Ahhhh, the coffee tasted good this morning.  Marta was making breakfast for me, and Molly was waiting on tables and from time-to-time would come sit and take a few sips of my coffee.
    I arrived back in Durango yesterday.  It had been a long week.  I had to send telegrams to Convney and Blasco.  Blasco told me to wait until he sent a couple of deputies to pick up Lillian.  She would be taken to Denver.  Then there was the paperwork.  Seems like there was more paperwork with this Secret Service business, but also a prisoner under my protection was killed and I had to give my report on that, the two men I killed, and the fight in general.  I also sent a telegram to Charlie Gold, telling him to secure Billington’s office and house.
    I was not too impressed with the sheriff in Pueblo.  He seemed more perturbed that I had lived and a convicted prisoner had died.  Plus the fact that there was a woman involved and was shot.  In my mind there wasn’t much of a manhunt for the two that got away.
    Marta brought me some eggs and a large ham steak along with several biscuits.  After refilling my cup she went over and told Molly to come sit beside me.  This time she got her own cup.
    “I feel bad for Billy,” she said after taking her first sip.  “I liked the boy, and thought he liked me.”
    “Yeah, he liked you enough to shoot you in the head,” I replied.
    “You know, that was an accident,” she argued.
    I just grunted.
    “What about Lillian?  What was her involvement?”
    “I’m not real sure.  It seems as if Billington was takin’ a bar or two of gold from the shipments.  He was supposed to pass them on, it seems to Lillian’s husband.  When I wouldn’t let the gold go to the bank this last time, he panicked and ran, takin’ money from the bank,” I informed her with the knowledge that I had.
    “The four men were working for her?” she asked.
    “Sure seems that way, and remember there are the two I wounded still out there.  They might just lick their wounds and go back from whence they came, or they just might show up here lookin’ for me.”
    That reminded me. “Has Merker been in here?”
    She frowned a bit, “I’m not sure I know a Merker, she paused and looked at me.  “Miles, wipe your moustache.”
    After dutifully wiping my face, I continued with my thought. “Merker was with Myers in Denver when they fired me from Wells Fargo.  The day I left I thought I saw him enter the diner.”
    “There’s strangers coming and going from here all the time,” she remarked.
    “If that’s him, it just seemed strange that he is showin’ up here at this time.  I’ll be glad when those special agents from Covney show up.  They are going to check Billington’s office and house for any missin’ gold.”
    She gave a little laugh.  “How’s Douster handling the idea that he’s not allowed in the bank office?”
    That brought a chuckle from me as well.  “He thought he was goin’ to just take over,” I paused.  “I wonder what Lillian was cookin’ up with him?  Anyway, Ooverholm will keep an eye on him and tell Charlie if he tries to go in the office.  From what I understand the company that controls the bank is meetin’ to select a new president.”
    I took two large swallows that finished my coffee.  “That reminds me, I need to go see Wilson Foster to find out who they are goin’ to put on the Council to finish out Billington’s term.”
    “Miles, that’s no concern of yours,” Molly admonished.
    “Not directly, but Charlie needs help.  He can’t be marshal and sheriff both.  This country is too big and there is too much goin’ on for him to stay in Durango all the time.  Be back soon; goin’ to see the judge and see if there’s a telegram for me.”
    Stopping just before I walked out I peered up and down the street.  Habit I’d fallen into…when I saw Tommy running toward me with a note in his hand.

Easy there,” I said as I holstered the Schofield and dropped the gun in my left hand on the floor.  “I’m Deputy U.S. Marshal and Secret Service Agent Miles Forrest, escorting a prisoner to Canon City.”
    “Let me see some credentials,” he ordered.
    Slowly I opened my jacket and reached inside my vest pocket where I carried my marshal’s badge.  Handing it over to him I said, “You might want to get a doctor for these two.”  Both Lillian and Billy were bleeding.  “May I check him out?”
    I stooped down and laid Billy out.  He was barely conscious.  The bullet had entered his shoulder, breaking his collarbone as part of it was sticking out.  I had no idea where the bullet traveled from there.  It was still in his body and any movement might push it into his lung, if it was not already there.
    “Forrest,” he moaned.  “I hurt.”
    “Easy, Billy.  The doc is on the way.”
    “Marshal, you mind tellin’ me what is goin’ on here?” inquired the sheriff.  
    Looking up at him I nodded toward the place where I shot the other two men.  “You might want to try and find those two men.”  I gave my attention to Billy who had passed out.
    I stood up, then sat back on the bench.  I pulled my pistol from the holster and the sheriff stiffened.  “Just reloadin’,” I said.  “There are still two men out there who tried to kill me and they may have friends hangin’ about.”  I sighed, “You might want to check out the woman, she’s bleedin’ some.”
    “Marshal, I’m certainly confused, and I ain’t heard nothin’ of no Secret Service,” he muttered.
    I smiled, “That’s why it’s secret.”  That brought a scowl from him.  I went on to briefly explain.  “The Secret Service works for the U.S. Treasury Department, counterfeiting, fraud, protection of gold, and the such.”
    It seemed like it was taking forever for a doctor to show up.  Billy was still alive as I would hear him moan from time to time.  The sheriff had one of his deputies wrap up Lillian’s leg to stem the flow of blood.  I didn’t look closely, but it seemed like she shot herself where the leg bones connected with the foot.  Likely to have permanent damage.  
    I was briefing the sheriff on what had happened, when finally the doctor showed up.  He glanced around and immediately went to help Lillian.  
    “Who hit this poor woman?  Why she’s likely to have a concussion,” he remarked.
    “I did.  I needed a way to make sure she was out of the action,” I paused and smiled.  “She shot herself after she shot this man.”
    The doctor and one of the deputies lifted Lillian up on one of the benches.  He then came to look at Billy.  “Oh my.  That’s a terrible break.  I don’t know how to repair it.  He’ll have to go to Denver for help.”
    “Doc, the bullet is still in him,” I said calmly.
    Reaching in his bag, he pulled out scissors and began to cut the shirt and undershirt off Billy.  “Why, he’s chained?”
    “Prisoner, on his way to Canon City.”
    He reached back in his bag and pulled out a scalpel.  “Hold him, but watch that shoulder.”  I saw him cut on Billy’s upper chest.  In just a few seconds he held a bullet in his hands.  “It was just under his skin.  It must have been deflected after hitting his shoulder bone.  He’s lucky.”
    I looked at his shoulder and thought “Sure, lucky.”
    “Listen,” he looked at me and the sheriff.  “I need to get that bone back under his skin. One of you pull his arm and the other hold onto him and hold him still while I push down on the bone and then bandage him tight,” he shook his head.  “I’m worried that infection might set in since the bone has been exposed.”
    There came a scream and Billy went limp.
    “What happened?” asked the Sheriff.
    The doctor was checking him out.  He looked at me and said, “He’s dead.  His heart just gave out.  The shock and the pain must have been too much.”
    The four of us stood there looking at Billy, dead on the station floor.  At least he won’t have to serve time in prison.  I sure hope he had time to make things right with his Maker.
    Then we heard the sound of a pistol being cocked.  Lillian had regained consciousness and had picked up the pistol that was on the floor.
    I smiled at her…

She strolled over to me very deliberately.  I stood as she approached figuring that would give me more ability to move if needed.
    Her eyes were wide and she had a grim smile, or maybe I should say smirk when she spoke.  “Marshal, I’ll be taking Billy off your hands, if you will unlock the chains.”
    “I’m sorry, can’t do it.  The only way you’ll get Billy is when he’s cut in two pieces by my Greener.”  I lifted it and shoved it in his side.
    “Come, come, Marshal.  You know he’s not worth it, but he is blood and I’d rather have him leave here with me than go to that awful prison.”
    I almost gagged at her posh-talk.  I cocked one barrel.  That sure got her attention.  She motioned with her hand and I could see four rough-looking characters move up on the platform.  I assumed there would be a fifth to my back.
    “Come on, Billy.  Let’s move somewhere where there are more savory folk.”
    “Marshal, you take a step, and I’ll kill you myself,” she said gritting her teeth.  “Release him!”
    I looked briefly around and was thinking that the Lord sure better take a hand in this one or I’ll be meetin’ Him sure ‘nough.
    “Ma’am, Lillian, I’d sure hate to shoot a woman, but I guarantee that if you shoot me, both you and Billy will be lyin’ on those pine boards.  I may follow you, but for certain you’ll be dead, and as I believe red and green go well as Christmas colors, red blood wouldn’t enhance that green dress you’re a-wearin’.”
    She sorta stiffened and took a deep breath as I continued.  “You kill Billy, here and you’ll not find out about the gold.”
    “Did he tell you?” she huffed.  “Billy!”
    “Honest, Lillian, I….” I shoved the Greener hard into his side to shut him up.
    I wondered if she had a gun.  She had left her pistol with me and it was tucked in my belt in the back of my pants.  Reckon she could be carrying a derringer up the sleeve of her dress or perhaps in the small handbag she was carrying.
    “Marshal, you don’t have to be so obstinate!” she exclaimed.
    “Reckon it’s time to get this ball rollin,'”  I pushed Billy hard with the shotgun forcing him back down on the bench then turned toward Lillian.  I fired over her shoulder at the man behind her.  I doubt if he would receive a killing shot but those pellets would sure hurt and it would make him duck, plus it scared Lillian as she screamed.  She was fumbling with her handbag I smashed her hands with the barrel of the Greener then ducked behind the bench as a shot was fired behind me.  
    Drawing my pistol I shot at the man, now to my right.  I wanted Lillian out of the way so I swept the shotgun around and caught one of her shins.  She cried out as she slumped to the floor.  I had a little cover from the man to my left and the one in front but I was vulnerable to the one on the right.  He was standing and fired at me again and I felt a tug.  Raising up a little I shot twice both bullets hitting him.  When I did that the other two opened up.
    Bullets were flying and I hovered to the floor trying to push my backbone through my stomach into the wood.  Up quickly I let loose the other barrel of the Greener and heard a groan.  Now only the man on the left was still in the action.
    Suddenly, from the bench Billy dove, chains in all.  There was a shot and the sound of chains clanging.  I couldn’t remember how many shots I fired from my pistol, so I reached back and pulled the gun from my belt.  I fired my Schofield and then fired, holding the pistol that Lillian had left me with my left hand emptying it at the man to the left.
    All of a sudden it was quiet.  I heard some moaning, but I kept still, not need to hurry myself into a bullet because of anxiety.  
    Then a voice came from behind me.  Billy was laying on the floor, with Lillian beside him.  She was sitting holding her derringer.  I saw the man from the back of the station stand and began to limp toward us.  “Marshal, I’m going to kill you now.”
    I stood, fired my last shot from the Schofield, hitting the man in the chest, the bullet broke his breastbone and plowed through his heart.  I stepped forward waiting for the bullet from Lillian’s Derringer when chains clanged again.  Billy had thrown them around her neck knocking her off balance and when she fired she shot into her leg.  I was now close enough that I was able to thunk her across the head with the Schofield.  She and Billy both slumped at the same time.
    Reaching in my pocket I grasped for two shells to reload the Greener.  While doing that I turned to the man on the left and he was not to be seen.  Neither was the one in front of me.  I walked their direction and saw blood trails moving down off the platform.  
    I decided to check on Billy and Lillian before going out to trail them.  Billy was bleeding from a shot high on his shoulder.  It looked bad as it might have gone through the shoulder and on down into his lung.  Lillian was bleeding from the place in her leg where she shot herself.
    “Thank you, Lord,” I whispered, then heard steps on the platform.  
    “Put down your gun!” came the order.

I must have dozed off, because I woke with a start.  I quickly looked around to gather my bearings.  The first thing I noticed was that Lillian was not in the car; I checked beside me and her pistol was still there.  Then I glanced to Billy and found him sleeping, slumped over in the seat across from me.
    My jaws clenched as I thought of how stupid it was of me to fall asleep, especially so soundly that I didn’t hear the door open and close at the end of the car.  She must have moved back to the other car.  I was just getting up to check when the conductor came through the door and started down the aisle.
    He moved slowly, bouncing back and forth against the seats as the train moved roughly down the track.  Stopping in front of me, he announced, “Marshal, we should be in Pueblo in about a half hour.  Dawn should just be breaking.”  He reached out his hand.  “May I see your tickets please?”
    I reached inside my jacket and pulled out the two tickets.  “You’re all set, but you’ll have a lay-over of about four hours.  You can get coffee, and the little café will be open about an hour after we pull in.  There are some other restaurants if you want to walk a few blocks from the station.”
    “Thanks,” I simply replied.
    He nodded and started to walk away, then turned back.  “Since the train you’re taking is going to Canon City there may be others on their way to the prison.  It could be interesting: tourists, miners, and prisoners,” he said with a chuckle and then went on his way.
    It was about fifty minutes later that I unshackled Billy from his seat.  He started walking down the aisle, sort of shuffling when he stopped.  “Miles, take the chains off my legs.  It’s downright embarrassing the clanking they make when I walk.”
    “Don’t think so, Billy.  Maybe they will make you think of what path you’re travelin’.  Maybe they’ll make you think of changin’ your ways.  Come on, let’s get you to the privy and by that time the eatery will be open.”
    Half an hour later, we had finished and we were heading toward the area where the other train would depart from.  The station was an open area with wooden benches side by side.  None of them had backs on them so they were not made for comfort.
    We had been sitting for maybe twenty minutes when Billy suddenly piped up.  “It’s all your fault.  You went and spoiled ev’rything.”
    I had been constantly moving my head around, but this statement made me look at him.  “Why is that, Billy?” I asked in a calm voice.
    “It’s all ’cause you kept the gold on the train instead of putting it in the bank.  My Uncle would still be alive and Lillian and those men wouldn’t be after me.”
    I glanced around again before questioning him some more.  “What do you mean?  Why would they be after you?  I thought they were trying to help you.”
    “They think I know more than I do.  Uncle wouldn’t tell me anything, but only that from time to time he would remove a few bars of gold and replace them with fake ones made of lead.  He couldn’t pay and whoever it is sent those men to collect,” he paused.
    “Go on,” I urged.
    “That’s when he decided to run away with the satchel of money.  He grabbed me said he’d turn me in as an accomplice if I didn’t come along to protect him.”
    I raised my eyebrows at that.  “Why then the assassination attempt?”
    “He hated you!” exclaimed Billy.  “He said you were always against him becoming something special in Durango,” he dropped his head then murmured.  “I shouldn’t have done it…but you always seem to make me feel small.”  Looking up quickly, he uttered, “But I didn’t mean to shoot at Molly.  Honest, I didn’t.”
    Nodding I asked, “How does Lillian fit in?”
    His eyes widened.  “Watch out for her!” then he smiled a crooked smile.  “Her husband is the boss of the outfit.  But she’ll use her wiles on any man.  I even heard rumors that she was on the take with Uncle’s replacement.”
    Graylight had fast disappeared and the sun was above the horizon.  At least two more hours to sit here in the open.  There was movement over by the corner of the telegraph office, then I heard the footsteps on the wooden floor of the station waiting room.  It was Lillian, and she was walking in my direction.