Then Desi, her friend Helene, the Ute woman, and Juliet were finally having breakfast at the Red Buffalo, a diner on Black Diamond Boulevard. It was a busy morning. Several times, people stopped by the table to ask about Desi’s bandaged head, and the trouble that had caused it. Others gave a quick nod and hurried by, and Juliet realized the town’s people were taking sides. Some on Desi’s side, some on Claude’s. Damn. Desi noticed, too. “He’s so damned charming and good-looking,” she said, matter-of-factly. “It’s hard to get people to see beyond that.” “It’s why some politicians can get so far,” Juliet said. “What’s the feeling about Claude on the rez, Helene?” Desi asked. “They like him there?” Helene lifted a shoulder. “Some do, the same ones who like him around town here. The ones who fall for charm and good looks fall for him, even in Indian Country.” She stirred her coffee. Her wrist, flat and strong and brown, was ringed with three beaded bracelets in different colors.
