I didn’t hurry down to the Wells Fargo office since I no longer worked for them, but I also didn’t want to keep this gentleman waiting.  As I walked into the outer office the clerk caught my eye and simply pointed to the back office.  I noticed immediately that Jensen, the manager of the Durango office was missing.  Behind the desk sat a well-dressed man and standing close to him another well-dressed person.  My mind went back to the Wells Fargo office in Denver, but there was nothing menacing about the man standing and he seemed quite relaxed.
“Mr. Forrest,” the man who was seated stood and reached out his hand.  “I’m Gilford Covney and this is U.S. Marshal Jens Blasco, head of the Rocky Mountain region.”
He seated himself, and motioned to the chairs.  “Sit down, sit down, both of you.  I’m finally glad to meet you Mr. Forrest.  I’m sorry to hear of the epidemic in Durango.  Diphtheria–a terrible disease.  I hope that you were not affected.”
“Some friends,” I replied.
“Oh, I am truly sorry.”
I know that some people say that and they don’t mean anything; they are just spouting words, and then there are others who say it just to be saying it, but I felt that he was genuine when he spoke.
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Forrest, have you ever heard of the Secret Service?”
I nodded that I hadn’t.
“We were formed in 1865 as an investigative agency of the United States government whose primary duty is to protect the government from fraud.  Do you know that right now roughly one-third of the money in circulation is counterfeit?”  He didn’t give me time to respond.
“I don’t mean to bore you, but I want to offer you a position with our agency.  I know that you recently were relieved of your duties as Wells Fargo detective and I know that you are a ‘special’ U.S. Deputy Marshal.  I have been authorized by the head of our department and the Treasurer of the United States to offer you a position as an agent.”
I looked at him.  “What would be my duties?”
“Right now we are losing gold and silver somewhere before it reaches the Mint in Denver.  Not a lot of it is missing at once, but a little here and a little there, but after a while it all adds up.  You can remain here in Durango, but you would have to travel to Denver from time-to-time.  Also you need to check on the major mining operations in the state.  Check their manifests and then follow it on down to the Mint.”
He paused and there was some silence in the room.  I stroked my moustache.  He began again, “We work closely with the U.S. Marshal’s office; that is one of the reasons for Marshal Blasco to be here.  He would be your contact person, and he is also here to witness our conversation.”
I looked at the Marshal and then back at Covney and thought, “Conversation, the only person conversin’ is you.”
“When do you need an answer?” I asked.
“Tomorrow, I leave on the train tomorrow,” he hesitated.  “Don’t you want to know about pay?”
“Not that important if I believe the Lord wants me to take this job.”
He sort of chuckled, not trying to be mean.  “Well, to ease your mind, the pay would be $75 a month plus expenses.”
“My mercy, I know where some of that gold is disappearing to.”
“I hope you’ll join us.  We need good men,” he said standing and putting out his hand to shake.
“You all need a good meal?”
“Sure,” these were the first words from Blasco.
“Come to the M & M Diner and I’ll treat you to supper.  Best in town, plus there could be a ‘die-for’ pie waiting for the three of us.”
“Sounds good,” said Covney.  “We can discuss the position more over supper.”
“My wife would be able to join us.  I want her in on the discussion.”
We all started out the door and onto the boardwalk…

It scared us when Marta collapsed.  Charlie picked her up and took her to our pallet behind the kitchen.  Doc shooed us out, except Molly, and checked her over.  We could hear him muttering and once in a while pick up a word or two.  “No fever…throat feels normal…stay with her…cool compress…”
He came out, walked past us and went over to the table.  Before sitting down he poured a cup of coffee.  Charlie and I looked at him, then at each other.  At the same time we walked over to the table.
“Well?” I asked.
“Well, what?” came his reply as he took a sip of coffee.
“Marta!  Is she okay?” asked Charlie.
Doc took another sip, he could be downright ornery at times.  He smiled and said, “It’s not the diphtheria.  I think she just plain wore herself out.  She’s been through a lot over the past week or so.  Beaten by those ruffians, her mother hurt and then dying, and little Lucas and Molly almost dying.  I figure she is just plumb tuckered out.  A good day of rest or two and she should be alright.”
By the middle of the week Marta was up and around.  Glass had been put back in the now M & M Diner, and with Doc declaring the quarantine over there were a few customers.  There were quite a few folk that were tired and so came to the diner for a meal as they didn’t want to cook at home.  Charlie and I went hunting a couple of times and filled the icehouse up with elk and venison.  Charlie even bagged a black bear.
Marta was back to her old self, smiling and working with Molly.  Things were so busy with me out hunting and the customers that I hadn’t even had a chance to talk with her about Eliana.  Nor had I had the chance to ask Molly about a piece of pie.  She was baking them, but always they went out to the customers.
Last Sunday after Sunday sermon, Charlie told me to come with him.  Durango was fortunate to find him for a marshal.  Some of the ones in the past were a little on the shady side, especially when Judge Wray was in office.  He said he had something he wanted to show me.
As we were walking up the street from the diner he said, “Miles, that kitchen is not the place for you to make a home.  It’s small and has no privacy whatsoever!”
“Charlie, if you remember right, I had a cabin once.  It was destroyed by my enemies.”
“I recollect.  But that’s just it.  Once you let the ashes settle you clear them out and start building again.  Didn’t you hear the parson this morning?  You need something for you and Molly.”
“Well, maybe with the reward from Bellows I can start looking for something,” I declared.
“Miles, how long have you been away?”
“On to a month.”
“And when was the last time you ventured up the hill to where your cabin was?”
“Oh, let’s see, maybe last fall.  Why?”
We walked up the hill and low and behold, there was a cabin standing on the property where the old one was built.  Not exactly the same place but only a few yards from it.  I looked at Charlie.
“Doc, and few of the folk in town,” he stammered a bit, “And myself pooled our resources and work and built this for you and Molly.”  He paused again.  “‘Course it isn’t completely free.  The taxes on the land have to be paid, but with the reward I figured that would not be a problem.”
“Charlie, we can’t…”
“Okay, be stubborn, we’ll give it to Molly then!”
I turned toward him and then put out my hand.  We started up toward the cabin when Henry came running up.  He was sort of the town errand boy and I thought at first something was wrong with Hawk. 
“Mr. Forrest, I’ve been lookin’ all over for yuh,” he said out of breath.  “Yur to come immediately to the Wells Fargo office.  There’s a man there to see you.  I think Covney was his name.”

I jerked my pistol and turned slightly toward Ferguson. I was thankful I drew first for he was fast, mighty fast and still beat me. His gun fired and I felt a slight tug on my left side; if I had not turned his bullet would have hit me center. I fired right after him and caught him in the chest. I couldn’t worry about the other men, but I had to take Ferguson first.
He was on his knees trying to lift his gun. I fired and hit him approximately in the same place and he fell backward with the impact. With my second shot my mind heard a shot from a larger caliber, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it as I felt the bullet from the man on my right hit my leg. I turned toward him and fired a shot. I thought I missed so I fired again and he crumpled to the ground.
There was now only one bullet left in my gun. I had to make it count as I turned to face the man on my left. When I turned his way I saw that he was already lying on the ground–dead. I limped toward Ferguson. He was alive but the light was quickly fading from his eyes.
“Why?” I asked.
He choked out an answer. “The money, it started with the money.” His eyes closed. Then came a cough and blood came from his mouth. He tried to talk, slobbering, “Then it became a quest.”
He stared at me. “Forrest, someone will get you yet.” Choking now, he murmured, “Solomon Bellows, not Ferguson,” and with that he passed on into eternity to meet with his Maker.
With the excitement dying down I became very conscious of the pain in my leg and gave way to its weakening and dropped to the dirt in the street. I figured I would survive if the bullet hadn’t hit an artery, but the pain was beginning to grow.
Then I felt her touch, “Miles.” Molly was there, and it seemed as if everything was going to be alright. Marshal Gold was right behind her and a fellow went to find Doc. He had to be about somewhere with all the sick people in the town.
A few days later we were sitting at a table in the eatery drinking coffee. We hadn’t opened yet as the town was almost completely quarantined, but there was more movement now and it seemed the epidemic was on its way out. Doc and Marshal Gold were with us. My leg was stitched up but had a burning sensation and I couldn’t be much pressure on it. The bullet that Ferguson fired had only creased my side but there was a burn there. It seemed that no matter which way I turned I felt the ache in some part of my body.
Marta was in the kitchen cutting us a piece of pie that Molly had baked. “It was a rifle bullet,” said Marshal Gold. “Someone shot that third man right through the eye.”
When he said that we all just looked up and at each other. “Trenton?” asked Molly.
“There has been nothing seen or heard about him being in town. Nor do we have any idea of who the shooter was,” replied Gold.
“Well, he sure saved your hide, Miles,” joined in Doc. “And this here Ferguson was really Solomon Bellows?”
“Seems that way, Doc. Miles, you’ll be in for a hefty reward. He’s wanted in several states for robbery and murder.”
We told Doc and Charlie that we decided to give Marta partnership in the eatery. “We’re gonna tell her after she brings out our pie,” I said. “Least we can do for her and Lucas.”
Almost upon call she came out. I noticed that the usual smile wasn’t there, but I counted that to her still mourning the death of Eliana. Molly spoke up. “Marta, Miles and I decided to make you a partner in the diner. We’re going to call it M & M’s Diner. What do you think?”
She set down the pie, sort of hard to my thinking, and it looked as if a smile started to form on her lips, but then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the floor…

We have been trying to get her to drink, but her throat is so sore she cannot swallow. I am sorry, Senor Miles,” said Marta softly.
The hours moved into days. Sitting on the little chair by her bed, well, I just sat and prayed, and prayed, and tried to get water down her. I kept a cool compress on her throat hoping that should help. It was going into the third day that I began to come to my senses. I had been so self-centered I forgot to take in my surroundings.
“Marta, where is your mother?” I asked.
“She passed a week ago.”
I was so caught up in my own pity that I forgot the plight of others. “I’m so sorry.” I looked around again. “Lucas?”
“Very sick, in the other room.”
Shame rushed over me and I dropped my head. “Marta, can you forgive me?”
She put her hand on my shoulder. “Senor Miles, there is nothing to be sorry about. We sorrow, but life must continue. We pray, but it is the Lord who decides.”
The smell had diminished and I looked to the corner and couldn’t spot the Pale Rider. I must have fallen asleep and woke with someone’s hand on my head. It was Molly. Her eyes were open. “Miles,” and she coughed. “I’m so thirsty.”
“Water, agua, now, hurry,” I was in a fluster. I held her up so she could drink. After a few swallows she said. “Miles, you, you shouldn’t be here. The diphtheria, you must go.”
I just smiled. “Try and get me out of here. More water?” She nodded.
Just then Marta came from the other room. Fear struck me as I looked at her. She appeared somber, but then, there came that smile of hers. “There’s someone in the other room that would like to see you. I’ll take care of Molly.”
There was Lucas, lying on the bed, his dark brown eyes open. “How’re you feelin’ pardner?” I asked.
“Weak, very weak, but better.”
“You get some sleep now; when you get better we’ve got some work to do.”
“Si,” and he smiled. “Maybe we can get the Senora to bake us a pie,” he smiled again and closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
I went back into the room with Molly. The recovery was miraculous. She was sitting up and drinking water. There was already some color coming back into her face.
“Praise the Lord, Molly, I thought you were a goner. My faith, it was so weak.” I looked at Marta.
“She knows,” and Molly reached out to take her hand.
“Eliana was a gracious lady,” said Molly and I saw her squeeze Marta’s hand.
Going over to Marta I gave her a hug. “She will be greatly missed.”
“Miles, I need a change of clothes, will you go get them for me? Also, check on Doc. I know he must be exhausted.”
I looked at Marta. “It is alright, I will look after her. Go.”
“Be back in a few minutes,” and I headed toward the eatery.
I was a block away when I heard, “Forrest!” Three men came out into the street. “Surprised?” came the voice.
I didn’t recognize two of the men, but the other was Ferguson. They began to spread apart with Ferguson in the middle. I heard him cough.
“You’re finally going to meet your Maker,” he paused and smiled. “You’re not so big without that scattergun.”
I measured my chances and they weren’t so good. One, maybe two, but I doubt I could get all three of them. I also hadn’t checked my Schofield since arriving back in Durango. But I kept it oiled and cleaned; it would be ready. Some people say that time stops at times like this. I wasn’t going to let that happen, in fact I figured I might speed it up some.
“Go for it Ferguson. You’ll be at the Judgment before I get there.” I jerked my gun and…