r watch, and looked at the back. Flicking his
knife open, he used the tip to pry up the back of the watch and tickle the
battery out of its holder, then he slid the battery back into place and checked
the front.
Showing it to Mandi, he said, "There you go, ma'am. You've got numbers
again," then he handed her the watch and its back and said, "I'm afraid to
squeeze it back on. You do it," and slapped his knife shut to return it to its
belt sheath.
"Thanks," said Mandi. "I never would have thought of that. I thought the
battery was dead."
"May I see that knife?" asked Andrea.
Cade handed it to her closed. She took it and looked it over, then --
holding it rather gingerly, he thought -- unfolded the blade until it locked
open with a loud 'whack' that seemed to startle her a little.
She looked up and asked, "Why didn't it sound like that when you opened it?"
"I was holding it like a tool. You're holding it like a delicate antique.
Things make more noise in a light grip."
Mandi snickered as Andrea studied Cade as if wondering if she were being
teased, then her eyes fell back to the knife. She still held it rather gingerly
as she studied the brass bolsters, the wood between them, and short serrated
region on the stainless blade.
"It looks as if you must have put those serrations on the blade yourself.
Why?"
"They're better for cutting rope and thick stuff and I can use the last two
notches to strip insulation off wires."
She glanced up again and said, "They make the knife look mean. Nasty."
Leaning on the desk, Cade sipped coffee and said, "Only if you're viewing it
strictly as a weapon. Do you feel that way about serrated kitchen knives, too?"
Andrea shook her head. "No. I guess I don't. How long have you been carrying
a knife?"
"Since I worked on a ranch when I was a kid. This knife or one much like it.
Back then oil came in cans and beer cans didn't have pull-tabs. I had to be able
to dig things out from under horseshoes, pound wire staples back into fence
posts, and cut rope and leather. Got a wild dog with it once when he came at me
by the barn, and I got to where I could throw it and nail rats in the feed bin."
Making an 'eeewww' face, Andrea handed the open knife back to him as Mandi
laughed and Andrea asked, "I trust you clean it really well now and then?"
Nodding with a grin, Cade said, "Yup, sure do," and put the knife away.
Mandi