Read [Texas Rangers 05] - Texas Vendetta for Free Online

better go to sleep. We’ll try and make Austin by tomorrow night if the horses hold up.”
    Farley had put his finger on one problem Andy saw with the Rangers. Not much consideration was given to how well the men held up. They were expected to perform regardless of circumstances. But allowances had to be made for the horses. A horse couldn’t tell an outlaw from a Baptist preacher.
    On reflection, Andy realized that he couldn’t either.
    They got an early start on what was going to be a long day’s ride. Bransford griped about being rousted out before sunup. Landon said nothing, but his eyes were constantly at work, searching for a chance to get away. The same deputy who had checked the prisoners in checked them out and had Farley sign a release absolving Gillespie County of any blame should either prisoner make a break after leaving the jail.
    “You watch that man,” he warned, pointing at Landon. “All night his eyes are open. Look away from him this long”—he snapped his fingers—“and he will be gone from you.”
    As a precaution the deputy had put a set of leg irons on Landon. Fumbling with the key, Andy bent to unlock them so Landon could mount his horse. Landon brought his handcuffs and his fists down on the back of Andy’s head, knocking him to his knees. Landon grabbed at the pistol on Andy’s hip. Andy twisted away, falling on his side so Landon could not reach the weapon.
    Farley shouted a curse and slammed the butt of his rifle against Landon’s head. Landon staggered. Farley grabbed the back of the prisoner’s collar and shoved him up against his fidgeting horse. “I’ve made allowances for you because you’re a Ranger’s brother. Next time I’ll bust your head like a watermelon.”
    Andy pushed to his feet, his head aching.
    Farley said, “See what comes of bein’ reckless? Didn’t the Comanches teach you to watch out for yourself?”
    “My hat took the worst of it.”
    The deputy had observed the incident but had not been close enough to help. He told Farley, “Like I said, better you watch that man. The devil looks from his eyes out.”
    “I’ve got three men to watch after, and one of them is a careless kid who’s supposed to be helpin’ me. You want a Ranger job?”
    The man smiled thinly. “I am better paid being a deputy only.”
    They rode out of town, the prisoners securely handcuffed to their saddles. Bransford glared at Farley. “You could’ve broke that man’s head like an egg.”
    “He had it comin’, and so will you if you keep exercisin’ that jaw.”
    Andy’s head drummed with pain. That was Landon’s fault, but he could not condemn the prisoner for it. In Landon’s position, standing in the shadow of the gallows, he thought he too would probably grab at any straw, no matter how flimsy.
    By pushing hard they reached Austin at sundown. Andy worried about the horses’ ability to stand the pace. Farley assured him, “They’ll make it. The tireder we keep the prisoners, the less trouble they’re apt to give us.”
    Once Bransford and Landon were secured in jail, Farley and Andy reported to Ranger headquarters at the state capitol. It was a matter of form. Farley said he hoped local Rangers would be assigned to finish delivering the prisoners, but the officer in charge simply wished him an uneventful trip.
    Andy was pleased, for he had counted on a visit to Rusty’s farm. “Like it or not, Farley, you ought to see your mother and sister. They’ll be disappointed if they find out you got so close and didn’t stop.”
    “Mind your own business.”
    They left town on borrowed horses, for two hard days’ travel had exhausted their own. Toward the end of the second day out of Austin they turned Bransford over to Sheriff Tom Blessing as ordered. Blessing, a large, blocky man built like a blacksmith, had known Andy since he had returned from his life with the Comanches. Andy asked him about Rusty and black Shanty York and others he knew around the