Lucas was the first off the train. He ran down the steps and over to me, excitement pouring out of him. “Marshal Miles, the train, it moves so fast,” he stammered excitedly. “It is much faster than your horses–even Star. But it is noisy.”
I saw Molly rush toward the passenger car. I took Lucas by the arm and we followed as I asked him, “How’s your sister?”
Then I saw her coming down the few steps followed by Charlie. Both seemed to be all right and walking normal. Molly grabbed Marta and gave her a hug, then straightened up when she remembered her injury. “Oh, Marta, I’m sorry. I forgot, I am just so happy to see you.”
Marta leaned forward and gave Molly a little kiss on the cheek. “I’m okay. Still a little tender, but the ride on the train came me some time to rest,” she smiled, then became very somber almost where a glaze came over her eyes. She stood there a moment just staring. Charlie came up and took her by the arm, whispered something to her and she took a step.
He looked at me, and I could see the concern. He was holding one arm, and Molly was at the other. Marta turned her face to Molly. “Would it be all right if I don’t come right back to work for at least a few days?”
“Sure, Marta, take all the time you need,” Molly replied squeezing her arm.
“Charlie,” Marta said softly to Charlie, “could we go on home? I’m tired and very sleepy.”
“We’re headin’ that way right now. Lucas, get our bags and bring them on down to the cabin,” commanded Charlie.
Marta stopped as they approached me. She reached out her hand, her face in a frown, then it turned to distress. “I, I should know you.” She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head from side to side. “You’re, you’re…a friend of Charlie’s,” she finally said with a smile.
“Sweetheart, this is Miles,” hinted Charlie.
Marta looked at me, then turned to look at Molly. “Then you must be Molly. Charlie has told me so much about you two.”
I had thought to bring a buggy as I didn’t know what shape Marta would be in when they arrived. At the buggy, after Charlie helped Marta up and settled he mouthed to me. “I’ll talk to you later.” He climbed in and snapped the reins and they went on down the street toward their little cabin.
Molly was standing there, one hand holding her mouth. “Miles,” she muttered in wonderment. “What’s wrong with Marta? She acted so strange, and then,” she stopped and gasped. “She didn’t recognize either of us.”
“I don’t know. Charlie said he would talk to us later,” I said talking her by the arm. “Let’s go back to the diner.”
I was still looking the direction that Charlie had taken when I bumped into a man. Rather, he ran into me; almost knocked me down.
“Watch it mister,” he snorted. Then he turned to Molly. “Sorry ma’am, say, aren’t you the woman from the diner?”
She just nodded as I looked him over. He was quite a bit taller than me, and today for sure he didn’t look like a miner nor a cowboy as he was all dandied up.
“Maybe I’ll see you again,” he said, tipping his hat, smiling then turning to go on his way.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“I have no idea. Miles, I don’t like him.”
We went on down to the diner. Since it was mid-morning the crowd had dissipated; there were only a couple of tables with customers. As soon as I had coffee poured Charlie came in the door. Taking off his hat he walked over to our table. Molly got up and poured him a cup of coffee.
He sat down and sighed. Molly and I looked at him, but sat in silence waiting.
“Doctor said she has a form of amnesia,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “Not much else to say. Her ribs are still tender and she sleeps a lot.”
“Does she recognize you?” I asked very concerned.
“Most of the time, but once in a while she looks at me in a daze.”
Molly reached over and put her hand on his arm. “We’ll be praying that she’ll soon snap out of it.”
Charlie gave a slight smile, and took a swallow of coffee.
The door opened and in walked Doc Jones. I wanted to hear his take on what Charlie said. Then my eyes saw the tall man behind him. The man who bumped into me…
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This day in the Texas Revolution: Fannin departs for Victoria. Urrea learns of Fannin’s departure and pursues and halts Fannin at the Battle of Coleto near Goliad.
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
So dark out there, if a feller lit a match, he’d probably have to light a second one to see if the first one was actually burning.”
–J. Lee Butts (Written in Blood)
“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!”
–Matthew 6:23 (HCSB)
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I trust you contemplated the first part of Psalm 18 that I left with you last Monday. I hesitated to copy the second portion as it is a little longer, but then I looked at it and there is so much that David faced and passed on to us. Take time to go back over this portion of the Psalm. It will definitely bring you comfort and assurance. Psalm 18:7-19 HCSB:
7 Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because He burned with anger.
8 Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; coals were set ablaze by it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down, a dark cloud beneath His feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place, dark storm clouds His canopy around Him.
12 From the radiance of His presence, His clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High projected His voice.
14 He shot His arrows and scattered them; He hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
15 The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my distress, but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
Jerome, wrote this about this portion of Psalm 18, “Because we are little and lowly and unstable to lift ourselves up to Him, the Lord stoops down to us and in his compassionate kindness deigns to hear us. In fact, because we are people and cannot become gods, God became man and inclined Himself, as it is written: ‘He bowed the heavens also and came down.'”
God knows our need. He knows it better than we do. We might want this or that to happen when we are in adversity, but because He is all wise, and if we submit to His wisdom and will the provides what is right. The Almighty is on our side. Read this section over again and see the power of God and note that it is at work in our lives.
He will reach down and rescue us. He knows when and how. He saves us when we are at our weakest. For some reason, we simple and sinful men think we can handle all our problems. Yet, we cannot see behind the veil into the spiritual. God allows us to expend our energy and strength, and then when we are weak He shows His strength.
I think it is often hard for us to comprehend that He is on our side. We sin, we repent and then fail again. But yet, the Almighty takes delight in us. In the midst of our catastrophe, whether physical or spiritual, whether the fault of others or self-induced He still delights in us.
It will be a terrible day when the Lord finally does away with our true enemy. Remember, friend, today is the day of salvation. Live and be glad in it.
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This day in the Texas Revolution: Albert Horton’s cavalry and Urrea’s advance forces skirmish near Fort Defiance.
Coffee Percs
There was plenty of coffee, and my eyes lit up for she finished off supper by bringing in a custard pie.”
–D.C. Adkisson (The Evil Eye)
“I’ll take a bone and a cactus root, a hunk of taller, and an old brown boot…” say Pard, don’t be sneaking up on me. Huh? If I wasn’t singin’ so loud and off key I would have heard yuh poundin’ on the door. Well, sit yurself down, coffee’s on its way. I know it’s not even graylight yet, but didn’t yuh happen to notice that the porch is now finished? Yep, that does it for the outside of the house, except one place that needs some paint after bein’ fixed up. ‘Course there’s plenty of landscaping to do. A load of dirt is supposed to be hauled in on Monday. We’re not plannin’ on doin’ much; want to leave it as natural as possible.
I’m workin’ on my fourth book in the Elias Butler series. I sure hope you’ve read some of them. It helps me buy coffee and beans and the fixin’s for Annie’s pies. Speakin’ of the gal, and this is no disrespect, but she shore does look good and gets around good for an ol’ gal. Yep, tomorrow is the big 7 0. Yeehaw! An’ this galoot has had the good Lord bless me with the opportunity to spend most of it with her.
Tryin’ to stay away from readin’ ’bout politics. It’s shore gonna get crazy. I’ve been readin’ from that ol’ preacher of olden days–Isaiah. Israel was a mess, and it seems like we’re about to surpass it in our stupidity. I’ve been tryin’ to formulate some thoughts in my gray matter and when I get them put together I’ll share with yuh pard. What? Comin’ up, right now you’d like for me to share some more coffee. Hmmm, makes me wonder how many cups we’ve shared together over the years.
Sure glad I’ve got my .44 and shotgun handy. I have an ol’ Mossberg. To hold it or the revolver is a comfort, but sure not the same as holding my Bible. In these days, it seems that most people aren’t comforted. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. You be safe…watch out for those “cino” lovers out there and for goodness sake tighten up that cinch.
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This day in the Texas Revolution: Amon King and his 14 men are executed. General Tolosa arrive with his men near the Alamo in San Antonio.
Echoes From the Campfire
Many things considered by civilized people as necessary were merely superficial. Annie had the great qualities, virtue, courage, and love.”
–Zane Grey (The Drift Fence)
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
–Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
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“Doll, here is some money for your birthday. Why don’t you take Don out for dinner?” So said Annie’s Dad to her on that birthday more than a few years ago. His nickname for her was “Doll” and I don’t know if he really used it here, but it fits and I knew it was going to be a good relationship from that birthday so many years ago.
I remember the first birthday that I shared with her. She thought we had been dating too much and, though I didn’t agree, we decided to “cool it” for a while. Then I was asked to get her over to the Joust (Student Union) for a surprise birthday party. I had just agreed to not see her so regularly, but not sure how I got her to come with me. Maybe I gave her that “look” and she followed me and “Surprise”! Let me see, I reckon that would mean that we’ve spent 50 of her birthdays together.
Now today isn’t her birthday, I’m beating the gun some. It’s actually Sunday, but I don’t write “Echoes” on Sunday and so here it is. We don’t move as fast as we used to, well, I don’t anyway. She’s still a go-getter; you know she’s been that way ever since she went and got me. Ha–need to laugh in here somewhere.
So I’ll say an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the grandest gal I know!! Bar-none!
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I came across the following prayer from Cowboys 4 Christ. We don’t thank the Lord nearly enough for all the things He provides for us and all the things He does for us. Now before anyone says anything about it, I didn’t misspell the word “cosy”, it came that way.
~ Heavenly Father, Thank you for today, for all the ways in which I have known you…
For the sunrise and the birdsong For the music I’ve heard, and the things I’ve enjoyed,
For the meals, and for the cosy home I live in For my close family and for my special friends,
Most of all, thank you for being beside me through each moment. May I dream good dreams and arise again tomorrow to thank you once more. In Jesus’ name. Amen. * God Bless and keep Sharing the Good News !!! ~ C4C
There are so many things in this little prayer. Don’t miss out in what the Lord has given you each and every day. Even through the night He is watching, and I’ve always wondered how He is working on us while we are sleeping.
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This day in the Texas Revolution: King’s troops are captured by the Mexicans.