I discovered that God created people to be upright, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)

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

     There was a reflection of something, rifle barrel perhaps?  Leaving Star in the arroyo knowing that he could not be seen I moved along the wash around to the back of the boulders where the mysterious man waited.  There were  forty yards between the wash and the boulders.  If the man should look back over his shoulder he would surely see me.  All that there was between me and the rocks was a few clumps of yucca.  I moved slowly, for I knew rapid movement tends to draw attention, moving from plant to plant.

     Reaching the boulders I now had another dilemma.  The man was in front, half-way up in the rocks.  From where I was I could not get to him.  The rock where I was standing was too sheer to climb.  I decided to move to my left hoping that there may be a way up.  

     I was just a little ways around the rocks when a small slide of gravel came down.  Natural, or was the man moving or just shifting his position?  I could possibly make it up into the rocks but not holding the rifle.  Besides, it was too big for use in these rocks.  Setting it beside the rock, I frowned.  I would have to use both hands to climb, leaving me vulnerable.  Did the man know I was there?

     Quiet was the word.  Taking off my boots, I climbed with sock feet, praying as I hoisted myself to a level where three of the large boulders came together.  He had a rifle so I knew he would be in the same dilemma, not able to move it quickly among the rocks.  Moving between two of the boulders, I looked up and saw a boot, worn from wear.  It moved causing more gravel to fall, this time down on me.  Realizing I couldn’t go that way I turned to move off to my right.  Stopping I looked back with a smile.  I had an urge to shoot him in the foot, but I let it pass.

     My gun, still in the holster, as I moved trying to find handholds to pull me up.  If I could get up, I would be slightly above him.  That’s where I wanted to be.  I gave a silent grunt, while pulling myself up.  Keeping close to the rock I slid around where I could look down.  The man was in a little culvert between two rocks.  I didn’t recognize him.

     Quietly I pulled my gun, “Mister, if you don’t want to meet your Maker real quick, I’d drop the rifle.”

     He jerked, surprised by my voice.  There was no movement, but I could almost feel the screws turning in his head.  “I wouldn’t,” I warned him.

     It was to no avail.  He turned, firing, but his rifle barrel glanced against the boulder causing his shot to go way wide.  I fired, hitting him in the side, turning him.  He tried to bring up the rifle–I fired again this time hitting the receiver slamming the rifle from his hands.

     He realized then, without the rifle, that it was no use.  Putting his hand to his side, he removed it bloody.  “You’ve played hob!” he exclaimed, slumping down to sit beside the rock that had been in front of him.

     Holstering my gun, I slid down the rock to where he was sitting.  He saw that I did not have a gun in my hand.  I was helpless while he went for the one in his holster…

I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things.  I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:25 (NLT)

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

     I watched as Mateo lifted his gun to fire as I was right behind him.  Slowly he lowered the gun, shaking his head.  “Too dangerous a shot in town,” he declared, clearly frustrated.

    Glancing down the road where the rider went I quickly went over to where I could see clear tracks, then turned to hustle up to saddle Star.  When I was sheriff I always kept a horse saddled, just in case, but being a Deputy U.S. Marshal and now a Colorado Ranger, there was no need.  No need, until today.

     “Tell Molly I’m goin’ to get Star, then head after him,” I informed Mateo and I rushed on up the street.

     It was a good forty minutes before I was on the road.  I stopped in front where I could look down at the tracks once more.  Mateo came out to join me.  “Tell Molly I’ll be back before dark.”  I gave Star a nudge, and he took off.  That horse likes to run, and I let him for the first couple of hundred yards, then slowed him down not wanting to miss in case the rider turned off the road.

     It was one thing to shoot at me, but what he did was downright reckless shooting through the windows of the diner.  One thing became clear with him doing that was that he had no real regard for life.  The tracks were clear and we were a mile from town, so I became much more cautious.  My eyes began to take in the surroundings, the trees, the rocks, the shadows, possible places for an ambush.  

     In the distance I thought I heard the evil cackle of laughter.  It had been some time since the Pale Rider had stalked me so openly.  I know that he was behind every attempt on my life, but this was blatant.  I remembered the calming words of the Savior coming back to me.  That nothing would happen to me until it was time for me to go to glory.  The problem is that I didn’t know which time that would be.  It caused me to smile though.  I knew that He was in control and I had nothing to fear from the sinister forces of evil.

     Looking down, I no longer saw the tracks of the big palomino.  Had he turned off and I missed it?   Quickly I glanced at my backtrail.  I could now be the one who was being followed.  I brought Star to a halt.  There was a small arroyo back a short piece; he could have moved off the road there.  I turned Star to go back and look over the area carefully.  At first glance, I saw nothing, but then noticed that a bit of dirt had fallen from the small bank.  It might be nothing, but on the other hand.  I urged Star down into the arroyo and headed on downstream.  I figured it would eventually go into the La Plata River, but I wasn’t planning on traveling that far.

     I brought Star to a halt after traveling about twenty minutes in the arroyo.  Tracks moved out of the arroyo to the west.  They were not clear, but they were recent, so they had to have been made by the person I was chasing.  Dismounting, I ground reined Star and moved up the bank to peer over it.  Someone could be sitting there just waiting for my head to appear.  I could see that another was moved down to connect with the arroyo I was riding in, then above that wash was a large group of boulders.  After surveying what was in front of me I moved back down and mounted Star.  I decided not to ride out, but to continue to follow the arroyo.

     When I came to the fork where the dry wash entered the arroyo, I reined Star in that direction.  I stopped, thinking I had seen movement up in the large rocks.  Whoever it was would be expecting me from the front, but I had now flanked him.  I dismounted again, this time pulling my rifle from the scabbard.

     After a short distance, but seemingly a long time, I was fifty or so yards away from the boulders when I spotted the palomino.  Then…

Wisdom is always distant and very difficult to find.” –Ecclesiastes 7:24 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

     It had been quiet, at least in my line of work, the past week.  Of course, Mateo and his office were busy with the nightly drunk and barroom fights.  Charlie was making his rounds to the outside communities and was currently up in Telluride.  Me, I was sitting in the diner, drinking coffee and had just finished a piece of butterscotch pie.

     Molly came over to sit with me.  Marta was back at work full time along with Lola, her niece.  Emelda was doing almost all the cooking except for baking the pies.  Mateo was working the morning shift and stopped in to see us.  I motioned to the pot on the stove and received a nod.  As he was pulling out a chair I grabbed a cup to fill it then leaned over to top off my cup.

     “Ahhh, that’s good coffee,” he remarked with satisfaction.  “I don’t know why I don’t take the time to come by here more often.”  He paused, and with an expression that was somewhat of a grimace and a grin, he asked, “Have you ever tasted the stuff that Lucas makes?  I’d almost swear in Klaser’s court that he scraped off the bottom of his boot to add to it.  I’ve had bad coffee in my time, but honestly Molly,” he looked over to her, “it is the worst!”

     “So Alejo is working full time for Bert Winfield now?”

     Mateo grinned, “Si, it sure helps with groceries since he eats most of his meals there.  I feel like I should send some food to the Senora to help out.” 

     “No!” exclaimed Molly.  “He’s not old enough to be working full time.

     “Almost sixteen,” replied Mateo, “plus he wants to be a cowboy and he’ll learn from Senor Winfield.”

     Molly was shaking her head.  “I just don’t believe he’s that old.  But, Mateo, sixteen, that’s too young.  What does Luciana say?”

     Mateo took a long draught of his coffee.  I don’t know how he can do that with it so hot.  “She’s fine, but she did tell him that he must read his Bible every morning and before going to sleep at night.  He also must come home for church on Sunday.”

     Molly thought for a moment.  “That would mean that he would have to get up early on Sunday or come late on Saturday.”

     “It’s not bad, only ’bout an hour out,” he paused, then looked at me.  “Any more news regarding the man on the palomino?”

     “Nothin’,” I replied, with a shrug.

     He took another sip.  “Don’t let your guard down.”

     I gave a little chuckle.  Here’s the young, new marshal giving the old-time lawdog advice.  But I’d surely take it.

     We both jumped, shots were fired and as Mateo jumped for his chair a shot came through the window causing both of us to fall to the floor.  I grabbed Molly pulling her out of her chair as I went down.  More shots, then Mateo was up, and pulling his gun as he rushed for the door.

     Pausing briefly at the door, he went out…

All along I have tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions.  I said to myself, ‘I am determined to be wise.’  But it didn’t really work.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:23 (NLT)

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

     Taking the keys I went inside the cell block to open the cells where Blackhand and Logan were kept.  Opening the cell, I said, “Let’s go.  You’re free.”

     Both looked at me, Billy Blackhand smiled, and Davy Logan gave me a dull, doped look.  I wondered how he would do without the laudanum that Doc was giving him.  We walked on out to the office where Lucas was getting their guns and other personal items for them.

     Blackhand looked at his pistol.  “It’s not loaded!”

     “You can load it after you’re out of town.  If you do so before, I’ll run you back in.”

     “Billy, help me,” cried Logan.  “Fasten my holster around me.  No, the other way, I’ll have to use my left hand.”

     Lucas had sent for their horses which were being kept up at Moses Vexler’s livery.  We were standing outside when Nob Linsell, a youngster who worked for Moses, brought them down.  I flipped him two-bits.

     “Marshal, you don’t have to do that.  Moses pays me well,” he remarked.

     “Take your gal to the parlor for some ice cream,” I said laughing, causing him to blush.

     He joined in with the laughter, “Maybe I just will.”

     Logan was having trouble mounting his horse.  Partially because of his hand, and partially because of the laudanum.  I didn’t bother to help, and I noticed that Billy didn’t either.  Finally, after Logan was in the saddle, Billy mounted his horse.

     “Coloraw has been reported up by Lake City,” I told him, getting no response.

     He stared at me with not hatred in his eyes, but almost as if they were empty.  Hollow, like his soul had become.  “I hope not to see you around these parts again,” I spoke sharply to them.

     “You won’t, lawman!  You won’t see me, you won’t hear me…”

     I cut him off.  “Get on out of here, or I’m liable to throw you back in that cell.”

     He pulled his gun out, and reached for a bullet on his belt.  I pulled my pistol, pointed it at him, and cocked it.  “You put one bullet in that gun and I’ll blow you out of the saddle.”

     Laughing, he pushed the bullet back in the loop, and holstered his gun.  “Let’s go Davy.”  Then he gave a loud whoop, kicked his horse and galloped on down the street to the West, followed more slowly by Logan.

     Lucas stepped up beside me and muttered, “Guess, they’re not going to Coloraw’s camp.”

     He opened the door to the office, then stopped.  “Senor Miles, I have not been in the job long, but I have seen the hearts of men.  It is, as if that one was vacant here,” he said, touching his chest.  “Nothing there.”

     I nodded.  “Lucas, unless the Spirit of God resides in us there is all sorts of evil that can and will take residence in our hearts.  It takes different forms in different people, none of it good.”

     “Si, Senor, I am learning…”