Things seemed to be a little frantic for the town of Durango, but have settled down, especially for Miles Forrest and his friends.  With the birth of Sheriff Charlie Gold’s son and the condition of his wife Marta, he is not able to completely fulfill his duties as sheriff.  Miles has agreed to travel to Silverton, and the surrounding camps for Charlie until Marta gets better.  But first to see an old friend, Wilson Foster.  Join with me as we go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear and the adventures of Miles Forrest.

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

       Elizabeth Foster was holding the hand of her husband as I stood beside his bed.  Wilson had a stroke several months back, and I thought he was improving, but he was confined to his bed now.  Perhaps he had another stroke.  He appeared as a stick-man, bones just covered with skin.  I remember that not long ago he was an energetic, on-the-go type man, now…

       “Wil, Miles Forrest has come to see you,” his wife informed him.

       There was an attempt at a smile, then he reached up his hand to me.  “I know who it is,” he said with garbled speech.  “Come to pay your last respects, huh?”

       I really didn’t know what to say to him.  I had seen many men die, some horrible deaths, but here was a friend, or adversary depending on the situation, and I couldn’t put anything into words.  “You’ve been dealt a hard blow, Wilson,” finally came through my lips.  

       “It’s not the dying, Miles; it’s the way,” he said in an almost whisper.  He moved his eyes towards Elizabeth and licked his lips.  She reached over to a little table nearby for a glass of water.  She held the glass, putting it to his lips.  He drank some, but much of it dribbled on his chin and neck.  Elizabeth was quick with a cloth to wipe it away.  

       “Can’t even take a drink properly anymore,” he said with a cough.  “Miles, you will watch out for Darnelle, won’t you?”

       She must have decided to stay in Durango and operate the mercantile.  “Sure, sure, you can depend on that.”

       He attempted to smile, “She always had a thing for you; too bad you were married to Molly.”  Elizabeth lifted her eyes to meet mine.

       Not only was I married, but I was old enough to be Darnelle’s father.  Foster was only a couple of years older than me.  Funny how things come at us in life.  Here was a man struck down in his prime…for what reason I couldn’t say.  “I’ll watch out for her,” I assured him, then proceeded to tell him about Charlie Gold’s baby and I was heading to Silverton.  He seemed to listen and understand, but before I finished he was sleeping.

       I stood up to leave, Elizabeth got up from his side to escort me out, when there were a few words from Wilson.  “Dear, open the curtains, I’d like to see out.”  She immediately left my side to open the curtains in the room.  Wilson had his eyes closed, when she returned to me and we headed out of the room.

       “Thank you, Miles for stopping by.  Wilson always respected you.”  I touched her on the shoulder, not saying anything.  What was there to say?  “Don’t worry about him, or me for that matter.  I heard him praying the other day; he’s ready to meet the Lord.  I plan on going to Denver to be with my sister.  We really can’t force Darnelle to come as she was only his niece, but,” she began to sob slightly.  “She wants to run the store.  He had it put in his will.”

       The next morning I was on my way to Silverton.  I packed what I needed with me and was riding Hawk.  Molly had packed me lunch, and I had taken enough supplies for two nights on the trail.  I was needing some time to be alone, and Molly knew that.  The road seemed to be in good condition for spring, but I could see there was still plenty of snow up on the mountains.  My plan was to stay at the base of Coal Bank Pass.  I had camped several times along Cascade Creek, and that was going to be my stop for the night.

       The coffee was brewing, and I had Hawk down to the creek to let him drink.  When I came back to camp, where I planned on frying up some sausage and fry bread, I heard a voice, “Coffee’s not any better than the last time I tasted it.”

       I glanced at the person from where the voice came, saw a smile then I fell to my knees…

I worked waiting tables for three days, until Edith thought safe to return to work and leave Marta alone.  I won’t say that the baby, Charles Lorenzo Gold, was the spitting image of his father, but he was a cute little rascal.  I was sitting at the table, sipping coffee when Doc ambled in.  He had been rather busy the past week or so, and plopped himself down in the chair.

       “Don’t bother to get up, Doc.  I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” I said sarcastically for which I received a scowl.

       He continued to glare at me until I set the cup down and he reached to pick it up and take a sip.  Then the scowl diminished with a slight moan escaping him.  “You didn’t make this!” he stated.

       I wanted to lie and tell him I did, but decided to tell the truth.  “No, Emelda did.”

       “Thought so,” he mumbled, then added, “I thought Molly was going to hire some additional staff.”

       “Doc, you need to take a day off.  Go fishin’ or somethin’; you’re as grouchy as an ol’ bear.”

       “I wouldn’t be if you wouldn’t be shootin’ up everyone you meet,” he barked, then saw the pain that momentarily came across my face.  “I’m sorry, Miles, you’re right, why with the emergencies and my regular duties I’m just tuckered out.”

       “Lucas is back working at the jail, and I don’t think Dover or Doner will give us any trouble.  They may have chosen the outlaw trail, but I think they’re sorry for their choice.  I think they could be useful citizens if given the chance.”

       For that I received a grunt then he sat his cup down.  “I went up to see Wilson Foster yesterday.  Pitiful, just plain pitiful.”

       I threw my hand up against my head.  “Dummy!” I said out loud.  “Darnelle asked me to go see him, and with working for Molly I plum forgot.”

       He picked up his cup and took the last swallow.  “You better hurry up, he won’t last much longer.  Could go anytime,” he paused, holding out his cup.   I got up to grab the coffeepot to refill both our cups.  When I sat back down, Doc continued with his thought.  “Miles, the good Lord has only allotted us so many days in this life.  Some more, some fewer.  Most of the time, we don’t know when our last day will come, or how, but it’s one appointment for which we’ll not be late,” he paused again to take a sip of the hot coffee.  “The Lord knows our coming and going.”

       Molly had finished with her tables, and came over to where we were sitting.  “Sit down, young lady,” ordered Doc.  “When are you going to hire additional help?  I don’t like to see Miles out there with an apron on; it’s not good for the image of a peace officer.”

       “With Marta at home, Emelda is helping me interview a person tomorrow,” Molly informed us.

       “Molly, why don’t you go to the school and see if any of those young girls would like a job?” questioned Doc.

       He had just finished his remark and before Molly could answer Charlie walked into the diner.  “What are you doing here Charlie Gold?  You need to be back with your wife and child,” snapped Doc.  He seemed to be in a delicate mood this morning.

       “Time to head up to Silverton, check things out,” he replied, motioning for a cup.

       “You’ll do no such a thing!” declared Doc.  “Marta had a rough time, and she’ll need you around for a spell.”

       I wasn’t about to say anything, but Molly looked over at me.  “Why, Charlie, let Miles go on up to Silverton,” she suggested.  “He needs to get out of town for a while anyway.”

       It didn’t take me long to respond.  “Is it urgent?  And if not I’ll ride Hawk up.  I haven’t been over the mountains in quite some time.”

       He told me what I needed to know, but then there are always surprises…

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by events and circumstances?  Miles has been racing from the Doc’s office, to the diner, to the jail, and all around town.  Now he has been summoned by Mateo’s son, Alejo, to hurry to the diner that Molly needs him.  Welcome back to those exciting days of yesterday.

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

       “What’s wrong?” I asked Alejo, rather sharply.  I hadn’t even noticed when Alejo had left the jail.  He had been sweeping up glass and talking with his father, when before I knew it he was running back from the diner.

       “I’m not sure, Senor Miles.  Yur wife, the Senora Miles said for me to get you quickly, so I came.”  We were not running, but walking at a hurried pace.  About halfway to the diner, Alejo turned to me, neither of us stopping.  “I think it has to do with Senora Marta.”

       Just what we need, I thought, then shamed myself for thinking like that.  I walked into the diner with Alejo following and was greeted by an apron thrown at me by Molly.  “Put that on, and get busy,” she commanded.  “Edith had to go with Doc.  Marta’s having her baby.”

       I gave her a puzzled look, then went over to place the Greener on the wall next to where I normally sit.  I was tying the apron on, when Molly came by.  “You take the left side of the room, I’ll take the right,” he said pointing.  Still seeing the look on my face, “I guess with all the excitement and stress it has caused the baby to come early.”

       Staring at her, I asked, “Is that a big problem?”

       Receiving a stern look, she replied, “It could be.  Now get busy!

       “Say, darlin’, we’d like some more coffee over here,” came a voice from a corner table.  I grabbed the pot and headed that way.  “Oh, Marshal, I didn’t recognize you with the dress on,” came the guffaw from Jed Fountain.  He was sitting there with Link Doyle and a couple of cowboys I didn’t know from the Lowell ranch.

       “One more remark like that Fountain and you’ll get a lap full of coffee,” I barked.  Fountain and Doyle were enjoying their little hurrah, but the other two cowboys were stone faced, not knowing whether to laugh, say something and join in, or leave the premises.  “At least your pards there know when to keep their mouths shut.”

       I was getting ready to say something else when another group of four walked in the room.  I was watching, wishing, and hoping that they’d go sit on Molly’s side of the room, and was quite relieved when they did.  Looking back at Fountain, “What is it with so many cowhands in town?  I know it’s not Saturday or Sunday, so I’m thinkin’ that your cheatin’ your boss out of his wages.”

       “They belong to Thomson.  I don’t know why they’re here,” spoke up Doyle.  “We came to pick up some feed and other supplies.”

       “Takes the four of you to rein a wagon now?” I said mocking them.  

       Fountain blushed a little.  I knew how cowboys felt about riding in a wagon when they thought they should have been hossback.  “We came in two wagons,” remarked Doyle.  “They’re bein’ loaded now.  Jed, here told the Boss that we’d ride in the wagons, but wouldn’t be loadin’ them up.”

       “Won’t you have to be doin’ the unloadin’?” I asked.

       “Mister Forrest, if you’ll stop of the lollygagging, there are tables to be cleared,” rang out the sharp voice of Molly.

       I glanced at her, saw the two men grin.  “You want another refill, you know where the pot’s at,” I said, then started to walk away.

       “Miles,” whispered Fountain, “what’s goin’ on here?”

       “Too long a story, needless to say that Molly needs help,” I informed them, then moved away not wanting to dally and incur the wrath of the boss.

       I had just finished cleaning off the two tables when three hardcases came in.  I glanced over at Fountain who gave a shrug of his shoulders.  They took a table toward the back and I wasn’t so fortunate this time.  They sat on my side.

       Grabbing menus I headed over to their table.  “You men like some coffee?”

       One of the men grabbed a menu and began to peruse it.  The other two turned their heads toward me, one scoffing.  “We want the other waitress,” he barked mockingly.

       “Well, mister, you got me.  Now do you want coffee or not?”

       The man sitting on the right had a scar over his left eye, and another one from his lip to his chin.  He tried to cover it up with a beard, but it seemed that the hair parted at the scar making it look more hideous.  “She’ll pour it!” he challenged.

       “She’s busy!  Now order, or get out.”

       “No man in an apron can throw me out!” he snarled.

       With that I had my pistol up under his left ear in less than a second.  “Get up!” I ordered, with a push of the barrel against the man’s head.  I sort of helped lift him with the gun.  “You two might as well go with him and lead the way.”

       Their eyes never left mine, as they got up and headed for the door.  I noticed the one who had sat on the left was itching pull his gun.  “You better hope he doesn’t,” I said to the man I was prodding.  “I’ll shoot you first then kill him.”

       They left the diner without any more incident, but Molly came over to me.  “Who were they?”

       “Trouble,” I replied.

       “As soon as Edith can rejoin me, Miles you’re fired,” she said somewhat seriously.

       “What happens if I just quit now?”

       Molly smiled, “You can’t.”

       “And just why can’t I?” I inquired.

       She flipped a wash towel at me, snapping me on the arm.  “Because I said so.”

       That brought a laugh from both tables of cowboys.  I knew when I was licked…

Things were busy in Doctor Henry Jones’ office the past few days.  Fred Dover was still unconscious, but Lucas was able to get up with only a concussion.  It seems like Miles was forever busy with his duties–duties of life as well as an officer of the law.  Let’s go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear and see what is up with Miles.

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

       As I stepped out of the diner I glanced toward Doc Jones’ office.  Lucas was in there, sleeping with a concussion.  The Parson was at the bedside of Fred Dover who was still unconscious when I left.  Sighing at the events that had recently taken place I started walking up the street to see what Darnelle wanted.  I walked straight to the jail first to peer inside.  Alejo was leaning against a broom listening to his father, Mateo.  I nodded at them, which Mateo returned with a slight wave of hand.  I was pleased that Alejo, young as he was, had been sweeping up the glass.

       Turning up the boardwalk towards Foster’s Mercantile I went to see Darnelle.  She was waiting on Mrs. Jansen as I walked in.  Taking off my hat, I looked in her direction to get her attention.  She nodded at me, “Let me finish up with Mrs. Jansen and I’ll be right with you.”

       I stood by the counter, just perusing at items in the glass case.  Mrs. Blackstone was with another customer at the back of the store.  It looked as if she was measuring off material for the lady whom I couldn’t make out from this distance with her back turned toward me.  A few minutes later, Darnelle and Mrs. Jansen moved up to the counter to pay for her goods.  

       Since my hat was already off, I nodded greetings to Mrs. Jansen who was holding a pair of braces in her hands along with a pair of pants.  “They’re for Ollie’s birthday,” she declared smiling.  “I know he can make the braces, but he deserves a store-bought pair.  And his pants get so dirty, and covered with grim and glue working in the shop.”

       Ollie was the only cobbler in town and he kept himself quite busy.  “Cornelia, he’ll be delighted,” cheered Darnelle, as she received the money for the purchase.  “Now when is his birthday again?”

       Cornelia Jansen was a good-natured, plump individual.  Not overly heavy, but she was not skinny by any means.  When I saw her and Ollie together I always thought of the nursery rhyme, Jack Sprat and his wife and reckoned that they must have looked like Cornelia and Ollie Jansen.

       When she left, Darnelle gave me an ominous look.  “Daddy’s getting worse,” she said stoically, then sighed.  “Doc Jones came over to visit and check on him last week, and told me that he only had a short time left.”

       “How’s Elizabeth takin’ the news?” I questioned.

       Darnelle shook her head.  “Not well,” she replied, with tears now forming in her eyes.  “I want to keep the store, but mother wants to move to Denver to live near her sister.”

       “What else?”  I asked sensing that there was more to her story.

       “Jessie has been such a dear and great help, but she told me that when school was out that she and Connor were going with her husband, Frank, to California,” she paused to take a breath.  “I don’t know if I can keep the store open by myself, and I really don’t want to move with mother to Denver.”

       I placed my hand on her shoulder.  “That’s almost two months, I’m sure you can find someone to help you by then.”

       She nodded reaching up to touch my hand with hers.  “That’s not what I wanted to see you about,” she hesitated, sniffling.  “Would you go see daddy?  I know you two had your outs, but he respects you, and I believe it would do him a world of good.”

       Wilson Foster was a good man, antagonistic at times when he was on the town council, but he was solid.  He had a stroke some months back which laid him up, but the last time I saw him…oh my, a good two months ago, he was doing better.  Two months, a person shouldn’t wait that long to speak to a friend in some fashion.  We were not close, we went to different churches, but I considered him a friend.

       I started to answer when Alejo peeked in the door.  “Uh, excuse me, Senor Marshal, the Senora needs you quickly!”

       Before I left to follow Alejo, I pulled Darnelle into a hug.  “It will be alright.  I’ll go see your daddy tomorrow.”  

       Releasing her, I went to the entrance and stepped out.  I looked up, breathing a little prayer, “Lord, be with me….”  Alejo was standing outside the jail with his hands on his hips as if to say, “Hurry!”