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Locksley.”
    â€œThat bitch!”
    â€œThat’s what I hear. Tell me about her.”
    â€œShe’s mean,” Mary said. “Born mean, got meaner every day, even after she had a child.”
    â€œShe’s a mother?”
    â€œAn accident, I’m sure,” she said. “She has one son, treats him like a dog. The way she treats her husband.”
    â€œAnd her husband stays with her?”
    â€œShe’s got the money.”
    â€œAh. And what do they have against you? Were you trying seduce their son and marry into that family?”
    â€œThat’s what everybody thought,” she said. “I wasn’t gonna marry Jake. But he thought so, and he told everybody.”
    â€œAnd his mother didn’t like that?”
    â€œShe thought I was after her money.”
    â€œBut you weren’t?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAnd you weren’t after her son?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSo what were you after, Mary?”
    She stared at him, then said, “The truth?”
    â€œThe truth.”
    She sipped her coffee again, then said, “Her husband.”
    *   *   *
    The doctor arrived with her food before Clint could pursue that. He put the tray on the bed so she could tuck into her ham and eggs.
    â€œWe’ll let you eat,” Mathis said. “When you’re finished, call us. I want to examine you.”
    â€œOkay.”
    They went into the other room.
    â€œWhat did she have to say?” the doc asked.
    â€œShe told me a secret.”
    â€œAbout what?” Doc asked. “Her and Jake?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    â€œWell, what then?”
    â€œNever mind,” Clint said.
    â€œShe doesn’t want you to tell me?”
    Clint didn’t answer.
    â€œOkay,” Doc said. “Keep your secrets. And keep hers.”
    â€œAll I can say is things aren’t what they seem,” Clint said.
    â€œMaybe not, Clint,” the doc said. “But you know what I know?”
    â€œWhat’s that, Doc?”
    â€œThings,” Doc Mathis said, “are always what they are.”

FOURTEEN
    Mary called out when she was done. Doc and Clint went in, and Doc took the tray off her lap.
    â€œI’ll take this back to the café,” he said. “When I come back, I’ll need you to leave, Clint, so I can examine her.”
    â€œOkay, Doc.”
    Mathis left.
    Clint and Mary sat in silence for a few minutes.
    â€œYou don’t have to talk if you don’t want to,” he told her.
    â€œNo,” she said, “I opened my big mouth, didn’t I? I should finish.”
    â€œSo finish.”
    She took a deep breath.
    â€œI was sleeping with her husband,” she said, “but I let everybody think I was interested in her son.”
    â€œWhy the husband, if not for the money?” Clint asked.
    â€œHe’s powerful,” she said, “and he’s good looking.”
    â€œIf you like that type.”
    She giggled and said, “I guess I did.”
    â€œDid?”
    â€œYes,” she said, “did. Not anymore.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause he’s the one who put me on that horse! Kind of hard to love a man after that.”
    â€œAnd did you love him?”
    She paused a moment to think, then said, “Probably not. It was probably the power, the . . . excitement. But no, not love.”
    â€œWell, that’s good to hear.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI’d hate to think that after everything you’ve been through, you still loved him. Especially since I’d have to go up against him if he comes after us.”
    â€œUs?”
    â€œYes, us,” Clint said. “And that includes Doc, who could’ve slammed his door in our face, but didn’t.”
    â€œWell,” she said, “if he does come after us, you have my permission to kill him.”
    â€œHopefully,” Clint said, “it won’t come to