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reach beneath the wooden awnings that protruded here and there over the boardwalks. With eight saloons in just his block of Allen Street alone, the din of tinkling piano, drunken laughter, and off-tune singing seemed overwhelming compared to the soft silence of the desert at night. But China was not some sheltered little society miss, and her wide gray eyes drank it all in. Secretly Remington was pleased she found it inviting.
    “You’ve got quite a town here, Jackson.”
    “It’s Remington, and I should think you’d seen enough of the world not to be so impressed.”
    She gave a huff of laughter. “Oh, I seen plenty of towns, but not this size.”
    He pulled Joe into the Pioneer Livery across the street from the offices of Bartel & Jackson, Attorneys at Law. There was no actual Bartel, but Remington had thought having a partner, even in name only, gave it a bit more influence. The familiar odors of horse and hay, leather and saddle soap were prominent in the livery yard as they dismounted and put Joe in his assigned stall and removed his tack. He told the stable hand on duty to rub his horse down and feed him. Remington tried to stretch the kinks out of his shoulders and neck. “You’re certain you don’t wish to see a doctor?”
    “I’m as right as rain, Jackson.” She did a soft-shoe shuffle there on the wooden sidewalk. “See?”
    He chuckled. She was every bit as flamboyant as his brother. No wonder the two got on like eggs and bacon. The thought of food made his stomach grumble. “Let’s go get you a room and something to eat.”
    “I haven’t got any money—”
    He cut her off with a raised hand as they walked side by side out of the livery yard. “No need. I am your attorney after all. You can always tack it on to my fee.”
    The scent of seared steak and fresh bread from a nearby restaurant filled the air during the short walk, not even half a block west, to the Occidental Hotel. It might have been a trick of the shadows, but he thought he saw China’s nose twitch.
    She glared at him. The gaslight caught her eyes in such a way that they glowed green, like a cat’s. “You really going to charge me for being my attorney? If you should charge anyone, it should be that fool brother of yours who sent you.”
    He chuckled. “You can always pay it off by going with me on the trek to wherever Diego’s map leads.”
    She grumbled under her breath. “I planned to find what’s at the end of Diego’s map with or without you, anyway. I’m not working for a Hunter.” She placed her hands on her hips, making the fringe on her jacket sway.
    “You don’t have to work for me, just with me,” he murmured. He grasped one of her hands, even though she was reluctant to let him. “Now let’s get something to eat.”
     
     
    A hearty steak dinner and a good night’s sleep in a clean bed hadn’t improved matters much by the next morning. It was early. Too early, but the quick loud rap at her hotel door wouldn’t stop. Damn. Remington was serious about her helping him locate whatever was at the end of Diego’s map. And he was an early riser. Double damn.
    She cracked open the door and peered outside, getting the view of one piercing blue eye, a long nose with just a hint of a bump, a bit of stubborn lip, and a devil’s divot in a freshly shaved masculine chin.
    “Ready?”
    His tone was far too cheerful. Didn’t he know she was a child of the night? Night being the operative word here. Mornings were not her best time, and she preferred to nap now and again throughout the day.
    “Do I have a choice?” she grumbled. She walked away from the door, letting him swing it open as she yawned and stretched the length of her body. He was dressed this morning in a well-tailored gentleman’s coat over a crisp white shirt with a red paisley vest. A small black ribbon was tied at his neck and matched his fancy black pinstriped pants. Hell, even his boots were shined. How in the world did someone look that