Then he gave me a look that said I should a’ known about the pebble.

“Kiss my ass,” I said. Then added, “Thanks.”

He looked at my saddle bags.

“Left side,” I said.

He grinned like a kid with candy and reached into the saddle bag. When he found the bottle of bourbon his smile got bigger.

“That’s genuine Kentucky bourbon,” I said. “All the way from Louisville.”

Shrug cocked his head.

I said, “The Mountain View Hotel gets it shipped by rail twice a month.”

He nodded approvingly.

“Hell of an age we live in, ain’t it?”

He shrugged.

It’s yours,” I said. “Enjoy.”

Shrug worked the cork out and took a pull. He smiled broadly, fell on his back, and kicked his legs in the air. Shrug loves his whiskey. He came up grinnin’ and took another pull.

“Go easy, friend,” I said. “It’s smooth goin’ down, but it will flat kick your ass.”

He took another pull and pointed at the fish.

“That’s ten perch,” I said. “You’re not joinin’ us for breakfast?”

He shook his head and kissed his bottle of bourbon.

I pointed at the saddle bags.

“There’s a leather pouch in there, with matches in a wax rag, and a couple blocks of salt. Got some salt pork, too, and chitlins.”

His eyes grew big.

“Yup, chitlins. Can you believe it?”

Shrug pretended to swoon. He pulled the saddle bag off Major and dug out his prizes. Shrug don’t have much use for money, but I’d put a few gold and silver coins in his pouch anyway.

“Anythin’ else I can do for you?” I said.

He sniffed the air.

I laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He made a curvy motion with his hands. Then closed his eyes and kissed the air.

“Monique. She’s French.”

He gave me a questionin’ look. I said, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

Shrug pretended to pout. I laughed.

“Maybe Scarlett,” I said.

He cocked his head.

“Big gal in the back. She’s got a good heart.”

He put his hands out in front of him and grinned.

“Yeah, they’re huge all right!”

His expression turned sad. He circled his hand in front of his face.

“Gentry,” I said. “I’m partial to her.”

He cocked his head again.

I said, “Her face don’t bother me. She’s got grit. I like that in a woman.”

Shrug raised his eyebrows.

“It’ll be up to her,” I said. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

He put the saddle bags back on Major, then picked up his new pouch, tied it to his belt, grabbed his bottle, and scampered off into the bushes. When I got back to camp with the fish, only Phoebe had a clue as to how I’d come by ’em, and she kept it to herself.