"We'd like two rooms with an inside adjoining door," Kid said as he and Jessie stood at the hotel desk while Kid got them registered. "And we'd each like a bath delivered. Would there be a woman available to assist my...fiancé with her bath?" Kid asked. "I'm willing to pay extra for the assistance for her."

"Of course, Sir. Is there anything else you would like?"

"Could you have the baths delivered in about n hour?"

"Yes, Sir. Of course we can."

Kid swiveled the registry book around and signed his name. "I'll be signing for the lady too," he explained as the clerk handed him the three keys.

"Rooms 207 and 208, Sir."

Kid already had his saddle bags slung over his shoulder but he bent down and picked up Jessie's bags, then wrapped a hand about her upper arm and lead her to the stairs. He stopped for a moment and counted the stairs.

"There's eleven stairs to the top landing," he said as he released his hand from her arm and guided her hand to the rail.

Jessie nodded and with her free hand, gathered her skirts before climbing the stairs. Once she was at the top of the stairs, she waited for Kid who was a couple of stairs behind her. Taking her arm again, Kid led her down the hall to room 208 and unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"I'm coming in just long enough to tell you where things are," he explained. "Then you'll have some time to...do whatever it is a woman does in preparation for a bath. I'll lock your door and leave the key in the lock so you can let the staff in to deliver the bath and the lady to help with whatever you need. Once the lady comes in, you might want to have her lock the door again, just so nobody accidentally walks in on you."

Jessie smiled at how careful and attentive Jed was. "You'll be using the connecting door, will you?" she asked teasingly.

"Just for now," Kid said in all seriousness. "Once we're back from dinner, I'll give you the key to control when the door is locked or unlocked."

"Of course. Wouldn't want any unsavory characters sneaking in."

Kid stifled a grin. "You're making fun of me, ain't you?"

She raised her head in the direction of his voice. "Never," she said. "I think you're being very gallant."

"Can't say I know what that means, but unless you tell me otherwise, I'll take it as a compliment."

"Exactly how it is intended," she replied.

"Well Miss Daniels," Kid began, using a very formal but mocked tone. "the bed is directly to your right. At the foot of the bed, also to your right is the door that adjoins the two rooms. Straight ahead from where you're standing right now is the dresser. To the right of the dresser is a window with a lace curtain. You don't want to be standing in front of that when you're changing clothes, cause it looks out onto the street."

"You're forgetting I don't use the oil lamps," she replied.

Kid smiled. "You're right, I did forget... I'll put your bags on the foot of your bed. After your bath when you're all...ready, you just knock on the adjoining door and we'll go downstairs for supper."

0-0-0-0-0-

An hour later Kid sat soaking in copper tub of hot, soapy water, smoking a cigar and relaxing in the simple luxury. He could hear a lot of muffled conversation coming from the adjacent room, as well as an occasional giggle or outright laugh and was pleased that Jessie sounded like she was enjoying her bath as much as he was enjoying his. He leaned his head back against the back of the tub and closed his eyes, letting his imagination wander.

Once the water began to cool, Kid climbed out of the tub and dried himself off before pulling on a pair of long johns and pants. Walking over to the dresser, Kid adjusted the mirror and set about the process of shaving. Once that was done, he slipped into his Henly and put on a clean, blue shirt. Walking over to the bed to put on his socks and boots, Kid noticed the adjoining room had become quiet. Again he smiled, letting his imagination wander to what was going on behind the door.

But when he realized his imagination was beginning to have some effect on him, Kid shook away the thoughts and focused his attention to putting on his socks and boots. Realizing he most likely had some time on his hands, and knowing it would be best to keep himself occupied, Kid dug into his saddle bags for his gun oil and cleaning cloths and sat down at the table to clean his gun.

A good forty-five minutes later there was a knock on the door that adjoined the two rooms. Having just finished cleaning his gun, Kid stood and slipped the gun into his holster, then crossed the room and opened the door. Jessie stood smiling, a warm glow in her cheeks.

"That was wonderful," she exclaimed. "I felt like a queen with my own private Lady in Waiting"

Kid had no idea what a Lady in Waiting was, other than the fact that it was something that brought Jessie a sense of sheer joy.

"I could hear the two of you giggling like a couple of schoolgirls. I always thought I knew how to enjoy a bath, but you sounded downright giddy."

"Well, I hate to tell you, Jed, but I could get use to staying in hotels," she teased.

"I hope all that giggling built up an appetite, cause I could eat a horse. Is your outside door locked?"

"Yes, and the key is right here in my pocket."

"Well then, Your Highness, shall we go downstairs to dinner?"

"Ah, my night in shining armor," she replied, slipping her arm through his. "Lead on, oh gallant one."

Kid laughed. He loved seeing her so happy and excited.

They ate dinner in the hotel dining room and enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner. After dinner they took a stroll about town before returning to the hotel. Kid walked her to her room and waited for her to hand him her key. Then he opened the door for her and followed her inside. He reached into his pocket and handed her the key to the adjoining door.

"I'll go into my room through that door and you be sure to lock it behind me."

"You mean I can't trust you?"

Kid didn't smile, knowing his answer might betray a bit of truth to her question. Instead of answering her, he leaned down and kissed her and she immediately sensed a change in him, a change that didn't scare her, but rather spoke to her. As he started to pull away, she pushed herself up on her toes and pulled him toward her again, responding to the unspoken.

Pulling gently back a second time, Kid understood the open invitation, and in another place, another time, he might have shown no hesitation. But this was the woman he intended to marry and his sense of honor kept him from succumbing to desire.

"Jessie," he whispered. "Not yet."

Jessie slowly dropped back down on her feet and she found herself feeling breathless. She bit her lower lip and slowly dropped her head. Then just as slowly, she walked him to the door.

"Lock it behind me," he whispered. "For both our sake."

Alone in his room, Jed undressed and climbed into bed. Unbeknownst to the other, neither slept for several hours as they both thought about what had transpired between them and of the possible consequences had they chosen to act on those feelings. Jed was not concerned about the most obvious of potential consequences. He wanted a child with Jessie. In fact he wanted several children with Jessie. But the depth of love he felt for her would simply not let him risk her reputation and the job she loved simply to satisfy his own desires.

Behind the closed door, Jessie too considered the possible repercussions. But she found herself considering a change of occupation, from that of teacher, to that of wife and mother.

Kid lay in the dark stillness of his room staring at the closed door separating him from the woman he loved. Over an hour after he had gone to bed, Kid heard the click of the lock. He rolled over to face the wall, wondering how they could ever possibly reach a resolution.