by Edward Gates
“Sure. I’ll have some water brought in.” He smiled at Charlie. “Boiled water.”
Charlie chuckled.
“You can sleep in here tonight. With the troops back in camp, there aren’t a lot of free beds. Tomorrow you can move into the Rangers’ quarters.”
Charlie slept through the night and in the morning the horrible pain in his leg had diminished. With the help of the corpsman, he moved to the building unofficially designated the Rangers’ quarters. It was nothing more than a large room that he guessed was a warehouse at one time. Now it was empty except for ten old cots and a few chairs. He selected one cot, set out his bedroll on it and sat. There were no lockers or boxes where he could store his belongings, just open, empty space.
He pulled the time belt from his valise and held it. Then he let out a deep sigh, remembering the incredible journey he’d been on over the last year. He chuckled and spoke out loud to himself. “This damn thing got me in and out of more trouble than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He stood and slowly limped to a window where he watched a late morning breeze scatter dust throughout the complex.
“What am I doing here?” He looked at the time belt and thought about going back to his life in the future and pleading his case. Then he remembered his father’s warning that since he was already declared dead, he would most likely be eliminated on sight.
Charlie hobbled back to his cot and reclined to give his leg some rest. Still holding on to his time belt, he thought about the people, the adventures and the growth he’d experienced in this year. It had all shaped him into the man he was now. No longer was he the frightened, anxiety-riddled, out-of-shape boy who was dropped into Virginia a year ago. Physically, he was stronger and leaner. He was proud of and amazed by the abilities he’d acquired. Mentally he was confident and daring, not afraid of new adventures and not shying away from challenges.
He smiled as he put the time belt back in the canvas bag. He felt settled here in this simple life. In spite of the hardships, this lifestyle suited him. It had been tough to get used to this life, especially for him, since he had grown up with all the comforts and technology of the twenty-third century. Surprisingly, though, he had few problems adjusting.
Before long, he dozed off to a late morning nap.
After seven days of being stuck in this wilderness fort, Charlie was tired of waiting and anxious to get on the road to join the Rangers. He’d been riding Bandit every day and his leg was well enough to handle a few days in the saddle. It was time to get on with his new career.
He was packing his belongings when he looked out the window and saw six riders enter the fort. They were unshaven, and their clothes were a mix of animal furs, buckskins and dirty, mismatched shirts and pants. Charlie shrugged and went back to packing his valise. After a few minutes, the door to the quarters swung open and the six men entered laughing and talking. They stopped when they saw Charlie.
A slender man about the same height as Charlie stepped forward from the group and smiled at him. He wore a buckskin jacket over a dark blue cotton shirt open at the chest. He had on a pair of dark, shiny leather pants that Charlie found out later were made from an elk’s hide. A ridiculous blue tricorne hat, trimmed with a gold fringe and a large white feather, adorned his head. His black beard and long black hair hid most of his face except for piercing blue eyes.
“So, who might you be? And what are you doing in our quarters?”
“Your quarters?” Charlie asked. “Are you Rangers?”
“I’m Captain Thomas Bennett of the Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers. At your service.” He bowed slightly and swept his tricorne hat from his head across his body and then back on his head. “Now, sir. You have me at a disadvantage. I do not know you.”
Charlie smiled, and almost laughed. “I’m Charlie Turlock. I’ve been trying to find you. I came all the way from Austin to be a part of this battalion.”
Captain Bennett looked a little confused as he stared at Charlie. He chuckled. “You know, it takes a little more than you just showing up here and tellin’ me you wanna be a Ranger.”
Laughing, the other Rangers walked up and surrounded Charlie. Nervously, he pulled Senator Pennbroker’s letter from his saddlebags and handed it to Captain Bennett, who stepped back and began to read it. The other Rangers all closed in around him.
One of them picked up Charlie’s saddlebags and opened them. “Let’s see what else this pup has in here.”
Charlie turned to grab his saddlebags back but was met by a short, stocky Ranger dressed in buckskins. He put his hand on Charlie’s chest to stop him. “Where you goin’, pup? You got somethin’ in them bags we shouldn’t see?” He stood uncomfortably close to Charlie, staring into his eyes. “You know, Cap’n, I don’t think I can ride with a pup this young and inexperienced. What makes you think you’re tough enough to be a Ranger, pup?”
Charlie was scared and angry at first, but then noticed the slightest glint in the eye of this Ranger. He understood this game. This was a test. He used to play this in school where one person challenged another back and forth with insults.
Charlie took a deep breath and stared back at the Ranger. “You know, I’m glad you can’t ride with me. Because I don’t think I can ride with anyone this ugly and smells this bad.”
The Ranger moved closer and was now chest-to-chest with Charlie. He was about to say something when Charlie noticed another man picking up his valise. He shoved the Ranger in front of him and pulled the valise away from the other one. He stepped away from the other five and stood holding his valise. He had to protect his time belt.
The short Ranger he had shoved took a step toward him, the glint in his eye replaced with anger. Charlie stood waiting for an onslaught.
“Hold up, men,” Captain Bennett said. They all stopped. “According to this letter, Ranger Turlock here is telling it true.” He walked over to Charlie and handed him back the letter and shook Charlie’s hand. “Welcome to the Frontier Battalion.” He addressed his troops. “Looks like we got ourselves a new recruit.” He turned back to Charlie. “Ever kill anybody?”
Charlie’s mind flashed back to the Indian attack he weathered, the outlaws he battled and the showdowns he’d been in. But his brain focused on the traveler who accidentally died on his watch. A solemn expression clouded Charlie’s face. He nodded.
“Good.” The captain nodded. “Then I can count on you to do what needs to be done.” He placed his arm around Charlie’s shoulder. “Now, I know you’re new and all, but the first rule to bein’ a Ranger is… don’t get yourself killed.” He guffawed loudly and the other Rangers joined in the laughter.
“I’m glad you told me that. I’ll try and keep that in mind.” This brought on another round of laughs that Charlie couldn’t help but join in. The one Ranger handed him back his saddlebags and shook his hand.
Captain Bennett introduced Charlie to the other five Rangers and they sat down among the cots and talked. The captain explained that they had been out on patrol for six days and were anxious to head back to their camp. They were going to spend the night to give the horses a rest, resupply and head back to Camp Concho the next day. Charlie shared the story of how he ended up at this fort with a bullet in his leg.
“Can you ride? Do you have a horse?” the captain asked.
“Yeah. I got a horse. I’ve been out riding for the past few days. I can ride with no problem. The leg is feeling pretty good.”
“You got your own weapons? Ammunition? We supply our own, you know.”
“Yep. I have all that.”
Captain Bennett paused and took a long look at Charlie. “What in God’s name made you volunteer to come out here and be a Ranger? This is the most thankless job on earth.”
Charlie leaned back in his chair. “About five years ago I met a bunch of Rangers. They saved my life. They all seemed so happy and contented doing what they do. They told me all about the Rangers and what you all stood for and it seemed like something I wa
nted to be a part of.”
“Five years ago we were a great organization. Now, not so much. The war broke us up. Government couldn’t afford us. It’s not the same as it was. Now, people don’t even know we exist.” Captain Bennett paused and looked down at the floor. “If it weren’t for that one Senator Pennbroker, no one would know we was alive. No tellin’ where we’re gonna end up. Hell, they could disband us tomorrow.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I’ll bet the Texas Rangers will be back soon and I have a feeling they’re going to play a major role in the development of this state.”
The captain smiled. “I hope you’re right, young Turlock. I hope you’re right.”
Charlie and the captain talked on into the evening while the other five Rangers went their separate ways to eat, rest and get cleaned up.
The next day Charlie stayed around the Rangers, listening to them share their stories and adventures. They stocked up on food and ammunition and packed their mounts. The following morning the seven Rangers headed out of Fort Chadbourne on their way to their camp.
They reached Camp Concho in the late evening after three days of travel. Charlie was sore and exhausted. Before he could rest, though, he had to take care of his horse. It was dark by the time he got Bandit cooled down and fed. Then he walked to the bunkhouse. Captain Bennett met him before he went in and escorted him inside. Ten rangers were crammed into this small bunkhouse. The captain introduced Charlie to the others.
“Grab ya a corner somewhere and set your gear.” The captain pointed to a few open areas. “As you can see, there ain’t a lot of room here. Not enough bunks for everyone, so some have to sleep on the floor. What makes this work is respecting other people, their belongings and their privacy. Especially their privacy, because we get so damn little of it.”
Charlie nodded. “I understand.” He put his saddle, valise and saddlebags along a vacant spot on the floor against a wall. He set his bedroll out, looking forward to a well-deserved rest. As the other Rangers, one-by-one, crawled into their bunks and bedrolls, Charlie did the same. Slowly, the few lanterns around the room were extinguished and within minutes Charlie was sound asleep.
It seemed like he’d slept for only a moment when the door to the bunkhouse was slammed open.
“All right, Rangers, grab your gear. We’re on the move!” Captain Bennett shouted.
Men began scurrying about packing up their gear, checking and loading their weapons and heading out the door. Charlie moved slowly, still exhausted. He turned to the Ranger next to him. “It felt like I just fell asleep.”
The man smiled. “We most likely did. But when the cap’n says move, we move.”
“What we doin’, Cap?” a Ranger asked as he passed Captain Bennett at the doorway.
“Cheyenne just raided a ranch six miles south of here. We’re goin’ after ‘em.”
Charlie packed up everything and dragged it out of the bunkhouse. He was the last one out; some Rangers already had their horses saddled and gear stowed by the time he got to the corral. The short Ranger Charlie had met at Fort Chadbourne helped him saddle Bandit while he got his gear stowed.
“Thanks.”
“You’re going to have to light a fire under it, pup. A few minutes can make a big difference out here.” He smiled at Charlie as he mounted his horse. “Welcome to the Rangers, boy.”
Charlie climbed into the saddle and watched the eleven Rangers peel off into a single file. He was the last in the line. As they rode, he watched the sun peek over the horizon in the east, casting a golden hue over the column of men ahead of him. A sense of pride and accomplishment rushed through him. He smiled as he patted Bandit’s neck. “I can’t believe this, Bandit. We finally made it. I’m really a Texas Ranger.”
He heard Captain Bennett shout, “Let’s make tracks!” The column began riding at a quicker pace. Charlie lightly tapped Bandit’s sides with his heels. “Okay, boy. Try to keep up with them. Looks like our adventure’s about to begin.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Edward Gates was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. After serving in the military during the Vietnam Conflict, he was educated at the University of Cincinnati.
A Systems Engineer by trade, he spent over thirty years writing technical and training manuals, presentations, speeches and sales media. His career took him and his family to Atlanta, Georgia and eventually on to Southern California where he lived until he retired in 2012. He and his wife reside in Prescott, Arizona.
Edward has a passion for writing and has always written stories and scenes. He has been actively involved in theater for well over 30 years and has written an award-winning stage play as well as numerous one-act plays. He is usually working on others.
RANGER’S QUEST is Mr. Gates’s second novel. This novel, coupled with his first one, A RANGER’S TIME, comprise the beginning and the end of the Charlie Turlock Ranger series. Additional novels and novelettes are in the works concerning Charlie Turlock’s exploits during his twenty-five-year career in the Texas Rangers.
A RANGER’S TIME is available through Amazon.com.
Contact information: email at: [email protected]
mail to: PO Box 12578, Prescott, AZ 86304
To see current projects, follow Mr. Gates on his website: edwardlgates.com