Lamb was moving rather slowly as his wound still bothered him.  Doc raised his hand and waved him over to our table.  His walk was a little above a shuffle and mosey.  Charlie Gold reached over to grab a chair from another table so he could sit down.  Molly jumped up and started for the kitchen.  Now, what was she doing?
    It was quiet around the table as he seated himself.  I was not used to having a casual time with a criminal, especially one that had tried to harm my family and friends.  Perhaps Lamb sensed the problem, for he uttered, “I don’t mean to intrude.”
    I wanted to blurt out, “Then don’t,” but Molly was coming back from the kitchen with a piece of butterscotch pie.
    “Here you go, Mr. Lamb,” she said then turned to me.  “Miles, get Mr. Lamb a cup of coffee to go with his pie.”
    It was not a request.
    “Thank you, ma’am,” he muttered seemingly somewhat embarrassed.  He then asked, “Have you heard anything about James?  When is his trial?”
    “All I can tell you Lamb is that your brother made it to Denver.  As to his trial, I have no idea when it will take place,” answered Charlie.
    Looking at me he asked, “They wouldn’t put him in prison with only one arm would they?”
    Doc wiped down his chin with his hand.  “I imagine the defense will use that to their advantage.  But you must understand that he must face the consequences of his actions.”
    “Lamb, I met some friends of yours up Silverton way,” his fork was halfway to his mouth when I said this.  He stopped to look my direction.  “Fellow by the name of Micah Teeter, along with Jenks and Framm.”
    He lowered his fork to the plate.  “Did they say they were my friends?” he asked with a straight-face.
    I gave a little shrug, then added, “Not directly.”
    “Then I’ve never heard of them,” he snapped pushing the rest of the pie away from him.
    “Your trial will probably come up right after Christmas.  You sure you want to stick to that story?” I asked.
    This time I received a glare.  Molly placed her hand on my arm.  “Mister Lamb, we all have to pay the consequences for our actions,” she paused then continued, “and that includes sinning against the Most High,” she stopped and gave him a smile.  “That’s why this time of year is so joyous.  The heavenly Father sent His Son so that we don’t have to pay the ultimate penalty for our sins.”
    He turned his gaze to Molly.  “Were you the one that sent the kid to see me?  He said he was praying for me,” he snorted.  “What rubbish, after he shot me.”
    Turning to Charlie, “Why hasn’t he been tried for attempted murder?”
    His congenial attitude had been replaced with a snarl.  “By the way,” he calmed down, “where is the woman I tried to, uh, that you say I tried to kidnap?”
    “My wife is in the kitchen.  Why do you want her?” indicated Charlie.
    “Your wife!” exclaimed Lamb shaking his head then mumbled, “I don’t stand a chance at the trial.”  Sighing he continued.  “I came to apologize if I upset her with her supposed intentions,” he stated then looked at each of us.
    Charlie stood up to get Marta…

The morning rush was about over.  Charlie Gold was sitting at the table with me along with Doc Jones.  There tends to be more customers this time of year on into spring as mines lay off many of their workers and just keep a skeleton crew going.  That’s one way the mines save money and cheat the working miner.  Some of the wiser miners keep some money for the hard times, but many of them throw it away on the vices that are offered in Silverton and Durango, and even as far as Telluride.
    “So,” said Doc after he scratched at his ear and took a sip of coffee, “do you think those three galoots were involved in the train robbery?”
    I replied with a nod, “I think it’s highly possible.  I plan to have a talk with John Lamb after we finish here.  Sure wish they hadn’t come for James so quickly, but they wanted to get him to Denver.”
    “I’m not,” uttered Charlie.  “I’m glad he’s out of my hands.  You know, he was always a little haughty with his manner, but somewhere along the way it’s turned to downright hatred.”
    “Probably right after Doc had to cut his arm off,” I responded.
    “One thing for sure,” offered Doc, “there’s no love lost when it come to you, Miles.”
    “Where do you think Sam Fooy is hold up?” questioned Charlie.
    Giving a shrug he said, “Fooy is no fool.  He makes a big haul and then lies low, sometimes for a year or more.  He likes spending his money more than the prospect of gettin’ caught and windin’ up in prison.  Plus, this last time someone was killed and that’s not the way that Fooy normally operates.”  
    I got up to get some more coffee and after pouring my cup full I turned to the others.  “Either of you want a refill?”
    “Maybe if I had a piece of pie,” muttered Charlie.  “I just can’t believe that Molly done run out of pie.”
    “More out of work miners hangin’ ’round,” I replied.
    “Yeah, and they’re keeping the jail full,” said Charlie in disgust.  “Tempers are flaring, and when the real cold weather sets in they’ll be wanting to be arrested so they can feed on the county.”
    I took a sip, then wiped off my moustache.  “Ha, speakin’ of the county, how is Olson takin’ it that he was voted off the city council?”
    That brought a grunt from Doc, then Charlie answered.  “Like a sore tooth.  Swore that those Mexicans shouldn’t be allowed to vote.  If we hadn’t been at the polling booths his ruffians would have run them off.”
    “Yeah, they weren’t about to argue with a Greener,” I said with a smile.
    “And McCall has taken the job as marshal.  He’ll start the first of the year,” added Charlie.  “That’ll sure help me out.  Some of these outlyin’ communities need some looking into.  Only Silverton has a marshal, and they don’t seem to stay around long.”
    “I was surprised that Giles Fremont took on the position,” I stated then pulled on my moustache a couple of times.  “Not sure if it’s good that the three men on the council are all store-owners.”
    Doc coughed to clear his throat.  “Say, how did Lucas like his trip?”
    I saw Charlie roll his eyes, “That’s all he talks about.  How he discovered that Micah Teeter was a wanted man.”
    “He did fine, except that he had to have a second strawberry ice cream soda,” I said shaking my head.  “I think he might have become too fond of the stuff.”
    That brought a laugh from both of them.  “I might have to jerk his collar a bit.  He hasn’t filled the wood box.  Just because he went on a trip and saw some fine things doesn’t mean that he can shirk his regular chores.”
    “If I see him, I make sure to let him know,” stated Charlie.
    Molly came out of the kitchen to join us for a few minutes.  She wouldn’t be staying long, just a minute or two to get off her feet.  The noon rush would be coming soon.
    Just before she sat down, the front door opened.  “Well, will you look here?” she blurted.
    In through the door hobbled John Lamb.  With his condition Charlie and I agreed that he could be under house arrest.  But now, he was out of the house.
    I wanted to talk with him…now I wouldn’t have to go looking for him…

After leaving the meeting I walked up to the corner to look for Lucas.  Where was that kid?  Then looking down the street I saw him racing around the corner like a banshee was chasing him.
    “Senor Miles…” he hollered, out of breath.
    “Lucas!  What did I tell you about goin’ on the streets to the north?” I asked with exasperation.
    “But, Senor Miles, I was doing what you say, ‘investigatin’,'” he panted as he grabbed hold of my arm.  
    “Investigatin’?”
    “I saw them, the men.  I couldn’t see them very well last night, but I saw them up the street so I went to look.  He is the man!” he exclaimed.
    “Now simmer down, what man?” I questioned.  
    He was beginning to catch his breath.  “The man at the fire, I think his name was Teeter; he was the man I saw talking with Senor James Lamb in the doctor’s office.”
    “Did they see you?” I asked with concern.
    “No, I was very careful,” he said then dropped his head.  “I know I disobeyed, but I had to be sure.”
    I clasped him on the shoulder.  “Well, that’s one thing about bein’ a man.  You have to make decisions, and then be prepared to accept the consequences.  We might just have to forgo that ice cream I was thinkin’ of gettin’ you.”
    His eyes seemed to enlarge with almost tears, but he replied.  “I understand,” he replied with a large sigh.
    “But again,” I began to say.  “You brought back some important information and undertook a dangerous job to do so.  I might have to reconsider.”
    We walked up the street to a store that boasted of ice cream and something new–ice cream soda.  Lucas looked carefully at the sign.  “Senor, what is thees ice cream soda?”
    I had to chuckle a little bit.  “Well, Pard, I’m not quite sure but from what I hear they pour sody-pop over ice cream.  Supposed to be good.  How’s about us givin’ it a try?”
    After ordering and receiving our soda; we both got strawberry, we sat down and I began to think of what Lucas had told me.  Those men, at least Teeter, knew the Lambs.  I wondered if they had anything to do with the holdup.  Fooy was always very careful but there had been a man killed.  Perhaps these three broke away from Fooy.  After he made a haul he was known to disappear, sometimes for a year or more.
    I thought that I might take a meander after supper and I put Lucas in the room for the night, but then figured that neither Marta nor Molly would approve.  I’d check wanted posters at Wells Fargo on the way to the train in the morning to see if there was anything on the three.

    The next morning, after a hardy breakfast, we took our horses to the station to get them loaded on the stock car.  I was a mite nervous with those men hanging about.  I wondered why they didn’t try anything that night at the camp?  Were they concerned about Lucas?  If so, that’s a plus on their side, but I reckoned that they figured it just wasn’t the right time.  
    I hoped they weren’t on the train.  I had been playing up that Lucas was a man, but I didn’t relish to go up against three men with someone still wet behind the ears.  Of course, I wasn’t about to tell Lucas that.  I had half a mind to stay back with the horses, out of sight and out of the way, but decided to go ahead and ride in the passenger car.
    The Lord must have heard the prayer that I didn’t say for there was no sign of the men.  The trip back to Durango went without incident.  Marta was there to meet us at the station and she gave Lucas a hug that surely did embarrass him.  He even wiped the big wet kiss off his cheek.
    When I saw that I started to laugh some.  He turned to me, “What is so funny, Senor?”
    “Nothin’ Lucas, nothin’,” I muttered.  “Let’s go see Molly, then get the horses cared for.”
    “You go ahead, Senor and see your wife.  I will care for the horses,” he ordered then began to walk off.  After taking a few steps he stopped, turned and spoke to me.  “Gracias, Senor Miles.”  
    Nothing else needed to be said…

I was up early, got a blaze going for coffee.  I didn’t sleep much during the night as I was a mite concerned over our company.  Greylight was just appearing when I had Lucas up and saddling our horses.  We ate some bacon, drank our coffee and were ready to head out.
    “Say!  Ain’t yuh gonna leave us any coffee?” grumbled the one called Framm.
    “Sorry boys, yur the ones who are sleepin’ in,” I said walking over to Hawk.
    He began to reach for his gunbelt.  “Mister, is a big piece of lead worth a cup of coffee?”  He relaxed then moving his hand back.  
    I nodded to Lucas to get moving up the trail.  We would be up and over Molas Pass and down into Silverton by noon.  I’d get Lucas settled and then go on with my business.
    When we reached the summit the sun had just cleared the horizon.  I glanced toward my backtrail and then watched Lucas as he stopped to gaze at the sight.  “Senor Miles, it is beautiful!” he exclaimed.
    I pulled Hawk up beside him.  “The Lord sure does know how to paint a sunrise.  Enjoy them for you don’t know how many is allotted for you.”
    Glancing to the northwest I wondered if the sun would be hidden before with those dark clouds I could see gathering.  All of a sudden a gust sweep through.  “Senor, it is cold!” shuddered Lucas.
    “Then we best be gettin’ on down from here,” I replied and gave Hawk a nudge.  I took the lead, not worrying much about our camp visitors at this point.
    We didn’t hurry, but we made good time on the road leading from the summit.  Before noon we were in Silverton.  I took Lucas to one of the nicer hotels and got us a room.  This hotel had their own livery so we left Hawk and Two-Bits there.  After getting the room, we went to lunch.  I had to smile as Lucas ordered coffee and was pleased to see there was sugar.
    “No more’n a spoon.  Yuh don’t want to get addicted to that stuff in yur coffee,” I admonished.
    After eating we stood outside.  “I’d prefer you stayed in the hotel, but most likely you’re wantin’ to see some of the town.  All I’m askin’ is that you don’t go north of this street or travel to the east.  This town is rough,” I stated, then continued.  “The train leaves in the mornin’ and we want to get the horses loaded–don’t want to miss Thanksgiving back at Molly’s.”
    He nodded and smiled.  I moved on down the street to my meeting.  Passing the Wells Fargo office I opened the door and waved.  I knew one of the clerks when I worked for Wells Fargo.  Then down to one of the banks.
    Upon entering a clerk came to me.  “I’m here for the meetin’.”
    Giving me a sneer he asked, “And who might you be?”
    “Deputy United States Marshal Miles Forrest, that’s who,” and I pushed past him to the room on the right.  
    “Hey, you just can’t go in there!” he exclaimed.  “I have to check first.”  By that time I was already opening the door.
    These were the owners or the managers of the mining companies in Silverton.  The ones who lost the payroll with the train robbery.  I recognized a few of them.  Then Jakub Brewliski saw me and waved.  I moved in his direction and was standing by him when the meeting was called to order.  I didn’t see why I had to be there, but Blasco had ordered me so there must be a reason.  They had received money that they lost to pay their employees and miners.  The missing money was none of their to-do anymore.
    Shaking Jakub’s hand I leaned to him and whispered.  “We caught two of the outlaws.”
    He raised his eyebrows, “Hmm, is that so?”
    There was one man, tall, older fellow who began, “I think it’s time to hire our own guards.  We hire them to deliver the gold to the train, why not all the way to Denver?  Then they can guard the payroll back.”
    An oafish-looking man, balding and smoking a fat cigar began to disagree.  “Let the government take care of it.”
    “Who’s the tall man?” I questioned Jakub in whispered tone.
    He was quiet with his answer.  “Marlow Bartkopf.”
    With that he looked our way.  I didn’t know him, but he must have recognized me from somewhere.  “There’s the marshal!  What do you say?”
    I scratched at my head, being caught by surprise then pulled at my moustache.  “That’s your business.  But remember the more people involved the more will know about shipments.”
    They argued back and forth about that and other topics.  The room was becoming hot and smoke-filled when they finally called it a day.  As we were walking out I asked Jakub, “Who was the other man that kept badgerin’ Bartkopf?”
    “Samuel Weinstein,” he paused, “he’s relatively new here.  I think he represents the company back in Philadelphia.”
    I shook his hand and went to find Lucas…