Stone looked around the interior of the place. A long, polished mahogany bar with stools in front that was set at one end, with a deuce of pool tables and a 1950s-era jukebox anchoring the other end. In between were tables with checkered tablecloths and wheel-back chairs. The place didn’t smell like a bar; it smelled like lemons and fresh air. From the looks of things Abigail Riker kept her place of business orderly and clean.

“Danny, is there any place around town I can do some work? I’m a little short on cash.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Danny led him upstairs and a few minutes later an exhausted Stone was asleep on the small bed there.

A few hours later he woke up when he felt something hard touch his cheek.

It got his full attention.

Twelve-gauge shotgun muzzles usually did.

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

“WHO IN THE HELL are you?”

Stone didn’t move. Swift motion in the face of a big-bore weapon was never advisable.

“Are you Abigail Riker?”

“I’m asking the questions.”

Stone saw her finger slide to the trigger.

“My name’s Ben. Danny Riker said I could sleep here.”

Stone saw her finger slide to the trigger as her scowl deepened. “You’re lying. Danny’s gone.”

“Well, he’s back now. I met him on the train. He got in a fight with some guys. I helped him out. He’s a little beat up so he decided to come back here for a bit. I just came along.”

The woman was in her early forties, petite, five-three, with narrow hips and the lean body of someone to whom food was not of much interest. Her braided hair was long and dark with hints of silver. Her cheekbones were high and tight. Her face was lovely but her wide green eyes flashed at Stone as she snapped, “How beat up is he?”

“Not that bad, mostly bruises. Can you get the shotgun out of my face? An accidental discharge would do a little more damage to me than that.”

She stepped back but kept the muzzle pointed halfway between the floor and Stone’s head.

“You said you helped him? Why?”

“It was three on one. Didn’t seem all that fair. You mind if I stand up? My back is really starting to ache.”

She took another step back as Stone stood and stretched. They heard feet on the stairs and a moment later Danny Riker appeared, his handsome face with the swollen cheek grinning as he sized up the situation.

“See you two already got acquainted.”

“Yeah,” Stone said tersely, eyeing the gun. “It was a nice way to wake up.”