Mark and I had just got into town.  Micah must have seen us ride in.  We didn't have a chance to get off of our horse when Micah came out of his office and asked me if he could see me.  Micah told me that Sarah Caruthers had passed away.  She told him that seven days after her death he was to tell me, I am going to die.  This was ridiculous.  She wanted me dead because I killed her husband.  I was deputized at the time, Micah deputized me, we were upholding the law.  Her grievance was with the man who cut down Sam Caruthers.  We didn't feel there was much she could do about it.  She was dead.  I didn't really believe anything was going to happen.  Micah wasn't as sure as I was. "Sarah Caruthers was a determined woman. She had no respect for the law. When a woman like that makes a dying threat, I wouldn't treat it to lightly Lucas."  Just then Ben Casper, Attorney at Law, came in.  He wanted to talk to me.  "Well I'd like you as head of the town council, to call a special meeting at the town hall tonight."  "Special meeting, why?"  I asked.  Ben was Sarah Caruthers attorney.  She had made out a last will and testament shortly after her husband was killed.  Her entire will concerned me.  He couldn't tell me anymore then that.  He did say the will was to be read to all of the town people of North Fork.  I told him I would call the meeting.  "Can I go to Pa?"  "Look son, what concerns me concerns you."        

"Alright, alright, lets quiet down," said Ben. "I know your all are wondering what this meeting is about and why I'm conducting it instead of Lucas McCain, head of out town council. So we'll get right to it and not waste anytime. I guess everybody here can speak for those who couldn't make it. Wives, children and so forth. Now this is the last will and testament of Sarah Caruthers. I drew it up for her and I can assure you it is absolutely legal."  The crowd was getting restless, they wanted him to get on with it.  He then began to read her will.  "I Sarah Caruthers being of sound mind and memory do hereby give, devise and bequeath all the worldly goods and monies of which I posse, to the residents of the town of North Fork, territory of New Mexico, to be divided equally among every man, woman and child, resident therein at the time of my demise."   The townfolks was confused.  Everyone thought that Sarah Caruthers didn't have any money.  She still owed Millie seventeen dollars for things she got at her store. They heard she couldn't even pay her bill at the hotel.  Ben then turned things over to John Hamilton, our bank president.  He told us that Sam and the misses kept a strong box at his bank.  It was no concern of his as long as they paid the rental for the space.  When Sam was killed, Mrs. Caruthers told John that the box wasn't to be opened until after her death.  He opened this morning.  There was one hundred thousand dollars in the strong box.  This statement caused a lot of commotion.   Micah had to quiet everyone down.  Micah told us he always suspected that Sam Caruthers and his gang were mixed up in that shipment from the Denver mint that was never recovered.  There were plenty of other robberies that Sam and his gang was suspected of.  He told us he couldn't prove it yet, but he did have a list of serial number going back quite a few years.  "That strong box is impounded as of now," said Micah.  Ben took the floor.  There was one more provision in the will.  "On the provision that Lucas McCain, that Lucas McCain should not survive said demise by the period of more then seven days."   "Are you saying that Lucas has to die?" asked Millie.  "So that these people can get that money if they have a legal claim to it."  "Those are the terms of the will," said Ben.  "I never heard of such a thing. It's preposterous," said Millie.  I agreed with Millie.  I felt that everyone was making to much out of it.  "Well I move this meeting is adjourned and all this nonsense be forgotten here and now," said Millie.  Eli Benson agreed with Millie.  He said he wanted no part of the blood money.  "Well I guess the meetings over Ben, you can throw that thing in the waste basket," said Micah.  Ben told us he did have to file it.  "Who knows, Lucas might get struck by lightening before the weeks out," said Ben.  The room went silent.  "Now if that happens I'll at least know it isn't Sarah Caruthers doin' it," I said.  She also left an envelope not to be opened until my death.  Ben said he was legally bond to hold the letter for seven days.  The meeting broke up.

  "It must be nice knowing you have so many friends Lucas," said Millie.  She then turned to Mark and told him about a new box of licorice sticks that just came in.  She gave him the key to the back door and told him to help himself.  Millie wanted to talk to Micah and me without Mark hearing.  She felt most of the people of North Fork were good people.  She was concerned what would happen if  Micah couldn't prove the money locked up in the bank wasn't from the hold ups.  She felt I should take some precautions, especially if that money was legally Sarah's.  "Like you said Millie, they are my friends."    

 We went to the bank with Micah and John while they checked the serial numbers on the money in the strong box.  Micah couldn't put a hold on the money.  The serial numbers didn't check.  "It belongs to the people of North Fork. If any of you want to claim it under the terms of the will. Of course if you do, you'll never get a chance to spend it.  Unless you want to hang first.....for killing Lucas McCain."

The next morning I was getting around to head into town.  I told Mark he better hurry or he'll be late for school.  I asked him if something was bothering him.  He asked me not to go into town.  I told him I had to.  I had to tell Millie how much feed I needed to order for next month.  He thought it could wait until the end of the week.  I knew what he was getting at.  I told him I couldn't hide and that North Fork is our town.  I would be safe in North Fork as anywhere else.  If there is someone that would prefer the cash, then I should know about that person.  He knew I was right.  He told me he'd see me after school and then rode off.

I was just getting ready to head into town when I saw a stranger approaching the ranch.  He introduced himself as Stacey Beldon.  He wanted to know how far to North Fork.  I told him it was about three miles and I was just heading there myself.  He said if I gave him a change to water his horse he would keep me company.  He was a strange dude.  I was suspicious of him.  He reminded me of a gunslinger. We got to talkin'.  I asked him what brought him to this area.  He said he had a job offered to him.  He was vague about it.  He told me he had kin in North Fork.  He told me Eli Benson was his cousin.  I was surprised.  He said the last time he saw Eli he was celebrating his first born.  I told him he celebrated it ten more times. I mentioned he was going to work for Eli.  Just to see what he would say.  Again he was vague.  We then headed into town.

When we got into town, Stacey wanted to buy me a drink.  I told him no thank you.  He sure was interested in whether or not I was going to be into town.

Micah came out and asked me who he was.  I told Micah who he was and that he told me had had some work to do here.  I also told him he was related to Eli.  Micah told me he saw Eli in Millie's a while ago.  We went to the store to talk to Eli. 

When we got there Eli was looking at a rifle.  He told Millie he needed something smaller, he was just going after a coyote.  He told us he's been killing his chickens.  He looked at us and asked us what was wrong.  "Are you related to Stacey Beldon?" Asked Micah.  He got upset. "Who said?" Asked Eli.  "Beldon did Eli, he's over at the saloon," I said.  "Why that no good murdering.....what's he doin' here
marshal?" Asked Eli.  "Apparently he's got some work to do," said Micah.  "You know me. Both of you. I'm a quiet man. I've got a good family. Good friends. I came down here from Kansas a long time ago. Settled down, made something of myself. I got respect. That's something I didn't have in Kansas. I didn't have it because no one related to Stacey Beldon had it. What's he doin' here marshal? Can you tell
me?"  We thought he knew.  He told us he had nothing to do with that man.  Somebody had to send for him.  "No, it wasn't me, it wasn't me. You gotta believe me."  It was hard to believe him when we knew he would receive 13 shares of the money. 

"Eli!" Yelled Stacey. "Is that you cousin Eli?"  "Yes Stacey it's me. How are
you? It's been a long time."  "It has been a long time Eli. I'm fine, just fine. Eleven kids. Why don't you come over here and have a drink with me? I already invited McCain. How about it McCain?"  Eli thanked him, but no thank you.  I told him I'd be over later.  Eli denied sending for Stacey.  He told us he wouldn't had time to send for Stacey.  He had no idea when Sarah Caruthers was going to die or even the terms of her will.  I told him the will was read four days ago, he could have sent for Stacey.  He swore he had seen or heard of Stacey Beldon in ten years. 

We decided to head over to talk to Ben.  We didn't quite make it to Ben's office when Stacey yelled to me.  He was pushing me. I told him I'd be over later. "I said now!" Yelled Stacey.  He then smashed the whiskey bottle against a post.  He then went out into the street.  He was calling me out.  He dropped his glove, when he bent over to pick it up he drew on me.  I was ready for him.  I shot and killed him.  Ben came out of his office.  "Who is it?" Asked Ben.  We thought he knew.  But he didn't.  "Good Lord, he tried to kill you Lucas." 

Eli went over to Stacey.  He found a note in his pocket. He handed it to Micah.  It was a letter to Stacey Beldon from Sarah Caruthers.  In the letter it told Stacey where to pick up an envelope containing five thousand dollars, but only if he killed me within seven days after her death.  This was the envelope that Ben was holding in the event of my death.  "She said she'd be laughing from her grave. She almost did," said Micah.

Well, it was finally over.  Micah checked the serial numbers with Washington and put the money on the stage to the U.S. Marshal in Santa Fe.  "Good riddens I say, said John."  I never thought I'd hear a banker say that.  We were all glad it was over.  "That Mrs. Caruthers and all she tried to do, I think there's one thing she didn't figure out."  "What's that Mark?" Asked Millie.  "Well, when you got a lot of fiends, I mean like Pa has here in North Fork. Well.....there just isn't that much money in the world."