“He’s got store teeth?” she asked, thinking that only rich people and maybe royalty, like kings and queens, could afford false teeth. “He must be rich,” she said.

That brought another laugh from the three customers. “Yeah, he’s rich,” Trip cracked. “He inherited a lot of money.” Josie looked puzzled by the chuckles following that remark.

Booth interrupted then, already having had to try to convince Bodine that the four of them had not been the gang that robbed and killed those innocent families near Fort Benton. “They don’t cost as much as you think,” he said, then went on to explain the dentures made out of vulcanite with porcelain teeth. “He only uses ’em when he’s got some meat to chew up, like that ham Dinah Belle put in the oven. He says he can gum just about everything else.” Further conversation about Tater’s teeth was halted by Dinah Belle’s appearance at the kitchen door.

“It’s on the table,” she announced. “Better come and get it while it’s hot.” There was no hesitation by anyone, as they all filed into the kitchen, where she had set everything on the kitchen table. Bodine was already in place at the head of the table.

“Ol’ Tater’s gonna be fit to be tied, if he don’t show up pretty quick,” Trip commented, as Dinah Belle poured the coffee from a large gray pot.

* * *