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others. But he definitely did. Even though Philip was in no way involved in Luce’s bail retrieval job, he was implicated by association since he’d brought her to the rez. And it bothered him.
    Nevertheless he dropped the subject of bounty hunting and simply urged Donna Tafota to call him if Clyde contacted her. They’d deal with who’d take him where, if and when they found him. Hopefully he’d haul his ass back to St. Louis all on his own, and it wouldn’t be an issue.
    But apparently Luce didn’t agree. She put up a good front during the leisurely meal, smiling and chatting cheerfully, but he could tell she was ticked at him. When his body brushed up against hers on the bench, she’d scoot away. When he spoke to her, she’d glance down at her plate instead of at him.
    All in all, things had gone well at the reservation. But it was never a good thing to overstay one’s welcome. He casually put his arm across her shoulders and said, “We have a long drive ahead. We should probably get going.” Her spine stiffened.
    â€œOkay,” she said. He figured he was in for a lecture.
    They gave their thanks to their hosts and said their goodbyes.
    â€œStay in touch about Clyde,” Joseph urged as he closed the Jeep door for Philip and leaned a hand on the window frame. “If he’s been involved in all these doin’s and hasn’t come home, to be honest, I’m starting to get a little worried about him.”
    â€œI will,” Philip assured him, and clasped right arms with him solidarity style. “I don’t want to see Clyde in trouble any more than you do. His salvage yard and engine-repair business bring in a lot of trade to Piñon Lake. He’s a valued citizen.”
    After they’d gotten back on the highway and were speeding toward home, Luce let loose on him. “What were you thinking? Warning them about bounty hunters while I was sitting right there!”
    â€œThey didn’t know you’re a bounty hunter,” he said calmly.
    â€œListen, you might not care about the income from your job,” she fumed, “but I do. I’m counting on this paycheck to—” She broke off.
    â€œTo what?” He turned to her, curious.
    She crossed her arms over her abdomen and slunk down in the seat. “I want to open my own P.I. business. I need this retrieval fee. But even if I didn’t, this is my job. My livelihood. My reputation. You have no right to interfere with how I do it.”
    For some reason he was glad she was getting out of the bounty-hunting business. But that didn’t change what was right.
    â€œThese people gave us their trust. We owe it to them to treat Clyde fairly.”
    â€œHe should have thought about that when he jumped bail.”
    â€œCan’t argue with that,” he agreed. “But there are other ways to go about it.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œNew Mexico state law requires bail enforcers to turn in detainees to the sheriff of the county in question. Instead of taking Tafota to St. Louis, you could turn him in to my friend at the Taos County Sheriff’s office.”
    She exhaled hard, but he could see her consider. “And have him extradited?”
    â€œYou still get your paycheck that way, and Clyde stays in New Mexico.”
    â€œAll that takes time, O’Donnaugh. I’m on a deadline here. Bail is forfeit in less than a week.”
    â€œThey were nice people, Luce.”
    â€œI know, I know!” she said exasperatedly. “Don’t lay on the guilt trip, okay? If I let myself be swayed by every nice person who cares about the jumpers, I’d never get paid. This is what I do. I have to be objective.”
    â€œI understand,” he said.
    And he did. He’d faced similar difficult situations in law enforcement. But in this case, Luce wouldn’t be around for the fallout. Philip had to live and work here. His reputation mattered,