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Rhine stared.
She smiled coldly. “Been trying to get away from him and this place for years. Now”—she waved the draft—“I can. I’ll see you tonight at the wake, gentlemen.”
A stunned Kent followed Rhine back outside to where their tethered mounts waited.
“Interesting woman,” Kent quipped.
“That’s one way of describing her,” Rhine responded.
“Will the deed hold up?”
“I’ve never known her to be dishonest.”
“Can it be challenged because of your race?”
Rhine shrugged. “Anything is possible, I suppose, but she has no other kin, and the land will be rolled into the company my brother, Drew, and I founded, which is based in San Francisco. My interests are hidden.”
They mounted and headed back to the main part of town.
Kent asked, “Do you know a place where I can buy a couple of shirts, but not have to put any money in the coffers of that ass Day?”
Rhine laughed. “Sure do.”
The store owned by a short German immigrant named Krause had just what Kent needed. After purchasing the shirts, he spied a dark gray Stetson on display that seemed to call his name. The price was dear but it was a hat he’d be able to wear to fancy occasions for years to come as long as he took good care of it, so he counted out the money for it, too, and he and Rhine left the store.
On the ride back, Kent asked, “Did you question Blanchard’s hands about their plans?”
“I spoke with the two older men. He left them a fair amount of money in his will and they’ll be leaving to enjoy it elsewhere. The other two weren’t around.”
“So, I may have to hire all new depending on whether the others stay?”
“Looks that way.”
Kent wasn’t sure whether he was disappointed or not, but at least the men he hired would be his men and there’d be no divided loyalties.
