Sometimes life gives you exactly what you do not want, precisely when you need it most. Gideon Fletcher hadn't been on speaking terms with the future in quite a spell. It was the past that had his ear. It could be that was why, when folks started talking about shortening his future with a rope, he plain did not take much notice.

The sheriff found him guilty of 'willfully'. Willfully anything. On multiple counts.

The Rivers (all four brothers, a father & an uncle by adoption) figured he was guilty of not knowing a good thing when he was hit upside the head with it.

Gideon sort of figured they were all loco.