When Mother Ramsley pushed open the door and stepped into the Dancing Horse, Ruth reached behind the counter for her pistol.
Mother Ramsley lifted a hand. “There’s no need for a weapon, Mrs Martin,” she Ramsley said. “I only want to speak to Captain Smith.”
“Here I am.” Smith sat in his customary seat, with a pile of documents, ink, and a pen in front of him. “I’ve been expecting your visit, Mother Ramsley.”
“What I have to say won’t take long,” Mother Ramsley said.
Smith nodded, placing a pistol on the table in front of him. Its mate sat comfortably under his belt.
“There’s no need for the barker tonight,” Mother Ramsley said. “Unless you choose to murder me, as you murdered my son.”
“He was a r****t,” Smith said. “I saved the hangman a job.”
“There’s no hanging for a simple r**e,”
