“Sounds fine to me, pardner.”
“Bueno.”
Mendoza went out to the kitchen to stoke the stove.
“He’s salt of the earth,” said Blaze softly. “Mex and Apache, with the worst of both left out.”
Cultus nodded with understanding, although the condition was a rare one.
“I’ve heard so much about you since I came here,” said Cultus, “that I rode out to look yuh over, Nolan.”
“I reckon yuh didn’t hear anythin’ good.”
“Some of it wasn’t so bad. The deputy sheriff told me quite a lot about yore troubles.”
“He would,” smiled Blaze. “Bad News would choke to death if he couldn’t talk. But his opinion doesn’t bear much weight in Painted Valley.”
“Probably because he favours you, Nolan.”