Mark and I had gone on a three week vacation to the stock show.  It sure felt good to be back in North Fork.  We thought we'd stop by and see Micah before heading back to the ranch.  A man walked out of Micah's office.  "McCain, I take it? And that would be the young McCain I've heard so much about.....hmmmm quite a big boy!" Said Judson.  He introduced himself as Ben Judson.  We shook hands.  We couldn't help but notice he was wearing the North Fork Marshal's badge.  I asked him if Micah was out of town on business.  He said as far as he knew Micah was still in town. That he had taken the last of his personal belongings out of the office less then an hour ago.  He told us that he defeated Micah in the election for town Marshal.  Mark and I were both surprised.  "Defeated him?" I said.  "But Micah's been town Marshal for the five years," said Mark.  "Evidently the town thought it was time for a change," said Judson.  He then told me I had to check my rifle with him while I was in town.  "Check the rifle?" I said.  "Yes I've evoked the ordinance related to the carrying of firearms while in town," said Judson.  I told him that particular ordinance was meant to be used when the trail hands would come into town when their celebrating gets out of hand.  As I glanced around the town I didn't see any trouble and told him so.  He made me well aware that enforcing that ordinance was at his digression, he being the Marshal.  "Your rifle please!"  "The rifle stays with me!"  "Are you in the habit of breaking the law Mr. McCain?"  "Are you the law Mr. Judson?"  "In this instance I am!" said Judson.  This angered me but I reluctantly gave him my rifle.

  Mark and I headed over to the livery stable.  I asked Nils what happened.  He told us how Judson won his votes.  He said Judson would buy the men drinks at the saloon and how he would stop and talk to the ladies.  He made everyone aware he was running for Marshal. With a lot of the people away for the stock show the people didn't really care about the election.  Most of them just figured Micah would win.  

We then headed over to talk to Micah.  He was drinking.  I told him if I would have known he wasn't going to be supported in the election Mark and I would have postponed our trip.  He said it was about time he retired.  Now he could do some shootin' and fishin'.  "You know Lucas.....I didn't even bother to campaign this time. I didn't even let folks know I was happy being their Marshal.  He felt that Judson was saying one thing but meaning another.  I knew exactly what Micah was saying.  I wasn't with Judson two minutes and I felt that smooth talk of his was rehearsed.  He was upset when he saw them pin the badge on Judson.  It wasn't because he lost the election but because he felt that Judson was a man who shouldn't be wearing that badge.  He felt the badge was a sacred thing.  As we were talking I happened to glance out of the window.  I called Micah over and told him that Judson had a visitor.  Micah recognized him right away.  He said it was Bob Barrett.  I headed over to the Marshal's office to confront Judson and Barrett.  Micah behind me. 

Judson said he knew that Barrett had a wanted poster out on him dead or alive.  He said that Barrett had placed himself in his custody.  He had asked for an immediate hearing and was asking for the immediate charges be dismissed as unfounded.  We couldn't believe our ears.  Micah was a witness that Barrett and his partner held up the noon day stage five months ago and killed the driver and the shotgun rider.  Barrett said it was all a mistake.  That it wasn't him Micah saw but his brother Harry, that looked like him and oh, by the way, he was dead.  His brother was killed a month ago in Tucson.  How convenient for him.  Micah said he wasn't mistaken.  Judson quickly holds a primarily hearing to see if the Circuit Judge Evans should come to North Fork to try Barrett.  Till it was all said and done he declared Bob Barrett a free man and cleared of all charges.  That angered Micah and me.  I told them that we'd see what  Judge Evans had to say about this.  That I was sure Judge Evans would want proof where Barrett was at that time.  "Judson! I've always had a respect for the law but.....the sight of that badge on you sickens me. If I was twenty years younger I'd rip it off of you and the devil take the consequences," said Micah.

When Micah and I got out in front of his office, I asked Micah if he heard that slip of the tongue Judson made when he told Micah he couldn't have seen Barrett because he was hurt lying with his face in the ground.  Something was going on here.  We both headed to the telegraph office.  I had a feeling Judson was the partner who helped Barrett rob the stage five months ago.

They were worried. Micah was the only witness against Barrett.  Judson deputizes Barrett and together they plotted to get rid of Micah.  They figured when Micah saw the badge on Barrett that would rile him and Barrett could challenge Micah to a gunfight.

Well their plan worked.  When I saw the badge on Barrett I went straight to Judson's office.  I was furious.  Just them Mark came running in yelling....."Pa, Micah's getting himself into some trouble!" 

Barrett and Micah were having words when I got out to the street.  Barrett called Micah out.  He also said Micah could back out if he wanted to, he'd understand.  Micah said he'd take the challenge.  Judson waved the law of no gunfights on the streets of North Fork.  He even gave Micah a gun, a side arm.  Barrett said he would give Micah a couple of hours to sober up.  Micah told Barrett that when the first lights go on in town.  Barrett said he'd be waitin. 

Micah, Mark and I went over to the livery stable and to wait with Nils until it was time.  It was gettin' dark when Nils went to light the lantern and then he remembered.....'first light.'  Micah told him to go ahead and light it but Nils said he could wait.  I wanted Micah to walk out and just tell Barrett he didn't want to fight.  But Micah wouldn't.  He said he wouldn't be able to hold his head up anywhere.  I reminded him of his trick arm.  That's why he picked 'first light'.  He said maybe he wasn't as disabled as some people thought.  Micah had something he had to prove.  "I have to prove that I was using that shotgun to live like a lawman and not a coward!" Said Micah.  "Micah! Everyone knows you're not a coward!" Said Mark.  "I don't know it," said Micah.  He needed to know the truth about himself.

The lights were starting to go on.  Micah took a match from Nils and lit the lantern. "It takes a lot of man to walk away from a challenge," I said as Micah walked by me.  "Have you ever walked away from one Lucas?"  He then went to face Barrett. 

"Pa Micah can't beat a gunfighter!" "I know it son."  "Aren't you going to do something?"  "Nothing I can do. If I stood along side of him or interfered I'd only shame him.  Nils came rushing in.  "Lucas! Both those guys are out there wearin' guns! Judson and Barrett!"  I rushed out.             

I went straight to the Marshal's office and got my rifle.  Judson warned me about my rifle.  I looked at him and slowly walked backwards never takin' my eyes off of him.  "I see you brought some help Torrance!" Yelled Barrett.  "Lucas McCain will not interfere," said Micah.  "Your wearin' you're gun on your right side. I always hear you favored that," said Barrette.  "I'm ready for you Barrett," said Micah.  As Barrett went for his gun so did Micah.  Micah dropped to the ground as Barrett got off a shot, causing Barrett to miss shooting Micah.  Micah got a shot off and hit Barrett.  Barrett was hurt.  He started yelling....."Take him out Judson! Take him out! I warned you! If I'm going downhill I'm takin' you with me! You wanna know who my partner was on that stage hold up? There he stands!" Just then Judson drew his gun to shoot Barrett.  I then shot Judson.  I walked over to him and bent down and took the badge off of his shirt.  I walked over and pinned the badge on Micah.  "Here Micah.....this belongs to you. I just voted you back into office."

The next day Mark and I were waiting for Micah to get back to his office.  Micah walked in.  He still had that gun strapped to his side.  "Don't you think you should hang up that gun belt and go back to your shotgun?"  "Well.....you saw me! I beat Barrett to the draw! You know this bad arm of mine was all in my head. A psychological thing like a doctor would say," said Micah.  "One.....you didn't beat Barrett to the draw. Two.....you were slower then a banker agreeing to a cash loan and three.....the only thing you did beat him with old friend was a barrel of courage. Something you were born with.....something your gonna die with."  "Well I.....gotta admit.....my arm.....has been aching ever since I started yankin' this gun. You know.....I guess maybe I will go back to my shotgun. I'll still be able to look people straight in the eye." 

"Hey Pa.....look at this! I got a real good paragraph for ending my essay," said Mark.  "Well good, let's hear it," I said.  "When people take the right to vote for granted,  or when they leave it up to the other fellow to see that they get good government, their gonna get what they deserve! Maybe bad government!" Read Mark.  "Well that sounds fine son except how many times have I told you to say going to and not gonna?"  "Aw but Pa.....it means the same thing."  "Well I guess your right. I ain't gonna argue about it."  "Ain't!" "Pa that's worse then gonna."