Durango survived the 4th of July activities with little breakage in the town.  Fireworks were shot off, cowboys came in from the ranches firing their six-shooters in the air, only one major incident was when a firecracker almost went off in Bobby Windridge’s hand, and some yellowjackets chased Flori Littleton who had drippings from a syrupy cinnamon roll all over her.  Now, it was back to reality.  Mateo, Charlie, and Miles were ready to head back to Silverton and the corruption that would face them.  Go back with me now to those exciting days of yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.

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

       Charlie, Doc Jones, and I had finished breakfast.  Marta, Molly, had joined us, and more recently by Preacher Chapman.  We had decided that Mateo would go up a couple of days early to survey the scene.  We were both going up as Sheriff Gold’s deputies.

       “Seat yourself down, Parson, I’ll fetch you a cup of coffee,” I told him as I moved to the counter to grab a cup to fill it.  Placing it down on the table in front of the preacher, I said, “You sure did the Lord good, yesterday.  That was a fine sermon.”

       He smiled, took a sip, then asked with a smirk on his face, “What was it about?”

       “Uh, well, uh,” I heard all of them snicker at my frustration.  “It was about stirrin’ up your gift,” I finally got out proudly.  It wasn’t the first time I had heard that message in recent days.  I remembered the encounter on the road up to Silverton.  

       I looked at each of them, their smart-alek grins hanging on their faces.  “And if’n you don’t stir it up, the good Lord might do the stirrin’ for you,” I blurted.

       A puzzled look appeared on the face of Rev. Chapman.  “I don’t recall saying that in my message.”

       “No, you didn’t, but it’s true.  Somethin’ all of you who are grinnin’ ought to think about,” I stated.  That quieted them down for a minute or two.

       The train didn’t pull out for another two hours; Charlie and I went through what plans we had again, but when we were joined by our friends and family, well it was time to put plans aside for a while.  A person never knows when it might be the last time they might see them. 

       “Charlie,” asked Doc, interrupting the quiet, “Do you have any grounds to arrest that marshal and his crew?”

       “Not really, unless the merchants step forward.”

       “What about the attack on Morgan Appleby?” I almost hollered.  

       “We can’t pin that on Johnson.  I can arrest the person who beat him up, and it probably was on the orders of Johnson, but unless the deputy, whoever it was, confesses that Johnson gave him the order, there’s little I can do.”

       I nodded with resignation.  “What happened to Devlin would most likely happen to him.”  I fingered the pocket on my vest where I had stuck the telegram from Wells Fargo.  I pretty much said that I was to take care of the situation.  I hadn’t told anyone about the telegram, figured I would tell Charlie when the time was right.

       Looking over at the clock on the wall, it showed we had an hour before the train would leave.  I sat for a moment, and looked each person over.  It was good to sit at the table, breaking bread, or in this case cutting a piece of pie, with friends.  There had been laughter, solemnity, and the sober reality that we could be walking into a real hornet’s nest.  The Preacher got up and came behind Charlie and me, placing his hands on our shoulders.  He prayed for wisdom, discernment, courage, and safety.  He prayed that justice would be done, that evil would be brought to its knees.

       He nodded at us, then marched on out of the diner.  Doc scratched the side of his head, then the back of his neck.  He stared at both of us, “You two, along with Mateo, do what needs to be done, but be careful.”  He got up to follow the Parson out of the diner.

       Molly and I had been through this more than a few times, so we got up leaving Marta and Charlie alone.  They had been struggling since the birth of little Charles Lorenzo Gold.  She was more protective of him, actually almost suffocating him.  I know she was scared that something might happen.  Why, a man could get run over by a runaway wagon and killed, or hit by lightning.  I knew, Molly knew, and I think Charlie knew that we were in the hands of the Lord.  Molly had been working on Marta’s faith.

       Two hours later we were moving up the canyon.  Charlie, in addition to his sidearm, carried a .44-40 1873Winchester, and I had my Greener.  Hopefully we wouldn’t have to use them.  I don’t think it was a lack of faith, but I had reason to believe that we would.  We were to meet with Mateo at the Wells Fargo office just before it closed for the day.  I glanced at Charlie who had grim features etched on his face.  Sighing, I settled down figuring that it was time for a nap…

Tension was in the air, sparks ready to fly with flames from guns, justice was being tested.  Miles Forrest was taking a prisoner back to Durango when he was faced with the local law officers consisting of five men led by Marshal Todd Johnson.  Any sort of wrong movement could leave men dead.  Would Miles give up his prisoner and return to Durango alone?  Would he face the five men?  Go back with me to those thrilling days of yesteryear with the Saga of Miles Forrest.

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

       Out of nowhere a shot rang out.  It was not from the men facing me; a rooftop maybe.  I brought the shotgun to bear, when I saw Johnson with his hands in the air and was hollering, “Don’t shoot!  Don’t shoot!”  

       His quick reaction saved his life, and most likely my own.  The men with him had their hands up, making sure they were away from their guns.  I glanced quickly to the rooftops and saw movement on one to my left.  It was only a blur, I couldn’t tell who it was.  Tom Devlin was lying in the street–lifeless.  I saw Dale Courtney standing on the boardwalk at the corner and motioned with the Greener.  “Check him.”

       I kept my eyes on Johnson while Courtney checked to see if there was any life in Devlin.  “He’s dead Marshal,” came his report.  “Bullet right at the base of the throat and chest.”

       The anger was rising up within me.  To lose a man in my custody rankled me to no end.  To me it was a mockery of justice.  I cocked the hammers of the Greener back, leveled it at Johnson and ordered, “Untie him!”

       “He’s your prisoner, you untie him,” he came back scornfully.

       The blast from the shotgun boomed, the shot hitting the ground to the left of Johnson.  I saw one of his deputies flinch.  Some of the shot must have ricocheted off the ground hitting him.  But it did get the attention of Johnson who motioned for another deputy to help him remove the rope and lift Devlin out of the street.

       I gave Hawk a nudge with my spur.  He started walking down the street while I kept the Greener pointed at Johnson.  Thirty minutes later, with Hawk loaded in the stock car, I sat looking out the window of the passenger car as it headed down the canyon to Durango.  I was fuming inside.  When I had passed Johnson, he mumbled loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like the marshal lost his witness.”  He never looked at me, but I knew it was a barb thrust at me.

       It was all I could do to hold it in.  I began to pray that the Lord would help me to gain control.  I had several hours to think and pray about what happened, and begin to devise a plan for a return to Silverton.

       When the train arrived in Durango, I took Hawk up to the cabin, brushed him down and fed him, then walked on down to the diner.  It was about half-full with Mollie and Adela waiting on tables.  I plodded over to my regular table not even bothering to stop and get a cup of coffee.  I was weary…weary of the inner fight, the war against wickedness, and scum like Johnson preying on innocent people.

       Molly must have noticed my demeanor for she came over placing her hands on my shoulders.  Leaning forward, she kissed me on the cheek.  “How about some pork chops covered with onion gravy with some fried potatoes?”  

       Placing my left hand on top of hers, “That’d be nice.”  It wasn’t until she left that I realized that I still had the Greener in my right hand.  Something was wrong with me, for it dawned on me that I hadn’t reloaded.  I needed to wake up.

       I removed the empty shell, replacing it with a new one, then set the Greener against the wall.  Shaking my head, I got up, grabbed a cup and poured a cup of coffee.  Ahhh, it made me relax and I heaved a deep sigh.  By the time Molly brought my supper most of the crowd had left so she was able to sit beside me.  

       “Take your time–relax,” she comforted me.  “There’s a piece of apple pie in the back.  Do you want to talk about it now or later?”

       “Let me finish my supper and I’ll tell you what happened over the pie.”

       I had plans for Charlie and Mateo…

Marshal Johnson of Silverton has confronted Miles when one of his deputies was arrested for assault on Miles.  In the attempt, Deputy Phin Duggan was shot, maybe killed.  Miles was held up in the Wells Fargo office until the next morning when he planned on taking his prisoner, Deputy Tom Devlin, to Durango.  Can Johnson afford to let Miles and his prisoner leave Silverton?  Join me in another exciting tale of yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.

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

       It was 7:00 when I heard a key in the door of the office.  I brought my shotgun to bear, but figured it was one of the agents opening up.  It was Dale Courtney, who I found was quite intelligent for he opened the door very slowly.  

      “Marshal Forrest, it’s Agent Courtney.  I’m alone,” he hollered before opening the door all the way.  After entering he closed and locked the door, then glanced around the room.  “I’ll make some coffee,” he said matter of factly and went right to it.

      Getting up from where I had been sitting I went to open the door where I kept Devlin overnight.  I imagine that he was pretty uncomfortable in that dark room, lying on the hard floor.  Upon opening the door, he threw his hands to cover his eyes; even the dull light from the office was brilliant to him.  

       Reaching down I grabbed where he was handcuffed and helped haul him to his feet.  “Coffee will be ready in a few minutes, then you and I have to take a walk up to Giles’ livery to get my horse,” I paused, looking him over wondering how well he slept.  “Train leaves in about two hours.”

       Courtney went over to a shelf picking up three cups, then over to the stove where he had the coffee on.  It was quiet in the office; the only thing that could be heard was the shuffling around of Courtney.

       As he handed me a cup of the hot brew, I asked, “How’s Morgan gettin’ along?”

       He gave another cup to Devlin, then took a sip of his own before answering.  “He was still hurting last night.  Ron took over for me and stayed the night,” was his reply.  Then he added, “I’m sorry, I should have brought some breakfast.  I can run out and get something.”

       “This is fine,” I assured him.  “We have to be leavin’ in a few minutes anyway.”

       The eyes of Agent Courtney widened.  “You can’t go out there!  Marshal Johnson will have you killed!”

       I smiled, “I’m a hard man to kill, but the eyes of the Lord are upon me.  Even if He would lead me through the valley of the shadow of death, which this might well be, I won’t fear.”

       Courtney sort of sneered when he answered.  “Nice to have faith like that.”

       “It sure is.  Nice to be able to trust in Someone a whole lot bigger than yurself,” I replied.  “Drink up, Devlin, we have a walk to make.”

       I thought I saw a flash of fear in Devlin’s eyes.  But in a few minutes, our coffee finished, I had him up and at the door.  “Tell Morgan I’ll see him in a few days.”  

       As we walked out, I heard the voice, “If you live that long enough.”

       “Oh, ye of little faith,” I said aloud to myself as we began to walk up the street toward the livery.

       I didn’t see any of Johnson’s men on the way.  In fact, there was little movement along Greene Street.  Arriving at Giles, I had to smile.  He already had Hawk saddled.  “Figured you’d want him to be ready for yur escape,” he said with a cackle.

       “Be seein’ you in a couple of days,” I responded after I mounted.  I had placed my rope around Devlin’s neck, then looped it around his shoulders.  He wouldn’t be running away anytime soon.

       I rode easy, the Greener in my right hand pointed toward the sky.  I was wondering what was going through Devlin’s mind when men appeared on the street.  It was about a block from the train depot.  Johnson and two others were in the street, spread apart.  I took a fleeting, yet thorough glance around.  To my right was a man standing behind a post.  To my left another was standing next to the corner of a building and an alley.  Five all together, if not more, and all spread out.  Not to my liking.

       A chuckle escaped me, I remembered the words from the Man at the camp.  “I’m going to stir things up a bit.”  Ha, He sure got that right.  Since He was doing some stirring I reckoned He was there to help me take a taste.

       “What’s so funny, Forrest?” came the question from the mouth of Marshal Johnson.  “You’re not taking my deputy to Durango on false charges.”

       That’s when I lowered the Greener, pulled back both hammers, and leveled it at Johnson.  “You want him, you untie him.” I challenged.  

       I didn’t think he was fool enough…

In his stay in Silverton, Miles Forrest has uncovered some improprieties in the local marshal’s office.  After being attacked in the street he had to shoot one man, cold-cock another, and had another one in handcuffs when the town marshal burst in the door.  Come with me, as we take a glimpse back to the Wild West of yesteryear.

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

       My hand went to the grip of my pistol when Marshal Johnson burst through the door.  I could tell he was upset even before he spoke a word.  

       “You can’t come in here and shoot up my town!” exclaimed Johnson.  “I’m placing you under arrest for murdering one of my deputies.”

       He was all a fluster, but I answered him calmly.  “It wasn’t murder, it was in the line of duty.  Plus, the last time I saw him he was still breathin’,” I hesitated to stare at him.  “Now, if you think you can take me in, come on over and cuff me.  Either that or shut your silly mouth!”

       “Tom, you all right?” questioned the Marshal.  

       The deputy raised his hands showing that I had handcuffed him.  “What in blazes!” yelled the Marshal.  “Release him!”

       “Can’t do it Marshal.  He’s under arrest,” I informed him with a hint of a smile.

       Marshal Johnson was fit to be tied.  “Then turn him over to me.  This is my jurisdiction, he should be placed under my office,” he stopped to gather his thoughts.  “If there is to be a trial, it will be here.”

       “Oh, there’ll be a trial all right, but in Durango.  Federal District Court is there, and I’ll make sure he is kept safe until the trial,” I notified him right directly.  “Once the trial is over I’ll be back to arrest you and your gang of deputies.”

       Johnson’s hand quivered one time and I thought he was going to go for his gun.  Instead he cursed, and went back out the doorway.  I sat down, to get myself out of sight in the windows, I was a cautious man, then waited several minutes.

       “Mr. Barnes, I want you to do two things for me,” I said, looking over at him standing by his desk.  “Before you do anything you might want to sit down.  You make a right pretty target through those windows.  You might just be mistaken for me.”

       In a flash he plopped himself down hard in a chair.  It was comical, but I didn’t smile.  “First, I want you to go to the station, and purchase another ticket for me on the morning train.  Put it on my expense account as a federal marshal.  Then go over to Morgan’s house and tell him what happened here.”

       Before he left, I glanced around the room.  If I remembered right, the one room was where they kept a couple of safes, and it was well built because of the gold that was left in there and shipped out by Wells Fargo.  The other room was Morgan’s office.  Neither room had windows.  “One more thing.  Go to my room at the hotel and gather my things and bring them here.”

       Pulling the deputy by the cuffs, I went to the door where the safe was finding it unlocked.  “It might not be comfortable, but you’ll be safe.”  I didn’t bother to handcuff him to anything, he wasn’t going anywhere.  “I never did get your full name.”

       He was sullen, but also scared.  Somewhere in him, he thought that Johnson would get him out.  I was more concerned that the good marshal might shoot him to keep him from testifying.  Squatting down on the floor, he looked up at me.  “Tom Devlin.”

       One thing for sure, when I shut the door it would be darker than Hades.  I doubted that there would be any worms in there with him, but the thought of it sort of made me shudder.  I thought for a moment, utter darkness, gnashing of teeth, where the worm never dies.  Not a pretty picture, but that’s what awaits those that break the laws of God and do not turn to him and accept His grace.

       I pulled a chair with rollers on it over near the door of the safe room, set myself down in it and propped my feet on the lower shelf of the counter.   Checking my pistol, I then pulled the Greener over my lap so I would be ready if I had any unwelcome visitors…