McAllen stopped and signaled us to arrange ourselves single file behind him. I presumed he wanted to look unthreatening to the soldiers. A lieutenant rode slowly forward and pulled up when his horse stood nose to nose with McAllen’s.After a curt nod, he said, “Lieutenant Miller. You gentlemen coming up from Durango?” “We are,” McAllen answered. “I’m Joseph McAllen. Your troop from Leadville?”The lieutenant made no attempt to shake hands. “Yes, sir. On our way to protect the citizens of Durango against this Ute uprising.” “Have you passed any other riders?” “Bob Grant, yesterday. The fool was riding alone, so I sent two troopers to escort him to Leadville.” “I thought your orders were to protect the people of Durango?” McAllen spoke with a harder edge than I thought appropriate. “It doesn’t look like you have enough men to send two of ’em off to keep one man company.”The lieutenant sat more upright in his saddle before speaking. “My men and I can handle the Utes.”
