Chapter 39

The only room available was a small log shed at the edge of town. Jack paid a silent Indian woman for the room—the shed had been hastily constructed, probably with the thought of renting it out for the race. The low ceiling kept Monty from standing tall once inside, and Jack’s bulk seemed to fill most of the interior, but at least the walls and roof held back the worst of the wind. The ground was swept clean, an improvement over the stony ground outside, even if it were still cold and hard. Jack spread out his bedroll across the doorway, a subtle reminder that he was in charge and no one left or entered without his consent. Emmett wondered if he wouldn’t find himself woken in the night when Monty tried to sneak out—with the impending race, there were plenty of illegal activities carried on out in the town, gambling mostly, and Monty struck Emmett as the type who’d fall in with that crowd.