Tanner introduced him to Jim and Johnny Morris, brothers who had brought in the deer. They had the same ragged appearance as Tanner, though Jim wore a new buckskin shirt that seemed out of place with his frayed and patched woolen trousers. Tanner raked charred bits of wood from a shallow pit and coaxed a few sparks into blazing life amid a small pile of shavings.

He hung a coffeepot from a steel bar over the fire and melted deer fat in a skillet, preparatory to frying the meat. “I’m no more than a fair to middlin’ shot, but I’m a pretty decent cook when I’ve got somethin’ to work with.”

Jim Morris commented, “He fixes a pretty fair possum.”

Not all the rangers Rusty had seen around camp were as lank as Tanner, but none ran much to fat. He could easily see why.

As they finished the fried venison, Captain Burmeister walked over from his tent. He carried a notebook and pencil. “I must have information for Austin so you will be paid. Perhaps.”

He ran his finger down a short list of questions, beginning with name and birth date. Rusty explained that he did not know his birth date or even his birth name, reminding Burmeister that he had been picked up on the battlefield at Plum Creek.

Burmeister said, “It makes no difference. A few men in this company know their true name but use another. I am at peace with it. Now I must ask—”

Tanner interrupted. “Pardon, Dutch, but look what’s comin’.”

Rusty turned as he heard horses approaching camp. Burmeister squinted, then uttered a few words of German that by their tone suggested profanity. Rusty quick-counted ten horsemen. He knew the man at the center and thought he recognized a couple of others.

“Caleb Dawkins,” he said.

Burmeister gave Rusty a surprised look. “You know the colonel?”

“Met him. He spoiled a good supper a few nights ago.”

“For me he has spoiled several. But he is a citizen. We must show respect.” Burmeister walked out to receive Dawkins. His voice was edged with irony. “To what, Colonel, owe we this pleasure?”

“It’s no pleasure for me, Burmeister. I have with me my son and several other men who just lost a large number of horses to raiding Indians. They barely escaped with their lives.”