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are, sir, or why you took it upon yourself to bring my brother home, but I am grateful. Now you must tell me exactly what it was that he was doing in that... area of town."
    "I couldn't possibly speak of it to a lady, Miss Avery."
    Fox had removed his hat and held it with the same sun-roughened fingers that had clasped her hand. Maddie noticed now that his hair, a rich shade of dark chestnut, curled luxuriously over his collar. All in all, he was so intensely male—and so self-assured—that she took an involuntary step backward. The young men she had known socially in Philadelphia, intellectuals with proper manners and clean fingernails, had been nothing like this.
    "I appreciate your consideration, Mr. Fox, but—"
    "Just Fox will do."
    After a moment's hesitation Madeleine sighed and continued, "I understand... Fox, that there are many aspects of life here in Deadwood that may shock me deeply, but circumstances dictate that I become aware of them if I am going to protect my brother. I must insist that you enlighten me accordingly." Was she phrasing her thoughts too formally for this earthy man? Smiling politely, she added, "Do you understand what I've said?"
    "Just because I'm not wearing a paper collar and a Prince Albert frock coat doesn't mean I'm slow-witted," Fox replied with a short laugh. He rubbed his eyes then, suddenly aware of the exhaustion that was seeping into his bones. "You know, I've just arrived in Deadwood after a long journey myself, and—"
    "I would certainly invite you in, sir, were it not imperative that we speak in private. I must shield my grandmother as much as possible."
    "Of course." Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected to find such an incongruous female in the Black Hills. One side of his mouth quirked slightly as questions surged up in him and he pushed them back down. "I appreciate that pretty speech, Miss Avery, but we both know that I'm hardly the sort of person you'd invite in for tea. Come to think of it, it may be a while before you find anyone worthy in these parts. But, that's another matter. You wanted to know about the Green Front, and Benjamin..."
    "Yes, please." Flushing, Maddie looked down and fussed with the taffeta ruching that encircled her left wrist.
    Fox took a breath. Part of him was enjoying this scene. "Are you familiar with the mating rites of men and women, Miss Avery?"
    "I beg your pardon!" she cried with a little gasp.
    "You insisted that I be forthright. Shall I repeat the question?"
    "No!" Her face burned. "I cannot imagine how this—this indecent subject could possibly have any bearing on— Oh, for heaven's sake! Naturally, as an unmarried woman, I am not personally familiar with the act you named. However, I am educated... if you take my meaning."
    "I admire your delicacy, miss." His eyes were dancing. "I assume, then, that you're aware that all unmarried women are not chaste like yourself. And, as it happens, a whole lot of those fallen women are right here in Deadwood. In fact, this town is bursting with sin."
    Maddie's heart was pounding harder. "What on earth could that possibly have to do with Benjamin?"
    "He's just curious, which is natural, but when I saw him in the badlands I thought he might be learning a little more than he needed to at—how old is he?"
    "Nine," she said faintly.
    Fox shook his head. "Well, it may be too late, but let's hope he still has a little innocence left. You see, the Green Front, along with most every establishment in the badlands as far as I can tell, has—uh... ladies of the evening..."
    "I am familiar with the term, but I hardly think that Benjamin would know what such women do if he happened to pass one on the street, or whatever it is you're implying."
    "I'm afraid there's more to it." He was losing patience with this careful, circuitous conversation. "In one of the alleys, there are a couple of curtained booths built into the Green Front's outside wall... for men who don't want to bother with... the usual