The drive is through west Texas, in Mescalero Apache territory. Favor mentions to Rowdy about Rowdy being born and raised in west Texas. Based on the time frame, Rowdy would have been born in the early 1850's or so. No white people lived west of the central Texas hill country at that time. Everything west was Comanche and Mescalero country, and way to dangerous for settlers.
When Rowdy gets shot with an arrow they couldn't figure out where it hit him. When it first goes in it's center of his heart. When the chief pulls it out it's in his stomach. When Rowdy stands up he's holding close to his shoulder.