Blackjack

35

When Virgil and I were leaving the hotel, the door opened and Hollis Pritchard entered, followed by the pretty woman I saw on the street with the parasol.

“Marshal, Deputy,” Pritchard said. “I just heard—”

“Why, Mr. Pritchard,” the woman said, interrupting him as she moved up beside him like an assured chess move and looked at Virgil, then at me.

“Please don’t forget your manners, sir,” she said.

She was not as young as I thought when I saw her on the street, but now, seeing her close up, she was even prettier. She had sharp, high cheekbones and large, brown knowing and soulful eyes.

I removed my hat. Virgil tipped his.

Pritchard looked to her and introduced her to us as a courtesy, but it was obvious he was not completely accommodating to the gesture.

“This is... Miss Angel,” Pritchard said, “our company... bookkeeper.”

She moved a little closer and curtseyed a little. Her skin had a porcelain depth to it, unblemished of freckles, and her lips were full. Her neck was long and slender and the satin dress she wore was open and revealed just a hint of her collarbones.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said.

Virgil grinned a little.

“Likewise,” I said.

“I have heard about the two of you.”

“All good, I imagine?” I said.

She smiled, and it was a warm smile full of confidence and assurance.

“And it’s Daphne,” she said, glancing back to Pritchard. “Daphne Angel.”

“Daphne,” Virgil said with a bashful-like smile.

“Daphne,” I said.

I nodded to Pritchard.

“The name of your new establishment.”

“And I’m flattered,” she said.

“Yes, saw the sign,” I said. “I believe I saw you as well the other day out on the boardwalk.”

“I believe you most certainly did,” she said. “It was a hot one that day.”

“It was,” I said. “I think I lost ten pounds from all the sweat that day.”

She laughed, and it pricked Pritchard’s impatience.

“Welcome to Appaloosa,” I said.

Pritchard was clearly annoyed and anxious, but she didn’t seem to care and neither did Virgil or me, especially me.

“Thank you,” she said.

“So I just heard,” Pritchard said, interrupting in a huff. “Tell me, is it true?”

“What’s that?” Virgil said.

“I understand Bill Black has been arrested?”

Virgil glanced to me.

“Where’d you get that understanding?” Virgil said.

“Charles told me. He said he overheard two Western Union operators talking about it. Is it true?”

“No.”

“But why would Charles overhear such a thing?”

“Bill Black has been apprehended,” Virgil said. “Not arrested.”

“Arrested, apprehended, my God,” Pritchard said. “Where is he, for God’s sake?”

“Mr. Pritchard would like to see him,” Daphne said.

Virgil looked to her.

“He’s not here,” Virgil said.

“Where?” Pritchard asked.

“He’s en route.”

“We’d like to help,” she said. “I know Mr. Pritchard is seriously concerned for him and, well, me, too. I know him very well. We know him as a good man. I have worked with him for some time... he’s our friend and we’d like to do what we can... Do you have any idea when he will arrive?”

“We are expecting him anytime now,” Virgil said. “Providing there are no hiccups.”

“Hiccups?” Daphne said. “Is he all right?”

“I believe he is,” Virgil said.

“What will happen now?” Pritchard said.

“Well, he’ll be arrested.”

“Then what?” Daphne said.

“Then there will be a preliminary hearing... He’ll face the judge for the charges the warrant was issued for,” Virgil said. “And, providing the judge feels the evidence is substantial enough, he will stand trial for the charges of the murder.”

Pritchard shook his head.

“What can we do to help him?” Daphne said.

“Don’t know there is anything you can do,” Virgil said.

“He’s going to need an attorney,” Daphne said. “Correct?”

Virgil nodded.

“That be a good idea,” Virgil said. “Not mandatory, but a good idea.”

“When will his hearing to face the judge take place?”

Virgil said, “The judge is here now, so like I said, providing there are no hiccups, it will take place as soon as he arrives.”

“Who is the best attorney in Appaloosa?” she said.

Virgil looked to me.

“Dickie Simmons?” Virgil said. “Or Juniper?”

“Juniper Jones,” I said. “When he’s sober.”

“Where would we find them?” Pritchard said.

“They are not hard to find,” Virgil said.

“They both have offices here in town,” I said. “Like Virgil said, this will happen quick, so you might want to find that lawyer right away.”

Pritchard nodded.

“Good,” he said, then looked to Daphne.

“Shall we?” Pritchard said. “I’m starving.”

Daphne smiled at Virgil and me.

“Thank you,” she said. “And it was certainly nice to meet the two of you.”

“Same,” we said.

They moved on and Virgil walked out the front door. I turned, watching her as she walked with Pritchard to the dining room. Just before she got through the dining room door she looked back at me and smiled.