Chapter 3

I had Justin stand right behind my chair, half because I needed eyes on the room, half so the watchers had to pick a side of the table to crowd.

A woman alone in there was meat.

Buck did not say anything. He glanced at the man across from him, his fingers moving fast over the deck.

My head was running.

He dealt three to me. I tucked them in, lifted a corner. I had what I needed.

"First time playing with us, niece. Easy on the bets."

"It's nothing. I can afford a little fun."

I let myself look careless. He grinned. He laid down a pair.

I opened mine. Predictably, I lost.

Buck chuckled. "Mae, maybe ease into it."

"Uncle Buck, you really don't think I can play?"

I pulled a stack of bills out of my coat and put them on the table.

"I told you, I have money. I'm just here for fun."

Buck sat up. "All right, then. We play for real."

I made my face look greedy. The room around us went serious at the same time.

So the gossip had been right. Everyone around me was on his side.

No matter what I was dealt, Buck already knew what was coming. By the third hand, I had lost a thousand.

Justin shifted uneasily. "Babe, maybe…"

I cut him off. "Sit down. You blew thirty thousand last night and that was fine. I want my turn."

"In Cratertown, they call me the Queen of Cards.

"That's right, Mae!" someone next to me chimed in. "Women can hold up half the sky!"

I laughed and pulled Justin down into the chair beside me. My eyes stayed locked on Buck.

Fourth hand.

I checked my cards. A two of spades. The other two were also spades. This one was steady.

"Uncle Buck, show."

Buck's mouth twitched. He revealed his cards–two twos. He grinned, cigarette between his teeth, convinced he had already won.

I turned over my second card, three of spades.

His expression changed instantly. His eyes flicked past me, toward someone behind me.

I stayed calm. "Last card, Uncle."

Buck frowned. He flipped his final card.

A ripple of noise went through the room. It was just a pair.

"Sorry, Uncle. Looks like my luck's turned."

I laid down my third card.

"Spades two-three-four. Straight flush."

I pulled the money toward me and looked at Buck, deliberately provocative.

That one hand wiped out my earlier losses.

"Again."

This time, Buck straightened up.

Fifth hand.

He flipped his first card and glanced sideways again.

The man behind me made a small gesture. Buck's fingers twitched in response.

So that was how they were doing it.

I glanced at the backs of my cards, then at his. I understood.

"This time, we play big. Uncle, one hand to settle everything. Dare?"

"Niece, don't regret it."

"I came to win back that thirty thousand. No regrets."

"Raise."

He looked down on me. One win, and I was already going all in, clearly overconfident.

He followed.

I smiled. I did not rush to reveal my cards. I brushed my thumb across them, then flipped the first.

King of hearts.

I carefully peeked at the second, just a sliver.

My heart sank.

I pressed it back down onto the table.

"What's wrong, niece? Lost your nerve?"

He grew more arrogant.

"I told you, this isn't a game for women like you. Go home and make buns.

"Mae, stay out of it. You've overplayed your hand."

Justin was getting anxious. "You ridiculous woman, you're–"

He moved to grab the cards, but the others stopped him.

Buck's face darkened. "Justin, you're family, but rules are rules."

Justin flushed red.

I held him down. "Relax. It's not decided yet."

"Uncle Buck, this hand counts."

"Of course."

I smiled slightly, then flipped the last card.

"Three kings. Trips."

"Impossible!"