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Face started to lose and no longer had cause to laugh.
    In fact, he was decidedly unhappy.
    “Looks like your luck changed as soon as the stranger sat down,” he said to the man who’d started winning.
    “You’re as much a stranger to me as he is,” the man stated.
    The other man obviously wasn’t too sure about that, but as long as he kept his feelings to himself, Decker knew there’d be no trouble.
    Over the next hour Decker won a little, the previous winner lost a lot, and the new winner was winning the most. The other players were holding their own.
    This did not sit well with the red-faced man, who finally decided to speak out.
    “I don’t like the way this game is going,” he said sullenly.
    “You think we do?” one of the other losers said.
    “I wonder why you started winning as soon as this man sat down?” Red Face said, indicating Decker.
    “Beats me, but I’m sure glad he came along. Changed my luck for sure.”
    The man who spoke was watching Decker. Although he was winning, it was clear that Red Face was intimating that Decker was doing the cheating.
    Decker looked at Red Face and said, “If you’re not willing to lose your money, friend, I suggest you move on. Losing is part of this game.”
    “A big part,” one of the other losers mumbled.
    “I don’t mind losing,” Red Face said. “My luck just changed a little too quick to suit me, is all.”
    “Talk like that is not going to make your luck any better,” Decker stated. “Just what is it you’re accusing me of, friend?”
    Red Face looked into Decker’s eyes and suddenly seemed nervous. He realized he’d said too much and now seemed to want to back off.
    “I’m not saying nothing.”
    “And you’re not playing in this game anymore, either,” Decker told him.
    “I got money on the table,” Red Face snapped.
    “You’re still a little ahead, friend,” Decker said softly. “Why not quit now and save yourself…further embarrassment?”
    Red Face looked at the other men at the table and, finding no support from any of them, picked up his money and stood.
    He paused, as if he wanted to say something, but before he could Decker said, “Don’t change your mind.”
    Red Face hesitated, then turned abruptly and walked out of the saloon. It was only then that Decker realized that Sheriff Calder had been watching.
    “How long have you been here, Sheriff?” he asked as the lawman approached the table.
    “Long enough,” Calder said. “Can we talk?”
    “Gentlemen,” Decker said, surrendering his cards, “it’s been interesting.”
    He rose and faced the sheriff.
    “I like the way you handled that.”
    “I don’t like being called a cheater.”
    “Most men would consider that grounds for killing.”
    “I never kill over a card game,” Decker said. “It makes it hard to get players next time.”
    Calder laughed. “I like that, too.”
    “I’m glad you approve. Where do we go to talk?”
    “There’s an office in the back,” the sheriff said, pointing.
    “The owner lets you use it?”
    Sheriff Calder grinned and said, “I am the owner.”

Chapter Seven
    Decker followed the sheriff to the back office, smiling at the fact that the town sheriff also owned the saloon. In most places, that was considered a conflict of interest, of sorts.
    “Does the town council know about this?” Decker asked as they entered the office.
    “Of course,” Calder said. “I’m the head of the town council.”
    “I see.”
    Decker regarded the man for a few seconds. Sheriff Calder did not seem to be a particularly formidable man, physically. What was it, Decker wondered, that had apparently enabled the man to obtain the run of the town?
    Could it be because he was the Baron’s contact? Perhaps it was the Baron that the townspeople were afraid of. That seemed very likely to Decker. He knew of a man who once was able to terrify a town because his brother was a known gunman. When the brother was killed by someone faster, the town