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shoulder. “Of course, we would all appreciate the help. And don’t you worry none. We’ll figure out how to stop Biggs. I promise.” She tried to smile reassuringly, but gave up after a few moments ticked by. “All right then, Sadie, Hu and Li, you’re on kitchen duty tonight.”
    Shortly after the dinner rush subsided, Cera carried a tray of dirty dishes into the kitchen. As she plopped them on the worktable, a scream pierced the air. Seeing only Hu and Li, she cried, “Sadie!” before rushing out the backdoor and into the alley.
    Behind the garbage pails against the far wall, a crying Sadie watched Jake and another man exchange fisticuffs. Reaching into her skirt pocket, Cera pulled out her derringer. “Leave that man alone or I’ll shoot!”
    Surprised by her threat, both men froze in mid swing, though the stranger recovered first. With a final shove to Jake’s chest, he took off running down the alley.
    Breathing heavily, Jake rested his hands on his knees. “Do you want me to go after him?”
    “No. Let’s just get her inside.” Cera hurried over to Sadie and took her arm. “Come on, honey, you’re safe now.”
    Sitting at the same worktable as earlier in the day, tears ran down Sadie’s face once again.
    “What happened, Sadie? Who was that man?” Cera asked, handing her a glass of water.
    Sadie shook her head and sniffled. “I don’t rightly know. I was takin’ out the garbage when that China man jumped out at me. I screamed and then Mr. Tanner showed up and they took to fightin’.”
    “What did man look like?” Li asked.
    Sadie closed her eyes, remembering. “He was big for a China man and had a black slouchy hat pulled low over his eyes. There was a big knife handle stickin’ out of his shirt.”
    Li gave a low whistle. “A Poo Tow Choy. A hatchet man.”
    “A hatchet man?” Cera repeated. “That doesn’t sound good.”
    Li nodded his agreement. “A Chinese warrior. I think Tong want to kill Sadie and Hu.”
    As the younger girls burst into fresh tears, Cera rubbed a hand over her eyes. “Well, now we know what we’re up against.”
    Jake, who had been sucking on a bloody knuckle while leaning against the far wall, popped the finger out of his mouth. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but maybe you should tell the authorities before someone gets hurt.”
    Cera let out a short laugh. “That’s not how this town works, but I appreciate your help tonight. We’ll take it from here, Mr. Tanner.”
    Sadie stopped crying long enough to offer her thanks too. Her fingers found the locket around her neck. “Looks like I’m beholden to you again, sir. You done saved my life.”
    Jake hooked his thumbs under his gun belt and stared at the floor, looking uncomfortable. “Well, anyway, I wanted to say a proper goodbye to you, Sadie, before I left town. I’m glad we finally got to meet.”
    Sadie rose and walked over to him. Holding out her hand, she said, “Me too.”
    Jake held her hand briefly. “Stay safe.” He nodded to the others before leaving, the backdoor banging behind him.
    For the rest of the night, Cera’s eyes moved between the clock above the bar and the saloon doors as she waited for closing time. Expecting to see Biggs’ ugly face or even another Chinese warrior, her stomach clenched every time someone came in. Finally, a few minutes after midnight, she rushed the last of her customers out the door and breathed a sigh of relief.
    She swung the heavy inner door shut, but as she fit the key in the lock, someone pushed the door open from the other side. Panicked, she called out, “Sorry, we’re closed!”
    Her alarm changed to surprise when Jake stuck his head through the opening. “Oh, it’s you. Weren’t you heading out of town? It’s been a long night and I need to close up, Mr. Tanner, but you’re welcome to come back tomorrow.”
    Crossing the room, she picked up a rag and began wiping down the bar. In the mirror on the wall, she watched his