Still and all, men could be such idiots. They always underestimated women.

Ellie caught Charles's eye while Cecil was occupied with his cards, and she flicked her gaze toward the window, trying to let him know that she'd brought reinforcements.

Then she had to ask, “Why are you playing cards?”

“I was bored,” Cecil replied. “It took longer to get you here than I anticipated.”

“Now we have to keep playing,” Charles explained, “because he refuses to quit while I'm ahead.”

“I thought you said he cheated.”

“He does. He just doesn't do it well.”

“I'll let that pass,” Cecil said, “since I'm going to kill you later today. It seems only sporting. Do you want another card?”

Charles shook his head. “I'll stand.”

Cecil turned over his cards, then flipped over Charles's. “Damn!” he swore.

“I win again,” Charles said with a careless smile.

Ellie noticed one of the men in the doorway roll his eyes.

“Let's see,” Charles mused. “How much would you owe me now? If, of course, you weren't to kill me?”

“Unfortunately for you, that point is moot,” Cecil said with a malicious hiss. “Now be quiet while I deal.”

“Can we get on with this?” one of the guards demanded. “You're only paying us for one day.”

“Shut up!” Cecil screamed, his whole body shaking from the force of his order. “I'm playing cards.”

“He's never beaten me at anything before,” Charles told the guard with a shrug. “Games, hunting, cards, women. I guess he wants to do it once before I die.”

Ellie chewed on her lower lip, trying to decide how best to exploit the situation to her advantage. She could try to shoot Cecil, but she doubted that she could draw one of her guns before the guards overpowered her. She had never been terribly athletic and had long since learned to rely on her wits rather than her strength or speed.

She glanced back over at the guards, who were now looking very irritated with Cecil. She wondered how much he was paying them. Probably a lot, for them to put up with such nonsense.

But she could pay them more.

“I have to relieve myself!” Ellie shouted loudly.

“Hold it,” Cecil ordered, flipping over the cards. “Damn.”

“I win again,” Charles said.

“Stop saying that!”

“But it's true.”

“I said shut your mouth!” Cecil waved his gun wildly in the air. Charles, Ellie, and both the guards ducked, but thankfully no bullets were forthcoming. One of the guards muttered something that sounded unflattering toward Cecil.

“I really need a moment of privacy,” Ellie said again, purposefully making her voice strident.

“I told you to hold it, bitch!”

Ellie gasped.

“Don't speak to my wife that way,” Charles bit out.

“Sir,” Ellie said, hoping she wasn't pushing her luck. “Obviously you do not have a wife, or you would realize that women are a bit more…delicate…than men in some ways, and I am quite simply unable to do as you ask.”