Quicksilver Passion (176 page)

Cherokee flinched.
If you think I’m going to live off you . . .”

I like you, boss,” Keso said softly.
You’re about the only person besides my mama who’s ever treated me decent. When you run out of money, maybe I can help you.”

What could he say without revealing his secret to the boy?
Thanks, Keso, I’m much obliged that you’d do that for me.”

They went to Shaw’s office and there Keso left him, promising to return in an hour.

Cherokee sat across from Todd Shaw and looked him over. He was a handsome brown-haired man in his middle or late twenties with honest, hazel eyes and an open, friendly manner. Everything about him told Cherokee here was a man born to wealth and privilege.
I wanted to talk to you about a few things, Shaw. I liked the way you stood up to that mob out on the street.”

Todd shrugged.
I like to think of myself as the conscience of this town. My boss may sometimes be swept away by popular sentiment, but I try to keep us on an even course between that and what I perceive as what’s morally right.”

Cherokee stared blankly past a point above Todd’s broad shoulder.
Your accent speaks of education from back East. What’s a man like you doing here?”

Todd laughed and leaned back in his chair.
Escaping from a staid Boston background and an overprotective mother, mostly. She had my whole future laid out for me and suddenly I couldn’t stand Harvard anymore. I decided it would be a grand gesture to run off to ‘Bloody Kansas’ when that territory was debating whether they would come in as a free or slave state, found the place dull, and came here.”

Do you know anything at all about the Duchess’ Palace and the red-neck cracker who challenged you in that mob?”

The Palace has a bad reputation and even the public’s getting fed up. The other saloons and bawdy houses don’t like the Duchess, especially Big Ed Chase. If he can ever figure out a way to get rid of her, he will. Today’s s Saturday, that means the whole street will have one long, drunken brawl going on late tonight.”

And Dallinger?”

Todd seemed to be searching his memory.
The name rings a bell somehow. I’d swear it’s the name my brother mentioned to me. Something to do with Jake ending up in jail for attempted robbery, kidnapping, and rape, but that’s all I can tell you. Guess they finally paroled him.”

That didn’t help much.
Todd, I’ve got a friend among the Cheyenne. Do you really think Chivington’s forces will finally attack them?”