"That makes sense," Smoky said. "As long as he doesn't know about you defyin' Cap'n Trumbull's orders."
"He probably doesn't. I don't imagine the captain has any idea I headed this far east. And far as we know he still isn't aware you've caught up with me and we're ridin' together. Besides, Jim Huggins and I have been friends a long time. He's saved my life more'n once, and I've done the same for him. I don't think he'd turn me in. But we'll see. If he's not around we'll just have to do our best without him."
"Maybe you should hope Huggins isn't around if he's found out what you did to his son, knockin' the kid unconscious," Smoky said.
"I'll worry about that when we find him."
"How much longer we gonna stay in this spot?" Smoky stretched.
"Rest of the afternoon. If I'm figurin' right, we're only two hours or so out of Centerville. I doubt anyone around here would recognize us, but I'd rather not take the chance. We'll ride in just after sundown."
"You know where Huggins lives?"
"No, but Centerville's a small town from what he tells me. We'll ask around. Shouldn't be too hard to find out."
"Centerville's the Leon County seat. We could stop at the sheriff's office and ask there," Smoky pointed out.
"We could, but the sheriff might be in Cox's back pocket. I'll want to talk to Jim before meetin' up with the local law."
"That sounds like as good a strategy as any. Now I'm gonna get me some shut-eye. I'd recommend you do the same, pardner."
Smoky pulled off his boots, stretched out on his back and tilted his Stetson over his eyes. Jim did likewise.
Early that evening, with twilight descending, the partners reached the outskirts of Centerville.
"From that smell it seems someone is smokin' a whole heap of meat, Jim," Smoky said. "It sure makes my mouth water. I could use a change from your bacon and beans."
"I didn't notice you complainin' about 'em. But you're right. I'd enjoy a change of diet myself," Jim said. "Let's follow our noses and see where they lead."
He pushed Sizzle into a steady jogtrot.
A few minutes later Jim reined in Sizzle and pointed to a small complex of buildings off to the left. The delicious scent they'd been tracking came from a sturdily built smokehouse. In front of that was a small restaurant and store with a sign reading "Woody's Smokehouse" hanging over the door.
"There's our destination, Smoke," Jim said.
"Race you for who buys supper!" his partner challenged.
Smoky jabbed his spurs into Soot's sides, sending the steeldust leaping ahead at a dead run. However, Sizzle, with Jim's urging, soon overtook Smoky's dark gray. When they reached Woody's, Jim's horse was ahead by half a length.
"Looks like you're payin', pardner. Suddenly I'm even hungrier'n I thought I was." Jim grinned.
"I should've known better'n to challenge you to a horse race, even if you're not forkin' Sam," Smoky complained. "After all these years with you as a ridin' pard, you think I'd have learned by now."
Jim swung out of his saddle, looped Sizzle's reins around the hitch rail, and patted the big gelding's shoulder. "Good job, Siz," he praised the horse. Sizzle nickered, gave his rider the equivalent of a horse "kiss" on the nose, then nuzzled Jim's hip pocket. Jim dug out a peppermint and gave it to the paint. "Thanks, Siz," he said. It looks like Julia was right. You're gonna make some kind of a Ranger horse."
Smoky had also dismounted and tied Soot. "Jim, if you're about done spoilin' that horse, let's see what's on the menu," he said.
"Lead the way," Jim answered.
They stepped into the crowded store and eating house.
"I'm gonna be able to fill my belly just fine in this place, Smoke." Jim grinned and rubbed his stomach.
Woody's Smokehouse had all sorts of foodstuffs, both fresh and packaged, available for purchase. And behind the counters, which ran along two sides of the room, hung all manner of smoked and jerked meats, including bacon, ham, fowl, venison and a wide variety of sausages. To complement the meats there were many kinds of cheeses, relishes, and pickles. Loaves of fresh-baked bread, fresh-churned butter, plus jars of homemade jams and preserves were in plentiful supply. For drinks there was everything from milk to coffee to beer.
Jim and Smoky stepped up to the counter, where an attractive young black woman greeted them.
"Howdy, gents. My name's Natoshia. Welcome to Woody's. What can I get for you?"
"I'd like a nice thick ham sandwich, no, make that three of 'em, since my pardner's buyin'," Jim requested. "Also a slab of those ribs. A hunk of hard yellow cheese, two pickles, and three sarsaparillas. And I see you've got buttermilk pie. I'll have one of those."
"Do you mean a slice of pie?" Natoshia asked.
"No, I mean an entire pie, oh, and a fork," Jim answered.
Natoshia turned to Smoky.
"How about you, sir?"
"I'll take a slab of ribs, one of those ring sausages, two chunks of hard yellow cheese, and a cold beer," said Smoky. "And half of a cherry pie."
"Certainly. That will be one dollar and seventy five cents, please."
Smoky dug in his pocket and came up with two silver dollars to pay the bill. "Keep the change," he told the waitress.
"Thank you, sir," she replied.
The hungry Rangers worked their way to a corner table, receiving a few curious looks from the other patrons. They dug into their food, eating mostly in silence, enjoying what for hard-riding lawmen used to bacon, beans, and hardtack was a bountiful repast.
Smoky leaned back in his chair, smoking and working on his second beer while Jim finished up his buttermilk pie. Natoshia approached their table, carrying a full pot of coffee and two cups.
"I thought you might like some coffee," she said.
"That's real thoughtful of you, honey," Smoky answered. "We would enjoy some. Thank you."
"You're welcome." The waitress set the cups on the table and filled them to the brim.
"How was your meal?"
"Everything was real tasty," Jim responded.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No more food, thanks. We're both ready to bust," Jim said, "but perhaps there is one thing you can tell us. What was your name again?"
"Natoshia. Natoshia Hall. And I'll help if I can."
"Natoshia, we're looking for Jim Huggins. Can you tell us where he lives, and if he's in town?"
"Sergeant Huggins, the Ranger?"
"That's right. We're friends of his."
Jim slipped his hand into his shirt pocket, extracted his badge, and held it in the palm of his hand so only Natoshia could see the silver star on silver circle. He then slid the badge back inside his pocket. "We don't want anyone else to know there are more Rangers in town to meet up with Sergeant Huggins," Jim whispered.
"I understand," Natoshia answered. "His place is just down this road a short way. Turn left from here onto St. Mary's Street, and it's no more than a quarter mile to his home. It's on the right, a yellow brick house. And yes, he is in town. He ate breakfast here this morning."
"We appreciate your help. Thank you."
"You're welcome. And don't worry. No one will find out from me who you gentlemen are."
"Again, thank you," Jim repeated. "And we'll try and stop by again before we leave town. Pay the lady, Smoke."
"I already did."
"For the grub, not the information. Now pay her."
"I reckon I'd better."
Smoky handed two silver dollars to the waitress.
"Now let's get outta here," Jim ordered.
The Rangers headed to their patiently waiting horses.
"You'll be bedded down real soon, Siz," Jim promised his paint while he tightened the cinches. He swung into the saddle. As usual, Smoky rolled and lit a quirly before mounting Soot.
Less than ten minutes later they reined up in front of Jim Huggins' home. It was just as the waitress had described it, a yellow brick house with a large field in the back, rather prepossessing for a
Ranger's home. Dusty, Huggins' chestnut gelding, whinnied a loud greeting to the Rangers' mounts from his corral. The welcoming glow of lamplight spilled from several windows onto the road.
"Natoshia gave it to us straight," Jim said. "Looks like Jim's still awake."
"Then let's say howdy," Smoky answered.
They dismounted, tied their horses, and stepped up to the door. Jim rapped on it.
A moment later the door swung open. Jim Huggins stood there, staring in disbelief. "Jim Blawcyzk. It can't be! And Smoky McCue! What're you two ranahans doin' in this neck of the woods?"
"It's us all right," said Jim grinning. "Are you gonna invite us in or leave us standin' out here all night?"
"Of course not. C'mon in." Huggins turned and called to his wife. "Cora! We've got company. Would you please get some coffee boilin'?"
"No need for that," Jim said. "We already ate at that place up the road, Woody's. Great meal. And we need to care for our horses."
"Of course. But what happened to you?" Huggins asked. "You look like you've been through hell and back, Jim. And you don't look all that much better, Smoky."
"I pretty much have been," Jim admitted. "And I guess it shows."
Jim looked all done in. His face was haggard, covered with thick blonde stubble, and his tow hair hung over his collar. He was also coated with dust and dirt. The only washing he'd had in weeks was that at Therese Marchitto's place. Even his blue eyes seemed dull and lifeless.
Smoky looked almost as worn out. He too wore a thick beard in addition to his pencil-thin moustache. His silver-tipped black hair hung lank under his Stetson.
"Boys, let's get your broncs cared for and yourselves cleaned up a mite," said Huggins. "We can talk after that."
The horses settled, Jim and Smoky performed a rudimentary cleanup in the horse trough. Now they, along with Jim and his slim, attractive wife Cora, sat in the Huggins' comfortable living room, cups of steaming black coffee in their hands.
"Nice place you have here," Jim told Huggins. "Sure different from the adobes or clapboard houses I'm used to. And you're lookin' pretty good for a man who took a bullet in the ribs."
"Thanks," Huggins replied. "I'm pretty much recovered. In fact, I just wired Austin yesterday for orders. And we were real lucky to find this house. We bought it from a banker who fell on hard times during the panic a few years back, and needed cash in a hurry. I never could have afforded it on Ranger's pay otherwise."
"Well, it's real cozy. Your wife must get the credit for that. You certainly didn't pretty it up like this," Jim said laughing.
"Thank you," Cora answered. "It's hard to keep up a home, between my working at the school and Jim being gone most of the time, but I do my best."
"You've done a fine job, especially considerin' you've got this 'ol Ranger underfoot," Jim replied.
"Jim, stop stallin'. Tell me what the devil you're doin' clear over here in east Texas," Huggins demanded. "And don't tell me you're takin' a vacation."
"I'm not. You've no doubt heard about the raid on my ranch and attack on my family."
"Of course I have," Huggins replied. "I was wondering when you'd get around to that. I'm also aware you pulled a gun on Jeff Timmons and left him tied up, then attacked Dan and took off, leavin' my boy lyin' there out cold. So I'm sure you've already figured out I know you've disobeyed orders, and that Captain Trumbull wants you hogtied and dumped on his desk. Now, you can't just be on the run, or you sure wouldn't have stopped off here. And Smoke, what're you doin' with him? Word I had is Captain Trumbull ordered you to personally run down Jim and bring him in. Jim, the only reason I didn't pull a gun on you as soon as I saw you is we've been friends and ridin' pards far too long for me not to know there's gotta be a good reason for you pullin' all the stunts you have recently. So tell me.
Jim flushed beet red with embarrassment. "Not to mention you didn't shoot me 'cause you weren't holdin' a gun when you answered the door," he said.
"You're stallin' again."
"You're right. I was kinda hopin' you hadn't heard about Dan. So much for that. And I'm plumb sorry, Jim. Sure wish I hadn't had to do that to him. But I didn't have much choice. Cora, I want to apologize to you also."
Jim hesitated, and then continued.
"Captain Trumbull didn't want me goin' after the renegades who shot my boy and, and violated my wife. I just couldn't take those orders. The only reason Dan got caught in the middle is he walked in on me just as I was gettin' ready to leave. I needed time to get a start and couldn't chance him or Jeff reaching headquarters too soon. So I left 'em at my place, as comfortable as I could make 'em."
"Then what?" Huggins asked.
"I headed out lookin' for those hombres, and my stolen horses. Found the horses, and some rustlers who'd bought them from the men I was searchin' for. They told me who'd attacked my place. Reese Macklin and his bunch."
"Macklin. I've heard of him. Real bad one, but nobody's been able to pin anything on him."
"They have now. Smoky and I shot it out with Macklin and his men. Most of 'em are dead. Macklin and two others are in jail over in Cameron."
"So if Macklin's outfit is finished what're you doin' here?"
"Macklin wasn't the boss. He was paid to try'n kill me."
"Which means you're here because whoever hired Macklin was from this area. That's the only reason you'd be this far east. You're not claimin' it's someone from right here in Centerville?"
"Close. Read these." Jim pulled the papers he'd taken from Reese Macklin's desk and handed them to Huggins.
Huggins read them thoroughly, his face darkening with anger. "Justin Cox is behind all this? And he waited all these years?" he asked.
"Seems so," Jim replied.
"Hardly seems possible," Huggins responded. "And why didn't Cox come after me and my family? I was there with you on that Texas Pacific case. So was Smoky."
"That's true. But I was in charge of that investigation. You came in later. And Cox probably figured it would be too dangerous goin' after a Ranger in his own back yard. I'm certain he came after me and not you, Jorge, or Smoky because I'm the man who killed his brother."
"So now you're goin' after Justin Cox."
"I plan to. That's where I need your help, Jim. From what Macklin told me it's gonna be darn nigh impossible to get at him. Any chance you could kinda find an excuse to meet Cox, then arrest him?"
"No chance at all, Jim. He doesn't like me, and now I know why. Plus he's always got several bodyguards around, even at county meetings."
"Macklin told us that too," Smoky added.
"So we're gonna have to face Cox on his own turf, seems like," Jim said frowning.
"That's the only way I can see it right now," Huggins conceded. "It's gonna be a fight, that's for certain."
"Any other help we can get? How about your county sheriff?" Jim asked.
"Mike Price? Sure. He and Cox have been at odds for years. He'll want to be in on this."
"Anyone else?"
"Yeah, Sergeant Frank Malinak. He's ridin' over from Bryan to meet with me about the upcoming Delaney trial. He should be here by tomorrow night at the latest. I don't believe either of you have met him."
"I haven't, but I've heard a lot about him, all good." Jim said.
"You'll like him. Frank's a good Ranger. We'll need him and Mike goin' up against Cox. There's no one else I can think of who'll give us a hand."
"I'd like to set up a meeting with your sheriff before Cox gets wind I'm in town and gunnin' for him," Jim said. "We've gotta move fast."
"Fast, but with care," Huggins cautioned. "Look, I've got an idea. Mike Price is giving a birthday party for his Grandma Mamie tomorrow night. She'll be one hundred and four, and she's still sharp as a tack. There'll be a big crowd. No one around here knows you or Smoky, except maybe Cox, and he won't be there. Besides, you two look so ragged it's most likely even he'd never recognize you. I'll talk to Mike in the morning and tell him what you need. We'll go to the party, and t
hen find a way to slip into the back room for a while and have our meeting. We'll just introduce you as deputies from out of town who've worked with Mike before if anyone asks."
"One hundred and four?" Smoky echoed. "That's pretty amazing."
"It sure is," Huggins agreed, "But how about my idea?"
"It should work," Jim said. "Smoke and I can lay low until then."
"There's no need to do that," said Cora. "You'll stay right here. With Laura married and Daniel off with the Rangers we have two empty bedrooms."
"We can't do that. Not as grubby as we are," Jim protested.
"We have two washtubs, and I can heat plenty of water. There's soap, washcloths, and towels. You can bathe in the kitchen. That's the last I'll hear of it. You'll be staying right here as long as you're in town."
"No use arguin' with her, Jim," Huggins laughed.
"I can see I'll get about as far with your wife as I do with mine." Jim smiled. "All right, we'll stay. And I'm more'n ready to hit the sack."
"That's a good idea for all of us, with such a big day ahead tomorrow," Cora said. "Jim can show you to your rooms while I heat your water. The tubs are outside the back door. Just bring them in and fill them. I'll leave you soap and towels. Once you've finished your baths you can just empty the tubs, leave the towels on the back rail, and turn in for the night."
The good nights were said, Jim and Smoky shown their rooms. They came downstairs to find kettles of hot water ready, as promised.
"Sure is gonna feel good to soak off some of this Texas soil, Smoke," Jim remarked.
"Gotta agree with you there, pard," Smoky answered.
The pair of round Number 10 washtubs didn't provide anywhere near the room of a barbershop or hotel's long zinc tubs. Nonetheless, squeezing into those cramped tubs and scrubbing off the grime of the past days was refreshing. They had finished their baths and were toweling off when Smoky eyed Jim.
"Jim, there's somethin' we need to get settled," he said.
"What's that, Smoke?"
"When we meet up with Cox, are you gonna gun him down like you'd planned on doing to Macklin?"
Ranger's Revenge (Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk Book 7) Page 14