Wolfson stepped away from the bar.
“You sure this ain’t just some kind of a business offer and that’ll be the end of it?”
“‘More than one way to skin a cat, Amos,’” I said.
He nodded.
“Bottle’s yours,” he said, and walked away.
We each added a little to our glasses.
“Elegant whiskey,” Virgil said.
“Why not take his money?” I said. “You’ll maybe end up fighting his battle?”
“Don’t want it,” Virgil said.
“Why not?” I said.
“More comfortable if I’m helping my friend,” Virgil said.
I sipped my whiskey.
“’Cause you ain’t a lawman anymore,” I said.
“Ain’t clear to me right now what I am,” Virgil said.
“You’re good with firearms,” I said.
Virgil nodded and drank some whiskey.
“And you’re my friend,” I said.
Virgil nodded again.
“We’ll see about the rest,” he said.
21.
It had been hot all week, so that when the rain came on Thursday night everyone was pleased. Zorn Tully came in, shook the rain off of his round hat, and offered to buy drinks for everyone. No one declined.
“What’s the celebration?” Patrick said when he finished putting the drinks out and Zorn had paid him.
“Leaving town,” Zorn said. “Just wanted to say good-bye to everyone before I went.”
“Where you going?” Patrick said.
“Maybe Laramie,” Zorn said. “Maybe Denver. Ain’t sure yet. Never been to Denver.”
“How come you’re going?” Patrick said.
“Sold my saloon,” Zorn said.
“You sold the Excelsior?”
“Yep, Eamon O’Malley bought it.”
'O’Malley?” Patrick said.
“Yep.”
“He give you a good price?” Patrick said.
“Fair,” Zorn said. “It was a fair price.”
The Excelsior Saloon was directly across the street from the Blackfoot.
“How come you decided to sell,” I said.
“Been here long enough,” Zorn said. “Fella came along, offered me a good fair price, I took it.”
“Much negotiating?” I said.
“No, like I say. Eamon came in, offered a good fair price.”
“Anyone come with him?” I said.
Zorn didn’t look at them.
“Sure,” he said. “Couple fellas work for him.”
I nodded.
“Cato and Rose?” I said.
Zorn sort of shrugged.
“Yeah,” he said. “I believe so.”
“Good negotiators,” I said.
“Good fair price,” Zorn said.
He was not just avoiding my eyes now. He was looking at something across the room. I looked, too. Just inside the saloon door, Cato and Rose stood looking at us.
Zorn began to move away from the bar.
“Everett,” Zorn said, “been good knowing you. I tole Patrick to give you one on me when you get off.”
I nodded, and Zorn Tully walked rapidly away from the bar and out the side door of the saloon where it connects with the hotel. I watched him go. Then I looked over at Cato and Rose. Rose grinned at me and shrugged and walked over. Cato stayed by the door.
“Heard Tully was buying drinks,” Rose said. “Guess we got here too late.”
“Said he was leaving town,” I said.
“I believe he is,” Rose said. “He tell you he sold his saloon?”
“He mentioned it,” I said.
“He tell you he sold it to Eamon O’Malley?”
“He mentioned that, too,” I said.
“Right across the street,” Rose said. “Kinda funny, ain’t it?”
“What’s funny?” I said.
“This little dump of a nowhere town,” Rose said. “On this side of the street, the saloon bouncers are you and Virgil Cole. On the other side of the street, the saloon bouncers gonna be me and Cato.”
“You’re right,” I said. “Lotta talent, for a little town.”
“More coming,” Rose said.
22.
Fair offer, my ass,” Wolfson said. 'That cheap Irish fuck has never made anyone a fair offer in his life. You saw the way he tried to buy this place.”
It was late. The saloon was closed. Virgil and I sat with Wolfson at a table and had a drink.
“You think he paid him anything?” I said.
“Cash,” Virgil said. “Show money. Not much, but all cash, so it felt like something.”
Wolfson nodded slowly.
“Like a reservation buck,” he said. “On a binge.”
He poured himself another drink, offered the bottle toward Virgil and me. We both shook our heads.
“It’s starting,” Wolfson said.
“You and O’Malley?” I said.
“Yes.”
“Might be,” I said.
“You’ll stay,” he said.
“Yes,” I said.
Virgil said, “I’m with Hitch.”
“Think it’s time I should see that fella in Araby?”
“Willy Beck?” Virgil said.
“Why not?” I said.
“You agree with me?” Wolfson said. “This is not going to stop?”
“Not right away,” Virgil said.
“Frank Rose hinted to me that they were hiring.”
“God,” Wolfson said. “It’s like a damned war starting.”
Virgil and I were quiet.
