“Enough.” Ben pushed in front of Charlie and the girl. “You boys shut your trashy mouths and get out of here.” He jutted his finger toward the alley.
“My pa says?—”
Ben narrowed his gaze at the tall upstart. “Did your pa tell you to bully little girls and boys years younger than you? Go pick on someone your own size before I take my gun belt off and use it like a whip on your backsides.”
The three slunk away.
Charlie crossed his arms. “I don’t need no girl protecting me. I was getting ready to punch them.”
“They called me a name too.” The little girl bounced up and down. The ruffles on her red linen dress with black trim jiggled all the way down to the hem just below her knees. Big brown eyes shown out of an olive-complexioned face. She did appear to be Indian and full of spunk. “I just wanted to help.”
“I don’t need no help.” Charlie threw back his shoulders.
“Charlie.” Ben’s voice snapped. He turned to the girl. “Thank you. We appreciate your assistance.”
She wiggled and blushed. “You’re welcome.”
Charlie scuffed his boot against the dirt.
Ben smiled at the girl. He’d have to encourage the ego-wounded boy later. “Where’s your ma or pa, little miss?”
“Pa’s coming.” She tipped her head toward the street. A braid swung across her shoulder.
A well-built man with a black slouch hat and frock coat hastened across the street, a slight limp slowing his pace.
The little girl ran up to him and slipped her hand into his.
“Thank you for rescuing my daughter.” The stranger extended his free hand as he drew near. “I’m Major Garret Ramsey.”
“Benjamin McKenzie at your service, sir. And if I’m not mistaken, your accent tells me you’re of the Northern persuasion.”
“Yes, Mr. McKenzie, Second U.S. Cavalry.”
Ben inhaled. A fellow soldier. “Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers. A captain.”
Garret grinned. “Well, what do you know? Another Pennsylvania man down here in Texas. I’m from Pittsburgh.”
“Philadelphia.” Ben shook Garret’s hand again heartily.
“What brings you to Weatherford, Texas, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“A promise to a fellow officer, and friend.” Ben placed his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “To see that his family’s provided for. What about you?”
“My wife and her sister count Texas as their true home. I was stationed about a hundred miles west of here at Camp Cooper before the war. Now that the fighting’s over, we’ve decided to move back, try our hand at ranching. My brother-in-law, Lieutenant Devon Reynolds, First Texas Cavalry, USA, is with us. Three of my men from the Second Cavalry are coming along for the adventure, as well. They’ll be arriving later this week with our lumber.” Garret swiped his hand across his chin. “We know horses, but Lieutenant Reynolds is the only one amongst us who has any experience with cattle. And his knowledge of them is very limited.”
“I’m in the same boat. I’m a newspaperman by trade and was a cavalryman during the war, but I’m green when it comes to cattle.”
Garret chuckled. “We’ll have to confer and share our vast knowledge, Mr. McKenzie. Or should I say ‘Captain’?”
“Ben. And I’d be happy to. Save each other from ignorance.”
“Garret.” He touched the head of the suddenly shy child who hid her face against his hip. “This here is Little Star. Mydaughter.” A twinge of a hitch caught his voice on the last word. There was a story there.
“Glad to meet you, Little Star.” Ben leaned down and extended his hand. “You’re quite the brave young lady.”
She peeked out from the fold in her father’s coat, scooting her body farther behind his leg, and touched her fingers to Ben’s.
“She alternates between being shy and treating the world as if it’s her oyster. But as soon as you get to know her, the shy completely disappears.”
