There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven…. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.” –Ecclesiastes 3:1,7-8, NLT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Darnelle!” exclaimed Charlie, “What’s wrong?”
A strand of hair came out from her scarf and she was in the process of putting it back in place. “Do you know who came by to see me?”
Before anyone could answer, she continued, “Micah Teeter! He had the audacity to come by the store. He asked if I remembered him. I just stared at him, then stated that he looked vaguely familiar. I could see that it angered him and he started towards me when the man with him touched his arm.”
“Any other threats? Did he say or do anything?” questioned Charlie.
She took a deep sigh, composing herself. “No, he just startled me, that’s all. I sure wasn’t expecting to ever see him again.”
Charlie looked from Darnelle to me. “Do you think he’s behind the attacks on you and Molly?”
“Attacks! What attacks? What’s happening?” asked Darnelle in astonishment.
I proceeded to tell her of the recent events, her eyes widening in concern with my information. “So, is he responsible?” she asked.
“Teeter is a coward. You remember how he ran.”
“Senor Miles,” interrupted Lucas with a quiet voice, “many times it is the coward who fires from ambush. He is also the type of hombre that is angry with himself and will take it out of someone else.”
All three of us turned our attention to Lucas. “Such wise words from a young man,” stated Darnelle. “Miles you ought to listen to him and go arrest Teeter.”
“Now hold on there, all of you,” barked Charlie. “I’m sheriff here and if there’s any arresting to do it will either be me or Mateo.”
It became real quiet for a few seconds. “Charlie, I’m not going after Teeter,” I paused to let the words take effect. “However, if he threatens or hurts any of my friends I will have a conversation with him.”
He gave a nod, understanding my feelings. “Miles, don’t make me have to come after you.”
“Right now I have to get this telegram off to Marshal Blasco. Come on, Darnelle, I’ll walk you back to the store.”
She adjusted her scarf, then pulled her coat on tight. It wasn’t that cold outside, but the wind would bite right through a person. As we were walking, Darnelle asked, “So do you think it’s Teeter that’s harassing you?”
I didn’t answer right off, I had to mull it in my mind for a few moments. Stopping on the walk before stepping down to cross the street, I said, “Darnelle, I think there’s a good chance he’s involved somehow. He doesn’t have the smarts to plan anything, but then again he is the type to bushwhack a man.”
We started on again. “I’m wonderin’ who the other fellow is. There’s somethin’ about him, I can’t quite figure,” I told her as we walked up to the store.
“Miles!” exclaimed Darnelle, pointing.
In red paint was written on the window of the door, “Stay away from Forrest!”
She looked up at me, concern etched in the wrinkles of her forehead. “What do I do?”
I smiled at her, “Stay away from me. But I’ll stay around to walk inside the store after you unlock the door. Make sure there’s no boogerman inside.”
“Miles, this is no laughing matter. Someone is out there.”
She was right. Someone was trying to get my goat. I’d keep my eye on Teeter and his companion for I was sure they were somehow involved. Hopefully, I would get some kind of answer from Blasco, so after I made sure there was no one in the store, I wandered on over to the telegraph office. “Send this out, will you Stan? As soon as an answer comes back get it to me pronto.”
He read the note, then proceeded to tap it out. After it was sent he turned to me, “What’s this all about, Marshal?”
“That’s what I’m tryin’ to find out,” I said, turning to go. “Remember to get that reply to me as soon as it comes in.”
Coming back out of the office I saw the man with Teeter standing outside the Gilded Bar. When he noticed that I was watching him, he went inside. I had half a mind to go find him, but what good would that do? I looked up and down the street then started back down to the diner. Looking down I watched where I stepped, then smiled. “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord,” came to my mind…