Chapter Three: Hays
The train rattle on for another three hours, Paco sat his legs stretched out, hat pulled low-down, but still aware of those around him. The Conductor wandered through helping passengers where necessary and making sure the coffee pot was kept full. "Should be in Hays in about ten minutes, Ranger Avila."
"Thanks," Paco rose and stretched his legs, he smiled as the kids who'd gravitated to him copied him.
"Can we see your horse, Mister Avila?" A lot of the kids wanted to see Grandee.
"Sure you can," Paco crouched down, "as soon as the train stops I'll unload him. How many of you know Marshal Dillon?" A few nodded and one said he lived in Dodge, Paco smiled. "He rides a buckskin, doesn't he?" The boy nodded. "My horse is a buckskin, when we get off you'll see him. Now you better go sit down until the train stops," the kids went back to their parents full of excitement, the parents reassured the kids that they would let them see the horse. The train pulled in to Hays just before twelve noon, Paco stood on the observation platform waiting for the train to stop once it stopped he descended to the platform, he waited for the kids after all he'd promised them. "Everybody ready," the kids jumped up and down, he led them to the boxcars and unloaded Grandee.
"Golly, he's big."
"Marshal Dillon's the only one I know with a horse that big," the boy from Dodge said.
"Come on, Johnny, the train will be leaving soon," Johnny's mother called.
"Ma'am, I'd be obliged if you didn't tell Matteo that I am coming, I want it to be a surprise."
"Of course," the woman shooed Johnny back onboard. The parents of the other kids thanked him, he mounted touched his hat and rode down the street, until he came to the sheriff's office, Paco dismounted he tethered Grandee and entered the office.
"You want something, Mex?" The Deputy asked sneering at him.
"The Sheriff I don't favour talking to polecats," The Deputy lunged at him, Paco stepped aside, ducked and sent an uppercut into the Deputy's chin knocking him out. The Sheriff came through the door leading out to the back. "Sheriff, I'm Paco Avila, Texas Ranger and I don't appreciate bad manners, tolerate it from men old enough to be my father not from the likes of your Deputy."
"I have warned him before about his attitude to fellow lawmen. Only man I know to put him on the floor like that is Matt Dillon. What can I do for you?"
"I have a paper to deliver to Matt Dillon..." Both men sensed rather than knew that the man coming through the door wasn't peaceable, both span round and fired, the man looked surprised his gun dropping to the floor. The Deputy stirred back to life.
"Drop the gun, Mex!"
"Am I going to have to put you down again?" Paco asked.
"Bill, leave it and get that trash littering my floor out of here. Ranger, you need any help?"
"Just directions to Dodge City."
"Here, take this map. Just head south you'll get there in three to four days."
"Thanks," Paco left the office with the sheriff, he mounted Grandee, he rode south. He rode until nightfall and made camp in a grove of trees.