60

WHEN WE CAME back to Virgil’s house in the late afternoon, Chauncey Teagarden was sipping whiskey on the front porch and watching Allie flirt with him.

“Mr. Teagarden has been entertaining me with tales of New Orleans,” Allie said when we sat down.

“Entertaining fella,” Virgil said, and poured himself a little whiskey.

“He says he knew Mrs. Callico in New Orleans,” Allie said.

“The Countess,” I said.

“Did you know her, too, Everett?”

“Nope, just what Chauncey has told me.”

“Was she really a countess?”

Chauncey glanced at Virgil. Virgil shrugged faintly. And nodded even more faintly.

“Was a whore,” Chauncey said.

“A whore?”

“Yes.”

“Well,” Allie said. “Just because you’ve been a whore doesn’t mean you’re always a whore.”

“No,” Chauncey said.

“People can change. They can grow. And they do,” Allie said. “She’s turned into a fine lady.”

“Surely has,” Virgil said. “Also the one that says Laird ran from combat.”

“Amelia?” Chauncey said. “How the hell would she know.”

“Probably don’t,” Virgil said.

“You think she made it up?” Chauncey said.

“I do,” Virgil said.

“You think Amelia Callico is telling lies about the general?” Allie said.

“Yep.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Get her husband elected mayor,” Virgil said.

“You and Everett gonna have to take a side here ’fore it’s over. Too much shooting gonna be done, and you boys are too good at it not to get pulled in.”

“Callico’s got twenty-five policemen,” I said. “You got how many?”

“Me and Laird’s hands,” Chauncey said.

“How many gun hands?”

“Me.”

“What do you think, Everett?”

“Never liked Callico,” I said.

“Hard to like,” Virgil said.

“Pony’s in Buffalo Springs,” I said. “I could ride down and get him.”

“That’d be three of you,” Chauncey said. “And me makes all we need.”

I looked at Virgil. He nodded.

“I’ll ride on down and get Pony Flores,” I said.

Allie was listening to this as if a new universe was opening up. She poured herself some whiskey and drank it.

“Bring Laurel back, too,” she said. “For a visit.”

“No,” Virgil said. “He’ll bring you down there to stay with Laurel. I don’t want either of you around town for a time.”

“Just like that?” Allie said. “Go gallivanting off with Everett for a two-day trip.”

“You can make it in a day,” Virgil said. “And keep your hands off Everett.”

Allie blushed.

“Virgil,” I said. “You spoil everything.”