In his visit to Silverton, Miles had uncovered some abnormalities. His plan was to report them to Sheriff Charlie Gold when he returned to Durango thinking it best that the sheriff should handle them. After he had a confrontation with Marshal Johnson he was followed by one of the Marshal’s deputies. When speaking with Jakub Brewlinski and the Wells Fargo agents, he found that there was an attempt at extortion. The locals refused to discuss the situation. Now, while walking back to his room, he noticed not one, but two deputies watching him. Join me in another exciting tale from yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I had decided to go back to the Wells Fargo office to see how Morgan was doing, but that was soon placed aside as I turned my head to see the deputy who had been following me rush at me. I sort of stooped down a bit, then when he got to me, I raised up swinging the Greener connecting with his jaw. I heard a crack and he went down with a thump in the street.
The man from the alley then came at me, his gun already drawn. I wouldn’t have time to draw mine, if he planned on firing. I didn’t see the third man; he had been in the alley across the street. His gun roared. Ignoring the deputy who was coming at me, I pulled my pistol, then fired at the man who shot. Bullet hit flesh and I saw him stumble, then on his knees pushed himself back into the darkness of the alley.
The third man stopped, still holding his pistol. I wondered at the delay, but I had already shot one deputy, so I turned to face the other. He raised his hands; I don’t likely know the reason why since he had the drop on me.
“Don’t make sense killing a U.S. Marshal,” he declared. “Can I come check on Jack?”
“Holster your gun,” I commanded. “If you think you have a chance, feel free.”
He placed his pistol in his holster then slowly approached me. I nodded toward the man lying in the street. The deputy stooped down to examine him. “You walloped him good, Marshal. I thought his head was goin’ to come right off his shoulders.”
“He’ll live, but he’ll be eatin’ soup for a while,” I said then went to him, grabbed the back of his collar. “Come with me!”
I pushed him down the street toward the Wells Fargo office. I reckoned I’d be able to talk with him there. He stopped to point toward the other alley. “I need to check on Phin. I know you shot him,” he cajoled, then softened. “He could be dying.”
“Tough choice, he made,” I remarked, then pushed him forward with the barrel of the Greener.
Arriving at the Wells Fargo office, I opened the door allowing the deputy to enter. He went straight to a chair while the agent, Barnes, stood there with his mouth open at the intrusion.
“Morgan not around?” I was concerned about my friend.
Barnes shook his head. “His head was hurting, and when he tried to walk, he was too unsteady on his legs. Dale took him home and was going to stay with him through the night.”
I nodded, then went to see my culprit. “You got a name?” I snapped. “I want to remember you when they send you to the pen in Canon City.”
He turned white as a sheet. “Prison?”
“Assault on a federal officer, part of a conspiracy with intent to kill. I’d say you’re looking at a minimum of ten years.”
“There wasn’t supposed to be no shootin’. I don’t know why Phin pulled his gun to shoot,” cried the deputy.
I touched his cheek with the Greener pushing his face to look at me. “Seems to me that you had a gun in your hand as well. What would you have done if I had decided to shoot at you first?”
He swallowed deeply a few times and I thought he might pass out.
“I recall that the Good Book says, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” I stared at him, but he couldn’t maintain eye contact. “Looks as if that stone is ready to smash you.”
“We was just followin’ Marshal Johnson’ order,” he said, when through the door burst Marshal Johnson…