Dragons Teeth Crichton 2017 (WWT)

Emily’s News
“It’s no good,” she whispered to him outside on the porch of the hotel before dinner. “The Curry
boys are rattled by the Earp brothers arriving. It makes them jumpy. So they’re coming for your bones
tonight. They boasted about it.”
“They’re not going to get them,” Johnson said.
“I believe they’re in the habit of getting whatever they want.”
“Not this time.”
“What’re you going to do?”
“I’ll stand guard over them,” Johnson said, reaching for his gun.
“I wouldn’t.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“Best thing is step aside, let them have ’em.”
“I can’t do that, Emily.”
“They’re hard men.”
“I know that. But I must guard the bones.”
“They’re just bones.”
“No, they’re not.”
He saw her eyes light up. “They’re valuable, then?”
“They’re priceless. I told you.”
“Tell me really. What are they, really?”
“Emily, they really are bones. Like I told you.”
She looked disgusted. “If it was me, I wouldn’t risk my life for a bunch of old bones.”
“It’s not you, and these bones are important. They are historical bones and important to science.”
“The Curry boys don’t care a hoot for science, and they’d be happy to kill you in the bargain.”
“I know it. But I got to keep the bones.”
“Then you better get help, Bill.”
He found the famous gunfighter Wyatt Earp in the Melodeon Saloon, playing blackjack. Johnson drew
him aside.
“Mr. Earp, could I hire your services for the night?”
“I imagine so,” Earp said. “In what capacity?”
“As a guard,” Johnson said, and explained about his fossil bones, the room, and the Curry brothers.