Longarm and the Colorado gundown

_{Once she got over the shock of realizing that Custis Long honestly didn’t give a shit if she was male, female, or something else entirely, just so she was the lawyer he’d come there to see, she was brisk, bright, and informative.}

_{“The Indians in question,” she said, “are being held in an old mine shaft close to town. The jail wasn’t large enough, and I agreed that it wasn’t healthy for the women or the children to be caged in public view like that. The quarters at the mine are not really very good, but they are better than the jail would have been. The Indians agreed to the arrangement, and as their attorney of record I concurred, Longarm.”}

_{‘That takes a load off my mind. I was wondering if the police chief was up to something.”}

_{“I’m sure Boo will release the prisoners once service of the writ is made, Longarm. I can’t imagine him doing otherwise.”}

_{“Could get it done tonight, I reckon, if you know where he lives.”}

_{“Frankly I would rather do it in daylight. You won’t believe the levels of fear and animosity that exist in this town.”}

_{“I think I might,” he commented, but didn’t push the point any further than that.}

_{“It frightens even me, Longarm. I’ve had bolts installed on my door. Six months ago I wouldn’t have believed that necessary, yet it is true. And when we do secure the release}

_{of those people from custody, I want it to be in broad daylight so we can see if there is anyone lurking about with guns.”}

_{“That bad, huh?”}

_{“That bad,” she said.}

_{“I’ll accept your judgment on it,” he said. “We won’t try and do anything until tomorrow.”}

_{“Thank you.” She stood. “Would you care for a drink now, Longarm?”}

_{“You wouldn’t have any rye, would you?”}

_{“Sorry. Calvados is the best I can do.”}

_{“Ma’am?”}

_{She smiled. “Applejack, Longarm. Hard cider that’s gone down and dirty. It will put hair on your chest, guaranteed.” “Reckon I’d best try some then.”}

_{“Good. I hope you won’t mind if I join you?”}

_{“Good likker is always better in good company,” he said.}

_{One of the cabinets that he had assumed held files instead held a black glass bottle in an odd, bulbous shape. Aggie Able poured generous measures into a pair of water glasses and gave one to Longarm. This time she chose to sit in the comfortable chair across the lamp table from his rather than returning to her desk.}