The Trailsman #388 by Jon Sharpe Page A

eyes turned mischievous for a moment. “Ah? And what about the gringa beauty who calls herself Peace Child? You have seen
all
of her,
verdad
?”
    Fargo shrugged. “No secrets around here, huh?”
    She flashed her beguiling smile. “Oh, there are many secrets,” she assured him. “Most of them very deadly.”
    â€œAnd you know some of them?”
    â€œI know
all
of them. Around me, even the most—how you say?—discreet man becomes an oracle.”
    Fargo nodded. “Yeah. Beautiful women do that to some men.”
    â€œSome men? But not you?”
    Fargo ignored the question. “I’m just curious. What the hell is a woman like you doing here?”
    â€œWhy, I am a whore, foolish man. What else could I do in a place like this—teach school?”
    â€œIf you’re a soiled dove, why aren’t there men lined up outside this cantina day and night? I’ve never seen a whore with your beauty.”
    â€œ
Vaya!
Not that kind of whore. I prefer outlaws with plenty of money, and many such men pass through Tierra Seca. I seduce them one at a time and remain their woman until they no longer have money. Then I select another.”
    â€œThat sounds like a dangerous game, lady.”
    â€œYes, it is the danger that makes me do it. Do you know that I cannot come unless the man who is bulling me holds a cocked pistol to my head or a knife to my throat?”
    â€œWell, with me it’s always the lady’s choice. But keep that up and one of these days you’ll be going instead of coming.”
    She laughed that throaty, groin-tickling laugh. “I like you, Fargo. Tell me, would
you
be willing to put a cocked gun to my head for the pleasure of taking me?”
    â€œNope. But you wouldn’t need that with me. I aim to please.”
    â€œOh-
ho
! Is this a challenge?”
    â€œNah. Just the truth.”
    â€œI will be thinking about that,” she assured him. “But tell me . . . you must have vast experience with women. What makes a beauty such as this Peace Child simply give it away for no profit?”
    Fargo shrugged. “I don’t analyze women, Rosario. I just enjoy them. I s’pose the profit, for most women, is the pleasure they get out of it.”
    â€œAgain you are trying to excite me. And again you have succeeded. Let us go to my house now.”
    Fargo chuckled. “Lass, I’d love to screw myself into a slight limp with you. But I
don’t
like danger during the rut. Just about the time I’d be hitting my high note, your outlaw boyfriend could pop a round into my skull.”
    Her luscious, full lips formed a pout. “Does this mean I will never put your boasts to the test?”
    â€œI didn’t say never. Listen, you just mentioned how men turn into oracles around you. You know, you’re sort of an oracle yourself.”
    â€œ
De
veras?
How?”
    â€œThe first time I saw you, you warned me I was a dead man if I sided Santiago Valdez. Why?”
    She tossed back her head and laughed. “What a stupid question. Because it is the truth,
guapo
.”
    â€œNot the whole truth. Whoever the man is who told you that plans to kill me whether I side Valdez or not. You know that, too, don’t you?”
    â€œOf course. I know everything. But you are much man, and so far he has failed.”
    â€œNot by very much,
querida
. I know your man and his two partners stay in El Paso somewhere. Any idea where?”
    â€œI never ask because I do not care. But even if I did know this, I would not tell you. It is not because I am loyal—I hate the pig and I like you. But I never shape events—I only watch them play out.”
    â€œI guess that means you won’t tell me any names either.”
    â€œ
Eres
loco?
I should give up a good—how you say?—meal ticket to help you? This pig has given me hundreds of dollars so far. Do you have that kind of