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it when you’re here. I think every one of them is in love with you or has convinced herself that she is. You, uh, you do know that you wouldn’t have to pay to have one of them, don’t you? Any one of them.”
    Longarm leaned down and kissed the top of Hettie’s head. “I know.” He laughed. “But how could I possibly choose just one when they are all so lovely?” That was something of an exaggeration. Hettie’s girls were of average appearance at best. He had no idea how any of them were as to performance.
    Longarm paused before stepping into the vestibule. “Can I ask you ’bout something that’s been vexing me?”
    â€œOf course. Anything.”
    â€œWhy is this place called Stella’s when I’ve never met anybody here by that name?”
    â€œCan you keep a secret, Marshal?”
    â€œAyuh, I can do that.”
    â€œStella’s is owned by me and by a partner. We made the name what we did because each of us has a reason we don’t want to be known as an owner. Me because I’m not sure menfolk would want to come to a cathouse that’s owned by a nigger woman, my partner because he don’t want his name associated with a whorehouse. So we picked a name out of a hat, so to speak, and called it Stella’s. But there isn’t no Stella, at least not here.”
    Longarm laughed. “It makes sense when you tell it that way. All right then, Hettie, thanks. I’ll, uh, I might be late tonight.”
    â€œThat’s all right. We be open whenever you get here.”
    â€œYes, I expect you will at that.” He stepped out onto the porch.
    Off in the distance there was a flash of light. A moment later a heavy bullet slammed into one of the uprights that held the porch roof up.

Chapter 29
    Longarm hit the ground, .45 in hand, searching for a glimpse of form or motion out where he had seen the muzzle flash. He knew good and well that the distance was too long for a revolver. It would take a rifle to make the shot. But he was more than willing to try it if only he had something to shoot at, damnit.
    One thing he knew for certain. That shot had come from the Nebraska side of things. Someone over there wanted him dead or otherwise gone.
    He lay on the ground outside the nonexistent Stella’s whorehouse for a good half hour, until he heard some revelers loudly and drunkenly approaching. Then he stood and brushed himself off, slid the Colt back into his leather and shivered. Although the evening air was far from being cold.
    He stopped by the smithy, where Otis was keeping an eye on Dave Ashford. The prisoner was shackled to the larger of Otis’s anvils. Longarm figured if the man could make a run for freedom with that monster under his arm, then he was entitled to get away.
    â€œCocksucker,” Ashford snarled when Longarm walked in. Then the man looked away, unwilling to meet Longarm’s eye.
    â€œI see our boy is in his normal good humor,” Longarm said.
    Otis Reed chuckled and gave his bellows a couple of tugs, then used a pair of long tongs to adjust some bits of iron half buried in white-hot coke. “It’s a pity I can’t put him to use around here,” he said, “but he won’t do shit, just sits there and glares at anyone who comes near. His curiosity value has worn out. I think now he’s keeping customers away.”
    â€œDo you want me to move him?” Longarm asked.
    â€œNo, but I hope the circuit judge comes around soon. You did send for him, didn’t you?”
    Longarm nodded. “Just like the council authorized me to.”
    â€œAny idea when the man will get here?”
    Longarm bit the twist off a cheroot and used Otis’s tongs to pick up a cherry-red piece of coke. He used that to light his smoke before he answered. “There’s no telling about those fellows. They travel when they can, where they have to. Have you ever had a proper judge come through