Gretchen's brother."
"You seem to know them well."
"They were neighbors. I knew the family well."
"Traven? Is that the name? Did you know a Major Mac Traven?"
"He was no major when I knew him. He was Sergeant Mac Traven of the Texas Rangers."
"You don't say? I have heard the Rangers were a hard lot."
"They had to be. It was wild country, and they fought Comanches, Kiowas, and outlaws 'most every day."
Ashford was thoughtful. Mac Traven had been a Texas Ranger, and he knew their reputation from the Mexican War and since. One could not take such men lightly. Still, he was alone or with just one man, and what could two men do against his lot? These were not the men he would have chosen; most of them were renegades and guerillas, but they were first-class fighting men and could handle themselves in wild country.
He tried putting himself in Traven's place. What would he do? What could he do?
He would try to get help. There might be former Rangers in the area. Ashford walked away from the wagon and looked into the slowly flowing stream. A small log lay across it almost at water level, and some brush and debris had piled up there, some twigs, branches, an old bottle, and what looked like a fence-post. Yet he was not thinking of that. He was trying to plan what he must do.
Remain here now, leaving only just before dark? Or chance going on to the coast at daylight?
Copano Bay was a completely land-locked harbor, except for the opening into Aransas Bay, which was protected from the waves of the Gulf by St. Joseph's Island. Copano had never amounted to much as a harbor, but some vessels did come there.
One more day and he'd be rid of the women and girls. He thought of that, then hastily turned his thoughts away. After all, he needed arms and he needed money, and people always suffered one way or the other. He had dealt in slaves before this, although the others had always been black. And he had only bought or sold them for his own plantation.
Plantation! He swore under his breath. All gone now, destroyed in the War. His stock had been run off and the house and stables burned. Even the slaves' quarters were gone.
Just wait! He'd have arms again. He could help Maximilian and come out of that with a good bit of money and arms. Perhaps he might even get some actual help from the Prince. Hadn't they owned Louisiana at one time? And didn't La Salle make a sort of claim on Texas?
He might persuade him to help or at least recruit some of the mercenaries who were supporting him. He would need men ... of course, southerners would rally to the Cause. None of them had wished to surrender. Oh, here and there was some malcontent or coward, but most of them had wished to fight on had it not been for Lee.
Surrendering! Handing his sword to that upstart Custer, of all people!
Yet in Mexico, where he would be safe, he could recruit an army and start north, retaking the country as he went. He might even sail to Mobile Bay and strike north from there, following the Tennessee River right into the heart of the South! He would ride back into Richmond a conquering hero.
He walked back to the camp, glancing toward Kate's wagon. Now there was a woman. If he talked to her ... she was bright and very practical. She would see the light soon enough, and after all, what choice could she have?
His tent had been raised, and he walked back into it, pulled off his gloves, and threw his hat on the table. He got out his map case and opened it, spreading the maps on the table.
Copano Bay, Lamar Peninsula ... the mouth of Copano Creek. He was not exactly sure where the town was. He knew of the place only by reputation.
Now, he leaned over the map - right at the mouth of Copano Creek, if. ...
Kate built their own small fire and fixed what food was provided. It was not much.
When they had eaten she went down to the bank of the little stream to wash the dishes. She cleaned them, then straightened up to take the kink out of her back. Looking down stream,
"You seem to know them well."
"They were neighbors. I knew the family well."
"Traven? Is that the name? Did you know a Major Mac Traven?"
"He was no major when I knew him. He was Sergeant Mac Traven of the Texas Rangers."
"You don't say? I have heard the Rangers were a hard lot."
"They had to be. It was wild country, and they fought Comanches, Kiowas, and outlaws 'most every day."
Ashford was thoughtful. Mac Traven had been a Texas Ranger, and he knew their reputation from the Mexican War and since. One could not take such men lightly. Still, he was alone or with just one man, and what could two men do against his lot? These were not the men he would have chosen; most of them were renegades and guerillas, but they were first-class fighting men and could handle themselves in wild country.
He tried putting himself in Traven's place. What would he do? What could he do?
He would try to get help. There might be former Rangers in the area. Ashford walked away from the wagon and looked into the slowly flowing stream. A small log lay across it almost at water level, and some brush and debris had piled up there, some twigs, branches, an old bottle, and what looked like a fence-post. Yet he was not thinking of that. He was trying to plan what he must do.
Remain here now, leaving only just before dark? Or chance going on to the coast at daylight?
Copano Bay was a completely land-locked harbor, except for the opening into Aransas Bay, which was protected from the waves of the Gulf by St. Joseph's Island. Copano had never amounted to much as a harbor, but some vessels did come there.
One more day and he'd be rid of the women and girls. He thought of that, then hastily turned his thoughts away. After all, he needed arms and he needed money, and people always suffered one way or the other. He had dealt in slaves before this, although the others had always been black. And he had only bought or sold them for his own plantation.
Plantation! He swore under his breath. All gone now, destroyed in the War. His stock had been run off and the house and stables burned. Even the slaves' quarters were gone.
Just wait! He'd have arms again. He could help Maximilian and come out of that with a good bit of money and arms. Perhaps he might even get some actual help from the Prince. Hadn't they owned Louisiana at one time? And didn't La Salle make a sort of claim on Texas?
He might persuade him to help or at least recruit some of the mercenaries who were supporting him. He would need men ... of course, southerners would rally to the Cause. None of them had wished to surrender. Oh, here and there was some malcontent or coward, but most of them had wished to fight on had it not been for Lee.
Surrendering! Handing his sword to that upstart Custer, of all people!
Yet in Mexico, where he would be safe, he could recruit an army and start north, retaking the country as he went. He might even sail to Mobile Bay and strike north from there, following the Tennessee River right into the heart of the South! He would ride back into Richmond a conquering hero.
He walked back to the camp, glancing toward Kate's wagon. Now there was a woman. If he talked to her ... she was bright and very practical. She would see the light soon enough, and after all, what choice could she have?
His tent had been raised, and he walked back into it, pulled off his gloves, and threw his hat on the table. He got out his map case and opened it, spreading the maps on the table.
Copano Bay, Lamar Peninsula ... the mouth of Copano Creek. He was not exactly sure where the town was. He knew of the place only by reputation.
Now, he leaned over the map - right at the mouth of Copano Creek, if. ...
Kate built their own small fire and fixed what food was provided. It was not much.
When they had eaten she went down to the bank of the little stream to wash the dishes. She cleaned them, then straightened up to take the kink out of her back. Looking down stream,
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