Against Crux's advice, yes.
Loading the bound and sleeping brigands into the back of the haycart takes a little effort and wakes up the sleeping men, but blacks stares from Travigan settle them back down again. With Marnos at the reins the cart trudges off for the Harse sheriff, leaving Tina and Crux alone with an undercover Trinia.
The last three head into town, looking for the pub. There they are to meet Orsini's contact, a Mr Goodwill, there.
A few minutes later, Marnos and Travigan pull into town and not far from the large stockade gates that protect the town, they see the sheriff's office. Stopping in front, they call out for the sheriff and its not long before a tall, wiry fellow in leathers and a big hat steps out onto the duckboards, squinting into the sun as he surveys the newcomers and their prisoners.
"Well, well, what have we here? Looks like you boys got some fish on your hands, eh?"
The inn is large and freshly built, with a large veranda on the front, and open air windows with tracked doors that can be pulled closed in times of bad weather or crisis.
The place is well-ordered, with guest rooms upstairs, a large mahogany bar with a brass rail and a bartender in a string tie and apron. The kitchen is built back from the main structure, and a large pile of firewood and many water barrels are in the intervening space.
The man behind the bar smiles in a tired but friendly way and asks "So what'll it be, friends?"
Hello, we'd just like some stew and bread for now. Perhaps some more later.
"Aye, th' slimy an' rotten type. Mudsuckers tried ta' jump us just outside yer gate." Travigan glowers down at the trussed up bandits at this, then turns back to the sheriff expectantly.
Tina will settle in at a table and await the return of Travigan and Marnos.
Crux interrupts. "Actually, I believe that we will take a room. He explains to Tina. "I'm feeling rather drained after our journey and wish to lay down." Then to Trinia "Come, Drusila. Read to me as I rest." He hopes that Tina understands his caution in keeping Trinia from being exposed.
Tina nods. We'll take a room to get settled for now, please. Tina will head up with them after paying for the room.
The sheriff, a weathered older man, nods in understanding. "Been a bit o' trouble with highwaymen about. Wonder if this is the crew. Could be, but I'm certain there's more out there. More'n I can patrol with a pair o' deputies. The Guard is off looking for that murderess, leaves me a bit short handed out here on the edge of no-where." he spits a chunk of tobacco into a brass spitoon. "You boys looking for work?"
At the inn, the host looks from Tina to Crux and back again. "Whatever suits you folks. I could have some dinner sent up to the rooms if you'd like?" The clerk fishes a key from the peg board and hands it to Tina.
The inn is simple but comfortable looking. A bar, with swinging doors, is to the right of the front counter. Tina spies a burly Shoanti man, his face covered in tattoos, sitting with another man in a wide-brimmed ranchers hat. She cannot make out the face or features of the other man, whose back is to the door. There are handful of others in the bar, but not many.
"Can we get a drink at least?" whines Trinia to Crux. "The ride is killing me and my mouth is coated with dust. Something cold would be so lovely." She bats her eyes as much as she's able trying to charm the crusty old wizard.
Well a small drink wouldn't hurt.
Travigan looks at Marnos and gives him a what-do-you-think shrug. "Crux'll crap a buffalo if we agree, you know. Still, coin is coin an' we could use some."
Crux sighs. "Don't let my weary state keep you from enjoying yourself. You too, Drusila. If that is what you want, then by all means." He gestures to the common room. He then turns back to the innkeeper. "As for me, I would still very much like to retire to the safety and solitude of one of your fine rooms, sir." Though he was looking at the innkeeper, Crux was definitely speaking to Tina and 'Drusila'.
Tina just gets two light ales for herself and Trinia.
At Marnos' agreement, Travigan turns to the sheriff and nods, "Alright then, Sheriff, what'd ye have in mind?"
At the Inn
Crux sighs and heads upstairs making clear his indication that the girls should go with, but heedless they both enter the bar and proceed to order a draft brew from the bartender.
"Being on the run is really hard," says Trinia softly to Tina as they sip their cold refreshments. "Thank you for bringing me here, but this seems like the middle of nowhere." she sighs deeply and drinks long and fast from her earthen mug.
Several ranchers and cowboys have gathered in the inn's public room to imbibe. None pay you particular mind, and most keep solely to themselves. Any of them could be your contact, Goodwill, but you can't tell just by looking.
At the Sheriff's Office
"Well, I am suppose to be out lookin' for that girl myself, but i don't hardly think the most wanted person in Golarion is headed out Harse way, do you?" He laughs long and loud.
"Got some local trouble with orcs. Raidin' farms out to the Goodwill Ranch. That more your speed?"
Being out someplace quiet is a good idea considering. Just one ale though so we don't get loose-lipped.
Travigan shoots Marnos an arched eyebrow at the mention of Goodwill Ranch, recognizing the name as the same as that of their contact. He turns back to the sheriff and shrugs, "I wasn'a expectin' you'd be havin' that sort o' trouble. Orcs're bad news any which way ye slice it." He scratches his beard roughly as he considers the situation. He looks back to Marnos, "Your thoughts, lad? We helped Kroft with tha' Shoanti business. I'm thinkin' this is soundin' similar what with the good folk wherever we go bein' too short-handed."
Tina will finish her ale and then usher Trinia upstairs.
The boys finish up with the sheriff promising to follow up on the orc sightings and raids up near the Goodwill ranch. They immediately head for in the inn, where they catch Tina and Trinia finishing their mugs of ale and heading upstairs to retire for the evening.
The rooms are all on the east end of the inn, adjacent to each other, but without a connecting door. There are several others staying upstairs, but they seem to keep to themselves on teh other side of the building.
Well I guess so. Tina will bunk down.
"Is he delayed? No sign of 'im, then?" Travigan directs his question to Tina and Crux. "Well if he is, then yeah, Marnos is right. Our aims overlappin' wi' the sheriff's is a nice turn o' luck too. We can get you out o' harm's way," he nods to Trinia, "an' also get some o' the local law friendly wi' us. Havin' the same saved our butts when we were leaving Korvosa proper."
No sign.
So let us sleep for the night and head out first thing in the morning. Tina will turn in.
"Aye. Tha' seems like a plan, Tina." He offers Trinia a chagrinned shrug as the group makes ready to retire for the night. "Sorry, lass. Nothin's ever as easy as it's supposed ta' be it seems." He offers her an encouraging pat on the shoulder then turns to head for his room.
The night passes and everyone sleeps well, even with someone on watch in the cramped room.
In the morning, the party gears up for a trip north to the Goodwill ranch. Following a cart path north out of town, they soon can see the ranch on the horizon. A palisade fence surrounds the compound, with a heavily laden wagon blocking the gate entrance. No sign of orcs or struggle exist currently, but the signs and scars of past attacks are readily evident on the palisade wall.
As you approach the stockade, a challenge greets you. "Stop there and state your business." cries a gruff voice. At least two guards with longbows are visible on the fence, perhaps more gathered below.
I think this is your department, Marnos.
Travigan eyes the fortification with one arched, bushy eyebrow. "Seems th' sheriff wasn't exaggeratin'. Looks like you folk are braced fer trouble." He shrugs as he looks to the others. "We were waitin' for a friend of Orsini back in Harse, but he or she never showed. Th' sheriff mentioned ye'd been havin' some struggles of yer own, so we thought we could solve two problems at once by comin' out ourselves."
Tina looks tiny.
Crux goes to sleep marveling that no one has seemed to recognize Trinia yet.
The guard behind the wall looks over more careful now. "Come up from Harse have ye? Ye say t'sheriff done sent ye? An' ye know Master Orsini from down Korvosa way?" There is a long consideration of all that and you can hear some indistinct whispering from the other side.
Finally, another voice calls out "Got proof of any of that? We ain't s'posed to open this here gate for no one, no how. I ain't gettin' my hide tanned for some damn fool brigands on the road. Give us some proof or move off."
Tina whispers to her group. Do we have any proof?
"An' th' lass here is likely proof enough too, but how do we know that you're actually guards an' not jus' another batch o' bloodless highwaymen tryin' ta get one over on us? Hmmm?" Travigan grips his hammer, his knuckles reddening around the haft. "So! How do any of us know the others are tellin' th' truth?"
Once again you can hear the two men conversing, and then the first one shouts out. "Gar, you convinced us!" A few moments later the cart bloking the gate slowly is pushed away, and the way into the compound is now clear. One of the men eyes you with obvious suspicion, still holding his bow but the other welcomes you with a big grin. "Welcome to the Goodwill Ranch. I'm Boris, the main hand. This here is Travis one of the rustlers. We ain't big on fightin' an' you sure ain't orcs." Boris' eyes fall on the fair Trinia, even disguised, and he likes to swoon on the spot.
"Master Goodwill is in the big house just now. But I can go an' fetch him if it please ya'"
The compound includes a big ranch-style house with long wide veranda, an immense red barn which appears stuffed to the brim with grains, a small pen holding a few longhorn cattle, and several other smaller outbuildings. All are in good repair and whole place has a spartan sense of utility about it.
The bigger man lopes off to the main house at a half-run, leaving you with the squinting Travis. He spits a chunk of tobacco on the ground and looks you over appraisingly. "You sure you ain't bandits? Then who are ya?" he asks rather impolitely.
Tina waits for the charming Travigan to take the lead again.