The Rifleman

Lucas and Mark McCain rode into Northfork on a brisk autumn morning. They hadn't been in town to get supplies for a couple of weeks. The ranch was self-sufficient but they still needed to get the things that they could not grow or construct out of wood and sod. Jeans. Work shirts. Ten penny nails. Cartridges to shoot stray Mexicans, Indians or former child actors who would try to sneak onto their property.

Mark loved to come to town. He could meet up with his buddies and they could wander around town to see the sights. Not that there were many sights. Other than Miz Millie’s teats. Of course they would be hard to see since Lucas would be squeezing and caressing them when he went into the Mercantile.

Lucas swung the buckboard down the street. They normally parked in front of the Mercantile but there seemed to be a big crowd milling around the store. Most likely Miz Millie had popped one of her stays again. That always drew a crowd.

Lucas stopped in front of the jail and jumped down to the street.  Sheriff Micah came out of the jail. He was all rumpled and tousled like he just got out of bed. He must be back on the drink. The only reason he could stay on as Sheriff is because everyone knew that the Rifleman would back his play.

“Seem like there is a big commotion Lucas boy.” “Did you go take a look see Micah?” “No I have been poorly. Thought I would wait for you.” “Well let’s just go and see.”

They strode down the street and Lucas shouldered his way through the crowd with the Sheriff and Mark in his wake. When he got to edge of the boardwalk he saw a scruffy no-account named Ned with a knife in his hand.

“What’s going on here” Sheriff Micah said. “Put down that knife Ned before you hurt someone.”

“He already hurt someone Micah” shouted one of the onlookers. “He has been trying to break into some of the saddlebags of the horses on the street. He even slashed some of them. Say’s he don’t care and won’t listen.”

Sheriff Micah was non-plussed. That is confused. He turned to Lucas Mc Cain. “What should we do Lucas?” “I know just what we need to do” Lucas replied as he turned to the thief “Put down the knife now son. I am telling once.”

Ned refused and waved the knife around.

Lucas shot him seventeen times. His rifle really worked fast with the special double action adjustment.

“Well that’s that. Some of you boys scrape him off the sidewalk and take him to the undertaker.”

Lucas turned to his son and he could see he was troubled. “Did you have to shoot him Pa?” Mark asked plaintively. He was a delicate sort. Took after his Mama. “Couldn't you talk to him some more. Or shoot him in the arm or something.” “Son sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Someday they might forget that you have to stop thieves in their tracks. They will leave citizens to the mercy of the criminals. The way they did in Virginy City until the Vigilance committee got started. They might even try to take our guns away and leave us to the mercy of thieving scum like Ned. Or marauding Injun’s or those dirty Mexicans who want to take this country back. Hell they might even give women the right to vote. That’s what all the fancy people back east want to do. But not yet for a while. Now you run along. I have to go squeeze Miz Millie’s teats.”

(Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode when Lucas guns down fifty Mexicans who try to sneak on his ranch to steal stuff)