Eve grabbed Reno’s hand, but not to push him away.

«’Tell me,» she said urgently. «You killed Raleigh King, didn’t you?»

Reno nodded.

She let out a long breath and whispered, «Thank you. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to do it.»

All gentleness vanished from Reno’s expression.

«Is that why you set me up?» he demanded.

«I didn’t set you up. Not in the cold way you mean.»

«But you saw the chance and you took it.»

Eve’s mouth tightened. «Yes.»

«And then you grabbed the pot and ran.»

«Yes.»

«Leaving me to die.»

«No!»

Reno made a sound that was too hard to be a laugh.

«We came closer that time, gata. We almost had it.»

«What?»

«The truth.»

«The truth is, I saved your life,» Eve retorted.

«Saved it?» Reno demanded. «Girl, you did your best to get me killed!»

«When I didn’t hear any shooting —» she began.

«Disappointed?» he interrupted.

«I turned back to see what had happened,» she said, ignoring his interruption. «Then Raleigh drew and you shot him, and a man called Steamer pulled his gun to shoot you in the back. I shot him first.»

Unexpectedly, Reno laughed.

«You’re good, gata. Really good. The wide eyes and the earnest, trembling mouth are first-class.»

«But —»

«Save those lips for something better than lying,» Reno said, bending over Eve once more.

«I shot Steamer!» she protested.

«Uh-huh. But you were aiming for me. That’s why you turned back. You wanted to be dead sure I wouldn’t follow you to collect my winnings.»

«No. That’s not the way it was. I —»

«Give up the game,» Reno said curtly. «You’re trying my patience.»

«Why won’t you believe me?»

«Because a man who believes a liar, a cheat, and a saloon girl is more of a fool than Reno Moran is.»