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Calhoun.
    Calhoun quickly asked the customer to excuse him for a minute and went to the front of the store so he could intercept Noah. But it was too late. Noah had set his elbows on the counter. Kate was just turning to see what Noah Moulton had to say.
    â€œNoah,” said Calhoun, fixing the real estate guy with a hard look, “you need to talk to me?”
    â€œI want to talk to both of you,” he said. “Good news.”
    Calhoun went with it. “Good news, huh?” He glanced at Kate. She was frowning at Noah.
    â€œMr. Camby changed his mind,” said Noah. “Decided not to sell after all. We’re working up a renewal contract for you and wondered how you’d feel about five years, guaranteed no increase in rent, provided you folks spruce up your sign and continue to have somebody mow the grass and clip the shrubs and weed the gardens once in a while. How’s that sound?”
    Calhoun shook his head. “We can’t guarantee you we’ll stay here for another five years.”
    â€œNo increase in rent?” said Kate.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Noah. “In return for normal maintenance.”
    â€œWe need to have an out,” said Calhoun. “You don’t know what’s going to happen in five years.”
    â€œIt’s a good deal, Stoney,” said Kate. “Worst case, we might have to sublet it.”
    â€œWe can work out the details another time,” said Noah. “I just wanted to tell you first thing that you don’t have to worry about getting evicted after all. Figured you’d want to know.” He held out his hand to Kate, who shook it, and then to Calhoun, who shrugged and shook it, too.
    Noah headed for the door, then stopped and turned back. “I’ll talk to Mr. Camby about building some options into your lease,” he said. “I don’t see any problems.”
    Then, with a ding of the bell over the door, Noah Moulton was gone.
    Calhoun gave Kate a smile, then went back to the customer who needed a new fly rod. Kate returned to her office.
    After the customer left with an aluminum tube containing one of the new Loomis four-weights under his arm, Calhoun went to Kate’s office and tapped his knuckle on the glass.
    Kate looked up, frowned, and jerked her head for Calhoun to come in.
    He went in and sat in the straight-backed wooden chair beside her desk.
    Kate glared at him. “So what the hell was that?” she said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNoah Moulton. Evicting us? Was I supposed to know what he was talking about?”
    Calhoun shrugged. “He came in yesterday while you were in Scarborough. I was going to tell you, but you were so upset about Walter I figured I’d wait on it. I didn’t want to add any more to your worries.”
    â€œYou had no right to do that.” Kate’s eyes narrowed. “You listen to me, Stonewall Jackson Calhoun. I do not need some man protecting me. If there is bad news, I want to know it, andyou have no right to keep it from me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œAnd don’t, for Christ’s sake, call me ma’am.”
    â€œI’m sorry, darlin’.” Calhoun was trying not to smile.
    â€œOr that, either, God damn it.”
    â€œMr. Elton Camby,” said Calhoun, “had made a deal to sell this place out from under us. That was yesterday. Today he changes his mind and wants to give us a favorable new lease. Why don’t we just call it good news?”
    â€œBecause,” said Kate, “you betrayed me. You betrayed my trust.” She was getting wound up. Calhoun knew there was nothing he could do but ride it out when Kate got wound up like this. “I thought,” she said, “that I could count on you to share things with me like partners. Instead you’re making decisions to keep things from me because you think they’ll make poor weak little