"Then all I can say is be careful, Jim, and vaya con Dios"
"Gracias, Jeff. Adios."
Jim dropped his spare clothes, supplies, and rifle on the porch. He untied Blaze, Dan's blue roan, and led him to the JB Bar's first pasture. He stripped the gear from the horse, dropped it to the ground, and gave him a gentle slap on the rump. Blaze snorted and trotted off a short distance. He dropped his nose to the thick grass and began to graze.
Jim repeated his actions with Socks, Jeff's stocking-legged buckskin. Once Jeff's gelding had joined Blaze, Jim retrieved his gear from the porch, and headed for the barn. He stuffed his clothes and supplies in his saddlebags and shoved the Winchester into its saddle scabbard. That done, he pulled the bloody shirt and Stetson from their hiding place and took the scrap of fabric and strands of hair he'd pried from Julia's hand out of his pocket. He rolled them carefully in a piece of oilcloth and slid them into a saddlebag. He tied his bedroll on the saddle's cantle.
Jim carried his saddle, saddle blanket and bridle to the corral where Sizzle and Sam stood waiting. He slipped both horses a peppermint before saddling and bridling Sizzle. Sam watched curiously, nickering softly while Jim readied the other mount.
"Sam, I sure hate to leave you behind." Jim's eyes grew moist as he stroked the paint's nose, remembering all the trails they'd ridden together. "But I have a feelin' you know it's high time you rested and took it easy for a spell."
Sam nickered, and buried his muzzle in Jim's belly. Jim grunted.
"Can't say I'm gonna miss that little trick of yours, pard. Aw heck, yes I will, you ornery ol' bronc. Even though it's hard on my guts when you pull that stunt, bud."
Jim wrapped his arms around Sam's neck and buried his face in the paint's thick mane. Man and horse stood motionless for several minutes. Finally, Jim stepped back.
"Sam, I've really got to get movin'," Jim said. "You can take care of yourself until I come home again, that's for certain. There's plenty of grass and water for you. Charlie will be home to look after you before too long, and here are enough peppermints to hold you for a month."
Jim emptied his hip pocket, letting Sam munch an entire mound of candies. When the gelding had finished, Jim led him to the pasture, then turned him loose. Sam hesitated for just a moment, nickered, and then trotted off to join Socks and Blaze.
Jim's eyes were still moist as he fastened the pasture gate. By the time he reached Sizzle, his cheeks were tear-stained. He checked his cinches one last time, slipped the horse one peppermint he'd saved, and climbed into the saddle. "Let's go, Siz," he said, his voice still husky with emotion.
He heeled the tall gelding into a lope. When they started off, Sam lifted his head and let out a long, piercing whinny.
Chapter 9
Jim hadn't yet passed the west boundary of his ranch when he reined Sizzle to a halt and dropped from the saddle. He studied the set of tracks approaching his ranch. Even though it had twice rained hard since the attack, the hoof prints of the outlaws' horses were still visible in the soft soil.
"One thing that fools a lotta folks," Jim said to Sizzle, "is that rain doesn't wash out tracks as easy as most people think. It's plain to see there were eight riders in that bunch. Since Charlie claims he did in one of 'em, that means we're lookin' for seven men."
Jim climbed back into his saddle. He walked Sizzle in ever-widening circles until he found the sign he was seeking. The hoof prints of bunched, fast-driven horses led to the northwest.
"Here's where those rustlers drove the rest of your friends off, Siz. They'll have covered their tracks before goin' far, so these prints aren't much help. Now all we've gotta do is figure out where they headed. And that could be anywhere from here to New Mexico or anyplace in between. I've got no idea where those sidewinders might've gone to get rid of those horses. But I know an hombre who will. I'd bet my hat on it. Let's move, pardner."
Jim heeled the long-legged paint into a ground-covering lope. Sizzle's lengthy strides ate up the miles as the Ranger pushed him steadily westward. The only times he slowed the gelding were to check loose soil that might have marked a freshly-dug grave.
* * *
It was mid-afternoon when Jim rode into the town of Dripping Springs. Slowing the paint to a trot as they headed down the main street, Jim began glancing around. He'd been in this town quite often and knew every landmark by heart. Jim pulled Sizzle to a halt outside a complex of large, well-shaded corrals and a huge barn. A good number of fine looking horses lazed in the corrals, and the doors of the barn were open to let fresh air into the stalls. "Joseph Walier, Horse Trader", was emblazoned on the front of the stable in bold red letters. Underneath that smaller red letters proclaimed, "Horses, Wagons, And Carriages Bought, Sold, And Traded.".
Jim swung out of his saddle and led his weary horse to a trough just outside the barn door. After the thirsty gelding sucked up a short drink, Jim tied him to a rail. He stepped into the stable and called for the proprietor.
"Joe! Joe Walier! Where the heck are you? I need to talk to you, and I'm in a hurry!"
In answer to the Ranger's shout, the stable owner emerged from his office. Joe Walier had started his horse trading business in the small north Texas town of Keene, then expanded and moved it to Dripping Springs. He was tall and thin, his gray hair neatly combed under the light colored Stetson he wore. Besides his rather distinguished appearance, Walier had one trait which set him apart from most of the others in his business. Walier was scrupulously honest. He'd never cheated a man in a horse trade.
"That's gotta be Jim Blawcyzk doin' all that hollerin'. You're the last man I expected to darken my door, but I'm sure glad to see you," Walier grinned. "What brings you by, Lieutenant?" He took Jim's hand with a solid grip. "Where the heck is your hat?"
"Howdy, Joe. To answer your second question, my hat sorta got shot up. I'll pick up a new one first chance I get. As far as what brings me to Dripping Springs, this isn't exactly a social call."
"I had a feeling it wasn't. In fact, I've got a pretty good guess why you're here," Walier answered. He glanced out the door to see Sizzle tied to the rail.
"Jim! Is that your cayuse tied there? Lemme take a look at him. What happened to that cantankerous Sam horse of yours? You're not tellin' me you're ridin' another bronc?"
Walier walked over to Sizzle. He ran a hand down the paint's shoulder. Sizzle nuzzled the horse dealer's face.
"That's one of the reasons I'm here," Jim answered. "And this is Sizzle."
With an experienced eye, Walier studied the horse, walking around the gelding and examining him from all angles.
"Well, he's a fine lookin' animal," he praised. "Young one, too. I can't see a thing wrong with him. Lot better personality than Sam, too. In fact, he seems like a downright friendly cuss. At least he didn't try and take my head off. You want to sell him?"
"Not a chance. As to what happened to Sam, he's crippled up. Tendon. Got shot a couple of times, too."
"I'd heard about what happened at your place. Couple of Rangers came by a few days afterwards to ask me some questions. I'm afraid I wasn't much help to 'em. They never mentioned Sam, so I didn't know he'd been hurt so bad. I know how much store you set by him. Forgive my bad manners, Jim. I was so surprised to see you I plumb forgot to ask about your family. How are Julia and Charlie?"
"Charlie's doin' pretty well. He should be fine, the doc tells me. But Julia's still in a coma. Doc says she should come out of it, but he's not sure how much damage those hombres might've done."
"I'm real sorry to hear that. I'm sure the Good Lord'll see to it that she recovers. And I'll keep her in my prayers."
"I appreciate that, Joe. And I'm gonna find the men who did all this. But I need your help."
"I'll do anything I can. Tell you what. Why don't you bring your horse, Sizzle, was it?"
"That's right, Sizzle."
"Bring Sizzle inside, take your gear off him, and put him in that fourth stall on the right. I'll grain and water him. While he'
s eatin' I'll put on some coffee. You look like you could use some. I've got some apple pie in the office too. We'll chow down and I'll answer whatever questions you might have."
Sizzle was soon settled in a stall, Jim and Walier seated in the hostler's office, working on pie and coffee.
"Jim, what'd you want to ask me?" Walier queried. He took another forkful of pie.
"You know just about every place where a man'd go to sell off stolen horses," Jim said. "All my broncs except for Sam were run off by the renegades who attacked my place. They did try to take Sam, but he fought 'em off. They even took Sizzle, but he broke free somehow and came home. I figure if anyone can tell me where my horses might be you can, Joe. Even though you say you weren't much help to those other Rangers."
"Jim, I would've provided those boys any information I had, you know that," Walier said. "I just didn't have anything to give them."
"I know, but you must've heard somethin'."
"I have since. There's word of a new bunch that specializes in stealing horses. From what I hear tell, they have a place over in Blanco County. They run the stolen stock in there, keep 'em hidden for a spell until things cool down a mite, then rework the brands and sell the broncs."
"Blanco's a lot of territory to cover," Jim said as he took another swallow of coffee.
"I know that. But the men you're lookin' for supposedly hole up somewhere along the Pedernales River, close to the falls. Not all that far from Johnson Settlement, in fact."
Jim set down his mug and rose to his feet. "Then that's where I'm headed. Gracias, Joe."
"You sure you don't want to spend the night and start out fresh in the mornin'?" Walier asked.
"Not a chance. Those hombres have already had too much time to get away," Jim answered. "I can put quite a few more miles behind me before sundown. Reckon I'll be ridin'."
The Ranger retrieved Sizzle from his stall, saddled and bridled him and climbed into the saddle.
"Joe, I appreciate your help," he said. "If anyone asks, I'd also be obliged if you don't let them know where I'm headed."
"What if any of your fellow Rangers come by again?"
"Especially if any Rangers stop by lookin' for me."
"I get your meanin', Jim. Far as I'm concerned I never saw you."
"Thanks, Joe. Adios."
"You be careful, Jim. And vaya con Dios."
Jim pointed Sizzle's nose westward once again. As soon as they cleared the outskirts of Dripping Springs, he heeled the paint into a lope.
***
Captain Hank Trumbull glared at the two men facing him. His voice reverberated throughout the corridors of Ranger Headquarters. Jeff Timmons was anxiously puffing on a quirly, while Dan Huggins stared down at the Stetson he twisted in his hands. "Timmons, what in blue blazes do you mean Jim Blawcyzk got the drop on you? He was supposed to still be in bed at Doc Vender's place in San Leanna. The doc sent word a short while ago Jim disappeared sometime during the night. Turned out he stole the doc's horse and buggy. Doc Vender didn't even know Jim or his rig were gone until he went to feed his horse and found her hitched to the buggy and nosin' the stall door. And now you tell me Jim's off chasin' those renegades! I had you watchin' his spread in case he pulled a fool stunt like this, just as much as keepin' a lookout for anyone up to no good who might come snoopin' around. How'd you let this happen?"
"I'm sorry, Cap'n," Jeff said. "When the lieutenant showed up and said he'd been sent home by his doctor, I had no reason not to believe him. I sure never expected him to pull a gun on me."
"So you just let him stick a Colt in your belly."
"Hate to admit it, but that's about the size of it," Jeff confessed.
"What about you, Huggins?" Capt. Trumbull demanded.
"I dunno, Cap'n." Dan kept his eyes down. "I never even saw the lieutenant. I only caught a glimpse of Jeff lyin' tied up, and then somebody socked me real hard in my gut. I've never been hit in my belly that hard before, ever. That's the last thing I remember until Jeff dumped a bucket of water over my face. I can't even say for sure it was Jim who hit me."
"I suppose you're gonna tell me that lump on your jaw is a love tap from one of the gals at the Silver Star," Capt. Trumbull said in disgust.
Jeff chuckled, but quickly shut up at a glance from the captain.
Dan rubbed the huge bruise on his chin, flinching at the pain. "No, Cap'n, it sure wasn't from one of those gals. But whoever hit me left me with one heckuva bellyache and a real sore jaw."
"Well, thanks to you two, Jim Blawcyzk's on the loose and ridin' on a vendetta for those dirty sons who attacked his family," Capt Trumbull said. "And none of us have the faintest idea where to start lookin' for him."
"At least he's not ridin' that Sam horse of his," Jeff said. "Not havin' that cantankerous cayuse between his legs might slow Jim down some. A new horse is bound to take some trainin'. And it won't be used to hard travelin'."
"Have you forgotten Jim Blawcyzk's the best man with a horse on the entire force, probably in the entire State of Texas?" Capt. Trumbull looked like he was about to bust a gut. "A new mount isn't gonna bother him."
"What're we gonna do then?" Dan asked.
Capt. Trumbull's anger finally reached the boiling point.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do. I do know that both of you are confined to the barracks for two weeks. You're two of the poorest excuses for lawmen ever to pin on a Ranger badge!"
"Whoa, what's all the bellerin' in here? They can hear you clear down to the Capitol buildin', Cap'n."
Smoky McCue grinned as he stepped into Trumbull's office.
"McCue! Where have you been? You were supposed to be back yesterday!" Trumbull yelled.
"I did get back last evenin', late. Spent the night at home with my wife. I haven't seen Cindy Lou in a month of Sundays. And beggin' your pardon, Cap'n, but she's a heckuva lot better lookin' than you. And a whole lot more fun to spend the night with."
Smoky took the makings from his vest pocket and began rolling a cigarette.
"That's enough of your sass, Corporal. Jim Blawcyzk's defied my orders. He's on a vengeance trail. No thanks to these two!"
"Don't be too hard on these boys, Cap'n. Once Jim sets his mind to somethin', nobody's gonna stop him. You know that. Thing to do now is figure out what we're gonna do next."
"We're not gonna do anything," Trumbull answered. "You're gonna find Jim Blawcyzk and bring him back here. You're probably the only man in the Texas Rangers who can track him down. Well, you and Jim Huggins. I sent for him too, but got word he was shot up. He's on his way home to recuperate. Yes, he'll be fine," Trumbull anticipated Smoky's question, "otherwise Dan wouldn't be here. But he will be laid up for a couple of weeks."
"If Jim Blawcyzk doesn't want to be found, I won't have much chance of catchin' up to him," Smoky pointed out.
"Maybe so, but you've ridden with Jim more than any of us. You and he've been pards for years. You know how he thinks. If anyone can find him, it's you, Corporal."
Trumbull's voice softened as he continued. "Smoky, you know how much I think of Jim. He's almost like a son to me. That's why I want to find him, before he gets himself killed. Doc Vender says Jim's still bad hurt, so if he tries to take on that bunch by himself he'll wind up with a gutful of lead. Or worse, he's liable to do something really stupid, like gunnin' those hombres down in cold blood. Then he'd be a killer just like them. I'd hate to see him swingin' from a rope."
"I doubt any jury in Texas'd convict him," Smoky said.
"Probably not," Capt. Trumbull agreed, "But we're still duty-bound to bring him in. And that means quite a few men might die in the attempt, since most likely Jim'd go down shootin'. The way he was actin' I doubt he'd surrender. He's half crazed with anger."
"Lt. Blawcyzk wouldn't shoot another Ranger," Dan protested. "And I'm not sure how many of us would try'n plug him."
"We can't take that chance," Capt. Trumbull answered.
"The captain's right, Dan," Smoky agreed. "Soon
as he fills me in on everything, I'll be ridin'." He took a long drag on his quirly. "Captain, how's Jim's wife and boy doin'? I won't have time to visit them like I'd planned."
"That's another reason you need to find Jim as soon as possible. Julia's still unconscious, which he knows. But he thinks Charlie's on the mend. When the doc sent word that Jim had taken off, he also said Charlie took a sudden turn for the worse this mornin'. Blood poisoning's set in. And Jim doesn't know that."
'That's not good news," said Smoky. "Cap'n, do you have any idea where I should start?"
"I haven't got much of one. There hasn't even been a sign of Jim's rustled horses."
"Well, I know you won't believe this, but that does give me a place to begin. Jim'll head over to Dripping Springs and talk to Joe Walier. Joe'll have some idea about who might have stolen those broncs."
"I had Toby Jones and Rowdy McCandless talk to Walier. He claimed he didn't know a thing."
"Maybe he didn't, then, but he does by now. As Jim would say, I'd bet a hat on that."
"You want us to ride with you, Smoke?" Jeff asked.
"No. If I'm gonna have any chance of catchin' up to Jim, I'd best ride alone," Smoky replied.
"Besides, don't forget you two are confined to quarters for two weeks," Capt. Trumbull reminded Jeff and Dan.
"Cap'n, that's not fair," Smoky broke in. "They couldn't have known what Jim was up to."
"Maybe you're right, but they still shouldn't have let him fool the both of 'em." Capt. Trumbull rubbed a gnarled hand down his face. "But since you're stickin' up for 'em, I figure I can cut the confinement to a week. Not a word or it goes right back to two," he warned before the others could object.
"Then that's settled," Smoky said. "Cap'n, tell me what I need to know."
Capt. Trumbull spent the next half hour going over everything that had happened from the day of the raid on the JB Bar to Jim's fleeing Dr. Vender's. Once he had finished, Smoky headed outside, climbed in the saddle of his steeldust, backed the horse away from the rail, and loped down Congress Avenue. Ten minutes later he reached the city limits and pushed Soot into a dead run.
Ranger's Revenge (Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk Book 7) Page 6