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Reuben Black appeared to be in his fifties, a short but stout man with a suggestion of Amerind ancestry. From the scar on the left side of his face it appeared that a knife had almost deprived him of an eye. He was neatly dressed in knakis, like a Ranger uniform but with no insigina. Alexis found a small pin on the left pocket flap intriguing - a small shield, like a medieval knight's shield with some symbols that she couldn't identify. He wore a pair of .38 Weaver revolvers with long barrels and a large knife. He was quiet and courteous. I'm not sure I like the way he looks at Aunt Rebecca. But why not, Aunt Rebecca is an attractive woman, even younger than Dad. "I haven't heard anything on the gang," he was saying, "and probably won't unless they get something out of the ones they captured. And I figure they will - the authorities don't look too close at how such prisoners are treated, if they bother to complain. Or if they're still alive to complain. Once we have something we'll have a better idea where to look." "Has anyone else asked for your help?" Aunt Rebecca asked. "No. Your ranch was the only big place they hit, and I'm inclined to believe it was their only objective. Do you know why you would be a target? Or who might have targeted you?" "Alexander and Madeline were quite wealthy," Aunt Rebecca replied, "and it was well known. That alone could make them a target. But with as many people as we had, and the army close by... who... who could have expected it?" "I wouldn't have. Something makes me think it wasn't just some gang out of the badlands, that there was something else. Did Alexander have any enemies?" "None that I know of. Any disagreements he had would have been with people around here, not with badlands gangs." "Perhaps the prisoners can help us," Reuben said. "In any case, what do you want done?" "We want them brought to justice. Hanging in Fort Grant." "I understand. Enak said that Lukas might be interested - he's over in the territories now, doing what I don't know. If he isn't committed to something he might be interested. I can ask if you like." "Please do. When do you expect him back? Will you keep us informed?" "I will. It will probably be a few days." "I understand."
Enak and Billy drove them back to school. Both were wearing pairs of guns and Billy had an extra shotgun. They were likely in no more danger than before - probably less with the local law and army on alert - but they were taking no chances. They arrived before sunset and after checking in at the headmaster's office spent a few minutes together before going to their dorms. "Aunt Rebecca seems to be taking it better than I expected," Alexis said. "She always seemed sort of fragile." "Yeah," Alex replied. "She has a lot of responsibility, and is taking it seriously." "I hope she can hold up," said Alexis. "I hope we can." "We have to," Alex replied. "For Mom and Dad, for Aunt Rebecca. And for others, the McCormicks, Alice's folks down there on the river, others we don't even know. We have to do what must be done." "From what I've heard Lukas Maxwell is the man to do it," Alexis replied. "School will be out next week. We would have been spending the summer with Mom and Dad..." She stopped, wiped her eyes. "Alex, this is so wrong. Why..." "I don't know, Ali. But are you prepared to just pay someone to go after them? Wait at home and see if they find them?" "What else can we do? Do you mean..." "We go with them." "Aunt Rebecca wouldn't allow it," Alexis said. "Neither would Lukas." "I know. "What are you thinking?" "If we ask to go and she refuses, that's the end of it. I'll have to find another way." "We." "No. It will be dangerous." "We both go or stay," Alexis said. Alex was silent, he should have known. He had known. She's right. "OK." "You gave in too easily," she said, smiling. "Now I'm suspicious." "No, I knew what you'd say. And you're right. Let me think about some things and we'll talk tomorrow."
The square was mostly deserted during the day and they sat on a bench beneath the big statue of General Westmoreland. "There's a trading post about five or six miles over the frontier," Alex said. "We went there with Dad last summer. Dan Dennison - his father works for the governor's liaison - will get me some information on where these people went, as soon as they find out who they are. I suspect the Rangers will have some useful information by now." "And then..." "If they were one of the well-known gangs there will be information, about where their bases are, who they do business with. We tell Dan who they are and see what he can find." "And if he finds who it was, we go after them? How do we manage that?" "I'm still working it out. If we can get a lead and get to Carver's Creek - that's where the trading post is - I have an idea about how to work it." "OK, it's a plan at least. Let's get through this next week."
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