As we are deep into hundreds of thousands of words in the Laramie Saga, I thought it might be fun to remember the first time we all met Chief Deputy Ellery J. Cantrell, who wasn't even the chief deputy at that point.....
Bill was smiling widely as the newcomer came up the stairs, Gene hanging on his arm, his flirtatious manner returned in force. "Nice ta see ya Cantrell, come on in and have some grub. This here's Ennis del... Mar, is that right? From..."
"Sage."
Bill startled. "You come all the way from Sage? Shit boy, you are a long way from home."
Ellery Cantrell was an imposing figure, well over six feet tall as he bowed his head coming up the stairs, and stretched to his full height, clapping Bill hard on the shoulder and thrusting out a large, square hand to Ennis, who rose and accepted it. He had long, almost jet black hair, offset by pale, light grey eyes and a pale complexion, like pictures Ennis had seen of Doc Holliday, the infamous outlaw. And lean, almost as beanpole thin as Ennis himself, his figure made sharper by the trim black shirt, jet black leather vest and coal-black denims. When he spoke his voice was as deep as Ennis's own.
"Nice to meet you, Del Mar. Name's Ellery, just call me that. Bill likes ta get all formal with the law."
Ennis blinked, not knowing what to say except "Nice to know ya," and sat back down, wondering what the hell was going on.
Bill caught Ennis's stare. "Ellery... here, is a sheriff's deputy here in town."
"One a four, it ain't exactly my exclusive domain, Bill," the older man added politely, nodding as Gene began to pile a plate up for him, his frequent looks at Ellery making it plain that Gene flirted with everyone. Ellery showed no signs of noticing Gene's manner, however.
"Oh," said Ennis.
"I called him to talk. Informally, about what we oughta do about Wilson."
"All right boys, now let me have a nice piece a toast and some eggs while you tell me just exactly what it was Pete supposedly said to get the ol' boy riled up, and what he said when he come down to the bar and then I kin get a better idea about what's all involved here. By the way, where IS Pete?"
"Grady's watchin over him at the presidential suite at the Rose."
Ellery nodded, his brows coming up. "That suite's what, eighty dollars a night Bill."
"Lincoln, actually, Bill," Ennis corrected, feeling foolish. What difference did it make what suite Pete was booked into? He reached for a biscuit while Gene began to shovel eggs onto his own plate, giving Gene one of his tight, barely-there smiles as a way to thank him, and realized with some chagrin that he was uncomfortable next to the big deputy, and for the second time, asked himself what the hell was really going on here.
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Topic: Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll (Read 3171066 times)