Are my words bigger? They really look bigger! Huh! Well, I'm actually finished with my story now, but I'll upload it in pauses, okay? Anyways, read and enjoy! I will have a sequel, as well as a prequel, but you'll just have to wait to read! Hahahaa!
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At least, tried to go to sleep.

After a frustrating hour tossing and turning, trying to get to sleep, she finally threw back the blanket, rising silently from the mattress and heading upstairs as quietly as possible. When she entered the dark saloon room, she let her eyes adjust, then made her way behind the bar, finding a tall, clear bottle of whiskey, and a glass. After pouring herself a drink, she put the bottle away, and sipped at the glass thoughtfully, standing barefoot and silent by the bar, staring at the ceiling.

A sudden striking sound made her turn swiftly, nearly dropping her glass.

"Relax, lad," a familiar voice said with a chuckle, and the little red flame of the match found a candle wick, making a dim glow light up Eamon's face.

"Oh, y'scared me," she said softly, taking a deep breath and then another sip of her whiskey. He came over and sat down in front of her, resting his arms comfortably on the bar. He was somewhat slumped in his chair, but the way he arched his neck up and looked into her face, his candle-lit green eyes dancing mystically, sent a shiver of excitement through her.

"Sorry," he said, then smiled wearily. "Y'can't sleep either, huh?" She shook her head, and he motioned silently to the bottle of whiskey. She grabbed it and a cup, and sat it down in front of him. "Thanks." He poured himself some, then took a small sip, his eyes staring at the candlelight.

"So, Alex, do you have any family?"

The question surprised her, but she answered quickly. "No. Well, kinda. I had two friends in Warren, but I'm an orphan."

"Oh, sorry," he replied. "Did you ever know your parents?"

"No," she answered, inwardly puzzled why he was asking. "All of my early memories involve only my two friends. Before that, all there is is a blank wall."

"Hmm," he said softly, then went silent. Alex took another sip of her whiskey, and found it empty, so she grabbed the bottle and poured a bit more. She offered it towards Eamon, and he took it and refilled his own drink, setting it down with a quiet clink.

Alex stared into her cup, then she looked up, and blinked at Eamon, who was staring at her with an unfamiliar expression.

"You remind me of my li'l sister Mona," he said, and she saw a strange, knowing little smile on his lips. "She's a very pretty girl, with long, rich red hair that looks like rubies an' feels like satin, an' sparkly, jewel-like emerald eyes. She's very bold an' stubborn. Though our parents never liked it, she used to dress up like a boy all the time, an' at night go masqueradin' through the city, causin' all sorts of chaos." He paused, and stared at her so examiningly she felt like cringing. "Yes, you remind me of 'er very much."

Alex felt like she should say something, so she said hesitantly, "It would be nice to meet her."

There was another long silence, and she lowered her head, staring into the glass. Then she felt a large, rough, warm hand grasp her chin gently, and he raised her face so that she met his eyes. The look in them was unknown to her, but it sent a shudder of fear up her spine, and she started to pull away. Then his lips met hers, and his hand pulled her into a paralyzing kiss.

For an instant, her mind went utterly blank, and her entire body froze up, then went numb. Then, as quickly as it had started, he pulled back, and standing, he emptied his glass, then left, heading back downstairs.

She stood there, unable to move. Her thoughts came swarming back in a million pieces, striking her at once. She raised shaky fingers to her lips, which were still very warm, and she sniffed suddenly, catching that familiar scent she knew was Eamon's, that combination of dust and dirt, gunpowder, sweat, liquor, and blood, that made her heart speed up.

Then it hit her. He knew. He knew.

He knew she wasn't a boy. That's why he said that about his sister. That's why he kissed her. But how was that possible? In all the time she had been a Coyote, she hadn't been bare enough to reveal her true sex, save for when Meryl and Milly found out. She had never acted truly feminine, and had never flirted, not even with girls. Maybe that's it, she thought with a pang, taking a sharp breath. Maybe he knows 'cause I never messed around with the girls!

Whatever it was, her brain was becoming too fuddled to think about it. She finished the last bit of her whiskey, then she put the glass and bottle away, blew out the candle, and headed downstairs. Wandering through the dark, her eyes immediately travelled to where Eamon's bed resting, and she could make out a dark shape resting on it, but she hurried quickly to her own mattress, where she fell into a very restless sleep.
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"Hard work pays off in the future, but laziness pays off now."

:P Wolf