'Jerry. Jerry Dobbs.'
'Introduce me when he comes in.'
'I'll do that.'
Frank was just finishing his breakfast when Angie called out, ''Mornin', Jerry. Got someone here who wants a word with you.'
'Oh?' the big man said just as Frank was pushing his chair back and rising to his boots.
The men shook hands, and Jerry sat down at the table with Frank. A few minutes later, Frank had hired a deputy.
'I'm no miner,' Jerry explained while eating his breakfast. 'Didn't take me long to figure that out. I've worked a lot of things in my life, but lawing is something I enjoy the best.'
'It can be rewarding,' Frank said. 'Until the town is cleaned up. Then the people want to get rid of you.'
'For a fact,' Jerry agreed. 'I've sure seen that happen a time or two.'
'This town is going to boom for a while,' Frank said. 'I'm going to ask the mayor if I can hire a second deputy.'
'Might not be a bad idea. I've seen these boom towns go from a hundred people to five thousand in a matter of days. The way I heard it, this is a major strike, too.'
Frank liked the older man almost instantly. Jerry was big and solid and well-spoken. Frank could sense he had plenty of staying power, and once he made up his mind it would take a steam engine to move him.
Frank told Jerry about the planned kidnapping attempt against Vivian and his hiring of two bodyguards for her.
'Hal and Jimmy are known throughout the West as men who'll brook no nonsense,' Jerry replied. 'Not killers, but damn sure quick on the shoot. They'll take care of her.'
'I'm counting on that. Jerry, there's a small living area in the jail. You want to use it?'
'Yes,' the big man said quickly. 'Sure beats payin' a weekly rate for a room with two other guys.'
'As soon as you finish your breakfast we'll go over to the jail and see what you need for your living quarters, then go to the store for provisions.'
'Sounds good to me.'
'By that time the mayor should he in his office at the bank, and we'll get you sworn in. Jerry, you haven't asked about salary.'
Jerry smiled. 'I know what boom towns pay their lawmen. It will be more than adequate, I'm sure.'
'I'll see that it is.'
Angie came over and refilled their cups. The customers all had been served and were chowing down, and no one was calling for anything, so she pulled out a chair and sat down.
'Gonna be a law dog again, Jerry?' she asked.
'Beats the mines, Angie.'
'I'm sure. Unless you're the owner.'
'Frank Morgan!' the shout came from out in the street. 'Get out here, you bastard!'
'What the hell?' Jerry asked.
Frank got up and looked out the window. A man was standing in the center of the wide street. He was wearing two guns, something that was becoming a rarity in the waning days of the so-called Wild West.
'You know that man, Frank?' Angie asked, standing just to Frank's left.
'I never saw him before, but he sure as hell is no kid.'
Jerry joined them at the window. 'I've seen him around town a time or two. Don't know his name.'
'Morgan!' the man called. 'You murderin' pile of coyote puke. Get out here and face me!'
'I don't think that fellow out there likes me very much,' Frank said.
Jerry looked at Frank and smiled and shook his head at the marshal's calmness. 'I think you'd be safe in sayin' that, Frank.'
'Did you see anyone with the guy, Jerry, anyone at all?' Frank asked.
'No. Never. I never even seen him talkin' to anyone.'
Both sides of the street had cleared of people within seconds. The few horses at hitch rails that early in the day had been quickly led away by their owners in anticipation of lead flying about.
'You either come out and face me or I'm comin' in there and drag you out, you yellow bastard!' the man in the street hollered. 'By God, I mean it, Morgan!'
Frank slipped his pistol in and out of leather a couple of times. He didn't have to check to see if it was loaded. He knew it was. 'Time to go see what that fellow wants,' Frank said.
'Hell, Frank!' Jerry blurted. 'You know what he wants. He wants to kill you!'
'Lots of people have tried that over the years, Jerry. I'm still here.'
