<i>Oh dear Lord.</i>Eli found himself blushing as Cassie's meaning sunk in. Hoping his tanned face hid the embarrassment, he coughed, taking a sip of ale before speaking. "No need to call on my account. But seein' as y'all have, what's the buy-in?"<br/><br/>Most women took to babying Eli when they saw him, thinking he was a young boy. It had saved him a lot of grief throughout the years, not having to make excuses to disappear on his own for the night. From what he'd read of this Cassie woman, she might not mind finding out Eli's secret. Miss Xia might not either, if Eli was reading the hints she was dropping correctly.  Didn't mean anyone liked to be surprised, and didn't mean he wanted his secret out. What the hell would he do, if he didn't have the Pony Express?  Go back to Colorado and become a good ranch hand?  Or even worse, a house wife?<br/><br/>He nodded to Cassie, gesturing towards the cards. "So, if we're switching up, what's your fancy?"  And glancing around the room to see if anyone was listening, Eli leaned forward, a conspiratorial grin on his face. "And what the hell is happening in this town? Ain't seen nothin' like this since they ran out of liquor over in Boulder. Everyone actin' all crazy like."  He gestured out the door to where the man had just been thrown out.