Denver Draw (20 page)

Bat, Doc, and Butler all decided to leave town at the same time. They had no idea what Perry Mallon had done. The last time they’d seen him was in front of the Governor’s Mansion. He’d thrown them all a disgusted look and stalked off.

Through Oliver James they learned that both the chief of police and the district attorney had been replaced, quietly.

“Won’t even make the newspapers,” James said.

But these were once powerful men who were now out of a job, and they’d blame other people for that. If Bat, Doc, and/or Butler stayed in Denver any longer, they’d be looking for trouble. None of them were afraid of it, but they would all rather avoid it.

Butler also discovered that Jennifer had left town while he and Bat were off chasing down Doc.

“I’d be watching for a newspaper story somewhere, if I was you,” Bat told him. “If she left, it’s because she got what she wanted.”

“I won’t see it,” Butler said. “I don’t make a habit of reading newspapers from all over the country.”

“Don’t worry,” Doc said, “if there is a story, somebody will let you know.”

Oliver James had met the three of them for breakfast and had presented them with his bill. Butler and Doc decided to split it, even though Doc was insisting the expense should be his.

“You didn’t ask for my help,” Butler pointed out, ”didn’t ask for me to bring a lawyer into the situation.”

“I don’t much care who pays me,” James had said, “as long as I get paid.”

Instead of putting the lawyer off and “sending” him his money, Bat and Doc settled with him and they shook hands.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude,” he told Butler as they were shaking hands.

“For what?”

“Like I told you, you rekindled my interest in the law. I thank you for that.”

After James left the three men split another pot of coffee, and then they headed for the livery together, where their horses—including a new one that Bat had purchased—were saddled and waiting.

“Where you headed, Doc?” Bat asked.

“Don’t know for sure,” Doc said. “Away from here.”

“Glenwood Springs?” Butler asked.

Doc hesitated, then said, “Maybe.”

They walked their horses outside. Doc shook hands with both men, mounted his animal, and left. Before riding off, though, he said something to Butler that was similar to what Oliver James had said.

“I owe you—and I don’t forget.”

“Good enough for me, Doc,” Butler said.

“Thanks, Bat,” Doc added.

“Sure, Doc.”

He turned to leave, then turned back to Bat.

“How’d you come up with that Pueblo warrant?”

“They had a highwayman operatin’ around there for a while. Never caught him.” Bat shrugged.

“So now I’m a highwayman,” Doc said.

“Not unless somebody wants to execute that warrant,” Bat told him, “and that ain’t gonna happen.”

They watched him ride off.

“Wonder how much time he’s got left?” Bat said aloud.

“Don’t know,” Butler said. “Guess that depends on whether or not he goes to Glenwood Springs.”

Bat looked at Butler and asked, “And you? Where are you headed?”

“California, I guess.”

“San Francisco?”

“Most likely.”

“Maybe I’ll see you there,” Bat said. “I got to go back to Trinidad to settle up and turn in my badge. After that…who knows?”

They rode out of Denver together, until a certain point, where Bat would continue south and Butler would head west. Bat put his hand out and Butler shook it.

“Until next time,” the legend said.

“I look forward to it, Bat,” the gambler said.

Butler watched Bat ride off, and once the man topped a rise and disappeared from sight on the other side, he gently gave his horse his heels and headed off.