The Man Who Hated Ned O'Leary (Dig Two Graves 2)

Jan nodded with a fond expression. “The Deadeye never missed his mark.”

“He did once,” Ned said, and a tremble crawled up Cole’s spine as he met the green eyes, which now looked at him with an intensity that made him want to push Ned into the wagon and onto Jan and Adam’s bed.

Cole hadn’t missed what Ned was referring to, though. He’d wanted to shoot Ned so badly when he’d found out about the betrayal. But even at that terrible moment, he hadn’t been able make himself put lead in Ned’s flesh, and had made Ned’s hat the only victim. For years, he’d agonized over proving himself lily-livered, and now Ned was using that moment of weakness against him.

Unaware of the tension brewing in the air, Adam petted Cole’s right arm with both hands. “I refuse to believe it.”

“It’s true though. I missed that one time,” Cole admitted, never taking his gaze off Ned despite his heart sinking with a flutter. Would they really part tomorrow? They’d taken such a roundabout way to Denver, and the journey had felt like in the old days. Cole had secretly welcomed each stop and detour, because they’d meant more time with Ned. And Tommy.

Jan spread his arms with a grin. “As we say in the circus, what the public doesn’t see, doesn’t exist.”

“We might stay the night,” Cole said. “If there’s room for the three of us. I want to show Tommy how it all looks in the evening.”

“Will the two of you need some… privacy?” Jan asked with a broad grin that even Ned should understand, but Cole cleared his throat.

“Whatever accommodation you have, we’ll gladly take it.”

The confused little frown between Ned’s eyebrows was just precious. “We’ve been sleeping in bedrolls for several weeks now, we don’t need much.”

Adam made an exaggerated gasp. “That won’t do! I’ll tell Roger we have friends who need a shower.”

“So… where’s Gavin?” Cole inquired.

This time, Jan made a broad gesture that pointed past the largest tent in the middle. “You’ll find him back there, by Parita’s pavilion. We’ll talk once I’m properly dressed.”

Cole and Ned moved along after brief goodbyes, diving farther into the labyrinth of tents, wagons and booths offering everything from sweets to dirty pictures.

Ned glanced at Cole with a puzzled expression. “What was he implying? That we needed to hide? Does he know you’re a wanted man?”

“He does,” Cole said, hesitating, only to add. “But he’s also like us.”

It took Ned passing three more wagons to process that. “Oh. So… he and that feller with face paint—”

Cole smirked. “For the most part. They’re way more adventurous than me in that department,” he said, watching Ned’s face as they moved almost too slowly, because arriving at their goal would have finished this conversation, and Cole wanted to know what Ned thought.

Jan was careful about the people he hired, and since he wanted to feel at peace in his own home, many in the troupe shared his taste in partners. Someone like Ned, someone with nothing to tie him to any place, someone on the run, might easily find a home with this wandering circus.

Ned harrumphed and pushed his hands into his pockets. “And how would you know that?”

Jealousy.

It shouldn’t have made Cole smile, but it did, and he tapped the side of his boot against Ned’s calf. “Everyone here knows. And Adam did proposition me a few times.”

The rusty cogs in Ned’s head sped up as if Cole’s words were grease. “And yet you’re not looking to stay here.” More of a question than a statement, but as they walked down the quiet alley between various show tents, Ned looked back toward the canteen with more attention.

“Would that be a reason to stay?” Cole stepped that bit closer to Ned’s side, wary of every twitch on his face.

Ned was in need of guidance, and if he fit in with the troupe, he might find a home and the companionship he needed. He’d be safe with these people. Maybe even be happy with someone who could give him the benefit of the doubt. Unlike Cole.

Ned shrugged. “Sure sounds better than needing to sneak around all your life and have folks question why you ain’t got a wife yet.”

“They don’t ask questions if you’re only passing through,” Cole said, swallowing when Ned’s lips squeezed more tightly. “Is that what you’d want? Enough men to choose from here.”

Ned scowled, as if Cole had forced him to bite into a lemon. “I’m not lookin’ for what I already found.”

“Take your head out of the clouds,” Cole snapped and moved faster when he spotted the familiar tent with a camera painted on the canvas, and prices listed on a sandwich board standing by the entrance.

“Gavin?” Cole shouted before Ned could have caught up with him.

“Who’s asking?” came from inside in a jolly voice with a strong British accent.