Chapter 3

“Where you headed?” asked Asa.

“Back to the ranch,” said Levi, considering a drink from his flask. He relented, had a swig, then offered the whisky to Asa. “You?”

Asa took the flask, had a drink, then shrugged.

“Which ranch?”

Levi did not care to give too much away, not with his Cauldewell Cogs right there. He replaced the flask and pushed his boot harder against Asa’s. Still no reaction.

“My ranch. Kettlespur. I raise cattle.”

Asa did not attempt to argue with him over whether he could possibly own his own ranch.

“So you’ve got cattle back there.” When Levi grinned, he shrugged. “I don’t care. I’m transporting something important, too. I’m an inventor.”

“Yeah,” said Levi. The man did not look like an inventor to him, but he wasn’t going to argue. Just file it away as some bullshit story.

“That’s why they’re after me. A lot of money’s at stake for some pretty prominent people. Thanks again for the help.”

“I was going to push you out and let you eat dirt.”