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But when he sat silently for amore

“Was that one of your friends, Greeley?” he asked the battle-scarred cat curled up next to hie tabby arched his back, yawned, then settled back down in the warmth of the bed

Though the cat seemed undisturbed David listened intently Itexcept the tinny sound of an out-of-tune piano froain David felt like doing the same He slipped down under the sheets, pulled the quilts up over his ears, rolled over, and went back to sleep

The pounding on the

back door roused hiood night’s sleep around here?” he rabbed his pants and stumbled out of bed He hopped from one foot to the other as he pulled on his trousers, then stepped into his boots He sta the cold leather over his woolen socks Pausing a moment, David took tiht, no doubt,” David muttered to the cat “In one of the saloons”

The pounding persisted, louder this ti,” David yelled

Raking his fingers through his hair, he stuck his arms into a shirt before he yanked the front door open

A skinny boy of perhaps eight or nine stood bundled up against the cold in an assortotta come quick, Mr Alexander!”

“Why? Who are you?” David asked, surprised to see a child at this tiht visitors were disreputable characters

“I’ed on the tail of David’s shirt, gesturing toward the coroup of townspeople, bundled up in quilts and heavy winter coats, stood outside the largest saloon in town

“You gotta coain, harder

“Who?”

‘Tessa”

David took a step back He didn’t know anyone named Tessa

Coalie shook his head, gripping David’s shirt with surprising force “Hurry!”

“Just let h the open door and grabbed his sheepskin jacket fro down the street toward the saloon “Who’s Tessa?” David shrugged into his jacket He slammed the door of the office behind him There was only one way to find out He sprinted after the little boy

“What’s going on?” David asked, pushing his way toward the front of the crowd a fewcloser and closer to the entrance of the Satin Slipper