Ellsworth has a considerable sum of money in a large trunk under his bed.”

“And you want me to share it with you?”

“Of course not! How could you even suggest such a thing?”

“My apologies, Miss.”

She stared at me a minute, then said, “I only meant there could be a larger financial benefit for you than the contents of this envelope.”

“I meant no insult, Miss.”

“That’s all right,” she said. “I understand why you asked the question.”

“I have another, if it won’t offend you,” I said.

“Please feel free to ask it.”

“How did you come by this knowledge of a trunk full of money under his bed?”

“While drunk, Mr. Ellsworth shouted, ‘you’re only here for my money!’ We protested, but he told us never to enter his bedroom, or he’d cut off our heads and put them in the trunk under his bed.”

“That must have scared the shit outta you!”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, Miss. I don’t have town manners. That’s probably no secret.”

“In truth,” she said, “I’m quite impressed with your manners. You haven’t spit or broken wind in my presence and this is the first hint of a curse. If you remember, I cursed too, just a moment ago.”

I nodded and looked her over. Jenny wasn’t a short girl, but she sat short. Her posture was good, so I figured she had uncommon long legs. Her face was bland and mostly clear-complected, and her nose was straight. Aside from bein’ the type of woman who’d pay to have a man killed, I didn’t see anythin’ in Jenny’s looks or manner that’d lead Mr. Ellsworth to attack and rob her and Sophie. As a former shootist, I learned early on to watch a man’s eyes when he spoke, ’less he was playin’ cards, and if he was, I’d study his mouth. A gambler will control his eyes, but it’s hard to guard your eyes and mouth at the same time.

Unless you’re a woman.

In my experience, watchin’ a woman’s eyes and mouth means nothin’. I never know if they’re truthful or lyin’, which is one of the reasons I travel with a witchy twenty-year-old gal named Rose. Tiny as she is, Rose can drive a wagon and put a camp together good as any man. She also does curious things that can’t be explained, like climbin’ tall trees with wide trunks that have no low branches. And talkin’ to horses. And smellin’ tubers and medicine roots below the ground, and sniffin’ truth above it. Rose could hear the first words of a story like this from a woman like Jenny and know if it’s true, partly true, or untrue. But Rose was in Springfield with the wagons, and I was on my own with Jenny’s story. I had no reason to doubt it, and she seemed honest. But the whole money under the bed part stuck in my craw.

“How’d you come by this odd sum?” I said.

“Sophie and I saved it from our jobs.”

“What type of work you do?”

“Sophie works in her father’s general store, and I work at Miss Patty’s. That’s how I learned you were in town.”

“You met Phoebe at Miss Patty’s?”

“Yes, and she announced you were taking her to Newton. Are you?”

I nodded.

“In that case, will you consider making a short detour to Mr. Ellsworth’s ranch, south of Grand Junction? Though dusty, the trails are flat and easy to follow.”

I knew that to be mostly true.

“You saved sixty-eight dollars since April?” I asked.

“The amount includes a small weekly stipend I get from my father, and birthday money, and the sale of the gold watch Sophie’s father left her.”

“You girls have worked up a mighty big rage to want the man killed.”

“I fear for the next poor girl who answers his advertisement. She may fare worse.”

We saw the waiter making his way across the room with my platter of steak. Jenny stood.

“What say you to my offer, Mr. Love?”

“I’ll think on it,” I said.