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Chapter One

“This is Ta to Hill Country Cowboy Radio broadcasting from Bandera, Texas, the Cowboy Capital of the World!

“Oh boy, have we got a lineup for you on this Labor Day weekend, including the star of the Bandera Rodeo, Kellie Parrish from Austin, Texas, our state’s hopeful to win the National Barrel Racing Chauest in the second segment of our show

“Now hear this All you cowgirls out there, listen up and hold on to your Stetsons because we have soroboys in studio But that’s not the best part They’re four of our fareat state of Texas! I’ve asked my buddy Mel froo into cardiac arrest It’s not every day I’m surrounded by such hunky men They’re not only easy on the eyes, but they wear the star and put their lives on the line every day to protect us

“Welcoentle to be interviewed? Judging by the way you were laughing when you caood friends both on and off duty?”

The men all looked at Cy Their captain in the Austin office had asked him to be the spokesman for this interview None of them wanted to do it, but the boss insisted it was iers to have a positive public presence Cy had to cowboy up

“Yup The four of us share a very unique bond”

“We want to hear all about it, but first why don’t you introduce yourselves and tell us where you’re from?”

“Sure I’s hoer Miles Saunders frorew up in Blanco” Cy nodded to Luckey on the other side of Vic “I’er James Davis from Austin”

“Ladies, it’s too bad this isn’t television! You’d eat your hearts out if you were sitting where I arapevine the station learned that a lot of Rangers are in Bandera to help celebrate Jack Hays Days You’ll see the’s parade It would be hard to believe that anyone in the state of Texas doesn’t know the name Jack Hays But just in case you don’t, ant to hear from you why the name of Jack Hays stirs the hearts of every Texan, particularly those of the Rangers”

“I’ll take this,” Vic volunteered “When Sam Houston was reelected to the presidency in Deceers And on January 29, 1842, he approved a law that officially provided for a coers’ As a result, 150 Rangers under Captain John Coffee ‘Jack’ Hays were assigned to protect the southern and western portions of the Texas frontier Houston’s foresight in this decision proved successful in helping to repel the Mexican invasions of 1842, as well as shielding the white settlers against Indian attacks over the next three years”

Vic turned to Kit “You tell the rest”

“Be happy to Jack Hays was responsible for ih training progra an esprit de corps within his command

“The Paterson Colt six-shooters had just been invented and Captain Hays and his men were fortunate to be aruns When the Comanche attacked Captain Hays and his company of forty in Bandera Pass in 1842, they were defeated”

“Gentlemen? I found a quote from Walter Prescott Webb, a twentieth-century US historian who said, ‘Their eneers had to be better’ Do you Rangers still use those old six-shooters? If not, what kind of weapons do you carry?”

Luckey spoke up “We use a variety that includes the 357-caliber SIG Sauer, the 45-caliber Colt autoer un”

“There are dozens of questions I want to ask, but since you’re pressed for time, why don’t you tell our listeners why the four of you are particularly close?”

Cy nodded “When I joined the Rangers, I didn’t know any of the men in the company On my application, I’d mentioned that I was a descendant of one of themy intervieith our captain at coers in our coinal company of forty”