I was sitting at the table with Charlie Gold, Molly, Marta, and Lucas. We were waiting for Doc Jones to join us. Lucas was not in good shape and he had his head laying on his crossed arms as Marta ran her hand over his back and shoulders trying to sooth and reassure him.
Raising his head, with tears in his eyes he asked, “Uncle Charlie, are they going to put me in jail?”
“No, son,” came his quick reply. “A man has a right to defend his family from the likes of those men.”
“Why, Lucas, they would have to arrest me for defendin’ Molly…” he cut me off.
“But you are a marshal,” he muttered.
I was getting ready to answer when through the door walked Doc Jones. While he ambled over to the table, Charlie grabbed a chair from the adjacent table so he could join us. Molly was up quickly to fetch a cup off the shelf and fill it with coffee for him.
As he was adjusting himself in the chair, Lucas blurted out, “Is he going to die?”
Doc slid his hand down over his chin as if pondering an answer then took the cup in his hand. He sipped at the hot coffee, then wiped his mouth. He looked at me first, then turned his attention to Lucas.
“I won’t lie to you son, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t know. The bullet went in his lower left side and how much damage it did I have no way of knowing unless I cut him open, and that would put him in worse shape with all of the blood he lost,” Doc answered then sipped his coffee again before continuing.
“The bullet is still in him; I couldn’t take the chance of probing for it and doing more damage. He needs complete bedrest for quite a spell; let it begin to heal so that bullet won’t move around. I’ve known of people to live with a bullet inside, but, yes, there is a good chance he could die.”
Lucas didn’t reply, just hung his head. There was silence at the table when Doc spoke up. “Molly, by chance, do you have any pie back in the kitchen?”
“I reckon I can scare you up a piece,” replied Molly. Marta started to get up to get it when Molly put her hand on her arm. “You stay with Lucas, I’ll go get it.”
As she was walking away Doc continued with his conversation. “Miles, I had to cut the arm off James Lamb. His last words before he went under the chloroform was that he was going to make you pay.”
Doc was shaking his head. “Why should Senor Miles have to pay?” interjected Marta. “He was only doin’ his duty as a lawman and husband!”
“Well, Marta, I really don’t have a good answer for that,” expressed Doc. “Evil begets evil, I reckon is about all I can say.”
By that time Molly was returning with three pieces of pie. “Hear you go Doc,” she said placing one dish in front of him. “Charlie, Lucas,” then she turned.
I scratched my ear, then pulled at the end of my moustache as she stood there. She looked at my forlorn face, smiled and walked to where Elena was standing with three more plates full of pie.
Molly took them from her and walked back to the table. “Marta, this is mine,” she said placing is down on the table where she was sitting, “And dear husband, do you think I would forget you?” she asked placing a piece in front of me.
What could I say? With the pie in front of us, the solemnity of the previous moments had left and we were enjoying a special type of camaraderie.
I was half-way through mine when I noticed that my cup was empty. Standing I went to the coffeepot on the stove and was filling my cup when through the door came the city council with Martin Olson in the lead. He pointed at Lucas, but was staring at Charlie.
“I want to know…”