When they all ordered another round of drinks the talk turned to how to prevent small groups of settlers traveling without army guard from being attacked. All four men agreed that even if there were five times the Rangers signed on now, not all the roads could be protected. Every year the fort line pushed a little farther north and west. Every year folks living on the fringes died.
Finally Travis leaned back and asked each man what they were working on. As he had them, they gave him details.
Dillon had just finished enlisting Mike's help in searching out three brothers who had escaped from a prison north of Houston.
"You know them, McMurray," Dillon said. "You put two of them in jail a few years back. The Norman boys."
"Seth and Eldon?" Travis frowned remembering. "Weren't they raiding around Jefferson? Killed a whole family of Quakers."
Dillon nodded. "That's them. They had a little brother who went to jail about a year later. Everyone called him Fancy Frank because he always dressed up in black suits and polished boots. I'm the one who put him in for murdering a woman, and he swore to kill me if he ever got out."
Travis laughed. "If I rounded up every outlaw who made that promise to me, I could fill a church. I was one of the guards who took Seth and Eldon down to prison. Every morning Seth would start the day with a new way to kill me. Last one I remember was that he planned to cut my heart out."
Dillon shook his head. "I get the feeling these boys mean it. If you're like me, you still watch your back. We posted a reward, but so far no takers."
He didn't know anything about the little brother, but he'd passed Seth and Eldon's pa at the courthouse once. The old man had a wild, crazy look about him that he must have passed down to his sons. "What about their pa?" Travis asked the other Rangers. "Any chance the boys are heading home?"
"Maybe." Dillon shrugged. "Old Man Norman lives south of here on a piece of dirt he doesn't even try to farm. I checked on him once. The neighbors say he killed his two wives, but if he did, it was years ago. Nowadays he runs just enough cattle to scratch out a living."
Travis couldn't get the Norman boys out of his mind as the conversation changed. They were bad news and he didn't like the idea that they were once more on the loose. It would only be a matter of time before someone paid.
He downed half of his beer in one gulp and turned to listen to Roy. Despite the fact the man had two wives, he liked the stout Ranger.
Roy Dumont said he'd just ridden in from the border and had as many questions as Travis about the Norman brothers. Neither was assigned to the case but both wanted to help, so the talk turned back to the brothers.
Travis smiled to himself. Rangers were like drunks, looking for adventure instead of the next drink. Funny thing was, the fights that always seemed the grandest were the ones you missed. He drew back into the circle and listened. Dillon had done his background work on this problem. If someone didn't find the brothers before they reached town, there was no telling the havoc they'd cause.
Austin was still struggling to remain the capital. If they got a bad reputation now, the folks in Houston would have the state papers moved and Austin would die. The two towns had been fighting over which should be the capital for years.
"The problem with the Normans escaping is that if they cause trouble here in Austin, no one in the state will feel safe." Roy spit at a spittoon three feet away, and none of the other men looked to see if he missed.
"You're right," Travis answered, glad to have his mind on work. "I'm not here officially. I'm still recovering, but I'll keep my ears open." He looked from Dillon to Mike. "If you need backup, you know where to find me. I'll be checking in at the office every few days to see if anything new has turned up. Since I know what Eldon and Seth look like, I'll keep a close eye out for them." He didn't mention that he would be sitting for a bar exam.
"Can you ride?" Dillon asked the question casually. The meaning had far more to do with Travis being ready to hit the trail at any minute than with his ability to sit a horse.
"No," Travis answered honestly. "I'm here with my sister and the kid I told you I found with the outlaws. We're hoping to connect him with any living family, but the chances are not good."
Dillon waited for more explanation about his condition. When Travis didn't say another word about his leg, they all knew the answer. None had missed the cane he carried.
"I understand. It wouldn't be fair to pull you back before you're healed." Dillon smiled. "In truth, if I need you, it will probably be right here." He looked around, then leaned in closer to the center of the table. "I heard the Normans kept a list of men they planned to get even with on their cell wall. Most were Rangers, a few judges and informants." He looked around the table. "With you in Austin, McMurray, that makes over half the list in town. It makes sense they'll come here."
"Any clue when?"
Dillon shook his head. "I heard a rumor that one of the barmaids here used to be sweet on Seth. Maybe he'll drop by for a visit."
Travis frowned. Dillon wouldn't have even brought the rumor up unless he believed it.
Dillon played a card from his hand, and the others did the same so anyone watching would think nothing more than a card game was going on. "Think about it. Old Man Norman may have been keeping an eye on the men on the hit list for his sons. All Rangers pass through here regularly as well as judges and lawyers they may think did them wrong."
Travis thought about it, then added, "There were four brothers. I killed one in a shoot-out when I captured Seth and Eldon."
All three of the other Rangers looked at him. Finally, after a full minute, Roy whispered, "Then I guess that makes you at the top of their list, McMurray."
No one nodded. No one needed to. Travis knew they were all thinking the same thing.
Roy finally broke the silence. "So, what's the plan tonight? I hope there is no fighting or gunplay involved. I've been on the trail a month and was hoping to sleep in a bed tonight."
Dillon frowned. "One of us needs to get real friendly with a few of the ladies in here tonight and find out if they know anything. If Seth's been seen, I'd like to know it before I hear a bullet coming at my back."
The youngest Ranger glanced around. "Which girl you think Seth likes?"
Dillon nodded at a thin girl near the bar. "That's her. I've been watching her. She's about as smart as a cow chip, but she might know something."
Travis raised his eyes to study the woman at the bar. She was young, maybe not out of her teens, but she'd been playing this game for several years. She had that hardened look of one who no longer cared about anyone, including herself. He could read her story on her face. She'd probably started serving drinks at fourteen or fifteen, then began taking men to her room a short time later because it paid better. She'd been beat up several times by unhappy customers, and judging from the tobacco stains on her fingers she had more than one habit she was supporting by working here.
In his early years as a Ranger, Travis had stepped in a few times trying to help the barmaids out. More often than not they'd turned on him, claiming he was interfering with their business. Some were hard and cold, some were sweet and talky, but they were all in it for the money. He'd bet a month's pay that this one wouldn't help the Rangers unless she saw some benefit in it for her.
Mike scooted his chair back. "I'll go try to talk to her."
Roy put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "She'll eat you alive, kid. Let me try. I'm used to handling women. Both my wives say I have the magic touch."
Dillon shook his head. "You got enough woman trouble, Dumont. Last I heard the one you have on the other side of the border told her six brothers that she wanted to be a widow. She was tired of being half a wife." Dillon nodded once at Travis. "Let McMurray do it. He's all dressed up like a gentleman. They'll never suspect him to be a Ranger."