Mark and I was in the kitchen. I was working on my books and he was doing the dishes. "Pa." "Hmmm." "What do you think about dish washing?" 
He was trying to come up with an idea of eating without have to use dishes. "Knowing that you have to do the dishes when your done eating just takes all the flavor away from the vittles," said Mark. He thought about putting a meal on a slice of bread, that way it would eliminate the plate. "That might work but, what would you do with a hot bowl of soup?" That took care of that. He had to give it more thought. Just then we heard a noise coming from outside. It sounded like it was on the porch. It was Micah. He could hardly stand. He was badly hurt. I helped him into the house. I told Mark to go and lay him out a bed roll in the wagon. We had to get him to the doctors. "Do you know who did it Micah? Can you say his name? Was it that back shooter from up in the hills you went after?" It took all he could do to come out with the name 'Bletch Droshek.' He tried to talk but couldn't. I asked him if he was deputizing me. "Yes.....yes." Then he passed out. Mark came in to let me know the wagon was ready. "Is he gonna be alright Pa?" He asked. "I don't know Mark, I don't know."
I picked up Micah's trail. On the way it led me to a small ranch. There was an old man outside by his we
ll. I told him I was looking for a man. He told me to speak up. He was deaf in one ear and he couldn't hear out of the other. When I said Bletch Droshek, he had no problem hearing that. He told me of a mining camp called Droshek. Named after Ott Droshek. He told me to take the trail up thru the canyon till there wasn't any trail left. It was called Droshek Town. He warned me not to go there. He said it was a one way trip to sorrow. A strange town and unfriendly. I told him I wasn't looking for a friend and rode off.
I got into town. People just stared at me. I went into the saloon. Again, all eyes on me. Not one friendly face. I walked up to the bartender and asked for a beer. He looked at me and walked away. I walked over to him. He picked up a dart and jabbed me with the point of it. He told me if I didn't like it, I should leave. I told him again, I'd like a beer. He thru the dart and hit the center mark. We stood there starring at each other. He then got me a beer.
I didn't know that the man I was looking for, Bletch Droshek was
watching from the back room. He was just getting ready to shoot me when his brother, Ott, stopped him. "Not in back Bletch, not in the back," he said. Ott wanted to know who I was. He had told Bletch many times not to go to the lowlands. Ott asked him what had he done. He lied to his brother. He told him he just danced with some farmers daughters. Maybe they thought him not good enough, or so he said. Ott knew somehow I had more on my mind then girls. I had murder!
"What else you want besides beer?" Asked the barkeep. I want Bletch Droshek. He laughed and told me to ride out while I can. I asked if there was any law here. He gave me directions.
There was a marshal there alright. Marshal Truce. If that's what you want to call him. I told him what I wanted. He told me I came a long way for nothing. They don't give up their own. "If your not gonna help me Marshal, just don't get in my way." "I'm the lawman, best you remember that," said Truce. "Your nothing but a grouchy gun. Lock, stock and barrel." He reminded me that this was Ott's mine, his people and his town and his gun." Ott is Bletch's brother. "They keep you on a leash and throw you a bone once in a while, is that it?" I asked. That made him mad. He told me to hand over my rifle. He went to draw on me but I was faster. I told him to get out in the street and call out my
man. "Now get out there and start yelling!"
When we got outside. I told the Marshal to call him. He stepped down off of the porch and then ran. I shot over his head "Ott Droshek, Bletch Droshek!" He yelled. Suddenly I had a rifle in the back of my head. "Drop the rifle and don't turn around." "I'll take your Marshal," I said. He laughed. "Well, if you think it'd do any good, you go ahead and kill him," said Bletch. I put my rifle down. That's the last thing I remembered. He knocked me out.
When I came to, Bletch Droshek had me handcuff and sitting in a chair. He told me who he was and that I would be sorry I found him. "What's a measly gopher from the flatlands doing up here with the eagles? You must be lost 'hi pockets'," he said. Then he started slapping my face, again and again and again. He knew he was making me mad. He was pleased with himself. He just kept hitting me and pushing me. Just then his brother, Ott, came in. "Stop this, unlock those irons!" Truce unlocked the irons. I told him who I was and that I came here for his brother and that he was wanted for murder, maybe two. He told me he was judge and jury here. I told him he would get a fair trial where I was takin' him. "You killed one maybe two?" Asked Otto. "It was self defense," said Bletch. "In the back!" I said. Bletch told his brother that I lied. This angered Ott. "I don't like lies!" "I heard of a real fast rifle cutter up north, maybe your him?" I snarled back....."Maybe!"
Ott challenged me to arm wrestling. He thought if he won, that would prove I was lying. I told him that it wouldn't settle murder. He felt if I was lying it would shame me into telling the truth. "I didn't come here for games, I came here for your brother!" "Then you are afraid. Even if he were guilty, never would I turn my brother over to a
coward." So I walked over and put my hand in his. He was a hard man to beat, but I beat him. When Bletch saw I won he drew on me. Otto stopped him. Bletch told him to make the choice, me or his own brother. Ott told Bletch that I had told the truth. He told Ott that one of those high and mighty flatlanders insulted him and he shot him. He told him he broke loose from the Marshal, that was all. I grabbed him. "You beat the marshal with a rock and hung him on a fence. He's coming with me!" I said. Bletch said he wouldn't go with me. I said there was no other way! Otto couldn't turn his brother over to a strange. He had to find a more honorable way to do this. Otto decided we should have a gunfight. I gave him a demonstration. I told him his brother didn't stand a chance. Ott asked me, with the rifle lying on the table, could I still draw again him. I looked at the both of them with a smirk and said, "anytime." Bletch wouldn't do it. Otto wanted me to bring the witnesses here for him to listen to their testimony. Bletch felt his brother was turning against him. Ott told him to stand by himself. Bletch yelled for Truce to take me. Bletch drew on me. I shot Bletch and turned in time to shoot Truce. Wounded, Bletch turned to shoot me when Ott, drew his pistol and shot and killed him. I walked over and picked up my hat. "Either way he had to loose," I said. "I'm sorry." I then rode out.
After I got back to the ranch we had Micah there for supper. He was feeling some better, but had his arm in a sling. "I'm about the most useless lawman in the whole territory right now. Can't even pour my own coffee." said Micah. "Well Micah, I always figured if a town has it's jail empty and the streets quiet at night, the law is well done." "Yeah all it takes is
rabbits foot and a passable deputy," said Micah. "And there's one other thing....." "What's that?" Asked Micah. "A badge, you better hang on to this. It's solid brass." "Thanks Lucas." "Hey Mark, your as quiet as snow in August. What's on your mind?" Asked Micah. "Oh nothing.....I've just been wondering....." said Mark. "Wondering about what?" Asked Micah. "I've been wonderin' how your gonna wash dishes with only one hand when you get back home." "Well it might not be so easy. As a matter of fact, I might need a bit of help. Lucas, do you mind if I borrow Mark for a couple of weeks?" Asked Micah. Mark stood there looking at me, anticipating my answer. "Well.....not at all, Micah." "Ohhhhh....." said Mark and angrily went back to finishing the dishes. Micah and I laughed.
appeared with Chuck Connors in "The Gambler Returns.....Luck of the Draw" in 1991 - "
