ON SUNDAY MORNING Virgil was sitting where he sat, in front of the Boston House. He was heeled and his Winchester leaned against the wall beside his chair. I was across the street with the eight-gauge, standing on the boardwalk in the shade in front of the feed store. Above us the sky was a pale, even, uninterrupted blue that appeared to stretch clear west at least to California.
People were on the street, dressed up, the women especially, going to church. I saw Allie go by in her best dress, with Laurel. They were walking with a tall, handsome woman in clothes that looked like she’d shopped in New York. Allie waved at Virgil as she passed. Virgil touched the brim of his hat.
We waited. That was okay. We were good at it. Virgil and I could wait as long as we needed to. Around midday, Callico came down the street with his Winchester escorts. They stopped in front of Virgil. Callico looked around, saw me across the street, and murmured something to his escort. Three of the policemen turned and faced me. I nodded at them. Nobody nodded back.
“I’ve decided not to kill you, Virgil,” Callico said.
He had a big voice, and it carried easily from the Boston House to the feed store.
Virgil looked at the armed policemen.
“You ever go anyplace alone, Amos?” Virgil said.
“I’m not a violent man,” Callico said. “And I figure it’s easier to get along with you than kill both of you.”
“A sight easier,” Virgil said.
“Long as you don’t break the law,” Callico said.
Virgil didn’t comment.
“And I’ll be keeping my eye on you,” Callico said.
“Expect you will,” Virgil said.
“You break a law and I’ll come down on you like an avalanche.”
“Avalanche,” Virgil said.
“Like a mountain fell on you,” Callico said.
Virgil nodded.
“Amos,” he said. “You got to stop trying to scare us. Ain’t effective. Me ’n Everett been doin’ gun work too long.”
“This is a small town,” Callico said. “And a big country. I’m not going to sacrifice the big for the small, you understand that?”
“Surely do,” Virgil said.
“So, you do your business, and I’ll do mine, and you stay clean, we won’t bother each other.”
“That sounds fine,” Virgil said.
He raised his voice.
“That sound fine to you, Everett?” he said.
“Fine,” I said.
“We think it’s fine,” Virgil said.
Callico looked at Virgil for a considerable time without a sound.
Then he said, “Mind your step, Virgil. Just mind your step.”
He turned and led his policemen on down the street. I strolled over to where Virgil was and sat down beside him.
“Pompous son of a bitch,” I said.
“Don’t mean he ain’t good with a Colt,” Virgil said.
“Stringer claims he’s one of the best,” I said.
“Stringer knows something about that,” Virgil said.
“On the other hand, we’re pretty good, too,” I said.
“We are,” Virgil said. “Ain’t we.”
Tilda came out with coffee and we settled in for another day.