Chapter 2

The gentle click clack of the train as it rolled down the track lulled Maura into a sense of safety. She knew that she was far from home and anyone she knew. She looked out the window, watching the country side go by. The rocking of train car reminded her of the carriages she used to ride in while in Boston. She knew that she was ready for this experience. She knew that it was going to be different, but she didn't realize how vastly different it really was going to be until the train from Boston made its way South. She was glad that she had an armed escort, but she wasn't sure that he was happy to be by her side for the entire trip.

"Excuse me, Lieutenant Grant, when will be arriving in Pecos?" she asked as she looked over at the Army officer.

She couldn't help but admire his pristine uniform. The dark blue of his dress frock was offset by the paler blue pants. The gold buttons and stripe on his pants made him stand out. She smiled at him, hoping that he didn't think her too odd. She glanced at his shoulder boards. The bars sewn there in the yellow should tell her something, but she wasn't sure. She knew he was a lieutenant, but she didn't know what it all meant. She just knew that he was in the cavalry and taking her to Texas, but there was something else about him that she just couldn't place.

"I am taking you as far as Fort Lancaster. That is my new post. My orders were to take you that far. I am sure that the governor has sent appropriate accommodations for you. I know that the Governor Martin sent a telegraph to Governor Doyle. They are the ones that are arranging everything for you. To be honest, I am surprised that Governor Doyle agreed to such an adventure for a lady of your stature in the first place," Lt. Grant stated as he straightened himself up in his seat.

Maura looked at him with surprise. She knew that her choice of being a teacher hadn't set well with her parents, but they never spoke out against it. When she told them that she wanted to go to the frontier to be a teacher, however, her mother flat out refused her. She tried to get her married to another Boston socialite, but when that didn't work out because he was arrested, her mother went to her father, Andrew for help. Andrew knew that his daughter had a strong will and a smart mind. She wasn't doing well in Boston anymore and was the talk of the town because of the "failed" marriage. He did what he could through political channels and found out that the Army was looking for teachers in their outposts.

The school in Pecos had just opened in Texas and looked like it would be a good fit for Maura. It was near enough four forts and it wasn't completely on the frontier. She could have her adventure and not be totally away from civilization. The added bonus was that he could go visit and go for hunts without Constance, her mother, worrying too much about either of them. But, Andrew wasn't a fool. He knew that the trip would be hard and strenuous for her, so again with his political pull as a Senator, he got her an armed Army escort to the closet fort. It turned out that her escort was being reassigned to the fort, so it wasn't really out of the realm of his duties to escort her there. Then, he got the governor of Massachusetts to speak with the newly elected governor of Texas. It is amazing what someone could do with money and some political standing. The hardest thing that Andrew had done was secure her lodging. He had a friend now with the governor and he had arranged for some house or cottage to be built for Maura in Pecos. What he didn't know was that Pecos was outside of Fort Stockton and not Fort McKavett as previously thought. And, the Army was building her a small two cabin of sorts just outside of town. It was near one of the Rangers' outposts, so they figured that she'd be safe there. Andrew had been assured that his baby girl, his only child, would be cared for, protected and well looked after. It was enough to appease him, so that was enough for her mother in the end.

Maura knew that part of the reason that her mother finally acquiesced to her going to Texas wasn't just her father's assurances and political connections. No, it was because she was afraid that her daughter would just go on her own and they would never hear from her again. To be honest, Maura had thought about getting train fare from her bank accounts and just leaving, but she didn't. She was too dutiful to her parents to do that. When the scandal about her marriage arrived, she saw it as a political advantage to encourage her father to help her in her quest. Getting their names out of the papers and everyone's mouth was a good idea. Plus, her going to the frontier to be a teacher made her father look good in the community service department with the constituents of Massachusetts. It also made him look like he was big on education which was becoming a big political agenda for politicians. She didn't care that he was using her to help his career because she was getting what she wanted, a fresh start on the frontier, away from Boston, and in education. It was a win-win for her. If she happened to find a good Army officer to marry while she was out there, then more power to her, according to her father. Her mother only hoped that he came from a well backed family from back East. She wasn't sure that she could handle it if Maura married some rich Southern Gentlemen.

The "great" Civil War was over, but for so many it wasn't. It had been ten years, but it was still fresh in the minds of those in the South. Maura knew this by the stares she'd been receiving from others on the trains, and especially when she was in the company of the Lieutenant. Congress had dealt all the Southern states a hard blow with their Reconstruction Acts and Texas was the last Southern Seceded state to rejoin the Union. Maura knew that this could be a point of contention with the town's folk of Pecos, but she was determined to make a go of it. The Army was happy to have such a highly educated and Northern "civilized" woman coming to their aid. She knew that she would have to be politically minded and savvy to maintain the status quo and keep her job.

"Did you study at West Point, Lieutenant?"

"I did, Miss Isles," he replied.

"Is there a Mrs. Grant somewhere?" she asked.

"Not at the moment, there isn't. I am hoping that I'll find her out here in Texas. But, I'll admit that I am more Army-minded at the moment. I was just promoted and depending on how things go for me here in Texas, I am hoping to be promoted again soon. If I find a wife, then all will be well."

"Are you happy to be in the West, Lieutenant?" Maura questioned.

"Yes, I am. I see it as a perfect placement for advance. Our country is expanded westward, so of course officers with experience on the western fronts will be more highly sought after for appointments and for promotions. The natives are very restless and very ruthless with our expansion. I haven't seen much combat as I was just out of West Point when the war ended. But, I hope that I will be able to make my mark and help our country as it grows."

"That sounds like a remarkable and very rewarding."

"I think that it shall be, yes," he replied.

"Do you think that we will be at Fort Lancaster today?"

"If the train maps were correct, it is a good possibility. I know that we have to go through some hills and into a valley. There we will come into the valley. The outpost for Fort Lancaster will be there. It is a few miles to the Fort, but there is a small outpost for fort there. I am assured that it just a small outpost. There is a hotel for overnight stays, but it is very small, just a few rooms and some travelling merchants ponder their wares there. But, the Ranger will be meeting us there so you have nothing to fear. I am sure that the Rangers already have your route planned and will be ready to leave as soon as you arrive," the lieutenant told her.

"I am not afraid of what it is to come, Lieutenant. In fact, I welcome it. I need this change and I want to help as well with the forward movements of our great nation. Do you know what troop you will be with at Fort Lancaster?" Maura asked him.

"I'm resupplying at Fort Lancaster. I'll be heading to Fort Concho to meet up with the rest of the Tenth Cavalry Regiment that is stationed there. I believe that I will be assigned to K Troop of the Fourth Squadron. Do you know anyone in the Tenth?"

"No, I don't. But, I wish you the best and for a safe campaign. I know that it will rough for you in the Texas heat."

"It will, ma'am, but we will be well prepared and supplied. There is nothing for me to worry about. Besides, I won't be that far from you while we are campaigning in the area. If we are near Pecos, I'll bring the troops in for your own personal review. I wouldn't want the world of Miss Maura Isles getting back to Boston and Washington that we aren't taking care of men here," he stated with a little bit of sarcasm.

"I am sure that you wouldn't."

She let the conversation drop there. She turned back to look out the window. It was already warm. She was rethinking wearing such a thick dress, but it was one of her better dresses and she didn't want to look bad when they arrived at the train depot today.

She sighed. The closer the train got to its destination the more she realized that she might have not been as prepared as she thought. But, this was what she wanted. She would bring her own unique flare to the West. She would teach them all. She didn't care who came to her school, black, white, or native. They would all be able to learn in her school house.

Suddenly the train car lurched forward and came to a stop. She looked out the window and saw a dark, curly haired, wild woman all dressed in dark leather and white linen. Maura cocked her eyebrow at the woman's dress and turned to face the Lieutenant. He offered her a hand and they disembarked together.

"Wait here and I'll see to the horses," he told her.

She knew that the Army had supplied her with a horse and mule for her journey, but she didn't realize at the time that they were meant for the completion of her journey. She just thought of them as supplies that she would need in Texas. So, she waited on the boardwalk, just off the train, as the Lieutenant gathered their ubelongings. She hoped that the Ranger would be along shortly. It was getting on in the afternoon and she hoped that they might rest today and begin in the morning. It wasn't that she wasn't ready to ride. She was just tired from her journey and didn't know how long the Ranger would make her press on before exhaustion took over.

When she saw that the Lieutenant was talking with the outpost's officer, she waited. When she saw the Lieutenant walk off with a strange smile, her heart began to drop. Surely he wouldn't leave her there. Not one for waiting, she walked up to the train depot's Army officer.

"Excuse me, officer...I'm looking for the Texas Ranger that is here to take me to Pecos. My name is Maura Isles. If you could just direct me, I'll be on my way," the woman stated as she extended her hand in greeting.

"I'm Texas Ranger Jane Rizzoli. I'm the one takin' ya. Uh...Let me check your supplies and then we'll be going. You might want to change, though," Jane told as she shook her hand and then left her on the boardwalk with Hank.

"My, she is direct."

"You don't know the half of it, Ms. Isles. She's one the best Rangers that Texas has. No criminal wants to oppose her. But's she right about changing. You don't want to be riding in that," Hank said.

"Well, I don't have anything else but dresses to wear," Maura replied a little more than just dejected by the day's turn of events.

She turned to watch the dark haired, wild woman, who just happened to be her escorting Ranger, as she came upon the livestock cars. Lieutenant Grant exited with three horses and a mule. She walked up to him with a swagger to rival most men.

"Hey, Ranger. Those two are yours. I'll get all the supplies over to the depot for you. Doubt you're gonna head out today anyway," he told her as he pointed out the mule and the horse that had been sent with Maura. It was Maura's first time seeing the animals.

"Why's that?" Jane asked.

"You should see what she's brought with her."

"I'll go through it and post the rest," Jane told him.

"Post won't be in until tomorrow!" the train depot officer called out her from the end of the boardwalk.

"Then, will leave in the morning. Thanks for the heads up. I'll take them now," she told him as she reached for their leads. "Ding Back East woman, don't know how to survive out here on the prairie. Well, that's all about to change."

Maura watched almost horrified as the woman tied the two animals up the hitching post next to another horse. Then, she watched as the wild woman stalked, there was no other world for it, across the boardwalk back to her. She knew then that she was in over her head. She had no where to run. She had no friends. She had no real amount of money. And, she honestly had no where to go but to Pecos.

"Now, don't be scared of me, Miss. I ain't gonna hurt you, but you can't ride in that ding dress. Come on and let's find you something a tad more...comfortable," Jane told her hold out her hand again. When Maura didn't immediately take it, she spoke up again. "Well come on with you. We don't have all day. We've got to get you ready to ship out of here in the morning with the cock crow. It's gonna get mighty hot and might quick. So the fast we can move in the morning, the faster I can git you to Pecos. Capisce?"

Maura regarded the woman for a moment. When Jane put her hands on her hips, pushing her jacket back, Maura finally saw the Rangers badge. She looked up into the wild, dark eyes of the woman. She nodded and then answered Jane in perfect Italian.

"Si, capisco."