Let The Circle Be Unbroken
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Kid stood very still in his new three piece black suit, his long arms down in front of him, his hands resting one over the other. His blue eyes and soft smile revealed a mixture of happiness and a melancholy sadness knowing that the minister's final words brought an to an era.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Kid watched as Heyes kissed the new Mrs. Hannibal Heyes. The, as if on cue, Kid stepped forward and gave the new Mrs. Heyes a soft kiss on the cheek, then turned and stepped into his partner's open arms.
"This don't change nothing you know," Heyes whispered in his ear.
"Changes everything, but we'll adjust," Kid reminded him.
"And I still say there's no need for you to be running off like this."
"I ain't running off, and you know it. I'm just giving the two of you some time to get comfortable as a married couple. A new bride don't need the Best Man under foot day and night. That responsibility lies solely on you."
"Just don't stay away too long," Heyes replied.
Kid pulled back, stepping out of the embrace and patted his partner on the back. "Don't think you'll be missing me for a while, Heyes. You got plenty to occupy your time. I s]pect it'll be a few days before you even notice I ain't around."
"Heyes the reception line," Claire reminded him and gently tugged at his hand.
Kid sighed, that same melancholy smile returning as he watched the couple walk back down the aisle and out the front doors to form the reception line. Then he offered a bent arm to Sarah, Claire's older sister and the Maid of Honor, and together they stepped down from the alter and followed the newlyweds out the door.
The remainder of the afternoon and well into the evening was filled with music, an occasional toast, and much laughter and socialization. Kid made his way across the dance floor carefully holding a glass of champagne in each hand as he maneuvered around people dancing. When he reached the far wall, he offered a glass to Sara who was spending the reception doing her best to stay away from the limelight.
"Never seen a prettier bride than your sister there," Kid told Sara as he raised his own glass to his lips, took a sip, and felt the bubbles exploding in his mouth.
"She made the dress and the veil herself," Sarah replied.
Kid started to comment on the dress but saw a sadness in her eyes and assumed the sadness could be attributed to the fact that the younger sister had married before the eldest.
"Bet you'll make just as pretty a bride as Claire one day."
Sarah mustered a smile but made no reply. Three years older and much more plain looking than her sister, Sarah had come to accept the fact she would likely spend her life as a spinster. "You're kind Mr. Curry."
"I keep telling you to call me Jed or Kid, either one is fine. After all, I can't exactly give you the details as to just how, but we are related now. Is there such a thing as a cousin in law by marriage?"
This time Sarah uttered a spontaneous giggle. "Cousin in law or cousin outlaw?' she asked.
Kid finished his champagne and set the glass down on a nearby table. "Heyes and me ain't outlaws no more," he reminded her. "Now, Miss Sarah, would you give me the honor of this dance?"
Sarah smiled and set her own glass down on the table. "I'd be honored," she replied.
Kid took the glass from her hand and set it down, then turned to her with a smile and held his arms out for her to step into. "I promise not to step on your toes," he told her.
Kid stayed at the reception until the newlyweds climbed into the decorated surrey and headed down the road, four strings of empty tin cans trailing loudly behind them. Lom Trevers had offered his cabin for a week to the newlyweds and Kid had a morning stage to catch the next day. He told Sarah he was calling it a night and offered to take her home, but she declined saying she planned to help with the cleanup after all the guests had departed.
Kid walked the few blocks into town and stopped at the saloon for a beer, a far more substantial drink than champagne, and perhaps a little female companionship of his own. Two hours later, he stepped out of the saloon and into the street to return to the hotel. He was not so intoxicated as to stagger, but enough so that it wasn't until the driver shouted to him to get out of the way, then quickly followed up with an irate hand gesture, that Kid realized he was in the direct path of a horse drawn wagon carrying wedding guests home. He took two or three quick steps back to avoid a direct collision.
"Damn fool," the driver shouted as the wagon passed.
Kid tipped his hat to the angry driver, then continued on his way across the street, into the hotel, and up the stairs to his room.
Once in his room, the fatigue of the day as well as of the excessive amount of alcohol caught up with him and undressing included nothing more than his hat, his gun belt, and his boots before climbing into bed and falling fast asleep.
When he woke the next morning, the noon day sun was streaming in through the window and he knew he'd missed the morning stage. Kid pulled himself from the bed and pulled off the now heavily wrinkled suit jacket, unbuttoned and removed the white starched shirt, and walked over to the vanity to examine his appearance in the mirror. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and his cheeks and chin bore the shadows of a twenty-four hour beard.
Picking up the water pitcher, Kid poured lukewarm water into the washbowl and set to work on a more suitable appearance. An hour later, with the suit now hanging in the closet in hopes the wrinkles might miraculously disappear, and dressed in his usual jeans, blue shirt, and leather vest, Kid pulled on his boots, adjusted his hat on his head, and strapped on his gun belt, ready now to find a source of hot coffee.
"You missed your stage," Lom said, looking up from his desk when Kid walked into the Sheriff's office. "And you look like you've had a rough night," he added with an amused grin on his face.
"You got any coffee?" Kid asked
Lom gave a quick nod in the direction of the potbelly stove and Kid walked over and poured himself a cup and took a tentative but much anticipated sip of the steaming liquid.
"Train's a far more comfortable ride anyway," Kid muttered.
"That don't leave till nearly midnight. If you want to bring your things here, it'll save you the charge of another hotel night, being as it's one you won't be using."
"Thanks," Kid replied and continued nursing his coffee.
"You got plans for this month long vacation Heyes said you were taking?"
Kid warmed his coffee, then sat down in a chair against the wall. "Thought I might look up a couple of old friends," he said quite casually.
"You might want to stay away from any active outlaws. Wouldn't want to risk guilt by association," Lom teased.
"Now you sound like Heyes, but I got news for the both of you. I can make my own decisions," Kid replied..
"I was just joking," Lom told him.
Kid nodded. "Maybe."
Lom decided to chalk up Kid's sullen disposition to the effects of the hangover and kept himself from adding any other comment.
Kid pulled himself up from his chair and set his coffee cup on the edge of Lom's desk. "I've got a few errands to tend to but I'll drop my things off here after I check outta the hotel," Kid told him and headed back out into the street.
The bright sun did nothing to ease the throbbing in Kid's head and he pulled his hat down low to block the direct sunlight before stepping out into the street to head to the Telegraph Office. Kid then sent Clementine Hale a telegram explaining that he would be arriving in Denver later than he had planned and saw no need for her to meet him at the train station. Instead he would buy a horse and meet her at her cabin.
From the telegraph office, Kid headed to the livery and sold his horse and gear, then went back to his hotel room and packed his belongings before checking out of the hotel and carrying his saddlebags back to Lom's office for safe keeping. Kid had a quick lunch with Lom and then then spent the afternoon and evening in the saloon playing poker. By the time Kid boarded the eleven-fifteen train that night, he was tired and ready to spend the night sleeping away the miles as he headed toward Denver. But sleep did not come as easily to him as usual as his thoughts turned to his partner, and he found himself feeling a bit envious of the life Heyes had embarked upon. He wondered if that was what Sarah had been feeling at the reception and wished he had been more attentive to her.
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Late the next evening Kid knocked on the cabin door and waited for the customary greeting. He was not disappointed when Clem swung open the door and jumped into Kid's arms, kissing him repeatedly on the face and lips, a greeting Kid happily returned in full as he carried her into the cabin and kicked the door shut with his foot.
"Now put me down and let me get a look at you," Clem exclaimed. "You're still the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on."
Kid grinned. "Don't let Heyes hear you say that. He'd be jealous, you know."
"But Heyes is a married man now, so that puts him out of the running," she joked as she took his saddle bags and hung them on the coat hook by the door. "Now, come in and sit down and I'll fix you something to eat while you tell me all about the wedding."
Clem took Kid's hand and led him to the kitchen table where he sat down and watched her work in the kitchen. "It was a fine wedding. The only thing missing was you, darlin."
"I would have loved to have gone, but my father was visiting from St. Louis," she explained. "He just left this morning."
"You run a busy place here. I can stay in a hotel if need a little rest after his visit."
"I wouldn't hear of such a thing," Clem told him. "You want coffee with your sandwich?"
"If it ain't too much trouble."
"What's Heyes' wife like?"
"Her name is Claire and she's nice, real nice."
"That's all you've got to say about her?" Clem asked, bringing the coffee and sandwich to the table and setting them down in front of Kid before sitting down near him, propping her elbow on the table, and resting her chin on her open palm. "What's she look like?"
"Her hair is dark like yours and she's got green eyes and a gentle smile."
"Gentle uh?"
"And pretty," Kid added.
"I always pictured Heyes with someone on the feisty side, someone that could give him a run for his money."
Kid grinned. "I've got a feeling she can hold her own with him. She managed to get a ring on his finger."
"How long has he known her?'
"Oh, maybe a month."
"A month? That's an awful short time to decide you're going to spend the rest of your life with someone."
"I guess when you know it's the right person, why waste time?" Kid replied.
"I suppose. You ever gonna let some girl slip a ring on your finger, Kid?"
"The kind of girls that are interested in me ain't usually the marrying kind," he replied with a wink before popping the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth.
"Speaking of which, you don't mind sharing my bed tonight, do you? I haven't had a chance to tidy the guest room after Daddy left. I'll have that room ready for you tomorrow night."
Kid grinned. "It wouldn't be a proper visit without sharing your bed at least once."
Clem shrugged quite casually. "What are friends for?"
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The next morning Kid woke slowly to the smell of hot coffee on the nightstand and the gentle bounce of the mattress as Clem climbed back into bed and rolled to her side to face him.
"You sleep well?' she asked as she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Kid could taste the coffee on her lips. "Coffee tastes as good as it smells," he replied.
"Well sit yourself up cause I brought you a cup."
"Let me get dressed first," he replied and rolled to the other side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and swung his feet over the edge of the bed as he reached for his pants.
Clem got up too and walked to the armoire and opened the doors to choose something to wear. She pulled a yellow short sleeve dress with small bright blue flowers from the hanger and draped it over her arm, then walked to the dresser to gather all the necessary underthings. When she turned around, Kid was sitting on the bed next to the nightstand with his shirt still unbuttoned and a cup of coffee in his hand.
"If you're thinking of watching me dress you've got another thing coming. We're close, but we're not that close," Clem told him.
Kid grinned. "Watching a woman dress is more intimate than..."
"Yes!" she said before he could finish his sentence. "Now wait for me in the kitchen. I'll be out in a minute."
"Uh-uh. A minute," Kid grumbled as he picked up his boots with his free hand and padded out of the room.
Nearly half an hour later and on his third cup of coffee, Kid stood on the porch of the cabin, having tired of waiting in the kitchen. He turned his head slightly when he heard the screen door creek and saw Clem coming out to join him.
"Worth the wait?' she asked.
Kid set his cup down on the rail and turned around to face her. "You look lovely," he told her.
Clem walked up to him and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him good morning. He returned the kiss, then pulled back and saw her smiling up at him. Without thinking, Kid took her by her shoulders and pulled her closer, then leaned down and kissed, not in the casual, friendly manner they were both use to, but with an eagerness neither had ever expressed toward the other.
The surprised, almost stunned look on her face when he released her both shocked and embarrassed him as he had no explanation to offer.
"I'm sorry," he stammered as he took steps back to distance himself. "I had no right to do that... I'll leave if you want me to."
Clem was nearly as stunned at Kid. "I... it wasn't something I was expecting," she said, the fingers on one hand brushing lightly over her lips. "I didn't mean to give you the impression..."
"You didn't," Kid quickly interrupted. "It was all my doing and … and it was the wrong thing to do."
"Kid... Has this got to do with the wedding?" She asked, knowing just how out of character it was for Kid to do something as truly brazen as this. "Maybe a little envy?"
Kid shook his head. The fact that he had treated her so boldly, so possessively, truly shocked him and his thoughts were racing so fast he couldn't begin to understand what he had just done or why. "I'll go," he said and started for the door for his saddlebags.
Clem grabbed his arm and stopped him in his tracks right beside her. "No, I don't want you to go. If you leave now you're just going to sink an awkward wedge between us. You and Heyes are the best friends I've ever had and I don't want to loose that. I don't want to lose you," she told him.
Kid stared at the wood planks of the floor. "I am sorry, Clem," he said quietly.
"I know and I accept your apology. Now let's go inside, make some breakfast, and figure out what's troubling you."
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Clem put Kid to work frying bacon to keep him both busy and silent, though his embarrassment took care of the latter. Clem made coffee and toast and fried up some eggs and twenty minutes later they were sitting at the table, each with a plate of food and a cup of coffee in front of them.
Kid wanted nothing more than to distance himself from his long time friend, but he understood enough about women to know nothing would be resolved until Clem said it was resolved. So, he sat at the table picking at his food and feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the silence.
"Kid, why did you up and leave town right after the wedding?" she asked as she raised her coffee cup to her mouth.
"Just wanted to give the two of them some time to get comfortable with each other. I don't see how that's got anything to do with...this," he replied.
"Maybe you just want what Heyes has," she replied.
Kid bristled. "I got no feelings toward Claire other than she's nice," he said defensively.
Clem bit her lower lip, frustrated already that Kid wasn't grasping her meaning. "I'm not talking about Claire herself," Clem replied. "I'm talking about... Kid, have you ever been in love?"
Kid hated being the subject of Clem's female analytical contemplation, which he thought of as nothing more than silly, female nosiness. But avoidance of the subject would only prolong the anguish, so he slowly nodded his head. "As a matter of fact," he said without looking up from his plate.
The response surprised her as he had never spoken of any woman in such a manner. "So, what happened?' she asked softly.
"It was back when we was trying to get the amnesty. We was down in Mexico..."
"A senorita?" Clem asked with a smile,
Kid raised his eyes curiously, wondering what had brought her to that conclusion. "No, French," he replied.
"What happened to her?"
"We sent her home."
"To France?"
Again a confused looked crossed Kid's face, wondering why she kept trying to jump the gun. "New Orleans," he said with another shake of his head.
"If you were still waiting for the amnesty, that was quite a few years ago.'
Kid nodded. "Five," he replied.
"What ever happened to her?"
Kid shrugged. "Donno."
"You ever thought about finding out?"
"Clem, you're barking up the wrong tree."
"Am I? Heyes found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and where does that leave you?"
Right here talking nonsense with you, Kid thought but had the good sense not to say it out loud.
"Clem, kissing you like that might have stemmed from the wedding, I'll admit that. But that's all it was, a stupid, impulse that I didn't think through. Now, I think we can either call this discussion finished or... or I'd best be on my way. Can we put it behind us now, cause all this talking about it ain't doing nothing but pouring salt in the wound.
Clem looked at him with some concern, but knew when she was beating dead horse. "Alright," she conceded. "But if you don't figure out what caused that impulse, it's just gonna fester."
Kid dropped his fork on his plate, having lost all interest in the food. "It might fester for a woman but it don't for a man. It was stupid, but I apologized and it's over, and that's all the thought a man gives to it." he told her. "Now I'm going out to the barn to tend to the horses and clean the stalls. If you need anything, you'll know where to find me."
From that point on the subject was avoided, and Kid stayed another day and treated Clem to a high-end restaurant dinner the evening before his departure. But his last night before leaving was wrought with indecisiveness and he lay in his bed in the guest room mulling over Clem's suggestion that he go in search of Michelle Monet, the only woman he had ever loved.
Kid's original plan when he left Porterville was to visit Clem, then travel to Taos, New Mexico to visit Reverend Spencer. But now he considered a change of those plans. Kid spent the night weighing the pros and cons of traveling to New Orleans. Michelle was likely married with a new last name, making it almost impossible to find her. Could the love he felt five years ago be rekindled? Was it fair to walk back into her life without knowing his own full intentions?
By morning he had still not made a decision. In fact, it was not until he was standing in line at the ticket booth at the train station that he made the decision.
"Where to?" the Ticket Master asked...
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Porterville,Wyoming.
When Claire woke, she found herself alone in the bed but she could smell coffee brewing and bacon frying. She got up and slipped into her robe and slippers and headed into the kitchen where she saw Heyes cooking over the stove. Hearing her enter the room he turned and smiled as he wiped his hands on his apron, then reached for a cup to pour her some coffee.
"Morning, darling. Did you sleep well?" he asked.
"Very well," Claire replied and slipped into a chair at the table.
"Was the past week everything you expected?"
Heyes turned away from the stove when Claire did not reply. "Claire, is something wrong?' he asked seeing the rather complacent expression on her face.
His intuition startled her and she forced a more pleasant smile. "No, I'm just not fully awake yet," she replied.
"Well some coffee will help take care of that. I figured you'd want to get an early start back to town so we could get my things moved into yours and Sarah's house, and then you can start opening all your wedding presents."
"We can open the presents," she replied with emphasis on the word we. "And it was nice of Lom to loan us his cabin, but I will be glad to be back in my own home again...I mean our own home,' she added, correcting herself.
Heyes brought two plates of bacon and eggs and oven browned toast to the table. "I'm going to stop by the telegraph office sometime today to see if Kid has sent word about where's he's headed."
"Are you worried about him?' Claire asked.
Heyes smiled. "No, it's just that we don't stray too far from each other very often. Old habits, I guess. You and Sarah are probably the same way."
"I suppose we are," Claire replied. "And even more so since our parents passed on. The tragedy of that accident was... It was difficult to bear."
"They were driving to Cheyenne when the horse was spooked by a snake or something of that nature. Apparently Father wasn't able to gain control and the carriage rolled down a ravine."
"How long ago was that?" Heyes asked.
"Just two years."
"I knew there had been an accident, but you never told me just what it was," Heyes said. "You know, it sounds like we have a lot to learn about each other."
"I think we do," Clair said reflectively, having had the same thought several times over the course of the past week. "Like why do you refer to Jed as your partner."
Heyes sighed, knowing he should have told her of his past long before now. "Kid and I... We've done a few things outside the law. But that was a long time ago and the governor granted us both amnesty. Claire, you've never heard of Hannibal Heyes or Kid Curry?"
Claire shook her head. "Sarah and I attended a private school in Boston."
"Yeah, Kid and me went to an exclusive school in Kansas, but just for three years."
"How could you not have told me?"
"I should have, I know, and I'm sorry. I really am sorry," he said and reached across the table and took her hand in his. "It takes time," he said reassuringly. "I hear love conquers all."
She smiled. "I do love you, Heyes. I just don't know if I really know you, or if you really know me. How do we overcome that?"
This time Heyes smiled. "By telling each other everything," he replied.
After breakfast they washed the dishes and tidied up the cabin for Lom's return. Then Heyes hitched up the surrey and he and Claire headed back to Porterville. Half an hour later Heyes pulled the rented surrey up to the hitching post in front of a large, two story home on Porter Street. He helped Claire out of her seat just as Sarah emerged from the house and walked down the sidewalk to greet them. Heyes gathered Claire's travel bags and his saddlebags and followed the two women who walked arm in arm into the house.
"I have all the gifts in the parlor just waiting to be opened," Sarah told them.
"If the two of you don't mind, I think I'd like to freshen up and maybe even get a little rest before we start opening presents," Claire replied.
"I'll carry the bags upstairs if you'll show me where you want them. Then I'll take the surrey back to the livery and stop by the telegraph office to see if there's any word from Kid," Heyes suggested.
Claire smiled and nodded. "Plan to be back by four and we'll tend to the gifts," Claire said and led Heyes up the stairs.
"It's good to have you home," Sarah called to her sister as she watched Claire and Heyes climb the stairs.
"Good to be home," Claire called back down to her.
Upstairs, Heyes placed the travel bag on the foot of the bed and slung his saddlebags over a chair. "Anything you need before I go out," he asked.
Claire offered a tired smile. "No. You're more than kind, Heyes," she told him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be back by four," he promised.
Heyes climbed back into the surrey and drove it to the livery before heading to the telegraph office.
"Any telegrams for me, Tom?" he asked the operator.
"Nary a one, Heyes. Sorry."
Heyes frowned and walked back out into the street. He paused on the walk for a moment, wondering what Kid was doing. But deciding no news must be good news, he stepped off the walk and crossed the street to the Sheriff's office.
"Heyes, how was the honeymoon?" Lom asked, looking up from his desk.
"Good," Heyes replied. "Just wanted to let you know we were back and the place is yours again. "Don't suppose you've heard from Kid?"
"You're on your honeymoon and you're thinking about the Kid?" Lom asked. "I would think you'd have more interesting things on your mind than Kid Curry."
Being just a bit embarrassed, Heyes chuckled. "You're right. Kid was just a passing thought," he lied.
"Well I ain't heard of no trouble so I s'pect he's doing fine. When is he due back?"
"Not for another three weeks."
Lom laughed. "Then go home and enjoy the married life."
"Yeah, the married life," Heyes said. "I'll be seeing you, Lom."
Heyes had nearly two hours before he was due home, so he crossed the street again, and headed for the saloon for a beer and a little poker.
Four hours later, sitting in the parlor, the exclamations over yet another salt set was growing thin on Heyes' nerves and he wondered how two women who had been living in the same house most of their adult lives, could possibly be excited about the addition of totally useless items that will likely spend decades stored away in a closet. But he dutifully smiled on cue as each gift was opened.
Later that night, after he and Claire had retired to their room, Heyes sat on the edge of the bed brushing the dust from his hat while Claire sat at the vanity giving her hair the dutiful one hundred strokes of the brush. She could see Heyes' reflection in the mirror as they spoke.
"We got some lovely gifts, didn't we?' Claire asked.
"Uh? Yeah," he said absently while picking a fleck of lint from the brim of his hat.
Claire stopped brushing her hair to watch her husband in through the mirror. "Are you... disappointed?" she asked quietly, then quickly ran the brush through her hair, while keeping her eyes glued to the mirror.
The question gained his attention as he had been tempted to ask her the same. But he diverted his answer from the actual subject. "With the gifts? No, they are all quite nice and thoughtful," he replied but remained focused on his task.
Claire opened her mouth to clarify the topic, but reconsidered given the time of night. "I'll start writing the thank you notes in the morning," she told him.
"If there's any sort of repair jobs you want done around the house, I'd be happy to take care of em," Heyes offered.
"I'll ask Sarah if she knows of any."
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With a population of 102,000 New Orleans was the third largest city in the United States. It was also the wealthiest and one of the prettiest cities n all the south. After a three day trip, the train Kid had taken arrived at the Union Passenger Terminal on Canal Street late in the afternoon. After obtaining directions to the French Quarter, Kid bought a horse and gear and tossed his saddlebags behind the saddle and cinched them securely. Then he mounted the horse and traveled halfway across the city.
The French Quarter consisted of a half square mile and heavily populated streets, fine dining restaurants, exquisite hotels,theaters and music venues galore. Grand homes on tree lined streets and crowed, cramped apartments above businesses provided most of the housing and offered a stark contrast among the financial classes of the city. Sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River, the French Quarter of New Orleans was one of the busiest shipping docks in the entire country and the sailors and working class alike enjoyed rowdy bars and saloons, seedy hotels that rented rooms by the hour or the night, and burlesque joints on every corner.
Kid was familiar with the shipping docks of San Francisco and gut instinct told him Michelle would not be found in such a rough and seedy part of town. But in truth, he knew very little of her background other than her family had been in New Orleans for generations. She had never indicated that she came from wealth, so Kid decided to begin his search in the more moderate and middle class section of the French Quarter. He found his way to Royal Street where he rented a room at Hotel Montelleone in the business section of town with family owned restaurants, cobbler shops, clothing and sundries stores as well as nightclubs and bars. He took his horse to the livery, then stopped for some supper as the last of the daylight was fading. Tired from traveling, Kid then returned to his hotel room for the night.
Kid spent the next three days covering every inch of the French Quarter searching for Michelle. He came across dozens of families with the surname Monet and seven women named Michelle Monet, three of whom made a living singing in theaters or bars. But the Michelle Monet he sought was nowhere to be found.
At the end of the third day, Kid returned to the hotel where he was staying. In the lobby was a young woman no more than twenty, sitting in a chair with her hands clasped in her lap. Kid gave her a polite nod as he passed her on his way to the stairs.
"Thaddeus?"
Kid stopped and turned to see the woman's dark eyes looking up at him."Should I know you, Ma'am?" he asked, then watched her shake her head slowly and stand up to face him. "But I can tell you about Michelle."
Startled by her comment, Kid took a step closer to her and looked about the lobby for a more private spot to talk. Seeing none, he gave the dining room a glance. "Could I buy you dinner, Ma'am?"
The woman looked hesitant at first, but nodded. "Thank you," she replied.
Kid gestured toward the dining room and they crossed the lobby together. Ushered to a small table in the center of the room, Kid held the woman's chair as she sat down.
"How do you know Michelle?"
"She's my sister, six years older," the woman explained. "I'm Silvie."
Kid chose not to give his real name, not because he wanted to hide it, but because Michelle would only have used Thaddeus or perhaps Kid in reference to him.
"Where's Michelle?"
"She's gone, I'm afraid."
"Gone?"
The waiter returned to the table to take their orders, but neither had even glanced at the menus. "We need a bit more time," Kid explained and the waiter disappeared to another table.
"What do you mean, gone?"
"By the time Michelle returned from Mexico, our mother had died, leaving the two of us alone here in New Orleans. Michelle told me all about her mysterious love. I was fourteen and knew nothing of a broken heart," Silvie said, raising her dark eyes from the menu to look at the stranger sitting across from her clinging to her every word.
"About a year after she returned home, she met a young man, Jacques Dupree. He was a medical student from France studying at the University. They fell in love and when he graduated, they married. She lives in France now."
Kid's heart sank knowing he would likely never see Michelle again.
"Before she left, she told me she knew Thaddeus would one day come looking for her. By then I too, knew the pain of a broken heart. She told me to tell you that she never forgot you... and never stopped loving you."
Kid felt as forlorn and sad as he had the day he saw Michelle off on the stage to New Orleans. "Is she happy with Jacques?" he asked after a long silence.
Silvie nodded. "But she will always love you. She wanted you to know."
The waiter returned to take their orders and Kid gave Silvie a nod to order."I think just coffee and pie," she said, not wanting to make Kid sit uncomfortably through an entire meal.
"Just coffee," Kid said, having lost any appetite for food.
When Silvie had finished her pie and coffee, Kid offered to walk her home. When she declined, he walked her out of the hotel, then stood on the porch and leaned down and kissed her on her cheek.
"Thank you for finding me," he told her.
As he stood up, Silvie stepped down one step, then turned to face him as she slipped her hand into her purse. "She asked me to give you this," Silvie explained and pulled an envelope from her purse and placed it in his hand.
Kid looked at the envelope and slowly wrapped his fingers around it. "She loved you very much," Silvie said, then turned and walked down the two remaining steps to the boardwalk. Kid stood on the porch and watched her head down the street and out of sight.
Suddenly feeling very much alone, Kid slipped the envelope into his shirt pocket and sat down in one of the rocking chairs on the porch. Pulling a cigar from his pocket, he sat alone, puffing his cigar until long after the sun had set. He didn't open the letter, but instead kept it in his shirt pocket, next to his heart.
Kid woke early, eager to make his exit from New Orleans. He dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast, then returned to his room and packed his saddlebags. With all his possessions slung over his shoulder, Kid headed downstairs to the desk to check out. Next he hailed a horse drawn taxi and rode to the train station. Not having checked a schedule in advance, Kid asked for a ticket on the first north or west bound train scheduled to depart. Then he walked out to the platform and sat down on a bench for the nearly three hour wait.
Alone on the platform, Kid pulled the letter from his pocket and gently opened the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of stationary. He sighed, expecting to read the customary 'Dear John' note. But as he read, a gentle smile framed the corners of his mouth and he knew, though they had known each other for such a brief interlude, they shared an everlasting love.
When he finished the letter, Kid raised his head and looked out across the tracks to a vast and open field as his thoughts turned to what might have been. But the arrival of passengers waiting for the train, brought his thoughts back to the here and now and he carefully returned the letter to the envelope and slipped the envelope back into his pocket.
The train Kid boarded was a westbound with a final destination of Amarillo, Texas, a small but rapidly growing cattle town in the Texas Panhandle where the southern plains meet the desert. The wide main street was designed to accommodate herds of cattle being driven to slaughter houses or to trains for shipment.
It took three days to travel from New Orleans to Amarillo and the southern humidity was sweltering, even with all the windows of the train open to create a crosswind. Most of the stops were longer than usual to allow passengers time to get off the train to stretch and perhaps purchase a cool drink at an inflated price.
Kid had no reason to be in Amarillo, but he had no reason to be anywhere in particular, and Amarillo was as good a place as any to spend a few quiet days. Money was beginning to grow a little tight but, after finding a moderately priced hotel room, Kid decided to visit the telegraph office just to touch base with his partner who Kid was certain was having a far better time than he.
0-0-0-0-0
They had been back in Porterville for over a week and Heyes had not had any word from Kid. This did not worry him so much as it simply peaked his curiosity, wondering where Kid was and what he was doing, and he felt a twinge of guilt when he realized he actually envied Kid his freedom.
"You're going out again?" Claire asked when, as he had done every afternoon since their return to Porterville, Heyes announced he was walking to town.
"Why don't you come along? It's a beautiful afternoon," Heyes replied and waited for the answer he knew would be the same as yesterday and the day before that, and the day before that.
"I have things to do here," Claire replied. "Another time perhaps."
"Things too pressing to wait a day?" Heyes asked.
She looked up into his dark yet gentle eyes and a cornucopia of emotions rushed over her and at that moment Heyes saw that she was struggling as much as he was. He reached out and gently caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers and her head leaned into his touch.
"Why don't I stay here and we'll sit in the garden with a glass on lemonade, and talk," he said with a calm, soothing voice.
Claire bit the corner of her lower lip as she knew as well as Heyes where the conversation would lead, but she nodded her head. He reached down and took her hand and led her to the kitchen where he poured them each a glass of lemonade. He handed her an glass and held open the back door for her.
"What's your favorite holiday?' he asked as they sat on a bench in the gazebo.
"Easter," she told him.
Heyes smiled. "I didn't know that. Do you know my favorite holiday?"
"No," she replied quietly.
He sighed and took her hand. "Maybe we rushed into things, Claire. I know I fell head over heels in love with you and... maybe I just thought everything else would just fall into place."
"I love you too," Claire replied. "With all my heart but... I feel like I'm living with a stranger. There's so much I don't know about you, so much I don't understand about you."
Heyes put an arm about the back of her shoulders. "It's not too late to stop the train, Claire. Maybe we just need a different mode of transportation."
"See, it's things like that," she replied. "What do you mean?"
"I think we should look at... maybe grounds for an annulment. That doesn't mean an end to our relationship. It just means taking a step back and giving us both some time and freedom to get to know each other. Maybe in six months or a year from now we'll know that we are right for each other and if not...well, we'll know that, too."
"I don't want to lose you, Heyes, I just..."
Heyes smiled and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You're not going to lose me. You're never going to lose me. No matter what we decide, I will always be there for you. I love you. I married you. We'll always have a bond, a connection."
"What grounds would we have for an annulment?"
"I don't know. We'll have to talk to someone, a priest or a Justice of the Peace, maybe a lawyer. We'll go to town tomorrow and we'll see about that together."
Claire rested her head against Heyes' shoulder. "Falling in love with you was the easiest and perhaps the best thing I've ever done."
"You know, it's still a beautiful day. Would you take a walk with me to the telegraph office Mrs. Heyes?"
"I'd love to Mr. Heyes."
0-0-0-0-0
Being on the edge of the desert, Armarillo was a dry, dusty town, full of cattlemen, ranchers, and cowboys seeking jobs from both. Texas itself was a rough and rowdy territory and the sheer vastness of the open plains attracted many the outlaw eager for a fast job and an easy and quick getaway. Years ago, when Kid and Heyes spent some time in Texas and had hooked up with a man by the name of Joe Horner.
Ten years ago Joe Horner was a cattle rustler who had also robbed a bank in Comanche, Texas for which he'd been sentenced to ten years in prison. But he had broken out of jail and robbed a stage. He was convicted to another ten years in prison, but after two years, Horner broke out and was never heard of again.
Heyes and Kid had spent a few months in the company of Horner back in his cattle rustling days. They never did any cattle rustling themselves and had parted company with Horner before the robberies occurred. Heyes had spent some time with the Plummer gang before he and Kid met Horner, but neither had established a name for themselves, and in all the years that had passed, the name Joe Horner had never been even remotely connected with the names of Heyes or Curry.
Once during their amnesty years, when meeting another old friend, Artie Gorman, in Buffalo, Wyoming, they had a second encounter with Joe Horner. This time, however, Joe was using the name Frank Canton.
"Well look what the cat dragged in," a low, deep voice murmured when Kid walked into the Dry Gulch Saloon and ordered a beer at the bar.
Kid turned to his left and recognized the face of Joe Horner. "Joe! How are you?" Kid asked.
Joe moved down the bar to stand right next to Kid. "Keep your voice down. I wouldn't want anybody recognizing me as Joe Horner here in Texas. I told you before, the name's Frank Canton."
"Oh, that's right. Sorry Joe, I mean Frank," Kid replied. "So what are you doing in Texas?"
"Let's find a table where we ain't as likely to be overheard," Frank said, picking up his beer and moving across the room. Kid followed with his own beer.
"So, what are you doing here?' Kid asked as they both sat down.
"Amarillo is just a stop over for me. You won't believe this Kid, but I've got a meeting with Governor Hogg about a possible pardon for all them crimes so many years ago."
"You're talking to one of Wyoming's amnestied outlaws, Frank. Of course I believe you," Kid replied.
"So what are you doing here and why ain't Heyes with you?"
Kid grinned. "Heyes got married a few weeks ago. Him and his bride are living up in Porterville. I'm planning on stopping by there in a week or so."
"Married, well I'll be. I always thought you were the one most likely to get yourself hogtied to some woman."
"You know Heyes. He's always got to get the upper hand on things, be it poker or marriage, I guess."
"Well, I suppose a man could end up in worse straights than being married," Canton laughed. "So you two got those amnesties, uh?"
Kid nodded. "About a year ago. Took us nearly seven years to get them, what with all the politics and musical chairs with governors in Wyoming."
"Well, I'm glad you made it. I always did think the two of you were cut out for better things than outlawing.. So what are you doing?"
Kid smiled. "Still as little as possible and nothing that's too hard on the back."
"Say, if you've got time to spare, you could ride with me to Austin. That would give us a chance to really catch up on each other."
"I wish I could Frank, but my plans are taking me to New Mexico, then I'm heading back to Porterville."
"What or who is in New Mexico?" Frank asked. "Some pretty little filly waiting for you there?"
Kid laughed. "No, just an old friend I thought I stop by to say hello to."
"Well, I'm glad we ran into each other. You be sure to tell Heyes I said hello. If the governor grants me this pardon, I got a job offer in Kansas, so if you're ever in Kansas, be sure to look me up."
"We will Frank, though Heyes and me do our best to stay clear of Kansas."
"How's that?'
Kid shrugged. "Long story. I'll save it till the next time we run into you."
0-0-0-0-0
"Still no telegram from Jed?" Claire asked when Heyes stepped out of the telegraph office the morning after their discussion in the garden.
Heyes shook his head. "He should be back in another ten days so I think I shouldda heard something from him by now.."
"Do you know where he planned to go?"
"He went to Denver first, but he wasn't planning on staying there for a month. Beyond that, I don't know."
"Well surely you'll hear from him soon."
Heyes forced a smile across his worried face. "Just seems like one or the other of us always manages to get into some trouble when we split up," Heyes explained.
"Well, hopefully this time will be the exception."
"Yeah," Heyes replied, forcing himself to focus on his own situation. "It's still early. Why don't we have a nice breakfast at the hotel, then we'll go talk to the lawyer."
When Claire nodded, Heyes took her arm and escorted her across the street.
An hour later, Heyes and Claire walked into the office of Jack Richards, Atty at Law and after a brief wait, they were escorted into the office by his secretary.
"Claire," Richards exclaimed as he stood to greet them. "How nice it is to see you again and..."
"Heyes," Heyes replied and offered his hand to shake.
"Yes, yes. Lovely wedding," Richards added. "Now what is it I can do for the two of you?"
"Assist us with an annulment," Heyes told him and sat down in a chair beside Claire.
"An annulment? I'm so sorry to hear that."
"We're not," Claire said and reached for Heyes' hand. "In fact, we've never been happier."
Richard looked at them with some confusion. "You do understand that an annulment is a legal declaration that the marriage never took place?"
"That's right," Heyes replied.
"There's no dividing any property..."
"I went into the marriage with nothing, and I'm willing to go out the same way," Heyes interrupted. "Claire can even have all the wedding presents."
"Oh no, I'll return all those," Claire said pleasantly.
"Well there are just so many salt sets a person really needs," Heyes replied.
"My wife and I gave you a salt set," Richard said, still confused about their very amicable attitude.
"Well, that's one present that will be easy to return," Heyes replied.
"Claire, are you sure it is an annulment you want to seek and not a divorce?" the lawyer asked.
"Oh, quite certain," she replied.
"What grounds do you plan to use?" Richard asked.
"What grounds are there?" Heyes asked.
"Well, there's adultery."
Heyes and Claire looked at each other and both shook their heads.
"What else you got?" Heyes asked.
"Lack of consummation?"
Heyes and Claire both smiled but shook their heads. "What else?' Heyes asked again.
"Incest?"
"Nope."
"Bigamy?" Richards said and raised his eyes to see Heyes shaking his head.
"Lack of consent?"
Still both heads shook.
"Unsound mind?"
"I've been accused of that more than once, but not in this case," Heyes replied.
"Force?"
"Nope."
"Fraud or misrepresentation, and that's the final option," Richards told them.
Heyes looked at Claire and nodded. "We could go with that one," he told the lawyer.
"And who misrepresented what?' Richards asked.
"I misrepresented my past. Let's go with that. After all, we want this because, well we just think we need a little more time to... figure out what we both want," Heyes explained.
Richards looked to Claire. "Are you agreeable to that?" he asked.
"Completely," she replied.
Richards sighed but made some notes on his legal pad.
"Alright," he replied. "The Circuit Judge will be here on Friday. "I can present your petition then."
"That'll be fine," Heyes told him.
"I'll let you know what time to be in the courtroom. I'm sure the Judge will have a few questions of his own," Richards told them.
Heyes and Claire both stood and Heyes again shook the lawyer's hand. "You've been very helpful," Heyes told him. "Claire, I think this calls for a celebration. Why don't we plan on going out for dinner tonight?"
Claire giggled. "I think that would be lovely."
0-0-0-0-0
In Amarillo Kid bought a tall, sturdy chestnut gelding and took his time riding to Taos, New Mexico. He spent his nights sleeping out under the stars and the solitude served as a welcome friend, giving him time to think about the events of his journey and put things, and people into a comfortable perspective.
Kid knew once he returned to Porterville, he and Heyes would talk at length about their own partnership and just where and how that would fit into Heyes' life with Claire, and he had no doubt that the bond they shared could sustain this new arrangement. But a sadness tugged at him all the same as he looked across the campfire as he had done so many times before and he realized this time, and every time from this day forward, Heyes would not be sitting there looking back at him. "See Heyes, it changes everything," he said quietly to himself.
Taos sits in the high desert at the foot of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains adjacent to a branch of the Rio Grande River. Buildings were largely of an Adobe brick structure, but there were a few wood structured buildings that suffered in the arid heat and began to decay almost as soon as they were erected. The population was widely varied with native Indians, Mexican vaqueros, both white and black cowboys, and a large Chinese population. Relations among the various groups was often vicarious at best and brawls and gunfights were not uncommon. But surprisingly churches, primarily Catholic and a variety of Christian, were not uncommon and one church in particular was of interest to Kid.
Kid had met Reverend Spencer many years ago when the Reverend was going through a period of disillusionment that, with some help from Kid, he was able to resolve and returned to his church and his ministries. Though their paths had not crossed again, Kid had felt a bond with the young minister as both had witnessed atrocities in their lives that had greatly influenced the paths that had followed ,and the men they had become later in their lives.
Not knowing what church Spencer ministered, or even if the Reverend Spencer was still in Taos, Kid decided the local sheriff was the most likely person to ask. After checking into a hotel, Kid located the local Sheriff's Office.
"Reverend Spencer? I believe he left the ministry about three years ago," the sheriff told Kid.
"Left the ministry? Again?"
"Well maybe leaving is the wrong word. He told us why he came back to Taos. Hey, you wouldn't happen to be that man of inspiration, would you?"
"A man of inspiration?" Kid asked. "First time anyone's ever called me that. So, where's the Reverend now?"
"He's in Abilene I do believe. He opened a school and orphanage there. I think he might have even started a church there, too. Yes sir, Reverend Spencer is a man who can get things done. When he sets his mind to something, he don't let nothing stop him."
Kid smiled. "I'm glad to hear he's doing so well. If I ever get to Abilene, I'll be sure to look him up."
"If you do that, you be sure to tell him Sheriff Parker sends his regards and his appreciation. He sure helped me get my life turned around."
"I'll do that, Sheriff," Kid promised.
Heading back to the hotel, Kid stopped at the telegraph office to let Heyes know he would be heading back to Porterville by train the next day.
0-0-0-0-0
Kid stood on the stoop outside the passenger car and jumped over the steps and onto the platform before the train had come to a full stop. Eager to reunite with his partner after a month's absence, Kid's eyes searched the crowd of people waiting to board or waiting for their own reunions with travelers. He stopped and let his eyes rest on the man in the black hat with a hole in the crest who was standing at the far corner of the platform, leaning casually against the building. Kid smiled and walked quickly to where his partner was standing. Only then did he notice the brown tapestry carpetbag resting at Heyes' feet.
"Oh, it's good to see you, Heyes," Kid said and wrapped his arms about his partner's shoulders as Heyes returned the warm embrace. As they pulled apart, Kid noticed the carpetbag. "What's that?"
Heyes smiled rather mischievously. "I hate to tell you but this is a pretty short homecoming Kid. We're climbing right back on that train," Heyes replied and pulled two tickets from his pocket. "Here's you ticket."
"I don't understand. Why are we going to...St Louis?' he asked, reading the destination printed on the ticket. "And where's Claire?' he asked, suddenly looking around and feeling a bit confused.
"Claire's at home. She's fine and so am I, but I've got a long story to tell you and it might take most of the trip."
"I've got a long one for you, too. Might hafta flip a coin to see who tells their story first."
"Nothing bad, right?' Heyes asked.
Kid's hand rose to his shirt pocket where the letter remained and he gently rubbed three fingers across the pocket patch. "Nope, nothing bad, Heyes, but what about you?"
Heyes pursed his lips but slowly shook his head. "Nope, nothing bad with me either," he replied. "You know Kid, we'll be passing through Denver on our way to St. Louis. Maybe we oughtta spend a night there and say hello to Clem."
"Ah, er...I guess maybe I've got one bad thing to tell you Heyes," Kid stammered
Heyes scowled. "What did you say to Clem?" he demanded sternly and enunciating each word precisely.
"Well, it ain't so much what I said, Heyes. It's more... I'll tell you when we're on the train," Kid said and grabbed Heyes' bag to make a hasty entrance into the passenger car, with Heyes hot on his heels.
"Kid, what did you do?" Heyes demanded.
Kid stopped on the stoop with one hand on the passenger car door and turned his head back to his partner. "Well, you know how excited Clem always is to see us, and how she expresses that excitement?"
"Yes," Heyes said slowly.
"Well, I don't think she'll be doing that much anymore, at least not with me."
Heyes let his mind envision that moment and a broad smile spread across his face. "Don't worry, a little thing like that won't stop her," Heyes told his partner.
A worried expression covered Kid's face. "What do you mean and how do you know?"
"Cause I've made the same mistake. She got over it."
Kid's jaw dropped. "You what!"
"Open the door and get inside. You're holding up traffic," Heyes scolded.
"You ain't heard the end of this, Heyes," Kid exclaimed and disappeared inside the car.
Heyes took a deep breath but smiled before he followed Kid into the car. It was good having his partner back.
0-0-0-0-0
Author's Note: A thank you to Belle Dodge for providing some good leads to a question I posed on the "Wanted" FB site about a reference to time spent by the boys in Texas. A thank you also to the authors of the AS&J Bible, better known as "A Few Pretty Good Bad Men" which also provided some good historical information. And finally, a thank you to Rachel K for suggesting the idea of the letter for this this story and telling me to add to Kid's thoughts the night he slept under the stars.
