“You were here with us in Del Rio the whole time,” Finley cut his commanding officer off. “Getting drunk. So was Joe and your two pals, there. Never left our sight.” The other Rangers nodded their assent.

“I appreciate it,” Franchard said.

“Did you find those murdering rustlers?” Finley asked. “I don’t see any prisoners.”

Franchard looked at Pritchard before answering. “We found every damned one of ’em,” he said, “and we didn’t take any prisoners. By the way, Sergeant, thanks for the dynamite. Came in right handy.”

“What dynamite?” Finley asked innocently.

“Would you fellas mind takin’ all these horses down to the livery and getting them corralled and fed?” he asked his Rangers. “We ain’t hardly ate, nor slept, in days.”

“Sure thing, Cap’n. Wouldn’t hurt if you boys cleaned up a bit,” Finley suggested. “If you don’t mind me saying so, you look like you just got back from—”

“—vacation,” it was Franchard’s turn to interrupt. “Good idea.”

Pritchard switched his saddle from Biscuit to Rusty and let the Rangers lead the palomino off with the rest of the herd. Then he, Ditch, Ruiz, and Franchard went to the hotel. Each got a bath, a shave, and a change of clothes before meeting down in the restaurant. Franchard already had a table, a bottle, and four glasses by the time Pritchard, Ditch, and Ruiz arrived.

“I appreciate what you boys did,” Pritchard said, once their steaks were ordered and the drinks were poured. “I won’t forget it. I know Caroline’s grateful, too, wherever she is.”

“Nothing can bring your woman back,” Ruiz said in his heavy accent, “but she has been avenged. This is not a small thing, Señor Joe. Her soul can be at peace now. You must take comfort in that.”

“To the memory of Caroline Biggs,” Ditch said, raising his glass. “No finer woman ever graced the Republic of Texas.”

“Damn straight,” Captain Franchard said. The others raised their glasses and drank.

“What are you going to do now?” Ditch asked Pritchard.

“With Caroline gone . . . I don’t rightly know. I guess I’ll stick with rangerin’. What else can I do?”

“There’re plenty of other things to do,” Ditch said. “Maybe it’s time for you to look into a line of work that don’t involve killing? Heaven knows, you’ve seen your share of death. No disrespect, Captain Franchard, but there’s more to life than hunting down murderers and outlaws. Why don’t you come back to the ranch with me and Alejandro?”

“You and Alejandro?” Pritchard said.

“Señor Ditch has offered me a job on his ranch,” Ruiz explained. “I have accepted.”