‘Because it riles the hell out of me not to know … Happen you’ll excuse my language.’

‘Your interest is understandable,’ Cordoba admitted, his manner soothing and waving a hand to indicate he took no offense at the use of the word ‘hell’ in the presence of his daughter. ‘I have seen such a loss of memory happen before when somebody was thrown from a horse and received injuries like those you suffered. It seems part of the mind still responds to various things which were often done, even though unable to remember personal matters.’

‘Did those other jaspers ever get back to knowing who they were?’ the Texan asked in a worried tone, the comment about the response of the mind reviving the misgivings he had formulated over his obvious skill with weapons.

‘Everyone I have known did,’ the rancher stated, but refrained from mentioning the number was few. ‘Either it came back to them without help, or something was said or done which caused them to remember.’

‘Perhaps if you heard your name it would help,’ Ran-some offered. ‘I know there are so many, but we could try some and see if any is familiar.’

‘I’m game to try anything!’ the Texan declared.

‘You don’t look like a “Marmaduke”, a “Wilberforce”, or an “Algernon”,’ the girl stated, selecting three Anglo Christian names which had always struck her as slightly ludicrous in an attempt to bring a lighter note to the conversation.

The ploy succeeded!

‘Happen I’m any of them, ma’am,’ the young man drawled. ‘I reckon I’d sooner I didn’t know.’

‘It will help if you’re called something like “Hazeltine”, “Higginsbottom” or even “Ramsbottom” although I’m sure you wouldn’t want that for a name,’ Ransome continued, looking coy and seeking to relieve the tension further by picking the most unusual English surnames she had heard Sir John Besgrove mention. Having received a nod of approval which told her that her motives were understood by her father, she continued, ‘But if you should happen to be a “Smith” … What is it?’

The question was provoked by the response to the last, most commonplace, name suggested by the girl!

On hearing it, the relaxed and amused expression left the young man’s face and he sat up stiffly!

‘Well I’ll be damned if it didn’t work!’ the Texan ejaculated. ‘My name is Smith!’

Prompted by hearing the word, ‘Smith’, the Texan remembered who he was and what had brought him to Bonham County!

While relieved to discover he had a justifiable reason for having developed such competence in handling firearms, the young man also realized he must keep most of the information which flooded back to himself!

Despite the kindness and consideration he had received since recovering consciousness in Rancho Mariposa, the Texan was aware that—the gratitude he felt and the liking he had formed for the Cordobas notwithstanding—they might find themselves with greatly opposing interests in the task which he had been sent to carry out!

The events which were to drastically change the life of Sergeant Waxahachie Smith of the Texas Rangers had commenced when Captain Frank Thornton called him back early from his furlough and gave him the order which had caused him to be on his way to the border town of Flamingo. Every instinct as a lawman possessed by Smith had suggested the chore ahead would not be easy. For an experienced lawman, particularly one whose well deserved reputation for tough competence had resulted in his recent appointment as the senior peace officer of a large county, to have taken such a roundabout way when requesting assistance as was his right under the legislature of Texas gave strength to the supposition. Instead of coming direct, the message from Sheriff Daniel Tobin which was responsible for his premature return to the headquarters of Company ‘D’ had arrived via the office of Cyrus Holmes, a member of the State Attorney General’s legal staff in Austin.

The suggestion from Holmes, which amounted to an order, was for the Rangers to help Tobin look into a spate of cattle stealing affecting not only the ranchers throughout Bonham County but also threatening the well being of the community which was its seat. According to the information supplied by Holmes, whoever they might be, the cow thieves were not playing favorites. They were hitting each of the four spreads, all of whom had had men killed during raids, with complete impartiality. However, if the sheriff had any suspicions about who was responsible for the situation—or even the possible identity of the cow thieves— there had been no mention of him having put either into writing.

Despite the dearth of information, the sergeant and his superior had concluded the affair was going beyond a case of cattle stealing in which murder was done. As was only to be expected under the circumstances, because the guilt of the miscreants had not been established, accusation and counter charge were flying back and forth between the ranches. The normally no more than friendly rivalry of the crews, which had never previously become anything worse even though two of them were employed by Chicanos, was rapidly deteriorating into open hostility.

The situation had all the earmarks of a range war brewing!

According to Holmes’s letter, although the owners of Rancho Miraflores had suffered like everybody else at the hands of the cow thieves, they had given Tobin another cause for concern. They had announced that, as the law did not appear to be able to offer them the protection for which they paid taxes and were thereby entitled to, they would hire the kind of help necessary to defend themselves.

The Texas Rangers were in accord with Holmes over his assertion that such protection meant hired guns and the possibility of more trouble than the sheriff could hope to handle with his own resources under the conditions which prevailed. Regardless of his considerable experience elsewhere, he was a newcomer and every one of his deputies was born and had grown up around Bonham County. With the best of will in the world, they could not help themselves being swayed by bonds of kin or friendships of long standing with one spread or another.

While Smith had not previously been called to cope with such a state of affairs, his career so far having been spent dealing with other more conventional forms of law breaking, it had always been a prospect which he had disliked even contemplating!

Going by all the sergeant had learned from other Rangers who had been involved elsewhere, dealing with a range war differed greatly from hunting down outlaws. In the first place, for the most part, the majority of the people engaged in it were otherwise law abiding members of the community. What was more, with very few exceptions, the issues behind the conflict were almost certain to be complicated. Generally, there were elements of right and wrong on both sides and each had some cause for grievance against the other. To complicate matters further, even when the source of controversy appeared clear to an outsider relying upon scanty information—like himself—a close examination could prove this was not the case.

Regardless of his misgivings, it was not a fear of responsibility or what might lie ahead which had caused Smith’s preoccupation as he was riding along the trail leading to Flamingo!

The fact that he had already attained the rank of sergeant whilst barely into his mid-twenties was testimony to Smith’s capabilities in the special jurisdictional duties of a Texas Ranger. Until being sent out this time, he had handled every assignment with a high level of efficiency which had his superiors giving no small consideration to promoting him higher. There were even some who said he might attain the rank of captain at a far younger age than had previously been achieved. ^xiv

Because the assignment upon which he was engaged was of a most delicate nature, there was no external evidence to indicate the sergeant was a member of a long established law enforcement agency possessing jurisdictional authority all through the Lone Star State. ^xv Nor, if it came to a point, would there have been if he had merely been paying a casual visit to Flamingo. Despite the years they had been in existence, the Texas Rangers had never acquired an official uniform. What was more, unless a situation such as the need to provide proof of authority demanded it, the ‘star in a circle’ badge of office—made, as tradition now demanded, from a Mexican silver ten peso coin—was not displayed openly. It was, in fact, concealed with a document establishing his official capacity in secret pockets of his money belt.

Smith had adopted clothing and an appearance which would, he hoped, create the effect he sought to achieve. Prior to becoming a peace officer, he had worked as a cowhand for long enough to have acquired the skill needed to pass as one. However, he had decided he might learn things faster if he let it be believed he was visiting Flamingo for a more sinister reason than seeking a riding chore handling cattle. When a range war was brewing, it drew hired guns like flies to a rotting carcass and a man could get some idea of the situation by pretending to be one of them. Of course, doing so was not without risks. If either faction thought the other had already taken on the new arrival, its members might consider the most prudent thing would be to remove him before he could start earning his pay by taking hostile action against them.

However, such a contingency was not responsible for the perturbation which had rendered Smith less wary than would otherwise have been the case and led to his accident!

The sergeant was aware it had not been his latest assignment which was worrying him. However, while never one to be plagued by self-doubts about his competence, neither was he arrogant nor foolhardy enough to consider himself invincible. He carried scars on his body which would have removed any such delusion before it could take hold. Provided he avoided unnecessary risks and kept his wits about him at all times, he was satisfied that he could take care of himself. Although none had threatened to prove so complex as trying to prevent a range war, or ending it should hostilities already have broken out, he had handled difficult duties before and with enough success to have warranted his early promotion.

Nevertheless, the sergeant had known this occasion was very different!

Apart from the assignment, Smith’s problem was a very old one that had puzzled men down through the ages!

Woman!

In the sergeant’s case, the woman was Sally Palmer. Having known each other ever since they were children, until she had been sent East to acquire an education her mother had considered could only be attained there, their friendship had blossomed into something far more intimate when they met again on her return. Unfortunately, although her parents had not objected openly to them becoming engaged, the course of true love had not run smoothly.

While Hector Palmer had conceded that the Texas Rangers were a most estimable body of peace officers and a credit to the State, he had not concealed his belief that he would prefer his future son-in-law to follow a less precarious —and more lucrative—occupation. It was a sentiment which his daughter had quickly come to share. More and more when she and Smith were together, she had complained about him being in a line of work which, as well as frequently taking him away for days, sometimes weeks at a time, was not exceptionally well paid and could prove extremely dangerous.

To a certain extent, the sergeant could understand and even sympathize with Sally’s protests, but he believed what he was doing to be important and even essential. Furthermore, he considered it was work for which he was well suited by temperament and training. Certainly he could not see himself settling down, as had been hinted, in a managerial capacity at the hotel owned by her father. He had been a bellhop there as a boy. Although he had fond memories of special events, such as when he had carried up the property of the famous top hand of Ole Devil Hardin’s legendary floating outfit, Mark Counter—right bower ^xvi to its leader, Captain Dusty Fog, an exceptionally handsome Herculean thewed giant and one hell of a fighting man by all accounts ^xvii —they were too few and far between to enamor him to the prospect of returning to the hotel business in spite of the status he was promised being higher.

The matter had been brought to a head by Smith having received the early recall from his furlough. Even though doing so meant he would be unable to escort Sally to a ball at which the Governor of Texas was guest of honor, knowing only something of the gravest importance would have induced Captain Thornton to send for him, he had not hesitated before agreeing to go back to Headquarters.

Sally had not been slow to react when her fiancé informed her of his intentions!

Smith had been told he must decline whatever assignment was in the offing, or consider their engagement was at an end!

Nor would Sally listen when Smith had tried to explain his reasons for answering the summons!

On arriving at Headquarters, the sergeant had received apologies from his superior for bringing his furlough to an early end. However, Thornton had declared the matter was of great urgency. What was more, while not an adherent to the already often quoted ‘one war, one Ranger’ train of thought, ^xviii he was unable to send in more than a single member of his Company. Due to circumstances beyond his control, it had to be Smith. With one exception, everybody else was already committed to assignments from which none could be spared. The only other possible alternative, Ranger Talbot Ottoway, was also on furlough. However, he had taken the precaution of ensuring he could not be located and anyway, the Captain had asserted in confidence, it was likely some of his other activities would cause his dismissal in the not too distant future. ^xix On the other hand, Thornton had said, Smith was only in the nature of an advance party sent to reconnoiter the situation. Then, having evaluated his findings, whatever extra help was needed would be provided the moment it became available.

A lesser man might have explained how things stood between himself and his fiancé, but the sergeant had refused to take such a way out. He had sworn an oath on becoming a Ranger, by which he had in effect agreed to take any assignment he was given in the interests of preserving law and order throughout the Sovereign State of Texas. Therefore, having been raised to believe a man’s word was his bond, he neither could nor would refuse when given such a task regardless of how his private life would be affected.

Although Smith had tried to explain to Sally how strongly he felt on the matter of honor and duty, his words had fallen upon deaf ears. Bursting into a flood of tears, which alarmed him more than would a flow of vituperation, she had declared he could not love her and, therefore, she could see no point in continuing their relationship. Returning his ring, which had cost him a sizeable piece of his savings, she had stormed from the room and, even before he left her father’s home, had set off for the ball accompanied by a distant cousin highly regarded by her parents.

Regardless of his well developed sense of duty and responsibility, the sergeant had not found accepting the end of his engagement an easy matter. Sally was the first woman he had loved and, having set her on a pedestal because of this, it came hard to realize she could be so lacking in understanding of his position.

Such a frame of mind was hardly the best when a man was setting out to deal with a difficult and potentially dangerous situation!

In fact, regardless of five days having elapsed, Smith was still brooding upon the matter to such an extent he had failed to notice the change in the weather and was caught unawares by the bolt of lightning which struck the cottonwood and resulted in his present involvement with the people at Rancho Mariposa.