James Lamb blocked the doorway forcing Lucas to step back into the room.  “What’re doing here kid?” snarled Lamb.  “Coming to finish off my brother?”  He reached for Lucas forgetting his bandaged hand.  Lucas jumped grabbing the edge of the door swinging it as Lamb lunged for him.  The door struck the arm that was amputated.  Lamb let out a scream like a wounded cougar.
    That brought Doc Jones running in a hurry.  Lucas was back against the wall.  The pain had driven Lamb to his knees, also waking his brother.  He was in that position when Doc arrived.
    “What’s happened here?” asked Doc, then he saw Lucas.  “Lucas, what are you doing here?”
    From the bed, John Lamb groaned.  “Leave the kid alone,” groaned Lamb.  “He came to pray for me.  James tried to seize him forgetting his arms.”
    Doc stooped down by James Lamb.  “If I help, do you think you can get to your feet?  You need to get back to your own bed.  I don’t want any infection to get in that arm,” then he turned his attention toward Lucas scolding him.  “Lucas, you get on out of here.”
    Lucas ducked his head and hurried out of the room.
                                            ****
    I had told Lucas to be at the diner early the next morning.  I saddled Two-Bits and Hawk and were leading them along with a pack mule, walking beside Molly down to the diner.  She liked to be the first one there but often Elena beat her.  I had convinced her to start carrying her pistol in the pocket of the dress she wore to work.  At least it made me feel a little easier leaving her.
    Lucas and I had worked hard the day before filling up the wood box.  I wanted to leave enough for ten days.  The plan was to ride up, meet with the mine owners and then we’d come back on the train.  There was already some snow on the pass, but it was clear this morning.  After what Lucas had been through, I wanted to give him time to ride in the high country, it always seems to help sooth the soul.
    Elena was there already, getting things prepared for the coming morning rush.  Lucas was there waiting with a coffee cup in front of him.  I noticed that he was scowling.  
    “Are you drinkin’ that or just staring it down?” I questioned as I came up to the table.
    “Senor Miles, this is bitter.”  
    That brought a laugh from Molly.  “Here, Lucas, put a little sugar in it, then try it.”
    I watched him add the sugar and stir the brew shaking my head all the while.  He sipped it, then gave a little smile.
    “Sientate!” came the voice of Elena as she appeared from the kitchen with two plates of eggs, bacon, frijoles, and tortillas.  “Comer!” he ordered then struck off for the kitchen.
    “You’ve got your orders men, now get to it,” laughed Molly as she poured coffee for the two of us.  “I’ll have a cup with yo, then need to get busy helping.”
    We began to stuff the food in our mouths when Marta and Charlie came in.  She had a small frown on her face.  “Senor Miles, you will take good care of him, no?” she asked.  Charlie put his hand on her shoulder to give some comfort.
    “More’n’ likely he’ll be takin’ care of me,” I pulled at my moustache and gave a little wink.  “He’s good at that if you remember.”
    “Come on, partner we need to be hittin’ the trail,” I nudged him on the shoulder then drank down the rest of my coffee.  “See you in a few days.”
    Lucas followed me to the door then on out to the horses.  I checked my cinch before mounting then stepped up and into the saddle.  Lucas started to mount.  “Son!  Always check your cinch!”
    He had a startled look with me barking at him.  “I know, Senor Miles, I just forgot.”
    I nodded and continued to watch him.  As he settled in the saddle all of a sudden his eyes widened.  “Senor Miles, there’s a rifle in the scabbard.”
    “Well, why shouldn’t there be?  You’ve showed you could handle one, an’ you never know when I might need the help.  If you’re goin’ to ride a man’s trail, you need to be carryin’ a man’s gun.”
    He reached out to touch the butt of the rifle.  “You through gawkin’, we really need to be ridin’.  If so, remove your hat.  Lord, be keepin’ your hand on Lucas and I as we travel.  We’re trustin’ in You.  Amen.”
    Before putting my hat back on I waved it at Molly and the rest then gave Hawk a kick and headed off down the road giving out a loud, “Yeehaw!”
    I didn’t look behind me, but heard a higher pitched voice with a “Yeehaw” and the hooves of Two-Bits coming behind me.

Sheriff, what are you doing about these young hoodlums?  Those young Mexicans are nothing but trouble and there you are eating with one at your table!” ranted Martin Olson.  “One of which just shot a man!”
    “Now, just…” Charlie started to reply, but Olson continued his rant.
    Pointing a finger at Charlie, he boomed, “You know Sheriff, there’s an election coming up!  I’ll do my best to see you’re defeated at the polls!”
    I reckoned it was time for me to get involved.  One thing I can’t stand is a self-righteous rant from a bureaucrat.  I stood,  
    “You stay out of this Forrest!” he barked.
    “It’s time for you to leave, Olson,” I said as calmly as I could.  “And it might do you good to remember, that an election is comin’ up.  Remember, you have only been appointed to fill the term.”
    His face turned bright red, I thought it was going to explode.  “I don’t have to leave here!  I know my rights!” he yelled.
    I looked back at Wilson Foster and John Newcombe.  They ducked their heads trying to avoid my eyes.  “Are you two part of this?” I asked.  There was no reply.
    Turning my attention back to Olson.  “You can leave now,” I said as I reached back for my Greener, “or I can thump you on the head and drag you out to the street.”
    “Threats!  Sheriff, you heard him threatening me!”
    “Why don’t you just shut up and leave,” offered Charlie.
    Olson clenched his fists bringing them up chest level.
    He started to turn, then looked at his companions.  “Are you coming?”  Then he strode toward the door.
    Newcombe and Foster lingered for a few seconds.  “Miles, I’ve contacted McCall.  He says he’s interested and is coming down to visit.”
    “He’s a good man,” I replied.  “He’d be a great marshal for Durango.  But what will Olson say?  When he barks, you two jump.  Time for some backbone, gentlemen.”
    There was some mumbling under their breath that I didn’t catch as they turned to leave.
    Placing the Greener back against the wall, I poured another cup of coffee before sitting.  I looked at Marta, “Will your people vote?”
    Her eyes widened slightly.  “They are scared.”
    “If Charlie and I were with them, would they vote?” I asked in earnest.  “We need to get Olson off that council.”
    Marta pondered for a few seconds, “Si, they will vote.  But who is going against him?”
    I looked at Charlie and he shrugged.  “Listen, I have to make a run to Silverton because of the train holdup.  Why don’t you mention it to Ooverholm?”
    Then I turned my attention to Lucas and Marta.  “I need a man to accompany me up to Silverton,” I said putting my hand on his shoulder.  “Think you’d like to take on the job?”
    “Senor Miles!” exclaimed Marta.  “He’s only a boy.”
    “Seems to me he took on a man’s responsibility when he protected you,” I replied then glanced at Molly who was smiling.
    “Really?” responded Lucas in delight.  “You really want my help, Senor Miles?”
    “We would leave in the mornin’, so that means that you’d have to get the woodbox filled with at least a week’s supply.  You can ride Two-Bits,” I stated then turned my attention to Marta.  “I’ll be with him.”
                                ****
    Several hours later, Lucas sneaked into the room where John Lamb was lying.  “Senor, Senor,” he whispered.
    He opened his eyes and looked at Lucas groggily.  “You’re the boy that shot me,” he mumbled.
    “Si, Senor.  I am sorry, but I could not let you hurt my sister.”
    That brought a slight grin from Lamb.  “You’ll do, boy,” he said, then started to close his eyes.
    “Senor, I wanted you to know that I will pray for you.”
    Noise from the other room gathered Lucas’ attention.  He started out and bumped into James Lamb…
______________________
**Don’t forget to order your copy of the exciting adventures of Miles Forrest in my book, Return From Tincup.  It is available from Amazon.

I was sitting at the table with Charlie Gold, Molly, Marta, and Lucas.  We were waiting for Doc Jones to join us.  Lucas was not in good shape and he had his head laying on his crossed arms as Marta ran her hand over his back and shoulders trying to sooth and reassure him.
    Raising his head, with tears in his eyes he asked, “Uncle Charlie, are they going to put me in jail?”
    “No, son,” came his quick reply.  “A man has a right to defend his family from the likes of those men.”
    “Why, Lucas, they would have to arrest me for defendin’ Molly…” he cut me off.
    “But you are a marshal,” he muttered.
    I was getting ready to answer when through the door walked Doc Jones.  While he ambled over to the table, Charlie grabbed a chair from the adjacent table so he could join us.  Molly was up quickly to fetch a cup off the shelf and fill it with coffee for him.
    As he was adjusting himself in the chair, Lucas blurted out, “Is he going to die?”
    Doc slid his hand down over his chin as if pondering an answer then took the cup in his hand.  He sipped at the hot coffee, then wiped his mouth.  He looked at me first, then turned his attention to Lucas.
    “I won’t lie to you son, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t know.  The bullet went in his lower left side and how much damage it did I have no way of knowing unless I cut him open, and that would put him in worse shape with all of the blood he lost,” Doc answered then sipped his coffee again before continuing.
    “The bullet is still in him; I couldn’t take the chance of probing for it and doing more damage.  He needs complete bedrest for quite a spell; let it begin to heal so that bullet won’t move around.  I’ve known of people to live with a bullet inside, but, yes, there is a good chance he could die.”
    Lucas didn’t reply, just hung his head.  There was silence at the table when Doc spoke up.  “Molly, by chance, do you have any pie back in the kitchen?”
    “I reckon I can scare you up a piece,” replied Molly.  Marta started to get up to get it when Molly put her hand on her arm.  “You stay with Lucas, I’ll go get it.”
    As she was walking away Doc continued with his conversation.  “Miles, I had to cut the arm off James Lamb.  His last words before he went under the chloroform was that he was going to make you pay.”
    Doc was shaking his head.  “Why should Senor Miles have to pay?” interjected Marta.  “He was only doin’ his duty as a lawman and husband!”
    “Well, Marta, I really don’t have a good answer for that,” expressed Doc.  “Evil begets evil, I reckon is about all I can say.”
    By that time Molly was returning with three pieces of pie.  “Hear you go Doc,” she said placing one dish in front of him.  “Charlie, Lucas,” then she turned.
    I scratched my ear, then pulled at the end of my moustache as she stood there.  She looked at my forlorn face, smiled and walked to where Elena was standing with three more plates full of pie.  
    Molly took them from her and walked back to the table.  “Marta, this is mine,” she said placing is down on the table where she was sitting, “And dear husband, do you think I would forget you?” she asked placing a piece in front of me.
    What could I say?  With the pie in front of us, the solemnity of the previous moments had left and we were enjoying a special type of camaraderie.
    I was half-way through mine when I noticed that my cup was empty.  Standing I went to the coffeepot on the stove and was filling my cup when through the door came the city council with Martin Olson in the lead.  He pointed at Lucas, but was staring at Charlie.
    “I want to know…”

Ha,” came the laugh from the man wearing black.  “I had heard that my friend was dead and came to check on his grieving widow.”  His smile vanished at he looked across the room at the other man, then he turned his attention back to me.  “I figured I could bring life back into her life.”
    “Before I arrest you, I would like to know who is John and who is James,” I said simply. 
    “Ha,” came the laugh again.  “I am most certainly James,” he pointed at the other man, “the dull one is John.  Seems his aim wasn’t so good.  But arresting me, for what?”
    I just shook my head, wondering if he liked to hear himself talk.  “Let’s start with bank robbery, abduction of three women, using women as hostages, train robbery, and accessory to murder.  Add the attempted murder of a federal officer to the list.  My mercy, Lamb, you’ve got quite the resume.  Now, pick up the cup!”
    Instead of moving toward the cup, he took a couple of steps to his left widening the gap between him and his brother.  I had to bring this to a close quickly.  There was something about James Lamb that told me that he was a dangerous man.  They were far enough apart to make it very difficult for me to shoot both of them if it came to gunplay and they way he was acting I didn’t doubt for a minute that it would.
    “Don’t move another step,” I ordered.  There was the smile and he took another step, then another, testing me to my limits.
    “Stop!”
    A shot rang out from behind me.  From the corner of my eye I saw John double over.  James went for his gun, but he must have been distracted seeing his brother fall.  My bullet hit him in the elbow.  It must have broken the bone for he immediately dropped his gun.  I glanced quickly at John before looking behind me.  Lucas was there, holding a rifle.
    He had tears in his eyes.  “Senor Miles, are you goin’ arrest me?”
    I was watching James as I went over to Lucas.  Taking the rifle from his hand, I put my hand on his shoulder, “No, son, you’re not going to jail.”
    “That man was going to take Marta.  I wasn’t going to let him!” he said almost in a sob.
    It was then I noticed that James was bending down, trying to pick his gun from the floor.  I moved toward him, “Not the gun, pick up the cup.”
    Fortunately for me, he could not hurt me with his eyes because I could see the daggers being flung at me.  “The cup,” I said again.
    “I’m bleeding,” he snapped.  “Send for the doctor.  My brother’s dying!”
    “The wages of sin are brutal,” I replied.  “Pick up the cup and I’ll check on your brother.”
    He went to his knees and started to the cup, his right arm dangling.  He grabbed the cup with his left hand then looked at me.  “I can’t get up.  You’ll have to help me.”
    I reached down with my left arm to help pull him to his feet.  He swung the hand holding the cup at me; I was half suspecting he would try something.  My pistol was still in my hand and I slashed at his hand making contact with his wrist then I thumped him alongside the head and he felt to a heap on the floor.
    Looking up I saw Doc Jones coming through the door with Marta right behind him.  He looked at me and shook his head.
    “Better check that one first,” I suggested point at John.  “He took a bullet.”
    Doc looked him over, Lamb had passed out.  “I need to get him to my office to get the bullet out.  He’s losing blood, and I can’t really tell how bad he’s hurt.”
    A crowd had built up outside so I went out and grabbed a couple spectators to carry John Lamb over to the doctor’s office.  
    “Go ahead,” ordered the doctor, “I’ll be over just as soon as I check this other man.”
    The arm of James Lamb was bleeding with the bone sticking out, but the artery wasn’t hit.  “My, my,” Doc uttered.  “I’m not sure that I can do anything about this arm.  It might have to come off.”
    I motioned for a couple more men to help with James.  “Good thing he is unconscious, carrying him will hurt like the devil,” remarked Doc.
    “I’ll be over in a few minutes.  I need to check on Lucas.”
    “Lucas?” inquired Doc.
    My lips tightened as I told him, “Lucas is the one who shot John.”
    Doc stood by the door shaking his head as I told him, then walked over to his office.
    I went over to Lucas…
———————-
P.S.  The Saga will not appear next week as we’re traveling back to Texas.  Look for Miles on October 29 in another exciting episode.  The book, Return From Tincup, is about Miles Forrest when he was foreman of the Standing P outside Gunnison, Colorado, and is at the publisher.  Be looking for it!