Clementine laid one armon the table. “Least you can do is get me a whiskey for mytrouble.”
“You and me,both.” Mr Wade gestured at the barkeep, who scrambled intoaction.
Clementine’s gaze slid toHope, and her lips pursed as if she were to form words. Before shedid, Mr Wade asked, “What do you know of Callihan?”
Hope blinked at thesudden change, but it didn’t seem to disturb Clementine any. “Iknow too much. There’s a man who can’t shut up, and who is viciousbesides..”
Mr Wade rubbed his chinthoughtfully. “I’ve heard that, too.”
The barkeep placed aglass before each of them, generously filled with whiskey. Hopeeyed hers. She’d never had a taste for alcohol, but she had no wishto draw attention to herself with the bounty hunter seated besideher. Best to leave it be.
“What do youknow different?” Clementine asked.
“Nothing.Have you had occasion to be introduced properly to Miss McElroyhere?”
Clementine kept her gazetrained on Mr Wade, thank God. “What do you know aboutCallihan?”
“Nothing, asI said.”
Her eyes sharpened. “He’sstill got that bounty on his head.”
“Does he?” MrWade asked mildly.
Clementine scowled.“Wade,” she warned.
Mr Wade shrugged. “Maybeit is he does, but he’s impossible to catch. Just slithers right onthrough your fingers. Ain’t really here nor there.”
“What are youkeeping from me?”
“Nothing,darlin’. I’d share my soul with you.” He nodded Hope’s way. “To myrecollection, you haven’t answered as to whether a properintroduction to Miss McElroy has yet been made, and you know I hateto be rude.”
The bounty hunter barelyglanced at her. “If you’re keeping another bounty toyourself—”
“I wouldn’tdo that. It’s as I said, Callihan is expired. Those warrants areoutdated. Besides, five thousand is a paltry sum when you considerthe danger the man exudes.”
“Fivethousand,” Clementine said slowly.
Mr Wade nodded. “It’s amite more than an insult. What, do they think we enjoy risking lifeand limb for the apprehension of bad men?”
“Huh.”Raising her glass to her lips, Clementine sat back in herchair.
“Tell meabout you, though. What have you been up to?”
“Miranda.Johnson. Sully. They were easy.” She shrugged.
“Easy, huh?That’s nice on occasion. I had a bitch of a time with my last one.Took an age. Had to outsmart the wily bastard at every turn. Almostlost him four—no, five— times. Took weeks, taxed my brain. Andthen, at the end, he refused to go easy. Had to battle to get himto heel.” Mr Wade whistled, low. “Was glad of the rest, once it wasdone. The three grand I got for my trouble hardly seemed worthit.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s yournext bounty?” he asked brightly.
“I wasthinking Matheson.”
“Oh.” MrWade’s expression dimmed. “Well, like I said, the easy ones aregood for a change. Some of the time.”
Clementine stoodabruptly. “Thanks for the drink, Wade.” She tipped her hat at Hope.“Ma’am.” She strode from the saloon, eating the ground with eachpace.
Hope stared after her.Now the woman had departed, her heart began a normal rhythm. “Whatwas all that about?”
