“No need to worry about us. I arrested Pete myself once, when I was with the rangers. He was stealin’ horses.”

“Then he’s still at the same trade. He’s just not very good at it.”

“Who’d he hit this time?”

“A good Union family just north of here. Horse people.”

“By the name of Monahan?”

“That’s right. The Monahan men fought them off, but this Dawkins wounded one.”

“Which one? Do you know the name?”

“Evan Gifford. Are you acquainted with him?”

Rusty grimaced. “I know his wife. Good woman. They’re good people, all of them. How bad was he hurt?”

“They said he was wounded worse in the war and got over that. He will recover from this.”

Rusty knew his compassion should be for Evan Gifford, but most of it was for Geneva. He imagined how it must have shaken her to see her husband brought in shot, again. “Damn you, Pete, haven’t you Dawkinses caused the Monahans grief enough?”

Sullen, Pete Dawkins looked past Rusty as if he could not see him. Scully’s head was down, his shoulders pinched in an attitude of despair.

The lieutenant said, “We had some trouble capturing these two. They killed one of my troopers and put a bullet through my shoulder.”

Rusty said, “You look like you could use some help. We’d be glad to be of service to you.”

The officer’s eyes were hopeful. “You say you’re a ranger?”

“Used to be. They cut us loose when the war ended. I’m Rusty Shannon. This here’s Preacher Webb. The boy’s Andy Pickard.”

“My father knew the rangers in the Mexican War. He said they would charge hell with half a bucket of water.”

“They did, several times. Where are you headed with these two?”

“Back to the Monahan farm to get positive identification.”

“The Monahans’d gladly hang Pete for you . . . by his toes, by his neck, any old way you want it done. And I’d be glad to help them.”

“Any hanging will be up to a court.”

The lieutenant seemed about to slip out of his saddle. He grabbed his horse’s mane to steady himself.

Rusty stepped forward to catch him in case he fell. The two black soldiers instantly aimed their rifles at him. The sergeant warned, “Don’t you touch Lieutenant Ames.”

The lieutenant coughed. “It’s all right, Bailey. He’s trying to help.”

“Yes sir,” the sergeant said, but he did not shift the rifle’s muzzle away from Rusty.

Rusty knew it would be wise not to make any more quick moves. “Lieutenant, you’d better get off of that horse and rest awhile. When you’re up to it, we’ll escort you to the Monahans’.”

“I’ve come this far. I can go the rest of the way. We ask for no favors.”

“We were headed there ourselves. You favor us by takin’ Pete Dawkins away.” He explained how Colonel Caleb Dawkins, Pete, and some hired help had lynched Lon and Billy Monahan early in the war for the family’s pro-Union sentiments.