I was at the depot when the train finally arrived from Silverton.  It had been five days clearing snow before it could make it; the telegraph wires hadn’t been repaired as of yet.  I was hoping to meet Charlie Gold, but instead I was given a message from him.  “Need Help!”  The train was filling up with supplies to take back to Silverton since the people had been stranded for a week.

       When I read the message I hurried back to the cabin to throw my gear together.  The weather had warmed up some and the streets were getting sloppy from snow melting to slush.  It would take a while for the accumulation to go away and in the meantime it would be a mess.  I had a bag filled with things I might need and plenty of ammunition for my pistol and shotgun.

       There was time before the train would pull out but I felt in a hurry.  After getting my gear I rushed down to the diner.  Molly saw at an instant that something was wrong.  

       “Oh, Miles, now?” she said with some despair.  “It’s almost Christmas.”

       Sighing deeply as I poured a cup of coffee from the stove I answered.  “Charlie needs my help.  I don’t know what’s wrong or what’s happened, just that he needs me.”

       “Sit down, you have time to eat.  I’ll fix up some sandwiches for you to take along as well,” she informed me and understood the need for me to go.  

       She went back to the kitchen while I sat there sipping on my coffee.  All kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind.  What could have happened?  All Charlie was doing was to check into the mine situation and stop any action the owners might take against those who walked off.

       I smiled when I saw what she brought me.  It couldn’t have been better for the trip; a plate full of biscuits and sausage gravy with sliced peppers in it.  It would fill me up.

       “Eat!” she ordered.  “I’ll go fix you a lunch to take with you.”

        Molly hugged me before I left, saying, “You best be back by Christmas.”

       “That’ll be the plan,” I assured her, then picked up my gear and shotgun heading for the station.

       Within the hour I was aboard the train and waiting for it to get on the way.  There was only one passenger car as they added an extra freight car.  I was amazed at how quickly they had gotten the supplies together and loaded.  The passenger car was empty except for me and a couple of miners.  Most were not wanting to venture out in the weather this close to Christmas.  

       As we wound up the canyon all I could see was white.  Everything was covered with snow.  I could see how they had trouble getting the snow off the track and the engine went about half the speed.  It would be well into the evening before arriving in Silverton.  At least I saw that the clouds were clearing, but that meant that the temperatures would drop.  It could get down to zero or lower up in the high country.  I was getting soft.

       There was no way for me to let Charlie know that I was coming.  I was counting on him knowing that I would be on my way.  Molly was to tell Mateo and Lucas the situation as far as either of us knew it.  Mateo would have come if not for his responsibility in Durango as town marshal.  He and Lucas along with his two boys were making sure that the widows and elderly had plenty of wood to get them through this time and that they had a way to walk out of their homes to town if needed.

       As evening approached and the sun went on down behind the mountains I could feel the cold begin to creep in.  “Brrr,” I thought.  When we finally rolled into the station Charlie wasn’t there but a man, who appeared to be a miner came up asking if I was Marshal Forrest and I was to follow him.

       The snow there was much deeper and there wasn’t much being done by the people in town to help the situation.  Most of them were staying inside, trying to keep warm.  I followed the man to what looked like a small warehouse.  Upon entering I felt a little warmth as there was a stove in the center of the room with cots around it.  

       There, in the midst of the cots, was Charlie.  He was…

The snow was still falling hard and fast, at least the wind wasn’t blowing hard or it would be a real blizzard.  I looked back over my shoulder to see if Molly was still following me.  I was riding Hawk and we were blazing a trail through the deep snow so that Molly could get to the diner.  I had my doubts if anyone would be out, but if so it would be a refuge for those who did venture out in the snow.

       A person who didn’t know it was Molly behind me would have thought it some kind of animal following me.  She was all bundled up in coats and blankets.  Thankfully Hawk didn’t mind real bad that he had to get out of his stall and help me.  The train had made it to Silverton, but it was stuck there until who knows when and the telegraph lines were down also.  It was a real humdinger of a storm.

       I tied Hawk to the post at the back of the diner else he might try to go back to his stall and threw some hay out for him.  I’d get him back shortly, but wanted to help Molly get the stoves going.  She’d put on a stew and coffee for anyone who might be out.  It was cold inside the diner; Molly went to the range in the kitchen and I got a fire going in the stove in the eating area.  Soon the room began to warm and there were coffeepots going on both stoves.

       While Molly was working in the kitchen, I went around to light the lamps and candles.  If the weather wasn’t so bad it would have been kinda cozy.  “Miles, see if you can shovel out front,” came her voice from the kitchen.  I went to the front door, scraped away the frost to peer outside.  There was no way I would be able to open the door from the diner so I headed back to put on my coat and out the back door with a shovel that was sitting next to the woodpile.

       For the next hour I worked on clearing the walkway in front of the diner and then a path out to the street.  Looking up and down the streets I didn’t see any of the other businesses open except there were lights on at Solly’s, but he had an apartment above the store.  Way down the street I did see Moses Vexler out trying to get the door open to the livery.  I hadn’t seen snow like this since the time I spent the winter up north of Meeker helping Juanita and her mother through the winter.  

       With that thought I stopped for a moment to rest on the shovel.  I hadn’t thought of her and that winter for a long time.  I referred to it as the winter of the wolves, and a lot of other things.  It was rough going that winter with the snow, the wolves, and the extreme cold temperatures.  Right now I couldn’t recall their names, but I had to kill some renegade men.  That was also the time I made friends with Lot Smith.  I gave a grunt thinking that I still hadn’t got over to see him to hunt wild horses.

       “Miles, hurry up or you’ll be frozen to that shovel,” the sound of Molly’s voice broke into my thoughts.  “Finish up and get back inside!”

       From what I could see I was finished.  I wasn’t about to shovel the road, nor the whole boardwalk.  Enough was good enough so I headed back to the diner, this time going through the front entrance.  I put the shovel over in the corner at the front entrance as I reckoned I’d probably need it again then headed back to pour me a cup of coffee.

       Molly came to join me so I filled her a cup up as well.  We both sat close to the stove and I added another log to it.  “I’ve got some biscuits in the oven; when they’re ready I’ll make some gravy.  We might as well enjoy our coffee.”

       “I’ll eat breakfast then take Hawk back up to the stable.  He’ll be wantin’ to eat as well.  It’s one thing to stand in the cold when sheltered, another altogether out in the open.  At least the snow is keeping the temperature from fallin’ too low, but when it stops it could get down around freezin’.”

       We sat and chatted for quite a spell when Molly got up to get the biscuits.  Right as she left, the door opened and Doc Jones walked in.  “Smelled them, did yuh?” I asked.

       “Smelled what?  Oh, the biscuits…” he replied coming to the table and taking off his coat.  “Ever seen a snow like this in December?”

       “It’s bad, but at least not terrible cold,” I remarked.

       We stared at each other holding the hot coffee cups in our hands.  I think we were both thinking the same thing when Doc remarked.  “I wonder how much snow they are getting up in Silverton?”  What he really meant was, “I wonder if Charlie is all right?”

       “It will definitely be a lot more than here,” I replied, then stood to refill my cup from the pot on the stove.  “I’m going to check on Marta right after breakfast.”

       I had just filled my cup and set down when Molly came out with two plates filled with biscuits and sausage gravy.  “Thought I heard Doc out here.  I suppose you already ate,” she said teasing him with a plate letting it linger near him.

       “Stop it Molly, and put that plate down!”  She placed it in front of him then went back to fill a plate for herself.

       We had almost finished eating when the door opened and two bundled up creatures walked in.  They looked our direction then walked on over to the next table from us that was close to the stove.  Worn out, out of work miners from the looks of them as they began to unwrap themselves.  Molly was already getting them coffee…

Molly got up to get the man some coffee as he started to introduce himself.  He looked around for a place to sit, when Charlie decided to offer him his chair.  “I’m just off the train.  My, the snow has really started to fall.”

       She placed a cup of coffee in front of him which he quickly reached for taking a long sip.  We all sat there looking at him.  “I’m Thaddeus Wilson, and I represent McCullum and Groggins.  They would very much like for you to come up to Silverton to solve the problem.”

       “Representative?” questioned Marta.

       “Lawyer,” snapped Doc quickly.  

       Holding my cup in both hands I looked at him.  “Why didn’t this McCullum or Groggins come instead of you?” I asked.

       “Oh, my, they’re in Philadephia, “Came his reply,” with a small laugh.  “It was Joe Hoskins from the Little Bird Mine who sent me.  We, he, needs your help.”

       “I’m waitin’ to hear how I could possibly be of help.”

       “The miners!” he lifted his voice.  “They’ve all quit.  You need to make them go back to work.”

       Pulling on the end of my moustache, I leaned back in my chair.  “How in the world do you think that is my job?  Last I heard it wasn’t illegal to quit.”  Then I turned my attention to Charlie.  “Do you know anything about this?”

       “First I’ve heard of it,” he remarked with a shrug.

       Doc turned in his seat to look jat Wilson.  “Doesn’t make sense for them to quit this time of year.  They must’ve had good reason,” he snapped.

       “They just want more money!” asserted Wilson.  “Mr. Hoskins would like for you to remove them from the housing in which they are being provided by the company.”

       I leaned forward over the table.  “I wouldn’t kick a person out of their homes this time of year.  That would be just plain cruel.  Plus the fact that it is not a federal offense.”

       “Then it will be upon your conscience if any of these men or their families are hurt when they are put out of company homes,” Wilson retorted, looking at me then to Charlie.  “I’ll report this to your superiors that you’re hindering the shipment of gold to the mint by not following through with your job!”

       “Report away,” I muttered, then picked up my coffee.  It had gotten cold.

      “What is it that caused them to walk off,” questioned Doc.  “They must have had good reason.”

       “Money!” exclaimed Wilson.  “They want a dollar a day raise.”

       Molly smiled at him, “Mr. Wilson, may I ask how much they make now?”

       “Most of them three dollars a day, some less,” came his retort.  “Can you imagine wanting a dollar more a day?  That’s unheard of!”

       I sighed deeply, he was beginning to get on my nerves.  “Wilson, have you ever been down in one of those mines?  It’s dark, it’s dirty, and they breathe that coal dust for twelve hours a day.  Plus I doubt that the safety conditions of the mine are not adequate.”

       He stood up, his lip curled slightly as he answered, “Most certainly not, that’s why we hire their kind.”

       That gave me the urge to throw “his kind” out of the diner.  Molly must have known what I was thinking for she put her hand on my arm.

       After he turned and left, Charlie spoke up.  “Reckon I’d better ride up on the next train.”

       “Oh, Charlie, why?  It’s snowing.  You could be snowed in for Christmas,” cried out Marta.

       “Want me to go with you?” I asked.

       “No, as you said it really doesn’t concern you.  I just want to talk with those miners and try to keep something more serious from happening,” he placed his hand on Marta’s shoulder.  “Don’t worry, I’ll be back before Christmas; it’s over two weeks away.”

       Getting up he put on his coat and went out the entrance.

       “Miles, I’ll forever not understand the thinking of a man like that.  A man without humanity,” he snorted.

       I grabbed the coffee pot…

It had been a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I had thought at first that there would not be as many people this year since the weather had been fair and the mines hadn’t released unnecessary miners, but it didn’t happen that way.  Doc Jones told me that I had forgotten to take into account that Durango had grown last year.  However, there was plenty of chili and stew to go around though Joe Dixon’s turkey went fast.  He gave the diner six and Emelda found a way to get them all roasted.

       Over a sip of coffee and left-over pie, Parson Chapman muttered, “I wish I could get some of those folk into the church.  I don’t think I knew half of the people that showed up.”

       Reverend Chapman and his wife Betty along with Doc Jones and Edith were sitting at the table with me.  Sheriff Gold was there and for Thanksgiving he let the two brawlers in his jail come and join the feast.  They agreed if they helped clean up, the fine would be paid.  The rush was over, which gave Marta time to sit and visit.  Mateo along with Luciana was there so it seemed like Thanksgiving all over again.

       “New folks coming in all the time,” Mateo replied to the preacher’s comment.  “Take a walk up and down the streets and you’ll see new businesses springing up.”

       A snort came from Charlie, “How many will stay?  We know the miners are transient.  A new strike and off they go unless they work for one of the larger mines.”

       “Why would you say that?” questioned Molly.

       “Competition.  Too much competition,” Charlie joined in the conversation.  “How many millinery shops do we need?  Jenkins is a fine saddler, do we need another one in town?  There’s not that much need for saddles to have two saddle shops.”

       “Don’t forget eateries.  Molly, do you realize that since you opened up there have been five more restaurants open?”  Mateo stated, causing me to think that I’d not eaten in any of the others.

       “And vice!  Don’t forget that!” exclaimed Betty in disgust.

       There was a slight chuckle from those at the table.  “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed.  “Mateo, how many new saloons, dance halls and the like have opened in the last year?”

       “Not sure, but I think six new ones.  That makes fifteen in town, but only one new dance hall, and I won’t speak of the other vicios.”

       “There you go, parson,” added Doc.  “Plenty of new customers for your church.”

       Another small round of laughter went out, but Betty stood up with a scowl.  Pastor Chapman grasped her arm, and pulled her down.  “Betty, they know your feelings, and they agree with you.  Don’t be spiting them.”

       “Well, Parson, you did a good job with your preachin’,” I admonished.

       Now he seemed disgusted.  “Yeah, feed them and they’ll come, but will they listen?”

       I placed my hand on his shoulder then spoke, “Have you read the parables of Jesus?”  I knew he had, but said it anyways.  “That was one of His problems, getting people to listen.  After feeding the five thousand, they came expectin’ to be fed, and I don’t mean the spiritual food that you provide for us every Sunday.”

       “Well,” piped up Doc.  “I could use another doctor.  Especially with you gun-toting lawmen around.”

       Some more laughter and Betty was able to form a smile on her face.

       We were enjoying each other’s company when a stern-looking fellow came through the door and up to our table.  “I’m looking for Marshal Forrest.  I was told he might be in here.”  We all noticed that he had to brush snow off his coat when he entered.

       “I’m Forrest.”