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better than to besmirch someone else’s reputation.” She clucked and shook her head. “Now, even though the people of Big Rock are very nice, Sarah, I wouldn’t be too quick to tell anyone your story. It is after all a small town, and it does have its gossips just like all towns do.”
    â€œThat’s it exactly, Sally. Oh, I knew you’d understand,” Sarah said, blushing in shame at deceiving this woman who was being so kind to her.
    â€œOf course I understand, dear,” Sally said. “I’m not so old that I cannot remember what it was like when my husband first began courting me, and how the gossip flew hot and heavy around my town at the time.”
    Sarah realized she needed to find out if Sally Jensen’s husband was Smoke Jensen. She figured he was, but Jensen wasn’t all that uncommon a name and she wanted to be sure. After all, she still couldn’t believe someone as nice as Sally seemed to be would be married to a gunfighter like Smoke Jensen, a man who killed defenseless boys.
    â€œTell me about your husband, Sally,” Sarah said, leaning back in her chair a bit so she wouldn’t seem too anxious. “What’s his name?”
    Sally laughed. “Well, his name is Kirby, Sarah, but he goes by Smoke, or at least that’s what everyone including me calls him.”
    â€œSmoke?” Sarah asked, “My, what an unusual name.” It was him. She was married to a monster.
    Sally’s eyes became distant as she thought back to what Smoke had told her of his early days in the wild West . . .
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    Sarah stared at Sally, who seemed lost in a pleasant memory for the moment. This wasn’t what she’d expected. Most gunmen, at least all that she’d been acquainted with or told about, didn’t have wives. They were for the most part a sorry lot of drunkards and malcontents who drifted from one place to another, selling their guns and their willingness to kill without reason to the highest bidder. And the women they did take up with, when they weren’t busy killing, were nothing like Sally Jensen. Why, she and I could be friends if things were different, Sarah thought wryly. I just can’t believe she’s married to a man as evil as Smoke Jensen and doesn’t realize how bad he really is.
    After a moment, Sarah reached over and gently touched Sally’s arm. “Mrs. Jensen,” she said tentatively.
    Sally started and seemed to come out of her reverie. “Oh, excuse me, Sarah,” she said, smiling almost sadly. “I fear my long journey has tired me considerably and I was daydreaming for a moment.”
    â€œNo, that’s all right,” Sarah said, returning the smile. “You seemed to be someplace else for a minute . . . someplace nice.”
    â€œI was just remembering some tales my husband told me of his first days out here in the wilderness, back when he was no more than a child.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYes. Things were very different then, and Smoke had to learn to use both his wits and his guns at a very young age.” Sally laughed softly. “Thank goodness we’re much more civilized nowadays and things are different.”
    Not so different as you think, Sally, not so different at all, Sarah thought, struggling to keep the hatred she felt for Smoke from showing in her eyes or in her voice.

F IVE
    Sarah decided it would be best if she could find out all she could about this man she planned to kill, this man who went by the unlikely name Smoke. She didn’t like taking advantage of a nice woman like Sally, but it wasn’t her fault the lady had married a monster and didn’t seem to realize it. Perhaps if she could get her to talk about him, she would find out how best to get close to him and then take him out.
    â€œPlease, Sally,” she said, “if you’re not too tired, tell me some of those tales about your husband’s early days out here and