Jim and Buck were working on their second cup of coffee when Jim glanced out the open door and noticed Jasper running down the street toward the office. He burst in through the door!

“Sheriff Buck, Jim, please come quick! Bert sent me to tell you there’s going to be trouble over at the saloon!” Buck followed Jim who was hot on the boy’s trail as he headed back in the direction of the saloon. As soon as Jim saw the number of horses with Mexican rigs at the hitching rail he reached out and halted the boy. “How many of them are there, Jasper?” He asked.

“About six, sir. They came in asking about Angelina and Bert sent me to find you!”

“Buck, find us some scatter guns and come in the back! I’ll try to stall them until you get set. Boy, here’s you a dollar for fetchin’ me, now you better get on home, you did real good!” Jim slowed down as he reached the saloon and unpinned and pocketed his Ranger badge and as calmly as he could, he swung wide the bat wing doors and entered the saloon.

Jim knew he would be at a big disadvantage as he entered the dark building but he could think of no other way of finding out just how big of a problem there was without it. While he had definite misgivings about the unknown factors in this situation there was no doubt in his mind or heart that he would literally face the devil for Angelina!

The bar was empty except for Bert who was behind the bar and six formidable looking men dressed in the style of the Mexican vaquero who were standing at the bar. The one notable exception Jim saw from the vaquero style of dress were the ammunition belts crossing most of their chests.

Jim knew that underestimating any one of these men could be instantly fatal, but he also knew that while the bandaleros added vastly to their firepower they also could slow down their draws and their presence might indicate that they were soldiers instead of pistoleros.

All heads in the bar turned toward the door as Jim entered and walked to the end of the bar. Bert asked somewhat tensely if he would like a drink. “Sure, Bert, and I’ll stand a round for these gentlemen, too!

The largest and perhaps the most dangerous looking man in the group turned and seemed to be evaluating Jim. He was not only taller than the rest of the men but he also had a massively wide chest and shoulders, beefy arms, and he had the fair complexion of many of the people of pure or almost pure Spanish blood.

“Gracias, Senor. Perhaps you could help me. I am Carlos Alvarez and I am here to escort Senorita Angelina Cortez back to her family in Monterey. No one in town seems to know where to find her. I wonder if you could help me locate her?”

Jim glanced at Bert out of the corner of his eye and saw him shake his head slowly from side to side. “Senor Alvarez, I am the Deputy Sheriff of Laredo and I am sure that I can help clear up this misunderstanding. If you gentlemen would enjoy that drink I bought for you I will return in a short while.”

Jim exited out of the back of the saloon and found Buck, he was standing in the next rooms with scatter guns at the ready. “What do you have planned, Jim?” Buck asked.

“Where’s Angel?” Jim asked as Jasper entered the room. “She’s back here in Bert’s house.” Jasper said. Jim burst into the next room and immediately saw Angel with a six-gun in her hand.

She had the gun pointed safely in the air but she was prepared to use it! “Senor Alvarez is not going to take me, Jim! He now works for General Diaz who burned our home and took over our lands!” Angel had obviously heard enough of the conversation to know what had been said in the bar.

“Let’s find the Padre quick, Angel.” Jim said, then he turned towards Buck. “I’ve got an idea that just might stop Alvarez cold!” They exited out the back door and headed across the yard.

“Here’s Bert’s horse in the yard, we’ll just steal him for a while.” Jim grabbed the gentle bay gelding’s lead rope and looped it around the horse’s neck and back to the halter where he tied it as an improvised set of reins.