I was running to the corner when I heard the .45 fire again. Another shot quickly followed it, followed by the shot from the smaller caliber again.
It only took me a moment to gather in the sight before me. I saw Charlie, over in the park, behind a tree. But what really drew my attention was McCall across the street from the diner. He fired at Charlie then started walking toward the diner. That made me hurry, which I didn’t want to do for being in that manner could cause my aim to be thrown off. He had crossed and stepped onto the boardwalk. I slowed to a steady walk.
Standing in front of the diner door, he glanced in my direction, then kicked in the door. When he did that I fired. My bullet hit him in the side turning him. He pulled himself straight, pointed his gun through the doorway. I shot again, and at the same time came a shot from inside. My bullet knocked him back and down, the smaller caliber bullet then hitting him in the face.
By the time I reached him, the light in his eyes was fading. There was movement to my left; I turned quickly finding Doc running to the downed man.
“Hey! You in the diner,” he yelled. “Hold your fire!”
As I approached the dying McCall with Doc leaning over him I asked, “Why? What were you thinkin’, John?”
I could hear gurgling sounds coming from his ruptured lungs where my second bullet hit. He turned his eyes up to meet mine. “Money,” he whispered, then I could see he was gone.
“Lord, help him,” I softly prayed, but I knew that if he had not made things right with God before he drew that last breath it was too late.
Turning toward the kicked in door, I hollered, “Molly, I’m comin’ in.”
Ten paces from the doorway, Molly was just getting up from behind an overturned table. She was holding her pistol in her hand and I could see the rush of the event was quickly wearing off. I reached out, taking the pistol from her and drew her to me.
She buried her head in my chest as I inquired, “You okay?” She didn’t say anything, only nodded in my embrace. I looked around noticing that there were dishes on a few tables. “Anyone hurt?”
Pulling her head back, she murmured, “I don’t think so. Marta was getting them out through the kitchen.”
I could hear men out front picking up the body to take it down to Parker’s. Doc came in and upon seeing me holding Molly asked, “She all right?” Then he quickly added, “Sit her down, so I can examine her.”
He went to a table to pull out a chair. Molly sat down, but would not release my arm. “Doc, I’m all right,” she stated.
“Want some coffee?” I inquired.
She nodded. “Let Marta get it,” she said, grasping my arm tighter.
Marta moved to the coffeepot while Doc took a seat next to Molly continuing to observe her features.
“Miles, I don’t understand. Why would a person like McCall stoop so low as to do something like this? He had a good reputation as a lawman, why would he change now?”
“Reckon I don’t have a good answer for you. A man without Christ is capable of anything. You know that as well as I do. Why a good man goes to the bad, well, he just follows his evil nature,” I responded.
Her hand was trembling as she picked the cup off the table. She started to take a sip, but her hand began to shake spilling coffee. The hot coffee fell on her hand, bringing her back to the present. Doc quickly reached out taking the cup from her.
She looked at Doc then up at me. Our eyes briefly met then she began to sob. “I killed a man.”
I knelt down in front of her, taking up both of her hands in mine. “Molly, look at me,” I calmly ordered. “You were protecting yourself, and besides, it was my bullet that killed him.”
“Still…” she said with remorse, then straightening up, sobering and stated, “I had to defend myself.”
“I fully understand,” I replied, then looked up to see…
Month: May 2020
Echoes From the Campfire
No system of philosophy or ethics, no growth of government, no improvement in living came without trial and struggle. Struggle…was the law of growth.”
–Louis L’Amour (Crossfire Trail)
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
–Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
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Do you see things happening that just jerk your jaws? Do people or issues cause the bile to churn and cause you deep consternation? You do your best not to be quarrelsome, not to argue or say the wrong thing. Biting your tongue is hard, but you realize that there is little you can do in those power circles, in fact, you understand that there is little you can do about those around you. Instead you sigh, take a deep breath, and hold your peace…for so long, then it breaks loose.
Here is the first portion of Psalm 39, we find David in a similar situation. The tension is building, the fire burns hotter, and he is ready to explode. Enough is enough, then you remember, as did David–the Lord. We who flow in the midst of emotions, if we are like David, look to the Lord. E.B. Pusey, speaks of this, “Sweet it is that our hope should rest in him who never changes, should bind us to him who alone is the full contentment of the soul, should enter into him, since in him is our being.”
1 – I said, “I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 – I was speechless and quiet; I kept silent, even from speaking good, and my pain intensified.
3 – My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, a fire burned. I spoke with my tongue:
4 – “Lord, reveal to me the end of my life and the number of my days. Let me know how short-lived I am.
5 – You, indeed, have made my days short in length, and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. Selah
6 – “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow. Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them.
7 – Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. (HCSB)
I’m sure you can relate to David’s frustration, for I sure can. Admit it, inside you’ve felt it; that seething volcano ready to erupt. The frustration continues to build, and you turn on yourself–what is life? It is as David says, “short.” Another version puts it as the “width of your hand.” Your, my, time on earth is brief in the light of eternity, so what are you doing about it? Oh, how we can relate to verse 6, “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” (NLT) Here, it reads, “they frantically rush around in vain.”
MacBeth lamented, “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Hmmm, was Shakespeare thinking of Psalm 39? Oh, friend, I trust that your life is not being told by “an idiot.” MacBeth stopped short of the truth. Even in his anger and frustration David knew where to turn–he turned to the Lord. In the midst of the frustrations of life see the Lord as David did–“My hope is in You.”
“I take your promise, Lord, in all its length,
And breadth, and fullness, as my daily strength,
Into life’s future fearless I may gaze,
For Jesus, you are with me all my days.”
–Henry Deck
Coffee Percs
I think me and you need some hot coffee. Come on, woman, let’s go to the house.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Time It Never Rained)
Now how many times have my wife and I enjoyed coffee together? Whether is was beside a campfire, or ridin’ in the steel mount, her pourin’ from a thermos, or just sittin’ ’round the house, we sure have put the coffee down together. Nothin’ better than sittin’ with yur honey, enjoyin’ each other’s company and sippin’ on that delectable brew. Ahhhh…now don’t be gettin’ yurself all upset. Yur fine company most of the time, but nothin’ compares to her.
What’s that? Yuh cayn’t be stayin’ long? Ha, forgot to do yur shoppin’, that’s figures. But don’t rush out jist yet, take a time for a few swallows. Now, some folk, like you, only get yur sweetie flowers on special days, but this ol’ fence post ain’t as dumb as I look. I’ve always tried to make sure the missus of the house has fresh flowers on the table. Haven’t always made it, but come close, an’ if’n that doesn’t work I get her coffee in a special cup that has flowers on it.
The Lord was sure good to me growin’ up. I reckon maybe I needed it, but I had three “moms.” Yep, my Mom–Marguerite, plus my Grandma and Aunt Bern. What was it that ol’ sage said, “a cord of three stands is not quickly broken”? Then He went an’ blest me with a gem of a wife. Why in a few weeks, she’ll have been workin’ on me and walkin’ beside me, and drinkin’ coffee along with me for forty-nine years.
Pard, I won’t hold yuh to more than one cup today, I’ll finish up the pot, or go wake the wife to help me start the day with a happy gizzard. Jist like yuh to wait until the last minute, and don’t yuh be givin’ me that quarantine nonsense. Yuh better make sure yur cinch is tight after yuh buy them flowers. Yuh shore don’t want petals fallin’ to the ground.
Echoes From the Campfire
Darkness is fear’s companion.”
–Forrest Byrant Johnson
“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
–John 1:5 (NKJV)
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There is a person who is being touted for the position of Vice-President who has in the past made the statement, “I have never been proud of America.” Another person, who served in a prominent position, asked a question scoffing, “When was America ever great?” I experienced a simple gesture of this country’s greatness the other day with almost 150 Texans while standing on a bridge over the San Jacinto River. For a few seconds the Blue Angels passed over; a simple gesture, but symbolic of those working on the front lines during this troublesome time. When was America great? When we looked up and saw those planes fly over and we cheered and ahhd.
Tyranny is almost always bad, especially if it represents a totalitarian regime. This date, 75 years ago, can be pointed to and shown as a time when the United States was great. It was V-E Day, Victory in Europe, victory over the tyrannical fascist regime of Adolf Hitler and all of his brutal and bizarre ideas. It was the end of a great struggle with the blood spilled by thousands of young boys. The final message regarding the surrender of NAZI Germany was delivered by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower in a manner that was typical of his concise, straightforward style.
“The mission of the Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945.”
Simple statement, but look at the words that stand out. “Mission…was fulfilled.” Watching the flyover, reading those simple yet significant words, there is no doubt in my mind when America was great. There are pundits, revisionists who are now trying to say that what has been called the “Greatest Generation” should be changed to the “working generation.” The generation who went out to face the imperial forces of fascism, gave their blood, and now they call to take away this distinction–nonsense!
But let me remind you, that tyranny comes in other ways besides fascist/socialist governments. There may be the tyranny of addictions. The urge so strong that it takes a supreme effort to overcome it. There is the tyranny of evil that is rampant in many cities and locations where wicked men go out to bully and murder on a whim. There is the tyranny of racism and maybe even worse the tyranny of using racism as an excuse for actions or nonactions. There is a demonic tyranny of hatred and other forces that are running rampant, attempting to devour whomever it may. There is the tyranny of fear.
One day all of us will stand at the throne of God to be judged. Whatever tyranny one may have faced in life, whatever sorrows, sufferings and scars that may have been your lot will be on display. Did you show cowardice? Will you be able to say to the Lord and Master: “Here I am, mission fulfilled!”?