Four Union soldiers rode into town.  They had written ahead for reservations at the hotel and wanted two rooms in front.  Lou told Lieutenant Price that it was a good thing they did because the hotel was booked up due to Senator Borden arriving tonight, and there was hardly any rooms left.  The soldiers carried into the hotel a large wooden box with a lock on it.  Lou told them that she had a storage room if they wanted they could put the box in there.  The lieutenant declined her offer and told her they would just take it upstairs with them; that it was a present for the Colonel.

When the soldiers got to their room, the first thing they did was check the view.  It was a perfect view of the main street and a good view of anyone entering the town.  This wasn't really a present for the colonel and these men really weren't soldiers.  They were here to assassinate Senator Borden with a gatling gun they stole from the Mexican border patrol.  That is what they were carrying in the large wooden box.             

We were having a North Fork Cattlemen's Association meeting in the Marshal's office.  I was in charge of the meeting and I couldn't emphasize enough how important it was for statehood to come to North Fork and how it would open up new things for us.  That was one of the main reasons Senator Borden was coming here.  Tom Burroughs, one of our town folks asked why the senator would stop here.  He felt the senator was a mighty big man to be stopping here in North Fork, which he classified a small town.  I told him we're not just cattlemen, we're citizens too and as he campaigns for statehood, Senator Borden considered our vote just as important as the vote of the richest cattlemen in the territory.  Nils asked what I thought about New Mexico Territory becoming a state.  I told him I was in favor of it.  Not only will it help us as people in general but as cattlemen.  This would help bring better shipping and inspection regulations to our territory.  I was aware that this would bring more taxes to our territory, but this money would go towards building new roads, schools, irrigation systems, some things we've needed for a long time.  The west was growing and we can't be standing still.  I told them that when Senator Borden arrived here tonight I would like to tell him that he has the full support of our association.  We didn't even have to put it to a vote, every man was with him.  I adjourned the meeting and started to leave when Nils approached me and asked me if I ever thought about going into politics.   I told him I better stick to ranching, one thing about cattle, they don't talk back.

    I thanked Micah for the use of his office.  He asked me if we voted for or against.  I told him for the statehood.  I told him since the senator was coming in tonight I thought Mark and I would stay in town for supper.  Micah thought that was a good idea to get Mark away from my cooking.  Just then Mark drove up in the buckboard.  Mark was proud how he negotiated the price of the grain down.  He told me that a sack of grain had gone up four cents, which I knew, but he managed to talk the price for the grain back down to where it belonged.  "Now about the money Pa.....maybe I could put it away and start saving for that rifle I was telling you about."  I told him we'd talk about it later.  As Mark was getting ready to leave, Micah called to him.  He had tossed Mark the slingshot he was working on.  "A sling shot" Questioned Mark.  "Well granted, it's not a rifle.....but it's all David needed to slay Goliath," said Micah.  Mark laughed and went on his way.

Amos, the telegraph clerk had just received a telegram for Micah.  It was from the Provost Marshal at Fort Clayton.  It seemed that he had information that there might be an assassination attempt on the senator while he was on tour.  The telegram said that there were some men who were held up in Mexico and left three days ago.  Micah was glad that the troops were in town, they would be able to help us if we needed them.  They were on patrol from Fort Clayton and would be around for a day or two.     

Mark and I were just finishing up our supper when Lou came into the dining area.  Lou was checking with customers to see how their dinner was.  One of the soldiers, Coley, told Lou they could use more water.  As she started to pick up his glass, he grabbed her hand.  "Easy soldier.....I'm not government property," said Lou.  "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be so touchy. You got a beau lady or don't they grow them in a town like this?" Asked Coley.  The  lieutenant was upset by Coley's actions.  The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to them.  "That's enough Coley," said the lieutenant.  Coley released Lou's hand and she walked away.  She then came over to us.  She noticed we hadn't eaten our pie.  "Don't you like the pie?" Asked Lou.  "To tell you the truth Lou, your cook does better with meat and potatoes," I said.  "It so happens I baked the pie!" Said Lou.  Boy did I put my foot in my mouth that time!  I was lucky I didn't choke on my coffee when she said that.  Mark and I just sat there and looked at each other.  "Well.....come on son, we better get going."   She said she would walk us out.  As we started to walk by the table where the soldiers sat, Coley put his leg up on the next table, blocking our way.  "So that's the way it is, maybe stretch here is your beau," said Coley.  Lou asked him to move.  "Why don't you get out of the ladies way?" I asked Coley.  I stepped in front of Lou and told Coley to get out of my way.   Coley started to get up when the lieutenant stopped him.  "I told you before, that's enough!" Said the lieutenant.  The lieutenant apologized and told us that Coley was a new recruit and he had a lot to learn.  Something just didn't seem right here.  We walked out into the lobby of the hotel; my mind was on something the lieutenant had said.  "Some men think that by puttin' on a uniform they can act any way they want," said Lou in her feisty way.  While Lou and I were talking the solders walked by us and went upstairs.  She could tell I was pre-occupied and asked me if there was something wrong.  I told her it was nothing and said goodnight to her and then went on our way.

When we got outside of the hotel Mark asked me if there was something wrong.  I told Mark I found it rather odd that the lieutenant said Coley was a recruit when he had a hash mark on his sleeve, which meant three years regular service.  Mark then looked at their horses.  He mentioned that they didn't take very good care of them.  I went to look them over and saw their horses were Mexican shod.  I told Mark to get the buckboard and meet me at Micah's.  I was unaware that two of the soldiers were watching me as I looked over the horses and they saw me go over to the Marshal's office.  The lieutenant told Will, one of the soldiers, to go the back way and see what he could find out.  They have come over three hundred miles to assassinate the senator and they were going to do it, nothing was going to get in their way. 

I told Micah of my suspicions.  I can think of a lot more ways to put North Fork on the map then to have the senator shot here.  Micah figured they could have ambushed some real troopers in the hill country.  Micah said he would wire Fort Clayton and see if he could get some information on Lieutenant Price and his men.  I told Micah I'd gather up a few men and ride out to meet the senator.  I wanted to stay close to the senator until Micah got to check out the soldiers.  He told me he should have an answer by the time I came back. 

      Will watched me ride out of town and he saw Micah go into the telegraph office.  Amos told Micah he was just getting ready to close.  Micah told him to stay open for a while, he wanted a telegram sent to Fort Clayton and wanted an answer as soon as possible.  Just as Amos was getting ready to send the telegram, Will came in to the telegraph office holding a gun on the two of them.  Will read the telegram and asked Micah how he knew.  Micah told him he didn't for sure until now.  Just then Mark pulled up with the buckboard.  Will told them to get rid of Mark or he'd blow a hole through both of them. 

Mark was on his way to Micah's office when he saw Micah was in the telegraph office.  Micah started yelling at Mark, and wouldn't give Mark a chance to speak.  Micah told Mark he never listens to anybody.  He slapped Mark in the face.  "Now go on home Nils! You hear me Nils? Go home!"  Mark wasn't sure what to make out of this, he was hurt and confused.  Micah wouldn't lay a hand on him for any reason and then Micah calling him Nils.  He felt something was wrong here, a message maybe.  He remembered what he and I had talked about earlier and he went over to tell Nils.  Will sent Amos over to the hotel to get the lieutenant and warned him not to talk to anybody or North Fork will have a dead lawman on their hands.

Mark told Nils about the soldier holding Micah at the telegraph office.  Nils thought Mark might be imagining things, but when Mark told him that Micah slapped him and called him Nils, he felt there was something wrong too. Mark ask Nils if he knew where I was.  Nils told him I and some men rode out to meet the senator.  Nils said he would ride out and let me know what was going on here in town.

When the lieutenant got to the telegraph office Will showed him the telegram Micah was getting ready to send.  He told Micah he saw three or four riders leave town earlier and wanted to know where they were going.  Micah answered him but it wasn't the answer he wanted, so he slapped Micah across the face.  Colby told Micah that if he didn't talk they would have to start killing people.  He grabbed Amos by the shirt and hit him.  Micah told them to stop and told them that we had gone out to meet Senator Borden and to escort him to town. They heard a rider, it was Nils heading out of town.  Lieutenant Price told Draft, another one of the soldiers, to go after him and bring him back.  Lieutenant Price told Will to stick around outside and let them know when the senator was coming.  Nobody was to come into town and nobody was allowed to leave town.  He then took the butt of his gun and broke the shaft of the telegraph. They took Micah over to their hotel room with them and waited for the senator to come into town.

I ran into Senator Borden outside of town and told him who I was and about the telegram Micah had received.  He felt it wasn't anymore then a threat.  I hoped that was all it was.  I told him about the four soldiers that arrived earlier and the possibility of them not being who they said they were.  I told him we would still like to ride along if he didn't mind.  He said it would be his pleasure.     

 Mark was still in town waiting for me to get back.  He was staying out of sight.  When he saw that Will was waiting outside of the hotel he climbed up onto the roof of the hotel to wait and watch.  He saw Draft bring Nils back to town.  "You'd think a man that fat wouldn't be able to ride that fast," said Draft.  Draft told them he could see dust about a mile behind them, which meant the senator wasn't far behind.  They took Nils over to the hotel with them.  Mark waited and watched quietly outside of the window where the soldiers were staying.  He had no idea there was a gatling gun inside the room.

They could hear horses approaching the town.  Will signaled to Price and hid behind some barrels.  We slowly approached North Fork.  Nils and Micah knew if they were to try and do something it had to be now.  Nils charged at Draft and Micah at Coley,  they tried their best but it didn't work. They couldn't do anything.  The two soldiers kept an eye on Micah and Nils while Price took aim. When we got into town things were quiet, too quiet.  I knew if Micah was able he would have met us.  Price slowly worked the gatling gun part way out of the window to take aim.  Mark was surprised when he saw the gun.  He had to act fast if he wanted to do anything.  He remembered the slingshot that Micah gave him earlier and found a stone. He took aim at the window where the gun was sticking out,  and shot thru the window, breaking the glass.  It surprised Price and the gun went off repeatedly.  I ran and hid behind the buckboard.  I aimed at Colby who was in the hotel room and I manage to shoot him.  Bullets still flying all around I shot Price, he was wounded but kept shooting and shooting.  Will was behind the barrels which were in back of the buckboard that I was hiding behind.  I didn't know he was there.  He came out from behind the barrels and was getting ready to take a shot at me when Price, still shooting wildly, hits him with one of the bullets. Price had killed Will, Price then collapsed and died.  Micah then took the gun away from Draft. 

The next day the senator was getting ready to leave town and embark on his journey.  "Well.....I do believe this is the most explosive reception I ever received. Seriously I want to thank you Mr. McCain.....you Marshal.....Mr. Swenson.....and you young Mr. McCain, I want to thank you too. And I want you to remember something.....right now, statehood for this territory is little more then a dream.....but there is no stopping it. When men of good will, men of vision stand together, they're unbeatable. I doubt it will ever come in my life time, but you'll see it! And I want you to know it makes me proud to leave this dream and this land, it such fine hands," said the senator.  He then tipped his hat, got on the stage and rode off.