On the morning Simms and the others set off north to the ranch, where the lawman hoped to find Elisabeth Russell, Lieutenant Calhoon rode out at the head of a troop of twenty-four men, riding on mules. They made their way across country, by-passing the ruined homestead that Simms had found some days before, and farther on, paid scant attention to the graves of the soldiers whom Simms had buried. They camped out on the prairie, with the stars their only light, shivering beneath their blankets for Calhoon ordered no fires to be lit. Outriders, ranging ahead, had returned with news. There was a large party of men and wagons inching their way towards the Colorado River. Calhoon, chomping on a cigar, huddled around a map stretched out in the dirt. He bobbed his head.
“I reckon it"s them. A det
