A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
–Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
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Beavin stood there with eyes wide open. Then he blurted, “I don’t know nothing about marshaling. I’m a miner!”
I eyeballed him, “You know right from wrong, don’t you?”
“Yes, but…”
“But nothing, you can handle this. Just use common sense, be firm. Your job is to keep the peace and the people safe. Do that and you don’t need to know all the details of the law,” I paused letting that sink in. “The fine points of the law will come, but right now we need peace in this town.”
He ducked his head, then lifted it speaking, “I’m not much good with a pistol…”
I held up my hand to stop his talking then went over to the wall where there were rifles and shotguns. Grabbing one of them, I brought it over to him. “All you need is this.” I held out a Baker Three-Barrel Gun. It had two 12-gauge barrels with the third barrel chambered for a .44-40 cartridge. If I didn’t have the Greener it would be my gun of choice.
“You don’t have to know how to use a pistol with this. It works simply–point and fire.”
Glancing at his arm, “Take off that sling. If you don’t need it tomorrow, you don’t need it today. Take hold of this fine weapon, get a feel of it,” I smiled, “you’ll do all right. I’ll be back within the week to check on you.”
Charlie started to object, but I glared at him and he quickly stifled his objections.
Osain was starting to come around. “Can I hire my own deputies?”
I looked at Charlie, then answered, “As long as they understand they work for the law, and that either Sheriff Gold or myself can fire them at any time. I don’t want any high-minded men thinking that a star gives them the right to bully. Understand?”
He nodded. “I’ve some Welsh brothers who are down on their luck. Good men, mind you.”
“They’ll listen to you?” I snapped. “I told you I don’t want no bullies!”
“They’ll listen,” then he smiled. “The pay will help feed their bellies. Plus Rhodri has a family, it will be a welcome sight for him to bring some bacon home.”
Glancing over at Charlie, he gave a little nod. Then he added to the conversation, “Tanner’s a nervous sort. Keep him as the jailer and he’ll be okay.”
“Sheriff, you want to swear him in?” When Charlie was doing the honors I went over to the desk where I found one badge in a drawer. Placing it on the desk I went to the back office where I found several more. “Plenty of badges,” I told him, but remember, you have a budget.”
“Beavins, fines collected go to the town treasury, however, your office will also get a percentage of them,” Charlie paused, “Just don’t overdo it.”
“Marshal, Sheriff, I got the message. All I can tell you is that I’ll do my best.”
I nodded, “That’s all anyone can do.” Then I added, “If you’re a prayin’ man do it, if not I’d start.”
Turning my attention to Charlie, “Well, Sheriff, do you think you can manage to walk to the train station? I’ll guard the prisoner while we amble down.”
“We’ll leave as soon as Tanner gets back. I want to tell him the situation. What about Smith?”
“It is my thinkin’ that we’ll leave Smith here until I return. Hopefully Judge Klaser will have the trial and hangin’ before the week’s out.”
We left within the hour, giving the reins to Osain Beavins and his men. Hopefully they could keep the lid on the town. McGinnis complained from the start until we boarded the train. He complained that he couldn’t walk that far, then he complained about the hard seats on the train. He hollered once that he was bleeding and when I replied that maybe he’d bleed out on the way down and we could just pitch his body over into the canyon he quieted down.
So far, neither Sheriff Gold nor myself had seen anyone who looked like they might be one of McGinnis’ men. Charlie was holding up good, but there was that feeling…