Lone Star Ranger : A Ranger to Ride With (9781310568404) by Griffin James J

Author:Griffin, James J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, series, texas ranger, ya fiction, western adventure, western action, western classic, painted pony books, lone star ranger
Publisher: Smashwords

6

It was two hours before sunset the next day when they reached the Ranger encampment, which was situated in a hollow at a bend of the San Saba.

“There it is, Nate. Home, for the next couple of months, at least. Seems like everyone’s in from the field. Look it over.”

The camp consisted of a number of tents surrounding a firepit. Off to the left was a rope corral which contained the Rangers’ horses, along with several pack mules. Next to that was a canvas topped-wagon, which evidently held supplies. Four men were posted as sentries on high points around the camp. Since the river ran a bit deeper here, large cottonwood and towering cypress trees provided welcome shade. One of the men was emerging from the brush, buttoning his pants, apparently having just relieved himself. Four men were playing cards in front of one of the tents. Others were mending clothes or tack, while a few were stretched out on the ground, dozing. At the river two men were on the bank washing clothes, while three more were in the water, scrubbing themselves.

“What d’ya think, Nate?”

Nate grunted and arched his back to work out a kink.

“Does this mean we won’t have to do any more ridin’ for a while?”

“Most likely. But it’s the Rangers, so I can’t make any promises.”

“Then let’s get down there.” Nate urged his horse forward.

“Hold up a minute, pard,” Jeb called after him, spurring Dudley to keep up.

As they neared the camp, one of the sentries challenged them. He was a grizzled old man with a week’s worth of gray stubble coating his jaw.

“Hold it right there. Don’t make a move, or I’ll put bullets right through your gizzards. State your business.”

“Shorty, you know who I am. Can’t you see the badge I’m wearin’? It’s me, Jeb Rollins,” Jeb answered.

“Don’t know any such thing. And who’s the young whippersnapper with you?”

“Him? He’s Nate Stewart. Gonna be ridin’ with us for a spell, mebbe.”

“What about the hombre all wrapped up like a birthday present and tied belly-down over his horse? Who’s he?”

“Horse thief. I’m hopin’ mebbe someone here can tell us who he is. Cap’n Dave in camp?”

“He’s around somewhere.”

“Good. Now you gonna let us pass or what?”

“I reckon. Go on in.”

“Thanks, Shorty.”

“That hombre sure is a nasty old coot,” Nate said, once they were out of earshot.

“Shorty? He’s not so bad. Name’s Shorty Beach. Been a Ranger a long time, since before the War, in fact. Sure, he’s cantankerous, but you get in a fight and you want Shorty alongside you.”

As they rode through the camp, Jeb exchanged greetings and nods with his fellow Rangers. Lieutenant Bob Berkeley came out from his tent.

“Jeb. I wondered who was ridin’ in. ’Bout time you got back. But what’s Nate doin’ with you? I thought he was goin’ back East.”

“His plans changed,” Jeb answered. “Where’s Cap’n Dave? I need to talk to him. After that, I can explain things to you.”

“He’s in his tent, takin’ care of paperwork. Third one down on the left.

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