Some women (and men too) fainted over the disgusting visage of Ali Asp unmasked.

Indeed, she was no mere waitress but a scarred and vicious assassin ready to silence anyone who tried to bring her to justice.

The Colonel Judge was the first to break the stunned silence.

"Yowie!" Slanders hollered. "I say. When I said, 'disrobe, Missy'. I didn't mean that part!"

But Ali Asp ignored him.

Instead, her serpentine eyes fixed on Ruby.

"You…" she hissed, a forked tongue slithering out of her mouth. "If it wasn't for you ssssticking your tongue where it didn't belong. I would be free."

Ruby shuddered over the horror of this 'asp-sassin' but she managed to squeak out a few words. "My career as an attorney may only be a few hours old…but I stand firm for truth and justice!"

Ali Asp reached towards her hair bun, she removed several needles and it fell loose.

With several throwing sebons between her fingers, she moved towards Ruby with a desire to kill. "And now you will fall for truth and jussssstice!"

Ruby held her pale hands up. They were soft and fleshy and needles would penetrate them deeply.

"Help meeeeeeee!!!!" she cried.

With a loud whirring sound and a crack, a lasso flew across the room and wrangled the murderer. It pulled her tight and with a groan, she fell to the floor.

Standing over the would-be assassin was the most handsome gentleman cowboy Ruby ever saw.

He had long, full, shoulder-length brown hair–perfectly conditioned even in the Texas heat. Dressed in all black, his outfit resembled a cross between a cowboy and tuxedo wearing playboy. To complete the ensemble, he wore a mysterious black mask over his smooth, tan skin.

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Even his voice was smooth and free of the Texas drawl. "And this is why serpents crawl on their bellies," he said as his foe struggled.

Lonesome Cowboy Larry raised his trembling fists. "Well well, if it isn't my arch nemesis. Ranger Mask!"

"Ranger Mask?!" Ruby squeaked.

The long, tall and handsome gentleman cowboy approached her. Standing a few heads over her, she marveled at his perfect stature.

"You k-know," she whimpered, her cheeks turning rosy. "I could have handled her myself!"

"I know you could have handled that villain!" Ranger Mask answered. "But it's always good that Lady Justice has her own Contingency Man."

"T–thank…. you!" she squeaked. "I'm so glad you shaved me. Er…I mean saved me!"

The Ranger smirked. "Seems all my rope tossings got you tongue tied!"

As he turned around and walked away, Ruby sighed and nearly melted into a puddle. She giggled. "He can lasso my heart anyday."

Priscilla rolled her eyes. "Oh please! Ruby, I used to have all these foppish suitors say such corny lines to me in jolly old England."

Ruby continued to blush redder than a rose in bloom. "You're just jealous he didn't say those things to you!"

The Ranger stood in the center of the room. Even the judge seemed bewildered by his presence. "Ranger Mask, what in blue blazes do I owe this meeting?"

"The cry of a maiden is my call to action," he said coolly.

"My my!"

Ruby sighed again. She turned to Priscilla."He even has a tagline."

Priscilla stuck out her tongue. "More like a gagline!"

Ranger Mask looked over his bound foe. She didn't even struggle, just looked up at him with a loud hiss. He pulled his hat right over his mask. "Looks like this rattlesnake won't be stinging any time soon! I'll leave her to the proper authorities because…"

Ranger Mask hooked his lasso back into his belt and left everyone (and especially Ruby herself) to swoon over his mystery. He pulled his hat over his mask. "It's time to ride!"

Ruby gasped. She was an avid scholar of romance books. "This is the moment in Romeo of the Rodeo, when he sweeps me off my feet and rides into the sunset."

Priscilla just gagged. "And this is when I throw up."

Ruby ignored her as her newfound cowboy crush had reached the door.

She managed a quick, "Who are you? And mind taking me with you handsome?"

Ranger Mask was steadfast with his back to everyone. "Folks call me many things, but to me–I'm just an Enigmask! And I ride alone!"

With those final, alluring words, Ranger Mask left the building and he jumped on his horse.

Riding a magnificent white stallion, he galloped off into the sunset (or rather the midday sun) leaving the court and Ruby Hawkins breathless.

Resting her head in her hands, she wondered when she'd meet her heroic Enigmask again.