Texas Blue

chapter 13



At the border



ABOUT THE TIME THE U.S. CAVALRY FINISHED BREAKFAST, they heard a racket and felt the earth rumble as only a herd of cattle can make it do when they’re running at full speed. The soldiers saddled up and moved closer to the Rio. At first all they saw was cattle, and then as the sun rose, they saw the rangers climbing down to where their horses had been left, mounting up, and herding the stolen cattle back onto Texas soil.

McNelly rode in the lead of the tired, dirty band. He smiled broadly beneath his beard and mustache. His bluff had paid off. The ranchers across the border claimed they didn’t have the bandits, but they returned the cattle.

As the rangers reached Texas, they circled out, allowing the cavalry to herd.

One soldier stepped up to hold McNelly’s horse while the captain of the rangers stepped down. “You left a horse on the other side of the river, sir,” the private announced.

McNelly glanced back. “That’s Duncan McMurray’s horse. Damn devil won’t let anyone ride her but Duncan, and, to tell the truth, I don’t think there’s one of my men who have enough strength left to try.”

“Where is McMurray?”

“He’ll be along,” the captain said, as if voicing his words would make it so. “He’s a third-generation ranger. If he’s alive, he’ll make it back to Texas.”

Wyatt moved up beside McNelly. “You want me to take a few men and go back to look for him?”

McNelly shook his head. “It’d take a hundred men to go after him now. They’ve figured out we were bluffing. Any Texan on that side of the Rio is probably already dead. Duncan’s smart. My guess is he’s found somewhere to hide and decided to wait it out until dark. Get some grub and some sleep. By the time you wake up, he’ll be here ready to eat some supper.”

Wyatt watched the river all day, hoping Duncan would somehow show up. In the dark before a sliver of moon appeared, he swam the river one last time and tried to bring Duncan’s mare back. The Mexicans had left her tied, probably hoping she’d lose some of her fight when she got hungry enough.

The mare let Wyatt close enough to pull her saddle and untie the bridle, and then she bolted into the night as if she had somewhere to be and was late.

Wyatt swam back across the river thinking that at least the horse was alive, even if Duncan McMurray hadn’t made it.