Chavez's Spirit 11

I got dressed in a skirt and a white shirt that morning, Charlie sat in the chair in my room when I came back from washing my hands, he was sitting there nervous, like he didn't know what to do, I sat down in the chair across from him and handed him a cup of coffee "What is it Charlie? What do you need?"

He didn't look at me "Charlie you came in here to talk to me remember? Tell me what is going on?"

"I am…scared."

I wasn't too awfully surprised "what are you afraid of Charlie?"

"I am worried about living, Billy is going to get us killed if we keep this up anymore, John Kinney will get us for sure, and I have a life that I want to live, It isn't like you and Chavez who have been in love with each other since the first…"

"Wait, wait, wait…Charlie, Chavez and I haven't been..."

"Yes you have, everyone sees it."

"Charlie…" I had to sit back and think about what we were really talking about here "In any case, you said…"

"I want to fall in love will a cute little girl, I want a family, a life, not to run around all the time with a kid that gets enjoyment off of killing people."

"Listen to me Charlie, I understand what you're saying, you want a chance…I do to but we can't get that kind of life here, that is why we are going to Mexico, We can't have a chance to be free anymore, not here, we will be hunted down."

Charlie looked at me "But you still have Chavez."

That hit me like a stake through my heart "Charlie, you have someone, Chavez and I have known each other all of our lives, some say it was expected, though we didn't believe it, I will tell you what…I saw a pretty little Mexican girl when we rode into town, and she was looking at you."

I happen to glance out the window, I was technically lying to Charlie because I never saw her before "And it just so happens that the little Mexican gal is walking by the window, go over and talk to her."

Charlie looked at me and stood up to look at her out the window "Thanks Catori, you're a real pal."

"I thought so, now get out of here."

Charlie got up and left leaving the door open, Chavez looked at him as he past "What was that all about?"

I looked up at him smiling "Lets just say I was helping him out."

He smirked and handed me a cup of coffee kissing me on the lips and I kissed him back "I have a question…"

"What?" he asked

"Did everyone think that you and I would be together?"

"Well our grandmothers said so, and we didn't believe them, what do you think?"

I looked at him for a moment "That isn't what I meant, I mean when I was talking to Charlie he was saying something about us being in love with each other since we came to John's, you think that was true?"

Chavez looked at my eyes for a moment "Maybe they all saw something we didn't see, I know that our families saw it."

"Yeah but I don't think that counts, they are insane."

He snickered at me "I think we were just waiting for you, we are going to discuss what to do next."

"I thought Doc said he wanted to ride to Old Mexico."

"He does, Billy talked him out of it."

I sighed "That kid has some major problems; I can't do this shit anymore."

He touched my hair "I know, I can't either."

We walked out of the room and over to the horses where Billy, Doc, and Steve were waiting, they turned and looked at me, Billy had a big smile on his face "Well looks like the two lovers got out of bed today."

I glared at him and Chavez stepped next to me "Enough Chivato."

I rolled my eyes at them both "Anyway, that isn't the reason why we are gathered in front of the horses, what are we going to do?"

"Well we are going to go to Old Mexico…after we spend a couple of days here."

"A couple days?"

"Yeah, I want to spend a couple days writing the president a letter, the governor and some others, then as soon as those are sent then we can take off."

I took a deep exhale "Okay Billy, you want the presidents attention, go and get the presidents attention, I am going to relax."

"Hey I thought you would be happy being with Chavez for a while, it give you two time, alone." He had a smirk on his face when he said it.

I looked up at Chavez who kept a glare on Billy, they were all hacking on us both but I wasn't going to play, instead I took Chavez's hand and drug him back toward my door "Come on."

He smiled at me and kissed me on the lips "What are you doing?"

"Not playing there game, or at most playing at my own rules."

He took the side of my neck with the palms of his hands and looked into my eyes before kissing me again, this time it was a deep kiss, he pulled me close to him and I fallowed through, he backed me up until I hit the edge of the bed when he let go, his forehead touched mine and he looked into my eyes "You know a love like this can be dangerous." He stated

"Yes, I know, but it doesn't matter, and I don't care, it is meant to be."

An hour later I was walking the markets looking for some food for the night, Charlie was with the Mexican gal that I pointed to that morning, and to be honest it was sweet. They were sitting together on a brick wall as he draped his coat over her shoulders, causing me to smile even wider 'Just like that huh?'

When I grabbed everything and started to walk back to my room I heard people in the wash house "…You may come down to Juarez for I am unarmed…"

'Oh thank God Billy said something.' I said sighing with relief. I looked at the sky "Thank you, thank you." I whispered.

"Who are you thanking?"

I whipped around and held a finger to my lips "Billy is writing a letter to President Hayes saying that he is giving himself up."

Chavez stood next to me "If short Mr. President…I surrender."

Chavez grabbed me around the waist and spun me around kissing me on the face and on the lips, then right as we thought we were hope free Billy had to open his big mouth "P.S. I changed my mind…Kiss my ass."

That caused both of us to stop and Chavez put me down "I should have known he wouldn't give up two easily." I said sighing.

Behind me I heard running of cowboy boots and yelling "Guys!"

I looked past Chavez and at Steve "What? Steve what is going on?"

"Charlie…he's" He was trying to catch his breath, and I could see he was having a hard time 'I told you to quite chewing when ya had the chance you dumb butt!"

"Steve, just slow down and breathe…what about Charlie?" I asked taking his shoulders.

Steve finally let out a breath and got his bearings back "Charlie's…getting….married."

I looked at Chavez who had a smile on his face "Our Charlie?"

"Yeah are Charlie! Who else?"

He bolted into the bath house and yelled at Doc and Billy the sudden good news that Charlie was in fact engaged; Chavez looked at me with a suspicious face "Is that what you did?"

I gave him a shifty eyed glance "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No of course not." He said smiling "I am proud of you."

The night had fallen and Charlie was with his new bride, she was beautiful in a white dress and veil. I watched as Billy was with a little boy that had found some admiration, Doc sat reading a book, Steve was dancing with a little old woman, stopping every so often so that he could spit out his tobacco, and finally Chavez was dancing with a little girl in his arms, it caused me to smile with joy watching them. He set the little girl down after the song and caught eye contact with me 'oh no.'

"Come on Catori, how many times do we get like this?"

I smirked "Not too many."

I stood up and walked over to him, wrapping one arm on his shoulder and the other in his hand, he wrapped his arm around my waist, he pulled me close t him and kissed the side of my forehead I smiled at him "Your quite the charmer when you want to be."

"I am a lot better than the rest of these boys even Doc."

"Don't get to cocky the night isn't over yet."

He looked at me with a smile I haven't seen him with in years, before our families died he had that smile, now it seemed he was healed.

The sudden crack of a gun across the night sky caused us to stop and the dreaded words I didn't want to hear again "Regulators…mount up."

Chavez and I exchanged glances, I didn't release him instead I fallowed behind him to the front of the line "What is going on?"

"Alex and his wife are in trouble, Catori, just stay here and stay with Charlie's wife." Billy said.

"What? No I am not staying here!"

Chavez looked at me "This time I want you to listen to what Billy says, and stay here."

"No Chavez…I am a regulator I belong with you guys…with you."

"The reason you belong with me is the reason I don't want you to go Chiquita."

Tears were going to start streaming down my face, and for Charlie's new bride they were already pouring "Charlie why don't you stay too, you're a family man now, plus your wife is crying and she is giving me a head ache."

I watched Chavez as he jumped on his horse, I walked over and touched his knee "Tehila it A."

He bent down and kissed me his forehead touching mine "I love you too." He sat up straight "I will come back, I promise."

Charlie jumped on his horse "It aint easy having pals."