Up to Me, Up to You

I went to the PHA

The place was in disarray

The Mill was forsaken

Yet little was taken

You'd almost expect

Some one back soon.

Yet it was nearly noon.

There was an awful smell

Coming from the well

Only the smell of death

Could it be?

"I'll leave that to you to check out."

I say, to 3 Gun who decided to

Accompany me.

The livestock was moved on

And the horses too.

The blacksmith shop abandoned

There was little here for me to do.

I made it to Larson's they were still holding on.

But now all their savings were gone.

I mentioned the town wanting to purchase

and transplant the trees.

They nodded eagerly with a, "Yes, please."

I took the note

of what they wrote

the expense might be.

Then I was off to the Mill

To meet a Sonja Flowers

And a Dusty.

They were staying put they had made a home

They had no intention to roam.

I thought to mention the Sheriff's request

But figured it coming from him was best.

I had seen enough

I moved on to the ranch.

A shot gun blast

Hit a branch

GET OFF MY LAND!!!

Said the man, on the porch

Making his last stand.

"You a Bellows?"

Who wants to know?

Marshal Justice.

He shot again causing a ruckus

A bunch of buzzards took to the sky

I was really beginning to dislike this guy.

"You are being evicted.

Do you understand?

This no longer is or ever was your land.

You can leave peacefully

Or I can drag you in.

The choice is yours

But if you shoot that gun again

I'll be notifying your next of kin."

He gave a sneer and then a shrug.

He sure did have an ugly mug.

Twisted with pain and greed.

He said,

"What do I care, I got all I need."

He packed up is wagon

With barrels, there number untold.

I wondered if they were filled

With the infamous tea berry gold.

He cracked his whip, and the horses

Were off like a shot.

3Gun came riding up and you could

smell the rot.

A body shaped carcass wrapped in a sheet

was drug behind his horse nice an neat.

"A wagon would be better

there is one at the smith."

"You volunteerin'?"

I could tell he wanted this over with.

"You deliver you're message.

I'll take the body back to town.

Anyone you knew?"

He shook his head no,

and wore a frown.

"I see. Guess finding the culprit

then will be up to me."

3Gun cut the body loose

and turned his horse

Setting on another course.

"The mill is the other way."

I felt compelled to say.

He gave me a glare

"You were already there?!"

"This is true,

But I left the message delivery

Up to you.

Looks like now we both have

a job to do."