Resolution (2008) by Robert B - Appaloosa 02 Parker

Author:Robert B - Appaloosa 02 Parker [Parker, Robert B - Appaloosa 02]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-03-15T17:29:46+00:00

Chapter 40

The horses had been ridden together so often that, both geldings, they had become friends. They would occasionally nuzzle each other when we stopped.

Isn't this sort of the way you took up with Allie? I said to Virgil.

How so? Virgil said.

She comes into town alone. No money. No place to stay. You find her a place to stay. Get her a job.

Uh-huh.

How'd that work out for you? I said.

Don't know yet, Virgil said.

Damn, I said. You are a stubborn bastard.

I am, Virgil said.

The horses moved along pleasantly. The air was warm, not hot, and there was a nice little breeze. Virgil rode well. He did everything well. When he rode, the horse seemed an extension of him. When he shot, the gun seemed part of him.

Hard on women out here, Virgil said.

Hard on everybody out here, I said.

Women need looking after.

Allie? I said. I figure Allie's pretty good at taking care of herself.

Allie thinks with her twat, Virgil said. It gets her in trouble.

True, I said. So what are you going to do with Mrs. Redmond?

Don't know, Virgil said. Can't let her old man beat on her.

We could let Cato kill him, I said.

Can't do that, Virgil said.

Why not? I said.

Can't do that, Virgil said, as if it was an answer.

The horses eased down the trail toward the homesteads on the flat land. The homesteads weren't much. Weather-grayed cabin and shed. Sparse-looking kitchen garden. An occasional split-rail corral with one or two horses. Redmond's was no different. We found him straddling the peak of his cabin, patching the roof. When he saw us ride in he climbed down and went inside. By the time we reached the house, he was back outside with a Winchester.

What do you want? he said.

Need to talk, Virgil said.

Got nothing to talk about, Redmond said.

You do, Virgil said.

Redmond gestured with the Winchester.

I know how to use this, he said.

'Course you do, Virgil said. You might get off a shot. You might even hit one of us. But 'fore you jacked the second shell up into the chamber you'd be dead.

And maybe one of you'd be dead.

Maybe, Virgil said.

There was some silence. Virgil's horse put his head over and snuffled at mine. Redmond lowered the Winchester slightly.

What you want to talk about? he said.

Your wife and children, Virgil said.

Goddamn it, Redmond said. Wolfson don't run my family.

This ain't Wolfson, Virgil said. This is me.

He was relaxed and comfortable in his saddle as he talked. Like he always was. Sometimes people would make a bad mistake and think he wasn't ready. He was. Virgil was always ready. He just never looked it.

You fucking her yet? Redmond said.

Nope.

Probably all of you, fucking her, Redmond said.

Nope.

Well, I'll give her that, Redmond said. She's hot enough. Or she used to be.

That be before you starting smacking her around? Virgil said.

That's none of your business, Redmond said.

True enough, Virgil said. But she needs to see the kids.

She can't, Redmond said.

Me and Everett, Virgil said, think she should visit the children, couple times a week.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.