sat in the center of the plate. It was running and turning the eggs pink.
“I like to start the day with a nice rare steak,” Kelley explained. He cut off a piece and stuck it in his mouth. “I know the kid you’re talkin’ about. That pearl-handle gun is a giveaway. His Pa’s got a spread outside of town, pretty big one.”
“Is he going to run home and tell Daddy we took his money?” Butler asked.
“Maybe, but if he does his Pa will probably smack him,” Kelley said. “Big Bob Deaver believes in a man standin’ up for himself.”
“Well, I think if he’d tried to stand up to Ben Thompson he would’ve ended up dead.”
“No doubt.”
“He made the right decision to walk away.”
“However,” Kelley said, “if I was you I’d watch my back. He may not be as afraid of you as he is of Ben.”
“That’s just the thing,” Butler said around a mouthful of eggs, “he wasn’t afraid of Ben at all—at least, not in the beginning. As soon as I sat down I could tell he’d been needling Ben all night.”
“Yeah, I heard about the gun on the table, too.”
“I guess not much happens in your place without you knowing it, huh?” Butler asked.
“I try to keep track,” Kelley said. “It’ll probably be easier to run my business, though, now that I don’t have to run the town.”
Once again Butler could tell the man wasn’t happy about the latter.
“You won’t take offense if I check out the Long Branch Saloon tonight, will you?” he asked.
“Hell, no,” Kelley said. “Chalk’s got to make a livin’; like everyone else. Give him my best.”
“I will.”
“By the way,” Kelley asked, “how was Sheila last night?”
“She was fine,” Butler said, “just fine.”
“Hank told me you took me up on my offer of a free poke.”
“I’m afraid we fell asleep, though,” Butler said, “so you’ll probably have to charge me for the whole night.”
Kelley chased some steak and eggs with a mouthful of coffee, then said, “Forget it. Maybe a night with Sheila will get you to come back for more. Maybe a different girl, next time.”
“She was good,” Butler said, “she’s just not the type I usually pick.” He didn’t want to admit he couldn’t remember picking her. He should not have gotten that drunk the first night in a strange town—certainly not Dodge City.
“We got others,” Kelley said, “short, tall, fat, skinny, you name it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Over the rest of the meal and some more coffee they discussed some town politics, mainly because Butler had made the mistake of asking, “So what do you think of your new mayor?” He was forced to listen to Kelley hold forth on all of Mayor A. B. Webster’s shortcomings.
When they were done eating Kelley said, “I’m sorry. I chewed your ear about politics, which you probably ain’t interested in.”
“Not usually,” Butler said, “but this is Dodge City. I’m interested in the history.”
“Well,” Kelley said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, “if it’s history that interests you let me tell you some wild stories about Jim Masterson’s brother, Bat…”
CHAPTER 15
Not only did Kelley tell tales of Bat Masterson but Wyatt Earp and his brother as well. They took the conversation outside, where an April breeze raised dust from the dry dirt of Front Street. Butler could see, though, where ruts in the street would fill with water from a good rain. Like most towns, the street would turn to mud when somebody spit.
They grabbed a couple of wooden chairs and sat in front of the hotel, Butler still listening to Kelley’s stories.
“So what’s going on between Bat and Jim?” Butler asked when the ex-mayor paused for a breath.
“Damned if I know,” Kelley said. “Damned if anybody knows. That’s between Bat and Jim, and ain’t one of them talkin’ about it.”
“What about this thing between Jim and his partner?”
“Jim made a bad move partnering with A. J. Peacock. The man’s a snake, and his brother-in-law ain’t much better. I think he’s tryin’ to force Jim to sell out to him.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Kelley shrugged. “That’s between Jim and Peacock. I got enough problems getting’ along with my own partner.”
“Problems there, too?”
“Not the kind that Jim has, no,” Kelley said. “Just normal partner problems.”
They sat for a few moments in silence, and then Kelley said, “This is very odd.”
“What?”
Kelley had been staring out at the street. Now he turned to look directly at Butler.
“Being able to sit here and talk without havin’ to worry about going to City Hall.”
“It’s probably early to think about this,” Butler said, “but are you thinking of running again?”
“Hell, yeah,” Kelley said fervently. “Wait until this town sees what a mess Webster makes. I’m damn sure gonna run against him next time.” Kelley firmed his jaw. “I miss the damn job already.”
He stood up, and Butler followed suit.
“Don’t listen to me when I say I’m glad to be out of that job,” Kelley said. “Politics is in my blood, and it kills me that I ain’t mayor anymore.” The man fell silent a moment, then repeated, “It kills me.”
He stepped down into the street and crossed without another word. Butler didn’t even have a chance to thank him for the stories, or for picking up the breakfast check.
The slump of Dog Kelley’s shoulders was decidedly sad.
A. J. Peacock came downstairs from his room and found his brother-in-law, Al Updegraff, sleeping on top of the Lady Gay’s bar. He walked over to the snoring man and rolled him off. Updegraff came awake when he hit the floor with a thud, rolled over onto his back.
“Ow,” he said, peering up at Peacock. “What’d you do that for?”
“I don’t want Masterson comin’ down and findin’ you on the bar,” Peacock said. “That is, unless you’re ready to burn powder with him.”
“I ain’t even awake,” Updegraff said, “how’m I supposed to trade lead with Jim Masterson.”
“Get up, then,” Peacock said, quelling the desire to kick his brother-in-law. “For an ex-lawman, you’re a disgrace.”
Updegraff climbed to his feet, staggered behind the bar, grabbed a half-full bottle of whiskey and tipped it up, draining it.
“What’s your problem?” he asked Peacock, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
“I’ve taken sides with you against Masterson, that’s my problem,” Peacock said.
“You want Masterson’s piece of the Lady Gay, that’s why yer takin’ my side. You think I don’t know that?”
“Whatever the reason,” Peacock said, “the day may come when you and me have to take matters into our own hands.”
“Hey,” Updegraff said, “if it wasn’t for that tinhorn gambler, Masterson would be dead.”
“Yeah, well, let’s not forget if we kill Jim we may have to deal with Bat. That’s why we can’t be the ones who pull the trigger.”
“Well, those boys you sent last night sure didn’t get the job done,” Updegraff muttered.
