"When you were working on that case and I came along for the airplane ride? I was just talking off the top of my head that day about the outer limits of science. I wasn't being serious."
"No, not that day," Bat shook his head. "That wasn't the first time we met."
"Sure it was. I had never laid eyes on you until that day we all flew to Gallup in Heather's plane." At Bat's skeptical expression, Garison assured, "That was the first time we ever met, Bat."
"Oh come on. It was a pretty good disguise—but you didn't fool me. You even told me your real name."
"What are you talking about?"
Bat laughed and said, "And using the name of a cartoon character. Of course, I hadn't heard of the cartoon at that point—"
Garison's eyes suddenly got big and he asked, "Just where do you think you first saw me?"
Bat replied innocently, "At Sul Ross, when I tried out for the baseball team. You were in disguise and calling yourself Burt Cottage for some reason; but you told me even then that your real name was Garison Fitch."
Garison's eyes had become the size of quarters and he swallowed hard. He finally managed, in a voice just above a whisper, "You shouldn't be able to remember that."
To read more about Garison, Heather, Sarah and other Samuel Ben White characters and writings (including books about Edward, Garison’s grandson)—or even ask the author a question—go to garisonfitch.com.
The Legend of Garison Fitch (Book 2): Saving Time Page 32