“We found him with the horse thieves. He claims he was traveling north and encountered them by chance. We’ll leave it to you to determine the truth of the matter. I trust if he is guilty of stealing Indian horses, you will deal with him in an appropriate manner?”

The question was offered in an ironic voice that said the officer had no such expectation.

Rusty saw no harm in revealing his mission now. He took from his coat pocket the map and a note Tom Blessing had written. “I was on my way to Fort Belknap to report to you,” he told the ranger.

As the captain read the note, his expression lost its severity. A smile lifted the moustache. “Tom Blessing. A good man he is. I was with him when we battled Comanches at Plum Creek.”

“I was there, too,” Rusty said.

“How could that be? Twenty years ago, it was.”

“Do you remember a little boy there, rescued from the Indians?”

“I do. He was red-haired.” The captain gave Rusty a closer study. “It would seem he is still red-haired.”

“The name’s Rusty Shannon. In the letter, Tom Blessing calls me David.”

The captain shook his hand. “Shannon. The name seems bekannt. Was there not someone called Shannon at Plum Creek?”

“Mike Shannon, my father. Foster father, anyway. They never found out who my real folks were, so he took me to raise, him and Mother Dora.”

“A man of the cloth rode with him, I believe. His arm was broken in the fight.”

“That’d be Preacher Webb. Him and Daddy Mike were always close.”

“They are both well, I hope.”

“Preacher Webb still carries the Word to the folks of the creek.” Rusty’s throat tightened. “Daddy Mike is dead.”

“That I regret. They fought a good fight. We all fought a good fight.” Burmeister looked back to the lieutenant. “This young man need concern you no longer, Captain.”

“Lieutenant.”

“Lieutenant. Yes, I should have known.” Burmeister’s look showed his opinion of lieutenants.

The officer rebuked Rusty with his eyes. “You should have told us you belonged to this company.”

“I was afraid you might have less use for Texas rangers than you do for Texas horse thieves.”

“I find them similar in many respects. Come along, Harrison. The Tonkawas are getting ahead of us.”

The scout Harrison gave Rusty a wink and put his horse into a long trot to catch up with the departing officer.

Burmeister watched the two ride away. “I agree not with this talk of breaking away from the Union. But such officers could do much to change my mind.”