Chance’s baseline expression…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nEmily leaned over as we took our seats in the box. \u201cI am not certain that I quite agree with you, my dear.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nI was only half-listening, having caught a glimpse of the positively scandalous neckline on the dress Mrs. Scott flaunted in the box across the theater from us. That lady gave me a knowing smile and turned so that I could admire her silhouette. Emily slapped my arm with her fan.<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cWhat?\u201d I hastily put on a Contrite Face. \u201cI mean, do forgive me, my dear. I must be feeling my age tonight if my attention could wander from your radiant beauty.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nShe snorted and slapped me harder. \u201cAge be damned, Chance Knight. If you\u2019re 25 I shall eat my hat, feathers and all. And I saw what Eudora Scott had the audacity to wear at her age.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nI ducked my head as sheepishly as I could. My blasted curls promptly flopped over my eyes. Kye chuckled and I reached behind Emily\u2019s back to clout him one on the shoulder. His answering punch was immediate and painful. I readied my fist once more.<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cBoys,\u201d our companion murmured, swatting each of us with the fan. \u201cWhile it might be amusing to watch the two of you wrestling, I do feel that it is something we should save for the privacy of your own home.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nKye\u2019s ears went red. I hiked an eyebrow at Miss Sharp. \u201cI shall have to remember that sometime. I had no idea that your interests lay in that area.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cThat is not what I meant, and well you know it. We were discussing Devon Day and the Sweetwater Kid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cWe were not.\u201d Ye gods, was there no escape?<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cDo you really believe that all outlaws belong behind bars?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMy eyebrow rose once more. \u201cI believe that I was merely asking a rhetorical question, my dear.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nAn obstinate expression crossed her face. This was an expression I was familiar with, and I restrained a sigh. I was not going to be able to weasel my way out of an argument. And I knew from sad experience that even a sudden about-face to her side would not save me. I shoved my hair back out of my eyes and glanced upward in supplication. The ceiling had no answers for me, not that it ever had.<\/em><\/p>\nEmily crossed her arms. \u201cYou are prevaricating, my dear. Mr. Hamilton asked you a direct question, and you side-stepped the issue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nKye leaned forward, rubbing the bicep I had punched. \u201cChance don\u2019t never give his opinion, Miss Emily. Ain\u2019t you noticed?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cI had noticed. And I am pinning the scoundrel down in this instance.\u201d She turned to fix a glare upon me. \u201cWhat is your true opinion of the outlaws in question?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThis was why I avoided such questions. I could hardly tell the woman the truth. I widened my eyes and tugged a half-smile onto my lips. \u201cI cannot understand your interest in the subject, my dear. The question is moot at this point, as the law has caught up to them at last.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThis was the truth, though Emily would never know it. Having to give up our lives as Devon Day and the Sweetwater Kid was nearly as bad as actually going to jail. Damn Kirkham and his Association. I\u2019d had my eye on the Deweyburg bank for months. All that silver from the mine \u2026 and now my plans were foiled forever.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nEmily kept up her glare. \u201cThe point, my dear, is that you are dancing around the subject. I should like a straight answer. My interest is irrelevant.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nFortunately, at this point the orchestra increased their volume, signaling the beginning of the play. The lights in the house dimmed, and a spotlight focused all attention on the stage. I heard a sigh from my companion as I happily turned my attention to our evening\u2019s entertainment. Perhaps by the intermission, the woman would have forgotten the entire incident.<\/em><\/p>\nNo such luck. As soon as the gaslights came back up, Emily extended a hand, and as I helped her to her feet, leaned close to my ear. \u201cDo not think that I have forgotten our conversation. I am going to get an honest answer out of you \u2014 one way or another.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nGod forbid. The only time Chance Knight gave an honest answer was when there was nothing at stake. And even then, I have been known to bend the truth, just to keep my hand in. If only Emily weren\u2019t so very sharp. She had an alarming tendency to see through many of my schemes. In fact, I had recently began to suspect the woman might actually be immune to my Faces. And a con-man without his Faces is \u2026 well, the thought just did not bear dwelling upon.<\/em><\/p>\nI managed to avoid the issue as we mingled. I also managed to get a close look at that scandalous dress. Emily thumped my shoulder as I angled towards the Scotts, but pasted on a smile as the lady turned to display her prodigious bosoms.<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cEudora,\u201d she murmured, kissing the air beside Mrs. Scott\u2019s cheek. \u201cIt is warm in here, isn\u2019t it? So sensible of you to dress for the heat.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMrs. Scott, thankfully, was one of those women with more bosom than brains. She merely smiled happily and angled her best assets in my direction. Her husband took firm hold of her elbow and steered her toward the refreshment table. Kye, on his way back from the same area, stepped out of the way and hoisted his plate above the couple\u2019s head. He glanced downward and his face went red. I elbowed him as he returned to our side.<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cYou need some air, partner?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nKye\u2019s elbow hit my ribs with a thump, nearly shoving me into a potted palm. He shoved half of a slice of cake into his mouth, probably to avoid answering me.<\/em><\/p>\nEmily turned her back on the retreating couple. \u201cI trust no more will be said about this unfortunate wardrobe choice. The woman does not have the sense of a ground squirrel, after all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nI leaned close. \u201cShe\u2019s got a couple of things no ground squirrel has, though.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cA gentleman would not deign to notice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nGood thing I never claimed to be a gentleman.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
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