If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.” –Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NLT)
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“I let them take me!” he cried. “Just like a greenhorn, I let them take me.” He moaned, grabbing for his badge.
As soon as his hand touched it, I thrust mine forward to hold it against his and the badge. “Don’t,” I commanded, “let it there for a moment. Feel the heart beat under the badge. That’s Charlie Gold, Sheriff. That’s who you are Charlie, and at this point in time that’s where the Lord wants you. Feel the beatin’.”
His eyes caught mine and I could see them watering up. “Charlie, you couldn’t have stopped it. There were too many and they were waitin’ for you.” I removed my hand when he took a big sigh.
“You did it,” he murmured. “You put them away.”
“I had the surprise effect on my side. Plus the Lord wasn’t ready to call me home yet. He still has some rough edges He wants to work off of me. And while I’m a preachifyin’ I’ll tell you this. He knew what was happenin’ and for some reason He allowed it. Now it’s up to you to sort through all of that and try to come up with some kind of conclusion. Why did He leave you alive? I’ll tell you, Sheriff, you’ve still got work to do!”
I looked over in the cell where McGinnis was lying unconscious, then glanced at John Smith who was on his side facing the wall. I couldn’t tell if he was sleeping or ignoring our conversation. “Tanner!” I hollered. “You have any coffee made?”
There was some kind of comment from the outer office that I couldn’t make out. “Tanner!”
He poked his head in the doorway, “I’m makin’ some now Marshal. It’ll be ready soon.”
Turning my attention back to Charlie I asked, “You hungry?”
He shook his head, which I didn’t pay any attention to. “I am. Sure wish I had a piece of Molly’s pie. It wouldn’t make any difference what kind.” That got a little chuckle from Charlie. “An’ I reckon you’d like Marta to serve you a piece.”
“I could eat a piece of pie,” he muttered.
“You rest, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I got up and went out where Tanner was busy with the coffeepot.
“Any place close to get something to eat?”
Tanner said there was a greasy kitchen across the street. That usually appeals to my gizzard. He said he’d have the coffee ready by the time I got back. I needed to send a telegram to Molly, but that would have to wait until the morning. I’m sure Marta wanted to know something about Charlie as he hasn’t contacted her in a couple of days. I ordered up three bowls of chili, one for Tanner and one for Charlie in case he changed his mind about eating.
When I came back Tanner looked grateful. He seemed the sort that lived on grease. The chili wasn’t bad, somewhat on the hot side, but that was all right. I enjoyed the peppers that the cook used, but I wasn’t too sure as to what kind of meat was in it and I knew better from past experiences not to ask. The eatery was kind enough to let me take three small buckets of food out as I assured them I would bring them back in the morning.
Charlie at least tried to eat a few bites, but then handed me the bucket telling me that he was tired. I knew he needed his rest, and when Tanner asked if he could have the rest of Charlie’s chili I handed it over to him thinking that Charlie wouldn’t eat cold chili. I’d get breakfast down at the hotel where I usually stayed when I went out to send the telegram in the morning.
The rest of the night, Tanner slept in the only open cell, while I leaned back in the chair propping my feet on the desk. I pulled my Bible from my saddlebags reading one of my favorite chapters from Psalms, that being 91. After reading it quietly to myself, I thanked the Lord for His protection from my enemies and that no harm befell me in the performance of my duties. It wasn’t arrows flying at me, but there was plenty of lead.