Death Stalks the Rangers Read online

  "Oh, hush. It's no bother at all. I'm glad to have company. We don't get many visitors way out here. My name's Martha."

  "Yes, ma'am, I mean Martha," Levi grinned.

  "Well, don't just sit on those saddles. Let's get your horses settled," Ezekiel ordered.

  "All right."

  Sean and Levi dismounted. The elderly rancher led them into his bright, airy stable.

  "Put your horses in those first three stalls," he said. "I'll toss some hay and grain to 'em while you unsaddle and rub 'em down, only I'll let you water 'em. Trough's outside the back door and buckets are stacked at the end of the aisle. Once you're finished with the horses you can clean up there. I'll see you back at the house."

  Sean and Levi led their mounts into the indicated stalls. Sean noticed that Ezekiel studied Thad Dutton's horse closely when they walked by.

  He's seen Toby before, Sean thought.

  The sweat-streaked and dust-caked horses were thoroughly rubbed down.

  "Another licorice? You just had three," Sean laughed, when Ghost lifted his nose from his ration of oats to nuzzle his rider's hip pocket. "All right, but this is the last one today."

  He dug a candy from his pocket and slipped it to the gelding.

  "Now you finish your dinner," Sean ordered, with a fond slap to Ghost's shoulder.

  Levi had finished caring for Monte.

  "You about done there, Sean?" he asked.

  "I'm set. Let's wash up," Sean replied.

  They headed for the trough back of the barn, where Martha had set out a bar of yellow soap, two washcloths, and towels. They stripped to their waists, ducking their heads in the cool, refreshing water. Both men scrubbed themselves thoroughly and then toweled off. They shrugged back into their shirts, retied their bandannas around their necks, and jammed their Stetsons back on their heads.

  "Let's go eat," Sean said.

  "I was beginnin' to think you were gonna starve me to death," Levi retorted.

  They headed for the house, climbed the porch stairs, and knocked on the door.

  "C'mon in," Ezekiel called.

  They stepped into a spotlessly clean kitchen. Lace curtains hung at the window, and a checked cloth covered the table, which was laden with platters heaped full of ham, eggs, and biscuits. There were thick slices of cheese and bread, freshly churned butter, crocks of molasses, and a pot of coffee.

  "Sit down boys, and make yourselves at home," Martha invited.

  Sean and Levi hung their hats from pegs near the door and took seats at the table.

  "We always take a moment to give thanks to the Lord," Ezekiel said. When he bowed his head the others followed suit.

  "Dear Lord, we thank Thee for Thy bounty, and for the food of which we are about to partake. We ask Thee to bless this table, and the men who have come to visit us today. Amen."

  "Amen."

  "You boys are guests. Please, take what you wish first," Martha requested.

  "Sure thing," Levi answered. He and Sean dug into the platters of food, piling their plates high with the piping hot meal. As badly as Sean wanted to question the rancher and his wife about Thad Dutton, he realized it would be impolite to press the issue during dinner. His questions could wait until the meal was finished.

  When they had just about eaten their fill, Martha brought a buttermilk pie from the pie safe.

  "You'll surely want some dessert, won't you?" she asked.

  "I reckon I could squeeze in a bit more before I bust," Sean grinned.

  "Same here," Levi added.

  "Good." Martha cut two huge slabs of the pie and placed them in front of the Rangers.

  Once he had finished his pie, Sean pushed back from the table.

  "Martha, that was the best meal I've had since leavin' Austin," he declared.

  "You sure you wouldn't want another slice of pie?" she asked.

  "I'd explode if I ate another bite," Sean laughed. "I'll just have another cup of coffee."

  "Of course."

  Martha refilled all their cups. Ezekiel dug his pipe from his pocket and filled it.

  "You can smoke if you want," he told the Rangers.

  "Thanks," Levi responded. He took his sack of tobacco and the cigarette papers from his vest pocket to roll a quirly.

  Ezekiel lit his pipe and took several puffs. He eyed his guests closely and then requested, "You mind if I ask you something?"

  "You've got the right," Sean replied, "Long as your question ain't too personal."

  "Fair enough. What brings you two by here? This is a pretty out of the way spot. You two ain't on the run from the law by any chance?"

  "Ezekiel! What kind of question is that?" Martha scolded. "It's plain these men aren't outlaws."

  "It's all right," Sean assured her. "I was about to explain who we are and what brought us here, since you may be able to help us. We're Texas Rangers, and we're looking for a man who might've come by here."

  "Rangers? I might've guessed," Ezekiel said.

  "We are," Sean confirmed. "We've been trailin' a man who came this way."

  "You mean the man riding that chestnut horse you've got with you?"

  "Not exactly. Did his rider stop here?"

  "Yes," Martha answered. "He was a very polite young man. He told me his name was Thaddeus… Dutton, I believe."

  "That would be correct," Sean told her. "However, we're searching for another man, one who might also have stopped by at about the same time, or shortly after."

  "There was one other man," Ezekiel said. "A Mexican fella who said he was tryin' to catch up to his friend. Asked if he'd been by and described Dutton. We told him he had been, of course. No reason not to, was there?"

  "Mexican?" Sean echoed.

  "Well, not exactly Mexican. He spoke American plain as you and me, except he was of Mexican blood, sure as we're sittin' at this table. He stopped a few hours after Dutton. Watered his horse, but said he couldn't stay to supper, because he was in a hurry to meet up with his friend."

  "That's right, so I gave him a sandwich to take with him," Martha added.

  "He's gotta be the man we're after," Levi exclaimed.

  "So it seems," Sean agreed. "Martha, Ezekiel, did that Mexican-lookin' hombre happen to give you his name?"

  "No."

  "Can you describe him?"

  "Sure," Ezekiel said. "He was a young fella, early twenties at the most, probably younger. He was of average height, kind of wiry, with a beard framin' his jaw, and his hair was close-cropped. Black."

  "He was a handsome man," Martha added. "He had very dark eyes, but they weren't shifty at all and he would look you straight in the eye. Why are you looking for him?"

  "Because we're pretty certain he murdered Thad Dutton, who was also a Ranger. His horse brought Thad's body back to our post two days ago and the man had been shot. We followed his horse's tracks to where it happened. Another set of hoof prints came to the spot and then turned back. We followed those prints and they led us here. It appears your visitor trailed Thad, killed him, and then returned this way."

  "He shot that nice young man?" Martha exclaimed, horrified, as tears welled in her eyes.

  "It appears so, ma'am," Sean softly replied. "So if you and Ezekiel will tell us everything you can about him, it'd sure help."

  "Dunno how much more we can give you," Ezekiel said. "He was ridin' a big bay gelding. No markings on that horse."

  "He wasn't dressed like a Mexican either," Martha added. "He wore the usual cowboy duds, a dark red shirt, jeans, tan hat, and a black leather vest."

  "How about his belt?" Sean asked.

  "Nothing out of the ordinary, just a plain brown belt."

  "His gun belt wasn't fancy either," Ezekiel stated. "Plain dark brown leather, like all of his gear, only it was well-kept and serviceable. No silver trimmin' or anything like that."

  "Wait, there is one thing. He had a fancy feathered band on his hat," Martha recalled. "Perhaps that will help."

  "It surely might," Sean answered.
"One more thing, did either of you happen to notice Thad's belt?"

  "No," Ezekiel answered. "Why?"

  "Thad wore a real fancy belt. It was hand-tooled brown leather, with a big silver buckle. There was a Texas Ranger badge engraved on that buckle and his initials on the keepers."

  "He wasn't wearing a belt like that," Martha said.

  "You're certain?"

  "Absolutely."

  "I'm positive he wasn't wearing a belt like that, Ranger," Ezekiel confirmed. "Elaborate rig like that'd be hard to miss."

  "I reckon you're right," Sean conceded. "It's just that Thad rarely took his belt off. It's unusual he wasn't wearin' it."

  "I can't believe he's dead and that man who claimed to be his friend shot him," Martha said, her voice still shaky. "They both seemed like fine boys."

  "Thad certainly was, I can vouch for that," Levi answered. "Far as the Mexican, mebbe he didn't kill Thad, except it sure looks like it."

  "Martha, Ezekiel, thank you for the meal, and the information. You've both been a great help. We've got to be on our way," Sean said. "Levi."

  "Yep."

  They rose from their chairs.

  "If you boys will wait a few minutes I'll wrap some food for you to take along," Martha said.

  "It'll take us a little while to ready our horses," Levi grinned.

  "Then I'll have it ready in a jiffy," Martha promised.

  "I'll give you a hand with your mounts," Ezekiel offered.

  It only took a few moments for the Rangers to saddle their horses. When they led them from the stable, Martha was already waiting in the yard, a large wrapped packet in her hands.

  "There's ham, some hard-boiled eggs, and bread in there, along with some green beans you can cook," she told them. "I slipped in some carrots for your horses."

  "Good thing we're not staying here. We'd be too fat to climb into the saddle before long," Sean chuckled.

  "He's right, and my pardner's horse is spoiled enough. Last thing he needs is Sean givin' him carrots," Levi laughed. "We're sure grateful for the grub."

  "As well as your hospitality," Sean added.

  "It was nothing, we enjoyed your company," Martha replied.

  "You boys be sure'n stop by whenever you ride this way," Ezekiel ordered.

  "We'll do that," Sean replied and then added, "Muchas gracias for your assistance."

  "Sure hope you find whoever killed your Ranger friend," Ezekiel answered.

  "Your information might help us do just that."

  "You boys be careful," Martha said. "Good luck. I'll pray for you."

  "We appreciate that," Sean responded. "Adios."

  "Vaya con Dios."

  Once again Sean and Levi resumed their northward trek. They had only traveled for little over an hour when the tracks they'd been following met a well used trail. The hoof prints disappeared into all the others dug into the dusty road.

  Sean rode Ghost back and forth for a quarter mile in each direction, struggling in vain to pick out the prints they'd been following. He finally gave up in frustration.

  "There's no way to tell which way this hombre headed, Levi," he muttered.

  "So what do we do now? We're not givin' up, are we?" Levi questioned.

  "Heck no, we ain't givin' up," Sean snapped.

  "Then what's our next move?"

  "Only one thing we can try. We know Thad was in San Antonio," Sean explained. "We'll head there and see what we can find out."

  He turned Ghost northward and put him into the big horse's mile-eating lope.

  CHAPTER 5

  Late in the afternoon five days later, the pair rode into the bustling city of San Antonio, the city which would forever live in the annals of Texas history. San Antonio was home to the Alamo, where a small band of Texans, vastly outnumbered, held off the army of Mexican general Santa Anna for days. "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying cry for Texas independence.

  However the ancient Mission San Antonio de Valero, cradle of Texas freedom, now stood forlorn and virtually abandoned, used as a storehouse. Most folks went right on past without giving the building a second glance.

  Sean and Levi paused for a moment to contemplate the structure, with its adobe walls burnished rich ochre by the late afternoon sun, then continued past the plaza and the San Fernando Cathedral.

  "We'll put up the horses at a good livery stable I know, wire Lieutenant Blawcyzk letting him know where we are, and what we've learned so far. Then we'll get ourselves a hotel room. We'll probably be here a few days, so we might as well be comfortable," Sean told his partner.

  "That sure sounds good, I'm real tired of sittin' this saddle," Levi answered. "I wouldn't mind spending some time in one of the cantinas washin' the trail dust from my throat. I'd also like to get a good meal in my belly. A man gets plenty tired of bacon, beans, and biscuits."

  "I think we can manage both those things," Sean grinned.

  No one gave the two men a glance as they rode through town. Rangers didn't wear uniforms and like most of the force, Sean and Levi wore no badges. They were dressed in ordinary range garb, faded shirts, leather vests, jeans, scuffed boots, bandannas tied loosely around their necks, and sweat-stained Stetsons. The Colts at their hips were plain and serviceable, as were their gun belts and holsters. While the three horses were superior animals and would attract some attention, their saddles and bridles were basic working gear, unadorned with any ornamentation. With themselves and their mounts coated with the dust of days on the trail, the two lawmen resembled any of the hundreds of grubline riding cowpunchers wandering through the Southwest.

  "Stable's just down this alley," Sean announced. He turned Ghost left, into a narrow passageway between a mercantile store and a millinery shop. At the end of the alley stood a large barn, with 'Hector's Livery Stable - Horses for Rent, Traded, and Sold. The Finest in Boarding Services' painted in large, flowing red and green script over the main doors. The San Antonio River ran just behind the corrals.

  Sean reined to a halt in front of the stable and dismounted.

  "Hola, Hector. You in there?" he called.

  A moment later the door slid open to reveal a young Mexican, his hair and beard neatly trimmed under a huge sombrero. An extremely small black and white pinto horse, no taller than twenty-eight inches at the withers, walked at his side.

  "Ranger Sean? I'd know that voice anywhere. Buenas tardes, Ranger. When did you arrive in San Antonio?"

  He shook the Ranger's hand with a firm grip.

  "Just now," Sean replied. "I'd like you to meet my pardner, Ranger Levi Mallory. Levi, Hector Melendez. He runs the best livery in San Antone and that miniature horse with him is Amigo."

  "Howdy, Hector," Levi said.

  "Of course. The pleasure is mine, Ranger Levi," Melendez responded, shaking Levi's hand.

  "How's Amigo doin'?" Sean asked. He scratched the little pinto's ears. Amigo nickered his approval.

  "He's doing just fine," Hector answered.

  "Hector, we need stalls for our horses," Sean requested. "I want a real good rubdown for 'em, some extra grain in their bins and plenty of hay."

  "Certainly. Will you be leaving some licorice for Espiritu, as usual?" Melendez questioned.

  "Reckon I'd best," Sean laughed.

  "How long will you be staying in town?"

  "I'm not quite sure," Sean replied, "Probably a few days, but keep our horses ready in case we need to leave sooner."

  "I'll do that," Melendez promised. "If you'll put them in the middle three stalls on the right and unsaddle them I'll get to work grooming them."

  "All right," Sean agreed. He led Ghost and Toby into the neatly kept stable.

  "Ranger Sean, isn't that Ranger Thad's horse you're leading?" Melendez suddenly asked, recognizing Thad Dutton's chestnut.

  "It sure is Toby," Sean confirmed.

  "Why do you have his horse? Where is Thad?"

  "He was killed, shot down outside of Laredo. We're trying to find his murderer," Sean explaine
d.

  "Madre de Dios!" Melendez crossed himself. "Ranger Thad, murdered! He was a good man."

  "That he was," Sean agreed. "So far we haven't had much luck trailin' the hombre who plugged him. That's why we're in San Antonio, because the last we knew Thad was on his way back to the post from here. His horse brought him back dead. We're hopin' to find some clue as to who might've killed him and why. Did Thad stable his horse with you?"

  "Si, he did, as always," Melendez responded, "and I did see Thad several times during his stay in San Antonio."

  "Did you see anyone with him, or did he mention anyone in particular who might've roused his suspicions?"

  "No, Sean, not at all. The only persons Thad spoke of were the senoritas. As you know, he had quite the way with the ladies. I was very envious of him."

  "That's a fact," Sean agreed. "Did he happen to speak of any senorita in particular?"

  "No, he did not. He rode out alone, to anticipate your next question. Almost three weeks ago."

  "Three weeks!" Levi exclaimed. "It shouldn't have taken him that long to reach Laredo."

  "No, it sure shouldn't have," Sean concurred, "It certainly wasn't a couple of weeks after he was killed that Toby brought his body back, so we need to puzzle out where he was durin' those missin' days. Hector, did Thad happen to mention anything at all that might give us a hint where he headed after he left San Antonio?"

  "Not a word, Sean," Hector answered and immediately continued, "I certainly wish he had, so I could be of more help."

  "Don't worry about that. I realize you'd tell us if you knew what Thad was up to," Sean assured the hostler. "I reckon our next move is to check around in the saloons and cantinas to see if anyone might have somethin' we can use."

  "You might try the Gilded Cage first," Hector suggested. "That was one of Thad's favorites."

  "You read my mind, Hector," Sean chuckled. "If we don't have any luck there we'll try the Casa D'Plata."

  "Buena suerte," Hector answered. "Your caballos will be well cared for until you return."

  "I know they will," Sean responded. "Buenas noches, Hector."

  "Buenas noches and be careful," Hector advised.

  "Always try to be," Sean laughed.

  The Rangers shouldered their saddlebags and then carrying their Winchesters, headed into the lengthening shadows of the hour just before sunset.