‘Ah, I see.’ The Skittle is a tropical flavour. Mango? Kiwi? ‘Well I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘These illegals are everywhere.’ Hogan shakes his head sorrowfully. ‘They cross our land, stealing animals, threatening our people. My own wife lives in fear.’

‘All the way from Houston?’ I say gently.

Hogan reddens.

‘Look.’ Hastily, I try to make amends. ‘It’s really nice of you to be concerned, honestly it is, but the poor man was probably more frightened of me than I was of him.’

‘Well that may be so,’ he replies stiffly, ‘but my wife insists we offer you our protection. Rest assured that I’m prepared to pass by this way every evening if it will give you some measure of peace of mind.’

Oh, God forbid. ‘It’s very kind of you really, but I have Benjamín.’

‘That fella who caretakes the place?’ Jeff Hogan splutters into his beer. ‘You think he’d turn a gun on his own kind?’

‘I very much hope he wouldn’t turn a gun on anyone,’ I reply primly, pushing back my chair and standing up.

He makes no move to go. ‘Mrs Coleman, ma’am . . .’

‘Mr Hogan.’ Resolutely, I remain standing.

He sighs and scrapes back his chair. ‘Mrs Coleman, I’d be grateful if you’d give me the telephone number of your husband. As a property owner he has an investment to protect, same way I do. The troubles are not good for business, not good at all.’

‘They’re affecting dentistry?’

Hogan appears not to hear. ‘Tombstone ain’t the only place around here that’s got itself some history,’ he says. ‘A bunch of fellas and I have invested a lot of dollars into Ague. I don’t know whether you’re aware, but the fine hotel there, Prestcott’s, is mine, the restaurant too.’ He shakes his head. ‘I was real pleased to hear your husband had taken over Temerosa. A commercial venture here will be beneficial for us, and a town near by with attractions and shopping and fine eating to offer tourists, well, I’m thinking that’d be good for your husband too.’

Something sour rises in my throat. I’m rapidly beginning to dislike this man with his faux folksiness. Any second now, he’s going to start calling me little lady.

‘So can I count on your cooperation?’

‘For what?’

‘There’s a meeting in the town hall tomorrow night. I’m hoping you’ll find the time to attend.’ He looks towards the door as it opens and Duval comes in, a roll of plans in his hand. The two men regard each other with mutual dislike. ‘Duval,’ Hogan says disagreeably. He plucks his hat off the table.

‘Jeff.’ Duval leans against the door and eyes Hogan insolently as he walks past.

‘Say, Duval.’ Hogan stops and turns. ‘Those Mexican fellas you got working here, they all legal, if you don’t mind my asking?’