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“Yes, but he doesn’t want to talk with all of us present, which makes me think he’s the one with something to hide. He’s remained in his room all afternoon. I’m certain he’ll seek you out this evening.”
    Gwen put her spoon aside. “Then perhaps you and Beth should make yourselves scarce. I might as well talk to him and send him on his way.”
    Beth frowned. “How can we even be sure he is Harvey’s brother? He looks nothing like him.”
    “He acts nothing like him, either. Harvey was always so sweet,” Lacy added.
    “Why should he lie about that?” Gwen asked. “It’s not like Harvey had any wealth or hit it rich in the mines. Perhaps Mr. Bishop thinks that he did come into a fortune, but we can easily show him otherwise. And if he doesn’t believe us, we can point him to Virginia City and Norris. They can certainly vouch for the fact that Pa and Harvey never made much more in gold than saw us through from day to day. If Pa hadn’t sold his claim, we wouldn’t have even had the money to get started here. It’s not like we’re living a life of ease.”
    “I doubt that means anything to Mr. Bishop. He’s obviously after something here. We just need to find out what that might be,” Beth reasoned. She checked the two dried apple pies and noted they were cool. “Should I take these over to Rafe?”
    Gwen shook her head. “Let him come for them. I’ve seen several rough-looking characters make their way over there already. No sense putting ourselves in danger. If he happens to forget, we can always get Simon or Nick to take them.”
    Beth nodded and went back to tending her biscuit dough. “I’ll get these in the oven if the chicken is done.”
    “It is. Go right ahead. Lacy, please get the water, then see that the table is set. Don’t forget that Jerry and Patience Shepard are joining us for supper.”
    “I hope that doesn’t mean Deputy Shepard is coming, as well,” Lacy said with obvious contempt in her tone.
    “I don’t know if he is or not, but you might as well set an extra place just in case he does.”
    Muttering, Lacy took herself out the back door while Beth straightened after placing the biscuits in the oven. She looked at her older sister and couldn’t help but feel a sense of protection. Gwen had seen them through so many bad situations and had tried her best to be a mother to Beth and Lacy, even though she wasn’t that much older than either of her siblings. Beth loved her for trying, though, and would have given her life to protect Gwen.
    It seemed strange that it was just the three of them now. Pa had always been there for them, even if his wild dreams had taken them all over the country. Gwen was always encouraging Beth, who really only wanted to settle down in one place and stop all the travel.
    Someday, we’ll stop moving, Gwen had once assured Beth. One day, we’ll have a real home. And while the Gallatin House wasn’t exactly a real home, it was the closest Beth had known since her mother died, and she didn’t want to leave.
    “Maybe Mr. Bishop thinks Harvey owned part of this establishment,” Gwen said rather absentmindedly. She was now endeavoring to make coffee and had just put in twice as much as needed when Beth managed to stop her.
    “Why don’t you let me see to this,” she more stated than questioned. “I know Pa said not to make the coffee too weak, but this strength would even cause Pa to reconsider his declaration.”
    Gwen only then seemed to notice what she’d done. “Oh no! I’m sorry. It’s just . . . well . . . that man has me so flustered.”
    “I know,” Beth replied sympathetically. “Do you have any idea what he might be looking for?”
    “None at all. You know how it was when Harvey came to us. He had that battered-up suitcase with his only change of clothes and little else. If Mr. Bishop thinks he had something of value, he’s much mistaken.”
    “Could he maybe just need information?”
    Gwen met Beth’s eyes. “There’s