“Are the Tanners here?” Mal asked, his eyes flicking upwards as if he could see through the ceiling.

“No,” Addie said, her own gaze still on Indigo. “They don’t come here except to annoy me. They tend to do their drinking over at Vic Carroway’s place. He lets them get away with pretty much anything they want.”

“How come they met Pederson here, then? Seeing as he’s a slaver and all.”

Her gaze narrowed slightly. “How’d you know him?”

“I’ve been around. You’d be surprised the lowlifes and nefarious individuals I’ve had to deal with in the past. And present, for that matter.”

“I think he’s talking about me,” Indigo put in.

“Well, not just you.” Mal looked back at Addie. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

The diminutive woman glanced at the stairs. “Look, I’m cold. Can’t we go someplace more comfortable and talk about this?”

Mal thought for a moment then nodded. “The kitchen, then,” he said. “And we’ll still be buying some of your fine beer.” He pointed at Jayne and Indigo then at the stack of barrels before following Addie.

The warmth of the now empty kitchen was in such considerable contrast to the cellar that Mal divested himself of his scarf and coat, watching Freya go to the door into the main part of the saloon and peer through.

“Anything I need to know about?” he asked quietly.

“A man and a woman having an early lunch, two young boys trying to get Charlie to serve them with drinks ... that’s it.” She let the door close. “No Tanners.”

“I told you they don’t drink in here,” Addie said peevishly, pouring herself a cup of coffee from the pot sitting ready on the table and draining half of it in one gulp.

“That you did. And I notice you still ain't answered my question.”

She glared at him, then sighed heavily. “I think you know the answer already.” Shaking her head she added, “Indigo’s got a big mouth.”

Stepping into the kitchen the man himself put down the barrel he was carrying and said, “There are things going on here, Addie. Things that ha