by Tony Masero
‘Hell! I never thought I’d hear the day,’ complained Cornpone in open disgust.
‘But it’s also true that you are outside of the State of Texas just now, isn’t it?’ added Mortimer a little slyly.
‘Where are these surveyors and how many horses we talking about?’ asked Tarfay.
‘I heard they have a base at Dona Anna along the Rio Grande,’ supplied Jimmy. ‘They keep maybe forty head there for use by their people.’
‘That’s along the river down from Fort Thorne ain’t it?’ asked Link. ‘That ain’t too far from here.’
Jimmy nodded silent agreement, his eyes fixed on Tarfay. He could see the Ranger was struggling with the notion of turning his hand against the law and the half-breed wondered which the Ranger held highest, his sworn duty to uphold the law or the lives of the two children.
‘We’ll do it,’ said Tarfay, suddenly decisive.
‘No!’ roared Cornpone. ‘It goes against all we stand for, Bayou.’
‘It’s a practical decision we need to expedite right away,’ said Tarfay. ‘When we get back to Rio Charro I’ll sell my place and pay back the full value for the ponies in cash money. That’s the best I can do, Cornpone. I aim to get back those kids one way or the other.’
‘Well,’ smiled Link. ‘Never thought I’d get to do a bit of rustling under the auspices of the Texas Rangers, that’s for sure.’
‘You with me in this?’ Tarfay pressed Cornpone. ‘You can quit if you’re against it, I’ll understand.’
Cornpone looked down at his feet silently for a long moment.
‘It goes against my better judgment,’ he said finally. ‘But I signed up for this little escapade outside Ranger law anyway so I guess I’ll see it through.’
‘Thanks, partner,’ said Tarfay. ‘I need you in this.’
There was a collective silence as they all thought it through, then Tarfay asked, ‘How about you, Mortimer? Might be the notion offends your moral principles some.’
‘I have thought on it,’ said Mortimer solemnly. ‘And I see in it the cause of greater good. This suggested act is not merely for selfish gain but for the procurement of innocents, sweet souls that would be lost unless we sally forth and save them. I see no sacrilege in that.’
‘Right,’ said Tarfay. ‘Y’all better get some sleep. Tomorrow we ride for Dona Anna.’
Chapter Ten
General Alabrahm Cole had divided the survey teams into five divisions. Each was to be guarded by a platoon of cavalry led by a lieutenant and a guide who also acted as hunter for the party. After that it was a long list of civilian specialists: mineralogists, botanists, artists, photographers, physicians, entomologists and agricultural statisticians. A whole tribe of regular academics that all had their own particular difficulties and problems. They ranged from the engineer who needed fine spider’s web for the cross hairs in his telescope and the wagon master who doubted that they would achieve the twenty-five miles a day stipulated, fifteen being more likely he reckoned. Three ambulances per party pulled by six mules each, the cavalry each with a change of pony. Baggage, tools, tents, weapons, supplies and water.
The plan was big. Five million dollars worth of construction costs alone, it was going to be one hell of a drive to lay a ribbon of four-foot eight-and-a-half-inch wide steel gauge clear across the continent and he had the task of mapping out the route before the grading began. They would cross mountain ranges, rivers and desert, move from freezing snow to intense heat. The logistical problems kept him up most of the night.
That was why he was still sitting in his office poring over the quartermaster’s reports by lamplight at two in the morning.
‘General, sir. I’m sorry to interrupt,’ it was his adjutant, Captain Flowers.
‘Ah, come in, Flowers. Glad of the break, truth be told. What is it?’
‘A fellow here to see you, sir.’
General Cole jerked his chin in query. ‘Is it about those two missing surveyors?’
‘No, sir, fellow by the name of Cornpone and late of the Texas Rangers.’
The General rubbed his tired eyes and stretched.
‘Cornpone, you say? Well, show him in let’s hear what he wants.’
Flowers nodded a salute and held the door open for the Ranger to enter.
‘Evening, General,’ said Cornpone, with a genial smile.
‘More like morning, Mister Cornpone,’ sighed Cole, taking out and looking at the belly watch in his vest pocket. ‘So what can we do for you?’
‘I heard tell you was looking for scouts, General.’
‘That’s a fact. You were with the Rangers, is that right?’
Cornpone nodded, ‘I know the country, sir, and I’m riding with some men that you could find useful.’
‘And where were you stationed?’
‘Over at Rio Charro under Major Tolomey.’
‘Well, we could certainly do with some quality men with knowledge of the country, how many with you?’
‘There’s five of us altogether.’
Cole’s eye brightened at that, it was exactly the number he needed for each of his survey teams. ‘You all Rangers?’ he asked.
‘One other of us is.’
‘And the rest?’
‘All good men, sir. I assure you.’
The General looked down at his paper-strewn desk a moment. He was a tired man and assaulted by a complicated mess of logistics and personalities. Later, he was to wish that he had been more alert but at that time his tiredness and many concerns weighed heavily and he was not above making an error in his quick judgment. ‘Might be that you’re a godsend, Mister Cornpone. I certainly have a need for able scouts. How say that we contract you and your men for a six-month and see how it goes?’
Cornpone nodded agreement.
‘Thing is,’ the General went on. ‘Although civilians you will be under military direction, I’m sure you appreciate that but then as an ex-Ranger I’m confident that it will be no hardship.’
Cornpone offered a casual salute with a finger to his hat brim, ‘No, sir, General.’
‘Very well. Captain Flowers will see to the arrangements,’ he turned to Flowers. ‘Captain, arrange for the paperwork and have someone show the men to their billets, will you? Good to have you aboard, Mister Cornpone.’
The General stood and offered his hand and Cornpone shook, ‘Glad to be here, sir. One of my party is an able horse wrangler, might be he could look over your herd and see that all’s well?’
‘We’re well taken care of in that area already but by all means, send your fellow over to take a looksee. Can’t do any harm.’
‘Obliged, General.’
********
The camp was centered around a group of structures at the northwestern boundaries of the town of Dona Anna and spread out in a sprawl from the mainly Mexican township. Soldiers were bivouacked in tents that lay in regular army lines and held roughly five hundred infantry and cavalry troops, most of the specialist civilians being billeted in either town houses or storage facilities.
‘Lot of ill feeling around here at present,’ their sergeant guide confided as he led them towards their billet. ‘Locals fighting over their land rights.’
‘That so,’ said Tarfay. ‘What’s the problem?’
The sergeant, a husky veteran wearing a battered forage cap and with a broad, brush mustache that covered his upper lip and sided his jaw, shrugged. ‘Spanish land grants. You know how they wrote those things back in the old days, pretty loosely if truth be told. Now they got a whole parcel of Republicans moved in here aiming to make the most of it, lawyers and businessmen mainly. Call themselves ‘The Ring’; run by two hombres, ‘Tomcat’ Catron and an old boy known as ‘Smooth Steve’ Elkin, they’re into mining and banking. My guess is that their efforts in land speculation are a tad dubious at best. Seems like the local Mex population is concerned with all the new Anglos moving in and feel that their property is in jeopardy.’
‘Sounds like a recipe
for trouble,’ sympathized Tarfay.
‘One we could do without,’ agreed the sergeant. ‘We got enough on our plates here without some local war breaking out.’
‘Surely with all the military present it should keep the peace,’ said Cornpone.
The sergeant shook his head, ‘There’s a lot of hotheads running loose and the Mex blood is up. All kinds of political nonsense is going on underneath. They got a meet planned for tomorrow, or should I say today,’ the sergeant looked towards the lightening sky in the east. ‘Local Democrats are setting up to air their grievances. Planned to be something of a party, with a band playing and all, but once the drink starts flowing, who knows what will happen.’
‘Still, its not our problem,’ said Tarfay, taking on the role of responsible military scout.
‘You fellows mind if I go take a look at the ponies,’ interrupted Link.
‘Link’s our wrangler and loves his ponies,’ Cornpone explained. ‘He should have been born with four legs instead of two.’
‘Sure,’ said the sergeant, pointing. ‘Corral’s over that way. You boys are bedded down in this barn here. Make yourselves to home, you need anything, blankets and such go see the quartermaster. Latrines are stationed out beyond, just follow your nose.’
‘Thanks, sergeant,’ said Tarfay. ‘I guess we can handle it ourselves from here on.’
‘Right you are,’ the sergeant answered. ‘See you all later. We got breakfast up in about three hours. Get your heads down until then.’
As Link ambled off to see how things lay at the horse corral the rest of the men settled themselves in their new lodgings.
It was the remains of an old deserted barn with only half the roof left and the rest open to the sky.
‘Indeed, not very salubrious,’ complained Mortimer.
‘The town’s full,’ explained Cornpone. ‘The captain apologized that they ain’t got anywhere else left. We’re lucky to get this I reckon.’
‘Make the best of it,’ said Tarfay. ‘We won’t be here long enough to worry anyway.’
‘What about all this going on in the town?’ asked Cornpone as they spread their blankets and laid out their saddles.
‘Could be to our benefit,’ said Tarfay. ‘Maybe if things hot up on the morrow, we might be able to make our play then.’
‘Kinda mean, ain’t it?’ asked Cornpone, pulling a face. ‘Thieving whilst they got their hands full of civil unrest.’
‘What is this?’ spat Tarfay in sudden irritation. ‘You getting to be our conscience, Cornpone?’
‘I reckon that’s Mortimer’s prerogative,’ Cornpone snapped back.
‘Look, I got one aim here. One intention, and that’s to get back those kids. I don’t care how I do it but it’s going to happen.’
Cornpone shook his head doubtfully, ‘Just don’t you get to like it too much, is all I’m saying.’
‘Get to like what exactly?’ barked Tarfay.
‘Going over to the dark side. You know what I mean, you can justify it all you want but wrong is wrong and its best not forgotten.’
‘I ain’t forgetting,’ said Tarfay with a touch of bitterness. Cornpone was touching on a sore nerve, for although Tarfay was all purpose on the surface it still secretly rubbed him the wrong way that he had to use such methods to achieve his goal. ‘And I know as long as I keep that in mind and don’t go kidding myself about the means then things will stay on an even plane. Don’t you worry, Cornpone, I’m straight about this. We do what we have to and then its over.’
‘Thing is, it’s a sweet taste, going to the bad. But it don’t last and gets to turn sour after a while.’
‘It sounds as if you have tasted of the forbidden fruit, brother Cornpone,’ observed Mortimer gloomily.
‘I ate a fill in my day,’ Cornpone admitted. ‘That’s how I know what I know and what I’m a-feared of happening here.’
‘You know I swear by the law,’ said Tarfay. ‘But nothing is set hard, sometimes you gotta step outside the lines. Leastways if you want to see true justice served.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Cornpone. ‘But just so we’re clear here. I’ll follow you to hell and back, Tarfay but there’s certain things I won’t do and if it comes to crossing those lines then I’ll bid you adieu and farewell.’
Tarfay drew a deep breath, calmed himself and nodded, ‘I understand and I wouldn’t expect anything less, partner. We understand each other.’
Link came in as the atmosphere cooled and sensing the tension he looked around curiously, ‘We all right here? What’s going on?’
‘How are the ponies?’ asked Tarfay, ignoring his question.
‘Mighty fine,’ grinned Link. ‘They got them in a pole corral with two guards posted. One at the gate, the other ‘un wandering around out back. It won’t be no problem we quiet down those two, then its open the gate and run. Once those babies start though, it’ll be hard to stop them. They’ll go like the wind, it looks like they’ve been penned up in there a while.’
‘That’s how we want it,’ said Tarfay. ‘We get away with their mounts and there’ll be no one left to follow us. We don’t want this to be any kind of shootout; we just take the ponies and go. I don’t want anybody hurt, we all understand this?’
‘So how do we go about it?’ asked Link.
‘I reckon we wait until tomorrow, lets see how this carnival political party goes. There gets to be any kind of hoo-hah and we use the distress to make our break whilst they’re all distracted. Now, best get some sleep, it could be a busy day tomorrow.’
As the men settled, Tarfay cast an eye over them. He watched as Mortimer knelt and Bible in hand began a nightly prayer. Jimmy was as solemn and silent as ever and seemed to blend into the shadows at back of the barn whilst Link flapped down, set his hat over his eyes and seemed to go to sleep right away.
Tarfay nodded Cornpone over to him and the two went outside to talk away from the others.
‘What’s this?’ asked Tarfay. ‘You know how dumb it is to undermine my authority in front of the others.’
Cornpone looked across at him, his normally calm features mixed with a twist of resentment.
‘I’m sorry about that, Sergeant. But its my name on the tag here, they know me now. The army won’t forget who came selling his wares before we walk off with their herd. My day is done with the Rangers unless I want to take a spell behind bars.’
‘I won’t let it happen, Cornpone. You’re under my orders, I’ll take any grief coming down for this.’
Cornpone snorted a laugh, ‘You think the authorities will see it that way? Hell! They’ll nail you and me both.’
‘Look at this way. What’s it worth in human lives? That young man they took could well end up as a painted buck killing his own kind in a war party and the girl, well, I dread to think. She’ll be carrying papooses around on her back for the rest of her life and keeping some savage warm at night. Did you think on that when you sweated over a spell in prison? Then lets look at Mama Bass and Delgado. The poor woman near beaten to death and her man stuck through and killed dead. Those people were mine; they worked, cared and fought for my place. I reckon I owe them something for that.’
‘I understand,’ said Cornpone, now a little subdued. ‘It ain’t that, Tarfay. Nor the notion of doing time, it’s just…. I don’t know, it goes against the grain, is all. I been a Ranger too long and I love the service. We’re the folks that make a genuine difference in this territory, it just rubs me wrong to go against what we stand for.’
‘We’re at war, my friend. We’re going into a shit storm, it’s no holds barred in this or we come out holding our heads in our hands.’
Cornpone sighed and slumped, ‘Don’t worry, I get it. You can count on me.’
Tarfay slapped him on the shoulder, ‘Never doubted it. You got feelings, I understand that. But don’t go fronting me before the others. They’re all jailbirds, remember. They need a firm hand, there’s nothing holding them and they could take off any time
. But right now, we need the numbers, so keep it cool. That’s all I got to say on it, so if we’re right on this then lets go get some shuteye.’
Chapter Eleven
Over the next few days Tag kept to himself, even his friend Chevato could not bring him out of his dour mood. He had suffered his punishment as stoically as he could but his mind was still set on the presence of Scart and the revenge that brewed in his heart.
Scart and Crome were frequent visitors to the camp along with Shulki, as the finer points of the raid were decided upon. Telkashay went along with the scheme but he was still mistrustful of the two white men and although on the surface he kept a welcoming and interested face on the matters they discussed he was still doubtful of the outcome.
‘We are all agreed on the place then?’ asked Shulki as they sat in a circle around a small fire before Telkashay’s wickiup.
‘I reckon,’ said Scart. ‘The soldier’s call this place Campaign Pass.’
‘Have you sent out scouts?’ Telkashay asked Shulki.
The war chief nodded, ‘I have sent eight men. When they return we will decide how to divide our forces.’
‘And these two?’ asked Telkashay in Apache. ‘Where will they be?’
‘They will be with me,’ said Shulki. ‘As I promised I shall watch over them.’
‘Be careful,’ warned Telkashay. ‘It may be they are snakes and will trick you.’
‘Who is quicker to strike, do you think? These white worms or Shulki, who holds thunder in his hands. They will not fool me.’
‘How many men will you bring?’
‘I will have a party of my closest and best warriors. I shall bring forty men. And you?’
‘The same,’ agreed Telkashay.
‘Then we shall outnumber the white soldiers and that is good.’
‘And the whites here, do they come alone?’
‘They bring two others who wait at my camp. Two brothers, one of whom recovers from a wound.’