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Adam frowned. “That’s not unexpected, is it?”
“Oh, they don’t mind being locked up. They just don’t like being in adjacent cells,” Sunshine said with a laugh. “But since we only have the two, there’s not much I can do about that except calm them down when one of them gets riled. It’s better than putting them in one together.” He tipped his hat to Adam. “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”
Adam nodded. “Thanks, Deputy.”
“I’ll say good night as well,” Doc said, standing to take his leave. “Martha said something about fresh apple pie. I think I’ll go see if I can scare up a slice.”
“Sounds delicious,” Adam said, though he had an idea that the good doctor might be after something a little sweeter than apple pie.
Adam glanced at Preacher, waiting for him to excuse himself as well. Preacher just smiled. “I don’t have anywhere else to be.”
Adam chuckled and drank the rest of his cider. Hedidactually have someplace to go. And someone who was hopefully waiting for him.
He stood to leave, but then he spied Nora’s father losing a hand. And not his first, if the small pile of chips and the desperate gleam in his bloodshot eyes meant anything. When had he gotten back into town? Adam wondered if Mr. Schumacher had bothered to go see his daughter first or if he’d just come directly to the tavern.
The man had no business gambling when he couldn’t afford to lose, especially when his daughter was killing herself to support him. If it weren’t for Nora, Adam would walk away and let the man do as he would. Mr. Schumacher was a grown man and was entitled to make his own decisions, foolish though they were. But things were different now. Adam couldn’t just sit and watch him lose all his money. For Nora’s sake. Especially since the money was probably hers.
“I’d tell you to leave it alone if I thought you’d listen,” Preacher said with a wry smile. “But I’m also getting tired of watching Nora deal with the brunt of the consequences of her father’s mistakes. Just try not to get into too much trouble.”
Adam smiled. “I can’t make any promises.” Then he left his glass on the table and went to join the game.
“Well, if it ain’t my new son-in-law,” Schumacher sneered at him.
Adam glanced at him in surprise. “Nora told you?”
“Did she tell me that she went and threw her life away on some two-bit nobody who’s so piss-poor he doesn’t even have his own house to move his wife into but has to live in her father’s house? Yeah, she told me.”
Adam didn’t bother arguing with the man. He’d believe what he wanted to believe. And since he himself had never made a decision solely to please Nora, Adam doubted he’d believe anyone else had.
“Do you have an objection to me joining the game?” Adam asked, not sure what he’d do if Schumacher said yes.
But the man just shrugged. “You got money to lose, I’ve got no problem taking it from you. Probably my daughter’s anyway.”
Adam bit his tongue, though the urge to call the man out on his hypocrisy was staggering.
The other men were a little wary. He was new, after all, and despite having been in town several weeks now, he’d never showed an interest in joining their games before. But money was money, and if he had it, they weren’t averse to taking it. Or trying, anyway.
He watched them all carefully for several hands, keeping his bets small and purposely losing every one of them. The men started to relax, and the atmosphere grew more jovial. With all except Mr. Schumacher. The energy surrounding him grew increasingly frantic, and Adam wasn’t sure how long he could hold disaster at bay. He’d been able to spin several hands in Schumacher’s favor, hoping the man would take his winnings and leave before his “lucky” streak ran out. Instead, he grew bolder, bet more. And even Adam’s skill wouldn’t keep his chips flowing for long.
The man dealing shuffled the cards, preparing for another round, when the tavern doors banged open and Nora stormed in. She zeroed in on her father and marched over, stopping short when she saw Adam sitting at the table. Her eyes crinkled with surprise. And betrayal. Adam hoped that she’d realize he wouldn’t do anything to harm her. But despite all they’d shared recently, they hadn’t known each other long. And trust was a hard-earned thing for them both.
Yet he still had to choke back the explanation that hovered on his lips. He was actually helping…even if it didn’t look like it. But he couldn’t say anything without giving himself away. Her eyes narrowed, her face hardening as she turned from him and leaned over her father.
“Come on, Pa. Let’s go home.”
He shook her off. “Leave me be, girl.”
Adam opened his mouth to say something, but what could he say that would help? He’d explain it to her later. If he couldn’t keep her father from losing, Adam could at least make sure he won himself. Then he could return everything to her afterward. In fact, it might even turn out better that way. Her father would think the money was gone, and as long as she didn’t tell him Adam had returned it, she could keep it safe from his disastrous gambling.
He tried to ignore her fuming and focus on the game. He needed to keep his wits about him.
The dealer dealt another hand of cards, and Adam’s heart pounded when he spread them out in his hands, though he kept his face stone-still. He held the two of hearts, the seven of spades…and three kings.
He watched the others around the table, watching for their tells. Schumacher, unfortunately, was easy to read. Whether it was because he was too drunk to keep his poker face on or because he was just that bad at cards, Adam didn’t know. Whatever the case, everyone at the table knew he held at least the beginnings of a good hand. A fact that was more solidified when he shoved every last coin he had into the pile in the middle of the table.
Adam glanced at the other men, trying to keep from looking at Nora, who was watching with increasing concern from a few feet away. He couldn’t afford the distraction, even if every bone in his body was screaming at him to wrap her in his arms and wipe that fear from her face.
If the other men weren’t holding anything, Adam could throw the game Schumacher’s way and hopefully send him out the door with a nice pile of winnings.
