“That’s it.” Dan Jefferson stamped the permit and handed it to Mal. “You are now an official prospector, and as long as you report any finds to this office, you’re assured of ownership, so long as nobody else disputes it and says they found it first.”

Mal thought of the man lying in Pritchard’s freezer. If they did manage to figure out where he got the coin, did that mean Ephraim Ingleby’s nearest and dearest had a claim on things? He decided not to ask, on the principle that he couldn’t be told they did if he kept his mouth shut. Instead he tucked the paper into his breast pocket. “Thanks.”

“And that map on the back’ll tell you where you shouldn’t be digging. If the urge takes you.”

“I doubt we’ll be going anywhere near the mines.” From the glance he’d taken at the plan of the surrounding countryside, and River’s description of the whereabouts of the cave where Jayne had found the coin, it was well off the beaten track.

“You heading straight out?”

“Pretty much. The wedding’s on Saturday, and we want to be done well in time, otherwise the girls will string me up for not leaving ‘em enough time to get ready.”

Dan smiled. “Yeah, they’re like that, ain’t they?”

“Mine are. All of ‘em, including the young ones. In fact, ‘specially the young ones.”

Dan perched on the corner of the desk. “How do you make it work?” he asked. “You know, being all together like you are, living in each other’s space. How do you not argue all the time?”

“We argue.” Mal knew the Sheriff was having a few home problems. “Sometimes we throw things. My wife’s got a damn good arm, and our medic’s had to patch me up before now. And the language my mechanic comes out with when she‘s mad at her nearest and dearest …” He shook his head. “Shocking.”

“Your mechanic. That’s the pretty pregnant one, right?”

“That’s her.”

“I wouldn’t’ve thought swear words would have passed her lips.”

“You should hear her when she’s working on the engine. That and the banging. She does more good with a wrench th