can round up some help, ma’ am. Duncan is in real trouble, may be already dead. I remember him talking about a few men who work on his ranch who know the badlands across into Mexico near Adobes. He said they know that part of the country like the back of their hand and told stories about the people who hid out there.”
“Haven’t men already gone after Duncan?”
The ranger shook his head. “Everyone from the captain of the rangers to the army has orders that no one is to cross over, but Duncan got left behind when we made the raid, and I’m afraid if we don’t go get him he might not be able to make it back alive. I figured I could come here to get a guide. Or, if none is able to ride, I’ ll try to go in alone. Not knowing where anything is, it won’t be easy, but I’m going down there after my friend, orders or no orders. I’ll bring him back, dead or alive, but I’ll bring him back.”
Em motioned for them to follow her to the kitchen.
Lewt noticed Sumner standing in the doorway listening to every word the strange rider had said. He nodded for Sumner to follow, and the old man did.
Lewt made coffee while Em brought out bread and cheese for Wyatt. “Now slow down, Ranger, and tell us everything.”
Wyatt ate a few bites, then forced himself to slow as he began to talk and eat at the same time.
Lewt would have been surprised if the man had had any food in days.
The ranger told them all that had happened. The raid led by Captain McNelly and all that had happened the first night. Wyatt said he talked to Duncan the next morning before the cattle were released and every man was fighting to get in the saddle before he was caught in the stampede. He explained that when they reached the Texas side of the river, Duncan wasn’t with them, but his horse remained tied at the bank on the other side. Wyatt told how he swam the river and untied the horse. He tried to get someone to go back with him to look but everyone had orders not to cross.
He downed half a cup of hot coffee before adding, “I waited a day, hoping to see some sign of Duncan. If I’d seen him crawling toward the water I would have gone after him no matter how many guards had been placed to shoot any man stepping foot in Mexico.”
Wyatt took another drink. “The next night I was still waiting. I got lucky and saw a gambler crossing far down the river from where we’d run the cattle over. He wasn’t too interested in talking to me, but I got him to tell me what he knew. He said he heard there was a wounded ranger being held at a way station of a ranch that sold supplies, guns, and whiskey to whoever needed them. He wasn’t sure, but he thought the place was called Three Forks. He claimed the old woman who owns it bragged that she planned to auction the Texas Ranger off like he was a prize pig. Said there were so many outlaws who hated rangers, the bidding could go pretty high and the show it would make would be good for business.”
Sumner shook his head. “If that was two days ago, he’s already dead.”
Wyatt nodded at the old man in respect. “Maybe, maybe not. The gambler said the old lady was patching him up. She seemed to think a standing ranger might go for more than a wounded, near-dead one. The gambler laughed and told me the old woman was good, she’d draw it out as long as she could.”
“Did the gambler see Duncan?” Lewt asked.
Wyatt shook his head. “No, but he did mention that several around the poker game that night laughed about how they’d like to kill a Texas Ranger real slow.”
Lewt paced the kitchen. “You believe this gambler?” he asked.
Wyatt gave him an odd look. “Much as I believe any gambler. By the way, what are you doing here? This is the last place I would have expected to find the likes of you.”
“You know each other?” Em asked.
Wyatt nodded. “Duncan always has been one to have all level of friends. I didn’t think he sent them home to visit, though.”
Lewt stared at him for a moment. Right now it didn’t matter much if the ranger gave him