Lucas was the first off the train.  He ran down the steps and over to me, excitement pouring out of him.  “Marshal Miles, the train, it moves so fast,” he stammered excitedly.  “It is much faster than your horses–even Star.  But it is noisy.”
    I saw Molly rush toward the passenger car.  I took Lucas by the arm and we followed as I asked him, “How’s your sister?”
    Then I saw her coming down the few steps followed by Charlie.  Both seemed to be all right and walking normal.  Molly grabbed Marta and gave her a hug, then straightened up when she remembered her injury.  “Oh, Marta, I’m sorry.  I forgot, I am just so happy to see you.”
    Marta leaned forward and gave Molly a little kiss on the cheek.  “I’m okay.  Still a little tender, but the ride on the train came me some time to rest,” she smiled, then became very somber almost where a glaze came over her eyes.  She stood there a moment just staring.  Charlie came up and took her by the arm, whispered something to her and she took a step.
    He looked at me, and I could see the concern.  He was holding one arm, and Molly was at the other.  Marta turned her face to Molly.  “Would it be all right if I don’t come right back to work for at least a few days?”
    “Sure, Marta, take all the time you need,” Molly replied squeezing her arm.
    “Charlie,” Marta said softly to Charlie, “could we go on home?  I’m tired and very sleepy.”
    “We’re headin’ that way right now.  Lucas, get our bags and bring them on down to the cabin,” commanded Charlie.
    Marta stopped as they approached me.  She reached out her hand, her face in a frown, then it turned to distress.  “I, I should know you.”  She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head from side to side.  “You’re, you’re…a friend of Charlie’s,” she finally said with a smile.
    “Sweetheart, this is Miles,” hinted Charlie.  
    Marta looked at me, then turned to look at Molly.  “Then you must be Molly.  Charlie has told me so much about you two.”
    I had thought to bring a buggy as I didn’t know what shape Marta would be in when they arrived.  At the buggy, after Charlie helped Marta up and settled he mouthed to me.  “I’ll talk to you later.”  He climbed in and snapped the reins and they went on down the street toward their little cabin.
    Molly was standing there, one hand holding her mouth.  “Miles,” she muttered in wonderment.  “What’s wrong with Marta?  She acted so strange, and then,” she stopped and gasped.  “She didn’t recognize either of us.”
    “I don’t know.  Charlie said he would talk to us later,” I said talking her by the arm.  “Let’s go back to the diner.”
    I was still looking the direction that Charlie had taken when I bumped into a man.  Rather, he ran into me; almost knocked me down.
    “Watch it mister,” he snorted.  Then he turned to Molly.  “Sorry ma’am, say, aren’t you the woman from the diner?”
    She just nodded as I looked him over. He was quite a bit taller than me, and today for sure he didn’t look like a miner nor a cowboy as he was all dandied up.
    “Maybe I’ll see you again,” he said, tipping his hat, smiling then turning to go on his way.
    “What was that all about?” I asked.
    “I have no idea.  Miles, I don’t like him.”
    We went on down to the diner.  Since it was mid-morning the crowd had dissipated; there were only a couple of tables with customers.  As soon as I had coffee poured Charlie came in the door.  Taking off his hat he walked over to our table.  Molly got up and poured him a cup of coffee.
    He sat down and sighed.  Molly and I looked at him, but sat in silence waiting.
    “Doctor said she has a form of amnesia,” he finally said, breaking the silence.  “Not much else to say.  Her ribs are still tender and she sleeps a lot.”
    “Does she recognize you?” I asked very concerned.
    “Most of the time, but once in a while she looks at me in a daze.”
    Molly reached over and put her hand on his arm.  “We’ll be praying that she’ll soon snap out of it.”
    Charlie gave a slight smile, and took a swallow of coffee.
    The door opened and in walked Doc Jones.  I wanted to hear his take on what Charlie said.  Then my eyes saw the tall man behind him.  The man who bumped into me…
—————————–
This day in the Texas Revolution:  Fannin departs for Victoria.  Urrea learns of Fannin’s departure and pursues and halts Fannin at the Battle of Coleto near Goliad.

The weather had warmed as we rode back into Durango to get back into a normal routine.  Molly says that there is no normal routine carrying the name Mrs. Miles Forrest.  The bullet crease on the back of my neck wasn’t serious and was scabbed over.  There was a telegram from Charlie saying that they should be arriving sometime during the week, that Marta was feeling much better but still would get headaches.  He said that Lucas was excited about the trip.
    Molly was anxious to be back at the diner.  Anihu had managed the diner with some help from her sister, and Doc Jones’ wife, Edith.  Anihu did the cooking; she was glad for the help for she was weak with her English-speaking.  Edith did the waiting on the customers and Alana did the clean up.
    I was sitting by the stove, it was still cold enough to keep it going, nursing a cup of coffee.  The morning breakfast rush was over and Molly had just sat down at the table with me.
    “Let me get you a cup of coffee,” I offered and started to get up.  As I did the door opened and in walked a tall, wiry, tough-looking hombre.  He stomped his feet at the front of the room and moved on over to a table.
    My eyes followed him until he sat down and I heard, “Miles, the coffee.”
    Grabbing a cup, I poured it full of coffee and handed it to her.  “What’s wrong?” she asked and followed my gaze.
    “Reckon nothin’,” I replied.
    She took a sip then got up to wait on the man who had just come in.  He smiled and gave his order to her.  As Molly went off to the kitchen his eyes caught mine and he nodded a welcome.  Molly returned and took a cup of coffee over to him. 
    Edith was coming out of the kitchen, carrying her coat.  “Where is that, man?” she said with fake exasperation.  “He was supposed to come get me.
    “Well, he’ll be here.  He wouldn’t want to upset one of his best customers,” laughed Molly putting her hand on my arm.  
    We were all laughing when in walked Doc Jones who remarked.  “See you’re all having a good time.”
    “Sure, Doc,” I said.  “We were talkin’ about you, that’s what made us laugh.”
    “Ha, aren’t you the funny one,” he snapped as Molly got up to get him a cup.
    “Owrder!” came a holler from the kitchen.  Molly sat that cup down in front of Doc and scurried off to get the man’s order.  
    Doc took a couple of swallows then asked, “How’s the neck?”
    “It’s okay.  My jacket collar rubs up against it, and by the end of the day its raw and burnin’.”
    He grunted, took another sip then spoke.  “You do know if that bullet had been an inch more you could be paralyzed or dead.”
    “Doc, I can’t be worryin’ ’bout every ‘if’ that happens.  I reckon I won’t die until the good Lord figures my work down here is over.”
    “Hmpf,” he muttered.
    “Honey,” interrupted Edith, “you promised you’d take me shoppin’ today,” she paused, giggled and looked at me.  “That is unless Miles brings you some clientel.”
    “Everybody’s funny,” I pretended to fume just as Molly was sitting back down.
    Doc was shaking his head, “Let’s go Edith.  Seems like a woman makes a little extra money she’s got to go an’ spend it on something.”  He helped her out of her chair and into her coat.  
    “There go some good friends,” said Molly.
    “What about him?” I asked nodding my head toward the man eating.  “He’s sure not a miner.”
    She put her hand on my arm again.  “You don’t think Merker sent him?”
    Subconsciously I had started using my left hand for my coffee.  “Molly, right now, I’m suspicious of any stranger.”
    I filled up our cups again and we just sat chatting about springtime coming and that the days were getting nice.  She wished Lucas was back to help out and I did too as I was cutting the wood for the diner and taking care of the horses.  He kind of spoiled me doing the chores I used to do.
    The man finished eating, nodded our way and left putting a silver dollar on the table.  “Nice tip,” I muttered.
    “Well, the kitchen is calling me and I need to make several pies,” Molly said getting up.  Alana came out to clean up the table and Molly spoke to her, “Keep that dollar–bonus.”
    I got up as well.  I was doing rounds for Charlie until he was back and on the job again.  It had been a nice morning…

  I fired both barrels, heard a shot, curse and moan all about the same time.  At the same time I dropped the shotgun, threw myself to the ground and scurried in the snow to the bushes.  Glancing back at Molly I grinned.  Smart gal, when I rushed she flung herself forward changing the place of the man’s target.  She looked at me and nodded her head to signify she was okay.  I pulled my pistol and slowly began to move in the darkness.
    It was cold, I had gotten cozy sitting with Molly back at the fire.  I needed to finish this business up, but not too quickly.  A person can make rash actions by moving too fast.  Take it slow, like an Indian would do.  If I hit him, he was in worse shape than me.
    Easing my way, I didn’t want to move against any bush so I could be heard.  The snow didn’t really as it was crusted over because of the cold.  I found that it didn’t make much sound if I moved on my hands and knees.  My fingers, gripping my gun, were getting very cold.  I needed to find him soon.
    “Miles!” came a frenzied shout.  “Miles!”
    I didn’t take the time to be quiet coming back to the camp, but I did stop before moving into the firelight.  I stayed in the shadows.  Molly was on her knees holding the rifle, but it was pointed at the ground.  At the edge of the rock stood man, his rifle aimed at Molly.  He wouldn’t miss this time.  
    “Forrest!” he hollered.  “Forrest, I know you’re out there.  Better get back here or I’ll kill the woman.”
    “Ring,” came a moan from the man Molly shot.  “Is that you?  I hurt bad.”
    I could see some blood on the man.  Some of the buckshot must have hit him, I just didn’t know how bad he was hurt.  Firing through that brush would have stopped some of the shot, but I could see his face was bleeding and one hand that held the rifle had blood on it.  His coat prevented me from seeing if he was bleeding anywhere else.
    “Forrest!  I ain’t going to call you again!”
    My fingers were freezing.  If I didn’t get them warmed up I wouldn’t be able to do much good with the pistol.  But then I reckoned his hands were mighty cold as well.  I moved my pistol to my left hand and began to move my fingers as I slowly stepped into the campsite.  
    “Throw down the gun!” he ordered.
    “Reckon not,” I replied, still moving the fingers on my right hand and moving closer to the fire.
    “Throw down the gun or I’ll kill her,” he continued to threaten.
    “You shoot her and you know what’ll happen to you,” I said.  I could feel my fingers and hand begin to warm.  “You’ll never collect any money.  Your friends are dead, the Ebert brothers are dead.”
    That seemed to catch his attention and then the man on the ground moaned again, “Ring, please, help me or I’m a goner.”
    “Shut up” he hissed and that’s when I took my chance.
    I’m not a real good shot with my left hand.  I hit where I point but not real accurate.  I fired once, then did a border shuffle tossing the gun from my left hand to my now warm right hand.  I fired again and again.  My last one hit him in the head.  He was able to get one shot off, but it hit the rocks at the fire and ricocheted into the night.  
    Quickly I looked around.  Molly was still on her knees the rifle now lifted and pointing at the man lying dead on the ground.  Were there any others?  I had one bullet left in my pistol as fearing a confrontation was near I loaded the cylinder with six. 
    “Miles,” Molly began.
    “Shhh, listen,” I whispered as I began to reload my gun.  In a few minutes I went over picking the Greener up out of the snow.
    “Let’s see if we can get any information from him,” I said pointing at the man who had been groaning.  Upon inspection I saw a jagged wound on the side of his head the blood pouring out, the ricochet must have caught him.
    I looked at Molly and reached down to help her stand.  “One just never knows when his time is up,” I muttered.
    As she looked back up at me her eyes suddenly widened, “Miles, you’re bleeding.”
———————-
This day in the Texas Revolution:  Mexican artillery stops shelling the Alamo.  The plan to assault the Alamo is formulated.

I hadn’t been able to pinpoint where they were, but I knew in my gut that sooner or later they would show up.  Clem had informed me that there were more men waiting to get me.
    “Hello the camp!” came a yell from the trees beyond my sight.  “Can we come in?”
    At least they were observing camp courtesy.  It would have been smarter for them to come blasting in.  “Sure come on in, but be sure I can see your hands.”
    Three men rode in, hands in sight like I ordered.  I was standing off to the back and off to one side of the fire.  I had my coat on and a blanket draped around me, my gun out of sight under the blanket.  I was holding the Greener in my left hand.
    “Cold night,” remarked one of the men.  “Mind if we dismount and warm ourselves?”
    “Go ahead,” I replied.  Only three, I just had the feeling there were at least four, maybe five.  I wasn’t comfortable in the situation, but it was what I had so I’d play it out.
    “Ahhh, coffee,” spoke up another in anticipation.  “Any left?”
    “Should be,” I uttered.  “You’ll need your own cup.”
    “Fine, fine, I’ll get it from my bag.”
    The other two men moved closer to the fire.  “Just be sure all you come back with is a cup,” I warned.
    Stooping down by the fire the man who spoke up first started in again.  “You don’t seem to be a very trusting soul.”
    “Nope.  Three men out in the cold, just wanderin’ about.  Reckon it just doesn’t look right, so you’re right, I’m not very trustin’.”
    The man had come back with his cup and handed it toward me.  “Mind pouring me a cup?”
    “Yep,” I said.  “Don’t see where your arm’s broke or any maimed fingers.”
    “Okay, no problem,” he said reaching for the coffeepot.
    “He’s not a very courteous man,” spoke up the one who had been speaking.  “In fact, he’s been quite rude.”
    “Good coffee,” said the man after taking a sip.
    “Mind if we stay the night in the camp?” asked the man as he put his hands over the fire to warm them.  I could see all their hands now with the flames flickering upward.  
    “Yep.”
    “That’s no way for a civilized person to treat his fellow man.”
    “Never been called ‘civilized,'” I replied.  “There’s plenty of country out there, plenty of wood available and as you don’t seem to like my company…”
    The lead man continued to talk.  “You’re worth quite a bit of money to us,” he stopped and glanced at Molly.  I didn’t know there would be a bonus in it for us.  Merker didn’t say anything about a woman.”
    He started to rise and I threw myself to ground, firing as I went down.  I felt the bullet graze the back of my neck.  My first bullet caught the man who was still stooped at the fire; the one who hadn’t said anything.  It hit him and he fell back against the man standing knocking him off balance.  My second shot caught the standing man along with my third.  Then I started crawling as fast as I could toward the darkness.  After I hovered down in the brush I glanced back and saw that Molly had shot the other man with the rifle she had with her.  I had to find that fourth man.
    The man that Molly shot was on the ground groaning.  “Ring, help me.”
    “Forrest!” came a voice from the darkness.  “Throw out your gun!  I have the woman in my gunsights!”
    I didn’t answer.  I was trying to get a bead on the voice.  
    “I won’t say it again!  I’ll shoot her!”
    I holstered my pistol and cocked both barrels on the shotgun.  Taking a deep breath, I sighed, stood up slowly then let out a howl like I’d heard those southern boys use during the war.  I charged toward the sound and let lose with both barrels…
————————
Today in the Texas Revolution:  Fannin attempts his relief march to the Alamo but turns back.  R.M. Williamson arrives in Gonzales to help organize Alamo relief forces there.