It was about time for Queens’ trial.  Charlie had left to find him, and I thought it best to remain away from the scene and show up in the courtroom when it was time for me to testify.  I had a little over a half hour to wait before he came on the docket.  After the trial, Sheriff Gold, Charlie, was heading to Silverton to check on Mateo.  Nothing special, just routine.
    I had just taken a sip of coffee when through the doors of the diner came Mrs. Blackstone.  “You lied to me!” she bellowed, then looked around at the customers gawking at her.
    “Sit down, I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” I said pulling out a chair for her.  
    “I don’t want to sit, I want to know why you lied!” she exclaimed but had calmed her voice some.
    She did take a seat, so I poured her some coffee.  “Missus Blackstone, I have never lied to you.  Would you care to explain?”
    Her fingers were fiddling with the cup, her eyes upon it then she looked up at me.  “You said you didn’t know where my husband was.”
    Well, at the time I didn’t know that Frank Black of Silverton, owner of the Empty Diggin’s Saloon and drunk was her husband.  Since then I had said nothing of him to her.  She had taken a job at Foster’s Mercantile working with Darnelle.
    “I didn’t lie to you.  I recently found out that Frank Black may be your husband.  By the way, how did you come upon this information?”
    “Marshal Queens told me,” she paused, then stared at me, “He also told me how you were trying to get his job.”
    That gave me pause to ponder, was Queens becoming sweet on Mrs. Blackstone, or using her?  I didn’t want to push the job over on Rev. Chapman, but I did anyway.  “Listen, I have to be in court in a few minutes.  I want to take you to talk with the Preacher, he can better explain than I.”
    She didn’t say anything and I was able to motion to Molly with my head to come over.  As Molly was walking to the table, Charlie burst through the door.  The anger in his eyes were plain to see.  Marta saw it also and came quickly to the table putting her hand on his shoulder.
    “Miles, Queens is at the courthouse,” he said clenching his fists.  “He is holding Offut and Judge Klaser waiting for you!” he exclaimed, and I could see he was very frustrated.  “I tried to talk with him, but he said if I poked my head in the courtroom again he’d shoot the Judge…  He wants to see only you.”
    I looked at Molly with a grimace on my face.  “Take care of Mrs. Blackstone until I get back will you?”  I got up and picked up the Greener.
    “He said to leave the shotgun,” Charlie informed me.
    As Charlie and I left the diner I could see the concern in the eyes of Marta and Molly.  I winked at Molly, and Charlie gave a nod of his head to his wife.  We didn’t talk as we began to march the two blocks up to the courthouse.  “Lord, You’re in charge of this, I’ll leave it in your hands,” I prayed quietly.
    “Huh?” Charlie muttered.  “Did you say something?”
    I turned my head in his direction as we continued on our way.  “Just a little prayer.  I don’t know what’s up there, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know that the Lord does so I just asked Him for some help.”
    Arriving at the courthouse, we walked up the few steps that led into the entrance.  There were offices on both sides, clerks and lawyers, with the courtroom in the back.  All was empty and our footsteps echoed as we walked to the door.  I pounded on it rather hard.  “Queens!  It’s Miles Forrest!”
    I heard steps on the wood floor and a voice muttering something.  Then Queens called out, “Is the Sheriff with you?”
    “He’s here!”
    “Tell him to go outside and across the street.  I want to see him through the window so I know where he is,” hollered Queens.
    “Listen, Queens, it doesn’t have to be like this,” I began.
    “Shut up!  Tell him!
    I turned to Charlie, “He wants you outside and across the street where he can see you.”
    After Charlie had cleared the entrance I opened the door and yelled, “Queens, I’m comin’ in.”
    Entering the room I wasn’t ready to see what was before me.  Queens had his gun pointed in my direction and…

It took two days before Offut could post bail for Queens.  He hadn’t officially been charged with anything, Charlie wrote up the charges and I added an addendum.  After that Offut was able to get Queens out of jail.  But, he was still town marshal.  
    I stood on the boardwalk in front of the diner watching Charlie walk up to the jail to release the prisoner.  I was glad it wasn’t me.  Stanley Offut was tagging along behind him, I guess he didn’t figure Charlie would do his duty.  I could see Offut standing in the doorway, and when Queens was released he came busting out of that doorway knocking poor old Stanley flat.  Queens looked around quick then headed up toward Kingston’s saloon.
    Charlie reached down to help Offut up, and I walked inside the diner to get some coffee.  I knew that Charlie would head down this way.  Only I didn’t expect Offut to be with him.
    “Sit yourself down, Stanley,” I said motioning to a chair.  “Want some coffee?”
    He scratched his head, then wiped his hand down in front of his face muttering something I couldn’t hear.  “Sit down!” I said almost ordering him.
    Now sitting in the chair opposite me, he lifted his eyes to meet mine.  Charlie placed a full cup in front of him, but before he took a sip he apologized.  “Miles,” he said then dropped his head seemingly in embarrassment, “I realize now that Queens is a hot-head, but he still is the marshal and it didn’t seem fitting that the marshal should be locked up in his own jail.”
    “Easy, Stanley.  I’m not angry at you.  Just glad you’re starting to come to your senses,” I paused to take a sip of the hot coffee.  “Do you think Parker and Newsome will remove his badge?”
    Offut looked at his coffee, I nodded to Charlie, “Get him some sugar.”  That brought a slight smile from Offut.
    “I don’t know?” he answered.  “Paul might join me, but John, well, you know John.”  He picked up a spoon to add sugar to the coffee then stirred it rattling the spoon on the porcelain cup.  “Tell you the truth, Miles, I’m a bit scared.”
    “When’s his trial date?” I inquired of Charlie.
    “Not sure yet, the docket hasn’t been set, but I’m sure it will be the first of next week.  Since the Judge was out of town there are cases in front of him,” Charlie paused pulling at his chin.  “Seeing that Queens is the town marshal, he might move it to the front of the list.”
    I looked over at Offut.  It was plain to see that he was afraid.  “Will you help me, Miles?  I know I don’t have the right to ask, but…”
    “Stanley, the affair is out of my jurisdiction.  I have nothing to do with it except as a witness,” I replied then finished off the now warm coffee.  Offut’s face became more downcast.  “However, Stanley, as a friend I’ll stand by you.  I’ll do what I can.”
    That seemed to help him some and he reached out his hand across the table.  After we shook hands he stood up to leave.  Taking a couple of steps he stopped, reached in his vest pocket and handed a telegram to Charlie.  “Almost forgot, Sheriff.”  Then he proceeded to leave to go back to his office.
    Charlie opened the telegram and quickly read it.  “It’s from Mateo,” he informed me.  “All is ok…STOP…Marshal Dewey and I don’t often agree. Mateo”
    “Hmpf, that don’t surprise me a bit,” I said, then got up to pour a fresh cup.
    “Think I should go up there?” he asked.
    Shaking my head, I responded, “Let Mateo handle it unless he requests you.  I wouldn’t go right now anyway with Queens on the loose.  No tellin’ what he might do.  And speakin’ of that, walk wary.”
    “Walk wary of what?” came the voice.  The Parson had come in and neither Charlie nor I had noticed him.  
    “Of being surprised, just like you did to us now.  Sit down, Preacher, want some coffee?”  He nodded so Charlie got up to get him a cup.  “Sure appreciate you allowin’ us to use that shack next to the church for a jail.  Those boys givin’ you any trouble?”
    He smiled, “No, they’re tuckered out by the time they come in.  Betty is spoiling them some for she always has some cookies or the like for them.”
    “How’s their attitude?” I asked watching him swallow the hot coffee.
    “Well…”

I could hear the whack, whack, whack as Queens was attacking Fernando.  Rushing in he turned on me smacking me alongside the neck driving me into the bars of the cell.  Charlie then jumped on his back, Queens roared swinging around trying to loosen him, but Charlie hung on.  After shaking my head, I drove a fist into Queens jaw causing his knees to stagger, then Charlie grabbed him throwing his arm around his neck choking him.  Finally, Queens succumbed and lay still, but not unconscious.
    My attention went to Fernando, who was still trying to cover himself up.  “Easy, boy, easy, I’m not goin’ to hurt you.”
    “Queens!” yelled Charlie, “What in the world are you trying to do?”
    There was no answer forthcoming as he pushed himself off the floor.  He pushed Charlie away and started out the cell.  I moved to my feet and grabbed him spinning him around.  As he was spinning I pushed him into one of the other cells and onto the cot.  With him face down on the cot, I pulled his gun from his holster.
    I moved out of the cell; he jumped up coming at me so I slammed the cell door catching him in the face.  A curse exploded from his mouth, “Forrest, I’ll get you for this!”
    “Lucas, get out in the office!” I ordered and pointed.  Then I glanced at Charlie and nodded toward Fernando.  He stooped to help him up on the cot while I went out to talk with Lucas.
    He was standing there, trembling, eyes wide.  “Okay, son, what went on in there?” I asked softly trying to settle him down.
    Lucas just shook his head.  “I’m not sure,” he said, almost whimpering.  “Fernando asked for a cup of water.  The marshal muttered something about him being a “beaner” but brought a cup.  As he was handing it to Fernando it hit the bars and spilled it on the marshal’s shirt.  That threw him into a rage.”
    He was beginning to settle down so I pulled out a chair.  “Why don’t you sit, and settle yourself.”  Then I half-sat on the corner of the desk.
    “The marshal, he opened the cell door then grabbed me hitting me and throwing me out of the cell.  Then he turned his anger on Fernando.  He had something in his hand, a quirt maybe and started hitting Fernando,” he paused to look up at me.  “That’s when you came in.”
    “Forrest!  Let me out of here!  You can’t hold me like this!  Forrest!” came the voice of Queens bellowing from his cell.  
    Charlie brought Fernando out to the office and tossed a quirt that he had picked up from the floor of the cell to the table where I was sitting.  “I need to take him over to Doc’s office.  Some of those cuts need tending to.”
    I nodded, “Get him tended to, and I’ll meet you at the diner.  I’ll have Lucas with me.  I’m not goin’ to subject him to Queen’s rantin’.”
    “Forrest!  You can’t leave me in here like this!” he ranted as Lucas and I left the office.  “You’ll pay for this!  Forrest!”
    We walked down the street toward the diner, Lucas rubbing the side of his head where Queens hit him.  “Has this happened before?” I asked as we continued down the street.
    “No, but he, what you say, stormed at us, always threatening,” replied Lucas.
    Walking in the entrance Molly saw us immediately.  She knew something must be wrong with Lucas being with me and rushed over.  Of course the first thing she saw was the bruise on the side of his head.  Putting her arm around him she hurried him over to the table.  Lucas sat down as Molly rushed off to the kitchen.  I pulled a cup off the shelf to pour coffee before sitting down.
    Molly had gone to the kitchen and returned with a piece of chocolate pie for Lucas.  I looked at her longingly, but she scarcely even noticed.  “There’s only one piece left, and that’s for Fernando,” she informed me.  
    Lucas had taken a couple of bites while Molly and I set there and watched him before Charlie came in with Fernando followed by Doc Jones.  As they were approaching the table Molly stood then went to the kitchen for Fernando’s pie.  Doc came straight to Lucas.
    “Put down that pie, I want to check the side of your head,” he stated brusquely.  
    I watched him, then had to ask.  “How does lookin’ in his eyes help you check the side of his head?”
    Doc gave me a glance then went back to his examination.  He gave a short grunt then looked at me.  “How about a cup of coffee?”  Then he asked Lucas if he was dizzy.
    Lucas shook his head, “Is it okay to eat my pie now, Senor Doc?” he asked.
    Scratching his chin, then he pulled at his eyebrow, then with a wink, “Go ahead, eat your pie.”  Sitting down he took a sip of coffee then turned his attention toward me.  “Something has to be done with that man strutting around as town marshal,” he snapped.  “Using a quirt like that he could have put the boy’s eye out.  As it was he cut him some.”
    Molly returned with Fernando’s piece of pie and Doc looked at it with hungry eyes.  She looked at him, then over at me, then up to Charlie.  “I suppose you all want a piece now?  Well, I have apple, buttermilk, and butterscotch left.  You first, Doc.”
    We gave our orders with a smile; Marta had come over to check on her brother then looked at me with concern.  “He’s not in any more trouble is he?”
    I started to answer when Charlie interrupted to informed me.  “I thought you might be interested that when I brought Fernando into the diner I saw Stanley Offut rushing down toward the jail.”
    Bringing the piece of the butterscotch pie to my mouth, I smiled…

Charlie Gold was sitting with me in the diner sharing coffee and looking over the telegrams I had received.  Queens was not known in New Mexico Territory, but Marshal Wilcox thanked me for taking care of “the Scorpion” Rafael Garcia.  He was not a big time outlaw, but was known for his recklessness and attitude.  Pepe was a known killer and the two of them were beginning to cause concern in northern New Mexico.
    Both Blasco, Colorado, and McCoy, Kansas, said that Queens was not known to have committed any crimes but had shot several men in fights.  I also received a note from Dave Cook, brought down by the train from Silverton.  Cook said that Queens was a dangerous man, quick to anger, and he thought malicious.  So far Stan Offut had not said anything to Queens, but I reckoned sooner or later he would.  At least Queens wouldn’t know about Cook’s telegram.
    “What do you think the Judge will do?” asked Charlie after wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
    Molly was walking up to the table, so I dared not do what Charlie did.  Instead I took another swallow as she sat down watching me closely.  I touched my mouth with the table linen and received a smile from Molly, then rubbed down my moustache with thumb and forefinger.
    “Don’t know, that’s why I want to talk with him before deciding whether or not to bring charges,” I responded.
    “Oh, Miles, you’re really not going to charge those children with horse-stealing, are you?” questioned Molly.  “And Lucas, he just got caught up in something.”
    I stood to take the coffeepot off the stove behind me, and refilled Charlie’s cup, then poured Molly a cup and topped mine off.  “That’s just it.  He’s got to know that he can’t be led around by the wrong crowd.  Remember also, Two-Bits was one of the horses he stole.”
    Charlie took over from there.  “If it had been some rancher’s horses, say Cecil Thompson for example, most likely we would have found Lucas and Fernando dangling from a tree.”
    “It’s bad enough that those boys have been sitting in that jail cell waiting for the Judge to return,” snapped Molly before tasting her coffee.
    Marta happened to hear what she said, “No, Molly.  If Lucas was not in the jail, I would have wringed his stupid neck!”
    That brought a chuckle from Charlie who lowered his head placed his forehead in his hand.  He’d already been caught.  “What?  You think this is funny, my husband?  It is not!”
    “No dear, I was just imagining you grabbing hold of Lucas, that’s all,” he said trying to be solemn.
    I reached out and took the telegrams from Charlie and handed them to Molly.  “Looks like Queens is not wanted for anything, but his reputation is not the best.”
    “Hmpf,” she muttered, “I could have told you that.  When are you to meet with Judge Klaser?”
    I looked up at the large banjo clock on the wall, one of the few things that Molly had from her mother.  “Fifteen minutes,” I stated, then swallowed the rest of my coffee.  “Let’s go Sheriff.”
    When we arrived at the Judge’s office, he was standing by his office door to greet us so his secretary wouldn’t have to ask why we were there.  He pointed at us and motioned us to follow him into the office.  Charlie shut the door behind him.
    “Sit down!” he ordered gruffly which was not his normal character.  “Now, explain this to me again.”
    I went through the scenario of what took place, to which I received a sort of a grunt from time to time from the Judge.  When I was finished, he asked, “Are you sure you want to place charges against them?  It would be at least five years in the pen.”
    Glancing over at Charlie, then back to the Judge with a frown on my face.  “I don’t want them to go to prison, but I do want to teach them a lesson.”
    Judge Klaser then began to stroke his beard and at the end of each stroke he muttered, “hmmm.”  After stroking his beard for several seconds, he scratched his head and cleared his throat with a cough.  “I can do this, Miles.  But understand this, they will have a record.  I can commute their sentence and put them on probation.  They will answer to you or Charlie, whoever is available.  For six months they will muck the streets or Durango, make sure the community troughs are filled, the wood at all public buildings is cut and stacked.  They will report to you at the end of every week, giving you a written report of their work.  They are to be available to do any other work that may be required by the community.  Oh, and they will attend church with you each Sunday,” he stopped to look at me, then over to Charlie.  “Any questions?  If not, court date is tomorrow morning.”
    “One more thing,” he offered as we started to leave.  “They’ll be charged with public mischief and endangerment to property.”
    Charlie opened the door and stepped out.  I was just about to do so when the Judge hollered, “Miles, hold on a minute.”
    I went back to the desk.  “Have you heard anything about Queens?”
    “Not wanted for anything,” I replied, “but thought to be a dangerous man.”
    He nodded then waved me away.  Charlie was waiting for me outside and we went down to the jail to tell the “criminals” of their court date.  When we walked in Lucas was standing outside the cell with his back against the adjacent one with a look of total fear on his face.  Mike Queens was in the cell with Fernando…