“It’s okay,” Ryan said. But it bothered him that she couldn’t be sure. Her gift had saved them countless times, and he didn’t realize how dependent they’d become on it. “Figure we’ll have an early supper and leave as soon as we can.”
“I think that’s best. I’d like to get some sleep if I could.”
“We’ll get back under way first thing in the morning,” Ryan told her. “Elmore says we should catch up to Donovan in four more days.”
“That won’t be anytime too soon,” Krysty stated.
Ryan glanced at her plate. “Food’s good. Better than we’ve seen in a long time. You should eat more.”
Krysty pushed at the piece of pork on her plate, running it through the red-pepper gravy and pearl onions on her plate. “I’ve tried, but I can’t. My stomach keeps twisting around on me like it’s my time of the month or something.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Ryan asked.
She touched his face. “If there was, I’d let you.”
Ryan accepted that because he had to, but it didn’t set well with him. He didn’t like being confronted with something that needed doing and him with no way of doing it
.
BEFORE THE MEAL went on much longer, Annie put on entertainment in the form of music. A CD player was brought out, along with an electrical cord. The lantern lights were muted somewhat, but candles on the tables kept the diminishing stock of foodstuffs well illuminated.
Ryan took that moment to go for another cup of coffee sub, corralling Doc at the table where the drinks were kept.
“You haven’t been back, Doc,” Ryan said. “We were getting worried about you.”
“No worries, my dear Ryan,” Doc said. “I have been amply entertained by our generous hostess.”
Ryan kept his voice low so that no one else could hear. The music spilled from speakers inset in the walls of the dining room. “You could have got word to us.”
“Actually she’s taken up all of my time since we got here.”
“She say anything about why Shaker’s here?”
“Not one word.” Doc looked at him. “I suppose I could ask.”
“No.” Ryan felt irritated. Doc clearly had lost focus on the situation they’d found themselves in at the trading post. “You remember Shaker, don’t you, Doc?”
“Clearly. He’s the baron in charge of the men we crossed swords with in Idaho Falls.”
“That’s right, so that means at this very minute we’re squatted down feeding our faces in the camps of a potential enemy.”
“They have not recognized us.”
“Yet. That can change. And it bothers me that these people are holed up in here like Texans at the Alamo.”
“Perhaps it’s only the coming chem storm.”
“And mebbe it’s something else. Shaker’s got a lot of men here. Take a lot to chase him inside. The other thing that’s bothering me is that Annie hasn’t set a price on the supplies we’ve taken so far.”
“Mayhap she is only being generous.”
“A person being overly generous with goods or information is a person looking to put a hand in your pocket or slit your throat when you aren’t watching,” Ryan replied. “That’s something I’ve found to be true more times than not.”
“I am afraid that I have no concrete answers for you. You will have to rely on your own judgment in this matter. However, I must tell you that my own instincts are to trust her.”
Ryan filled his cup with coffee sub. “What about you, Doc? Where does Annie figure into all of this for you?”
Doc appeared uncomfortable, scratching at the back of his neck, which was red enough to see even in the dim light. “She has evidenced a certain interest in me.”
“No shit,” Ryan said.
“And she has asked me to stay here with her.”
“Why?”
Doc pulled a surprised look on his face. “I gather that she somewhat fancies me.”
“And what do you fancy, Doc?”
The old man shook his head, peering into the glass of wine he’d poured himself. “I must admit, it is a tempting offer. There are all the books she has, all the physical comforts this place has. And she is a very handsome woman, with, ah, a certain whole-hearted enthusiasm.”