Chapter VIII, The Ranger Summary

Soon after Texas becomes a state, the Mexican War occurs n 1846-1848. Men from the other twenty-eight states come and serve in Texas. President Polk wants to add California and New Mexico to the union and offers to buy them from Mexico, who refuses. General Zackery Taylor is sent to Texas to protect the Texas border. When Taylor moves along the Rio Grande, land that Mexico claimed, this provokes war.

Benito Garza, preparing for war, meets Maria de la Luz, called Lucha Lopez, and falls in love. He had dreams of Mexico recapturing Texas and Locha shares many of his views. They want to marry but her parents oppose the match. They marry anyway just as news arrives about the Americans near the Rio Grande and Benito leaves to ride with General Arista. They go to scout...