The Last Patrol

[Elegant Ella]

"Been better. I hate being a target, and I hate rapists," replied Ella. "But I think we're going to get some good out of their attempt.  Do you remember Handy Andy?"

"Didn't he drop out of sight about six months ago? I know you were working hard on tracing him last year."

"The hardest part was trying to get local sheriffs to take me seriously when I wanted to look into cases where young women disappeared. They didn't want there to be any crime, just a woman who took off with a lover. But I got enough cooperation from the families to read diaries and learn that the same man, who called himself Andy or Andrew or Drew, had seduced and carried off dozens of young women. Finally, some of the local law went out looking and found remains. I even got a picture of him from one diary. Do you remember why I started calling him Handy Andy?"

"Something the diaries said he did?"

"Yes, and the one I didn't shoot did exactly what those diaries described after I finished bandaging this morning! Once I was out of sight, the other one called him 'Drew'. And Jimmy had passed me a note naming both of them as outlaws. I've wired Patches. She might reply by midday, so I'm taking lunch to the telegraph operator. Care to join me?"

[1stSgt Fritz King]

Bill had already poured him a cup of coffee, and left a cigar and a box of lucifers on the field desk.  Fritz was announced, and took off his slouch as he entered.

"Morning Sir.  You called for me?"

"Come in Fritz."  Bill pointed to an empty chair.  "Want some grub?"

"No, thank you," he replied.  "May I?"

Bill nodded.  He sipped at the coffee.  The tin cup burned his lips a bit.  Fritz bit the tip from the cigar and struck a lucifer on the canvas.

"You know what happened last night," Bill said.  It was not a question.  It was a statement.

"Of course.  I heard the shot from my tent."

"The sentries told me you and your wife responded, guns drawn.  It was pretty cool, and you were barely dressed."

"Sorry sir," Fritz said.  "I figured speed was best."

"It's not you I'm worried about.  The boy was more interested in the cut of your vest."

Fritz smiled.  Scarlet wore his vest, and it WAS very chilly.

"As funny as it seems, there is serious business to discuss.  Your scouts broke into the officers' barracks, stole private property, and nearly raped Miss Coatsworth.  What do you think we should do with them?"

"I suppose shooting them is out?" Fritz mused.

"Well, we ARE at war," Bill replied, but they aren't soldiers.  Besides, Ella took care of that problem herself.  Pity she didn't aim better."

"If I know Ella sir, she hit exactly what she aimed at.  She's a healer.  She's probably already treated the injury she inflicted.  But I'd bet that she didn't go gently."

"Fair enough.  So what DO we do with them?"

The coffee was cool enough to drink.  Fritz sipped his cup and thought it over.  "Major, we need every man and gun we've got here.  But it seems to me that these two will just bide their time and try it again.  In the field, they may even be successful.  I'd keep them in the stockade until we depart.  Make them pay for the damages and property they stole.  After we've gone, dismiss them from their service.  Bar them from further service as scouts, and send their description via telegraph to every post and command in the territory."

"So you don't want to charge them with attempted rape?"

"I'd say that's up to Ella, but no.  Her foresight and quick thinking limited their actions to breaking and entering."

Bill nodded.  "Have you spoken to her since the attack?"

"Not yet sir.  I planned on sitting down with her at lunch."

"Do that.  If your suggestions meet with her approval, I'll forward them."

Fritz stood and saluted.  Bill said "Carry on."

As Fritz turned to leave, Bill asked "How are the men?"

"They are anxious to leave.  They know a fight's coming."

"Tell them it won't be long."   

       

[Elegant Ella]

Scarlet answered, "I'm pretty sure Fritz was hoping to talk to you about last night over lunch."

"So the two of you can join me for lunch with the telegraph operator. In the letter I just sent to Alan, I told him he could send me telegrams here, so I want to make friends with the operator."

"Sounds fine. I'll let Fritz know."

At lunchtime, they met at the scout camp, and got a kettle of stew, pan of biscuits and stack of enamel bowls.  Ella felt obligated only to feed Jimmy, but the other two would probably take the food away from him. It was easier just to feed all three prisoners. Showing Jimmy any special kindnesses also might make the others suspect that he had given her information about them.

The bowls were too big to pass through the bars level, so Ella tilted the empty bowls through, then reached through with the ladle to fill them before dropping a biscuit on top of each serving. Fritz glaring probably discouraged all three of them from saying anything except "Thank you," and worked to remind Drew to say that. The guard got a serving as well, with an extra biscuit.

Next stop was the telegraph station. John smiled at her arrival, saying, "I'm sorry to report that you haven't received any response yet, but that lunch smells wonderful. I think we can all gather around the desk here." He swept the papers on the desk into a single stack to make room. Scarlet and Ella sat on chairs, while Fritz perched on a stack of boxes.

After everything was served, Fritz asked John, "How did you get started as an operator?"

"The man in the bed next to mine at the hospital while I was recuperating was interested in becoming a telegraph operator and had me help him memorize Morse code. The rehabilitation center I was transferred to next had a operator training center. I turned out to have a good ear for the key, and qualified as soon as I was released. I joined the Army again, and have been sent from post to post."

That led to a discussion of the various Army posts that the men knew, and then a discussion of Army life in general.

John asked, "Why do you use a private code for the Marshal's business?"

Ella answered, "A bounty hunter once told Patches and me about using a linesman's key on the telegraph line to eavesdrop on law enforcement officers. He said that he used the information sometimes to capture an outlaw before the law got there. He knew of other bounty hunters who would break an outlaw out of jail just to deliver him someplace else for a higher bounty. We decided then and there to develop a few private codes to avoid giving eavesdroppers too much information."

Ella was almost finished eating when the telegraph key started chattering. "That's Patches replying! May I take the message?"

John nodded, with his mouth full of honeyed biscuit.

Ella settled at the key with pad and paper, and keyed an acknowledgement.  She transcribed the message as it arrived, then read it quickly.  She sent back a short message in the same code, got a shorter reply, and signed off.

"Thank you, John. She might send another message this afternoon, but probably not until tomorrow."

"She sends fast!"

"Yes, she does. The private codes slow her down enough to make the message easier for me to catch."

Once the meal was finished, Scarlet and Fritz helped her clean up. They both recognized that Ella was impatient to be elsewhere, but unwilling to be rude to their host by dashing off too soon. Once they were out of the building, Ella told them, "Tensleep doesn't know it yet, but he and I need to speak to the post commander as soon as possible."

"Does this have anything to do with last night's visitors?" asked Scarlet.

"Yes, but I shouldn't tell you anything more before I report to Tensleep."

Back at the scout camp, they found Bo with Tensleep who was smoking his pipe. Ella handed Tensleep the message.

ANDREW HARPER POSITIVE ID AS HANDY ANDY
TOP BOUNTY 5000 IN NEBRASKA
OWEN JOHNSON AKA OWEN JONES
TOP BOUNTY 3000 IN NEBRASKA
BOTH ON WALL
WANTED IN NEBRASKA KANSAS ARKANSAS MISSOURI TEXAS
KIDNAPPING RAPE ROBBERY MURDER
MONTGOMERY GANG BROKEN UP EARLY LAST YEAR
ANDY AND OWEN AND OTHERS ESCAPED

Tensleep passed the message to Fritz who asked, "How did you get the lead on them?"

"Jimmy recognized them. Handy Andy even demonstrated his nickname after I finished bandaging this morning! I don't know how long the post commander is going to keep them locked up for breaking into officers quarters and stealing a couple bottles of whiskey, but maybe U.S. Marshal authority can keep them locked up longer. I told Patches to find someone to come here to take custody as soon as possible."

"I wonder how many others in Dick Kane's band have outstanding warrants," mused Tensleep.

"I asked Patches to get me a list of the other known survivors of the Montgomery gang."

"Cyrus knows all of Dick's men," offered Bo.

"I can send a list of the names and descriptions of the ones that Cyrus thinks are questionable and let Patches and Bill see what matches they can find. Jimmy might know more of them as well, but trying to get more information from him could endanger him. I can understand why the officer of the guard thinks it is easier to put as many prisoners in as few cells as possible, but it's going to be hard on Jimmy."

Tensleep finished his smoke, and cleaned out the pipe before rising, "Let's go talk to the post commander."

"No need," said Fritz. "Major Schurmann and I were already discussing the matter. We are keeping them in the stockade until we leave, provided that plan meets with your approval, Ella."

[Scarlet Angel]

As they spoke about Handy Andy Bo's eyes passed over Scarlet. She knew he remembered the name from Ella's work on the cases involving Andy. Bo made comments about wishing he was more like his brother or her brother, Jimmy, quicker acting than himself. In her opinion Bo was more like her father and herself, a deadlier opponent if you gave them too much time to think. Scarlet said nothing but she thought leaving Drew in the stockade until they left only lengthened his life for a short time.

Scarlet's eyes went to Ella when she heard Fritz ask if the plan met with her approval.

[Elegant Ella]

"There's enough bounty on each of them to make it likely lawmen from Nebraska will come to take them away within a week. So, I would like for them to be kept in the stockade until they are collected by civil authorities. There are a lot of families that want answers from Drew and Owen both," replied Ella. "Patches will let me know by telegraph when she has their transportation arranged. The Nebraska folks ought to pay us at least of the bounty, so Bo, you can look forward to a nice bonus. I think I'll divide my share among the whole detail who have watch duty on officer's quarters."

[Elegant Ella]

Once the others left, Ella asked Bo, who seemed too quiet, "Is it all right with you to turn them over to the law? They didn't do any more than insult and scare me, but there are a dozen towns out there with families who will gladly see them tried, convicted and hung. If they are acquitted in one town, the next one will try them on more charges. It may take a couple years before they reach the court that will convict them, but they will reach that court, and finally pay for what they have done."

[Scarlet Angel]

Bo had been lost in his own thoughts. He looked at Ella when she spoke to him and gave her statement some thought before responding. "The only way they will dye by my hand Ella is if they somehow manage to elude the law. Knowing they will eventually dance at the end of a rope will make them sweat more than if they thought I was simply going to put a bullet in their head."

Bo smiled and the coldness in his eyes turned warm. Ella knew he'd been listening but while his eyes had met hers when he'd spoken before he was not really looking at her, now he was. "You should keep your share of the bounty Ella. You risked your life for it and you've already done plenty more than your share by buyin' food and feedin' them men." He said as he stood and offered his arm shall we go talk to Cyrus about Dick's men?"

[Elegant Ella]

"I could still give each of them a bit of bonus as thanks for their duty. I don't know how much appreciation they get for the hours of sleep they lose." Ella smiled back at Bo as she took his arm to go talk to Cyrus. "I would like to get Jimmy separated from those two. He's ready to turn his life around, and I'm afraid they might either be a bad influence on him or do him harm. Until I know when someone will show up to take charge of them, I'm willing to let them sit there and think their boss will get them out soon. The impact of their arrest on charges in Nebraska might be more forceful coming after a lull of thinking their new aliases were working."

Ella knew that she should be more restrained with an unmarried man who wasn't related to her, but Bo was the brother-in-law of an adopted sister, so he was almost family. She liked the way his eyes warmed when he talked to her.

[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet lead Dancer from the stables, she figured he needed the exercise and she had promised to meet Black beard and go for a ride.

"Good day Mr. Comstock." She said with a nod as she passed him. She had watched him briefly practicing with another man using the sabers they carried. He was very good with it.

Mr. Comstock smiled, briefly looked at her, his cheeks flushing as he looked at the ground and replied. "Good day Mrs. King."

Scarlet wasn't sure if she should apologize for her appearance last night or not. Fritz had hung his vest over hers and she had not realized it until she was halfway to the officer's barracks.

Mr. Comstock looked at her again thinking of what he'd seen last night. No wonder Captain King took the chance of facing Longknife, even if her father was as bad as some of the men said he was. He wondered if Johnny Longknife had any more daughters he was hiding on that ranch somewhere in Texas. "Beautiful day for a ride." He said looking away again, he could feel the warmth on his cheeks now. He really needed to stop picturing her in that vest, reminding himself it was an officer's vest and that of her husband to boot. But standing on the step above her in the cold evening air had been a vision he wouldn't soon forget.

"You look to be very talented."

His eyes shot up when he heard it. She had been friendly but he didn't think she'd been looking at him that way. Was that why she came and went on his shift so often? Is that why she dressed that way last night? He reminded himself again she was the wife of a Captain. He must have misunderstood her.

"I beg your pardon ma'am."

It wasn't much of a stretch of her imagination to know what he was thinking about. Scarlet half smiled. Johnny had taught her never to let her mind wander in battle and never be surprised by what you see because the enemy will eventually find that weakness and use it against you. She had listened and tried her best to learn the lesson. There were some lessons one must experience, Bo had taught her that.

"I was watching you, you are very talented." She said pointing at the saber he held in his hand.

He slowly looked down at the weapon he held, his still wandering mind not grasping what she was saying.

Scarlet stepped back and drew the sword that hung on her saddle. "Defend yourself soldier!" She said moving towards him.

Mr. Comstock looked up in surprise, he was to slow. By the time he raised his saber she had his wrist in one hand and her long knife to his neck. He could feel the cold steel next to his skin and hear the rush of blood as his heart beat wildly.

"I was watching you practice. You are very talented with that saber when you are not distracted." She whispered soft and slow. "On the battlefield, Mr. Comstock, our enemy will use everything they can against you. You will see things that may haunt your dreams for your lifetime. You cannot let your mind get the better of you."

"I mean no disrespect Mrs. King, but you have to admit you were very distracting last night."

"Mmmm, yes Mr. Comstock. Many o' men have died looking at the same distraction."

He had to admit at this moment in time she scared him, and the smell of roses he'd been admiring had completely disappeared from his head. 

"I imagine not many men have fought women like you and Mrs. Coatsworth. Are you going to let me go?" He asked.

Scarlet smiled. "No. You got to escape."

He could hear the smile in her voice which put him at a bit at ease.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Are you to tired to engage me IF you are able to break free?"

"I am a soldier. I'm not allowed to be tired." He replied dropping his shoulder trying to pull her around and put her in the dirt. He was surprised when she landed on her feet and faced him. As they engaged with the bladed weapons he was impressed with her talent to use the long knife she fought him with. He was finally able to disarm her. They both looked at where the sword had fallen.

Scarlet curtsied to her opponent. "I told you you were very good." She smiled.

"I used to teach. Something tells me if I told you to continue to engage with me until one of us was to tired to get up I would have a rather long afternoon and might be seeing your friend for stitches."

Her smile widened. "You, Mr. Comstock, are thinking clearly."

He bowed deep at the waist. "Few men are as lucky as Captain King ma'am."

Scarlet retrieved her blade while she raised an eyebrow at him. "How do you mean?" she said as she wiped the dirt of the steel and returned it to its spot on her horse.   

This time his smile widened. "His wife is as talented to fight next to him as she is lovely. Thank you for practicing with me." This time when he spoke he looked her in the eyes and did not blush.

"Thank you." Scarlet said then mounted the bay horse who waited patiently for his rider.

Mr. Comstock watched the horse and rider move off thinking he would never make the mistake of thinking of the things he'd seen when someone was talking to him or when he was on duty, but he was on his own time at the moment.

[Scarlet Angel]

Black beard smiled as Scarlet rode up. "Not a bad display of swordsmanship. On the battlefield it would have gotten you killed."

Scarlet half grinned and looked sideways at him. "On the battlefield I would have fought harder and cut his throat when I had the chance. I would not have bowed I would have thought of some underhanded trick and continued. Maybe I would have lost but I wouldn't have given up the ship without a hell of a fight."

Black beard touched the brim of his hat. "No ma'am I don't believe you would have. You are one of the most spirited fightinest fillies I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on." 

Scarlet noticed Teddy and Frank had fallen in next to them as they went out the gate. She raised an eyebrow and looked at the two men. "You along for the fun or was your presence requested to keep an eye on us."

"They want to be part of my pirate crew and are going to help me abduct you." Black beard laughed causing the others to chuckle.

"We thought it might be a good idea with all the things that's happened recently." Teddy said softly.

"Sides Black beard said there was going to be sword fighting from ropes in trees. If I'm supposed to be some kind of pirate I best learn this." Frank laughed in spite of trying to act serious.

"I can't picture you as a pirate Frank. I could be wrong ya know, but on a ship at sea with men and no women for months at a time."

Frank pushed his hat up and let the statement sink in. "Didn't think of it like that. That one." He said fixing his hat and pointing at Black beard. "said we would see exotic island beauties."

"How long does it take to get to them?" Scarlet asked.

"He never said."

"Ya didn't ask. Stop feedin' ideas into their minds Scarlet." Black beard chuckled again.     

[Scarlet Angel]

Bo had not missed the group riding out as he and Ella approached Cyrus.

"They suggested it. Teddy and Frank figure Ella's got her brothers she trusts to watch her back, Scarlet should have the same and before either of you say 'I don't want to be a bother or I can take care of myself'" He said looking directly at Ella. "You have to know rule of thumb round my camp is no less then two ride out to watch one another, four is better. If Bo rides out of here he will have at least one other with him if not more. I like my group to be like family, lookin' out for one another."

"I wasn't going to say anything about it." Ella replied innocently.

"Yeah, well I'm tryin' to figure out the way you two ladies think. I'm still tryin' to get used to the idea you will patch them up after you shoot them." Cyrus's expression broke into a smile that told Ella he admired her for being able to do such a thing.

"What can I do you for?" Cyrus asked the two of them who in his opinion looked to be very comfortable together, but then again Bo was more so with Scarlet so he shouldn't wonder. That's how bad rumors got started and he would not be one to start them.

[Elegant Ella]

"The two who tried to get into my room last night are wanted men in four states. The deputies we left back home will arrange for someone to come collect them," replied Ella. "But if we've already found two outlaws in Dick's band, how many more will we find if we really start looking? We don't have much information here, but Patches is at the other end of the telegraph line. I can send her names and descriptions, and she and the others will see what they can match. Sending everyone wouldn't be efficient, but we thought you would know the most questionable ones to start with."

[Scarlet Angel]

"Very few of them I would ride the river with." Snorted Cyrus. "but there are a couple of 'em I would. Columbus Foster is a good 'un, but that's not what ya asked. I got paper and pencil in my tent." He said as he started for it followed by Ella and Bo.

"Harper and Johnson, doesn't surprise me at all." He continued. "Dick seems to find the ones who like to dabble in gore, always lookin' over their shoulder." Cyrus said in disgust.

"Take a seat."  He said motioning to the chairs around the small table as he dug for something he had stuffed in a leather pouch. "Pardon the mess."

Ella looked around. Cyrus seemed to have spots of clutter but he looked as if he knew right were everything should be.

He turned and grinned, two pieces of paper in hand. "It may look a mess butchya can bet it will take uninvited guests a lot longer to find something than it does me." He said taking a seat at the table.

He placed both pieces of paper on it. One was blank the other a list of names that was hard to read. Ella could only guess the person who wrote it was not very educated or wrote it in haste.

"Reuben Diaz" he said aloud as he wrote the name down. "That boy is just hell with the hide off. I bet your friend can find a lot of information on him."

Ella noticed Cyrus had nice penmanship. The first list was definitely not his writing.

"Look into Perry Smith, although we all know Smith is not really his last name. Lot's of dunks." Cyrus said in observation. "Archie here." He said pointing at the list "get him into town and he'll drink just about anything that's cheap. Only use for a man like him is folks don't watch what they say in front of him and he is sometimes a good source for information. Orville Torres probably has some shady past."  Cyrus said finishing the list with a few more names and handing it to Ella. "Watch your back around them Ella. Keep Bo close. Seems they are more afraid of him than they are me." He chuckled.

"Didn't touch any of  'em." Bo replied.

"A man knows when you'd like to rip out his heart with your bare hands...oh wait I think it was the words 'yanking out yer yellow spines' that got them on the run."

Bo raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders in response to the accusation. 

[Elegant Ella]

"I'll keep Bo close, and Chris and Samuel as well," replied Ella. "As soon as marshals or deputies from Nebraska show up to take Harper and Johnson into custody, the other bad ones are likely to run. You said you put Diaz in the infirmary? Sounds like a place to start. Besides, I'm curious to see how clean it's keeping." She exchanged grins with Bo at that, and they turned to leave.

Chris and Samuel fell in with them as they left camp.

The infirmary was better than it had been the first time Ella saw it. It wasn't up to her grandmother's standards, but it would do. There was a different man there, older and sober, with the shoulder boards of an officer. Ella tried to match the face to twelve-year-old memories, and found a name.

"Major Martin? I'm Ella Wiley Coatsworth, and I'd like to look in on one of your patients, Reuben Diaz, if I may," she said. 

He looked at her closely, then at Bo with a puzzled expression. "I had heard that Dr. Coatsworth married you after the War. Is he here as well?"

"No, he's teaching in Boston until autumn, after getting back from a few years of study in Vienna. I'm attached to one of the scout units as a medic for the time being.  My escorts are Bo Corbin, Chris Columbus and Samuel Eagle."

"I now understand what my orderly was raving about when I got back, having been the target of your 'meddling' myself. Now that those events are safely in the past and science has caught up with what I tried to dismiss as suspicion, I can admit that you and Dr. Coatsworth were right about cleanliness producing better outcomes."

Ella smiled without comment. 

"Diaz's jaw proved not to be broken, unfortunately. He has one of the fouler mouths I have heard. " Dr. Martin led them into the ward to where Diaz was still shackled to the bed frame.

Diaz greeted them with a stream of abusive profanity. Ella interrupted his tirade with a few emphatic sentences in Hebrew, and Diaz stopped abruptly.

Ella turned to leave again, with the others following. Dr. Martin asked, "What did you say to make him shut up?"

"I remind him of his mother and grandmother. He's going to change his mind about that pretty soon, because I'm going to arrest him as soon as he's fit to transfer to the stockade. Is he?"

"Fit for the stockage? Yes, provided he is given soft food. The jaw bone might be cracked. Who are you to arrest him?"

Ella showed the deputy badge on the back of her lapel. "Deputy Marshal Ella Coatsworth of El Paso. Your patient there is also known as 'Spanish Ben', and wanted in Texas for murder. He has been too fast to use a knife to settle arguments and insults."

Major Martin smiled at her and asked, "Will you be my guest for dinner in the officers' mess? I would love to hear the story behind that badge." 

When she hesitated, Bo spoke up, "Go ahead, Ella. We'll escort you to the door and wait for you. Or maybe Fritz and Scarlet will take advantage of the officers' mess."

Ella turned back to Major Martin, "Captain King and his wife Scarlet are also deputy marshals. Could they join us?"

"Of course. I look forward to seeing you at 7 pm."

[Elegant Ella]

"I'll see you then," replied Ella. "I would like to leave Diaz here until tomorrow, if you don't mind. Arresting him would have to count as work I should not be doing on the Sabbath."

Major Martin nodded.

Outside the infirmary, Ella said to her escorts, "I need descriptions to go with the names. What's the best way to get those without alarming the guilty?"

Chris suggested, "You could ask Sam. He used to be in Dick's band, but Cyrus took him on." Samuel nodded agreement as they returned to the scout camp.

[Scarlet Angel]

Perry shifted in his saddle. "Those women are trouble. Look what happened to Drew and Owen because of them."

Archie took a long swallow from the flask he carried then watched the group that had stopped at the river. Three of them, including the woman, had tied their lassos around tree limbs, put their foot in a loop and were practicing with their sabers as they swung over the water. The fourth appeared to be standing watch. "Ain't the women who are trouble if ya ask me. It's the fools who keep tryin' to mess with them."

"Who ya callin' fool?" Perry said glaring at Archie.

"I'm just sayin' you harm one of them those two giants will come after ya. I don't want to be on the receiving end of that."

"You afraid he will take you apart like he did the tents?"

"They say I'm a drunkard, not someone who's looking to get his spine torn out." Archie snorted.

"Ya think he really could?" Lucas asked.

"You see him dress out the deer? Man 's smaller and lighter." Archie said taking another drink. "I heard she used to be some kind of bounty hunter too. Heard she used to bring just the heads back in to collect the reward."

"I heard she worked in a saloon entertaining." Perry replied.

Archie watched the group at the river again. "She's good with that long knife, better with the bowie she carries. Whore house or not you should just leave her and the other one be. Sides they know they are being watched."

Perry's head jerked around. "What makes you say that?"

"Again I may be a drunk but I do have some skills that make me valuable."

Perry watched the group. The one that had been watching had switched places with one of the other men, but they were still swinging over the river. "They can't see us."

"Instincts Perry." Archie replied as he turned his horse. "I like my head and I like my spine just where they're at. If yer gonna do something to those women you leave me out of it."

"All we are doing is watching." Perry growled, irritated Archie might tell what they were doing. Although who would believe a drunk?

[Elegant Ella]

Ella spent a couple hours in Cyrus's camp, talking to Sam and to others of Cyrus's men.

After talking freely for a while, Sam asked, "Why are you asking about Perry anyway? He's pure trouble, no mistake. You should just stay away from him."

Tensleep answered for her, "She's doing her job as deputy. You don't want to be riding with outlaws at your back when you need your attention on the Injuns all around you."

Sam thought that over a minute, then resumed talking about the more dubious members of Dick's band.

Afterwards, Ella visited the telegraph operator and used the key for a half hour to send her questions and chat with Patches.
She arranged to join him for the midday meal again on Sunday. Patches was likely to have some information for her by then, if any of the names and descriptions matched men wanted in Texas.

She went looking for Fritz to tell him about the dinner invitation. He had his men drilling in dismounted formations. Ella was sure he had noticed her arrival, so she and her escorts sat down under a tree to watch until he was free to come over and talk to her.

[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet, Black beard and Teddy had fought one another while swinging on the ropes. Scarlet and Black beard were much better at it than Teddy, but it was good practice for everyone and he had to admit they were letting off steam and having a old fashioned good time.

Frank was anxious to switch with somebody so he could enjoy the fun too and tell them they were being watched. "Anybody ready to trade?" he asked.

"I'm beat." Teddy said swinging over to the river's edge. "I can hold that heavy rifle all day but trying to hang onto that rope and fight is too much for this ol' man."

While he and Frank traded places Frank told Teddy about the group that was watching.

Black beard took advantage of just he and Scarlet on the ropes launching an offensive attack on her. He was impressed with her defensive tactics that soon turned and had him on the run. "You let that boy at the fort beat you!" Black beard declared with a deep laugh.

"Mr. Comstock is talented. His style is different, that of a gentleman." She laughed back. Her statement caused Teddy and Frank to join in the laughter.

"What are you implying Miz Scarlet?" Black beard said supressing another laugh.

Scarlet swung close to him. "I'm just saying he has a different style." She said trying to knock Black beard off balance.

Frank swung into the mix. "We are being watched." He said.

Scarlet swung back to him and hooked his leg with hers. The look of surprise on his face amused her almost making her lose her own balance. "They followed us from the fort."

"What are they doing?" Black beard said swinging in and knocking the two apart.

"They look to be fighting among themselves." Frank replied.

"Are they a threat?" Scarlet asked.

"Only ta each other right now." Teddy replied.  "I am more of a threat to them.....could probably put a slug in one of 'em. They weren't carrying anything that could reach us from there."

The group was quiet for a moment entertaining the suggestion.

"I told you. We all have a different style." Scarlet said sweeping her saber at Frank's midsection.

Frank swung clear on the rope, spinning around he raked his own saber across her side. "What was that?" He asked looking at her.

"What?" She asked blocking his second attack.

"That didn't feel like flesh beneath my sword." He said ducking her attack.

"Corset."

Frank hesitated leaving her an opening. Scarlet kicked him in the chest and knocked him in the river.

Black beard hit her a little harder in the ribs with his sword. The feel made his eyebrow rise.

Scarlet grinned.

"You have an advantage." He said.

"You want one?" Scarlet grinned. "They have them for men you know."

Black beard swung close and grabbed Scarlet pulling off of her rope as she laughed. She managed to land on her feet next to where Frank sat.

"I've seen ladies under things, but never thought they would be protective like that. I thought they were for other things." Frank said.

Black beard steeped down. "No thank you on the ladies under things. But tell me something."

"What would you like to know?"

"How protective is that thing?"

A wicked grin danced across Scarlet's lips. "The boning defiantly gives some protection to blows like that."

"Still don't want one." Black beard snorted taking down the ropes. "We still being watched?"

"They turned and rode off a few minutes ago. We best keep our eyes open going in." Teddy replied.

"Maybe we shoulda let you take a shot at them." Black beard replied.

[Elegant Ella]

Fritz was willing to escort Ella to dinner in the officer's mess.

"If I wait for Scarlet to get back before telling her about the dinner invitation, she isn't going to have any time to get cleaned up," Ella said to Bo. "Shall we go find her playground?"

The four of them mounted up and rode out. A few of Dick's men coming back in passed them. Ella thought she recognized Perry Smith and Lucas Richardson from the descriptions she had gotten from Sam.

Ella thought it looked like Scarlet and Blackbeard were having fun. She was almost tempted to try their game, but not today. Ella rode up to where Teddy was on watch.

"Did they let you have a turn playing?"

[Scarlet Angel]

Teddy removed his hat in a sweeping motion as he bowed deep at the waste. "Welcome to Scallywags in training Miz Ella. Yes, I was one of the first on the ropes. It's not as easy as it sounds, but our Captain gives a dashing performance. Now if we could just convince the enemy to swing from ropes." He said a little louder.

"I thought you were gonna shoot 'em." Black beard laughed. "I can put 'em back up if you want to give it a try." Black beard said to Ella holding up the rope he'd just taken down.

Frank looked at Ella wondering if she too wore a corset to protect herself like Scarlet did. He knew ladies wore them but had always figured it was just an undergarment and helped make them look nice, never figured it had any use on a battlefield.

"I don't think she'll loan you hers but she might help you pick one out." Scarlet giggled catching Frank's look.

"You have a reputation as having a foul temper, but yer just a regular joker ain't ya?" Frank retorted.

"Oh I do have a foul temper, I just like you." She said flashing a flirtatious smile at him causing him to blush and shake his head.

"Miz Ella, do you think a ladies corset is protective on the battlefield?" Frank spit out.

Teddy and Black beard looked at him trying to hide their shock at such a personal question.

"Miz Ella is a doctor. If anyone's opinion should be considered it should be hers." Frank said defensivly.