The next day Johnny jumped on the early afternoon Rimrock Trailways to Bozeman. They were at the convenience store in Big Timber for a rest stop when Delia called.
"Hi, honey. I'm pulling out of the driveway now."
"Okay. You be careful, sweetheart."
"Don't worry, Johnny. I got the Glock in the glove compartment."
"Well, git it out of the glove box and sit it on the console. Throw a rag over it. If any men mash on you on the highway you show 'em the Glock.
"I'll be okay, honey."
"Call me and let me know where you're at."
"I will."
They hung up. Johnny looked at his wristwatch. He would be in Bozeman in a little over an hour. It would take Delia three hours. When he got into Bozeman he called a cab. Then he called Delia.
"Where you at?"
"Somewhere between Drummond and Deer Lodge."
"Okay, keep me posted" he said and hung up.
He cabbed it to the Redstone Lodge on North 7th and checked in. He threw his backpack in the room and took off down the street. He walked past the Tiger's Paw and down to the Western Saloon a few blocks further. Inside, he walked to the bar and ordered a Bud Light. Then he spun around and looked at the poker table. A new game in town. He scanned the walls and ceiling around the poker table for security cameras. There weren't any. A couple of guys were sitting at the poker table talking.
"Hey, what time does the poker game start?" Johnny yelled. One of them looked up at him.
"Won't be long" the guy said. "I'll put you on the list. What's your name?"
"John."
"Okay, John. You're in." Then the guy got up and walked over to Johnny.
"My names' Ed. Nice to meet you, John."
"Nice to meet you too, Ed."
"You live in Bozeman?" Ed asked.
"No. I'm on my way back to Missoula from Billings. Thought I'd hole up here tonight and play some cards. You run the game?"
"Yes, I run it and deal it too."
"That's gotta be pretty good money running and dealing games. I wish I could deal. Where'd you learn?"
"Nevada. I used to deal at the Cal-Neva and John Ascuagua's, but that was years ago. I ran private games around Alaska for a long time. But things got slow so I moved it down this way."
Ed walked over to a booth not far from the poker table and talked to the two men sitting there. Then he walked back over to Johnny. "We're fixing to start a 4-8 holdem game if you don't mind starting 4 handed until we get some players."
"I'm ready to play" Johnny said then pulled out his cell phone. "Where you at, Delia?" he asked. "I'm at the truck stop in Rocker getting gas."
"Okay, sweetheart. Call me when you get to Belgrade."
to be continued....
