"You are Ed Calhoun?"
Brek nodded.
"I want you to know that I am sorry for what my ex-employee did. I do not like that sort of thing." Sager's speech was stiff and formal, Brek noted.
"I figured he was on his own," he said easily. "I didn't know of nothin' you might have against me."
"There is nothing, I assure you. I understand you are leaving Plata City."
"Yep. I'm headin' for Arizona—cattle country. I'm a cowman by trade."
"You are also a very good man with a gun. I need men like you. How would you like to work for me?"
It had worked, Brek thought exultantly. Pretending to be about to leave town had removed all suspicion from Sagginer's mind.
"Why, I reckon I might stay if the pay was good," Brek said thoughtfully. "Long as a man makes a livin', it don't matter much what he does."
"I will make it well worth your while, Mr. Calhoun."