Mal sat at the table, nursing a drink, looking as if he’d been there for hours. Just waiting.

A man shouldered his way through the doors, heading for the bar. “Beer,” he ordered, then leaned back to look around. The barman poured, then nodded, whispering something. The man turned his gaze on Mal. He picked up his beer and ambled over. “Man says you were looking for me.”

“Depends,” Mal said, not looking up, just taking a mouthful of alcohol and letting it burn down his throat.

“On what?”

“I heard tell you know women in this town.”

The man grinned. “I know a few. What kind were you looking for?”

“Something different.”

“Yeah, know a few of them too.” The man pulled out the chair opposite and sat down. “What for did you want one?”

Mal looked up, his blue eyes cold. “What else would a man want a woman for?”

The man laughed, a hungry sound, lustful. “Got that right.”

“Of course,” Mal went on, “I wouldn’t want it to be anyone local. Just in case …”

“I know what you mean,” the man said, winking.

“I'm sure you do.”

“Yeah, there was this one little filly came in, day or two ago. Tall, powerful … just kinda wanted to look at her.” He smiled lasciviously. “Only a‘course that weren't the only thing you wanted to do. Kinda get hold of that short hair, pull her onto ya …”

“Did you?” Mal asked.

The man shrugged. “I went up to her, talked to her. She was friendly enough at first, then sorta froze on me. Don’t know, but bitches like that seem to take against me sometimes.”

“Why? What did you do?”

“Guess I mighta had my hand on her ass. Sure was fine, though. Firm. Wanted to take a bite outta it, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah.”

“She said something about taking it away, only I know she didn’t mean it. Women say one thing, mean another. ‘Specially since I was gettin’ friendly. So I squeezed.”

“And?”

“She hit me.” The man touched his jaw, stroking it. “Put me down on the floor. Poured a beer over me too, told me to cool off.” His face darkened