Doc Jones was sitting with Marshal Gold, myself, and Molly a few days after Christmas and he was fondly putting down his normal order of liver and onions. Charlie and I had some elk ribs and Molly had brought out some pie.
Doc eyed it with delight and remarked, “Boggy-top pie. What flavor?” I think he liked pie almost as much as I did.
The man I cold-cocked was in jail. The name he gave us was Sam Smith. Most likely not his birth name. He was in a daze for a couple of days and was mostly rambling when he talked; that is, when he finally decided to talk. The marshal finally enticed him with a cup of coffee. Amazing what that brew will do. He was given his meals with water, and he began moaning for a cup of coffee.
His partner just went by the name, “Blade.” He said Blade was sort of running the crew as the go-between with this other man. Smith said he only saw the man once; that he was fairly tall and thin. He was wearing a beard that he kept trimmed, but he never heard his name.
“Doesn’t sound like Wray,” said Doc.
“It could be Ferguson, but the last time I saw him, he wasn’t sportin’ a beard,” I replied.
“Doesn’t take long to grow one,” entered Charlie.
Molly got up to get the coffeepot to give us all a refill. “Do you think they’ll come for you Miles?”
“Yes,” and I paused. “One way or another.”
She put a hand on my arm and I looked at her. “I can’t be with you every hour of the day, nor with Marta and her family.”
“It might help if she slept here in the eatery, rather than up at your…” Doc sputtered, “your house.”
“It’s a shack, Doc,” retorted Molly. “We know that.”
“It would alleviate some walking around, and it would be safer here in town,” joined in Charlie, finishing his cup and nodding for me to pour more.
“It’s Wray!”
“Miles, you know the law. He’s already talkin’ about you threatenin’ him, and wants a restraining order against you.”
“I know the law, Charlie! But if Molly or my friends are hurt, I’ll go for him.”
“Maybe,” Doc entered the conversation. “Just maybe, if word went out that the source of payment might not be there in the event of another attack, the gang might become some concerned.”
I looked at him, “Not if they’re successful with me.”
“Hmmm, well, guess you have a point there.”
“But it would give them something to think about.” I looked at the marshal. “What are you holdin’ Smith for? He didn’t do anything, but stand there.”
Gold smiled.
“I’m goin’ to make Wray uncomfortable until he gets that restrainin’ order. And there may be a couple of those owlhoots in town watchin’.”
“I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about,” said Charlie finishing that cup and holding it out again.
I stared at him. “This place makes better coffee than I do down at the jail.”
Month: January 2017
Echoes from the Campfire
Beyond the black hills were the mountains, not far off, waiting for him. He had always loved the mountains… There was always the vast distance with the grass bending in the wind, the whispering leaves of the aspens, the gold of them when autumn came. How could a man who had known such vast distance confine himself to a desk? To the crowded streets of an eastern town?”
–Louis L’Amour (Under the Sweetwater Rim)
“I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry [trail] through the sea.”
–Isaiah 43:16 (NLT)
The Daily Paine
Yeehaw! Open the chutes and let ’em rip. Powder River let ’em buck, 2017 is upon us and only the Lord knows what the year holds. Hang on friend, for you surely can’t turn back the years.
I was at the HEB (for you non-San Antonians, that’s the grocery store) and I was talking with the cashier. I asked if she had a Merry Christmas and she said “Yes,” but she was concerned with what was going to happen with Mr. Trump as President. I told her she didn’t need to fret none, that God was in charge.
It’s been a spell since I’ve seen young folk so concerned about the future. Perhaps it’s because they are not ready for it–mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. If that is true, well, that’s a shame. Shame on them for thinking that life owes them something “like” a free ride. Shame on us for not holding them accountable and teaching them better.
A few words from one of Bob Nolan’s songs came to mind.
“How I long for a trip, don’t need no grip,
I’m taking one more ride
‘Way out there in the prairie air.
I guess it’s in my hide…”
2017 will certainly provide each of us with “one more ride.”
——————–
Now I probably shouldn’t vent the in first Paine of the New Year, but then again, the Paine is there to cause you to think, ponder, maybe even get a little riled up. So here goes.
I just don’t understand the comment of so many the past week or so. There are bemoaning the deaths of so many “entertainers” this year. I’ve even seen some comment, “My heart is broken…” Mercy, they didn’t even know the person. We get so caught up in the idolatry of the entertainment industry and letting is control our emotional lives.
If you want to grieve for someone, grieve for those friends of yours who had someone die this year. Grieve for those communities who had first responders die in the line of duty or for families who had servicemen die.
One more little thing to think of is that you shouldn’t be broken-hearted over their deaths, but rather their condition now as they stand before the Judge of the Universe. If their hearts were not right with Christ, they are in an eternity of trouble.
“And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.'” (Luke 16:24-25, NASB)
Yes, grief will most likely be a part of 2017 as it is every year. However, the year will also be full of challenges, anticipation, and contrary to another public figure–hope.