There was movement in the brush alongside the creek and I had left my rifle in camp.  I reached down to ready my pistol when a tan blur jumped from the bush.  I started to draw my pistol, but it hit me before I could get it out.  Knocking me backward, the pan flying in one direction landing on some rocks making a racket.  But then…that was it.  I looked to see what had happened.  It was a cougar, but I guess he decided that I wasn’t going to be that tasty a meal.  Reckon I surprised him, and he jumped at me then took off up the side of the slope.

     I breathed a deep sigh, then said, “Thank you, Lord!  You have definitely delivered me from the lion.”  It was then I felt a pain in the top of my left arm.  I looked at my shoulder, saw the jacket was ripped and there was a small stream of blood.  A few inches to the right and it could have been my face, or worse, my neck.  To look at the arm better I needed to get back to the fire for better light.  It was then I remembered to find my little pan.

     Picking it up, I thought that maybe it was the sound of that pan hitting the rocks that scared off the lion.  Then I chuckled, who was I kidding?  It was the Lord for sure.  I hadn’t had an encounter with Him for quite a spell.  Of course, I hadn’t been out by myself in the wilderness very often either.  I remembered the times in my life that He appeared at my campsite, giving me comfort and direction.  There was that one time when I found a can of salve left from one of the encounters with him.  I sure wish I had some of that now as my arm was beginning to hurt.

     Arriving back at camp, I fed several small branches into the small fire to build it up.  I pulled off my jacket so I could look at my arm.  There was a slight gash with blood seeping from it.  Nothing serious, in fact my shirt and jacket probably saved it from being much worse.  “Need to be more careful, Miles,” came the voice.  I jumped, looked around.  Nobody was there.  “You know better than to be that careless in the woods…”  

     There was no one there, but the voice, I had definitely heard it.  I smiled, He was there all the time.  “Yes, Lord,” I said in a whisper for some reason.  “I know better, and I’ll be more careful.”  There was no reply.

     I picked up my rifle, and the empty pan as I had forgotten to put water in it, and headed back to the stream.  Several minutes later I had the pan on the fire and water was boiling.  Soon I would have a cup of coffee to get the morning started on a better note than it had been.  But then, I thought, it had started on a good note.  There was the hand of the Lord on me as He protected me.  What could be a better start to the day?  

     As I was sipping on the coffee and waiting for the rest of the chicken to heat, I thought that every day the Lord is with me to start it off.  I just don’t often recognize that He is there.  After eating, I went to the stream to wash as much blood from my jacket as I could.  Molly would be able to mend it when I got home.

     I had a small bait of oats which I gave Star as I saddled him.  When he was ready to go, I let him finish eating while I had a final cup of coffee then put out the fire.  It was time to be on down the road.  I was hoping that today I would catch up with Martin.  I wasn’t hankering to be out too long on this trip.

     Star was moving at an easy lope, and it was moving close to noon when I came over a little rise to be greeted by the sight of buzzards flying overhead.  I stopped to see if I could spot something that they were sighting in on.  I wished I had brought my field glasses, but I didn’t even think about packing them.  I just wasn’t used to being on the trail, and was a little lax.

     I rode Star down the hillside, walking him while I pulled the Greener from my scabbard.  That was one thing I hadn’t forgotten.  I normally travelled with a rifle and the shotgun.  In my line of work, it pays to be well-armed.  There were several large boulders ahead which I saw would be a good place for an ambush.  While I wasn’t expecting one from Martin, I still rode slowly into those rocks.  Renegade Apaches was on my mind.

     To my right I saw a buzzard on the ground coming from between two large boulders.  I halted Star, dismounted and walked toward the bird.  I waved the Greener and he squaked but flew away.   Slowly I crept through the opening.  At first glance I saw where there had been a fire, then to my chagrin I could see the birds feasting on…

It had been a while since I had Star on the trail; it was all I could do to hold him back, he wanted to run so badly.  I would have taken Hawk as he was a better horse when I had to trail somebody simply for this reason.  Star, being partly thoroughbred, wanted to run and I needed to move slowly so I didn’t lose Martin’s tracks.  The last time I had Hawk out he was sort of sluggish, plus he was still recovering from that nasty brand put on him.

     I had thought about going over Wolf Creek for it would save a day on the trail, but this was mid-October and I could get caught in a storm up on the pass.  Mainly I went the way I did because I hoped to catch up to Martin on the trail.  It was nigh on to a week’s travel to Taos, and the ranch was south of the town.  I reckoned that Martin would be in a hurry and the road was fairly well traveled from Farmington on over to Taos with few places that would be feasible to cut off.  He would have to spend two nights camped out, but if I didn’t catch up to him he might stay the night in Dulce.  Between Durango and Dulce there wouldn’t be any hotels, but he might find some generous soul who would put him up for the night.

     With that thought I had to chuckle.  As bigoted as Martin was I doubt he would sleep in the house of a Mexican or an Apache wickiup.  Speaking of Apaches, I was riding into Jicarilla country.  Though mostly peaceful they still had a big mistrust of Americans and it would not be past them to attack a single rider.  I had only dealt with them one other time, but they were like most Indians, peaceful unless riled.  They believed they were people who came from below the earth.  We would call it the underworld.  They had been hit hard by disease, especially consumption, but as of this day they were not confined on a reservation, which made them somewhat more dangerous.

     If Martin had not had any dealings with them, he could be in for a world of hurt.  Some young buck, or a small group, might just decide that he was easy pickings.  With that thought I pulled my rifle from the scabbard, checked the load, and carried it across my saddle.  They might think this lone rider was easy pickings as well.  

     With the decent road, and since I knew where Martin was going, I decided to let Star trot.  He could follow the road whilst I kept my eyes out for anything that might be unseemly.  That night I stopped to make camp just this side of the San Juan River.  The next morning we would cross it, and then head into higher elevation.

     Molly had put together a rather large bag of vittles.  I ate a ham sandwich for lunch, but tonight I will be dining on cold chicken.  I could heat it, but I rather like a cold drumstick, but I did make a fire if for no other reason to make coffee.  Sitting there munching on that chicken and eating biscuits, I thought of the many, many nights I spent like this.  Molly had put in half a chicken so I ate a drumstick and thigh planning on eating the other half for breakfast.  I smiled when I saw that she had put in half a dozen hand pies.  I’d eat one, well, maybe two, tonight and save the others for tomorrow.  I wasn’t worrying about running out of supplies, and Dulce was only two days away.

     Eating the last of my apricot pie and sipping my coffee, I smiled.  This was the life I had been used to, and it was a life that I enjoyed.  The ground would get hard along come morning as I had gotten tame sleeping in a bed with a soft mattress.  I went ahead and put more wood on the fire, and had several pieces I could add to it should I waken during the night.  I knew it would be quite a bit cooler in the morning.  “Lord,” I whispered, not really knowing why since I was the only one there, “I sure do want to thank you for findin’ this ol’ broken down cowboy those many years ago.”  I chuckled to myself.  “We’ve been through some times, ain’t we.  Thanks for seein’ me through them, and helpin’ me along the way.”

     It was sometime early morning that I woke up.  I didn’t move, but laid there and listened.  There was a slight breeze and I could hear it moving through the tops of the trees.  The night was clear with thousands of stars appearing, but there was something.  Star snorted, then tramped his hooves, that’s when I moved quickly to the shadows near him.   I stood motionless near Star and he calmed down with my presence.  It could have been some varmint, wolf, even a bear or lion…it could have been an Apache as well.  I stayed with Star for maybe half an hour before going back to my bedroll.  Since I was awake, I decided to go ahead and stay up.  

     Picking up the pan that I made coffee in I went down to the stream to rinse it out and fill it with water.  After rinsing it I filled it with that cool mountain water and took a long drink.  While it was at my mouth, there was noise in the brush across the stream and to my right.  Dummy me, I left the rifle in camp.  Then…

I went up to saddle Star, then would head down to see Moses Vexler at the livery.  He should know if Martin left town or not, at least if he took a horse from the livery.  He was outside filling up the trough when I rode up.  

     “Figured you’d be by sooner or later,” he muttered standing up still holding the bucket.

     He didn’t say anything more, so I jumped right in.  “Amos Martin been by?”

     “Yep.”

     “Did he happen to say where he was goin’?”

     “Nope”

     “And you don’t know?  Am I right?”

     He smiled, spat a mouthful of tobacco juice on the ground.  “Nope, I know.”

     “Moses, don’t make me get off my horse and thump you.  Tell me!”  I exclaimed, getting a little exasperated.

     Chuckling, he remarked, “He went off to get his daughter and bring her back.”

     “How’d he know where she was?” I questioned to which I received a shrug.

     “Get on down, I want to show yuh something anyway.”  He then started walking toward the corral gate.  I did as requested and followed after him.  Opening the gate, he stooped down and motioned for me to join him.  “See that?” he pointed to a hoof print.  “That’s the horse Martin’s ridin’.”

     I reached out to touch the print as if it would help seal it in my brain.  Then I looked at Moses, smiled and nodded.

     “Cost yuh a dollar for that information,” he said jokingly to which I completely ignored him and mounted Star again.  Tipping my hat, I had another stop to make before starting out on the trail.  Just before I turned Star, Moses hollered, “Oh, by the way, he headed south!”

     I waved then headed down the street towards the diner.  Loosely tying Star to the hitching rail, I walked in to see a commotion at my table.  Molly, Charlie, Mateo, Father Cisneros and a woman were all there.  The woman was sobbing, and speaking so fast I couldn’t catch a word.  She kept repeating “apenado” over and over.

     Mateo saw me enter and motioned for me to stand by him.  He whispered as Molly and the Padre were trying to console the woman.  “This is Camila Vasquez,” he informed me, with a frown on his face.  “She told Martin where Agatha and Javier were living.”

     Camila glanced to where I was standing, then started outright bawling.  “Por favor, Senor, lo siento, por favor perdoname.”  Father Cisneros stepped away from the hysterical woman to join me with Mateo.  “Marshal Forrest,” he began and I could tell he was in distress.  “Camila is part of my flock,” he paused to look at her, the crying now turning to heaving sobs.  “She was afraid for my life,” he paused again.  “You may recognize her as she was one of my nurses.  She overheard us talking one time and sent a message to Mr. Martin.”

     “She thinks you’re going to throw her in jail,” offered Mateo.

     “Can either of you assure her that she’s not goin’ to jail, an’ that I understand why she did it?” 

     Father Cisneros went back to her and while he was talking with her I motioned to Molly to come see me.  “I need some food for the trail.  Make it a couple of days, if I’m out longer than that, I’ll get something somewhere.”

     Mateo came over to join us.  “It shouldn’t take me long to track him.  Moses showed a shoe the horse was wearing.  As long as there’s not any bad weather I can easily follow it.”

     “Get yourself a cup of coffee while I throw you a lunch together and a bag of food to take along,” she ordered then headed for the kitchen. 

     A few seconds after entering the kitchen, Emelda emerged to come to Camila.  It seemed she knew the woman and began to speak softly to her.  After I poured a cup of coffee I saw Camila look my way.  I gave her a smile and a nod to which she partially smiled.  Father Cisneros was nodding his head in approval.

     Thirty minutes later Star and I were on our way after Martin.  Such a stubborn fool.  What was it the Lord said in His Word, “Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”?

     I had been debating whether or not to have those affected by Martin’s schemes to go with me to arrest him.  That really wasn’t their job, but it would be good to have witnesses with me in case Martin decided to do something.

     “I have no animosity towards him,” remarked Father Cisneros when I spoke with him.  “Truthfully, I pray daily for his soul.”

     “Father, if’n yur up to makin’ it, I’d appreciate it if you’d come with me.  I understand if you can’t,” I said with concern.  He was still some beat up from the Feakes and Barstow.  “I’d like to have some witnesses when I confront Martin.”

     He acquiesced only if Rev. Chapman would be willing to go with him.  I hoped the Parson would see his way to doing so, but he was still concerned about Betty and the what might have been, plus knowing that he killed a man weighed on his mind.  However, within the hour I had both men of God walking with me up the street towards Martin’s Hardware.

     “Miles?” questioned my pastor, “You’re not going to pronounce judgment on Martin, are you?”

     Scowling at him, I replied, “Parson, my job is to arrest, hopefully peacefully, then it will be up to the people to decide guilt or innocence under the law.  Unless I am protectin’ the two of you, or myself, then I’ll not harm the man.”

     The preacher, bowed his head, not in prayer, but in shame for doubting my integrity.  “Sorry, Miles, I know you better than to think that.  Forgive me?”

     “Nothin’ to forgive,” I stated, then when we stepped up on the boardwalk, I moved the Greener from my right hand to the left.  Standing outside the store I looked at each man, nodded then tried to open the door.  It was locked.  This time of day Martin should have been open for business.

     “Martin!  Amos Martin!  Open up, this is Deputy United States Marshal Miles Forrest.  Open up!”

     “Miles, there’s no light on in the store,” declared Rev. Chapman who had been peering through the window.

     “Stand back,” I ordered, then kicked at the door, breaking it open.  “Martin!” I hollered again.

     “Stay behind me, in fact get down behind one of those counters, this might be an ambush,” I commanded, then began to move slowly down the long aisle of the store towards the back.

     There was no one in the store.  I glanced at the narrow staircase in the backroom.  I knew that Martin and his now married daughter Agatha, had lived upstairs.  Taking each stair softly and as quietly as possible I began to ascend.  This would be a terrible place if Martin would throw open the door and start shooting.  I would have no chance.  But nothing…I reached the door at the top of the stairs, turned the knob and carefully opened it.  I didn’t know what to expect.

     It was empty…  

     Both the men were waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase.  I shrugged, and was shaking my head when I got to them.  “Where do you think he went?” questioned Father Cisneros.

     “I’m not sure.  I’m goin’ to have a look out back, then if’n my suspicions are right, have a talk with Moses Vexler down at the livery,” I paused in frustration, then sighed.  “You men can go on home.  Thanks for comin’ with me.”

     “Miles, let us pray for you, before we leave,” requested Parson Chapman.  As was my custom I didn’t bow my head nor close my eyes as the two men of God put their hands on my shoulder and prayed with the Parson leading.  I nodded my thanks and appreciation to them then walked away.

     Opening the back door carefully, I peeked out then opened the door looking around before stepping down into the alley.  There had been a horse there.  I moved to where it had been tied, bent down to study the tracks…