Blackjack

43

Allie had been taking some well-deserved cooking lessons from an elder woman with the ladies’ social and it was paying off. Her dinner that consisted of a chicken, potatoes, carrots, and bread was nicely prepared and tasty.

After we ate I helped Allie remove the dishes and reset the table for dessert.

Valentine’s fine red wine and prior reflection on the past had softened Virgil some. At least for the moment, the combination of the two allowed Virgil a bit of breathing room in respect to his forbearance that previously had been less than tolerable.

The talk during dinner was dedicated for the most part to the country and its changing times. We discussed everything from silver mining to time zones, to the ever-expanding rail system, the U.S. Mail, and the chain-stitch single-thread sewing machine.

It was not until we polished off Allie’s apple pie and poured the after dinner liqueur did we discuss the courtroom proceedings we sat through earlier in the day.

“That all went so fast today,” Allie said. “I hardly knew what happened.”

“Callison is a no-nonsense judge,” Valentine said.

“That he is,” Virgil said.

“Did not take him long to decide,” I said.

“No,” Virgil said, “it didn’t.”

“I think I know what happened, but all that legal gibberish got me confused there toward the end.”

“Trial is set,” I said. “It, too, will happen quick, Callison will move it right along.”

“Well, I can’t believe that ol’ Judge Callison, though,” Allie said. “The ol’ coot.”

“Why is that?” Virgil said.

“Well,” she said, “it did not seem to me, nor any of the women, smart women, I might add, from my social that were there with me today, that there was enough evidence in this case to bring Boston Bill to trial.”

“I don’t think he had much of a choice, Allie,” Virgil said.

“No,” I said. “He did not.”

“It was a preliminary, Allie,” Virgil said. “That supported the warrant and the fact that Boston Bill was on the run and Val apprehended him, and the fact that he is the prime suspect and there are no other suspects at this time other than her husband, who is dead, the trial will be in order.”

“It does not mean he is guilty,” Allie said.

“No,” Virgil said. “It does not.”

“Also, there have to be other suspects,” Allie said. “You can’t just say because they were having... relations... that Bill and her husband are the only suspects.”

“I don’t disagree with you, Allie,” Valentine said. “I was saying that before.”

“Thank you, Valentine,” she said.

“Does seem like the prosecution has some ace up their sleeve,” I said.

“A vendetta in the making,” Valentine said.

“They are confident, it seems,” Virgil said.

“Callison,” I said, “was not about to let them get what they want without the prosecution bringing in the witnesses and material evidence.”

“The promise to provide witnesses with testimony that they felt would seal the deal,” Valentine said, “is what most certainly persuaded the good judge.”

“Now what?” Allie said.

“Callison won’t waste any time,” Virgil said.

“Soon as the witnesses arrive, the trial will get under way,” I said.

“Do you think he did it?” Allie said. “Do you think Boston Bill killed that Denver woman?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“What was described sounded just awful,” Allie said. “That poor, poor woman.”

“It did,” I said.

“I can relate to her,” Allie said. “It’s confusing for a woman in this country. This is a man’s world, and without a man, a woman has few resources to work with, to ply her trade.”

That thought settled across the table for a moment, then Valentine said with an uplifting tone, “Most assuredly, Allie.”

She smiled, removed her napkin from her lap, and placed it on the table.

“Well, then,” she said with a chirp in her voice that was meant to change the direction of the conversation. “Enough of that sort of rigmarole. How about a recital?”

“That would be lovely,” Valentine said.

Virgil looked to me as Allie got up from the table and walked to the piano.

“Any requests?” she said.

She paused and turned back to the three of us sitting at the table.

“Valentine,” she said. “I can’t play that many by heart, I only know a few, but I can read music.”

“Whatever your heart’s desire, Allie,” he said. “Whatever your heart’s desire.”