“And?”
“And we got it. Name’s James Cashdollar. Whiskey drummer out of Denver. The deputy wasn’t giving him up,but the whore came around when she saw how serious we were. I guess she didn’t realize that we’d have to kill her no matter what, seein’ how she saw us real good.”
Doyle pointed to himself. “I got a face folks trust. I guess she believed me when I said we’d help her get out of town, set her up someplace else.”
Natty closed his eyes briefly. “Yes, Doyle, trust is what comes to mind when I look at you. I heard there have been questions being asked. Anyone come to you?”
“We weren’t there,” said Doyle. “Least not so anybody knows. Lots of ways in and out of a whorehouse where nobody really sees you.”
“So it’s done.”
“More or less. There’s Cashdollar. Still need to take care of him.”
Willet finished his beer. “And the Apple girl. She was there when the old woman got her ring back. And you recall that fellow that was lying in the aisle on the train? Turns out he’s Remington Frost. He was there.”
“Are you planning on killing everyone?”
Doyle said, “Not if we get to Cashdollar first. I’m just being practical here. If the law finds him before we do, then we might have another situation on our hands.”
“So the two of you could be identified and connected to the robbery, but I’m in the clear.”
“That’s right,” said Willet. “Nothing to connect you to anything.”
“Except the two of you.” Natty thought Willet and Doyle looked surprised to hear it, just as if they hadn’t already considered it and what it could mean to them. Natty slid his beer in front of him again and raised his glass as if he intended to toast the Putty brothers. “Something to think about, isn’t it, boys?”
• • •
Phoebe did not know why she had expected that Remington would return before nightfall, but she had. Several times after dinner, while Fiona and Thaddeus cleared the tableand cleaned up so Ellie could rest, Phoebe found herself drifting to the front porch in anticipation of his arrival. It was there that Thaddeus found her sitting on the swing and gently explained to her how it was going to be.
“Days?” she asked. “Where will he stay?”
“I suppose that depends on where the trail takes them. Could be he’ll spend some nights in Collier. Jackson might send him to Denver. He’ll be fine.”
“Will he?”
“Yes.” The swing rocked as he sat beside her. “What about you? Will you be fine?”
“I’m not the one chasing murderers.”
“I’ve found that is rarely significant. You’re waiting and you’re worried. That takes a toll like nothing else.”
Phoebe nodded. She said nothing for a time, working up the courage to talk to him about the other matter on her mind. “You and Fiona were together for a long time in the kitchen.”
He chuckled. “There was a lot of food to clear. I think the two of you emptied the larder. No matter. It was delicious. Fiona said that was because of you, so thank you.”
“She did her share.”
“Of stirring and chopping, she says. Fiona never misled me that she was a cook.” When Phoebe fell silent again, Thaddeus gently prompted her. “What is it? I think there’s something more you want to say.”
“Fiona wants me to leave, Thaddeus. She’s pressed me several times. Twice today. While we were preparing dinner, she suggested that she accompany me back to New York. She presented her idea as though returning with me was for my benefit in the event I was afraid to travel alone.” Phoebe stole a sideways glance at Thaddeus. He was staring straight ahead, his granite profile without expression. She could not begin to guess what he was thinking. She waited.
“I thought...” His voice trailed away as soon as he began. Eventually he cleared his throat and asked, “What did you say?”
“It is disappointing that you feel the need to ask, but I understand. I informed her that under no circumstances wasI going back, which is why we never seem to close the door on the subject. She did not explicitly say that she would not leave New York after escorting me there, but I suspect she plans to stay.”
Thaddeus nodded slowly. “I see.”
“I don’t know if you do, Thaddeus. I don’t know if I do, but I take heart when I consider that while she plans to stay, it is not her desire to do so.” Phoebe let the words sit there and knew the impact of them when Thaddeus turned his head in her direction and two vertical creases appeared between his eyebrows. “Yes,” she said. “You heard me correctly. I truly believe she wants to remain with you. I’ve never known Fiona not to fight for what she wants, but then she has never had to fight to keep a man. If there was competition, there was always someone waiting for her quite literally in the wings. This is outside her experience. She’s afraid and she wants to run.”
