Resolution

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.