Jake squirmed a little. He knew that Emaline wouldn’t like it, not being consulted and all. But a man only got so many shots at the big time. Sometimes you had to strike while the iron was hot. He reached out a hand to shake on it. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Big Hugh.”

“Well, then, why don’t you run over to the lodge and grab these share certificates for Mr. McCloskey, Maisie. I’ll buy us another drink to celebrate.”

Maisie was gone less than five minutes. When she left, Jake put his hand down and felt the warmth where her bottom had perched on the seat. She came back a little breathless and handed him some very official-looking share certificates. When he gave her the cash, she tucked it between her breasts, making a little show of putting the money away carefully. She pointed to an address in Carson City that was printed on the certificates.

“See, honey? This is where you can find us. You come on down when you’re ready.”

“You can be sure I’ll do that.”

“That’s swell, sugar. I can’t wait to see you again. Now me and Big Hugh got to turn in so we can get an early start tomorrow. Don’t you go tellin folks you’re about to get rich, y’hear?”

“No, ma’am. I won’t tell a soul.”

Jake shook hands with Cheney. Maisie gave him a long, sweet kiss on the lips, left a trail of lipstick.

“You will come right on down and see us, won’t you, sugar? You’re not the type to keep a little gal waitin, are you?”

“Aw, hell no.”

Jake watched from the window as they left the bar and strolled toward the lodge, the twitch of her tidy little behind. Sure enough, the lady was ripe to be pried away from this bird Cheney. He was going to get rich and he’d get a little bit of this Maisie woman to boot. It was the best day he’d had in a good long while. He was feeling so good he ordered a whiskey and a beer chaser to celebrate.

It was near nine o’clock when Jake staggered back up the hill to the campground. He knew that Emaline would be having a conniption fit, but she’d brighten right up when she heard how rich they were going to be. He whistled along, happy as a clam because he had the share certificates for the Carson City Lead Mining Company tucked safely into his shirt pocket. When he reached the camp, Emaline was waiting for him, pacing back and forth in front of the Dodge.

“Where on earth have you been? Every time I turn my back, you disappear somewhere. It smells like you’ve been drinking.”