Mark was excited.  He was invited to Jay Gordon's birthday party.  He couldn't wait to play those games and have some of Jay's father's homemade ice cream.  "Boy, Jay's father makes the best ice cream."  I was pre-occupied and Mark knew it.  "Haven't you been listening?"  Asked Mark. I had my mind on my books.  He talked about getting Jay a present.  "He's been wanting a new hunting knife."  "A Hunting knife is too expensive Mark.  I think you could pick out something that doesn't cost as much."  He couldn't think of anything else and he felt he could get whatever he wanted, it was his money I was holding for him.  "That's not money I'm gonna let you spend foolishly,"  I said roughly.  "Look son, I'm sorry.  It's just when I look at my books.....hard cash is mighty scares to come by sometimes.  "We're not busted, are we?"  I assured him we had plenty of money to get us thru.  I just thought it best to let him know what is bothering me and why he can't spend as much as he'd like.  "I'm glad you told me," he said.  "Mark, it's your money, now if you want to get....." "no I'll get something that cost less.  I'll wrap it in some sort of fancy paper."  "That's good thinking."  I went back to my books and he went about doing his chores.  I heard a knock at the door.  Mark and I went to answer it.  It was a boy.  "It's my Pa, by your barn."  I didn't get to the barn.  When I stepped off the porch there was a man holding a gun on me.  He was hurt. He fell to the ground.  I took him into the bedroom.

While I was tending him we talked.  He was surprised I wasn't asking a lot of questions.  The only question I had was, what would happen to the boy when he's captured.  He had no answer.  I fixed him up the best I could.  He needed to get that bullet out.  He tried to get up but he was too weak.  He had lost quite a bit of blood.  He was weaker then he thought.  I told him I was going to get him a doctor.  He was afraid I'd stop and have a talk with the law.  The way I saw it he didn't have much to say about that either way.  I asked him if he was wanted.  He told me he was wanted in Quisquose City and for killing a man.  He asked me if I ever heard of Andy Moon.  I've heard of him.  He was a gunfighter who hired out during the border wars.  Killed 6 or 7 men and got a big reputation.  After the wars he went to jail.  I thought him to be dead now.  He told me he was Andy Moon.  He told me he spent 6 years in the territorial prison.  It has taken it's toll on him.  He told me he had gotten a special pardon.  The wars were dirty and rotten, he was no better or worse then the others so they left him go.  He told me he had killed Shep Coleman.  He had found out who he was and started pushing him around.  Looking to build his name.  It was self defense. The town feared the Coleman's so there was no chance of him getting a fair trial.  They would be afraid to try him fairly.  He also told me the Coleman brothers was right behind him. Mark and Bobby came in.  Mark wanted to know if he and Bobby could go fishing.  He wouldn't let him go.  He wanted him there with him.  Mark told him they would only be gone for a little while.  "Mark, you heard what Bobby's father said.  Bobby was hurt and ran out of the room.  He told me Bobby didn't know about him.  He wasn't running for him, he was running for Bobby.  Bobby didn't know him the way he was before.  He was born clean.  He didn't want to leave him with the 'Sins of the Father'.    

The Coleman brothers rode into North Fork.  They went straight for Doc Burrage's office. The Doc was tending a patient.  He was taking buckshot out of his butt.  He was behind the barn sneaking some corn liquor when his wife mistook him for a prowler after the chickens. The Coleman brothers barged in. The Doc tried to get them to wait outside but they wouldn't hear of it.  They just wanted a look at his patient.  The asked them who they were lookin for.  He never heard of Andy Moon.  They described him.  He told them that he's only had one patient today and they were looking at him.  They threatened the Doc and told him if he hears or sees anything they would be across the street in the saloon.  "You ever see this fella they're looking for?"  "No and I hope I don't," said the Doc.

 Tom waited outside of the saloon.  He was keeping an eye on the Doc's office.  Just then I rode in and went straight into the Doc's office.  Tom went and got Rafe.  They were waiting for me to come out.  The Doc told me about the Coleman brothers looking for Andy Moon.  I told him this was urgent.  Fred said for us to go ahead and the Doc said he sneak out the back way.  I told the Doc I'd meet him at my place and to be careful.

They approached me when I left the Doc's office.  I told them it was my business what I was doing here.  We got into a fight.  I did get the better of them.  Or should I say my rifle.  "I'm gonna be remembering you," said Tom. 

I told Andy that I told Micah I talk to him about giving himself up.  There was a wanted poster out on him.  I told him I'd keep Bobby here, he wouldn't have to know.  He could come and get him after the trial.  I told him the Marshal was keeping an eye on the Coleman's until they leave.  As long as the Coleman's were around he wouldn't turn himself in.  He had to think of his boy.  "Come on son, we gotta be going."  Bobby was setting at the table eating.  "Bobby, I said lets go."  "No Pa no."  "We've got no choice. I need you to help me."  "I'm tired of running. I don't want to run anymore. I wanna stay here."  "Son, you don't understand."  "Don't let him take me Mr. McCain."  "Bobby, a boy belongs with his father."  "He's not my father. He's a killer, he's Andy Moon.  I know because they told me. He shot people in the back. I hate him, I hate him." yelled Bobby.  "Bobby, Bobby, it's not like that," said his Pa.  "I wished you've never come back.  I wish you were dead."  Andy knew he should have told Bobby.  But he didn't.  He told Bobby he did kill men, but never in the back and to never let anyone tell him any different.  He told him he paid for what he did.  It was a different time, a time when men were fighting for the land.  He told him he came out of the good feelings he had for his Ma. 

Andy was ready to go into town and turn himself into Micah.  As we started to leave in charged the Coleman brothers with their guns drawn.  I told them Andy was just going to turn himself into the Marshal.  Andy tried telling them what happened.  They didn't want to hear it.  I told them to use their heads and let the law handle it.  I started for Tom.  He hits me and I fell to the floor.  When Tom moves towards me Mark bites him.  Then Rafe starts for Moon and Bobby tries to stop him. Moon shoots him.  Tom heads for Moon and Bobby grabs him by the leg and won't let go.  This gives me a chance to go for my rifle.  Tom turns to shoot me.  I shoot first.  Bobby runs to his Pa.  "Pa, Pa.....please. Please Pa, I didn't mean it."  The whole time he's nudging him. "I'm alright son, I'm alright."

We took Moon into Micah's and the Doc's.  "McCain, thanks for everything."  "No doubts about going back now?"  Not having the Coleman's in the way now he stood a chance for a fair trail.  The bartender won't be afraid to be his witness now.  "Beside, now I've got my boy backing him me."  We shook hands and I wished him luck.  "Pa, what did Mr. Moon mean by his boy backing him?"  "Well, the way you back me son.  Ya know like the way I do the cooking and you do the dishes."  Mark looked at me puzzled and I laughed.