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“What’s it supposed to do?” Teddy asked from behind Wally’s shoulder.

Quiet as a fox hunting in a chicken coop, the boy had snuck up on them. There was nothing Sadie could do about it when she saw the wonder in his eyes.

Wally startled but recovered quickly, and he held it out in front of her son so he could inspect it.

“It’s the inside that’s important,” Wally explained, his voice filled with patience and a hint of excitement. “It can hide something very big right in front of you. That is, when it’s working anyway.”

“Why don’t you just make another one?” Teddy asked, running a hand over the smooth metal and dipping his finger in the dent.

“I may have to,” Wally said. “But I suspect now that this has happened, my trip is going to be cut short.”

Sadie stood. “You mean you’ll have to go back to Washington?”

“I’m afraid so,” Wally said gently.

“But what if I can help?” Teddy said. “Maybe if we work together, I can help you fix it and you can stay longer.”

Wally shook his head with an expression like he had a stomach cramp. “I wish I could take you up on that, bud. I do. But I can’t share this technology with anyone.” He checked his wrist thing and stood abruptly. “And I really have to go. But thank you so much for this.”

Sadie’s heart thumped as Doyle’s eyes reflected both an unspoken apology and a longing matching her own. Before she could process it, Wally Doyle walked out the door and out of Sadie’s life.

So much for figuring something out. She ought to have known better than to trust a man’s word. Even James had gone back on his promise to stay with her forever.

“I’m going into town for supplies,” Sadie said in voice she didn’t recognize. She stood and stared at the doorway like Wally might walk back inside. “Stay put in the house. Don’t open that door for anyone.”

In half of one day, Wally and his invention had stridden into her life and changed everything. She wanted to hate him, but she couldn’t. It was frustrating beyond words to admit that, without him or that thing he’d walked off with, she’d be in a heap of trouble right now with Eli, if not dead.

Desperately needing to be alone, Sadie swept out of the room before her eyes started leaking again and went to saddle up her horse.

Target, the beautiful black mare James had gotten her for their last anniversary, sensed her distraction as was evident by the way she pranced beneath her. Sadie held tight to the reigns. She’d put on a burgundy vest and a hat to shade her face before coming. A pouch of money bounced against her hip as she trotted along the path toward town.

Soon enough, main street came into view with its smattering of buildings and boardwalks along the front. At one end stood the town hall where the sheriff and government offices sat behind white columns and barred windows. Further down to the right was the mortuary, doc’s office, general store, and a blacksmith. On the other side was the saloon, with the brothel upstairs, some more shops, and a barber. A few other businesses were on the two smaller streets shooting off on either side, along with some houses, but everything Sadie needed was on the main street.

She guided Target to a shaded hitching post where she secured her near a trough full of water. The horse nickered softly as she left but ducked her head down to drink the moment she’d left. Sadie made a quick stop at Doc Henry’s before heading for the general store.

Bells clinked when she opened the door. Ike, the old man behind the counter, greeted her with a nod. His white hair never changed, nor did his wrinkled face, like he was stuck in time, a fixture of the shop instead of an aging man.

“I need soap and a few groceries, Ike,” she said by way of greeting as she pulled off her hat and smoothed the top of her hair. “I’ll take a dollar’s worth of the usual.”

“That include ammo?” he asked, dipping his head in a disapproving way.

“Naturally. Folks got to protect themselves. Besides, James hasn’t had time to come up here lately. I told him I’d get it all at once. The ranch sure does keep us busy.” She laughed, hoping it didn’t sound forced.

“Mmm hmm,” Ike said, reaching up for the shelf behind him to retrieve the shells. “We got in some marbles if you need some toys for that boy of yours.”

“He ain’t interested in toys. He’s busy inventing things,” she said as she perused the shelves, selecting some canned goods and a sack of flour.

“All boys are interested in marbles,” came a high-pitched female voice from around the corner.

Sadie turned to find Harriet Anderson grinning at her like a mountain lion spotting lunch. She wished she could shoot her like she’d done to the one that threatened Wally earlier.

“Afternoon, Harriet. You shopping too?”

“Naturally. I was making my famous rhubarb pie and realized I was out of shortening! Can you imagine? So here I am.” Harriet spread her hands, sending the basket on her arm swinging. She wore the latest fashion, but she’d sewn it herself, judging by the crooked seam on the skirt. How the hell these women stuffed themselves into corsets and petticoats, Sadie had no idea. It was hard enough moving around in her culottes, and they had a split like pants.

“Well, I won’t keep you then. Pie is waiting.” Sadie forced a smile and reached around her to pick up a slab of her favorite lavender soap.

“Not at all, I rarely get a chance to catch up with you,” Harriet squealed, and despite her tall, thin appearance and long, straight nose, Sadie couldn’t help but think of a pig. Maybe it was all the pink Harriet wore or the bun on her head that looked like a snout.