Kieran eased Branwen to a stop before the Rhodes saloon. It was as lively as a roaring fire bustling with drunk occupants and upbeat piano music at its core. He guessed one of the saloon's current drunkards was Bill Williamson, the unmistakable laughter of the veteran cowboy that poured from the vicinity was a dead giveaway. After a stagecoach robbery ended with only hay and horse feed as the reward for their troubles, Bill had retreated to Rhodes' saloon to give himself a drink or two or three. Kieran was sent by Arthur to make sure he was still alive and bring him back to camp without any more problems. Bring a drunk Bill back to camp without a single problem. Sure. Kieran sighed under the starry night sky, there was no use in stalling. Kieran tied Branwen outside the saloon, next to the brown coated Ardennes. He patted Brown Jack on the neck on his way to the saloon doors, where he nearly crashed into a drunk patron stumbling out of the saloon with a black eye and bloody nose as another man helped him down the stairs.

"I've done told you if you start nothin', there'll be nothin', but you didn't listen, Danny. Never do."

"I's won that fight, Davey. I took more punches than he did."

"Ain't how fights work, but sure."

Kieran crossed his fingers and walked into the saloon. He was greeted by the musky scent of body order of intoxicated patrons as they crowded around tables chugging drinks and stumbling around upstairs to partake in acts that would make any priest grip their cross. The bar was the center of the chaos, where a group of heavily drunk men laughed and guffawed like it was the happiest day of their lives. At the helm of the rambunctious group was Bill, drink in hand and cackling like a mad man. To say he was nervous about approaching the drunken men would be an understatement of grand proportions. Confronting a sober Bill was prone to lead to a few angry outbursts. Confronting a drunk Bill, even a happy drunk Bill, was like playing five-finger fillet blindfolded. Bill noticed him first before he could come up with a plan of attack.

"Look who's here. Hey, Kieran! Bring your ass over here!" Bill yelled over the chaos of the saloon, waving his hand in the air with a drunken smile plastered on his face. The other three men he was with looked over to him as he stood like a deer in a torch's light and waved their drinks. Kieran gathered what slim courage he had and walked over to Bill and his drinking pals. "I's just thinkin' about you. Come has yourself a drink, Mr. Duffy." Bill slurred, offering the half-empty cup in his hand where fizzing beer sloshed.

"U-um, no, thank you." He declined, stuttering. "It's late, Bill. We gotta leave."

"Leave, now? But you just got here." Bill groaned.

"That feller your daddy or somethin'?" the tall man asked, scrutinizing him with an unfocused gaze.

"This here is my boy, Kieran. He's a quiet feller, but he's real good company, and he needs a drink." Bill mushed the beer-filled cup into Kieran's lips like he was trying to give an infant thier bottle. Kieran pushed Bill's hand away and wiped his mouth with his hand.

"Bill, I'm glad you're having fun, but we really need to go." Bill either didn't care or couldn't understand what he was saying as he downed the drink in his hand and looked at Kieran with a smile. A smile that Kieran knew all too well.

"Come here, sweet boy." Kieran flinched as Bill wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him flush against his side. He was held like how a woman would be embraced by their man. Kieran's cheeks turned red. A heavy scent of alcohol wafted from Bill's breath as he spoke. "Name any drink, and I'll get it for ya, least I can do."

"I don't want nothin', Bill. Let's go." He squirmed in Bill's hold, looking around anxiously for any prying eyes that weren't from the other three laughing men at the bar. Ignoring Kieran, Bill slammed a few coins on the bar counter.

"Hey, waiter, a shot of your finest liquor." The bartender, who was cleaning a glass, looked at them with a raised eyebrow. He looked tired and annoyed by the men crowding the bar, but he wasn't going to turn down profit. He took the coins and began making Kieran's unwanted drink.

"Damn, I would've been playin' the wife if that's what it took to get free drinks. He's a keeper, little feller." The three men laughed at the short one's comment. Kieran felt the heat rise in his face.

"Come o-on, Bill, you can drink more when we get home." The shot of vodka came sliding across the bar counter to them, and Kieran snatched it before Bill could get his hands on it. He was finally able to pull free of Bill's hold, much to Bill's dismay. Kieran realized, just asking Bill to leave would be as effective as asking a stubborn mule to walk where it didn't want to go. He looked down at the shot in his hands and sighed. "Listen, Bill, if I drink this, and only this, we have to leave. Deal?"

"Oh, yeah, we's gotta deal on that." He leaned on the bar counter and watched in amusement as Kieran downed the shot in one go. Kieran tried to keep a straight face as the alcohol burned his throat and made his stomach churn in an acidic buzz. "There, let's go." He coughed as he set the glass down onto the counter.

"Fine, I'll go with ya. I'll see you fellers another day." Bill patted one of the men on the shoulder as he stumbled after an exiting Kieran. Kieran ignored the men's taunting from behind him as he helped Bill down the stairs, whose movements were clumsy and unsteady.

"You good to ride, Bill?" Kieran asked as he untied Branwen from the post.

"'Course, I can ride." Bill had difficulty untying Brown Jack's reins, and Kieran watched as Bill tried and failed to put his foot in the stirrup.

"Uh, need any help?"

"I got it." Bill's stubborn determination allowed him to finally get his foot in the stirrup and pull himself up. Kieran relaxed and mounted Branwen in one swift motion, ready to head to camp. A heavy thud and grunt startled him, and he looked to see that Bill had never made onto Brown Jack but instead fell backwards into the dirt with his hat falling over his face.

"Jesus, Bill." Kieran cursed, dismounting from Branwen and crouching down to Bill. "Are you okay, Bill?"

"I think I'm blind." Bill said with the hat still over his eyes as he made no effort to remove it or get up. Kieran picked up Bill's hat from his face, his dazed brown eyes squinting as he looked up at Kieran and smiled. "Oh, there you are, pretty boy." Kieran guessed Bill tried patting his cheek, but in his stupor, it felt more like a slap to the face. At that moment, Kieran realized that Bill wasn't gonna make it to camp in one piece. Better to stay in town than try and make sure Bill didn't get them both killed. He looked to the hotel across the street and sighed.

The cheapest room the hotel had was a single bed with a dresser and mirror. The man behind the front desk gave them weird looks while he grabbed their room key as Kieran had to constantly pry Bill's hands from his waist. The room was as the owner described it. It had a single bed with a dresser pressed against the wall and a mirror on the wall. The room was lit by a candle of the nightstand, giving it a warm and cozy feel.

"The owner said there were fresh clothes in the drawers, so we can change," Kieran said as he locked the door behind him and placed his and Bill's hats on a rack. Turning around, he saw that Bill was already laying on the bed, grinning.

"Hey, Mr. Duffy, why don't you come and bring that ass over here?" Bill slurred as he beckoned him over with a finger. Kieran's face beat red, and he quickly distracted himself by looking for the spare clothes in the dresser.

"Not r-right now, Bill. You gotta change."

"Oh, so ya want me in my birthday suit."

"I-I want you to put fresh clothes on. The clothes you got on now are all dirty."

"Sure, that's why. Ain't no shame in wantin' to see what a Williamson has to offer." Kieran reframed from rolling his eyes as he pulled out a pair of fresh clothes, not precisely Bill's size, but they would do. He looked at Bill, who had moved to sit on the edge of the bed and was unsuccessfully trying to undo the small buttons of his platted flannel.

"Goddamn buttons, I'ma kill whoever made 'em this damn small."

"Wait, Bill, let me." Kieran stopped him as Bill threatened to rip the buttons off his flannel from his excessive pulling. Bill looked all too pleased with himself as Kieran set down the clothes and started unbuttoning his flannel. Kieran ignored Bill's longing stares as he worked his buttons one by one, his fingers rubbing against Bill's chest as he did so. Bill's chest was broad and covered in curly brown hair, like a winter coat.

"Your hands are soft." Bill's comment made him blush and keep his gaze low, though staring at Bill's chest didn't cool the heat in his cheeks. Taking Bill's flannel off, he tossed it to the other side of the room and was ready to retreat before Bill stopped him, grabbing his hand. "Aren't you gonna help with my belt?" Bill's sly smile made Kieran's heart flutter in his chest. He reached down to Bill's belt regardless and unbuckled it, ignoring the bulge that was forming at the front of Bill's trousers. "Hey, Kieran, let me help you too. You's always workin'." Before Kieran could respond, Bill was already untying the neckerchief around his neck with clumsy hands, pulling Kieran closer, so he was between Bill's legs. Kieran kept his arms awkwardly to his sides as Bill slipped off his blue coat and fiddled with the buttons of his white shirt. Kieran gasped as Bill's hands strayed away from the buttons of his shirt to his bare chest. He didn't have nearly as much hair as Bill, but Bill still combed through his short hairs. His hands were warm against his skin and made his heart race as the lingering buzz of the alcohol started to fill his senses. A knock at the door made Kieran jump away from Bill and rush to the door in a panic like it would slam open at any moment.

"Hey, where—"

"Hold on, I gotta take care of this." Kieran hurriedly straightened his shirt before unlocking and opening the door just a crack. A maid stood at the other side of the door with a stack of folded towels in her outstretched hands. "Can I help you?" he asked nervously.

"I've brought the towels you asked for, sir."

"Um, We— I didn't ask for any anythin' miss."

"You didn't?" the maid looked perplexed and embarrassed as she asked herself whether it was room 34 or 35 she was supposed to go to. The door to room 37 opened, and a man poked his head out.

"We ordered the towels, Miss—No, Danny, shut up— don't worry about the confusion."

"Oh, I'm sorry, mister, didn't mean to disturb you." The maid apologized.

"It's alright, Miss, I understand," Kieran replied, internally breathing a sigh of relief.

"Have a goodnight, sir."

"You too." He shut and locked the door before the maid made it to the other room. He sighed as he walked over to the dresser leaned against it and waited for his heart to slow down. He heard Bill standing up from the bed, but he didn't react until large arms wrapped around him from behind. It was different from Bill's grip in the bar, much lighter and much softer. Too tired and slightly drunk, Kieran didn't pull away. The arm pulled him closer, and he felt Bill's chest press up against him, and his breath tickled the back of his neck.

"I still need to be gettin' these off, don't I?" Bill's voice startled him even though it was quietest he'd spoken all night. Kieran shuttered when Bill's hand traveled lower. He grabbed Bill's wrist as his fingers graze the hem of his pants, and his palm rests against his navel.

"Bill… are your hands clean?"

"I've been wearin' gloves, so 'course, they are… Well, they won't be in a minute." Bill chuckled, sliding his hand into Kieran's pants, and Kieran squealed as he felt Bill's large hand wrap around his cock. The warmth of Bill's palm on his sensitive member had him squirming underneath the touch as the pleasurable jolt rushed through his insides. "Relax, sweet boy, enjoy somethin' good." He humed into Kieran's ear as he freed Kieran's cock from his trousers, stroking it. Bill's hand was rough, and his movements were rougher. Kieran brought up a hand to cover his mouth to muffle his gasp at the faster pace. Bill sighed in contempt as he planted sloppy kisses on Kieran's shoulder. Kieran shuts his eyes and moans into his hand as he hardened in the coil of Bill's grasp, his erection dripping its delight. He shuttered when Bill ran his thumb over his leaking tip, and Bill chuckled against into the crook of his neck. "Feels good, don't it?" Kieran felt the prick of Bill's erection press up against his lower back. "Do ya want me to put it in?"

That snapped Kieran out of his lusty haze, and he turned around to face Bill, his erect cock freed from Bill's grasp. Bill's cheeks were dusted red, and his rich brown eyes had an intoxicating glare as they gaze into Kieran's own green orbs. Bill's lips were crashing into his own before he knew it. He'd seen wives give their husbands gentle caresses on the lips in a loving and kind gesture or men dipping their lovers in a waltz to connect their lips in a deep embrace as a sign of infatuation. Bill's kiss didn't feel like either of those, as he roughly claimed his mouth with his tongue and his bushy beard tickled his face, the taste of bitter beer overwhelming his tastebuds. It was Bill's own way of showing his affection, and Kieran devoured all he could without drowning. His erect member rubbed against the tented front of Bill's pants, and it made every sensation a euphoric pulse riding up his spine. Bill pulled Kieran's pants all the way down, they fell to the floor as Kieran felt Bill grip his bare thighs and lift him off the ground. He wrapped his arms around Bill's shoulders and his legs around his waist. Enraptured in their kiss, Kieran barely felt Bill walk over to the bed and drop them onto it. Kieran felt himself sink into the soft sheets and pillows with Bill above him, between his legs. Bill broke the kiss, and they both greedily breathed in the air between them, lips glistening. Kieran looked up into Bill's hazy brown eyes and saw how enamored they were with his own.

"What?" Kieran asked breathless.

"You're so purdy." Bill hummed, leaning down and kissing him on the cheek as his thumbs massaged his hips tenderly. "All of ya is purdy. Like you're voice. You never use it to call me dumb or stupid. You call me Bill Williamson, and I like ya even more for it." Bill's words sunk into Kieran's head as Bill started sucking on his neck and grinding against him. He finally relaxes under Bill's loving touch.

"Uh, Billy, i-if you brought the gel, we could do it now."

"Really?!" Bill paused his kissing and looked at him excitedly. He nodded, and Bill reached into his back pocket and pulled out a tin of hair pomade. Kieran didn't question why he'd have that on his person.

"Wait, can you put the candle out first, please." He asked and was slightly worried how Bill put the small flame out with his bare fingers, though he showed no pain. Those fingers promptly dipped themselves into the pomade tin. In the dark, Kieran let himself be devoured by Bill while he indulged himself in all that Bill had to offer.

Kieran waited outside of the hotel, the morning sun beaming above him as the town settled into a calm tranquility that opposed its chaotic night. He'd gotten the horses ready for riding while Bill took the time to get dressed while fighting off a hangover. Bill came out of the hotel in sluggish movements with his hat lowered over his eyes.

"Sun's givin' me a damn headache, don't know how you can stand it." Bill groaned.

"It'll pass soon enough. Here, drink some water in the meantime." He handed Bill a canister of water from Branwen's saddlebag, and Bill drank it in such a way that it reminded him of how he chugged beers the night prior. Bill wiped his mouth clean when he was done and adjusted his hat to look Kieran in the eyes.

"Thanks for, you know, helpin' me and all that… And for last night too, it was really good." Kieran looked away, blushing.

"N-no, problem, go on and get on your horse." Bill left for Brown Jack with a laugh. Kieran sighed in hopes that it would release the warmth that Bill had put in his cheeks.

"He must be a handful." A voice nearby said. He looked to see the man from last night helping the now bandaged man onto his horse. Kieran smiled.

"Yeah, we both have our hands full."

"Hey, Kieran, you commin' or what?"

"Commin', Bill."

With both gang menbers now on their horses, they started the long ride back to camp.