Chapter 1

I stepped off the train in Saint Louis. I was familiar with Missouri. My father and mother moved here when they sold me the Texas ranch. My wife's sister, Abby, was married and lived close by. I joined the army here in Saint Louis because I wanted to see Pa and Ma one more time before I signed to fight for the Union. Kansas and Missouri had seen some serious fighting along the border. It was mostly guerrilla type warfare.

I had been ordered to Virginia a year before Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Some of the heaviest of fighting had occurred at that time of the war, but those were straight military actions. Now I was heading home to Texas after spending a year working in Washington on the commission that was handling reconstruction issues.

There weren't any trains directly to my ranch in Texas so I was traveling horseback. I had purchased a good animal that would carry me the distance. Yes, I was a blue belly captain. The valley in Texas where my ranch was located was peopled by men of both north and south. It was a place where neighbors meant something even if you were for or against slavery. There was little rancor so it just wasn't brought up.

The ranches weren't that large and no one carried a big crew. We all relied on helping each other during round-ups and trail drives. I feared that might have changed by now. The war had been long and bitter and Texas had seen its share. I had no idea how many of us from the valley had gone off to war, knowing fewer came home.

I waited a year after the war began before I joined up, it being difficult for me to make up my mind which side to fight on. I knew before I left of at least one of my neighbors who had been killed. I helped the widow and her three kids until some of her family showed up to help. They hadn't stayed with her long so she had to go back to depending on the neighbors.

I was married and I felt I left my wife in good hands with the neighbors when I had made up my mind to join in the fray. We were young and hadn't started a family yet. Our ranch had come to us when my parents decided to move to Saint Louis and live with my wife's sister, Abigail. Today I came down off the train and unloaded my horse from the stock car and headed over there to visit.

I was anxious because, although I had sent letters regularly home, I hadn't received any back from my wife for the last two years. I had been pressured into one extra year-long enlistment, but when it was up, I wasn't taking on another one. I needed to be home a year ago and I was headed there now. Three weeks would do it to enter the valley.

I drifted up the side street and tied my horse to the post by the back door. My brother-in-law was coming down the street. He glanced at it and came on by toward the back stoop where I was sitting. I didn't know what kind of reception I would receive for he and I had never got along. He ducked under some clothes on the line. Between the bed sheets some frilly undergarments were pinned.

He was, and probably still is, a rabid southerner. I wasn't looking to argue or fight with him over the war that his side had lost. I was just looking for any information from home.

"McBain."

"Hello Roger. I'm going home from the war. How's Abby?"

"I wouldn't know. She doesn't live here anymore. She and your parents moved out when she divorced me."

"Where are they living?"

"Boylston Street. Ask anyone along there."

"Thanks."

"Don't thank me. I'm glad to be rid of the lot of you." I didn't answer. I knew it would be useless. I mounted up and headed for Boylston Street, not knowing but wondering.

This section of the city didn't have as much class as the other. It had more going for it though. There was a livery stable on the end of the street and I enquired for Abby and my parents. "McBain, sure I know him. Let's see, I don't know the number but it's the eleventh house up on this side. You must be Riley, his son."

"I am. How is Pa?"

"Better than me. I got the gout bad, but I can still hobble around. Your Pa helps me out some. Put your horse up for you? I hate to ask for pay, but times are real tough. Cost you four bits a day if I feed them. Kinda like to have you pay in advance."

"I can do that. Thanks." I paid the man. I guess business wasn't that good because he seemed overly glad for a paying customer. I went on up the street. I counted the houses and when I got to number eleven, I knocked on the door of the cottage.

Abby, Winnie's sister, opened the door. She was in my arms kissing me before I could speak. She shouted, "Ma and Pa, Riley is here. She unhanded me and pushed me into the living room ahead of her. Pa was struggling to get out of a chair and Ma came rushing in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Riley, it's been two years since we seen you."

"I know Ma. How've you been?"

"Okay I guess. Missing you. Things have gone to hell here. I think we are just about ready to move back to Texas. Abby wants to get out of town and Pa is sick of town life. Says he would never be this crippled back at the ranch."

"So, Pa, the good life in the city isn't that great?"

"Nope."

"Do you hear anything from Winnie." A look of sadness came over all their faces.

"We think she must be dead. We haven't heard from her for almost a year and a half. Some bunch of Scalawags moved into town and there have been some shootings and killings. Nobody has answered our letters to our old neighbors or Winnie for more than a year. The last we heard someone took over the town and has been slowly getting title to some of the land in the valley. It's such an out of the way place, it could happen."

"I guess I better get back there as soon as possible and find out what's going on."

"That would be a good idea, son."

Abby spoke up, "I'm going with you when you go. There's nothing here for me any longer."

"How come?"

"Roger took up with some floozy he knew when he was younger. She is supposed to be genteel, but is nothing but a tart. I wouldn't stand for it and asked for a divorce. He didn't think the court would ever give me one, but times are changing and women aren't just chattel any more. There have been seven divorces here in the city this year alone."

"I'm going by horseback and it will take me three weeks to get there. Too rough for a woman."

"I'll become a man for the trip then. If you've got a home when we get there, Pa and Ma can make the journey later."

"If you're ever found out, you will have a poor reputation."

"No worse than what a woman who has divorced her husband has. Besides, you will need someone who can watch your back if there is trouble before and after we get there."

"We'll talk about it. I'm hungry. Anything to eat in the house?"

"Beef stew and dumplings. Beef is tough but can be chewed. Pa brewed up a batch of beer and it's ready to drink."

"Good, I've dreamed about his brew ever since I've been gone."

I went into detail of what I had been doing since the surrender. "I was there at the surrender and I was one of the officers who had been designated to give out the parole of several companies of the Northern Army of Virginia. The southern men were hungry, ragged and worn out. Neither side was sad the fighting ended. I know bitterness will creep in when the soldiers have time to rest and reflect. At that time they just wanted to go home.

"I continued to be busy and there were a million details to address in dealing with the defeated army. The country has turned its attention to the west and the Indian situation. I want no part of fighting anymore. I would have had to take a reduction in rank from captain to possibly as low as sergeant. I want to get on and see if I can put together the life I interrupted by going off to war."

Ma and Pa were sad to see me arranging my journey. Abby was adamant that she was going with me. One morning she appeared in a union campaign cap with every strand of hair tucked under it. Never full breasted, she had wound her chest tightly and with thin shanks she appeared to be a small man. We both wore buckskin and boots. The matching Patterson colts she wore would detract anyone from examining her gender too closely. "I can even shoot and hit what I aim at. When I said I would watch your back, I meant I can do it."

My horse was a big gelding. The livery owner was glad to let me have a good sized mare and I bought another older mare for a pack horse. We spent six days with Ma and Pa and then one early morning we headed south toward Arkansas and Texas.

We were well armed, both of us having hand guns and Henry repeating rifles. I had a long range telescopic sight that would fit to the Henry rifle in my scabbard. The telescope was carried separately in a wooden box hung on the other side of my saddle. It could take as long as five minutes to affix, so it was only to be used on a long-range target or used from concealment. I had a Walker Colt for a side arm and had a Patterson under my shirt. I had another that I didn't speak about.

We didn't hurry particularly, but kept up a steady, mile-eating pace. We were overly careful of the other travelers we met and the ones we passed. Every night we were far off of and hidden from the trail. We had coffee and bacon for breakfast and occasionally an egg. We had some money so we bought what we could as we went along. Most usually Ab made up a mush to fry in the pan rather than dump out the bacon grease. It was heavy, filling, satisfying, and if we felt we shouldn't build a fire, it could be eaten cold. We had purchased several pouches of jerky and this was often our second and last meal.

If we had a fire, we made a stew of the Jerky. Neither of us would gain any weight, but we had enough nourishment for traveling. I had begun to use "Ab" to address Abby, saying if asked her name was Abner. She was a trooper and we shared camp chores.

We had a spot of trouble before we reached the Arkansas/Texas border. We had pulled off the trail, built a small fire and I had a rabbit spitted that I had shot during our travel that day. Ab had disappeared into the brush to take care of business. I heard a noise behind me just as I was reaching to turn the rabbit. I felt a vicious blow to my shoulder. I rolled away and pulled my Walker.

The man had his arm raised to strike me again with a chunk of wood. Christ, he could have killed me if I hadn't moved when I had. "Hold, it feller, you trying to kill me?"

"I'm jus' hungry and done smelled your food from the trail. I followed my nose. I jus' wanted to knock yous out and eat your food."

I looked behind him. Ab had a gun out and was ready to shoot. "Turn around, Mister. I cooked the food for my partner. Talk to him."

"Oh, my God, there was two of yous. I'll leave. Don't kill me."

Ab waggled the gun at him. "Sit."

I asked, "Union or Rebel?"

"Mister, iffen I guess wrong answer yous'll up an' kill me."

"Maybe, maybe not, but now's the time to tell the truth. What's your name?"

"Red Morris and I fight wi'd the Gray. I been sick a lot and not able tuh travel fast. The wars be over long time and I don't know iffen I'm ever goin' make it home."

Serious like, I said. "You couldn't have guessed wrong. I'm Union and he's Reb. Maybe someone didn't tell you but the war is over. Ab, give him a piece of jerky to chew on until the rabbit is done. Chew on it slow to get the goodness out. You go to swallowing it too soon and it just passes through you and does you no good. One of those facts you need to remember."

"Tank you, suh. I bet yous more'n a private?"

"I was. Made captain, if you're interested. We're headed for Texas. Got me a ranch there. That is if someone hasn't latched onto it while I've been gone." I poured him coffee in a spare tin can while he was working on the dried meat.

"Cap'n, I'm right sorry I hit on yous."

"Well, I might have to do the same to someone before I get home. Where are you from?" He told us. "That's only fifty miles from where we are headed in some hills around central Texas. If you ever make it home and can't find something to do, come around. If I still got a place when I get there, I'll see if I can't help you out. You good at doing anything special?"

"Not really, but I damned sure willing tuh learn. I don raised hell before I joined up."

"What did your pa do?"

"Pa raised hogs an I gathered pecans an fed em. I know some about hogs come tuh think 'bout it."

"Good enough. I guess the rabbit is done. Good thing it is a jack. Lot of meat on it. Enough to give us all a taste."

"God, yous men be white. I sure hit it lucky runnin' intuh yous."

"Yeah, but next time trying the same thing might get you dead. You'd do better going to a farm house and asking. They might chase you off, but probably not kill you."

"I'll 'member. Can I sleep here by the fire tonight? I ain't met a friendly traveler for long, long, time."

"I guess so. We don't usually camp with anyone." We talked long into the night and finally Ab crawled off into the bushes and went to sleep. I went across to the opposite side of the fire and several yards into the woods. I came awake before daylight. Red was poking up the ashes. He was down on his knees blowing on the coals, adding some dry leaves to them. Soon he had a blaze going.

I shouted, "Abner, time to get going."

Ab came out of the woods. "You're the one who is late. I watered our mounts and got water for coffee. I'll slice us up some bacon. We're out of eggs, but we got corn meal. I'll fry us up some mush."

Red couldn't believe we were going to give him another meal. He got more than that. Abner gave him a pouch of jerky and a small bit of left-over fried mush. I had a dollar in silver coins and I handed that to him with the admonition. "Remember, it is good to share with those who have less than you do. Someday you may be paid back ten fold."

"I 'member. God Bless yous two."

"Good and I hope to see you again someday. We're on our way."

We were a mile down the road when Abby finally brought up last night. "That's going to make us have to buy food sooner. Why didn't you give him a ten dollar gold piece if you were so generous?"

"If he had gold, he might have had it taken away from him and he still would have come up hungry. Some farmer's wife will feed him for a dime and glad of it."

"Guess you're right in that. Why did you do as much for him as you did, anyway?"

"Just looking to the future. When we get to the valley we may need some extra hands. He's what, maybe twenty-one or two? He'll be someone we can rely on if we're short-handed. If he makes it to the hill country, we'll see him."

I caught Ab glancing at me several times. I guess she hadn't figured me out yet. Did she think I was a pushover? Time would tell before she had it sorted out. I didn't know if I was or not, but if I met a hungry man I would feed him if I could.

We were nearly all the way across Arkansas and almost to the border with Texas when our next tight spot came up. We had three men to deal with this time. We met them while crossing a small plain. We kept going and they passed us off to the left by a couple hundred yards. They looked us over pretty closely. I didn't like the looks of them and was worried.

"We had better head for some place where we can fort up. I suspect they'll follow us and try to get our horses. I'd put money down on it anyway and I hope I'm wrong." We picked up our pace, and it wasn't before we had traveled eight miles I found a place that satisfied me. The prairie looked level, but I was looking for an old time buffalo wallow or some rough spot a tornado had created. These came up occasionally. More than one rider had been killed by riding into one unexpectedly.

"Cold camp, tonight. I'll divide up one canteen of water between the horses. That leaves us two. I hope they don't pin us down for long."

"You think they'll follow us?"

"For sure." I was right. My gelding whickered not long after full dark and was answered. "Here they come. It's dark enough so they may not know we found some place to fort up."

They didn't know exactly where we were located. "Hey, you out there, if you can hear me. Let us have your horses and we won't kill you."

We didn't answer. I had told Ab not to hesitate to shoot if she saw someone because they meant to kill us anyway. We heard some thumping and Ab whispered, asking what the noise was. "They're driving in a picket pin so the horses won't run off. We'll have all three of them to deal with." We could actually hear them advancing toward us through the prairie grass. I knew they were close and we were set.

I was staring over the lip of the wallow when I saw one man coming up. There was another darker patch behind him. Time to cut down the odds. I shot at the black indistinct blob that was furthest away. I had time to get off another shot targeting the man standing on the lip at prairie level. Then Ab's gun went off ... twice. The powder smoke drifted away. I guess my first target wasn't dead, for we could hear some groaning.

"Help me? Oh, God I'm hurtin' bad. You got any water? We weren't going to hurt you guys. Our horses were just about played out and there is a posse about a day behind us."

Ab asked, "Are you going out to him?"

"No, I'm not. Not sure and it may be a trick. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. First man I ever killed though. I'm a little shook."

I held Ab for a minute. "Sit down for a bit. If that Ranny out there keeps moaning for long, I'll ease up and knock him in the head." I didn't have to because we soon could hear his death rattle. I had heard enough of them in the last few years.

"Abby, stay still and I'll come to you. The moon will be up soon and we'll check things out then." I sidled up to her and put my arm around her. She sobbed and shuddered some. Not for long though before she pulled away from me.

"Sorry about that. You called me Abby and it made me remember I am a woman. I'm back to being Abner now."

"You're the best either way. I hope someday you can revert to being a woman all the time. For now though, you are doing a man's job and doing it damned well."