Eat another piece of that chocolate pie, Lucas,” I said with a laugh. “It’s only your third piece.”
He smiled at me and took a swig of milk and forked in another bite. Sitting there with his arm bandaged you would think that nothing had happened.
“Senor Miles, I did not cry when he cut me,” he said.
I reached over and jostled his head and messed up his hair. “You’re quite the little man.”
Looking up I saw Doc Jones enter the restaurant with Trenton. He had been out a couple of times now since Lucas had been hurt. He was a different man, but who wouldn’t be with an ear sliced off and missing an eye? But there was more. He seemed different, not as cocky, but, well, there was something that I couldn’t put my finger on.
“How’s my best patient today?” asked Doc of Lucas.
He reached down and felt his stomach. “Full, senor doctor.” That brought a laugh from everyone, except Trenton.
I got up and grabbed cups for the newcomers and filled them with hot coffee.
About that time Molly came to the table. “Lucas, want another piece of pie?” she asked. That brought another chuckle from the table.
Since the fire, we had moved back to the kitchen. Good thing we didn’t have much. We lost our bed, a table, lamp, and I had a rifle in the shack when it burned. It seemed that Dreg didn’t really want to kill Lucas or he would have either slit his throat or burned him in the shack. It was as Trenton said, they wanted to hurt me.
I knew that didn’t come from the men causing the problem, for they didn’t even know me. It had to be Wray and Ferguson. Since my little altercation with Wray after the killing and robbery he had disappeared. Most likely he was still in town; although he could have moved to one of the camps or even up to Silverton.
“Molly, excuse me, but I’ll take a piece of that pie,” said Doc.
“Sure. How about you Trenton?” He shook his head. She looked at me. “You don’t have to say anything,” she turned and went to the kitchen.
Trenton just sat there swirling his now cold coffee in his cup. I could see his jaw clinch from time to time.
“Lucas, why don’t you go help Molly?” He got up and went to the kitchen taking his plate and glass with him.
“Okay Trenton, out with it.”
“I’m going to kill this man who calls himself Dreg. Then I’ll find Wray.”
“That’s not the way…” I started but was interrupted.
“You say! You don’t know how I feel!”
“We may not be maimed in appearance, but both the Doc and I have had our share of sorrows, suffering, and scars.”
“It’s not the same!”
“Maybe not, but revenge is not the answer.” I had seen what happened to folks that went after revenge rather than justice. If not for God helping that person they would continue to go down deeper into despair and bitterness.
He looked at me, touched the place where his ear once had been and slammed down his cup.
“I had a present for you, but you acting that way I’ll just keep it for another time.”
“What is it?” he asked sarcastically. “An ear you can tie on? Or maybe Doc can stitch it on?”
As he got up he knocked over his chair and bumped into Molly, causing her to drop our pie.
Month: January 2017
Echoes from the Campfire
When you threaten men or steal their property it no longer is a prank.”
–Louis L’Amour (High Lonesome)
“This is what the LORD says–your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the [trails] you should follow.”
–Isaiah 48:17 (NLT)
The Daily Paine
The short, scientific answer for the name of the disease is political correctness. Once you’re in its grip, you become weak, listless, sycophantic, ever more susceptible to manipulation.”
–John Vermillion
“Simplicity is a virtue, simplemindedness is a vice….”
–John Vermillion
You know I don’t have a problem with protest, as long as it is legal and proper. But from Friday through Saturday we saw some stupidity in action. Did you notice that most of the punks that were protesting wore masks? They were not there to protest an election, or to protest the new President. They were there only to cause chaos and destruction.
They had no political protest. They had only an agenda with their simple minds to cause destruction. It did nothing in regard to the inauguration. Makes me wonder who is behind their manipulation for surely they are.
Then we have those with the pink hats. Have you noticed that they are “prochoice” but they get very upset with those who make choices the opposite of theirs? Someone wrote that if their mother had made the choice they are crying for then they wouldn’t be around to protest.
It just makes a person want to slap them silly, but I’ve found out it wouldn’t do much good. It is very hard to slap simplemindedness and foolishness out of a person.
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Week 4–Scripture for meditation:
“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.”
–2 Corinthians 4:16 (AMPC)
Look at that first sentence. Do you find yourself that way? That’s not a real problem. That is part of the aging process. However, if that is happening to the inner man there is a dire problem and danger is lurking ready to destroy. The inner person should be renewed every day.
One of the problems is that we often do not start the day with the Lord or with His Word. Maybe we feed on the wrong things. What do you eat for your spiritual meals–breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening snack?
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Advertisement: Coming soon! “Trails in the Wilderness”
This is a thirty day devotional that depicts struggles in the wilderness. All believers will find themselves in the wilderness. They may wake some morning and find themselves there, or they through circumstances find themselves there, or they may even be taken there by the Holy Spirit. When in the wilderness God expects us to learn the lessons He has for us.
Coffee Percs
The coffee was ready by then so he poured himself a cup and sat at the table to drink it while he waited for the eggs to cook.”
–Frank Roderus
Mornin’ to yuh pard, whooeee, what doin’s yesterday! Powder River let ‘er buck. Let’s see what happens now. As that ol’ cowboy Conagher would say, “He’s mounted that bronc now we’ll see if he can ride him.” I made the coffee strong this mornin’, say, now don’t you go waterin’ it down any. Take life as it comes, yeehaw!
Let me tell you, one think I can’t stand; it really riles my gizzard, are whiners. Give me a break. Instead of whining and throwing a temper tantrum, get with the program. My kids never threw many of those things, they knew the consequences. These whining brats that really only care about havin’ their own way and destroy the property of others need to be taken out behind the woodshed and given a thrashin’. Listen, this ol’ fence post has been disappointed for eight years and I never went out and busted nothin’.
Ahhh, now that’s good coffee. Refill? Sure pard, comin’ right up. How about that stupid remark from Blitzer? It was totally disgusting. In all my years I’ve never heard a “journalist” say such a thing. Did you hear it? “What happens if Trump and Pence are assassinated on Friday?” That’s not journalism, nor even sensationalism. He’s one of those that needs to be slapped silly, but yuh know, I don’t think he would learn.
Listen and listen tight; in the midst of all of this I serve a God that I can depend upon. He’s with me along the way. If we see confusion and chaos, well, pard, who’s the author of all of that? The ol’ devil, himself–important to remember that this world is not our friend.
Sorry, want me to make another pot? Didn’t even realize we’d drunk it all with all my goin’s on this mornin’. You have a good week, and be checkin’ that cinch when you mount.
Vaya con Dios.