"You hurt me, Jed," mocked the stallion. I had heard that some bandits had come out here last night to knock over your windmill. I come in peace, to offer the services of my colleagues to help you put it back up, for a price."

"Didn't think you were blind, sheriff," snorted Jed. "Windmill's already back up and fully functioning. We don't need your help."

"Oh?" chuckled the sheriff. "Let's just see that windmill, then."

"You can see it from the road," growled Jed, stepping into the sheriff's path. "Be sure to take a good look at it on your way back into town."

"Why do you insist on making my job difficult, Jed? I only want to help make sure nothing happens to your little homestead. It would be a real shame to hear that somepony was hurt." He lifted his hoof as if he had an idea. "I know! I'll offer you the protection of my deputies in exchange for a small fee."

"We don't need the protection of your flunkies, especially considering that they're the ones what attacked us in the first place."

The sheriff placed his hoof over his chest. "Jed, you hurt me again. The Ravens are protecting everypony around here. The fact that another group of miscreants has donned their faces in disguise is an unfortunate coincidence. You will note that every other farm near the town pays for the protection of the Ravens, and have not been attacked since."

"They weren't attacked before the Ravens showed up, either. Besides, we can protect ourselves."

"Oh, yeah?" huffed one of the gryphons. "What if they did this?" He took off toward the wheat field, claws extended and ready to cut. He quickly collapsed to the ground, however, clutching his balls.

"Then I would do that, señor," puffed Ruiz, a fresh pebble loaded into his slingshot and ready to launch. Not a single grain of wheat had been harmed, but the gryphon would be walking funny for the next week. Being shot in the testicles hard enough to tear the skin was going to take its toll on him.

"Pretty sure that's assaulting an officer," scowled the sheriff, pulling out his own slingshot. "Turn yourself in, and we might let you live, little goat."

"Assault, señor?" smirked Ruiz. "Nonsense. He was giving a demonstration of what a bandit attack looks like, and I was giving a demonstration of what we do to bandits where I come from. If you weren't paying attention, I would be glad to show it again."

The yard fell silent as Ruiz and the sheriff stared each other down. With Sadie showing up at the door with a spare slingshot and Maria with her own, they totaled four. The sheriff and his one remaining gryphon were outnumbered. With the whimpering of the gryphon on the ground, the last one standing behind the sheriff was clearly agitated, and took a step back in fear. He had swaggered up with confidence, but now it was gone.

"Alright, Jed," huffed the sheriff, holstering his weapon. "I'll leave you folks alone for now. But mark my words, those bandits are going to come back, and you'll wish you had the Ravens to drive them off." He smacked the frightened gryphon in the chest. "Pick up your brother; we're done here."

As the sheriff walked off, the standing gryphon picked up the other, and with his tail protecting his balls, ran off after him. Jed chuckled at the sight and placed his hoof on Ruiz' shoulder. "I knew you were accurate, but I didn't know you were that fast. I picked well."

"I do what I must, señor," huffed Ruiz. "Do you think they'll be back anytime soon?"

"I wouldn't put it past them. After a hit like that, though, they might take a day to reorient themselves."

Ruiz descended the stairs. "I'm going to go check on Mintberry, señor y señora. If I were a bandit, I'd be picking at the small one when they're alone."

"Good idea," agreed Maria, hopping after him and catching up. "Come on, I'll help you look."

The two of them made their way back behind the barn to where the coop was. It was rather large for just chickens, and when he pushed open the door, Ruiz saw that there was more to it than that. Separated by a small gate, the yard for the chickens was a bit smaller than the yard for two pigs and a cow. Mintberry was giving the cow a good scrub with a dry brush. "Something wrong?" she asked, looking up at them.

"No, nothing's wrong, Mint," smiled Maria. "The sheriff and his goons just came by, and we thought we'd make sure that no one had made off with you, that's all."

Mintberry rolled her eyes. "They come by every week. Why is it such a shock to see them again?"

"This time ended in violence. We're fine, but we needed to be sure you were still here, that's all."

"You should go tell your father that you're alright," ushered the cow. "Go on, now."