I said. “Maybe some of that lemon punch.”
“Oh, yes,” Allie said. “Come and see what we got.”
Allie pulled me away from Virgil and over to the desserts spread out across the table.
Virgil followed us through the crowd of folks over to the table, and as we neared I noticed Beauregard look over at Virgil. He was standing with Nell as he talked with Ashley, but he was focused on Virgil. I could tell he recognized Virgil. He leaned close to Ashley and it wasobvious he asked Ashley about Virgil. Ashley looked over to us, he said something to Beauregard and then escorted Beauregard and Nell our way.
“Virgil, Everett,” Ashley said. “Let me introduce you to Beauregard Beauchamp and his lovely wife, Nell.”
“Oh, yes,” Allie interjected with enthusiasm as she took over the introductions. “Virgil, Everett, this is Beauregard and Nell. Beauregard, Nell, this is Virgil and Everett. Virgil is my, my . . .”
“Marshal Cole,” Virgil said.
Allie blushed a little.
“And this is Everett,” Allie said. “Virgil’s deputy marshal.”
“I was just letting Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp here know you are our celebrated territory law officials and what a wonderful privilege it was for the growing community of Appaloosa that the two of you resided here.”
Beauregard held out his hand to Virgil, but I shook his hand instead.
“Virgil’s not much on shaking hands,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you both.”
Nell looked at me and smiled. Beauregard remained focused on Virgil.
“We’ve had the pleasure of meeting before,” Beauregard said to Virgil. “Have we not?”
“Believe we have,” Virgil said.
Beauregard squinted a little.
“Card game,” Virgil said. “San Antone.”
Beauregard chewed a few hairs of his mustache.
“Menger’s,” Beauregard said. “The hotel?”
Virgil nodded.
“Well, isn’t that just the best,” Allie said. “Old friends.”
“Yes,” Beauregard said. “Old friends.”
Virgil smiled pleasantly but didn’t say anything.
“Long time ago,” Beauregard said.
Virgil nodded a little.
“Was,” he said.
“Well, maybe you two can just pick up where you left off?” Allie said.
“Maybe,” Virgil said.
— 15 —
A shley cornered me before I left the town hall only to let me know he was planning on being the new territory governor and he hoped to have Virgil and my endorsement come Election Day.
Goddamn rain, I thought, as I crossed the street and headed back to my alley room above the survey office. The streets were now mud and the ruts were beginning to get deep. Got to let up sometime soon.
When I left the boardwalk I walked across a single plank over the soggy narrow passage to the stairs. I took the first step leading up to my room and noticed lamplight in my window. I stopped before taking another step and drew my Colt.
I took one slow step at a time. The stairs were solid. They didn’t creak as I ascended, and I made my footfalls cautious and quiet as I moved up. I stayed low, not showing myself as I passed under the window overlooking the rungs, then eased to the side of the opening and peeked in.
Sitting on the bed was Séraphine. She was looking directly at me through the window as if she knew I would be peeking in.
I was glad it wasn’t Bolger’s bad brother I’d heard about waiting on me.
I opened the door.
“Hello, Everett,” she said.
I stayed standing in the doorway.
She watched as I slowly slid my Colt back in its holster.
I smiled at her. She smiled at me.
“Hey,” I said.
Her blue eyes were catching the light just right from the lamp fire. It was nice to see her looking at me, and it felt good to look at her back.
“You didn’t show for the theatrical town hall presentation?” I said.
“I’m here,” she said.
“Yes, you are.”
She was sitting on the bed with her back propped up on the headboard, looking casually at yesterday’s newspaper. She folded the paper simply and put it to her side. She was relaxed
“Oh, yes,” Allie said. “Come and see what we got.”
Allie pulled me away from Virgil and over to the desserts spread out across the table.
Virgil followed us through the crowd of folks over to the table, and as we neared I noticed Beauregard look over at Virgil. He was standing with Nell as he talked with Ashley, but he was focused on Virgil. I could tell he recognized Virgil. He leaned close to Ashley and it wasobvious he asked Ashley about Virgil. Ashley looked over to us, he said something to Beauregard and then escorted Beauregard and Nell our way.
“Virgil, Everett,” Ashley said. “Let me introduce you to Beauregard Beauchamp and his lovely wife, Nell.”
“Oh, yes,” Allie interjected with enthusiasm as she took over the introductions. “Virgil, Everett, this is Beauregard and Nell. Beauregard, Nell, this is Virgil and Everett. Virgil is my, my . . .”
“Marshal Cole,” Virgil said.
Allie blushed a little.
“And this is Everett,” Allie said. “Virgil’s deputy marshal.”
“I was just letting Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp here know you are our celebrated territory law officials and what a wonderful privilege it was for the growing community of Appaloosa that the two of you resided here.”
Beauregard held out his hand to Virgil, but I shook his hand instead.
“Virgil’s not much on shaking hands,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you both.”
Nell looked at me and smiled. Beauregard remained focused on Virgil.
“We’ve had the pleasure of meeting before,” Beauregard said to Virgil. “Have we not?”
“Believe we have,” Virgil said.
Beauregard squinted a little.
“Card game,” Virgil said. “San Antone.”
Beauregard chewed a few hairs of his mustache.
“Menger’s,” Beauregard said. “The hotel?”
Virgil nodded.
“Well, isn’t that just the best,” Allie said. “Old friends.”
“Yes,” Beauregard said. “Old friends.”
Virgil smiled pleasantly but didn’t say anything.
“Long time ago,” Beauregard said.
Virgil nodded a little.
“Was,” he said.
“Well, maybe you two can just pick up where you left off?” Allie said.
“Maybe,” Virgil said.
— 15 —
A shley cornered me before I left the town hall only to let me know he was planning on being the new territory governor and he hoped to have Virgil and my endorsement come Election Day.
Goddamn rain, I thought, as I crossed the street and headed back to my alley room above the survey office. The streets were now mud and the ruts were beginning to get deep. Got to let up sometime soon.
When I left the boardwalk I walked across a single plank over the soggy narrow passage to the stairs. I took the first step leading up to my room and noticed lamplight in my window. I stopped before taking another step and drew my Colt.
I took one slow step at a time. The stairs were solid. They didn’t creak as I ascended, and I made my footfalls cautious and quiet as I moved up. I stayed low, not showing myself as I passed under the window overlooking the rungs, then eased to the side of the opening and peeked in.
Sitting on the bed was Séraphine. She was looking directly at me through the window as if she knew I would be peeking in.
I was glad it wasn’t Bolger’s bad brother I’d heard about waiting on me.
I opened the door.
“Hello, Everett,” she said.
I stayed standing in the doorway.
She watched as I slowly slid my Colt back in its holster.
I smiled at her. She smiled at me.
“Hey,” I said.
Her blue eyes were catching the light just right from the lamp fire. It was nice to see her looking at me, and it felt good to look at her back.
“You didn’t show for the theatrical town hall presentation?” I said.
“I’m here,” she said.
“Yes, you are.”
She was sitting on the bed with her back propped up on the headboard, looking casually at yesterday’s newspaper. She folded the paper simply and put it to her side. She was relaxed
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