Excerpt: Pete McNally: Texas Ranger

Before leaving, Pete looked at Waco and noticed his hands were trembling slightly. He pointed to them and asked, "You up to this, kid?"

"When it's time, I'll be there. Didn't that man say Lon had a friend called Mouse?"

"Sure did and I'm thinking the same thing you are. Let's go make a visit."

"Ok, let's go."

Pete led first and when he walked into the store, he went to the center of the counter along the back wall. Pawnee followed a split second later and went to stare at the goods hanging on the wall to the left. Waco went to the right. All three pretended to shop for items to purchase.

A man walked in from the rear of the building, entering through a curtain, and stepped over to Pete. The man was short, and if he turned sideways, could indeed pass for a mole. His nose and mouth protruded from his face. "What can I do for you gents?"

"Don't know 'bout them, but I could use a new set of trail ovens. You got any."

"Yes I do, but they are out back." Sticking his head through the doorway where the curtain hung, he shouted into the rear of the store, "Walter, get that set of trail ovens we put against the back door and bring them out front." Turning to Pete, he said, "My cousin will have them here in a minute."

"Ok, I don't mind waiting." Pete moved toward the front of the store.

Raffaty moved to help Waco just as his cousin staggered into the room carrying the ovens. Pete moved back toward the counter and Raffaty moved between him and his cousin, when Waco spoke. "Where did you get this?" He held a wooden model of a horse in his hands.

"Bought that in Abilene just a week ago. Made by an old man who likes to whittle."

"That's a lie," Waco said turning around and looking at Pete and the two store owners. "Pete, I carved this for my sister Sarah two years ago. She would never part with it. It was in her bedroom just before the Comanche attacked."

Pete turned to the store owners, reached into his pocket, pulled his badge out and pinned it on his shirt. "Fellas, I'm McNally , Texas Ranger and you are under arrest for murder and looting."

The mole stood with a look of shock as fear etching itself across his face. The bigger cousin moved to his left and reached for the musket leaning against the rear of the counter. The only one who saw the move was Waco . "You go for that musket, and I'll be obliged to shoot you," Waco hissed. The big man glanced at the young boy and thought he would be quicker. When he jerked the musket up, Waco very quickly and smoothly pulled his Pa's Dragoon and fired, hitting the man high in the shoulder, causing him to drop the musket. It was all one easy motion.

Pete spoke in a forceful voice, "Everybody hold still and you won't get hurt. You move over there," he said pointing to the rear counter and the mole. "Get back there with your cousin and don't try anything. Waco , you look around and see if you can find anything else."

Five minutes passed, and then the town came running up the walk and into the store. His guns were drawn, but when he saw the badge on Pete's shirt, he stopped. "What's this all about?"

Jim Raffaty spoke in a hurried voice, "these men came in here and shot my cousin for no reason. I want them arrested!"

"My name's Pete McNally of the Texas Rangers. We trailed these two from several Comanche raids down south. Found a pile of stuff that belonged to the Spencers down near Jayton. This here boy is Waco Spencer and he has identified the things that belong to his family. His Ma and Pa were killed so these two could make a dollar selling used stuff. The problem is, it was bought with blood."

They turned to the two store-keepers and said, "We don't stand for your kind in these parts."

"They are wanted in east Texas as well. You hold them 'till another Ranger comes for them. I'll wire them tonight, and one should show in a week or two. You know a man called Lon Tibadoe?"

"Yeah, he was Marshall south of here wasn't he?"

"Ain 't now and he is somehow tied in with these two men. Nothing worse than a badge gone sour."

The two Raffaty cousins were escorted out the front door. Before they left, Waco stuck the wooden horse in his vest and said, "I know a little girl who'll be glad to get this back."

Later at the Sheriff's office the four men took time to talk of the matter in detail. Pete pulled Waco aside and spoke quietly to him, "You did good son. Slick as a whistle drawing, but your aim was off slightly."

"Weren't either. I hit what I was aiming at."

Pete got red in the face, his eyes widened, and he bellowed at Waco . "Mean you aimed high on the shoulder? Me and Pawnee was depending on you to protect our back! When a cutthroat like that no good, child-killing, toad-sucking, black-hearted, poor-excuse-for-a-man like Raffaty aims at you, Boy, you shoot to kill!"

"I just thought . . ."

Pete cut him off before he could finish, "No thinking 'bout it William. Pull your gun on a man, you kill him, or by George, you'll get us all killed!" Waco just stood there with his mouth open as Pete went back to talking with the Sheriff.

Pawnee moved over next to Waco and said, "Close your mouth, son. It draws flies." When Waco turned to look at him, Pawnee added, "He's right, you know. That's as near as I ever heard McNally cuss. He sure must care about your hide. Usually has no time for things like this."

Waco turned to look at Pete but this time he began to see him in a different way. There was something about this man. Something deep and hurting that had attracted him to a skinny kid in need. Waco did not know what made the difference but he was sure proud of being a part of it. He asked Pawnee, "Who's William."

"Pete's kid, he lost him when he was about your age. You kinda look like him some."