In researching this story, I discovered that Texas, during the post-Civil War era, was probably as dangerous then as say Afghanistan is today. Comanches, Kiowas, renegades ... and no military protection. Having lost the war, southern armies were disbanded, pending the arrival of Union troops. Meanwhile, Indian raids continued, having increased during the war. That's part of what this story is about ... an unsettled and dangerous time. As an aside, consider that areas around the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, inhabited by millions, were once the locations of Comanche and Kiowa raids - very, very dangerous.