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hung low and when he recognized the taller of the three, he thought he was hallucinating. He also took a moment to think that the last two times someone new had ridden into town—Butler last week, and now today—he happened to be on the street to spot them.
    The taller rider saw him about the same time and directed his horse that way. The other two followed.
    “Well, I’ll be damned,” Bat said.
    “Hello, Bat,” Wyatt Earp said.
    “Wyatt,” Bat said. Then, “Virg, Doc.”
    Both of the other men simply nodded their heads and touched the brim of their hats.
    “Heard you were marshaling up here,” Wyatt said. “Thought it might be a place for us to…rest a while.”
    “Plenty of room,” Bat said. He stepped down, approached Wyatt, and stuck his hand out. “Good to see you, Wyatt.”
    “You, too, Bat.” The two men shook hands.
    “Livery right down the street. Hotel, too. Get yourself settled and come back over here. We’ll go and have somethin’ to eat, catch up.”
    “We’ll do it, Bat,” Wyatt said. “See you in a spell.”
    Bat watched them ride off toward the livery, wondered what kind of trouble—if any—was following the Earps and Doc Holliday. He was glad to see his friend Wyatt, but couldn’t help wondering if their arrival was signaling a change in the wind.

CHAPTER 14
    Wyatt and Virgil decided they’d go to their rooms after checking in to the Fairgate Hotel, the closest to the livery, but Doc Holliday had an urge to play some poker. They discussed it in the lobby first.
    “After all that ridin’?” Virgil asked.
    “Hey,” Doc said, “you relax your way and I’ll relax mine.”
    “Go ahead, Doc,” Wyatt said. “I’m gonna get cleaned up and check in with Bat. Virg?”
    “I’m gonna lie down,” Virgil said. “My arm’s killin’ me.”
    “Maybe we should find a doctor in town,” Wyatt suggested.
    “I’m fine,” Virgil said. “It hurts when I get tired. You go see Bat, and Doc you go and play cards. I’ll be fine.”
    Doc, who wasn’t as worried about Virgil’s well-being as Wyatt was, said, “Fine by me. I could use a whiskey, too. Mind my saddlebags?”
    “Sure,” Wyatt said, taking them from his friend.
    Wyatt and Virgil watched as Doc Holliday walked out the front door of the hotel.
    “Don’t he ever get tired?” Virgil asked. “I seen him sittin’ up at night on the trail.”
    “Doc figures if he lays down he may never get up,” Wyatt said. “He’s gotta be exhausted to fall asleep, so he tries to exhaust himself.”
    “Well, he exhausts me,” Virgil said. “Want me to put your saddlebags in your room, along with Doc’s?”
    “No, I want to wash up before I go see Bat.”
    “I just need to lie down for about an hour,” Virgil said. “You go ahead and eat something’ if you want.”
    “You sure you don’t want to see a sawbones?”
    “I’m fine, Wyatt,” Virgil said. “Don’t play mother hen, okay?”
    “Fine, Virg,” Wyatt said. “Have it your way.”
    They went up to their respective rooms and Wyatt, after having washed his face and hands, came out and pressed his ear to his brother’s door. He couldn’t hear anything, so he went down the stairs and headed for Bat’s office.
     
    Doc Holliday entered the Bonanza saloon, looked around and spotted the poker game that was in progress. At the moment it was the only game in the room. He walked to the bar and ordered a shot of whiskey.
    “That a private game or can anyone buy in?” he asked when the barman brought his drink.
    “Open to anyone’s the way I understand it,” the bartender said.
    Doc tossed the drink back and said, “Give me another one. I’ll take it with me.”
    The bartender poured and Doc picked up the glass and walked over to the poker table.
    “Mind if I sit in?” he asked.
    One man looked up and said, “It’s Butler’s game. You’re gonna hafta ask him.”
    “Okay,” Doc said, “which one’s Butler?”
    “I am,” Butler said, “but it’s not