A gunfighter by the name of Johnny Drako rode into town.  Although he was new to North Fork, he wasn't a stranger, it seemed everybody knew who he was.  The first thing he did was head to the saloon for a drink.  Sweeney, the bartender and Nils, the blacksmith were talking when he walked in.  Sweeney recognized him right a ways.  Although Sweeney had never met Drako before, he had seen him once when he was in El Paso.  Drako asked Sweeney if he knew a man by the name of Lucas McCain.  Sweeney told him he did and that I was a friend of his.  "You tell him I'm lookin' for him," said Drako.  Drako finished his drink and then went over to the hotel to get a room.  Sweeney then walked over to Nils and told him that was Johnny Drako.  "I know who it is! You tell me why he'd be gunning for Lucas?" Asked Nils.  "Since when does Johnny Drako need a reason?" Asked Sweeney.  Sweeney knew I was in town and came looking for me at the Marshal's office. 

Micah and I were playing checkers when Sweeney walked in.  "Lucas.....something important comes up. Johnny Drako's in town and he's lookin' for you," said Sweeney.  I was concentrating on my checker game and really didn't pay much attention to what Sweeney was saying until I heard him say Johnny Drako's name.  Micah was curious to why he would be looking for me.  I told him I knew Drako along time ago.  Sweeney said that Drako took a room at Lou's.  Micah told Sweeney to go and tell him that I was in his office.  Sweeney started for the door but I stopped him.  I told Micah I hadn't seen Drako in fifteen years, but if I remembered right, Drako didn't take orders.....he gave them.  "Not in North Fork he don't!" Said Micah.  I told Micah the last time I saw Drako there was no score to be settled between us, maybe he was just riding thru.  I told him I was going to go and say hello.  I was curious to what he might want, but I didn't let on. 

 When I walked into the hotel Lou came over to me.  "He's in the room at the head of the stairs," said Lou.  I approached the door and was getting ready to knock when I heard Johnny say....."Come in!"  "That second steps squeaks," said Johnny.  "So does the fourth, I didn't use it," I said.  "A man can't be too careful these days, can he? Can't always be sure who his friends are." Said Johnny.  "It depends on the man and how he walks," I said.  He took off his gun belt and threw it on the bed.  He told me if I put my rifle down we could shake hands. 

We talked about the war.  I talked about what Drako was like back then and what he had become.  He told me he didn't want any trouble; all he wanted was to settle down in my town.  He had been runnin' for fifteen years and he was tired.  I asked him....."Why North Fork?"  "Because you helped make this town off limits to the gunmen," Said Drako.   He was hoping that in six months, maybe a year people would forget.  I told him I had no right to tell him where he could and could not live.  He liked the quietness of the town.  That was the way we wanted it to stay and I left him know that.  "If I walk soft; can I call Lucas McCain, my friend?"  I told him that we could.  "I'm gonna have to wear that gun, you know," said Drako.  "But you don't have to use it, do you?" I asked. 

Lou and Micah were waiting for me when I walked out of the hotel.  They wanted to know what he wanted.  I told them he wanted to settle down.  "In my hotel?" Asked Lou.  "In North Fork?" Asked Micah.  I told them he liked our town.  They were both upset and they didn't mind letting it show.  Micah said he could look at the town on his way out.  Micah didn't like Drako being here, he knew there would be trouble in town as long as Drako was here.  Micah was upset because I didn't tell him there was no room in North Fork for a gunslinger.  I told them that during the war Johnny Drako crawled a half a mile thru an artillery barrage, dragging me a foot at a time.  Lou asked if he ever asked me to pay him back.  Drako never mentioned it, I wasn't even sure if he even remembered it, but I did.

The next day Mark and I went into town.  It seems that Mark had worn everything out at once.  He needed a new pair of boots, shirt, pants and a belt. We ran into Micah and I asked him if Drako had given him any trouble.  He said he hadn't.  Mark asked if he could poke his head in the saloon and take a look at Drako.  I told him he could, but to meet me back at Lou's later.  I didn't like how everyone was making Drako into a side show.  But he didn't seem to mind. 

Drako saw Mark looking in at him.  He motioned for Mark to come into the saloon.  Mark slowly entered the saloon and walked up to Drako.  "Have you ever been to the zoo boy?"  "No sir," said Mark.  "Well they've got one in Kansas City. People come from miles around and they go straight to the monkey cage and they stand and they stare and they feed them peanuts." Drako then asked....."What's your name boy?"  "Mark.....Mark McCain."  "Lucas's boy?"  Mark nodded.  "I know your father, I call him my friend." said Drako.  Mark was proud of what Drako had just said.  Drako reached for his gun and laid it on the table.  "Touch it!" Said Drako.  Mark just stood there looking at him.  "Go on, pick it up!"  Mark picked up the gun and looked at it; then laid it back down on the table.  "You did right. Now remember, just because you can pick one up doesn't mean you have to marry it, understand?" Asked Drako.  Mark nodded and smiled at Drako and said....."Sure.....but I've handled lots of guns before."  Drako told him from the first time he's picked up a gun; he's never been able to put one down.  Mark felt that no one could make Drako put down his gun and told him that.  Mark thought Drako to be the fastest.  Johnny asked Mark if he knew the first man that had that honor.  Neither of them knew the answer.  But the man who took it away from him buried him.  He told Mark to go home. 

Micah, Lou and I were standing outside of Micah's office when three men rode into town.  We didn't recognize any of them, but we knew they were trouble.  Micah started over to the saloon to see who these men were.  I went along with him, feeling somewhat responsible because I talked Micah into letting Drako stay in town.     

We walked into the saloon.  I walked up to Sweeney and asked him how things were going.  He said his business couldn't be better. He said he'd be lucky if the building was here tomorrow.  Micah went over to Drako and sat down at his table.  He asked Drako if they were friends of his.  Drako told him they didn't even like each other.  Micah then asked him if he knew them.  He said they were.....Billie Graves.....Mac Jones.....Red Evans.  Drako told Micah he knew what they wanted, the town.  "What makes them so sure they can take it?" Asked Micah.  He told Micah that they weren't that sure.  Not until they know which side he ( meaning Drako) was on.  He said Billie would push a little, anybody stupid enough, and he'll gun them down, then they'll wait to see who comes after them.  "Keep it holstered Johnny," said Micah as he left the table.  As Micah headed for the door I started to leave when Billie propped his legs up on a chair and blocked my path.  I told him to move his legs.  He told me to walk around.  I knocked his legs off of the chair with my foot and he jumped his feet.  I flipped my rifle and held it on him.  He knew I meant business.  I told him if he wanted to stretch his legs he was to get on his horse and ride.  He sat down in the chair looking as I walked by.    

            The next day I came into town.  I went over to Micah's to see how things were going.  He said Drako spent most of his time at the saloon and that Graves had a run in with one of Benson's rider that morning.  He said that John Gordon's horse brushed Billie and Billie claimed John was trying to run him down.  They had a few words and then Billie laid his gun over Gordon's head.  We knew Billie was looking for trouble.  I wondered who we would have to bury before the law would hang Billie Graves. 

Drako was setting in the saloon shuffling the cards.  It was getting on Billie's nerves.  He asked Drako how long he planned on doing that.  "How long are you going to keep that up?" Asked Billie.  Drako kept shuffling the cards.  He then walked over to Drako.  Billie told Drako that he was running down hill and not to forget it.  Drako asked if he'd care to see how far he's gone.  Billie told Drako that he could take him, but he wouldn't because that's just what the town wanted was for the two of them to gun each other.  Drako asked him what he wanted.  Billie said he wanted the town.....not for long.....he wanted to see me on my knees.  Drako told him if he was smart he'd ride out of here and leave me alone. 

Billie then walked out of the saloon and headed straight for the blacksmith's.  He asked Nils if he fixed his horse.  Nils told him that his horse had a pretty bad ankle and that he was done as a saddle horse and if he was lucky he could maybe get a year or so out of him as a plow horse.  He told Nils he needed a new horse.  Nils told him he had a couple out back he could look at.  He walked over to Mark's horse and wanted to know how much.  Nils told him he wasn't for sale.  He started to get the horse ready to take with him when Nils again told him he wasn't for sale.  When Nils put his hand on his shoulder and telling him again that Mark's horse was not for sale,  Billie hit Nils and knocked him to the ground.  Nils picked up a hammer but Billie drew on him.  Nils threw the hammer to the ground.  Billie started out of the stable when Mark came in.  "Hey! That's my Horse!" Yelled Mark.  Billie told him he just bought it and tossed him a dollar.  Mark started after him when Nils called to him.  Nils grabbed Mark by the arm and they came over to Micah's and  to tell us what had happened. 

When they told us what had happened Micah told them it was a good thing they hadn't tried to stop him; that was his job.  When Mark saw what Micah was going to do, he told him, it was only a horse and to let Billie have it.  Micah asked Mark if we should throw in a few head of cattle, or a half interest of the ranch.  Mark said the horse didn't matter, he could catch a better one.  We knew what he was trying to say, that a man's life is worth more then a horse.  Micah said....."What's a man's life really worth if he's not willing to protect what's his?"  Mark said he would say that he sold Billie the horse.  "I'll tell you what I'll do son. If Billie wants that horse to ride out of town and not come back I'll let him have him."  Nils told Mark he'd give him the best horse in his stables.  We can't let him keep grabbing what he wants; we had to stop him now.  Mark was afraid because there was three of them, maybe four if Drako decided I wasn't his friend anymore.  "Mark.....we'll play it like a game of checkers. Now Billie Graves took your horse, that was his first move. Next we move a couple of men where he thinks he can take 'em. Then it will be his move again. Alright Lucasboy?" Asked Micah.  We all stood there looking at each other until Mark nodded his head as in approval.  "Okay, let's go," I said. 

Billie saw Micah and I walk out into the street.  He chased Sweeney out of the saloon and started shooting up the place.  Sweeney came running over to us.  He told us Billie was running things and that he wanted me and whatever he can bleed from the town.  I asked him what else.  He said that Drako thought Billie was a fool for grabbing Mark's horse.  Sweeney wanted to help but Micah told him to get off the streets. 

Billie wanted it to be a nice legal gunfight.  Drako was still shuffling the cards.  Billie told Drako to cut the deck. Drako told them he didn't want any part of their town.  Billie told Drako that he cut the deck or he had to face the three of them.  "Man that takes McCain takes half," laughed Drako.  They all cut the deck; Drako drew the Ace of spades.  Drako got up out of his chair, checked his gun.  He walked out into the street and started walking toward Micah and me.  He walked up to me and said....."We cut for the privilege of gunning you. All nice and legal.....you understand," said Drako.  "You win or loose," I asked.  "Well now that depends on which side you think I'm on," said Drako.  "Well then you better turn around before they put a bullet in your back," I said to Drako.  Drako then stood next to me.

Billie and his two henchmen slowly walked out of the saloon.  We all stood there just looking at each other.  Evans told Mac to take the badge, Billie told Evans to take Drako.  Evans asked Billie if he thought I was as good as my reputation.  I told Drako that they we're thinking about it, he felt they were done thinking and were now measuring the odds.  They all turned and got on their horses and rode out of town.  We were all relieved.  Micah went to lock up and told us he'd meet us a Lou's.  Drako and I just stood there.  "Maybe they didn't figure this town was worth dying for," said Drako.  "Did you?" I asked.  "Not particularly, how about you?" Asked Drako.  "I wasn't thinking Johnny, I was just hopin' they'd ride out."  

Johnny paid his bill at the hotel and then came to say his good-byes to Mark and I.  "Nobody's pushing you Johnny.....you don't have to move on," I said.  "Those fifteen years just won't let a man sit," said Drako.  I asked him where he was headed.  "North maybe.....or west." "Or just keep on ridin'." "You got a nice quiet town here.....I'm gonna leave it just like I found it."  He then shook Mark's hand and said good-bye to him.  As I shook his hand I said....."I hope you find a quiet place too Johnny."  "I will Lucas.....same quiet place every gunfighter finds."  Drako then mounted his horse and rode out of town.
"I wish him luck Pa," said Mark and I agreed.  
Thanks Andrew Simon for the best line in the whole episode—".....same quiet place every gunfighter finds."