IIL - Lost Trails
Bauer walks over to the courthouse where her mount, a paint mare, is hitched. Climbing into the saddle, she urges her horse into a trot, riding west out of town.
Once the two riders have some distance from Lincoln’s Main Street, she says, ”Between you and me, the reason Sheriff Brady’s glad of the Ranger’s arrival is...well, it’s because he doesn’t trust most of his own deputies. He’s sure that several of ‘em are on someone else’s payroll...Lawrence Murphy’s. Problem is, he can’t figure out which ones. But it’s got his hands tied up. Most of the time, he can’t be sure that what his people are telling him is the truth. Or if they’ll follow his orders.”
“I guess he figures the Ranger, he’ll be able to get to the bottom of things around here.”