'Rockford Falls.'
'That ain't far from here. I can tell you how to get there.'
'How far is it? ' 'About forty miles over some rough terrain.'
'You might want to keep your eyes open in case any of them pass through
here again. I doubt they will, ' Ryan added. 'They've already hit
this bank. Cole, are you riding with me? ' He shook his head and
handed the wire back to Ryan. 'It's not my problem.' Ryan said
nothing. Squinting against the sunlight, his eyes narrowed and his
brow wrinkled into a frown. Suddenly he grabbed hold of Cole's vest
and shoved him backward off his feet. Before Cole could recover and
retaliate his fingers were flexing into a fist Ryan stole his thunder
by apologizing.
'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I let my temper get the upper
hand. Look, you're right. You didn't ask for any of this, and the
robberies aren't your problem. They're mine. I just thought . . .
hoped, anyway . . . that you would want to help. I won't accept your
resignation, though. You're going to have to ride to the regional
office and surrender your badge to the marshal there. Sheriff Norton
will give you the directions. I've got to get going to Rockford Falls
before the trail grows cold. No hard feelings? ' he asked as he put
his hand out.
Cole shrugged and shook Ryan's hand. 'No hard feelings.' Ryan headed
for the stable at a run. Cole watched him leave and then followed the
sheriff inside the jail to find out where in tarnation the regional
office was located.
'If it isn't close-by, I'm sending the badge back, ' he told the
sheriff.
Norton sat down heavily behind his desk and stacked his hands on top of
his papers. 'I don't think Marshal Ryan will cotton to that idea.
Those badges are considered sacred, son. I wouldn't get him riled up
if I was you. He went to considerable trouble getting you appointed,
and it sure seems peculiar to me that he didn't want to argue with you
a little more. He gave up easy, didn't he? ' 'I don't know Ryan well
enough to judge, ' he replied.
'You sure you want to give the badge up? ' 'I'm sure. I'm not cut out
to be a lawman.'
'You thinking you ought to be a gunslinger? Some folks think there
ain't no difference at all between a marshal and a gunman.'
