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Wonderful. Just what he needed. More enemies.
“You better hope you can find, and keep, a viable job, Brady,” Woodson said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. “Because aside from a handful of children and schoolgirls, there are only two unmarried and unattached women left in this town. One is only seventeen years old. And you just made a lifelong enemy of the other.”
Of course he had. Adam closed his eyes briefly and blew out a long breath. “I can find a job,” he said, putting more conviction into the words than he felt.
He had no idea what sort of work he’d be able to find. He’d always made his living at the card tables and kept what he had with the occasional, unavoidable gunfight. He wasn’t qualified to do anything but gamble or shoot at people, and he’d really been hoping to retire from both of those…occupations. Without the usual prerequisite of a funeral. A prospect he’d never hoped to consider before and that now he could not dismiss. Heneededto stay. Even if itwasWoodson’s territory.
The gambling he could probably keep doing recreationally, but it certainly wasn’t a profession the Town Council would approve of, and it wasn’t really one he could do and remain in the same place for long. A man could only beat the same people at cards for so long before his presence wasn’t welcome anymore. So that was out. As for his other skill…even if he wanted to keep gunfighting, Woodson and the Town Council had just made it abundantly clear that wouldn’t be tolerated. Which was good because he was pretty sure Nora would be the first in line to call him out if duels were allowed.
Deservedly so.
“Sit,” Woodson ordered.
Adam did so, glancing around the table at everyone sitting there, waiting for Woodson—or someone—to make introductions. But Woodson didn’t do anything but glower at him, his eyes narrowed like he was trying to pull all Adam’s secrets from his mind. Adam wasn’t all that sure the man couldn’t do it.
All right, then. He cleared his throat and smiled at the group. “I know I’ve gotten off on the wrong foot with everyone. My apologies.”
Most of the people around the table nodded, their expressions lightening somewhat. Except Woodson’s, of course, though that was no surprise.
Adam cleared his throat. “Well, you already know my background. But I didn’t formally introduce myself. Since the sheriff doesn’t want to do the honors, I’m Adam Brady. Gambler. Gunfighter. Retired, hopefully.”
The woman beside the sheriff gave him a tentative smile. “Mercy Woodson. And this is Gray’s deputy, Jason Sunshine.” The pleasant-looking young man with the cheery perma-smile next to Woodson grinned and tipped his hat to Adam. “Mrs. DuVere is our mayor and owns the tavern and new boardinghouse that’s being built.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, honey,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “You see me when this little meet-and-greet is done and we’ll get you fixed up with a room.”
Adam smiled gratefully, hiding his surprise that the town’s mayor was not only female but from all appearances most likely owned the brothel. Or…parlor house, since he wanted to be polite. “That would be wonderful, thank you.”
She nodded, and Mercy motioned toward two men sitting on Mrs. DuVere’s other side. “This is Doctor Harrison Fairbanks—everyone calls him Doc—and our pastor, Reverend Samuel Connelly. Most around here just call him Preacher.”
Both men nodded civilly but watched him with enough suspicion that Adam actually relaxed a little. He’d been starting to think the town just accepted anyone who walked in and, while he definitely wanted them to accepthim, there were more than a few men who would come to Desolation under the guise of retirement who shouldn’t be allowed in. It was good to know they were at least a little discerning.
Mercy gestured to a young woman on the other side of her. “And this is Martha Clifford. She and her grandparents own the general store.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss,” he said, tipping his hat to her with a smile.
She glowered at him but nodded. That was fair. Nora was obviously her friend. It was good to have friends who had your back. So he’d heard.
Woodson scowled. “Against my better judgment, I’ve been persuaded to allow you to stay.”
More like it was pointed out that he didn’t have a cause to banish him, but Adam didn’t feel it wise to poke at his luck too much, so he just gave Woodson a quick nod. “Thank you.”
“But.”
Adam’s eyebrow rose. He should have known there was abut.
“You heard the rules,” Woodson stated.
Adam nodded again.
“You will abide by those rules, just like everyone else.”
“I expected nothing less.” He didn’t like it. But hehadexpected it. So, abide by it he would. “I’m willing to find employment.”
Woodson looked him over skeptically, but instead of questioning Adam’s nonexistent skills, he asked something Adam had really been hoping to avoid.
“Why do you want to stay here?”
He didn’t ask it angrily or even suspiciously but like he genuinely wanted to know. However, it wasn’t something Adam was going to share with him. Not yet anyway.
