“You’re right, this Englishman should know I would never sell. He’s a puzzle, and it might be Wade can supply pieces that are missing.”
Pearlseemed to consider her words carefully before saying, “Wade’s a bounty hunter. Why would you contact him?”
“He’s also good at collecting information—he’s done it for me before, so he might as well do it again. “Nothing is wasted except my time and a few dollars if I’m wrong in my supposings. And I know he’s brash and much too cocky, but Wade gets results and has never provided information that turned up false.”
“Brash and cocky.” Pearl shook her head. “He’s arrogant, that one, and with a tongue too loquacious besides.”
“I also know you and he don’t see eye to eye, so I’ll keep him from you as much as I can.”
“It’s not we don’t see eye to eye...”
Concern for her friend drew her brows. “If he’s bothersome, I won’t engage his services.”
“No, it’s not...” Pearl sighed. “It’s nothing. Don’t mind me.”
“Are you certain? Because you are worth more to me than anything he can provide.”
Her friend smiled. “I am certain. Engage him.” Pearl’s smile turned saucy. “Now areyoucertain your fancy Englishman didn’t offer something more than to buy the Diamond? You’re mighty interested in him.”
Exasperation made her tone harsher than she intended. “Yes. He offered me the use of his not-unpretty body but, somehow, I found the strength to refuse him. Him wanting to buymysaloon probably had something to do with it.”
“My, my, so touchy.” Grinning, Pearl signalled Simon for another whiskey. “In any event, he’s gone now.”
“No, he’ll be back.” Alice remembered his leave-taking and the flash of steel in his eyes. “I think he’s one that don’t take no for an answer.”
He played the fool well and it almost was she believed him...if only he hadn’t displayed that barely-there steel as he’d left…
She looked out over the Diamond, at the fur trappers losing their money, the townsfolk drinking her whiskey, the coalminers doing the same. This grand lady washers, and she had plenty steel of her own. In the end, it didn’t matter if he came back or not. She wouldn’t let anyone take what was hers.
