I said to myself, ‘In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.'”  — Ecclesiastes 3:17, NLT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     “Pull yourself together!” I ordered.  “McGinnis and who else?  And who is this McGinnis?”

     “The Kid, he calls himself the Kid,” muttered Tanner, who was gaining control of his emotions.  “Sorry, Marshal, it’s just that I’m the only deputy left, the other three are dead, and Marshal Peters was shot down right in front of me, and when the Sheriff tried to stop it, he was shot.  I was fortunate to be able to drag him down to the office.”

     I looked back where Charlie lay, “They’ll pay for this,” I promised, then told Tanner I was going for the doctor.  He gave me directions and I heard the door being locked as soon as I left.  

     I didn’t try to hide myself.  Some here in Silverton knew me, but since I had never heard of McGinnis or this Kid, I didn’t reckon they would know me by sight.  My jacket covered my badge, so I walked normally to the doctor’s office which was a block on the other side of Greene Street.  Silverton always had a need for a good doctor with the injuries that occurred to the miners, but in the past they didn’t last long, just a little longer than a marshal.  

     In front of a small house, there was a red cross and below it read, “Doctor’s Office — Zedekiah Minton.”  Since it was an office I didn’t bother knocking and went right on in the entrance.  There was a little room to my left with a couple of chairs, and to my right was another room with the door closed.  

     “Doc, Doc Minton!” I hollered.  I was half-tempted to go through the closed door, but thought better thinking that he might have a patient in there.  “Doc!” I yelled once more.

     The door opened slightly and I saw part of a face peek out.  “Have a seat, I’ll be right with you.  I’m with a patient,” he informed me, then quickly closed the door before I could say anything else.

     I didn’t bother to sit, but stood in the little entryway–waiting.  It was a good ten minutes before the door opened again and out walked a young woman with a boy who could not be more than ten years old.  The doctor was chatting to them.  I tipped my hat and received a slight nod from the lady.  “Now, remember to take that medicine with food,” admonished the doctor then patting the boy on the shoulder.  

     After escorting them to the door and opening it for them, he turned to me.  “Now, what can I do for you?”

     “Grab your bag and coat and come with me.  Sheriff Gold has been shot and is in dire need of your services.”

     He donned a coat that was hanging from a rack near the entry, then went back to the office to get his bag.  “How bad is he?”

     “That’s why I’m here, I need you to check on him.  He was shot twice, once in the upper chest area and once in the head.  I’ve got the bleedin’ stopped, but he’s needs your attention.”

     He was ready to go.  “He’s up at the jail.”

     As we walked at a brisk pace, he remarked, “I heard shooting the other day, quite a bit in fact, but that’s nothing new in Silverton.”  He stopped, I figured he wanted me to tell him more.  

     “When we get inside, I’ll explain more.”  It only took us a few minutes to arrive at the jail.  I banged on the door, and Deputy Tanner slowly opened it.  I took the doctor right on back to where Charlie was.  I got out of his way so he could work on Charlie and turned to Tanner.

     “Now, where can I find this McGinnis and so-called Kid?”

I also noticed that throughout the world there is evil in the courtroom.  Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!”  –Ecclesiastes 3:16, NLT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

     There was sunshine hitting the far peaks when I arrived in Silverton not long before dusk.  The air had a chill that sort of bit right through you when the wind stirred it up.  Shops would be closing in the next hour so that would keep movement on the streets to a minimum.  I was traveling light, carrying only saddlebags and my trusty Greener.  Instead of going up Greene Street then over to the jail, I decided to go along the tracks a ways, then cut up to the jail.  It was located just a block and a half from the notorious Blair Street.  Good location for a jail.

     I could hear the racket coming from around the corner from the saloons and other places of vice.  Catching myself shaking my head, I never could figure out why a miner, especially one with a wife and kids, would go to one of those places and spend all their hard earned wages.  However, once Brewlinski took me down a shaft and I began to get a glimmer of why.  Those men worked with death all around them in the darkness of a hole where the only light was from the light on their helmet and lanterns in the shaft.  They came out of that hole and went to party, laughing that they had escaped death another shift.

     Arriving at the jail, I could see that there was a dim light inside, but upon trying the knob, I found it locked.  That puzzled me.  “Open up!” I hollered banging on the door.  “Marshal Forrest!”

     I thought I saw movement by the window, then I heard the door being unlocked.  A man with a badge greeted me with gun in hand.  Not to my liking.

     “Come in Marshal, hurry!” he rumbled, his eyes darting in the coming darkness.  “Hurry, before someone sees.”

     After entering, he quickly locked the door again.  “Come away from the windows,” he commanded, the fear coming from his tone.  “I’m Lucius Tanner, deputy.”

     He didn’t bother to reach out his hand as it still held the gun.  At times it was pointed toward the floor, other times at the front of the jail, and there were those times that it landed on me making me somewhat anxious.  Finally I said, Put that gun away!”

     Looking at me with wild eyes, I thought he might take exception, but did as I ordered and holstered his pistol, then wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.  This boy was scared.

     “Where’s Charlie?” I asked receiving no answer.  “Sheriff Gold, where is he?”

     “Back in the first cell.  I didn’t dare try to get him to Doc Minton.”

     Pushing by him, I marched to the cell finding Charlie laid out on a cot.  Blood was on his shoulder and the side of his head.  “Have you sent for the doctor?”

     “No, I didn’t dare go out.  I tried to clean him up the best I could, but I had to watch the door.”

     I went to Charlie and found him breathing.  He had lost a lot of blood, but I saw the wound on his head was just a scratch.  Head wounds tend to bleed, and it must have rattled Tanner seeing all that blood.  As I rolled Charlie over, I heard a groan, that was good and I quickly saw that the bullet had gone through, that was also good, but not much was done in the way of care.

     “Get me some rags and hot water,” I ordered.  Tanner just stood there, looking over my shoulder at Charlie.  “Now!”

     He scurried away, while I began to remove Charlie’s clothing away from the wound.  It needed cleaning, and then I could make a better assessment.  At least for the most part it had stopped bleeding, that was also good.

     It took a few minutes to get water heated and after I had Charlie’s clothes removed, I went to see Tanner.  “Can you tell me what in the world is going on that’s got you in such a fright?”

     “They’re dead,” he cried.  “They’re all dead.”

     “Who’s dead?”

     “All the deputies, shot down.  McGinnis and, and that…”

Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past.  For God calls each even back in its turn.”  –Ecclesiastes 3:15, NLT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     My hand went instinctively to my gun.  I pushed Doc to the side, ready.  

     “Miles!  You scared me!” cried out Luciana.  “Mateo told me what happened and with the boys in school I thought I might come by to help the Senora.”  She then looked over my shoulder to where Molly was sitting.  “She is all right, is she not?”

     I was a bit disturbed at myself, ready to draw, and shoot if need be and it was only Luciana.  I nodded, “Thank you for coming.  Uh, let me open the door so you can get inside.”

     She stepped in, saw Doc and gave him a greeting and hug, then hurried over to where Molly was at the table.  Molly gave me a little wave, so I went on out the door, closing it behind me.  

     “Let me go check on my patient.  I’ll get back to you later,” said Doc, then he rushed on across the street.

     Rushing up the boardwalk, I wasn’t paying any attention and almost ran over Betty Chapman.  “Why Miles, you should be more careful and observant of your surroundings,” she muttered with concern.

     She was right, of course.  What was going on in my head?  I apologized profusely, she took it, then gave me a smile, nodding her head as if she understood.  I’m glad she did.  She informed me that she was coming down to see Molly and help clean up the diner.  I turned to watch her continue on her trek.  Friends–that’s part of what life is all about.

     Continuing on up to the jail, I entered to see Lucas closing the door to the cells.  For some reason, my attention was drawn to the fact that he was wearing a gunbelt.  I knew he did, but it really never caught my attention.  “You gettin’ any good with that pistola?”  

     He gave me a slight smile.  “Charlie says I’m getting faster each time he takes me out.”

     Nodding at him, I remarked, “Fast is good, but you have to be able to hit your target.  I’ve known several who were faster than the person they faced but are now lying beneath God’s good sod.”

     “Faster than you?” his eyes opened in amazement.  “Senor Miles, you’re the fastest I’ve ever seen.”

     “Lucas my boy, you ain’t seen much, but one of the reasons I’m still standing is that I didn’t miss.”  For some reason my hand went to my side, the location of one of my many scars.  It became quiet, and I said, “I pray that you never have to use that against another man.”  Lucas dropped his head, then gave a slight nod.

     To break up the solemnity, I asked, “How’s the prisoner?  I came up to talk with him.”

     “He doesn’t complain, even at the coffee I bring him,” replied Lucas, then he chuckled.  “He said it reminded him of drinking tar.”

     I slapped Lucas on the shoulder, “Well, Lucas, I don’t ever plan to drink tar, so I won’t have to make the comparison.”  He smiled as I took the keys from his hand to open the door.

     “Okay, Thornton, or is it Short?  I want some answers.”

     “Marshal,” he muttered as he moved to sit up on the cot.  “Are you really going to hold me here?  I’m truly not wanted in Colorado.”

     “How about Kansas?  I was told you’re a wanted man there.”

     “This Thornton fellow might be, but as my dearly departed friend told you, I’m Josiah Short,” he paused for a moment then continued.  “My brother, Luke, ain’t gonna like you locking me up in here.”

     “I know Luke and I don’t reckon he’ll be a bother.”

     His eyes widened quickly when I mentioned that I knew Luke Short, then he quickly gained his composure.  “Give me the names of the other two men,” I ordered sharply.

     “Uh, the one with the fur was Frank Upton; the other one from the kitchen was Curly Coy.  He was a crazy man,” he told me, shaking his head.

     “This doesn’t sound like something Teeter would do.”

     Before he answered Lucas came into the cell area with a telegram.  There was concern etched on his face when he handed me the telegram.  “Sheriff shot, Peters dead — STOP — need your help.  Deputy Lucius Tanner.”

     “I’ll get back to you,” I told the man in the cell, then followed Lucas from the cell room.  “Don’t say anything to your sister until you hear from me!  Got it?”  I headed for the train station to check the time of departure…

And I know that whatever God does is final.  Nothing can be added to it or taken from it.  God’s purpose in this is that people should fear him.”  –Ecclesiastes 3:14, NLT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     I watched, smiling.  That’s how it should be, the wounded caring for the wounded.  No one knows the pain and ache like another person who is suffering.  Hours earlier, both Molly and Doc were forced into a situation that no one should ever have to find themselves.  A situation where they had to take the life of another human.  The weight and burden of that will forever be upon them and it will be only the good Lord in His comfort that will ease the pain they both are currently feeling.

     After Molly finished praying, they continued to sit with heads bowed and eyes closed.  I didn’t want to interfere with the healing process that was taking place.  Both were strong people and with the help of the Lord they’d pull through all right.

     Doc finally broke the silence.  “Miles,” he began, then started shaking his head bringing his hand up to wipe tears away, “I don’t know how you do it.  How can you ever get used to it?”

     “You don’t,” I said in a subdued voice.  “If a person ever gets used to it, then they are hardened almost beyond repair.”  I sighed, feeling the cup in my hands was now almost empty.  “Doc, you’ve seen the scars my body carries from near death experiences.  What you don’t see are those invisible scars.  Wounds that I have had to work through.”

     Molly took one of her hands from Doc and placed it on mine, then gave me a smile and slight nod knowing what I had been through in my life.  “Doc, I’ve laid plenty of men, bad evil men in their grave.  I had to come to grips with the Lord on what I was doin’.  I still don’t understand it all, but I do know that I have been called to help protect the innocent and bring evil men to justice.”

     I got up then to pour another cup of coffee.  Holding the pot I motioned it toward Doc who put his hand over his cup.  Sitting back down, I continued on.  “Doc, I believe that God calls people to certain vocations in life.  I’m a lawman, you’re a doctor,” I stopped to give a half-grin.  “Sometimes you have to patch up the work I’ve done on someone, and, sometimes you have to patch me up.”  He gave a little chuckle.

     “I believe that Molly was called to open this diner and the people that work here fulfill an important part.  None of us know exactly how this all fits in with the Lord’s plan, but we all do our part, where we are, with what we have.”  I took a long swallow after that little speech, then added.  “Sermon over!”

     After another swallow, I said, “Doc, why don’t you and Edith go up to see the Parson.  Just talk things over with him.  It would do you good, and it would help Edith know what you’re feelin’.”

     I looked over at Molly who shook her head.  “I’m fine for now.  I want to get the place cleaned up so we can open for supper.  I’m surprised that Marta hasn’t come down to check on things.”

     “Most likely she’s helpin’ Lola get through this.  She has begun to understand what it’s like to be the wife of an officer of the law,” I remarked.  I looked at Molly, “If you’re all right, I’m goin’ to go check on the prisoner.”

     Doc grunted shaking his head.  “Funny thing, the man you were going to arrest only came out of this with a bump on his head.  His compatriots are all dead,” he paused, then added.  “I need to check on Candless.  I told him to stay in bed today.  His friend was with him and I’ll be sure to tell him that you’re going to speak with the mine superintendent.”

     I threw the last few drops of coffee down my throat.  “Be back in a little while.  You sure you’re okay?”

     She nodded and smiled.  I went to her to give her a comforting hug, then headed for the door with Doc following me.  Just as I was unlocking the door, the knob turned…