Blue-Eyed Devil

11

YOU WANT to move in here?” Virgil said. Pony shook his head.

“Kha-to-nay not stay with white devil,” Pony said.

“Don’t blame him,” Virgil said. “Wasn’t one myself I wouldn’t stay with him, either.”

“Not understand,” Pony said.

“Virgil’s making a joke,” I said.

“Got any money?” Virgil said.

Pony smiled and nodded.

“When Kha-to-nay destroy train in war with white tyrant, he take money, too.”

“Kha-to-nay’s not so dumb,” I said.

From his place at the far end of the porch Kha-to-nay said nothing.

“Anybody on your trail?” Virgil said.

Pony shook his head.

“Only man can track Pony Flores,” he said, “is me.”

“Good,” Virgil said. “Police ain’t on our side here.”

“You on other side of law now?” Pony said.

“Neither side,” Virgil said. “Just keeping order in the Boston House saloon.”

“You not the law,” Pony said. “Maybe we bring you trouble. Maybe should move on.”

“Where?” Virgil said. “Here, you got two friends in town.”

“Four,” Allie said.

We all looked at her. Virgil nodded slowly.

“Four friends in town,” he said.

Pony nodded.

“All good with gun,” he said, and smiled at Laurel.

She almost smiled back.

“We stay,” Pony said, “for while.”

“Then what?” Allie said.

“We see,” Pony said.

“See what?” Allie said.

Pony looked at Virgil.

“See what develops, Allie,” Virgil said.

“That’s your plan?” Allie said.

“Plan gonna depend on what develops,” Virgil said.

“So, how do you know you can handle what develops?” Allie said.

Ladies, don’t drink from the jug, I thought, but they sometimes have several from the glass.

“Don’t,” Virgil said.

“What about all of that stuff Everett talks about from Who’s-he-which on War?” Allie said.

“Clausewitz,” I said. “Prepare for what your enemy can do, not what you think he will do.”

“How about that?” Allie said to Virgil.

“Hell, Allie,” Virgil said. “Don’t know who the enemy is yet.”

“So, you just wander into it,” Allie said. “The great Virgil Cole, full of yourself, assuming, as you always do, that you can handle everything.”

Virgil said, “Don’t know how else to go, Allie.”

“Everett’s no better,” Allie said. “You go, he goes, too.”

She poured an unladylike slug of whiskey into her glass and drank some.

“Well, what about me? What happens to Laurel?” she said.

“Wouldn’t have found Laurel without Pony,” Virgil said.

Allie didn’t say anything for a moment.

Then she said, “Men!” and shook her head.

Laurel looked as solemn as always.