The Bridge

14

The band played some more festive tunes with Nell singing along. Then the magician, Dr. Longfellow, performed a few disappearing-handkerchief tricks followed by the jester clown jugglers, who made the crowd roar with laughter. As soon as the little show finished up, Allie hurried up behind the lectern.

“Hello, everyone,” she said. “We, the ladies’ social of Appaloosa, want to let y’all know we have provided some refreshments, cookies and cakes and some lemon punch, so everybody stay, mingle with our special guests, and enjoy.”

The crowd did just that and the flock of folks gathered around the troupe as they worked their way to the table like cattle headed to feed.

Allie looked up, seeing Virgil and me standing at the back of the room, and scurried through the throng of people over to us.

“Oh, Everett,” Allie said, as she clamped her arms around me. “Thank God you are okay.”

“It’s okay, Allie,” I said.

Allie didn’t move; she just squeezed me harder, keeping her face nestled in my chest.

I looked to Virgil.

“I’m right here, Allie,” I said.

Allie just squeezed me tighter.

“Hell, Allie,” Virgil said. “Let him breathe some.”

Allie removed her head from my chest. She cut her eyes at Virgil a bit, then looked up to me but remained clutching me tight.

“Oh, Everett,” Allie said. “Thank God in Heaven you are okay. I was so worried about you.”

“Thank Samuel Colt,” Virgil said.

“Virgil Cole,” Allie snapped, as she looked to him. “I swear, you can be so callous.”

“Nothing callous about being a good gun hand and returning fire,” Virgil said.

“Oh,” Allie said. “You’re impossible.”

Virgil smiled.

“I guess that’s good,” Virgil said.

Allie looked back up to me.

“I’m just grateful you’re here and alive,” Allie said.

I smiled at her.

“Well, Allie,” I said. “You’re entirely welcome... You put together a good gathering here.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m happy about the turnout.”

“Might have myself a piece of cake,” I said. “Maybe some of that lemon punch.”

“Oh, yes,” Allie said. “Come and see what we got.”

Allie pulled me away from Virgil and over to the desserts spread out across the table.

Virgil followed us through the crowd of folks over to the table, and as we neared I noticed Beauregard look over at Virgil. He was standing with Nell as he talked with Ashley, but he was focused on Virgil. I could tell he recognized Virgil. He leaned close to Ashley and it was obvious he asked Ashley about Virgil. Ashley looked over to us, he said something to Beauregard and then escorted Beauregard and Nell our way.

“Virgil, Everett,” Ashley said. “Let me introduce you to Beauregard Beauchamp and his lovely wife, Nell.”

“Oh, yes,” Allie interjected with enthusiasm as she took over the introductions. “Virgil, Everett, this is Beauregard and Nell. Beauregard, Nell, this is Virgil and Everett. Virgil is my, my...”

“Marshal Cole,” Virgil said.

Allie blushed a little.

“And this is Everett,” Allie said. “Virgil’s deputy marshal.”

“I was just letting Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp here know you are our celebrated territory law officials and what a wonderful privilege it was for the growing community of Appaloosa that the two of you resided here.”

Beauregard held out his hand to Virgil, but I shook his hand instead.

“Virgil’s not much on shaking hands,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you both.”

Nell looked at me and smiled. Beauregard remained focused on Virgil.

“We’ve had the pleasure of meeting before,” Beauregard said to Virgil. “Have we not?”

“Believe we have,” Virgil said.

Beauregard squinted a little.

“Card game,” Virgil said. “San Antone.”

Beauregard chewed a few hairs of his mustache.

“Menger’s,” Beauregard said. “The hotel?”

Virgil nodded.

“Well, isn’t that just the best,” Allie said. “Old friends.”

“Yes,” Beauregard said. “Old friends.”

Virgil smiled pleasantly but didn’t say anything.

“Long time ago,” Beauregard said.

Virgil nodded a little.

“Was,” he said.

“Well, maybe you two can just pick up where you left off?” Allie said.

“Maybe,” Virgil said.