Blackjack

Summary

Appaloosa, the hometown of Territorial Marshals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, continues to prosper, but with prosperity comes a slew of new trouble: carpetbaggers, gamblers, migrants, peddlers, drifters, thieves, and whores, all boiling in a cauldron of excess and greed. And there’s a new menace in town: a wealthy, handsome easterner—and the owner of Appaloosa’s new casino—Boston Bill Black. 

            

Boston Bill is flashy and bigger than life. He’s a prankster and a notorious womanizer, and with eight notches on the handle of his Colt, he’s rumored quick on the draw. When he finds himself wanted for a series of murders, he quickly vanishes. Cole and Hitch locate and arrest him, but Boston Bill escapes once again. Another murder sets the duo on his trail, eventually taking them back to Appaloosa—where one woman in particular may, or may not, prove to be the apple of Boston Bill’s eye.


Cover Art

1) United States


Dedication

FOR JULIE


Audiobook

Read by Rex Linn.

 

Audio CD

Publisher: Random House Audio; Unabridged edition (February 2, 2016)

ISBN-10: 0451485297

ISBN-13: 978-0451485298


Recurring Characters

Allie French is her usual self, she's playing music and failing at cooking as always. 

Skinny Jack a young deputy makes his second appearance after "The Bridge". It is also the last time we'd read from him.

Wallis McDonough bartender at the Boston House saloon pops up from time to time.

Clay Chastain was promoted to be the new sheriff in town.

Hal, the cafe owner, was briefly mentioned.


References

Chapter 2

 

"An ounce of kindness is worth, worth...something about gold...the weight in gold?" - ???

 

Chapter 4

 

"they were playing a high-stakes game of ventiunna." - Another name for the card game "Blackjack".


Lines

Chapter 3

 

"Oh," she said, smiling back at Skinny Jack.

"Excuse me, I've got dishes to wash anyway."

Virgil grinned at Allie.

"What?" Allie said

"Nothing, Allie."

"Oh, Virgil," she said.

 

Chapter 11

 

"We been through there," Virgil said. "Benson City?"

"We have," I said. "More than once, but not from this road."

"No," Virgil said. "The other road through there Goes to Clemmings west and Yaqui the other way."

"That's right," I said.

 

Chapter 29

 

"I just don't like what you do." (Allie said)

"Without men like me, you, the people, are not protected."

"Don't mean it has to be you being the one that is the protector."

"Can we just enjoy this beer?" Virgil said.

 

Chapter 36

 

"Appaloosa was lousy with Bostons. Boston this and Boston that, a place called the Boston House and a missing man that was now caught named Boston Bill."

 

Chapter 38

 

"What?" I said.

Virgil nodded.

"Bullshit," I said.

Virgil shifted his eyes to me and shook his head.

"No bullshit."

"Goddamn, Virgil."

"What?"

"What?"

Virgil sipped his beer but didn't look at me.

"Well...hell, Virgil, I never knew you had a brother, you never said a damn thing."