I had just left the M&M for a walk around town. The weather was delightful as a chinook had blown in and most of the snow was gone. However, that left for muddy streets.  But a person took the good along with the bad.
I was about a block away from the Broken Drum Saloon when I heard the shots. It was my inclination to run toward the shots, but when I saw a guy run from the saloon I decided to just mosey and let Marshal Billy Denton handle this.
No one else exited the Drum and as I was approaching the boardwalk Billy and the man who went for him were running for the batwing doors. Denton went in, and if I had to take a guess he was there maybe a whole two minutes before he came running out. As I came to the doors I heard laughter.
Walking in I took in the situation, and grabbed the man who ran for Denton. “Better go get the head councilman, Billington over here,” then went up to the bar as he ran out.
The tables were full for so early in the day. Reckon, miners were using up the last of last years money before trying to find jobs in the mines in the spring. On the floor, near a table of three rough-looking men lay a body.
“Howdy, Rufus,” I said to the bartender. “Man dead?”
“Forrest. Don’t see you in here much. What can I get you?” returned Rufus.
“I’m hear to check out your coffee. Doin’ a comparison for the Diner.”
“Coffee!” came a voice from the table of toughs. “This ain’t no diner, this is a place for drinking men!” Which brought a laugh from the rest of the room.
I turned my back to the bar and looked at the men. At that time in rushed Billington.
“Where’s the marshal?” he asked blustering.
“Been here, and ran back out,” replied Rufus.
“Do something Forrest!” Billington ordered.
“Okay,” I stooped down to check on the man laying on the floor. “Yep, he’s dead.” Rolling him over I asked, “Rufus, ever seen him before?”
“I don’t really recall the face. He might have been in here before.”
“Forrest, I’m ordering you to do something!”
“Why, Mr. Billington, you’re the closest we have to a law officer for the city in here. I reckon it’s up to you.” I knew I was being ornery, but just couldn’t help myself, but I inched down the bar as I stood to get my coffee.
The man at the table grinned and stood up. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at me,” he paused, spat at the spittoon and missed. “Matter of fact, I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. Why don’t you take me in or draw; one or t’other mister hot-shot.”
I thought Billington was either going to have a stroke or wet his pants. He started shaking and then ran out of the saloon. That brought more laughter.
Turning back I took a sip of coffee. “Not bad, Rufus, but can’t compare to Molly’s.”
“Well, we don’t get much call for coffee in here,” he replied defensively.
“Rufus, I like this town. I live here, I’m a citizen,” then I half-turned toward the table of toughs. “Have you ever seen this bunch before?”
“Naw, they rode in this morning as I was opening up.”
“Well, I reckon I can’t let this ride, it’d ruin your business and affect the safety of citizens,” I said and then to the one who said he shot the man. “You shoot him?”
“I said I did! What’s it to you?”
I swung around bringing the Greener with me, catching the man across the forehead. The other two began to draw, but I brought the Greener around, fired into the ceiling with one shot, then leveled the other on them. I had their attention. “There’s one more shot left. Your choice, boys. Take your hands off your guns and unbuckle them. Nice an’ easy-like.”
They heeded my suggestion. Good thing looks can’t kill. I pointed the shotgun at one. “Pick them up carefully and lay them on the end of the bar.” With that being done, I turned to the man who had run the errands. “Help me get this riff-raff to the jail.”
Speaking to the man’s friends. “Enjoy your drinks, boys.” Then I turned to Rufus. “Sorry, about the ceiling. Let me know and I’ll pay the cost for repair.”
He was looking up when I went out the door. “Come back again, Forrest, but not too soon.”

Brrr, it got colder during the night. I got up from the comfort of the bed and went over to stoke the embers in the fireplace. I tossed on a couple of pieces of kindling to get a flame, then added a couple of logs. It wasn’t long ’til I could feel the warmth begin to permeate our little cabin.
I don’t know what it was, but something caught my attention outside. It sounded like it was coming from the stalls. It was too cold to be going outside, but I better go check. I sat on the edge of the bed to pull on my boots. As I was pulling on my britches, Molly woke.
“Miles, what’s wrong?”
“Probably nothin’, but I could hear some commotion out by the horses,” I paused as I finished buttoning my britches. “Thought I better go check. I won’t be but a few minutes.” I put on my holster and grabbed the Greener.
As I stepped outside the cold hit me like a knife. It was snowing a little when we went to bed, but it had stopped and the skies were clear. Looking up I could see the thousands and thousands of stars, twinkling. The moon was full and the light it gave against the pure white snow was almost eerie. Pulling the collar of my sheepskin coat around my neck, I pushed my hat down a little tighter and walked toward the stalls.
Going into the stalls I could tell the horses were agitated, especially Hawk. I went over to him and spoke softly to him asking what the problem was. Maybe I just don’t know horse talk, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Out of the corner of my eye I picked up some movement. Or maybe it was just the shadows.
The horses started acting up more. There was definitely something out there. Wolves? Grizz had killed two, but the tracks we saw a week ago showed that there may have been up to six or so. Since he had trapped the two it seemed like the others took off for other places.
I stepped out from the stalls to the door. There was a snarl. I turned and something was leaping in the air at me. I didn’t have time to fire so I fell to the ground and as I did I thrust the Greener at the object. I felt it connect but I don’t know if I did any damage to the animal. I must have surprised it when I fell for it overshot me.
Rolling to my right the object stood and looked at me. From the brightness of the moon I could see the eyes and then as it snarled its fanged reflected in the moonlight. It was a wolf. I couldn’t fire the Greener for Star and Two-Bits were behind the wolf and the buckshot would hit them too.
Slowly I walked to my right and out into the open hoping that it would follow me out. The snarling continued, and I held the Greener now as a club.
There was a loud yelp and the wolf thudded at my feet. I immediately jabbed down with the Greener cracking the skull of the wolf. It had moved close enough to Hawk to receive a good kick from Hawk’s back legs.
Glancing up I turned and saw three more run toward the timber. Pulling my pistol, I took my time and fired. I heard a high-pitched yelp. I wasn’t sure I made a killing shot. The moonlight was pulling tricks with shadows and my depth perception seemed off.
“Miles!” came the voice from the cabin.
“It’s all right, Molly. Shut the cabin door.”
Reaching down I grabbed the wolf by the tail and drug it away from the horses and stalls. I moved it a good forty yards up to the edge of the timber. I thought about looking for the one I may have shot, but going into that timber, in the dark, after wolves would be some kind of stupid. I’m not quite that foolish.
Going back to the cabin I checked on the horses one more time. I made sure that they had sufficient room to move if they needed. Walking back to the cabin I heard that howl that over the years has sent shivers down my spine.
As I walked through the doorway, Molly was sitting at the table with a rifle in hand. I pulled off my coat and hung it on the rack and went to the fire to warm my hands. “Wolves,” I said. “Molly, light the lamp, I want to check the stock of the Greener. I sure hope I didn’t crack it when I clubbed that wolf.”
“You clubbed a wolf? I thought I heard you shoot?
“There was one up by the horses. I thought for a minute it had me, but Hawk gave it a good kick and it landed at my feet. I clubbed it with the Greener. Then I saw three others up by the tree-line and I fired at one.”
“Will the horses be all right the rest of the night?” she asked.
“I don’t reckon those wolves will be back tonight, but I’ll stay awake for a while. We need to get rid of them, Molly.”
“I’m awake, I’ll stay up with you.” She stood up, grabbed the coffeepot and opened the door to fill it with snow. “I’ll make us some coffee.”

It had been cold this week. There were some small snow flurries, but the nights were like knives cutting through you, it was so cold. I reckoned it was below zero, and the days didn’t reach above the freezing mark. Naturally, I sat most of the time near the stove in the diner and drinking coffee. I had just poured a fresh cup and sat down when through the door came Billy Denton along with two of the city council, Thomas Billington and Wilson Foster. I tried to ignore them as they marched right up to my table.
“Forrest! We warned you about causing trouble! We should have the marshal here arrest you,” yelled Billington.
Now that caught me by surprise. I really don’t know why for there’s no-telling what these uppity folk might say or do. “Arrest? Trouble? Mind tellin’ me what I’ve done?”
“Can you use it?” I asked with a smile, then took a sip of coffee. “The rifle I mean,” finishing my statement.
My, my how quickly the blood rushed up his face to his ears.
“Fact is, I hired a man to hunt some wolves when we found tracks just above my place in the woods. We figured about half dozen wolves lurkin’ around.” I wanted another cup of coffee, but I didn’t want to offer this bunch a cup. Oh, Billy I didn’t mind, he was just, well, he was just Billy. “Bein’ that close to town, they’ll lose their fear quick enough and then watch out for children could be in real danger.”
“That’s it, could be! You’re causing fear in everyone because of your ‘could be.'”
“Let me tell you straight. The only people I’ve told is the man I’ve hired to hunt, Doc Jones, my wife and the folks that work here. Mind tellin’ me how you came to hear ’bout the wolves?”
“My son Nathaniel, came home from school. Said that half-breed that you seem to allow hang around here mentioned something.”
Guess it’s just my tempetuous nature, but I couldn’t let that slide. My foot kicked the chair on the other side of the table and it slammed into the Councilman Billington. I was up and had his collar in my hand and was ready to let my fist explode into his nose when I heard, “Miles!” It was Molly. “What are you doing?”
“I was goin’ to give the right righteous Mr. Billington a lesson in good manners and humanity.”
“Miles,” she said with a mild disappointment.
I released the councilman and went back to my chair, picked up my cup and poured another cup of coffee. “Why don’t you gentlement sit down? I’ll get you all some coffee,” said Molly.
“No, thank you, Mrs. Forrest,” said Wilson Foster.
However, Billy ventured in and said, “I’d like one Mrs. Forrest.”
Molly smiled at him, “Okay Billy…and I know, with honey.”
“The other thing that has come to our attention is the fact that you’ve encouraged Charlie Gold to run for sheriff. Billy, here, is law in Durango.”
Sometimes stupidity just flows out of these men. “Now, tell me what that has to do with Billy. He’s marshal of Durango, but Charlie is runnin’ for sheriff, that means a county position.”
“Yes, but his office would be here in Durango!” Foster finally said something.
“I don’t see what you’re gettin’ at. Wouldn’t it be to your advantage to have two good lawmen living in Durango?” I said and watched Billy sort of puff up some.
“We don’t want him intefering with the marshal…”
At that moment Grizz came in through the kitchen. “Don’t mean to interrupt your discussion as I’m sure it’s important, but Miles you might want to come take a look at this.”
I followed him back out through the kitchen and into the alley. I didn’t recall that I asked for anyone to follow but those at the table were right behind me. Grizz pointed and laying in the alley were two large wolves. “Kilt them this mornin’,” he said. “After I skin them I’ll bring in the ears for the bounty.”
“Bounty,” came the flustered voice of Billington. “We don’t have a bounty on wolves.”
“Better check the minutes of the council,” I said. “Good job, Grizz,” and slapped him on the shoulder.

Grizz had just left the table. We had been kept supplied with wild game, but he knew that he needed to hunt further away from Durango. The deer and elk would soon vanish from the area and that would surely force the wolves to attack cows, horses, and if hungry enough, people. The winter hadn’t been real hard yet, but that could change. Also, they may find hunting here much easier.
“Want me to go with you?” asked Molly holding up the telegram.
“Sure, ifn you want to. Trip’s all paid for along with the hotel in Denver,” I replied after taking a sip.
The Secret Service wanted me to follow the first load of gold and silver out of Silverton to the mint in Denver. Just to see if I saw any irregularities or downright thievery. The bullion would have to be transferred three times: here in Durango, Santa Fe, and Fort Lyons. I really didn’t know how much ore there would be as there was not much work during the winter months.
“It shouldn’t be real busy here,” I remarked. “The miners will be headin’ back to the mountains and lookin’ for jobs with the larger companies. Marta and Ahihu should be able to take care of things.”
Molly was sitting there, letting her coffee get cold; there was a frown beginning to form on her face. Turning she looked at me and said, “Did you really tell Lucas he couldn’t work here anymore?”
Where did that come from? “Reckon I did. He was refusin’ to go to school.”
“But Miles, Lucas doesn’t work for you. He works for the M&M Diner; that’s me, and Marta.”
I sort of ducked my head and picked up my cup. After finishing what coffee was left in the cup I remarked, “Worked, didn’t it? He’s been in school and also able to work here and up with the horses. I even told him I’d give him fifty cents more a month if he would exercise Two-Bits. ‘Fraid of him with Star and Hawk yet.”
“Yuck!” she exclaimed as she tasted her coffee. “Cold! Let me go throw it out.”
She got up and went to the kitchen where she tossed the cold coffee out in the alley. I surely hate to see good coffee thrown out, but about the only thing worse than cold coffee is no coffee. She was on her way back to the table and as she approached I pushed myself out of the chair and reached for the pot on top of the stove. It was still about half full. Turning back I saw entering the diner one of my most unfavorite people, Marshal Billy Denton.
I sat Molly’s cup down and poured myself a cup as Denton approached our table. Just as he reached it I turned my back on him to put the pot back on the stove. Nothing intentional, or maybe subconsciously it was.
Sitting down, I asked, “What can I do for you Billy?”
“I’m here on official capacity; direct from the City Council,” he stated matter of factly.
“How’s the arm, Billy?” asked Molly with genuine concern.
“Doin’ right well. Thank you for askin’ Mrs. Forrest.”
“Now,” he said looking at me. “You have to move the smokehouse you keep out back beyond the city limits!”
I sort of laughed, well, at least smiled when I replied. “Don’t look at me. That smokehouse belongs to the M&M Diner. You need to talk to the owner,” and I pointed at Molly.
He turned and started to talk, but Molly beat him to it. “Sit down Billy. Miles, get him a cup of coffee.”
Billy took a seat, and much to my consternation I got up to get him a cup of coffee. After pouring it I made sure I set it down without spilling any of it. I said I don’t like to waste coffee.
“Do yuh happen to have any sugar or honey?” he asked looking at me.
“Miles, be a dear and see if there’s any honey left in the kitchen. It’s on the shelf to the right of the stove.”
I started to open my mouth and say something, but I got that look, so I moved on out to the kitchen trying to make my grumbling not heard. I found the honey and returned.
As I set it down in from of Denton, he had a questioning look on his face. “I’ll need a spoon.”
Molly just looked at me, and nodded her head. I got the message and walked on back to the kitchen. Marta was over to the side, giggling. I glared at her and she fled to the backdoor where the giggle turned into laughter.
“Before I sit, is there anything else I can get either of you?”
Billy shook his head, and Molly said, “No, thank you, Miles.”
He poured the honey in his cup. “Why in the world did he need a spoon?” I thought to myself and I soon found out as he began to stir clanking the spoon against the ceramic mug.
“Mrs. Forrest, there is a new city ordinance that states there can be no smokehouses within the city limits. I’m sorry, you’ll have to move yours.”
“And just where is this here city limits?” I blurted.
“Uh, ah, ah, I really don’t know,” he said.
“Billy, when must it be moved? And I really need to know where it can be located,” she said much sweeter than me.
He began to stutter again, “Well, ah don’t know when it needs to be moved.”
“Could you be a dear, Billy, and find out those two things for me?” now the sweetness was getting just too icky for me.
“Sure will, Mrs. Forrest. Thanks for the coffee,” he said, then walked out without another word to me.
“See Miles, you don’t have to be so impetuous…”