Cable’s eyes were on the man, staring at him, feeling now that he had known Denaman was dead, had sensed it from the way the man had spoken-from the tone of his voice.

“You could have come right out and told me,” Cable said.

“Well, you know now.”

“Like you were making a game out of it.”

The man stared down at Cable indifferently. “Why don’t you just let it go?”

“Paul,” Luz said, “it came unexpectedly. He wasn’t sick.”

“His heart?”

Luz nodded. “He collapsed shortly after noon and by that evening he was dead.”

“And you happened to come a month later,” Cable said, looking at the man again.

“Why don’t you ask what I’m doing here?” The man looked up at the sound of the double team wagon on the grade, his eyes half closed in the sunlight, his gaze holding on the far slope now. “That your family?”

“Wife and three youngsters,” Cable said.

The man’s gaze came down. “You made a long trip for nothing.” He seemed about to smile, though he was not smiling now.

“All right,” Cable said. “Why?”

“Some men are living in your house.”

“If there are, they’re about to move.”

The smile never came, but the man stared down at Cable intently. “Come inside and I’ll tell you about it.” Then he turned abruptly, though he glanced again at the approaching wagon before going into the store.

Cable could hear the jingling, creaking sound of the wagon closer now, but he kept his eyes on Luz until she looked at him.

“Luz, who is he?”

“His name is Edward Janroe.”

“The man acts like he owns the place.”

Her eyes rose briefly. “He does. Half of it.”

“But why-”

“Are you coming?” Janroe was in the doorway. He was looking at Cable and with a nod of his head indicated Luz. “You got to drag things out of her. I’ve found it’s more trouble than it’s worth.” He waited until Cable stirred in the saddle and began to dismount. “I’ll be inside,” he said, and stepped away from the door.