THIS IS WHAT AMNESTY FEELS LIKE
That Thursday afternoon when Jed walked in to the saloon, I could tell right away by his eyes that something was different. Something had changed. There was laughter and joy in those eyes like I'd never seen before. And when he spied me and walked right over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me into the air, well my heart just started pounding so hard I thought it was going to burst right out of me.
I'd known Jed the whole seven years he and his partner, Heyes had been vying for that amnesty. I can't say Jed was a regular, but he was regular every time he passed through town. Jed was different from all the other cowboys, every last one of em. Cause he didn't come in just to satisfy his own pleasures. All the girls who had ever known him, ever been with him said the same thing. Jed wanted the whore to be just as pleasured as he was, and he always took extra time to be sure that happened.
After the first time I had been with him, well every time he came in, he always sought me out. Once, about three years ago, after we were both spent and just laying in each other's arms, Jed told me all about the amnesty bid, and all about his outlaw days. He said he thought it was important that I knew what I was getting into because once he got amnesty, he was coming back for me.
Well, a lot of cowboys promise to take us away from this whoring life, but they don't none of them bare their heart and souls when they make that promise. But Jed did. He told me every little dirty secret he had, said he wanted me to know what I was getting into, what kind of life he wanted to make for us. I knew he weren't like all the others. I knew he meant every word he said, every promise he made.
I could see in his eyes how life weary he was and when he talked about the future, I could see how desperate and earnest he was. My heart broke for him every time he came in and had to tell me this was just a visit, that nothing had changed, that he and Heyes were still on the run.
But that wasn't the case on that Thursday afternoon. After lifting me into the air, he brought me down just far enough to be face to face, and I saw the most beautiful, joyful, carefree smile I had ever seen. And then he kissed me, not forceful, but with more passion than I had ever felt before, and I knew this was it. This was the day he'd been promising me for seven long years. This was the day I belonged to him, and him to me.
That was two years ago. Today Jed and me got a little cabin in the mountains outside of Denver. Heyes lives closer to town but just two miles away us. Our properties are adjacent and by using both properties, Jed and Heyes operate a small cattle ranch. It ain't a big operation, but they both make enough money to be comfortable.
Jed and me have a baby girl we named Margaret, after his Ma. Jed's a good Pa, gentle and patient with Margaret and me. He says sitting and watching me nourish Margaret makes his heart sing. I tell him that every inch of his being makes my heart sing.
At night we lay in that bed all intertwined and little Margaret sleeping in her cradle in the corner of the room. To this day the touch of his hand on my body, the warmth of his kisses, the gentle rhythm of his breathing that warms my neck just melts my heart...
Cause I finally know love.