Jayne didn’t have to wait too long. As the night wore on, Lily kept glancing at him, even as he played a hand of poker with some of the other men. Not that he had to turn to see her. He’d sat with his back to the wall, and every time she looked over, she could see him smiling faintly at her. Eventually, a couple of hours past midnight, she was spooked enough.

She crossed to the counter, beckoning the barkeep. “Bill, I ain't feelin’ too well. Gonna lie down for a while. Can you make sure no-one comes back to see me?”

“Sure. You need a doc or something?”

“No. Just a sleep. Bit smoky in here tonight.”

“Yeah, guess it is.” He shrugged. “And you do looked a trifle green ‘round the gills.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I've just got a headache, okay?”

“Sure.” He went back to shining his glasses. “Just let me know when you’re open for business again.”

Lily glanced over at the big man playing cards, but for once he wasn’t taking any notice of her, intent on studying his hand instead. Hurrying to her room she quickly changed her clothes.

Jayne stretched. “And that just about does me,” he said, tossing his cards into the centre of the table. “Ain't no way I'm gonna win tonight.”

“You sure? Just one more wager?” asked the small man in the grubby derby who put the big mercenary in mind of Badger.

“You’re only saying that ‘cause you got a heap of my coin in front of you.” Jayne grinned and stood up. “’Nother time, maybe.”

“Sure. Whenever you wanna lose, come on back.”

“Oh, I’ll be sure to.” Jayne picked up his jacket and shrugged into it, hunching his shoulders down inside before heading out into the night.

Five minutes later and Lily looked out of the back door, checking all around before closing it quietly behind her. She kept to the deeper shadows, her feet silent in her soft shoes, listening all the time in case someone was following. She paused as she reached the main street, tilting her head back and forth as she almost sniffed the air before being satisfied. Cr