warmth in the gesture; his eyes were grey steel. “It’s getting late. The

Gyp can get a bit rough this time of night, especially for two

unescorted young ladies.” He casually dismissed Cody’s presence as

an escort, as if he signified nothing. Then he smiled, a forced, tight

smile, like his face wasn’t made for such a thing.

But his sudden presence while talking about him was not lost on

Casey or Sasha. He didn’t like people talking about him, that was

clear. Had he actually been following them? Listening in on their

conversation from the shadows?

“Goodnight,” Blackthorne said simply, as if the matter were now

concluded.

For a moment, Casey thought to protest. Why the hell should she

move along, just because he told her to? But maybe in this time, in

the Old West, that was a bad idea, unladylike. And they couldn’t

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Four: Arturo Gyp

afford enemies right now, especially not someone as obviously

dangerous as Blackthorne.

“Whoa, look at the time!” Sasha said, looking at her watchless wrist,

and grabbing Casey’s elbow, before she did something stupid in her

mooning over Cody. “Guess the sheriff’s right. See you later, Cody.”

“Goodnight,” Casey said.

“Night ladies,” Cody said with an un