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Especially when I would rather be discussing other, more pleasant things.”
    â€œOh?” She tried to keep herself from physically recoiling.
    â€œYes,” he suddenly grinned at her, “like the way the moonlight makes your brown hair shimmer, makes your dark eyes sparkle.”
    Alys felt her body go rigid under the compliment. While only a short while ago she might have delighted in hearing this man declare such devotion, right now such waxed enthusiasm sent shivers of revulsion running along her nerve endings.
    She squared her shoulders. “Please, Lieutenant, we leave the point, which is the sale of liquor.”
    â€œYes, but that’s not so bad, is it?” Again, he grinned at her. “To leave the point?”
    Alys took a deep breath. “I hope you don’t mind if I speak my mind.”
    He shrugged. “By all means, do.”
    Alys nodded. “It seems to me, Lieutenant, that if the merchants are trading illegal liquor to the Indians, then thisWolf Shadow is within the boundaries of the law in what he is doing and should be praised by the military, not shot at.”
    The lieutenant’s stance became decidedly tense. He cleared his throat. “I can see that pleasantries with you will get me nowhere. You seem to be stuck on this one subject. Very well. Now, Miss Clayton…Alys, need I remind you that it is the Indians who are making the west rough and uncivilized? They raid, steal horses, kill women and children. Now, as I see it, my job here is to protect the townspeople from any such Indian attacks. And this, tonight, was an Indian attack.”
    â€œUpon merchandise?” she countered, her temper rising. “I hardly think so. From my position here, I didn’t even see the man fire but a few shots. And as far as the raiding and stealing, aren’t you forgetting the recent Baker massacre? Wasn’t it the military who was doing the killing of Indian women and children then?”
    The lieutenant shook his head. “What have they been teaching you back east? Leave it to those soft city folk to get the thing all wrong. Now, I think you are mistaken, Miss Clayton. That Baker raid was against warriors, that is all.”
    â€œYes,” she said, “so I heard. The warriors had left some old men and boys in that camp of women and children, while they were out on a buffalo hunt, isn’t that right?”
    The lieutenant’s body stiffened, his hands clenched at his side, and for a moment, he looked as though he might like to strike her. At length, however, he volunteered, “I won’t argue this with you any further, Miss Clayton.” His words were clipped. “I can see that either your mother or the good people of the east have tainted your outlook upon the honest citizens of this town.”
    She pulled a face. “Somehow, I’m not convinced.”
    â€œConvinced? Of what?”
    â€œOf that so-called honesty.”
    He tsked, tsked . “Come now, Miss Clayton. You should have more faith. You clearly don’t understand the politics of the west and, truth to tell, I don’t have the time to enlighten you. At least not now.”
    â€œNo,” she agreed, “you’re right. Now, Lieutenant, if you will excuse me.” She made to step around him, hoping to capture his attention, distracting his gaze from the ground and what she was certain was a trail.
    He didn’t watch her, however. Someone had called to him, demanding his attention, and he had already turned away from her.
    Alys breathed a sigh of relief and, quickly scanning the area around her, stepped out of the light and away from the blood. She calmed slightly. She had managed to cover up the evidence fairly well.
    But if there had been a pool of blood here, it made sense that there would also be a trail to follow. No wounded man would be able to keep from making one.
    Trying to look as demure as possible, Alys studied the ground. She knew