All along I have tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, ‘I am determined to be wise.’ But it didn’t really work.” –Ecclesiastes 7:23 (NLT)
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Taking the keys I went inside the cell block to open the cells where Blackhand and Logan were kept. Opening the cell, I said, “Let’s go. You’re free.”
Both looked at me, Billy Blackhand smiled, and Davy Logan gave me a dull, doped look. I wondered how he would do without the laudanum that Doc was giving him. We walked on out to the office where Lucas was getting their guns and other personal items for them.
Blackhand looked at his pistol. “It’s not loaded!”
“You can load it after you’re out of town. If you do so before, I’ll run you back in.”
“Billy, help me,” cried Logan. “Fasten my holster around me. No, the other way, I’ll have to use my left hand.”
Lucas had sent for their horses which were being kept up at Moses Vexler’s livery. We were standing outside when Nob Linsell, a youngster who worked for Moses, brought them down. I flipped him two-bits.
“Marshal, you don’t have to do that. Moses pays me well,” he remarked.
“Take your gal to the parlor for some ice cream,” I said laughing, causing him to blush.
He joined in with the laughter, “Maybe I just will.”
Logan was having trouble mounting his horse. Partially because of his hand, and partially because of the laudanum. I didn’t bother to help, and I noticed that Billy didn’t either. Finally, after Logan was in the saddle, Billy mounted his horse.
“Coloraw has been reported up by Lake City,” I told him, getting no response.
He stared at me with not hatred in his eyes, but almost as if they were empty. Hollow, like his soul had become. “I hope not to see you around these parts again,” I spoke sharply to them.
“You won’t, lawman! You won’t see me, you won’t hear me…”
I cut him off. “Get on out of here, or I’m liable to throw you back in that cell.”
He pulled his gun out, and reached for a bullet on his belt. I pulled my pistol, pointed it at him, and cocked it. “You put one bullet in that gun and I’ll blow you out of the saddle.”
Laughing, he pushed the bullet back in the loop, and holstered his gun. “Let’s go Davy.” Then he gave a loud whoop, kicked his horse and galloped on down the street to the West, followed more slowly by Logan.
Lucas stepped up beside me and muttered, “Guess, they’re not going to Coloraw’s camp.”
He opened the door to the office, then stopped. “Senor Miles, I have not been in the job long, but I have seen the hearts of men. It is, as if that one was vacant here,” he said, touching his chest. “Nothing there.”
I nodded. “Lucas, unless the Spirit of God resides in us there is all sorts of evil that can and will take residence in our hearts. It takes different forms in different people, none of it good.”
“Si, Senor, I am learning…”