“You just had an entire ship of supplies dock tonight,” Hink said. “You can’t tell me Beaumont didn’t have a stash of patent medicines on board.”
“I can and I will,” Old Jack said. “You can pay me for what I’m selling, or you can find some other trading post to do your business.”
Hink exhaled in the sort of way that made it seem like he was counting down from ten to one. “You know I landed on nothing but fumes. If you’re expecting me to pony up a fortune, you’re hitting the wrong rock.”
Old Jack licked his lips, his sharp eyes narrowing for the haggle. “You said you’d pay in glim or pay in gold. I want both.”
“I think you may be misinterpreting the word ‘or,’ Jack.”
“And you’re misinterpreting my ability to give a damn, Hink.”
“No. I never thought you cared about anything but your own skin. That and robbing folks like me blind. I can give you glim in the morning if the Swift flies, or gold today. But I ain’t about to give you both.”
Jack sucked on his bottom teeth, then slid a glance at Mae.
Mae gave him an even stare, as if the act of negotiation bored her, instead of showing how frustrated she was. They needed this medicine. Rose needed it. But they had to rely on Captain Hink’s ability to haggle right now.
He was going out of his way to see that Rose had what she needed. Mae didn’t know how she would repay him. Didn’t know if Mr. Hunt had already negotiated some kind of payment.
And she was not about to mess it up by looking desperate.
The men were shaking hands. Mae realized, with a start, that she had been too lost in thought to notice that the negotiation was drawing to a close.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Captain Hink said, the bundles and bottles in his hands, “we’ll take our leave.”
Old Jack gave Mae one last hard stare, as if expecting her to say something or do something.
“Good evening,” she said.
“See them out,” he yelled to the servant waiting a respectable distance behind them.
The servant headed toward the door, and Hink reshuffled the packages in his hands and started walking. Old Jack headed straightwise to his office.
“I’ll expect the money on my doorstep in the morning,” Old Jack said as he lifted the latch on the carved door. “Or that ship of yours becomes my goods.”
“Didn’t put her up as collateral,” Captain Hink said. “Don’t make me straighten your facts with my fists, Jack.”
“Gold or the ship, either fills your debt.”
“You touch the Swift and it will be the last thing you fondle,” Hink said. “I’m not blowing steam. You send anyone for my ship and I’ll kill him dead.”
Captain Hink wasn’t looking at Jack as he strode across the room, but Mae glanced back at the old man.
His office door was half open, his hand still on the latch. Through the windows on the other side of his office the odd green-yellow light flooded the room, and poured out in a wedge around his feet.
“Do not threaten the bear in its den, Captain Hink Cage,” Old Jack said. “The bear always wins.” Then he stepped into his office and slammed the door behind him.
Hink’s jaw was set so hard, the muscle at his temple bulged. He stopped in front of the metal door. For a moment, Mae thought he might just turn on his heel and take up a fight with Old Jack. But instead he blew out a breath and waved at the door.
“Go ahead,” Hink said to the servant. “Open it up. Seems there’s a bear loose in these parts.”
The servant worked the locks and chains and bolts, then pulled the door inward smooth and easy as if it didn’t weigh a thing.
Mae and the captain walked out into the hall.
“I hope you didn’t promise him too much, Captain.”
“That penny-squeezing thief would pick my pocket by way of my tailpipe, if you’ll pardon my language. I didn’t give him a nickel more than those medicines were worth.”
“But your ship…”
“My ship isn’t a part of my debt.” They walked a short way. “He was just blustering because I didn’t have any glim to throw at his feet, the greedy pig.”
“Your kindness hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“Oh?”
“I am grateful for your assistance,” she said, “though I must admit I don’t know why you’ve gone out of your way for us.”
“Haven’t gone that far,” he said quietly. “Was headed over Vicinity when you fell into trouble. Picking you up wasn’t any bother. I’d have put you down somewhere of your choosing before now, but your man—”