[Texas Rangers 04] - Ranger's Trail by Elmer Kelton Page A

had always been able to read him as if his thoughts were written across his face in block letters. He replied, “She said no. On account of her mother.”
    “ You can’t blame her.”
    “ I told her I’d try to find Alice.”
    “ I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
    “ It’s the only idea I’ve got.”
    James released the horse and walked over to the fence. Geneva told her brother, “Rusty says he’s goin’ to look for Alice.”
    Rusty’s relationship with James had always been shaky. Ranger service had put him at cross-purposes with Josie’s brother more than once. The end of the war had brought them to a truce, but earlier disagreements had left a lingering aftertaste like burned coffee on the tongue.
    James demanded, “What’s Mama say about this?”
    Rusty said, “She doesn’t know. It’s best to leave it that way.”
    James frowned. “In other words, you’re not sure you can do it.”
    “ All I’m sure of is that I’ll try.”
    James said grimly, “I wanted to go myself, but Mama wouldn’t hear of it. She thought I’d more than likely shoot the son of a bitch. And I would’ve, if he gave me any excuse.”
    Rusty pointed out, “He did marry her, at least. He is Alice’s husband.”
    “ A son of a bitch, just the same. A good rider but rough on horses. Used his spurs too much. A man rough on horses is apt to be rough on a woman, too.” He motioned, and Evan came over to the fence, carrying a coiled rope. “Evan worked with him as much as I did. His opinion is the same as mine.”
    Geneva told her husband what she had told James. Evan said, “I was always uneasy while Corey worked here. I suspicioned that he planned to steal some of our horses. I never thought that he might steal Alice instead.”
    James said, “I never was plumb sure that Corey Bascom was his real name. Wouldn’t surprise me if he borrowed it someplace.”
    Most of the aliases Rusty had come across seemed to be simple names such as Smith or Jones or Brown, not unusual enough to be memorable. “You have any idea where he came from, or where he might’ve gone with Alice?”
    James and Evan glanced at one another. James said, “All we know for sure is that Alice sent her mother a letter from Fort Griffin sayin’ she had got married.”
    Evan added, “He told me one time that his family had a stock farm over east someplace. I think he mentioned the Clear Fork. But I guess there’s several of those in Texas.”
    Rusty said, “He could’ve meant the Clear Fork of the Brazos. It flows past Fort Griffin and spills into the main Brazos farther east.”
    James grunted. “That’s a long ways from here. But if it was closer I’d’ve gone after Alice no matter what Mama said.”
    Evan asked, “You want somebody to go with you?”
    Rusty caught the misgivings in Geneva’s face. “There’s no need in that. You-all have got enough to worry about right here.”
    Geneva looked relieved. She reached through the fence and clutched her husband’s arm. Evan did not argue the point.
    Geneva bit her lip. “One thing, Rusty. If you find Alice, don’t give her the notion that she caused Mama’s stroke. There were so many things that piled up … the stroke might’ve come even if Alice hadn’t run away.”
    James said, “And maybe it wouldn’t. Alice hasn’t exactly been a sweet little angel. Maybe she ought to feel guilty.”
    Rusty shook his head. “It’s not my place to blame her or to forgive her. I’ll just see if she wants to come home and bring her if she does.”
    James added, “And don’t kill anybody you don’t have to. Mama wouldn’t like it.”
     

CHAPTER FOUR

    R usty tightened the cinch on his dun horse in the frosty light of the winter sunrise. Andy led Long Red to where his saddle rested on the top rail of a fence. The sorrel’s breath made a small cloud in the crisp air.
    Rusty demanded, “What do you think you’re doin’?”
    “ Fixin’ to go with you.”
    “ I want you to stay here.