The Saga of Miles Forrest

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Miles found Amos Martin lying on the floor in his hardware store.  Things weren’t adding up in Mile’s mind regarding the recent attacks, and now the main antagonist was on the floor, maybe dead.  Miles was to take Ben Hendricks to the penitentiary later in the morning, but now, now there was a body in front of him.  There was still an unknown assailant on the run.  Could he have been the man to do this to Martin?  If so, for what reason?  Miles had reason to believe that it was Martin that hired Frank Moser, Ben Henricks and the unknown man.  Join with me now in another thrilling episode from yesteryear.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
       Amos Martin’s head was lying in a small pool of blood.  I didn’t want to move him in case his skull was cracked open or his neck broken, but I thought he was alive.  Quickly I jumped up running to the front door.  Unlocking it, I flung it open hoping to find someone close by.  Providence was with me for Herb McKnutt was passing by.  I hailed him, then sent him scurrying for Doc Jones.  Shutting the door I went back inside.  I checked my watch and saw that I still had two hours before I had to board the train.
       It took about ten minutes for Doc to arrive at the store.  Immediately upon entering the store I waved him over to where Martin was laying.  Upon seeing the blood, he exclaimed a quiet, “Oh my!  Move aside, Miles.”
       I watched as he carefully touched the side of his neck, then put his head down close to Martin.  “Well, he’s alive.  You did right by not moving him; his neck might be broken and I can’t tell about his skull until I can move him.”  He rubbed his chin a couple of times, while looking around the room.  “Miles, you go get four men while I scrounge around for something on which to carry him.”
       He got up and started going through the store.  I hastened on out the door and into the street looking for volunteers.  McKnutt was still there, so I volunteered him, then saw some men standing on the boardwalk sort of looking on.  One I recognized, Ben Romero.  “Ben!” I hollered, bring those two men with you and get on down here.  Doc Jones needs your help!”  Most people in the city hurried when Doc needed help for many of them had been on the other end of Doc’s ministrations.
       They followed me into the store and went over to where Doc had found a door that would be used as a stretcher.  Looking down I saw that he had secured Martin’s head with a couple of bolts of cloth.  Ben stopped short when he saw that it was Amos Martin.
       “Why should I help with the likes of him?” snapped Ben.  “Isn’t he the one who tried to stop the marriage between Javier and Agatha?”
       “Why should you help?” I repeated his question with sharpness.  “Because it’s the right thing to do!”
       Doc was shaking his head.  There wasn’t room for four men to get behind the counter.  He was rubbing his chin again.  “It can’t be helped,” he said to no one in particular.  “I just pray that it doesn’t kill him.  Miles, you get by his head.  Ben, you’re the skinniest, see if you can slide down near his shoulders.  One of you other men go to his legs and the other two be ready to step in and help.”
       “We need to keep him as straight as possible, especially from his shoulders up.  Ben you lift from under his shoulders and Miles you hold those bolts of cloth tight against his head.  When he’s up we’ll place him on the door and secure him.  Ready?  At the same time now,” he commanded, and I could see him muttering what I knew was a prayer.
       It went well, and we placed Martin on the door.  I told Doc I had to leave and he asked that I send up either Charlie or Mateo to help, then off I took to get my prisoner.  It so happened that Charlie was in the jail with Lucas when I entered.  He rushed immediately out while I took Hendricks from his cell.
       “Your boss, Martin, is near dead from bein’ beaten,” I told him as I walked him out of the jail and on towards the station.  There was a slight facial movement but he quickly regained his stolid composure.
       Upon entering the train car, I was surprised to see Betty Chapman sitting next to a young girl.  It was Agatha.  I hurriedly placed the handcuffs of Henricks to the seat and went down to her.  As I approached I saw Javier and the Parson walking down the aisle.
       Javier sat down across from his bride, and after the Parson took his seat, I asked, “This is a little above and beyond the call of duty, isn’t it?”
       He looked up and gave me a smile.  “Why, Miles, isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do?”  He paused for a moment, then continued.  “In fact, isn’t that why you’re involved with Hendricks back there?” he nodded toward him with his head.  “Seems that was out of your jurisdiction.”
       “My badge doesn’t have jurisdiction restrictions,” I hastily replied.
       “Exactly,” he came back at me, and touching his Bible, “neither does my ‘badge.'”

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
It’s been three days since the trial of Ben Hendrick.  I would be taking him to Canon City tomorrow to begin serving his sentence.  Hopefully, on the way I might gain some more information regarding the man who had escaped and the involvement of Amos Martin.  So far, he had been close-mouthed regarding others and had become quite sullen.  I tried to play on that whenever I saw him, mentioning the fact that he was left to take the blame.  Or saying something like a “fine lot of friends he had.”  Anything to work on his mind.
       The morning after the trial I went to Martin’s Hardware.  He opened at 9:00 and I was there shortly after.  “Just checkin’ on yuh, Martin.  I want to make sure nothin’ happens to yuh.”
       “What do you mean, ‘checking on me?’  I haven’t done anything wrong!” he bellowed as if I had hit him.  Perhaps I had.  
       “Well, we have a kidnapper who’s escaped custody, and I want to make sure no harm befalls you,” I replied with a large smile.
       He gave a grunt, then snapped, “Why would any harm come to me?”
       I pointed with my finger in the air, then lowered it towards him.  “Say, that’s a good question.”  I stopped to begin my exit, then turned back to Martin.  “Just so’s yuh know, I’ll be checkin’ on you regularly.  Either myself, or Sheriff Gold,” I said, letting that linger for a moment then added, “or Marshal Ramirez.”
       The blood began to flow up his neck.  “You be havin’ a good day,” I remarked then walked out of the store.
       I was at his shop the next morning to greet him before he opened up.  “Mornin’, “I greeted him with a grin.  “Trust yuh slept well.”  Then I proceeded to walk off down the boardwalk.
       Charlie walked by as he was closing up for the evening, but just for the orneriness of it, I had Mateo stand outside during the day for twenty minutes or so.  I hadn’t quite figued it out why he hated the Mexicans and most likely Indians so much.  Come to think of it, when any Utes or Pueblos come to town they don’t bother going into Martin’s store.  ‘Course they might not need anything there, but perhaps there could be something deeper.
       The third day, I waited just before noon to walk in to greet him.  He was waiting on a couple of customers and I purposely interrupted.  “Howdy gents,” I said congenially, “Martin, I didn’t want yuh to think I forgot ’bout you.  I’ll be takin’ Hendricks out tomorrow, but don’t yuh worry, I’ll see that yur well-guarded.”
       “Well guarded, what did he mean by that?  Amos, are you in some danger?” questioned Tom Kramer, a local farmer.  He turned to me, “Marshal, are we in danger being in this store?”
       Shrugging my shoulders I simply replied, “Ask Mr. Martin about that,” then turned and walked out.
       I would be leaving mid-morning, but I wanted to see Martin one more time before I left.  I arrived at the hardware store around 9:30 and was surprised to find the door locked.  There were lights on inside.  Since I’m the curious sort, part of being a marshal, I walked on to the back.  There were horse tracks at the back door and when I went up to it I found it partially opened. 
       I gripped the Greener in my left hand, and pulled my pistol as I stepped inside the store.  The backroom was dark, and I stepped to look through the doorway before entering the main part of the store, I stopped to survey it.  No one was inside.  Slowly I moved in and approached the cash register.  Before getting there I saw a form lying on the floor behind the counter.
       Martin!  I stooped down to see if…

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

As Moser put pressure on the stirrup as he began to mount I saw a slight giving.  Luciana must have felt it for she pushed against the saddle throwing herself off to the right.  When she did that the saddle came off on top of Moser; Mateo didn’t tighten the cinch.
       When Luciana went off the side, I rushed forward, leaping up to grab the man with Enrique pulling him, Enrique, and saddle off his mount.  The horse kicked a couple of times then ran off.  As I struggled to get up from underneath the load, I heard shots, then the sound of horses running away.  Glancing up, I saw the third man fleeing on horseback down the street.
       Getting to my feet first, I saw the man beginning to rise.  I saw the Greener laying at my feet.  Quickly I picked it up, then gave the man a thump on the head.  Mateo had come up, followed by Doc.  They were bending down next to Luciana.  I heard a groan from her as Doc began to check her over.  Enrique had scrambled up and rushed to his father, putting his face into Mateo’s chest, slightly sobbing.    
       My eyes moved over to Moser, on the ground, not moving.  I assumed he was dead.  With Luciana falling off the other side of the horse, Mateo took a chance and fired, the bullets striking Moser in the gut, then a second one in the neck.  He died quickly.
       Mateo and Enrique stooped down next to Luciana, who was conscious.  Doc Jones muttered something to them that I didn’t catch, then got up to approach me.
       “He dead?” he questioned pointing at the man on the ground.  I lifted the barrel of the shotgun to my head motioning that I gave him a little tap.  “How about you?  You all right?”
       I nodded, then asked, “How’s Luciana?”
       “She may have a broken arm, but other than that she’s fine.  A little traumatized, but she’ll make out all right.  I told Mateo to take her down to the office where I can examine it more closely.”
       By this time Mateo had helped his wife to her feet.  He looked my direction and I nodded.  “Go ahead, I’ll take this miscreant to jail, and check on Alejo while I’m there.”

       Reaching down I grabbed the man by the back of the collar to pull him to his feet.  He was moaning and whining about his head hurting and that he had his rights as a citizen.  I didn’t pay him much mind as I pushed and prodded him toward the jail.
       “Lucas!”  I hollered entering the office.  “Open a cell, I’ve a customer for yuh.”
       I could hear the cell door opening then saw Lucas holding the door open.  I pushed the man on through and then went in behind him.  He started for the cot, but I banged him on the knee with the Greener.  “Nope, not until I get a few answers from you.”
       When I swung the shotgun up to hold it on my shoulder his eyes widened.  I reckoned he thought I was going to kabonk him one on top of his old coconut and he threw his hands up over his head.  “Yuh got a name?”
       “I don’t have to tell you,” he muttered, still wide-eyed.
       “Nope, but it’s easier to do while yuh have some teeth,” I replied, giving him a quick smile and moving the shotgun slightly.  I wasn’t going to knock his teeth out, but there was no need him knowing it.
       “Hendricks, Ben Hendricks,” he gritted.  “Why’m I in jail?”
       Now, he had to be kidding me, or was he that that stupid.  “For starters, kidnappin’, then resistin’ arrest,” I informed him.  “When I get over to the desk, I’ll think of some more to add to the list,” I paused to let that sink in, then added, “‘nough to put you away for ten years or more.”
       “Where’s Moser?”
       “Why thought yuh knew; he went out and bought himself some real estate, small plot, but it’ll fit him right proper.”
       “That Mex kill him?” he snarled, until I brought the Greener down to lightly thump him on the noggin.
       I moved up close to him.  That’s Marshal Ramirez to you, now who was the man that rode away?”  When he didn’t answer I gave another little thump.  He still didn’t answer, just moved away until he was hugging the wall.
       Turning away from him, I walked out of the cell locking it.  “That’s all right, I’ll be bringin’ Amos Martin to visit yuh, and I just hope that the woman survives,” I added to give him something to gnaw on.
       “No, you can’t…

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I started running as soon as I heard the shots with Doc following close behind me.  He wasn’t quite as spry as he once was, ‘course then, neither was I.  Upon entering the Mexican section of town there wasn’t a soul in sight, but I could see a few heads peering from windows or a doorway that was cracked open.  Perhaps a third of the way inside, at the second intersection I saw a body lying in the street.

       Upon seeing that, I slowed to a walk.  A door opened, I turned, pointing the Greener that direction.  A man appeared in the open doorway.  “Senor, a la derecha,” he said, pointing to the right.  Nodding, I moved to the house across the road.
       Doc had caught up to me.  I saw him looking at the man in the street and he started to take a step in that direction until I grabbed his arm.  “Hold on!  You don’t know what’s around the corner.”
       Moving cautiously, I edged myself close to the wall at the corner then peered around the other side.  Was the man fooling me?  Then I heard a shot; down and to the left.  I slowly moved out from the building.  “Doc, stay right on my heels as I run.”  Then I took off, not bothering to look to see if he was following me.
       As I reached the other side, he must not have seen me stop as he ran right into me.  “Doc!”
       I heard him mutter something, but couldn’t make it out.  “I’m goin’ on down the street,” I informed him.  “It’s probably safe for you to check on that man.”
       When I started moving along the sides of the homes, Doc went to check on the man.  The shooting had stopped, but I had a fairly good notion of where it was coming from.  Slowly I moved toward where the shots had come, I didn’t want to be mistaken for the wrong person.
       There was movement in the shadows–Mateo.  Looking across the road, the worst possible thoughts went through my mind.  Whoever it is has Mateo’s wife and younger son in the house.
       I stayed hidden, I don’t think Mateo knew I was there.  Then a voice sounded out from the house.  “Mex, you leave now and maybe I’ll let your woman and kid go,” came the voice with an evil snigger.
       Tapping the adobe with the barrel of the Greener I wanted Mateo to know I was there.  He took a step away from the building to see me and nodded.  I motioned that I was going to move down to the right and come up next to his house.  He nodded again.  There was a small open area I had to cross to get there, but fortunately there were no windows on that side.
       Leaning against the house, I could hear voices inside.  There were at least two men, maybe three inside.  I edged up along the wall, when the same voice hollered out.  “I want you to bring us three horses, then get away.  We’re takin’ yur family along with us for insurance.”  Then came another laugh.
       Mateo wasn’t one to talk much; he was more of a take action type.  I motioned with my head for him to leave, so he then hollered out, no threat, just a matter of fact.  “I’m getting the horses.  You touch either of them and you’ll pay dearly.”  A laugh came from inside the house.
       I wasn’t sure, but I thought the voice sounded like Moser.  We needed to get them out of the house and away from Mateo’s family.  How, I didn’t know.  I whispered a prayer for wisdom and help.  I looked down the street where I had come from and saw Doc hugging the wall.  When our eyes met, he simply shook his head.  I knew that the man in the street was dead.
       It didn’t take long for Mateo to get the horses.  He yelled out, “Where do you want the horses?”
       “Bring them to the house then leave the area.  If I see you, I’ll kill the woman,” came the voice, evil in every word.
       I could see a helpless look on Mateo’s face as he led the horses to the house.  When he dropped the reins, I heard the door partially open.  “Now git!”
       Mateo started walking away without a word and without looking at me.  I thought that was strange, then I heard the door open wider.  When Mateo was out of sight, a man stepped out holding tightly to Luciana; it was Moser.  Two other men followed him out, one holding Enrique.
       I was in a quandary.  Should I remain hidden or confront the men?  Luciana and Enrique were hoisted up in the saddle.  I watched as Moser placed his foot in the stirrup…