Heartsville was originally established at a crossing on the principle trading route between Bend and Salem.  The previous evening Mat Slaughter, the town sheriff, a man of doubtful background, was shot in the back by an unknown gunman.  He had been a close friend of Kitty Barclay’s, owner of the Golden Day Saloon and it has been rumored that they were amorously inclined toward each other.  The Mayor has called a meeting of all the town’s gentlefolk in order to determine who shot the sheriff and to elect a new one.  The body of the dead sheriff is displayed in a coffin at the door of the saloon so that the citizens may pay their last respects.

In recent months there has been much talk in the town about the possibility of extending the Northern Pacific Railroad north to Bend and then on to Astoria.  For the last twenty years, however, one of the major disputes among the good people of Heartsville has been about the control of the upstream water rights.  King McKinley, owner of the Bar K ranch, has had control of these rights ever since he purchased the DoubleDay Ranch after the death of Frank Morrison, a neighbor, five years earlier presumably at the hands of the Indians (or rustlers).

There has also been much speculation about the old Silver Mine - the “Silverado”.  Originally opened up by the Spaniards, the silver bearing lodes were last mined economically fifty years ago.  With the advent of mining in the area, it is rumored that there may be large deposits of copper.  Old Ben claims ownership of the mine.  The recent advent of the telegraph has greatly improved communication with the outside world and there is considerable excitement in the town about economic possibilities.

The land south of the river has been settled by a number of sheep herders.  The local ranchers are concerned about the overgrazing of the land by the sheep and are fearful of the attacks on them by Indians.  They have been petitioning Congress for more protection. It is rumored that Fort Rock is to be reinforced and that a major campaign against the Indians is to be initiated.  Lieutenant Gatewood, an able young soldier whose father saw action at Gettysburg is on his way from Fort Rock to deliver a requisition for cattle to feed the army.  A speaker of two Indian dialects he has been sent by the government in Washington to aid General Crook in the hope that conflict can be avoided and that some sort of settlement can be reached with the Indians.

The town is a thriving, God fearing community, much concerned about law and order and determined not to allow the excesses of such places as Tombstone to take over their town.  Last year after a number of cattle were stolen, a gang of rustlers was tracked down by the Sheriff and a town posse.  Summary justice was meted out and the men were hanged.  The people are proud of what they have achieved.  A number of the cowhands who work for King and other ranchers fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

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