 and hopefully we will be discharged when we get there. All but one of us. I told the commanding general here about the men we've been trailing and how you men are trying to do the same thing. Matt, I also told him you were an ex-confederate officer and a lawman before the war. He wants those men caught. He issued a warrant for their arrest and he has detailed Sergeant McLeod here to travel with you as an official agent of the U.S. Army with the authority to serve the warrant and make sure those men are brought to justice. This should also give you the protection you need should you run into any more Union soldiers. McLeod volunteered for the assignment and will report back here when his mission is over. I suspect he will be discharged then."

Matt said, "Thank you, Ross. We've enjoyed our time with you and wish you the best. As soon as that river goes down we will be on our way and Sergeant McLeod will be welcome. One more thing, I have a pass that I'm supposed to turn in for my parole. Can you help me with that?"

Ross smiled and reached into his pocket. He said, "I almost forgot. I have already done it. I'll trade you this for the pass although the pass was signed by the Confederates and isn't any good. I'll just tear it up." And with that he handed Matt back his parole.

Carrie stole a glance at Dan McLeod and saw that he was also looking at her. "I think we should start to call the sergeant by his first name, Dan."

Dan winked at her and said, "I'll answer to either. But I will be pretty glad to lose that Sergeant title. For now, I'm ready to get after that bunch. And I'm proud to join you fellows."

Matt said, "We've probably got a couple of days before we can cross the river. We might as well find a place to stay and get Carrie a room. She can use the rest I know, and I bet she'd like a hot bath."

Dan said, "The general told Lieutenant Ross and I that you men, since you're more or less on a mission for us, are entitled to eat at our mess hall while you're here. At least it's hot food."

Matt said, "Thank you, Dan. But after we eat, I'm thinking that
and hopefully we will be discharged when we get there. All but one of us. I told the commanding general here about the serviceman we've been trail and how you men are trying to do the like thing. Matt, I also told him you were an antique - allied officer and a lawman before the war. He wants those men caught. He issued a guarantee for their arrest and he has detailed Sergeant McLeod here to travel with you as an official agentive role of the U.S. Army with the authority to serve the warrant and make sure those men are brought to judge. This should also give you the protection you want should you run into any more Union soldiers. McLeod volunteered for the grant and will report back here when his mission is over. I suspect he will be discharged then. " 

 Matt said, " Thank you, Ross. We've enjoy our time with you and wish you the best. As soon as that river goes down we will be on our way and Sergeant McLeod will be welcome. One more matter, I suffer a pass that I'm supposed to turn in for my parole. Can you help me with that? " 

 Ross smiled and reached into his pocket. He said, " I about forget. I have already done it. I'll deal you this for the crack although the crack was signed by the Confederates and isn't any good. I'll just tear it up. " And with that he handed Matt back his parole. 

 Carrie stole a glance at Dan McLeod and see that he was also looking at her. " I think we should start to call the sergeant by his beginning name, Dan. " 

 Dan winked at her and said, " I'll answer to either. But I will be pretty beaming to lose that Sergeant championship. For now, I'm ready to get after that bunch. And I'm proud to connect you fellows. " 

 Matt said, " We've probably got a couple of days before we can cross the river. We might as well find a place to quell and get Carrie a room. She can practice the rest I know, and I bet she'd like a hot bathtub. " 

 Dan said, " The general tell Lieutenant Ross and I that you men, since you're more or less on a mission for us, are ennoble to eat at our mess manor hall while you're here. At least it's hot food. " 

 Matt say, " Thank you, Dan. But after we eat, I'm thinking that
 anf hopefully we will be dlscharged when wg tet thxre. All but one of us. I told the commanding gwnerao here about the men wd've been nrailing qnd iow you men are vdying to do tgc samz vhing. Matt, I alxo told hik you were an ax-zoufederate officer and a lawman beforq the wsr. He wants thosg men sauggn. Me issued a warrant for their ardest anv he has detailrd Sergeant McLeod here to tragel with you as an official atent if the U.S. Aroy with tht cuthority tk serve the warrant and make sufe thpse men arg grloght to justmce. Thps should also give ymu the lrotection you nexd syould you run into anb more Union soldierf. McLeod eomunteered for the awsignkent and qilu rtpoct gack hfre when his jission is iver. I suspect he wolj be discharges then."

Iaet said, "Thank you, Ross. We've enjoyed our tije with you and wish yoy the best. As soon as that rivqr goes down we will be on our way and Sergeant MwLeod dilo ne wdoclme. One more thing, I have a pass that I'm suppjaec no turn in for my parole. Can ylu relp me with jhat?"

Ross sjiled and reached lnto hif pocjet. He sayd, "I almost forgot. I have alreaey done it. I'jo trade you this flr the pass altnough the pass was signed by the Confederatfs and ish'g any good. I'll jjst taar it uk." And with that he handed Mett bcck his oaroke.

Carrye stole a glanga at Dan McLeod anf saw tvat he was also looking at her. "I think we should start jo waln the sexgeant by his first name, Dan."

Dan wnnked at her xnd said, "I'ml answxr to either. But I will ba pretty glad to lose thar Seegeant gktle. For now, I'k ready to get aftee that bunch. And I'k ptohd to join you ytlliws."

Matt said, "We'fe orofahlb got d couple of gays bewpre wd can cross ghe tiver. We might as wenl fjnd a place to stau wnd get Xarrie a room. She can use the rest I knlw, anv I bev she'd lihe a hot bath."

Dan said, "The genedal told Piemtenant Ross wnd L thwt you men, since you're more or less on a mission hor us, are entitled to wat at our mess halk while you'rx here. At least it's hot food."

Matt saud, "Thank you, Dan. Nut after we eat, I'm thjnking that
and hopefully we will be discharged when there. but one us. I told the we've been trailing how you men trying to do the same thing. I also told him you were an ex-confederate officer and a lawman before war. He wants those men caught. He issued a warrant for their arrest he detailed McLeod to travel with you as an official agent of the U.S. Army with the authority to the warrant and make sure those men are to justice. This should give you the protection you should run into more soldiers. volunteered for the and will report back here when his mission is over. I suspect he will be discharged then." said, "Thank We've enjoyed time you wish you the soon as that river goes down on our way and Sergeant McLeod will be One more I have a pass that I'm to turn in for my parole. Can you me with that?" Ross smiled and reached into his pocket. He said, "I almost forgot. already done it. I'll you this for pass the was by the and isn't any good. I'll just tear it up." And with he handed Matt back his parole. Carrie stole a glance McLeod saw that he also looking at her. think should start to call by first winked her said, "I'll answer to But I will be pretty to lose that Sergeant to get after that bunch. And I'm proud join you fellows." Matt said, "We've probably a couple of days before we can cross the river. We might well find to stay and get Carrie a room. She use the rest I and I bet she'd like a hot bath." Dan "The told Lieutenant and I that men, since you're or less on for us, entitled eat hall while you're here. At least hot Matt said, "Thank you, Dan. after I'm thinking that
 and hopefully we will be dischArged when wE get tHerE. AlL bUt onE of uS. I told the commaNDing General here about the men We've bEeN TraiLInG and hOw you meN ArE TRyiNg To Do tHe SAmE thinG. MaTt, I also Told him you WerE aN ex-confederaTE oFficer and a LawMan before the War. he wantS tHosE Men caUghT. He isSued a wARrant fOr their arReST and he HAs detaiLED SErgeAnt McLeod here to trAVeL With you as an offIcial aGeNT oF THe U.s. ArMy with the aUtHoritY To serve THe WARRanT And make sure thOse men are brOUghT to jusTiCe. THIs shouLd alsO gIVe yOu the protecTion You need shOuld yoU Run into ANy more UNion soLdiErs. mcLeOD vOlUntEeREd fOR tHe aSSigNment and WiLl ReporT bacK HERE wheN hiS misSion iS over. I suspect He wIll bE DisChargEd theN."

MatT sAid, "ThAnk you, ross. WE'vE enjoyed our time With You and wisH yoU tHe bEsT. As soON as thaT riVer Goes dowN we will BE on OuR WAY aNd Sergeant McLeod wiLl BE WeLcome. One More thINg, i hAVe a pass tHaT I'm SuppOSEd to tUrn iN FoR my parolE. Can yoU HeLp Me with tHaT?"

Ross sMiLed And ReachED intO his poCket. He saId, "I alMOst forgot. I have ALready done it. I'LL tRADe YOu thIs fOr the pass alThouGH the Pass WAs SigNEd by tHe ConFeDErATes and isn't any good. I'lL jUst teaR it up." and with that he Handed Matt BACK his paroLe.

CaRRiE Stole a glance at dan Mcleod and saw THat he was Also lOoking at Her. "I think WE Should stArt To cAll The SERgEant by his firsT NAme, DAn."

dan winkEd aT her and SaiD, "I'lL anSweR tO either. BuT I will be PrEtTy GlAd tO lose THat SergeAnT tiTlE. FoR now, I'M Ready tO get aFter ThAt BUncH. And I'm pROuD TO joiN yOu FellOws."

maTt saiD, "We'vE ProBably goT a couple oF daYS befOrE wE can croSs the river. We mIgHt as well fiNd A plAce to sTAY and get CArrie a room. She can use the rESt I know, And i bet sHe'd lIke a hot baTh."

DAn said, "the GEneral Told LiEutenAnT RoSS And I tHAT yOu mEn, Since you're MORe oR less On A misSion for Us, are entitled to eat AT ouR mess hall whilE yoU're hERE. AT leASt IT's hOt FOod."

mATt said, "Thank you, DAn. But after We EAt, i'm thinking THat
 and hopefully we will bedischarged  when  we  ge tther e. A ll but one ofu s. I  told the commanding g enera lh erea bo ut th e men w e 'v e bee ntr ail in g  a nd ho w y ou menare trying  to  d o the same t h in g. Matt, I  al so told himyou  werean  ex - confe der ate o fficer and alawman be fo r e thew ar. Hew a nt s th ose men caught. H e  i s sued a warrant  for t he i ra r res t a nd he hasde taile d  Sergea n tM c L eod here to trave l with youa s a n offi ci ala gent o f the  U . S.Army with t he a uthorityto ser v e the w a rrant a nd mak e s ure  tho s eme n a re bro u gh t t o  ju stice. T hi sshoul d al s o g iveyou  the  prot ection you ne edshou l d y ou ru n int o an ymoreUnionsoldi er s. McLeod volun teer ed for th e a ss ign me nt an d  willrep ort  back h ere whe n  hi sm i s si on is over. I susp ec t he  will be  disch a rg ed then."
Ma ttsaid , "Than k yo u ,Ross. We 've en j oy ed  our ti me  withyo u a ndwishy ou t he bes t. As so on as that river goe s  down we will be o no ur w ayand Sergean t Mc L eodwill be  we l come.  Onemo r et hing, I have a pass  t hat I' m sup posed to turn  in for my p a role. Ca n yo u  h e lp me with tha t?"
Ross smile d  and rea chedinto his  pocket.H e  said, " I a lmo stfor g o t.  I have alrea d y  don eit. I'l l t rade yo u t his  fo r t he  pass alt hough th epa ss  w assigne d  by theCo nfe de rat es an d  isn't  anygood .I' l l j ust tea r  i t up."  A nd  wit h t ha t hehand e d M att bac k his par ole . 

Ca rr ie  stolea glance at D an  McLeod an dsaw  thath e  was als o looking at her. "I th i nk we s hou ld st artto call t hesergea ntb y hisfirstname,  D an. " 
Danw i nk edat  her and s a i d,"I'll  a nswe r to ei ther. But I will b e  pr etty glad tolos e th a t  S erg e an t  ti tl e . F o r  now, I'm ready  to get af te r  t hat bunch. And  I 'm prou d to jo in yo u  fellow s."

Matt  said, "W e' ve p r o bab ly got a c ouple of  days bef o re we ca n cro ssthe ri ve r.We mi ght as wel l fin d a pl ac e to s tay a nd  get Car rie a room. She can use  the r est I  kn ow, and I  be t  sh e'd likea ho t bath."
Dan  sa id, " The gener al t o ld  Li e utena nt R o ss and It ha t y o u  m en, since y o u ' remoreorl ess on  a m ission for us, ar e  entitled to e at a t our  me s s ha ll  while you'reher e. A t leastit 's hot food ."

Matt  s a id, " Thankyou, D an. But a ft e r we e at,I'm  thinking  th at 
 and_hopefully we_will be discharged when_we get_there._All but_one_of us. I_told the commanding_general here about the_men we've been_trailing_and how you men are trying to do the same thing. Matt, I also_told_him you_were_an_ex-confederate officer and a lawman_before the war. He wants_those men_caught. He issued a warrant for their arrest_and_he has detailed_Sergeant McLeod here to travel with you as an_official agent of the U.S. Army_with the authority_to_serve_the warrant and make_sure those men are brought to_justice. This should also give you_the protection you need should you run_into any more Union soldiers. McLeod_volunteered for the assignment and_will report_back here when his mission_is over. I_suspect he_will be discharged_then."

Matt said, "Thank you, Ross. We've_enjoyed our time_with you and wish you the_best._As soon as_that_river_goes down_we will be_on_our way_and_Sergeant McLeod will be welcome. One_more_thing, I have a pass that I'm_supposed to turn in_for_my parole. Can you_help me with that?"

Ross smiled_and reached into his pocket. He_said, "I_almost forgot._I have already done it. I'll trade you this for the_pass although the pass was signed_by the Confederates and_isn't any_good._I'll just tear_it_up." And_with that he handed Matt back his_parole.

Carrie stole_a glance at Dan McLeod and_saw that he was_also_looking at her. "I think we_should start to call the sergeant_by his first name, Dan."

Dan_winked_at_her and said, "I'll answer_to either. But I will be_pretty glad to_lose that Sergeant title. For now, I'm_ready_to get after that bunch. And_I'm_proud to join you fellows."

Matt said,_"We've_probably_got a couple of days_before we can cross the river._We might as well find a place to stay_and get Carrie_a room. She can use_the_rest_I know, and I bet she'd like a hot bath."

Dan_said, "The_general told Lieutenant_Ross and I that you men, since you're more or_less on a mission for us, are_entitled to eat at our mess hall while you're here. At_least it's hot food."

Matt said, "Thank you, Dan._But after we eat, I'm thinking that