«He can’t be any worse than Raleigh King,» Eve said bleakly, remembering the night she had come back late from one of Canyon City’s saloons and discovered what Raleigh had done to the Lyons. «No one could be worse than him.»

«Slater has a reputation with women that’s too sordid to repeat — even to a saloon girl who cheats at cards.»

«Did Slater ever torture an old man who had tried to sell a gold ring to pay for medicine for his dying wife?» Eve asked tightly. «Did Slater ever pull the truth from an old man one fingernail at a time while his wife watched helplessly? And after the man was dead, did Slater ever take his knife to an old, dying woman and…»

Eve’s voice crumbled into silence. She clenched her fists and fought for self-control.

«What are you saying?» Reno asked in a low voice.

«Raleigh King tortured Don Lyon to death while he dragged out the truth about where the emerald ring was hidden, and the journal with the treasure map. Donna tried to stop Raleigh, but the wasting disease had left her too weak even to lift her derringer.»

Reno’s eyes narrowed. «So that’s how Raleigh knew about the map.»

Eve nodded tightly. «When Raleigh was finished with Don, he turned on Donna.»

«Why? Didn’t Raleigh believe her husband had told the truth?»

«Raleigh didn’t care,» Eve said bitterly. «He just wanted…»

Her voice dried up into a painful silence. No matter how many times she swallowed, she couldn’t force out words to describe what Raleigh had done to Donna Lyon.

«Don’t,» Reno said.

He put his palm gently over Eve’s lips, sealing in the bitter words she was trying to speak.

«I guess he and Slater were well matched after all,» Reno said softly.