"I do not know of another way to explain this to you Mr. Dunne. There is a difference between taking advantage of one's skill or expertise and resorting to the unforgivable last resort of scoundrels - cheating. I do not cheat."
"But if you can use a trick no one else can, doesn't that mean you're cheating them? Like you said – taking advantage."
Ezra leaned back in his seat. He was tired and frustrated before this discussion began, and JD was quickly exhausting what little was left of his patience. "Are you saying that I should ignore my years of experience and wealth of knowledge every time I sit down to play cards?"
"Guess so – to make it fair."
"Would you ask Mr. Tanner to ignore everything he has learned in the past when he sets out to track a killer? Would you expect Mr. Larabee to forgo his experience with guns and his finely developed quick draw technique the next time he finds himself challenged by a miscreant?"
"Keep me outta this." Chris spoke quietly from the corner.
"Of course not – that could get them killed."
"But by your definition, are they not cheating by having an advantage over those they oppose?"
JD thought about it for a minute, while Ezra waited with his patience straining. "I guess not. But anyone who draws on Chris likely knows what they're getting into. He's got a reputation in these parts."
"Given the amount of time I have been in the community, I would hope the same claim could be made regarding my standing. I daresay there are few around the area who are unaware of my skills at the table. And those who may be new can find what information they need simply by investigating the opposition before taking a place in the game. Certainly that is a precaution I always take. Failing the opportunity to do so, playing a hand or two should provided them with the evidence they need concerning my abilities. I have never sought to, as Mr. Jackson prefers to describe it, 'clean anyone out' on the first few hands of a challenge. If other players elect to continue after taking the time to fully ascertain exactly what I am capable of, I see no reason I should refrain from playing to the best of my ability and reap the benefits, as I would expect them to do."
He stopped the apparently casual shuffling he'd been doing and distributed 4 hands to the empty chairs around him, along with one for the dealer. "While I would decidedly not be pleased by the occurrence, I would accept my loss to anyone who can match, or more accurately, surpass my skills." He stood and walked to the bar to refresh his drink.
"Turn 'em over kid." JD reached to the pile next to him and flipped the cards. "Three 6's. Not a bad hand." The next two had nothing useful, but the fourth offered two pair – Jacks and eights.
"And Ezra's?" Buck prompted. JD reached for the cards, smiling as he laid them down.
"Four aces. And he says he doesn't cheat." Nathan snorted.
"You ever see him deal that hand when he's playing for real?"
"Course not, it would be suicide. All that proved is that he can." JD answered.
"You don't get it boys." Buck sighed. "That wasn't cheating. That was skill. Anybody who is that good – that confident, well he just plain out doesn't need to cheat."
JD gazed with admiration as Ezra tossed back his drink, then head out of the saloon, knowing he was being watched but acting otherwise.
M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7
The end