I had sent Mark into town to get Doc Todd, North Fork's Veterinarian.  I was pretty sure our cattle had hoof n' mouth.  Half of them were dead already.  He wasn't available, he was at Joe Rodney's place.  When the Doc finished there he had other ranchers ahead of me.  I had to wait my turn!  Every herd on the range had been hit. It wasn't noticed until a few days ago.

We did the best we could, but it wasn't enough.  There wasn't really anything anyone could do.  I was washing up when I heard Mark yell for me.  Both of the cows were dead.  I expected it.   Mark was upset.  He felt there must have been something we could have done.  I told him the cattle had needed us more.  "What's the use?" Asked Mark.  "There all dead anyway or at least they will be."  He ran into the house.  I called to him, but he kept goin'.

I had hoped after a good night sleep Mark might feel better, but he didn't.  He hardly ate any breakfast.  We both were discouraged, but I couldn't let him see just how discouraged I was.  I didn't know what we were going to do.  Just then Mark came out of the barn.  He was getting ready to head off to school.  "You didn't eat much breakfast, Mark."  "I wasn't very hungry," he said.  "Tell you what son."  "I've got to go into town this afternoon."  "How about I pick you up after school and we stay in town and have supper at the hotel?"  "You always said Pa, when we didn't have anything comin' in we had to conserve."  "We have enough food here," said Mark.  I thought he would be tired of flap jacks and corn meal by now.  He reassured me he wasn't, but I knew better.  "Pa, I was just thinking."  "Maybe I could quit school, get some sort of a job."  He wanted to help Millie or maybe work in the livery stable.  "Son.....I don't think anybody needs any help right now."  "Besides, your schoolings more important."  He didn't see why he should have to go to school.  Half the kids were gone already.  There have been a lot of families moving out.  If things kept on like this, soon there wouldn't be any school.  North Fork would be a ghost town.  "They'll always be books Mark. You learn from books."  "Learn enough so that maybe someday you or somebody can find a way to prevent what's happened out here."  "No.....you need your learnin' Mark."  "What are we gonna do now Pa?"  "Are we gonna be dirt farmers?"  "Just sodbusters?"  I told him this was good cattle country and that we would try again.

I went into town and stopped at the General Store.  I needed to get a few things.  "More cornmeal?" Ask Millie.  Millie knew how things were; she was feelin' the crunch too.  As we were talking we looked around the town.  It wasn't a very pretty site seeing most of the town was boarded up.  With all the rancher's cattle gone there was very little money left.  "How are you doing?" I asked Millie.  "Oh, (big sigh) I think I'll be able to hang on until things get better," said Millie.  "That could be a long time Millie."   She then went into the store to get my supplies. 

Micah was standing out in front of his office.  "Oh Lucas.....can I see you a minute?"  I walked over to see what he wanted.  
He told me about a job to work undercover in the Wyoming Territory.  It was a dangerous job.  He said the money was good and good money is good money right now.  He then told me that the Cheyenne broke out of the reservation.  Someone had been selling them guns and they were using them to attack the ranchers.  The government wanted someone to go to Wyoming and find out how it was being done.  "The money's good."  "Enough to start up another herd, a small one."  "It could set a man up in business," said Micah.  All along I thought he was talking about himself but it was me he had in mind all along.  "Why you old  reprobate!"  "You never figured on going yourself, did you?" I asked.  He felt that a man who wasn't a known lawman had a good chance of pullin' this off.  He told me I couldn't tell anyone about it, not even Mark.  I told him I couldn't do that.  I thanked him and walked away.  "Lucas, you never liked being called a sodbuster did ya?"  Said Micah.  "I still don't."  "Better get use to it, that's what your gonna be," said Micah.  "I walked back over to him.  "What do you mean Micah?" I asked.  "A cattleman without cattle is just a plain sodbuster," said Micah.  "Now if I was you I'd give this job a little thought."  "You change your mind, let me know. I'll set it up."  He was right.  I had no choice.   I was broke and desperate.  I agreed to do it.

   I told Mark I was going to look for work somewhere else.  I'd be back as soon as I got us a new stake.  He wanted to come along.  This was hard leaving Mark behind and not even being able to tell him the truth.  "Mark.....I don't know what I'd be getting into."  "Besides, who's gonna look after the ranch?"   "That'll be your job."  "How can I look after the ranch if I'm staying in town with Miss Millie?"  "You know what I mean son."  "No Pa, I don't know what you mean!"  He ran off to bed.  If he only knew how hard this was for me. 

Mark and I went to town.  I had to see Micah and get some things before leaving.  I was saddling up to get ready to leave.  Micah, Millie and Mark were there to say good-byes.  I couldn't look at Mark.  I knew he was hurting.  "You take care, Mark."  I then went to untie Razor to leave. Mark walked up to me and before we knew it we hugged each other.  "Pa.....Pa, please take me with you, please," cried Mark.  "Son, I can't."  I got on my horse and rode off.  "What if he doesn't come back?" Asked Mark.  "Mark, that's foolish talk," said Millie.  "I don't know, I just have a feeling....." Mark then ran off. 

   When I rode into La Mesa, the town drunk Finny saw me and remembered my face being on one of the Marshal's poster.  He rushed in to tell Marshal Burks.  He showed him the poster.  He then pointed me out as I was headed in the saloon.  Of course he wanted payment for his information.  Whiskey.  The Marshal gave him a drink and then locked it up in his drawer.  They both headed over to the saloon. 

I went into the saloon.  Aggie, a saloon girl, came over to me and lit my cigar.  "That'll cost you a drink," she said.  I told her it was my pleasure.  I then poured her a drink.  Just then the Marshal came in.  "Put that drink down McCain, pick up that rifle and get out of town," said Marshal Burks.  "How come you know me?" I asked.  "There's a poster in my office. Lucas McCain, 'The Rifleman'. Wanted in Oklahoma."  "It's a long way from Oklahoma Marshal. You're wasting your time, I'm not wanted here."  "You just made a mistake."  I turned my back to him and went about having a drink.  "Turn around!" Shouted Marshal Burk.  I finished my drink and quickly turned around holding my rifle on him.  "Now what where you saying?" I asked.  He went for his gun.  "Go on Marshal, try it," I said.  "Go on."  I had him toss me his gun.  I then showed off my shooting abilities by shooting the points off the antlers on the stag's head, which was mounted on the wall. "You've got a office haven't you Marshal?"  "Why don't you just go on down there and tear up that poster?"  "A matter of fact I may stop by a little later and help."  I then put his gun back in his holster.  He left.  I went over to finish my drink.  I told Aggie "I'll be back!"

Just as I was leaving a man called to me.  "Mr. McCain, got a minute?"  "I'd like to talk to ya."   He told me his name was Forbes McKee and that he ran the Indian trading post.  He introduced me to his assistant, Ross.  I told him I wasn't overly fond of government men.  He could understand why, a man with my reputation.  He said he wasn't a marshal just an Indian agent.  I left him think I wasn't interested and started to get up to leave.  He said that a man with my ability might grow to like La Mesa.  He said that Ross was something like me at one time.  But now he's a happy man, he works for him and makes good money.  "You're trying to tell me there's money in runnin' a trading post?" "Who are you trying to kid?" I asked.  "I pay well and I don't care about a man's background," said McKee.  "I just thought you might be looking for a job!" I told him....."I might be."  He invited me to have a drink with them.  I told him that I might later.  I then left.  "If he comes around, what makes you think you can trust him?" Asked Ross.  "I don't," said McKee. 

Micah had stopped by the General Store.  "Hello Millie, good to see business picking up again," said Micah.  "Good morning Micah."  "Now that the epidemic is over people are starting to buy again," said Millie.  "Three more families moved back this week," said Micah.  "Where's Mark?" Asked Micah.  "He was gone before I got up this morning," said Millie.  "You figure he's gone out to the ranch again?" Asked Micah.  Millie nodded.  "Lucas oughta be back any day now," said Micah.  "You know where he is don't
cha?" Asked Millie.  Micah just looked at Millie, no answer.  "Where Micah?"  "If you won't tell me, at least tell Mark."  "It would mean so much to him."  "I can't Millie."  "Lucas will tell you all about it when he comes back, he'll tell the boy too."  "Well, I gotta get going on my rounds," said Micah.

The Wyoming Story
 part 1 ~ continued