Jim Lowe may not be drunk but Ace doesn't know that. His eyebrows briefly crawl up before he can straighten his face again and offer both of the newcomers nods. They're not so much to look at but then, he figures, that's the business he's gotten himself into now.

"From here, mostly." Those three words pretty much cover his ranch-hopping past, or at least as well as he's willing to go into it for introductions. Then the manners that got drilled into him as a child make their reappearance and he offers up a "Pleased t'meet you," even though he's not a hundred percent sure that he actually is. But this is what it's all about, isn't it? Disreputable jobs come with disreputable types.

And he can't deny that as calm as he's tried to make himself since Kate's wordless reminder, there's as much excitement as apprehension inside of him.