The man in black—whose name happened to be Blacker—clicked his stopwatch and checked the time. Not especially fast, but then they had not really pushed the three-year-old. He’d shown some heart, though, when the big gelding pulled up alongside him. Blacker knew that everyone was either betting on the horse from the East or the horse from California. He also knew that a lot of locals were touting their horses. But a “local” himself—though not specifically from the Kentucky area—Blacker had some interest in this horse called Whirlwind, and his little-known trainer.
Clint Adams, on the other hand, was well known, and appeared to be a friend of Ben Canby’s. If Adams was here to lay his money down—or even just to offer support—then maybe there was something to this little horse.
And maybe something was going to have to be done about him.
About both of them.
Blacker put his spyglass and watch away, mounted up, and rode off. He had to report to his boss.
* * *
Clint had also seen a glint of light that morning, but did not dismiss it lightly.
“Ben?”
“Yeah?”
“Somebody’s been watching.”
“Where?” Canby started to look around.
“From that hill,” Clint said, pointing.
Canby looked.
“Still there?”
“No,” Clint said, “I think he’s gone.”
Canby looked at Clint.
“Somebody’s worried about us.”
“You been talking this horse up?”
“Nope,” Canby said, “fact is, I ain’t said a word to anybody.”
“Well then, somebody’s paying attention,” Clint said. “Or maybe somebody’s just checking out all the competition.”
“I think I’ll take a ride up there, see what I can see,” Clint said.
“Okay,” Canby said. “Let me know.”
* * *
Clint rode Eclipse up onto the rise where he’d seen the glint of light, probably a pair of binoculars or a spyglass, as someone watched Whirlwind work out. Of course, being who he was, he had to consider the possibility that they were watching him. They could have recognized him in town, and were wondering what he was up to. He probably should have checked in with the local law when he arrived, but he’d figured his time in town was going to be limited, since he was coming out to Canby’s place.
He dismounted and checked the ground. He found the tracks of a single horse, and the boot prints of the rider. The man had stood here and, judging from the marks on the ground, might even have gone down on one knee to have a look through his glass. There were no cigarette butts to indicate he’d smoked while he was there, or any evidence of tobacco juice he might have spit. The area was clean.
He turned when he heard a horse approaching, wondering if the culprit was coming back. He grabbed Eclipse’s reins and prepared for a confrontation, but when the rider appeared, it was Alicia, riding a horse Clint had seen in the barn earlier.
“What did you find?” she asked.
“Nothing. What did you think I’d find?”
“I don’t know,” she said, getting off her horse. “The boss told me you rode up here. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”
“I’m fine. I just took a look around.”
“And?”
“One man, one horse,” Clint said. “He stood about here and watched.”
“Watched what?”
“Either me, or Whirlwind’s workout.”
“A spy.”
“Maybe.”
“Why would somebody be watching you?”
“Because of who I am.”
“You mean that Gunsmith business?”
“Yes, that Gunsmith business.”
She eyed him quizzically and asked, “Is that for real?”
“Is what for real?”
“All that fast gun stuff?” she asked. “I mean, that stuff about you . . . killing people?”
“Are you asking me if I’ve killed people?”
“Well . . . yes.”
“I have,” he said, “but only when they were trying to kill me.”
“Um, how many?”
“I don’t keep count, Alicia.”
“But . . . a lot?”
“Where’s this coming from?” he asked.
“Davy,” she said. “He told me that you’re . . . a killer.”
“Why do you think he told you that?”
“I don’t know.”
“You told me he’s in love with you,” he said. “Do you think he suspects something is going on? Maybe he’s jealous? Or trying to scare you away from me?”
“But if it’s true—”
“You’re going to have to decide for yourself what’s true and what isn’t, Alicia. I can’t help you with that.”
He mounted Eclipse, then looked down at her.
“Are you coming back down?”
“Not right now,” she said. “I think I’ll stay up here for a while and do some thinking.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me,” he said. “I’ll tell Ben. You take all the time you need.”
He turned Eclipse around and rode him back down toward the training track. He figured he’d spent as much time with Alicia as he was going to.