FIONA - Chapter Two

Heyes pushed his hat back and whistled, "Would ya look at that" A broad smile spread across his face as he pushed the newspaper across the table to Kid.

"What am I looking at?"

Heyes tapped a finger on the article.

Kid pulled the newspaper closer and quickly read the story. His brow knit with concentration, then he peered closer at the grainy picture that accompanied it.

He slowly let the paper fall from his fingers as he looked at Heyes in disbelief.

"Fiona?!"

"Must have been that life changing encounter…"

Kid snorted and rolled his eyes.

"And might I add a very more mature looking Fiona. Ya did notice the name of her new establishment?...It's Joshua's"

"It doesn't look like you steered her down the path of righteousness far enough…"

The article was about a new drinking and entertainment establishment that was opening later in the week in a new mining town in Colorado. The picture showed a sharply dressed older looking Fiona adorned with a bejeweled eye patch. One of her laced shoes was set firmly on the first step of the newly constructed business, her arms crossed across her bent knee staring into the camera with the slightest smile curling the corner of her mouth. Although she had obviously tried, there was no containing her hair that refused to stay tied back or contained under her wide brimmed hat.

"How long has it been Heyes?"

"Well,..." Heyes stroked his chin and ran a quick tongue across his lips as he concentrated, "It was right before we got our amnesty...so at least five years ago."

"Looks like Miss Fiona has been pretty busy in those five years. Don't ya wonder how she got from that convent we dropped her off at to this?" Kid said, nodding his head towards the paper.

"Maybe we should ask her?" Heyes said with a smile.

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It seemed as if everyone in the territory was crowded into the new business. People that couldn't squeeze in, milled about the front or peered through the windows waiting for their opportunity to join the folks inside. Girls sashayed outside carrying free drinks to people who waited outside, hoping the drink would soothe any impatience. One girl with a sweet smile handed a beer to each Heyes and Kid. Both men thanked her and touched the brims of their hats. The girl gave Kid an extra long look and a bigger smile before she turned away. Heyes looked at Kid who only smiled and shrugged.

"Friendly place." Kid said as he took a deep drink of his beer.

They were on their third free beer before the crowd thinned so they could make their way inside. They hadn't gotten five feet in the door, when above the noise of the crowd a voice yelled:

"JOSH-U-A"! Fiona screamed with joy as she stood precariously on a chair. A man caught her as she jumped down and worked her way rapidly through the people.

Heyes quickly handed off his beer before Fiona leapt into his arms and quickly found his lips in a long passionate kiss.

She broke the kiss off and took a deep breath. "Joshua! I can't tell you how good it is to see you! You too, Thaddeus" she added with a smile.

"Sweetheart, how in the hell did ya know it was me?"

Other parts of Fiona had "matured"...but her height wasn't one of them. She was still a very petite woman and Heyes would have thought impossible for her to see them over the other people crowded in the bar.

"Your hatband."

Kid handed Heyes' beer back to him.

"Come on boys. Let's go where it's quieter. We got some catching up to do." Fiona said as she slipped her hand into both men's and hurried them through the crowd as they struggled not to spill their beers on the other patrons.

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Fiona waved them to their seats. Both men looked around the lavish living quarters before taking a seat.

"So how's my favorite one-eyed girl?"

"And how many one-eyed gals do you know Joshua? I'm guessing one."

"You've changed." Heyes said, struggling to keep his vision high without dropping his eyes to her breasts that threatened to fall out of her dress. He glanced at Kid who had his head propped on one arm, staring shamelessly at her chest. Heyes made a face and shook his head, then turned his attention back to Fiona.

"Matured? Is that what you meant?" She said with a teasing smile. Heyes felt his cheeks redden.

"Appears like Thaddeus thinks so." She said with a laugh.

"Sorry Fiona." Kid apologized. "But I figured if a woman puts them out on display it would be rude of me not to appreciate the view."

Fiona laughed, "Well then I appreciate your appreciation."

"I think you boys have changed too. Appears shortly after we parted company your names changed to Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry. Didn't know I had just laid such a dangerous wanted ..." Her tone changed as her voice softened, "...wonderful, gentle man, who showed me how to be strong. And whose kindness…" She placed a gentle hand on his cheek, "led me to this."

Heyes returned Fiona's smile. "So…" Heyes said looking around, "How did you get from a convent to here?"

"Well...first off...not trying to appear ungrateful and it was a roof over my head...Living in a convent wasn't for me. Them nuns were kind and all, but it was like someone showing me how to fly," She gave Heyes another warm smile, "Then chopping my wings off. The day I decided to leave, a man came to the convent. He was looking for some help...called it "domestic help."

Heyes and Kid raised their eyebrows.

"I know...I know...figured it was just a fancy term for wanting a slave and a whore. So I told no as fast as I could get the word out of my mouth. Would have said hell no, but being in a convent and all… He asked me to hear him out and if I still wanted to say no, he'd understand. First off ya got to understand, Charles...his name was Charles had some difficulties. Didn't come out of the war whole, if you get my meaning and half his face looked like someone tried to fry it in a hot skillet. So being that I understood about not being perfect, I thought I'd give him a chance...and if things didn't work out…" Fiona laid her hand on Heyes "...you taught me how to leave." She added with a smile.

"So is Charles here…"

Fiona's face transformed into genuine sadness. She sadly shook her head. "No, Charles passed...going on two years. Broke my heart...not that we were romantic or anything but he was such a kind caring man like you. And numbers...and business he just had a God given knack. Taught me everything I know except that...that was my lesson from you," she said, as she selected a hardboiled egg from a bowl, cracked it on the table and held it out to Heyes.

Heyes laughed and took it from her hand. Kid looked from Fiona to Heyes with a bewildered look on his face.

As Heyes and Kid carefully peeled the shell off their eggs, Heyes asked, "Still don't explain the money to build this place."

"I'm getting there...Don't remember you being so...well impatient Joshua."

Heyes laughed and waved a hand for her to continue.

"So Charles and I did right well with our bookkeeping. Charles made money helping new businesses get started and finding money for them...even loaned some of his...or our money. We was in this together. Being a new town we had plenty of work.

I never knew it, but Charles came from money. You'd never have known it. A very simple man, with little needs. I don't think he was ever happy but I would say we made each other content and comfortable. He took ill a winter or two ago and never recovered. By that spring he knew he wasn't going to see summer.," Fiona brushed a tear away, "And he was right. Left everything to me as he had no kin." She sniffed loudly and with a forced smile said, "So here I am."

"I'm kind of surprised you'd get into this kind of business?" Kid said.

"And what kind of business is that Mr. Jones?" She questioned Kid with a smile as she leaned close.

"A whore-."

Fiona quickly cut him off. "We are not a whorehouse. If people want to do their whoring they are free to go down to the south end of town. What makes you think that I run a house of ill-repute?"

"Well the girls seem awfully...friendly."

"My girls are free to do whatever they like in their free time. I would think with both of you being so easy on the eyes that some ladies would be glad to get better acquainted for free."

"Well...yeah…" Kid stammered.

"I wanted to have an establishment where a man could relax, drink, play cards, dance with a pretty woman...just forget their lives for a brief moment. It may work and it may not. Never know what the future holds. One day a cowboy could come walking into their lives and completely change it…" Fiona looked deep into Heyes' brown eyes, "...forever."

Fiona could feel her heart start to pound faster. The room was beginning to become warm as she continued to look into Heyes' eyes. She slid her hand across the table towards his. His smile widened as his dimples deepened.

Kid shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He pushed away from the table and made his way to the door. With one hand on the knob he turned, "Guess I'll…" When neither turned to acknowledge him or respond, Kid opened the door and left. His eyes searched the saloon for the girl that had given him that extra smile and look. He started to take a step towards the bar when he felt an arm slip under his.

"Got some time?"

Kid looked towards the closed door.

"Plenty," He said with a smile.

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Fiona took Heyes by the hand, "No candles."

"No candles," Heyes agreed with a smile."But…" Heyes reached up and gently removed her eye patch before wrapping his hand in her hair and pulling her close.

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