Wyatt chuckled, laying down what remained of his hand. Maximus had bested him this round, but it made no real difference to him. Win or lose, Wyatt was enjoying himself.

And the company.

Maximus, Wyatt had decided over the course, was a man enough after his own. He won as easily as he lost and was prone neither to gloating nor fits a'bitterness.

He was steady sort.

A might reserved - Wyatt even might go so far as stiff - but not unkind.

And he held his liquor well. Which was always a plus.

"We'll have to see 'bout findin' ya some," he said as he scooped up the cards and began tapping them back into a neat stack. "Then ya can teach me one'a yer games."

Yeah, Wyatt reckoned that he rather liked him.