[Texas Rangers 06] - Jericho's Road (20 page)

Now Tony lay half conscious, senses dulled by several liberal doses of whiskey before the surgery began. Andy knew it would be poor taste to ask McCawley why his stepson seemed to resent him so much.

Farley had no such inhibitions. He said, “There must’ve been a hell of a bust-up between him and you. What did you do to him?”

McCawley seemed jarred by the question. “Nothin’ except to be white. We were havin’ a right smart of trouble with bandits, so I sent my family down to his uncle. Figured they’d be safer at Lupe’s place in Mexico. I didn’t figure on Lupe fillin’ his head with so much hate for everything gringo. Juana and Teresa came home after that spell of trouble died down, but Tony stayed.”

Farley said, “Maybe you should’ve gone and brought him whether he wanted to come or not.”

“
I wouldn’t have gotten back across the river alive.” McCawley’s eyes were sad. “Some folks complain about discrimination against Mexicans, but the knife cuts both ways. There’s blind people aplenty on either side.”

All the windows had shutters that could be closed and barred from the inside, a holdover from earlier Spanish times when Indian raids had been a recurring challenge. McCawley saw to it that the window in Tony’s room was shuttered so no one could see in and perhaps get a shot at him. He said, “If Jericho’s dead set on killin’ him, an open window would be too much temptation.”

Andy said, “Do you think he’d be bold enough to come here?”

“
If Jericho sets his mind to somethin’, he’ll walk through hell’s fire to get it done. I’ll be puttin’ men on guard tonight.”

Andy said, “You can figure on me and Farley.”

Farley gave Andy a cautioning look that said to speak only for himself, but he assured McCawley, “I’ll stand my share.”

McCawley said, “I’d be obliged if somebody would stay in Tony’s room tonight and make sure nobody sneaks in.”

Or out, Andy thought. He would not be surprised if, despite his wound, Tony took a notion to slip out of the house and make for the border. He probably would not get far, but it would not be for lack of trying.

Tony’s sister sat at his bedside when Andy and Farley returned to the room. Tony appeared to be asleep but restless. Teresa said quietly, “He’s running some fever.”

Farley laid his palm against the boy’s forehead. “At least he won’t be runnin’ for the border tonight.”

She said, “He wouldn’t do that. Would he?”

“
He might. He’s got guts. Meanin’ no offense, but it’s too bad he ain’t got good sense to match.”

She said, “I’ll admit he’s a trial sometimes. But he is my brother. I’d hate to see more harm come to him.”

Farley placed a hand on her shoulder. “It won’t. Me and Badger Boy will see to that.”

She reached up and touched his hand. “Badger Boy?”

“
It’s a long story. If you’ve got time maybe I’ll tell it to you.”

She smiled. “I have plenty of time.”

Andy left the pair and walked out to the kitchen to see about getting a cup of coffee. He doubted that Farley’s story would paint him in a good light.

Someone shouted outside, “Mr. McCawley. Riders comin’.”

McCawley flung the door open and stepped out into the night. He shouted, “Don’t anybody shoot unless we’re shot at.”

Rifle in hand, Andy joined McCawley at the front of the house. Farley came hurrying, pausing to blow out the lamp in the parlor. Andy said, “Don’t seem likely that it’d be Jericho. Not bold and open like this.”

McCawley said, “Anybody who can outguess Jericho ought to be able to outguess the weather and the cattle market too. I’d put him on my payroll.” He shouted to the oncoming horsemen, “Who are you?”

The answer came in a familiar voice. “Sergeant Donahue, Texas Rangers. Is that you, Jim McCawley?”

“
It is. You-all come in slow so I can get a look at you.” McCawley lowered his rifle once he was satisfied that the visitors were indeed Rangers.

Andy counted five men including the sergeant. He was pleased to see that Len Tanner was among them. He had been concerned that Len might have charged into the fray with his usual recklessness and gotten himself hurt.

Donahue gave Andy and Farley a critical look. “Figured you two would be here. I talked to Jericho.”

Andy acknowledged him with a nod.

Farley said, “I’d guess he hollered murder.”

“
Somethin’ like that. Said you-all took a prisoner away from him.”

Andy said, “It wasn’t quite that way. He tried to take a prisoner away from us. We didn’t let him.”

Donahue’s frown deepened. “You exceeded your authority.”

“
I always thought a Ranger is supposed to protect a prisoner and not let anybody take one from him.”

“
Jericho claimed you threatened to kill him.”

Farley said, “All we done was tell him that if he didn’t back away from our prisoner, we’d shoot out his liver and lights.”

“
You meant it, of course.”

Farley replied, “It ain’t my way to say somethin’ unless I mean it.” He glanced at Andy. “This Indian boy’s neither. Folks don’t always agree with us, but they seldom misunderstand what we tell them.”

“
Why did you bring your prisoner here instead of deliverin’ him to camp?”

Andy said, “That was too far. He could’ve bled to death. Besides, we figured Jericho would gather up more men and head us off. He had blood in his eye.”

“
It was still there when I talked to him.” Donahue looked back at McCawley. “Jericho said it was your stepson. Have I your permission to go in and take a look at him?”

McCawley considered the question. “Just you. And understand that you’re not takin’ him when you go. He’s too bad hurt to be moved.”

Donahue stiffened. “I am an officer of the law. I do not accept conditions.”

“
You’ll accept this one or you’ll hear from my friends in Austin.”

Donahue’s mustache twitched in anger at this threat to go over his head. “Very well, but you should understand that I consider your boy a prisoner. I’ll leave a guard. As soon as he’s fit to travel, he’ll be taken to jail.”

McCawley yielded no ground. “We’ll discuss that when the time comes.” He motioned toward the door. “After you.”

Len waited until Donahue and McCawley had gone inside. He moved up to Andy and said, “You-all have played hell with the sergeant’s digestion. He wanted Jericho to get that boy. Said it would serve Big Jim McCawley right for marryin’ a Mexican woman.”

“
I knew he had somethin’ stuck in his craw.”

“
Ain’t much he can do about the kid for now, but he’ll chew on it. He’ll have an awful stomachache by the time he gets back to camp.”

Farley growled, “It’ll be good for him.”

Len shook his head. “But not for the rest of us.”

Andy asked, “Were you with him when he talked to Jericho?”

“
Yeah. Looks like Jericho’s crew killed most of the Mexicans, but they took a pretty hard lickin’ theirselves. He’ll be shorthanded till he can rustle up some more men.”

“
So will Guadalupe Chavez. Maybe that’ll put a stop to the raids around here for a while.”

“
Maybe.” Len grinned. “But it was a pretty interestin’ scrap while it lasted.”

Donahue came out in no better mood than before. He was telling McCawley, “It wouldn’t make no difference if you was the governor of Texas. An outlaw is an outlaw no matter who he belongs to.”

McCawley asked, “Did anybody see him steal any cattle?”

“
He was there.”

“
So were you. So were Jericho’s men. Just bein’ there doesn’t prove anything.”

“
It’ll be enough for a jury.” Donahue jerked his bridle reins from the hands of a Ranger and jammed his foot into the stirrup. “I intend to see that he stands in front of a judge and jury that won’t care about anything except him bein’ Lupe Chavez’s nephew.”

Andy walked up as Donahue mounted. “Sergeant, you said you’re leavin’ a guard. Since he was our prisoner, I’d like to volunteer.”

Donahue glared at him. “Permission denied. In fact, you and Brackett can consider yourselves unemployed. I am strikin’ you from the roll as of now.

Farley protested. “On what grounds?”

“
On the grounds that I don’t trust either one of you any further than I can spit.”

Farley said, “I got wages comin’.”

“
Take it up with Austin.” Donahue pointed to the Ranger named Hewitt. “You’ll stay here and be sure that boy doesn’t set foot out of this house. Soon as he’s able to ride, I’ll send a detail to pick him up.” Donahue looked back at Andy and Farley. “If you two have any belongings left in camp I’ll send Private Tanner back here with them. If I ever see either of you again, I’ll file charges on you for malfeasance.”

Andy trembled with anger. He could not bring out the words he wanted to say.

Farley said them for him, a burst of profanity that would have done credit to a drunken mule skinner.

As the Rangers moved off, Len held back for a moment. “Sorry, Andy.”

Andy shrugged. Nothing was left to say.

Farley grunted. “It may be a good thing anyhow. Have you ever seen an
old
Ranger?”

McCawley put his big hand on Andy’s shoulder. It felt heavy as an anvil. “You’ve both got a job here with me if you want it. After a little coolin’ off time … well, like I said, I’ve got friends in Austin.”

Ranger Hewitt seemed unsure what his relationship with Andy and Farley should be, so he kept it formal. He said, “I’m sorry for what happened to you men, but I don’t want it happenin’ to me.”

Andy tried to set him at ease. “We don’t hold anything against you.”

Farley added, “It ain’t your fault you’re workin’ for a son of a bitch.”

Hewitt said, “I’d ask for a transfer, but Donahue would probably fire me instead.”

“
You could hire out somewhere as a deputy sheriff. I hear most county deputies are paid better than Rangers,” Andy suggested.

“
But my daddy was a Ranger before the war. Died fightin’ Indians. All I ever really wanted was to be a Ranger like him.”

Farley said, “Then stay with it. Sooner or later Donahue is liable to bite himself like a rattlesnake. I don’t see why the main office puts up with the likes of him.”

Hewitt said, “You have to admit that he’s pretty good at what he does. The trouble is that he knows it.”

Andy nodded. “I can see why he’s got his sights set on Lupe Chavez. I just can’t see why he cozies up to the likes of Jericho Jackson.”

Hewitt said, “You can’t see it because you don’t have a devious mind like his. He wanted Jericho to kill the McCawley boy because he knew it’d make Chavez mad enough to come shootin’. He wants Chavez and Jericho to hit like two freight trains rammin’ together. With any luck they’d wipe each other out. Then Donahue would get credit for cleanin’ up the border. He’d like to be known as another Leander McNelly.”

Farley pointed out, “McNelly is dead, but Donahue looks so healthy it turns my stomach. I guess we shouldn’t hope for too much in this world.”

Next morning Andy watched as Jim McCawley prepared to walk out to the corrals. He said, “You haven’t been in to see Tony this mornin’.”

McCawley’s expression was dark. “He talks to his mother and sister. He doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“
I’m sorry.”

“
It’s nothin’ for you to trouble yourself about. It’s between me and Tony … and Lupe Chavez.”

Andy thought it best to change the subject. “I’ve been thinkin’ about goin’ back home to the Colorado River, but I’ll stay awhile if you have a use for me. I don’t know that I’m much of a cowboy, though. Never did much of that.”

“
I’ve already got enough cowboys. I’m afraid Jericho hasn’t given up on the notion of killin’ Tony. I’d like you to stay around close and help watch out for him. Farley too, if he’s of a mind to stay.”

“
I don’t think Farley is in any hurry to leave.” Andy had seen Farley in intense conversation with Teresa after breakfast. He added, “Jericho might not stop with Tony if he saw a chance to get you too.”

McCawley filled a pipe with tobacco, tamped and lighted it. “There’s no enemy quite as bitter as a friend who’s turned against you. Jericho wanted this ranch so bad he’d sell his soul to the devil to get it. Lupe Chavez couldn’t stop him, but I did.”

“
What’s to keep him from slippin’ up and shootin’ you while you’re out on horseback, workin’ cattle?”

“
I have some good men with me, white and Mexican both. And I’ve got eyes in the back of my head when it comes to Jericho. You watch out for Tony. I can take care of myself.”

Andy hoped he was right. He watched with admiration as McCawley walked out toward the corrals. The man’s stern determination reminded him of Rusty Shannon and Sheriff Tom Blessing. He had seen both stand tall in the face of severe adversity.