Caliber of Justice

AuthorHouse

Contents

Book 1: Wagon Train......................1Book 2: Inside Man.......................81Book 3: Cattle Drive.....................151Book 4: Santa Maria......................239

Chapter One

It wasn't normal for a Texas Ranger to be riding to his next assignment grinning ear to ear in eager anticipation to report for duty. The many assignments Shane Dawson had survived could each be compared to a page out of Revelation and probably would have shocked ole John himself had he witnessed such violence in his vision. Life for a Ranger was not an easy one; it didn't pay well, and assignments didn't come with a guaranteed safe return. Shane had learned to live by the code of the Caliber of Justice that drove himself and many other of his Ranger brethren who understood that they were the only thing standing between freedom and oppression by rogue Indians and outlaws.

Joshua Meyers and Corban Diaz were Shane's mentors when he began his Ranger career a few years back. He then had the opportunity to mentor a good friend, Gabriel Montoya, as he entered the ranks.

As Shane rode the hard trail to Odessa, he couldn't help but to wonder why Texas Rangers were being called on to guard a simple wagon train, but he knew that it wasn't his place to ask why, but simply to report for duty. On this particular day, Shane had a big smile on his face as he went to report for his assignment because he was meeting his buddy, Gabriel, in Odessa to take on this mission together.

They always had a great time together and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. To sweeten the deal this time, Gabriel was bringing his bride, Hannah, to Odessa to stay with some friends while he and Shane headed west with the wagon train. Hannah was now four months pregnant and they would be gone for at least a month and Gabriel didn't feel safe leaving her home alone so he arranged to have her stay with some friends who would look after her while he was away.

Shane enjoyed the company of Gabriel, but Hannah was a special woman and had a sense of humor that always seemed to keep Shane in his place no matter how much he tried to get her stirred up. He looked forward to seeing Hannah again as they had all three made a reservation at the fancy Palomino Club in Odessa where they planned on spending the entire night gambling, eating, and dancing. Shane had even obtained permission from Gabriel to have a spin around the dance floor with Hannah, if he could still get his arms around her in her pregnant state. Although he was on his way to another assignment, this one seemed like more of a vacation where he would get to spend time with his best friends. He knew that the mission itself couldn't be easier, simply escorting a wagon train.

Gabriel Montoya was the son of an influential political figure in Mexico who had helped stage a coup against the existing Mexican government putting himself and some of his associates in control of parliament. Gabriel was an asset to his father as an officer in the military, but he did not approve of some of the policies of the new cabinet. So, he decided to leave Mexico for a simpler life in the States where he could find a job, get married and raise some children. Before arriving in the States, he knew that finding a bride would be difficult for him being from another country. He took the lead of many pioneers before him and began looking for a mail-order bride.

Hannah was raised in Chicago by two wonderful parents who were able to provide all that she needed growing up; unfortunately, a terrible fire took the lives of her parents a few years back leaving her in the care of her aunt who really could not afford another mouth to feed. Hannah looked into being a mail-order bride hoping to find a gentleman who would be able to take good care of her now that she was alone.

Gabriel and Hannah became acquainted through their correspondence and continued to build a relationship for over a year by writing letters. A couple of years back they had made plans to meet in Sand Springs where they were immediately married and now they were expecting their first child.

Ironically, Sand Springs was the very place that Shane Dawson and Gabriel met, becoming best friends instantly. That was two years and several assignments ago, tracking down horse thieves and robbers and escorting prisoners. Both were excited to finally land a mission that would be a cake walk and allow them a little time to catch up.

As Shane rode into Odessa riding Lady, his black and gray Appaloosa, he found the town overrun with wagons, carriages, horses, and gas powered cars riding past him or coming up behind him. After being on the trail for a few days, he found the busyness of civilization frustrating and almost comical as folks were getting riled up from not being able to move as fast as they wanted. Shane didn't care though; he would only be in town for one night and then back on the trail, this time with his best friend, Gabriel Montoya.

Riding down the main street, he couldn't help but to notice his assignment sitting on the side of the road preparing for their long journey. Nine covered wagons accompanied by four horses each and an average of two people per wagon made itself quite a spectacle in Odessa. The townsfolk were trying their best to remain hospitable while working their busy schedules around the massive convoy.

The wagons were taking up a great deal of the street. Folks were impatiently trying to hustle for position in the bottle-necked traffic, but they also realized that these pioneers were just passing through. They would be here only until morning, and they knew that the supplies and horses that these visitors would be purchasing would greatly benefit the town's economy, not to mention the hotel, café, and saloon proceeds that would be generated. Funny enough, but it seemed that the one factor that seemed to bring a neighborly welcome from these city folks was an opportunity to relieve their new friends of a little of their money.

After thoroughly checking out the wagon train and looking over each of the travelers with whom he would spend the next month, Shane rode over to the Highland Hotel to meet Gabriel and Hannah who had arrived the night before. He walked into the hotel, approached the desk, and asked for the room of Mr. and Mrs. Montoya. He made his way to room #14 paying the bell boy for the use of his uniform jacket, hat and the opportunity to deliver champagne to his friends. Shane knocked on door #14 as he yelled, "Room service!"

A few moments later the beautiful Hannah Montoya, dressed in a red evening dress with her hair pulled back in a black ribbon, answered the door stating, "I'm sorry, but we didn't order room service. I'm afraid you must have the wrong room."

Shane answered, with his head drooping as to not give away his identity, "No, ma'am, it's courtesy of management. It's on the house."

Just as Shane began to pull the cork from the bottle, Gabriel came out of the washroom stating, "Honey, you ordered room service?"

Hannah responded, "No Gabriel, it came by compliments of the hotel manager."

"How nice, please remind me to say something to him before we leave," said Gabriel.

Shane could hardly keep from laughing as he said, "Well, actually the manager is a pompous ass. He probably just did it to get a bigger tip from you because you're obviously rich."...