"I knew you'd come around." Cora's grin lasted only a moment. "Now then, we got a lot to get done and not much time. First thing, we make for the Print Shop and wait for them Indian boys to wander in. Sheriff, I'll thank you to leave one of these fellers - this one, the one that's dry - right where he is so we can take our gamble with him."
"Just the one?" Morgan asked. "Why not both?"
"We went and made a sorry sight of the other one's face. Even if he did wake up, and I ain't sure he would now, I don't reckon old blue eyes would have much of a use for him. Best to just drag him into the sun and have done with it."
When the sheriff hesitated, Cora rolled her eyes. Placing a hand on the hilt of her saber, she leaned toward the ruined corpse. "Or, if you'd rather, I can just have off with his head right here, and you can go about explaining to his widow why he's a head shorter than he ought to be."
"Don't make much difference, way I see it," Morgan replied. "Ain't like saying it was spooks that did it will make a damn lick of sense, anyhow."
"Well, you ain't been elected just to slick down that mustache of yours," Cora said. "If you don't like my explanation good enough, go on and spin your own yarn about how these poor fools got themselves killed. Maybe they gone and got themselves done in by being too greedy."
Cora laughed at her own joke, but the sheriff didn't join in. In the dim light, his face seemed to redden, but whether it was from anger or embarrassment, Victoria couldn't tell. His right hand curled into a fist, then relaxed and smoothed down his mustache.
"I do believe we've places to be," Victoria reminded Cora.
"Right, right," she replied. "Much obliged for the tour here, sheriff. Now, if you'll excuse us, we got to go ask some Indian boys about a witch."
Morgan's eyebrows twitched. "A what?"
"Never you mind. Come on, Vicky, let's make tracks."
Victoria followed the hunter down the stairs and out through the building's front entrance. The deputy still stood at his post, arms folded, as if he were carved from stone. Cora ignored him, pushing her way through the crowd of onlookers. The sun had climbed higher into the sky, and the temperature was beginning to rise. Victoria sighed at the thought of another sweltering day.
"I reckon I might need your help with these here Indians," Cora said.
"What do you mean?" Victoria asked. "I'm not exactly an expert on their culture. I'd never even seen an Indian before I arrived here."
"No," Cora admitted, "but you are an expert at sitting still and looking pretty."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Even before the question passed through her lips, she was dreading the answer.
Cora shot her a look. "You ain't as thick as all that. Woman your age, specially one as doll-faced as you is, ought to know by now just how to make a man go all weak in the knees with a smile or a wink."
"You expect me to be coy with them?"
"Damn straight I do. Ain't like I'm asking you to let them have a poke with you, so simmer down. All I need you to do is look sweet and scared, like you ain't got a hope in the world if they don't tell us everything they know about witches. Men plumb lose their wits when they think there's a pretty girl that needs their saving."
"What if they don't think I'm pretty?" Victoria asked. "For all I know, they may find blue eyes or blond hair repulsive."
"Maybe so," Cora said, "but there ain't no harm in trying."
"Save to my dignity," Victoria muttered.
When they arrived at the saloon, Cora pushed through the batwing doors. Robert glared at her from behind the bar. "Took you long enough."
"I reckon so," Cora said.
"Morgan didn't see the need to arrest you after all?"
Cora shook her head. "Just wanted my expertise on a case he's got brewing. Couldn't help him none, though, so I told him I'd send you over instead."
"Very funny," Robert said. "Are you going to mind the saloon now, or should I stand here all day?"
"You're welcome to," Cora replied. "Me and Vicky got business here with them Indian boys what drop by in the mornings, so you can stay and look after the other folk if you got a