Standoff in Santa Fe by J. R. Roberts Read Free Book Online

poker game broke up, and Bat joined Clint at the bar, where there was now plenty of room.
    â€œThe sheriff never showed up to close the place down,” Bat observed. “Still playin’ it smart, I guess.”
    They had coffee before they left, found they were staying in the same hotel, the Chatwith House.
    â€œBest in town,” Bat said. “Undoubtedly, Luke is also here.”
    â€œNo doubt,” Clint agreed.
    â€œBreakfast?” Bat asked.
    â€œNow or later?” Clint asked.
    â€œWell, now,” Bat said. “Later it would be lunch.”
    â€œBreakfast, it is.”
    *   *   *
    They got a table in the hotel dining room, which had just opened to serve breakfast.
    â€œNone of our colleagues are up yet,” Bat said, looking around. “I saw Tilghman standin’ with you for a while.”
    â€œYeah, he had only just arrived a couple of hours before,” Clint said.
    â€œI wonder who will arrive today,” Bat said. “A whole day for more guns to arrive. If this town doesn’t explode, I’ll be shocked.”
    Clint and Bat both ordered steak and eggs, and coffee.
    â€œLots and lots of strong coffee,” Bat said.
    â€œYou plan on staying up?” Clint asked.
    â€œPossibly. I’m just not sleepy.”
    â€œOdd,” Clint said, “but neither am I.”
    â€œYou see?” Bat asked. “We’re both feelin’ the same thing. Somethin’s gonna happen that we don’t want to miss.”
    â€œOr maybe we can stop.”
    â€œI also saw you talk to those three whelps who were thinkin’ about robbin’ me.”
    â€œThey were drunk and stupid,” Clint said. “I saved their lives.”
    â€œOh, I wouldn’t have killed them,” Bat said. “At least, I don’t think so.”
    The waiter brought the coffee, poured it for them.
    â€œMaybe we should talk with the sheriff,” Bat said. “See how many deputies he has.”
    â€œAre you thinking of volunteering?”
    â€œMe? No. Maybe you, though.”
    â€œNot me,” Clint said. “Burle must have his own deputies.”
    â€œYou’ve met the sheriff?”
    â€œI have,” Clint said. “Stopped in to see him upon my arrival. He was . . . unimpressive, but I don’t know yet if he’s smart or cowardly.”
    â€œSmart to stay out of the saloon, I’d say,” Bat said. “Why look for trouble?”
    â€œTo keep it from happening.”
    â€œSpoken like a true ex-lawman,” Bat said, “but we do have lawmen in town. Bass Reeves still wears a badge. What about Tilghman?”
    â€œNot for a while,” Clint said. “Ranching.”
    â€œBut more recently than we have,” Bat said. “He’ll still hold that mind-set.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œWell,” Bat said as the waiter arrived with their plates, “we have other matters to attend to now.”
    Clint looked down at the plate laden with steak and eggs and said, “So we do.”

FIFTEEN
    After breakfast Clint and Bat stepped outside the hotel and watched as the town awoke. People on the streets, wagons and buckboards carrying people and supplies.
    â€œLooks peaceful enough,” Bat said.
    â€œWell,” Clint said, “everyone but us is asleep. Wait until they wake up and hit the streets.”
    â€œThe trouble will most likely come from Miller, Hardin, or Allison,” Bat said.
    â€œThat’s what I figure,” Clint said, “or from some local who’s feeling brave and stupid.”
    â€œWho else is there to arrive but Wyatt, Virgil . . .”
    â€œWhat about James?”
    â€œMy brother won’t be here.”
    â€œThen there’s Siringo, and Tom Horn . . . I ran across them both sometime back. Working together.”
    â€œThat must have been an experience.”
    â€œSpeaking of lawmen,” Clint