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Chapter 2: Trust

The sun was just starting to set when Mal finally made up his mind. Trust was a tricky thing after Miranda. There just weren’t many folk left that Mal trusted. A long time ago, he would've said that Kyan was the kind of man that wouldn’t stab him in the back, but there weren’t much left of the man Kyan had used to be. Judging by how empty Kyan’s place was, he didn’t think that between Jayne, Zoë and himself there’d be too much of a problem gettin’ out if they needed to. Simon…well, they’d see to it that the doc made it out okay too. Still, he was a little leery about havin’ the entire crew under the roof of a man he didn’t really trust. Then again, River wasn’t no hindrance in a fight. Sides, it couldn’t hurt none to have the girl get a feel for the man.

“Zoë, radio Serenity. Have River and Kaylee get ready to come out for the night. I think we’re gonna take advantage of Kyan’s hospitality,” he said running a hand through his hair.

“Yes, sir,” she replied emotionlessly.

Mal watched as she started the mule. He wondered if she was still holdin’ a grudge over the way Zol’d treated her before. Even Mal had to admit that he had some questions on that score, but now wasn’t the time for that kinda thing.

A pair of “upstanding” gentlemen was led out of the house by Sly. One looked more’n a mite frustrated. Business must not of gone his way, Mal concluded. Neither of them spared him a glance as they passed. Probably thought he was just one of Kyan’s hired men. Sly didn’t say a word to the men, either. He stood at the edge of the porch and watched them mount their horses.

“Your boss’s friends?” Mal asked.

Sly shrugged. “Don’t rightly know, and it ain’t my place to care. I don’t deal none with their sort…don’t deal with your sort neither. I take care of the ranch. Only reason I am in the main house ‘tall right now is cause boss’s assistant is out doin’ somethin’. Won’t do you no good to ask me nothin’.”

Mal nodded. “How long you been wor