The wounded Ben Andrews has surrendered and was arrested, however, the one named Lark is still on the loose in town. We left Miles last week searching for this miscreant of justice. Would he try again to break his boss, Todd Johnson from jail or seek to flee, saving himself. Come with me now, back to those days of yesteryear for another thrilling adventure in the life of Miles Forrest.
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I searched for two more hours, moving up and down alleys, checking out every shed and stall in the area but there was no sign of this other jasper. I hated to leave him running loose in the area, but with the dark approaching the search would have to end.
When I went back to the jail, Mateo was gone, but he had finished the paperwork on the arrest. Lucas had decided to stay close to his little barricade, just in case. “You be ready,” I admonished him, then added. “You did a good job earlier today. Don’t worry about feedin’ the prisoners, I’ll bring something back and relieve you so you can eat.”
Coolness had settled in with the night. There was a nip to the air, snow could come at any time now. Upon entering the diner I went straight to my table back near the stove. I wasn’t cold, but the warmth from the stove felt good. Maybe it was something else, age possibly that was creeping up. Settling down with a cup of coffee, Molly came out from the kitchen with a bowl of chicken and dumplings. She must have seen me through the window and gone back to get it for me. What a gal!
The rush was on, so she didn’t have time to sit with me. Marta was back working full time, and this evening Edith was helping out. As I enjoyed my meal, I watched them work, and the customers enjoying their meals. That brought to mind the other crooked lawman. He had to be still in town, and he had to be getting hungry. I doubted that he would venture down into town, but he could break into one of the homes back where we lost his trail.
After eating I took two bowls of the delightful dinner I had up to the jail and released Lucas for his meal. He said he was fine and after eating that he would stay the night in the jail. When he came back, I helped him fix a pallet on the floor where he wanted to stay behind his small fortress. Tomorrow was Sunday and Mateo would be in to relieve Lucas in the morning. Neither of us knew when Charlie would be back from Telluride.
Sitting in church the next morning next to Molly I thought about how fortunate I was to be with her. The years were passing quickly, but we had a solid foundation. As Preacher Chapman waxed eloquently that morning on “What a Man Sows.” One thing that caught my attention was the fact that other times when I heard a sermon on these verses from Galatians that it was negative. This morning, Rev, Chapman emphasized sowing to the Spirit and that we must not get tired of doing good.
After service we went back up to our little cabin. Molly could have had a full house if she opened the diner on Sunday, but she made a commitment when she began the business that she wouldn’t open on Sunday, only on rare occasions to help feed needy people and no money was collected. She brought home the leftover chicken and dumplings and as soon as I put a fire in the stove she would heat them up.
Moving up toward the cabin door, I stopped abruptly. Removing the leather thong from the hammer of my pistol, I held Molly back. Something was wrong. I didn’t know what, but I could sense it. “Stay here,” I ordered before moving up closer. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but still…
Opening the door slowly, I poked my head into the room. Nothing seemed disturbed, nothing until I saw the pot on the table. We had left it on the stove this morning upon leaving for church. I moved quietly to the bedroom to peek in there–nothing. Then back out to the kitchen area and table. Someone had helped themselves to our leftovers we had planned for Sunday dinner.
I went back to the door and waved for Molly to come on in. After informing her of what happened, I told her to stay and I went out the back to see if I could find any tracks. Looking out to the near pasture I could see Hawk and Star, but there was no sign of Two-Bits. I moved slow and easy toward the stalls. Upon reaching them…