I sort of felt a little guilty playing that trick on Tandy, but not real bad. He had to learn the tricks if he was to stay alive. But there was still something gnawing at my stomach. Some may call it a gut feeling, but I tend to think that it is God trying to tell me something. I learned a long time ago not to ignore it.
But I didn’t do anything else to him and we arrived back in Durango. I took him over to the eatery. First to introduce him to Molly, but I was also hoping there might be a piece of pie. I knew the coffee would be on.
Molly came out as we entered. Tandy walked up to her. “So this is the famous Molly,” and he reached out to shake her hand.
I motioned to the table. “Any chance there’s some pie?”
“Quit giving me that pitiful look.” She looked at me and raised her eyebrow and nodded toward Tandy as he was sitting down. I shrugged my shoulders. Then she turned and went to the kitchen. “Will apple do?”
We ate a piece of pie and then Molly brought out dinner. My, I sure did remember I like her cooking much better than mine. After finishing Tandy went out and Molly refreshed my coffee.
“What about him? she asked.
I told her the story of what happened in Montrose and then added. “There’s just somethin’ about him. How did he know about you? I didn’t mention you to him at all. In fact, I was only with him one evenin’ and that little bit when he tried to take me.”
I continued after taking a sip. “It would be nice to have someone I trusted watch my back, but I’m got this itchy feelin’. Say, why don’t you and I go shoppin’? I want to take you to Conrad’s.”
“Conrad’s? Isn’t he the gunsmith?”
“That’s right and one of the best I know.”
The next morning after the breakfast rush we went over to Conrad Schlutze’s place. He was a grand old man whose father came over from the old world before the War. He taught Conrad the art of gunsmithing.
“Welcome, welcome, what can I do for you Mr. Forrest?”
“I’d like to see a small caliber for Molly here. Maybe .32 caliber, something she can easily handle.”
She punched me in the shoulder. “Do you think I can’t handle a gun? Remember who my father was? He taught me a thing or two about guns.”
“That wasn’t what I was thinkin’. It was more the size; easy to carry around.”
While we were conversing, Conrad came over with a couple of small guns. One was a sleek looking .32 Smith and Wesson. “Oh Miles, I like that one.” And Conrad handed it to her.
She knew what she was doing as she checked to see if it was loaded. “I could make a special pocket in my apron that this would fit in and nobody would know.”
“How about a shotgun?” I asked.
“I have the rifle, and now I have the pistol. I don’t think I’ll need to protect myself against an army,” she said sarcastically.
“I hope you never have to use them, but I feel better when I’m travelin’ knowin’ that you have them.”
“We have a couple of hours before the lunch crowd comes. Let’s go try it out. Plus Two-Bits hasn’t been ridden in forever.”
It was fun. We fired several rounds and it seemed to be a good gun. I still preferred my Schofield .45, but it was a right powerful little gun. It would do. We rode to the eatery and I took the horses back to the pasture as Molly went in to help feed the lunch bunch. I hadn’t seen Tandy so I didn’t know if he was following me or not. I reckoned not. I’m sure I would have noticed if he were back there.
When I went to the eatery for lunch I knew for sure he wasn’t out there, for he was sitting at the table and in my chair. “Here we go again,” I thought to myself.
Month: August 2016
The Daily Paine
“School days, school days,
Good ol’ golden rule days,
Reading and writing and ‘rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of the hick’ry stick.”
–Old American ditty
Not quite true anymore. As things/the world gets more complex around us it seems that school needs to follow in its wake. Is it for the good? Only time will tell. I’m not sure where things are going however. I’ve talked to a few individuals this summer that had some interesting insight into the work force. One individual last week just told me that his wife is in charge of personnel of a large corporation. She said if it were in her power she would not hire anyone under the age of 35. However, with the laws she must, and that keeps her busy because 90% of the group under 35 do not stay on the job, or they abuse the job and then must be fired.
I’m not talking about the core subjects, but about the basics of life. Where has character gone? One of the purposes of the school teacher in years-gone-by was to be “in loco parentis”–in the place of the parent. Now that doesn’t mean “crazy parents.” But in the last several years the parent and the teacher are not the authority they once were.
There is a major move to remove the authority of the parents. That movement states that children belong to the state. What does that make the parents? Just the biological means to get a populace? The other problem is with the home and parents themselves. In how many homes are there both parents? If there are, how many homes operate according to Biblical principles? That rate is growing yearly of single parent homes, and now there is that new factor of gays and transgenders raising children. You tell me how a person can properly raise a child when they can’t figure out what gender they are.
Yet, the role of the Biblically-based teacher cannot change. It is vital to the very foundation and propagation of the gospel. Christianity depends on teaching. The Great Commission states to go out “teaching” them. On my podium I keep two Scriptures that I look at constantly.
“Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.” –1 Timothy 4:16 (HCSB)
“Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.” –James 3:1 (HCSB)
These are hard times. The world is severely attacking Christianity, and several are succumbing to it and joining its forces, while at the same time saying they are still Christian. It’s time to get off the fence. One of the jobs of the teacher is to show that. Society seems to be falling apart and immoral standards are gaining. Perhaps the Scripture that states that we are to be teaching has a prophecy for those of today as well. When it seems like the gates of hell are raging look at the rest of that verse,
“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:20 (HCSB)
Echoes from the Campfire
“He seemed fitted for this task, and his motive had the strength of love and passion and the sanction of right.”
–Zane Grey (Nevada)
“Don’t go along with them, my child! Stay far away from their [trail].”
–Proverbs 1:15 (NLT)
Coffee Percs
“He poured still boiling coffee into the mug and then filled his own before setting the pot down on the ring of stones they had laid.” –Frank Roderus
I know it’s still gray light, but I saw you ridin’ in so get yourself in here and have a chair. Coffee’s up; try to keep it ready. Ahhhh, for kitchen blend – it tastes pretty good. That shows to go you that I’m not a coffee snob. Kitchen blend? That’s when there’s only a few spoonfuls of coffee left in the bag and you put it in a canister and add to it and add to it. Pretty soon, you have several types and there you have kitchen blend. Hope you’re not offended.
I’m tempted to go back to boilin’ coffee, at least on Saturday. The new fangled pots with all of the buttons look fancy in the kitchen and might save a little time, but there’s something about boiled coffee. One thing for sure is that the aroma floats through the kitchen and into the rest of the house. Maybe I just need aroma therapy.
Speakin’ of aroma my friend, my wife did somethin’ sorta mean the other night. I saw she was makin’ biscuits, and she told me to get to sleep before she put them in the oven. Well, I took her advice (like always) and went to sleep, but I started dreamin’ or somethin’ and woke. It was the smell of those biscuits in the oven. But I disciplined myself and went back to sleep, and right after I made coffee the next morning I ate one. My only regret was that is was not hot, right from the oven.
How ’bout that! I stayed away from politickin’, preachifyin’, and philosophyzin’ this mornin’. The ol’ gizzard is right happy this mornin’. But I can’t let you go without this word from the Holy Writ. “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.” (Proverbs 4:18, HCSB) When we have the Lord with us on the trail, things sure do go better.
Hey, now, don’t you go hittin’ the trail without checkin’ that cinch.