The Fight At Los Alamos

by Jim Wilson

In my youth I knew a few of the men who had patrolled the brush country along the Rio Grande during Prohibition. They earned their keep during the smoke of little fights just like this one. The term “He’ll do to ride the river with” is often overused today. Those old border lawmen knew what it really meant... —Jim

Damn this National Prohibition anyway! The idea that you can suddenly pass a law and people will just immediately quit drinking booze amazes me. What it’s done is make a whole lot of otherwise lawful people into outlaws, and it’s gotten some awfully good lawmen shot to pieces, too.  

Down here along the river, we’ve had to deal with a whole bunch of pack trains out of Mexico, hauling alcohol and causing trouble. Of course, the booze is just one little part of the problem. The real problem is that groups of armed men are invading our country, cutting fences, scattering livestock, and shooting at everyone that they happen across. Captain Wright’s not a drinking man, but it’s all this other stuff that has him really upset. He just doesn’t like for anybody to shoot up the citizens and otherwise cause trouble and havoc. That’s why we ride the river.

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