Longarm and the Colorado gundown

_{“What I’m saying is that just because these two didn’t manage to murder the both of us tonight, it don’t necessarily follow that there won’t be another two available t’ make another attempt. I mean, there’s plenty of coal oil in the stores here an’ plenty more matches. What I’m saying is that you and me will both be safer someplace else until this thing is over and done with. Someplace where I won’t have to worry about going to sleep an’ leaving you undefended.” He was already reaching for his bag. “What I’m saying, Aggie, is that you’d best get dressed ’cause we got t’ go find rooms.”}

_{“If we go to the hotel we won’t be able to stay together,” she pointed out. “Here we can at least pretend that you are sleeping in my front room ... and thank goodness the hotel wouldn’t accept you the other day ... but if we take rooms}

_{there now we couldn’t possibly stay together any longer.”}

_{Longarm had already thought of that. Hell, it was one of the reasons he was looking forward to having to move in the middle of the night. Pretty though she was, in bed Aggie was still more trouble than she was worth. “I know that, pretty lady, an’ I’ll be losing sleep from not bein’ near you. But I won’t do nothing t’ harm your reputation in town, an’ I won’t let you come t’ other harm neither. Better we split now.”}

_{She gave him a kiss, her peevishness of a moment ago dissipated now, and began to dress, tossing instructions over her shoulders as to what bag he was to fetch for her and from where, what drawer to empty into the bag, and what case to get down from the top of the wardrobe. Very much more and Longarm figured they’d have to hire a pack train to carry it all.}

_{“You don’t have t’ take everything you own, y’know. After all, Aggie, you’ll still be in town. Be safe enough for you t’ come back in daylight and fetch whatever doesn’t get carried with you tonight.”}

_{She held up a silk scarf, draped it experimentally at her throat, and inspected the look of it in the bureau mirror, then frowned and threw it back into the drawer in favor of another. “You don’t know much about women, do you, dear?”}

_{“No,” he admitted, “I s’pose I do not.”}

_{Chapter 32}