The RIfleman

Lucas McCain and son Mark rode into Northfolk right around noon. They had some chores to do and wanted to get them done so the could have time to get a nice dinner at the hotel and get home some time before dark. It was no fun cooking everyday for a widower and his son so they always looked forward to a steak and all the fixings when they went into town.

The got to the middle of town and got off their horses in front of the Sheriffs office. Micah Torrance can out of the doorway of his office. Micah was a grizzled old man who had been there and back. Looked like a lariat that had torn in two but had been mended. He had his limp and his scattergun as always.

"Hey Lucas boy. Hey Mark. You boys in town for dinner."
"Yes Micah but first we have to see Miz Hattie about some supplies. I need to pick up some bacon and flour and a little molasses. Oh yeah and a box of shells because I used up most of the ones I had when I killed five people in the last episode."

Suddenly there was a shout and a commotion down at the other end of street.

"What's going on Micah?"
"I don't know Lucas. Lets go down and take a look see."
"Mark you hang back. I don't want you to be to close to the action in case it turns ugly. Oh look it's Lonesome Larry. It has to be ugly."

When they got to end of the street they saw Lonesome Larry holding Paulie the sign painter face down in the horse through. Larry was not well liked in North Fork. You see he had moved there from Indiana when he married the spinster Miss Annie and moved into her farm. Nobody could believe she would get married. You see she drank. A passel full. And she was a mean drunk. She once went after Ed the Butcher when he got her order wrong and tried to cut off his man parts. She didn't seem too partial to man parts. We all wonder how Larry got past that. Most folks thought they reckoned that they were small and dainty. His man parts that is.

"That's enough Larry. Let him up."
"You stay out of this. You can't tell me what to do."
"I can Larry" replied Micah as he swung his scattergun over. "I'm telling to let him before he drowns."
"Damn it all to hell. He owes me money Micah. And I want it back. He is selling his signs and living high off the hog and he owes me money."

Paulie the sign painter slumped down on the floor. He was a large man. As big as a barrel. He was full bald and wore worn overalls and was a strange man. He never could talk to a lady and he was very friendly with some of the actors who passed through town. People called him a berdache which was a Sioux term that Mark didn't understand.

"You ok Paul" asked Lucas McCain." "Been better Lucas." "How much you owe him," "Thirty five cents." "What" exclaimed Micah "You try to kill a man for thirty five cents. Here. Here's your money. Now go back to that crazy old crone you married before I have to throw you in Jail."

Lucas lifted Paul up and dusted him off. Which was a chore because he weighed about 400 pounds.
"You  go on about your business and don't worry about that weasel. Being married to that woman is punishment enough for about thirty lifetimes."

Late at dinner Mark had a question.

"Pa why was Mr. House so mean to Paulie?
"Cause he  is different son. Some people talk a good game but they are all about money. And when someone is different they will try to take advantage of them and think no one will stop them. Paul is  a good man. But Mark there is just one thing and it is very important."
"What that's Pa?"
"Don't ever let him buy you candy and take you behind the barn. Ok."
"Thanks Pa. Let's have apple pie for dessert."
"Sure son. That will be great."