The character the group runs into (I call him Dusty Jim for now until I have a better name) is a trader who got caught by the Texas Hellhounds earlier. Rather than taking all his stuff (such as water, food etc) and killing him or just giving him a good beating and leaving him for dead, the Hellhound leader instead has decided to use him as bait for other travellers on their way to Fort Ranger. Jim knows that a sniper is watching him constantly and if he blabs before the Hellhounds can surround their prey that he will be shot the moment they suspect something.
I know, cliché, but I need to introduce a little bit of pressure.