Ames gave vent to strong Yankee profanity. “I ought to’ve stood guard on them myself. Damned little sleep this shoulder has let me get anyway.”

Bailey lamented, “Him and his partner, they got off with our guns.”

Private Cotter would never stand court-martial for losing his prisoners. He was dead.

“Probably never knew what hit him,” Rusty said.

Bailey rubbed his forehead and looked at the blood on his hand. “Thought he’d killed me too, like as not. He didn’t know how hard my head is.”

The lieutenant clenched a fist. “That’s two of my soldiers he owes the army for.”

The commotion had aroused James Monahan. He had hurried down from the new house, buttoning his britches. He found that the fugitives had run the extra horses out of the corral, but the animals had gone only a few yards and stopped. James easily drove them back into the pen.

He declared, “Pete owes this family too, more than he could pay in a hundred years. I’ll get him, Lieutenant.” He looked at Rusty. “You goin’ with me or not?”

“I’ll be ready in two minutes.”

“It’ll take me five. Preacher, how about you saddlin’ my dun horse for me while I run back to the house and get my gun?”

The lieutenant protested, “It’s a long time until daylight. You can’t see the tracks.”

“I know the first place he’ll head for. If me and Rusty don’t find him there, at least we’ll have that much advantage when the sun comes up.”

The lieutenant argued, “He’s the army’s prisoner. It’s my place to recapture him.”

Rusty said, “With all due respect, you’re not strong enough to travel ten miles. We’ll bring him back for you, either in the saddle or across it.”

“I can’t give you any legal authority . . .”

Rusty said, “I never officially got mustered out of the rangers. I’ve got papers that say I am one whether there’s still a ranger force or not.”

“You’d be laughed out of a civilian court, but a military court might accept it if I testify that I approved.” He glanced at James. “How about you? Any history with the rangers?”

“No, I was hidin’ from them most of the time.”

While Rusty caught Alamo, Webb saddled James’s horse. Sergeant Bailey saddled and mounted his own leggy black.

Rusty told him, “Pete fetched you a bad lick with that shovel. You’ve got no business ridin’.”

“I don’t ride on my head. You say you know where he’s goin’. Let’s be gettin’ started.”

Andy stood watching. “I go, too?”