Virgil stopped talking for a moment and just watched for a bit.
“One evening,” Virgil said, “he sat at the wrong gambling table. They caught him cheating. Rough bunch, they was gonna string him up...”
Beauregard took Nell by the hand between the verses of ‘My Grandfather’s Clock’ and the two of them danced along with the music.
“Looks like he still thinks of himself as the cock of the walk,” I said.
Virgil nodded a little.
“Drinking his remedies, too,” I said.
“I’ll be damned,” Virgil said. “That’s sure enough him. He was flashy back then, younger, but flashy. I locked him in a closet till the ruckus settled and the gamblers cleared.”
Virgil just shook his head from side to side a little.
“When I let him out he wanted to fight me,” Virgil said. “Best I remember, I slapped him a few times and kicked him out the back door and into the trash like the spindly miscreant he was.”
“Likely still is,” I said.
“Seems,” Virgil said.
14
The band played some more festive tunes with Nell singing along. Then the magician, Dr. Longfellow, performed a few disappearing-handkerchief tricks followed by the jester clown jugglers, who made the crowd roar with laughter. As soon as the little show finished up, Allie hurried up behind the lectern.
“Hello, everyone,” she said. “We, the ladies’ social of Appaloosa, want to let y’all know we have provided some refreshments, cookies and cakes and some lemon punch, so everybody stay, mingle with our special guests, and enjoy.”
The crowd did just that and the flock of folks gathered around the troupe as they worked their way to the table like cattle headed to feed.
Allie looked up, seeing Virgil and me standing at the back of the room, and scurried through the throng of people over to us.
“Oh, Everett,” Allie said, as she clamped her arms around me. “Thank God you are okay.”
“It’s okay, Allie,” I said.
Allie didn’t move; she just squeezed me harder, keeping her face nestled in my chest.
I looked to Virgil.
“I’m right here, Allie,” I said.
Allie just squeezed me tighter.
“Hell, Allie,” Virgil said. “Let him breathe some.”
Allie removed her head from my chest. She cut her eyes at Virgil a bit, then looked up to me but remained clutching me tight.
“Oh, Everett,” Allie said. “Thank God in Heaven you are okay. I was so worried about you.”
“Thank Samuel Colt,” Virgil said.
“Virgil Cole,” Allie snapped, as she looked to him. “I swear, you can be so callous.”
“Nothing callous about being a good gun hand and returning fire,” Virgil said.
“Oh,” Allie said. “You’re impossible.”
Virgil smiled.
“I guess that’s good,” Virgil said.
Allie looked back up to me.
“I’m just grateful you’re here and alive,” Allie said.
I smiled at her.
“Well, Allie,” I said. “You’re entirely welcome... You put together a good gathering here.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m happy about the turnout.”
“Might have myself a piece of cake,” 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 was obvious 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
Ashley 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 and calm. Her long legs were extended on the bed and crossed at her ankles. She was wearing a pair of Mexican cowboy boots with riding heels that were unusually clean, considering the weather.