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rapid succession. He saw joy, surprise, anger, and bewilderment come and go as quickly as mosquito bites. He also wondered about the man that followed them to the hotel. He spotted him atop the stage that brought Jenny McShanahan to Apple Blossom. He knew the gentleman hadn’t gotten off at the same time as the other passengers who had disembarked.
    So why was he here now? And were they both interested in the same lady for the same reason?
    “Would you be so kind as to send my things up to my room?”
    He turned his attention back to the desk.
    “Yes, ma’am. Consider it done.”
    Jenny thanked the clerk. “And one more thing. Do you know how I would go about locating a Mr. Slim Patterson?”
    The desk clerk visibly blanched. “Mr. Patterson, you say?”
    She smiled sweetly. “Yes. My father would like me to get in touch with Mr. Patterson. He is to escort me to Nevada.”
    The man laughed uncomfortably, his giggle high and girlish for one so rotund. “I’m sorry, Miss McShanahan. It won’t be possible for you to speak with him.” He paused and swallowed hard. “Mr. Patterson died in a knife fight last night. Something about debts he owed was the story I heard from the barkeep.”
    Noah watched Jenny grow still, her green eyes dominating her face, which drained of color. She gripped the counter a long moment in order to steady herself. She seemed to come to some decision as she focused on the clerk.
    “Would you recommend taking the train to Nevada, sir?”
    Laughter filled the small lobby. “From Apple Blossom?” He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “You could probably walk faster from here to there. No,” he shook his head, “overland route’s the only way to get there ‘fore Jesus returns.”
    Jenny walked away, an odd look on her face. She moved toward the exit. Just before she reached the doorway, she looked over her shoulder.
    Noah nearly dropped his teeth when she asked the clerk, “Would you please direct me to the nearest saloon?”

CHAPTER 4
    Jenny walked quickly to the town’s lone saloon. She’d missed seeing it as the stagecoach entered Apple Blossom since it was beyond the point where she disembarked. She moved fast before she lost her courage. She figured a saloon would be the best place to start in trying to find a new guide to see her to Prairie Dell. Wherever that was.
    She wondered what Miss Thompson would say about a former pupil and teacher entering the confines of a saloon. That brought a low chuckle, and she relaxed some. She wished for a moment that Miss Thompson could see her. It would probably bring on an immediate stroke, and then that sweet Miss Vines could take over running The Thompson School in the correct manner.
    Oh, she must be tired and irritable for wishing strokes upon people, even if that included the likes of the horrible Miss Thompson. She was almost glad this Prairie Dell couldn’t be reached by stage. Anything had to be better on her bottom than what she’d suffered through the last two days.
    As she reached the entrance to the saloon, she looked around. Not that she knew anyone in Apple Blossom, but she was a respectable young lady. She hated for anyone, even the residents of this pitiful excuse for a town, to receive the wrong impression of her—despite the fact she was now a forthright Western woman.
    Mustering her courage, she pushed open the door and entered. At once, her vision went dark. No, that was just the inside of the saloon. What a contrast to the bright day outside.
    She glanced around as the room fell eerily silent. It was full of nothing but men—men smoking, men drinking, even men with girls sitting on their laps.
    She stifled the noise that threatened to escape from her lips. These weren’t just any girls. They were like the ones that came to Dr. Randolph’s free clinic, which he operated on the weekends. She remembered the hardened, painted faces of some of the women that came to him for help. Her heart went out to them. To find