“Look at the crowd,” he said. “Got to say you’re a big attraction, Virgil.”

“Like a geek show,” Virgil said.

“No,” Cates said. “God, no. It’s respect. It’s like a hero has come to town.”

Virgil looked at me.

“Hero,” he said.

“That’d be you,” I said.

“Maybe you boys don’t take it serious, but I’m here to tell you that we do.”

“ ‘ We’?” Virgil said.

“Everybody,” Cates said. “I got a proposal for you.”

Virgil didn’t say anything. If Cates minded that, it didn’t show.

“My shotgun lookout works ’bout twelve hours a day,” Cates said. “He needs a break.”

“Any law in town?” Virgil said.

“Never needed none,” Cates said.

Virgil nodded.

“Like to hire you to sit shotgun,” Cates said. “Couple hours a day is all, start of the evenin’.”

“Draw a crowd?” I said.

“Sure would,” Cates said. “The great Virgil Cole? Sitting shotgun in Los Lobos? Good gracious. It would put this whole damned town on the map.”

“And make you some money,” I said.

“Sure would; why I want to do it. But what’s good for me is good for the town, and the other way around as well.”

“How much,” Virgil said.

“Give you a dollar a day,” Cates said.

“Each,” Virgil said.

“You and Everett?” Cates said.

“Uh-huh.”

Cates looked at the bar, which was two deep now with people drinking and watching Virgil. He looked at me and back at Virgil. Then he nodded.

“Done,” he said.

He went into his pocket and took out two silver dollars and put them on the table.

“First day in advance,” he said.

Virgil picked up the coins and gave one to me.

“Don’t know how long I’ll be in town,” he said.

“Long as you’re here, the deal stands,” Cates said.

“I’m looking for a woman,” Virgil said.