Now Playing: Dangerous Calling
Episode Twelve concluded with:
Amanda’s doubts eased.
“I’m not sure where the church is located…”
“That’s why he sent me.”
Amanda gave a joyful laugh. “Well then, let’s get going! But first, could you
wait for just a few minutes? I want to freshen up a bit!”
“Sure.”
She hastily closed the door and didn’t see the malevolent smile that spread
across Fargo’s face.
Episode Thirteen
***
Frank Dunning tried to focus on the
rifle he was working on. He had lost almost an entire day’s work attending to
Amanda Olson. He glanced through the front window of his gun shop at the hotel
across the street. Miss Olson must be getting very anxious about her fiancé,
maybe he should check in on her…
Dunning sighed and shook his head,
dismissing his own thoughts. Miss Olson was deeply in love with Reverend Jim
Goodman. No doubt, they would be married soon. He needed to keep his school boy
infatuation with the lady in check.
The mayor once again wrestled with
his doubts about Goodman. Where was the man?
Dunning remembered the encounter that morning between himself, Amanda
and Fargo. Fargo had been the one saying that Reverend Goodman had left town,
but he had seemed totally confused while he was saying it. Out loud, Dunning
muttered, “He sure grabbed onto my notion that it must have been an emergency.”
Boisterous sounds came from the
street. Saturday night in Antioch: lots of activity at the saloons. Maybe he
should give up on work and lose himself in a card game.
The gunsmith put the rifle and his
tools away. As he began to take off his work apron, he glanced through the
front window and saw Amada Olson leaving the hotel with Fargo. From what he
could see, the woman looked happy. He didn’t get to look very long. Both she
and Fargo were walking fast.
Reverend Goodman must be back in
Antioch. But why would he send Fargo to get his fiancée, especially on a
Saturday night when the street was filled with revelers?
“None of my business,” Dunning
whispered to himself as he put the apron away.
But all of the odd events that
surrounded Reverend Jim Goodman assaulted the gunsmith’s mind as he put on his
grey coat. This time he spoke to himself in a normal voice. “Won’t hurt to look
into it.”
He paused for a moment and then
strapped on the six gun he hadn’t carried since the doc amputated his left leg.
Some folks might think he looked funny with a gun tied down to his one leg.
“Let ‘em laugh!” Frank almost shouted as he put on his hat and left the shop.
***
Amanda Olson felt increasingly
uneasy as she and Fargo stepped off the end of the boardwalk and continued
their journey. “Is the church very far?” She hoped her voice didn’t reveal her nervousness.
“Not too far,” Fargo answered. “I
suggested we use horses, but no, he wouldn’t listen to me.”
That reply impressed Amanda as being
a bit odd. But she didn’t have time to give it much thought. Two shots sounded
behind her.
The woman’s shoulders hunched
upwards as she gasped and turned around. “What happened?!”
Fargo laughed in a mocking manner
and let out a few curses. He then shook his head, “Look lady, this here is the
West. Jaspers get drunk on Saturday night and fire off their guns!”
“Yes, of course, I apologize for
acting the way I did.”
As they continued to walk along the
increasingly rough path, Amanda tried to be charitable in her thoughts toward
Fargo. The man was a recent convert. He couldn’t be expected to immediately
turn from his old ways. She needed to demonstrate patience and kindness.
A flicker of yellow could be seen in
the distance. Amanda walked faster as she realized that they were approaching
the church. She spoke out loud, primarily to herself, “I wonder what kind of
surprise is waiting for me.”
“You’re gonna find out real soon.”
Fargo’s voice was firm, almost business-like. He had killed several men.
Tonight, for the first time, he would kill a woman.
Monday: Episode Fourteen of Dangerous
Calling
