but I don’t take no man’s word for that, president or not. Folks are heading west again, making their way to new lives, new fortunes. And in Poca, we’re sort of at the crossroads of all that. Betwixt old America where most now still live and new America that lies west of here. People pass through. Some stay. Most keep going because we can’t compete with the likes of Los Angeles and Frisco and that gambling haven in Las Vegas. But opportunities still abound here. And I’m well positioned to take advantage of every one of them. And I am, by God.”
Archer listened to all this, nodding, his mouth twitching back and forth as he processed the man’s many words.
He said, “Saw the fountain with the babies, and the geezers playing checkers. Kinda odd sight.”
The man laughed. “Old and the new. Before long there won’t be time for people to be sitting around playing checkers.”
“No water coming out the fountain though.”
“We’ve had a drought,” the man said. “For a long time now.”
“People gonna come to a place where there’s no water?”
“Not if your livelihood depends on raising cattle and crops. That’s why we’re changing our ways. We use the water for drinking and bathing and such and not cattle and crops, we’ll be fine. You know how damn much a cow drinks?” He laughed.
Archer nodded and took another sip of the Rebel and let it slide down his throat like lava over fresh dirt. “I guess I can see that,” he replied.
“Look, where you coming in from?”
“A seven-hour slow, dusty bus ride from the east.”
The banker squinted as he calculated. “That’s a fair stretch of road, mister.”
“I figure you for a banker type, but I’d like to be sure.”
“Why, you looking to rob me?”
They all three had a laugh at that, but Archer’s died out before the other two had finished guffawing.
Archer glanced at the woman, who was doing the tongue-on-lip thing again. She was in her late twenties with silky, dark hair in a Veronica Lake peekaboo. The sheet of hair fell off the side of her head like a waterfall at night, which contrasted sharply with her pale complexion. Archer could smell her scent across the span of the banker’s cologne. It was spicy and warm and tapped something in him that prison had never inspired. She had on a tight, late-day, thunder-blue dress with a wide, deep neckline that revealed things she evidently wanted to reveal, and a black dog leash belt encircling her small waist. She had on white wrist-length gloves, and a matching narrow-brimmed hat with a small bow. Her heels were high enough to muscle her calves. She wore a small necklace with a rock of diamond in the center. She kept fingering it like she wanted to make sure it was still there.
Archer slowly drew his gaze away from her. “So you came here all those years ago and the town starts to make something of itself at the same time. Am I to imply a connection?”
The other man chuckled. “I like you. I like how you handle yourself.”
“Man favors a compliment same as a woman,” said Archer, tipping his hat at the lady.
“Fact is, I’ve been instrumental in putting Poca City on the map. Got my finger in all the pies worth anything. Saw its potential, you could say. And now that potential is being realized.”
The man ran his gaze over Archer’s long, broad-shouldered, muscular frame.
“You look like you can handle yourself just fine. Bet you were in the Army.”
“I did my bit. About three years without ever seeing America once. Why?”
“A strong and brave man, then, who knows how to survive difficult circumstances. Which means you’re just the hombre for me.” He took out a wad of cash as big as any fist Archer had ever made in prison or seen coming his way.
The man trimmed five twenties off the pile and laid the bills on the bar within easy reach.
Archer made no move to pick them up.
“Well?” said the man.
“Fellow hands out cash like that, something’s expected. I’m just waiting on details.”
The man guffawed again and slapped Archer on the shoulder a bit harder than was necessary. He immediately grimaced and shook out his hand.
“Damn, you made of rock or what, soldier?”
“Or what,” said Archer.
“I like to pay for potential. And I trust my instincts. Maybe we can do some business.”
Archer still did not pick up the money. He finished the last finger of his drink and set it down.