They rode down a dusty trail together, Parmalee a little ahead on a large bay and Joe and Bennett just behind. Ironically, Bennett was riding the small bay that had been so friendly with Buck earlier. Joe admired the little horse as he stepped along, his arched neck bobbing. Bennett noticed the gaze. "Yeah, a real nice little pony I got here. Name's Cactus." The horse's ears pricked back at the sound of his name. "Haha, don't get too cocky there, Cactus. Can't have your head gettin' too big." He looked over at Buck. "Glad to see you're ridin' a horse that doesn't belong to the US Cavalry."
Joe bristled a little at this statement, but one look told him that the ranger didn't mean anything by it. He really wasn't too bad of a fella, this Reese Bennett. His voice would take some getting used to, though. Joe wondered if he ate glass for breakfast to get a growl like that.
The ranger was studying Joe, who decided he didn't mind. "You don't talk very much, do you?"
"I suppose I just don't got much to say."
"Worried 'bout your friend, ain't you?"
"Yeah…if you knew Chad, you'd worry about him too. Seems like that guy can find trouble easier than than flies to a cow pie."
"Sounds familiar," Parmalee called back, indicating Reese.
"Humph," Reese grunted, sending the captain a look.
Joe smirked. Yes, this tough guy just wasn't too bad. He bet that Chad would probably have a good time riling the ranger, just for kicks.
They reached the McTavish spread after about an hour. The place was built like a fortress, its buildings reminding Joe of Huntsville. He shook away the memory.
Parmalee led them directly the front of the ranch house. Joe noted that their arrival had not gone unwatched. There were shadowy figures lurking in windows and doorways, a flash of sunlight on metal showing here and there.
The heavy wooden door opened, swinging on strong hinges. A heavy man in his sixties stepped out, squinting at the harsh sunlight. "Parmalee," he barked. "What the devil brings you out here? And with an escort? You expecting trouble?"
"Should I be, McTavish?" Parmalee asked, his typical veiled expression on his face.
Joe looked around, his eyes never resting. He felt like he had a bull's-eye painted on his back. Buck pawed the ground, sensing his rider's uneasiness. Joe's gaze skittered across the big rancher and noticed the man's deep-set eyes boring into him. He continued to stare at the man on the buckskin, though he answered Parmalee's question. "I don't think so, Ed." The captain's mouth tightened, and Joe wondered if very many men got away with calling him by the nickname. "At least, I don't want any," the rancher continued. "But I can't say that for your surly-looking recruit here." He pointed at Joe.
"Don't worry about him, Mac. He'll do as I tell him."
Joe felt indignant that the captain would talk about him in such a way, but figured it best for his own purpose if he remained silent.
The rancher continued to taunt the group. "Where do you find your boys, Ed? He looks like a half-breed."
Bennett could probably hear Joe's molars grinding, what with all the worried glances the ranger was throwing his direction.
"Same place you find all of your hands, Mac. That's why I'm here. I've heard talk that you've been doing some hiring of your own."
The heavy man put his hands in his pockets. "Sure, always am. Work has to get done, you know."
Parmalee's lips quirked. "Oh, I know. These men that you've been putting on, you have them sign an account book?"
The rancher nodded, his face beginning to turn red despite his efforts to look unaffected.
"I'd like to see it. Rumor has it you've got a wanted man on your payroll. Just want to clear that up."
"This way," McTavish said through gritted teeth.
Parmalee dismounted, saying, "Mind if my men water our horses?"
McTavish smiled, but it was fake. "Go ahead."
"Keep your eyes open for Harper or any other wanted men, Reese," Parmalee murmured as the captain handed over his reins. The two older men entered the fortified structure, Parmalee towering over the stocky rancher, despite the man being a decent size.
Joe and Reese walked over toward the windmill slowly. Once again, Joe was grateful for his big hat which enabled him to somewhat hide his face while he looked around. Letting Buck stand at the tank, he walked around like he was just stretching his legs. Joe nonchalantly inspected a corral with a few horses inside was only a few steps from the windmill. He felt a bit of shock come over him as he noticed a familiar looking black gelding with a blaze and socks. Could it be? His suspicion was confirmed when the horse whickered at him and sniffed the air, as if remembering Joe.
The front door slammed, and Joe whipped around to see Parmalee exit the house. His fast stride spoke of his anger and frustration. McTavish sauntered out, looking smug and controlled. "Sure you can't stay for supper, Ed?"
Parmalee mounted, and Reese and Joe hurried to imitate. "Maybe another time, Mac. Be seeing you."
"I'm sure you will be," the rancher said gleefully, waving like a child.
"That man…," Parmalee growled, the rest of his words lost as they loped from the ranch.
A distance down the road the captain pulled his horse to a walk. "He had a ledger alright, but I doubt any of the names in there were real ones. I didn't see Harper or Cooper in there anywhere."
"He sure acted like he was hidin' something," Reese said.
"Or someone," Joe added. "I think I might have seen my friend's horse in the corral."
The captain stopped his horse entirely. He leveled a cool gaze at Joe. "What do you plan on doing about it?"
"I don't know. Find him and make him leave with me…." He thought about it a moment. "I ain't exactly sure how I'm gonna do that."
Reese spoke up. "How about joining up with the Rangers? Couldn't ask for a more noble job, no sir. Serving your country, that's what you'd be doin'."
Joe choked. Join the Rangers? Really?
Parmalee nodded, his face serious. "I actually agree with Bennett. You seem like a man in control of himself and capable to handle problems. The Rangers can always use men like you."
"Men like me? I'm afraid I don't follow you, Cap'n. I ain't done nothin' but trail after you."
"Just trust me when I say that I'm pretty good at judging good character when I see it."
Joe frowned. He had never really pictured himself as a lawman. Maybe someday, when this mess with Chad was all cleared up, he would consider it. "Thanks a lot, Cap'n, but I think I like bein' my own boss for now."
Joe could tell that both the captain and Reese, were both disappointed. "Suit yourself," Parmalee said, starting his horse again. "But don't try taking matters in your own hands. The folks on the McIntosh payroll might not take it too kindly, you pulling away one of their guns. Better just to wait for him to show is nose first."
Chad walked out of the bunkhouse, hearing voices from the yard. A clatter of hooves announced that someone was leaving the ranch, and as he came around the corner of the building, he caught just a glimpse of three horsemen riding away. Chad could barely make out that one of the horses was a buckskin, sparking a memory he had been trying to push away.
He turned around, almost running into Jess. That man moved like a panther, another thing that reminded Chad of Joe. Eye to eye, they looked at each other. The two men were so similar in coloring and build, once they had been mistaken as brothers.
"Who was that?" the younger of the two asked.
Chad shrugged, trying to look as though he didn't care.
Jess' eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed. His left eye brow had an interesting habit of pointing up on the inside whenever he was concerned. "Looked to me like lawmen."
A scrape on the path announced someone's approach. It was McTavish's right-hand man, Leon Slater. "You boys see them three leaving?"
"Yeah, what about them?" Chad asked.
Slater hooked his thumbs in his belt, rocking on his heels. "Them's Rangers."
Jess' chin went up. "So? We don't care about no Rangers."
"Well you should, Harper. They was lookin' for you."
"Me?" Jess asked calmly, though his body went rigid. "I ain't wanted for nothin'."
"That's not what Parmalee said to the boss. He came here to look through the ledgers, wondering if your name was in them. Saw the wanted poster myself."
Jess' hands were at his sides, his fingers flexing. "What's your point, Slater? Thinkin' you might like tryin' for the reward?"
Slater held up his hands. "No. As a matter of fact, I don't care a bit if you're wanted or not. Just thought I would let you know. You ought to not go into town, maybe."
Jess' head twitched to side, sizing Slater up. One could almost taste the tension in the air. "Why you tellin' me all this, Slater?" Jess asked, his voice gravely. "You like me or somethin'?"
"No, not really, but I like your skill with that." He pointed at Jess' gun. "Just try and stay low. Boss' orders."
"What's got him spooked, Slater? Parmalee sniffin' too close?"
"Naw, Parmalee's a big man, but he's more brains than gunman. He knows better than to pick a fight with McTavish. No, it was Parmalee's new man. Looked like he meant business."
Jess smirked. "Really? Who was he?"
Slater shrugged. "Never seen him before. He was mean lookin' for sure. Don't know how good he is with a gun, but he had a knife on him that didn't look like he used it for pickin' his teeth."
"Never heard of anybody like that. How 'bout you, Coop?"
"Uh, no, don't think so."
Slater turned to leave. "Just the same, we might find out sooner rather than later about him if you set a foot in Laredo, Harper. So, don't."
The two men watched Slater walk away. Harper turned around abruptly, kicking a rock angrily. "Dadgum it! I've just about had it."
Chad followed Jess as the man walked toward the corrals. "What do you mean, Jess?"
They reached the rails, and Jess hung his arms over the top. "All this hangin' around. We were hired on for protection, but what exactly are we protectin'? McTavish never goes anywhere. He's too scared."
Chad laughed lightly. "Don't let him hear you say that."
Jess gave a small half-smile. "Yeah…and that's another thing. Don't you get tired of people tellin' you what to do? I like to be my own boss."
"Well, I suppose, but sometimes it is nice not to have to worry about where your next meal will come from and all that, where you'll go next, or who'll bail you out of a jam."
"Hm, yeah, I guess."
Chad eased up next to Jess until their shoulders were almost touching. He looked hard at Jess' face, seeing what he feared was on his own: uncertainty. "You thinking on quitting the boss, Jess? Moving on?"
Jess glanced at Chad before turning his eyes westward. "I ain't put down any kind of roots in a long time, Coop. Hard for me to stay in any place for very long."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"Not sure you do, Coop. You're not like me, Coop. You like havin' a soft bed every night and friends around all the time."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothin', if you like that sort of thing…if you're that kind of person." Jess shifted his weight and unintentionally bumped Chad's shoulder. Jess quickly pulled away, as if the touch had hurt. Chad was curious at the action, but then remembered that Jess had been wounded by many. It had made him shy of extended human relationships, even to the extent of abhorrence of physical contact.
Chad and Joe's relationship hadn't been at all like that. Friendly slaps on the shoulder or a teasing poke in the ribs was an everyday occurrence, and Chad craved that confirmation of friendship. Jess was about as easy to touch as a cactus, something Chad had learned fast. Even when sleeping, Jess was as jumpy as a long-tailed cat around rocking chairs. Nightmares were a regular event for the young man. Chad couldn't even begin to imagine what brought them on, but Jess became rather dangerous if roused from one. Chad had suffered a black eye once when he had made the mistake of shaking Jess' shoulder in attempt to wake the gunfighter.
Chad's musing helped him understand what Jess had been trying to say. He couldn't trust anyone and hated to be tied down to anything or to owe anybody. It was actually driving him crazy to stay in one place with the same people, for sooner or later, favors would begin to be exchanged. This was what was driving Jess up the wall. Chad admitted to himself that Jess was beginning to be hard to be around, flying off the handle at the smallest incidents.
"Well…Jess, I won't keep you if that's what you want."
"I don't know what I want," muttered Jess, so low it was hard for Chad to hear. Chad silently agreed. So far, the life of a glorified body guard did not suit him. He was starting to feel the itch to move as well, something he did not usually experience. He decided that if Jess left, they would go together.
However, there was just something about Laredo that suited him. He liked the Spanish taste of the town as well as the perpetual summer-like climate. The cold just didn't suit him. He was a southern boy, born and bred.
His mind wandered back to ranch's visitors. He brought up the topic to Jess. "What about those lawmen, Jess? What are you going to do about that?"
"That was a while ago. Just a big misunderstanding. I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those Rangers forgot to throw that poster away, I guess."
"Why the act, then? Why didn't you tell Slater about it?"
"I reckon you haven't noticed that me and that boar haven't been gettin' along too well. Just wanted to see where he was goin' with all that palaverin'."
"I wouldn't push him if I were you, Jess. He's liable to take a shot at you sometime."
"No, he knows better. He couldn't stand a chance against me, and he knows it."
"He stands a chance against your back, Jess, and he's yellow enough to try it."
Jess leveled an unreadable look in Chad's direction. "You're actin' awful concerned about me, Coop. Didn't know you cared."
"Just don't want to have to break a sweat burying you, boy. It isn't very close to Saturday."
Jess' face showed mock horror. "Takin' a bath before Saturday? I'd hate for you to have to do that on my account. Alright, I'll keep my mouth shut…for now."
Chad shook his head. His concern was genuine. He really would hate for something bad to happen to Jess. He was the closest thing Chad had for a friend…the only one since what happened in Dodge. Chad just didn't think he could handle it if something were to happen…again.
After visiting McTavish, Parmalee decided that trying to discuss anything with two men who hated each other was futile. Time was better spent elsewhere. Therefore, the three men rode toward Laredo. Reese was anxious to get back, as was Cactus. The horse had eagerly picked up the pace slightly when his nose had been turned homeward. Reese rubbed the little horse's neck, watching Joe Riley out the corner of his eye. The young man looked tired as well yet still carried himself with balance and grace, unlike Reese, who felt down-right bow-legged and made no effort not to slouch in the saddle.
The trio halted for a brief break in the shade of a cottonwood. Riley stretched himself out, his hat over his eyes. Soon, a rider approached. Reese and Riley stayed where they were while Parmalee walked out to meet the man. Reese recognized him to be a fellow ranger. He wondered what Miller was doing all the way out here. He glanced over at Riley, who appeared to be listening to the men's conversation. "His ears must be better'n mine," Reese thought.
Parmalee rejoined the two, looking angry. Reese winced; he hated that face. It usually meant more work for him. "Sheppard is planning on making the first move. He's gathering his cattle and is driving them to the river."
"McTavish won't stand for that, Cap'n," Reese commented.
"I know. That's why I'm getting together every available ranger to head out there and see if we can keep this from getting bloody."
"You comin' along Riley?" Reese asked, turning toward the young man—or more accurately, where the young man had been lying only moments before. "Hey, where'd he go?" His buckskin was gone as well. The remaining men looked around, but there was no sign. He must have slipped away into the hills during the captain's conversation with Miller.
"The fool must've went out on his own!" The captain looked angry, though Reese couldn't understand why.
"Well, Cap'n, he's free to go where he chooses, ain't he?"
"He'll get himself killed! Or start the fighting before we can get there!" Parmalee punched the palm of his hand with his fist temperamentally.
Reese hoped that didn't happen. He liked the young man; he would hate for anything bad to befall him. He also didn't want to miss out on a good fight either. "What can we do, Cap'n?"
"Nothing for him. He's made his own bed, he can sleep in it. Get mounted! We've got to hurry!"