Mateo was standing out in the street with his gun in hand when I burst out of the diner. As I was running toward him, he rushed to the jail and went inside. By the time I got there he was at the cell where Doc and Lucas were behind the locked cell door. Samuels was lying on the cot, bellowing, “He left me, he left.” Honor among thieves, ha.“He took the keys!” hollered Mateo, then rushed to the sheriff’s office where we kept a spare set hidden.I went to the cell where I saw Lucas holding his head with blood oozing between his fingers from a gash. Doc had his hand on his arm and was shaking his head while Samuels continued to blubber something between curse words and sobbing.My eyes focused on those of Lucas who tried to avoid them looking down. “Tell me what happened,” I ordered. Mateo was back working the key into the lock to open it. I was thinking as Mateo opened the cell, “Here we go again, jailbreak and Lucas is involved.”“Miles, it was my fault,” interceded Doc. “Don’t be blaming the kid.”Lucas sort of flinched when he heard those words. “Don’t be calliin’ him a kid, he’s a sworn in deputy. This cell is his responsibility and something happened and I want to know what,” I said harshly. I looked over at Doc, “You all right?”They were moving out of the cell, when I saw Mateo pick up a chair that was lying on its side. “What’s that chair doin’ in there?” I questioned with a scowl on my face. “And how did Lucas get that gash on his forehead?”“Miles, let me explain,” muttered Doc.“I’m waitin’ for the Deputy to explain.”Mateo had gotten a broom and was sweeping the floor putting the remnants of the prisoner’s lunch on the tray that he was now bringing out of the cell. Locking the cell behind him, he threw the mess out into the street where the birds and dogs would get rid of it soon enough.“Well!”Lucas, with his head hung down, began to speak. “There is no excuse, it is my fault.”“I’m not askin’ for an excuse, I want to know what happened. And lift your head up and face this like the man you are. You learn by your mistakes. . .if you live through them.”“I had opened the cell to bring the prisoners their meal. Senor Doc followed me bringing in a chair on which to sit. He sat the chair by the bed of the wounded man to tend him, and my eyes were upon what he was doing instead of the other man. He grabbed the tray from me, then slammed it against my face; I guess that’s how I was cut. It knocked me down. The doctor, he must have jumped up because I saw the man pick up the chair and swing it at Doc, knocking him down over the cot. That is all I can recall, I’m sorry.”Mateo and I listened. Part of what happened was due to inexperience, part due to the audacity of the prisoner, and I looked at the cell, and part due to the construction of the cell.Doc was now working at the gash on Lucas’ forehead. “He’ll need some stitches,” he said.“Well, stitch him up, then go get your horse. We’ve got a prisoner to catch.”“Senor, you want me to go with you?” he asked.“Your prisoner, think it best you go after him. Don’t you?”“Hold still!” yelled Doc as Lucas jumped to his feet. “I need to finish this off.“I’ll go saddle my horse while Doc finishes with your head. He is all right to ride, ain’t he?”I looked at Lucas, the excitement had left and his face was downcast again. “Senor Marshal, I have no horse to ride.”“Mine’s right out front,” declared Mateo. “You can ride him.”“Be ready to go by the time I get back,” I yelled at the doorway. “Mateo, when Charlie gets back, see if he can find someone to find a way to get a dinner tray into the cell without opening it.”I hurried up to the cabin, where I could saddle Star. The man went off to the south again, but with a little lead. There may have been a rifle on the horse he stole, but he would have a hard time using it with his hand in the shape it was. I just wondered as I rushed up the hillside why he would ride off to the south again. I saddled Star then rode to the diner to inform Molly of our plans before going back to the jail to pick up Lucas.She was waiting for me outside so I didn’t dismount. Coming over to me she placed her hand upon my leg. “You be careful, Miles Forrest…and take care of Lucas.”“Tell Marta, he’s with me. Mateo or Doc will fill you in on what happened. Hope to be back today, or tomorrow at the latest…”