There was almost an awkwardness between them the next morning as they ate breakfast, then loaded the wagon and started on their way. They spoke of trivial matters, but long lapses of silence interrupted what little conversation they shared as the wagon moved southward toward Wyoming.
"Jed, I'm sorry about last night. It must have been the wine," Jessie finally said, unable to bare the tensions any longer.
"Well, now that you've offered an explanation, think we ought to talk about this honestly?" Kid asked.
Jessie couldn't help but smile at Jed's straightforwardness. "You aren't one to beat around the bush, are you?"
"Nope. The fact of the matter is Jessie, it took every bit of strength I had in me not to lay with you last night. I think the time has come to make some decisions."
"I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it, about us... I want to lay with you, Jed. With all my heart, I want to lay with you."
Kid wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Well, now that we know how each of us feels, we've got to figure out what to do about it. I don't want to be responsible for taking you away from your job, or causing you to lose your job. I want the time to be right. I want us to be wanting the same things...I'm just not sure how long I can wait for that to happen."
"Jed, I told you I didn't sleep last night. I laid awake thinking about us, about everything till the sun came up... I know now we do want the same things, Jed. I want to be your wife. I want to bare your children."
Kid pulled her close to him. "You're sure? You're absolutely sure?"
"I'm sure. I'll tell the School Board when we get back."
Kid kissed the top of her head and pulled the wagon to a stop. He turned to her and kissed her, a kiss filled with more love and tenderness than she had ever known.
"I can wait now that I know there really is a future for us."
"I don't want to wait, Jed. You're a part of me and I want to feel that every bit as much as knowing it."
"Jessie, how about when we get to Porterville, we get married? Lom can marry us. Heyes can be the best man. I'm sure they know someone that can stand in as Maid of Honor."
"Yes," Jessie said.
"Oh, darlin, I love you."
"Jed... It's five more days till we get to Porterville."
"Jessie, you spent a lot of years off at a Boarding School, right?"
"Uh-uh."
"So, did your Ma ever talk to you about...your wedding night?"
Jessie blushed. "I know what goes on, Jed, if that's what you're asking."
"That ain't exactly what I'm asking, darlin. Anybody familiar with a barnyard knows what goes on. It's more...what a woman...feels on her wedding night, especially if she's the kind of woman you are."
"What do you mean the kind of woman I am?"
"Pure...Untouched."
"You mean not like one of them saloon girls?"
"The first time, darlin...well most women are a bit nervous. It's...it's not like something you've ever experienced before."
"Like when you kissed me on that picnic?"
Kid smiled. "Sort of along those lines... but...different."
"So why would waiting till we get to Porterville make a difference?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe there would be a woman who could...explain things to you. I swear Jessie, our wedding night will be a lot more enjoyable for the both of us, if you know what to expect."
"Now you're making me nervous, Jed."
"I don't want to make you nervous, Jessie. It's just that... well not being able to see me, not seeing the love in my eyes, not knowing... the touch of my hand until it's upon you...That sort of thing. Having a woman, a married woman explain those things...well I think you'd be glad that she did."
Jessie snuggled up against Kid's arm. "Alright. I want that night to be perfect Jed, for both of us. So, I'll talk to someone."
"I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to marrying you, and spending the rest of my life with you, Jessie."
"And having lots of babies, Jed."
Jed smiled and laughed at the same time. "Lots of babies," he said.
0-0-0-0-0-
When they reached the town of Broadus, Kid sent Heyes a telegram telling him they were about to enter Wyoming. With Jessie's permission, Kid also told Heyes that he and Jessie planned to be married in Porterville. Without Jessie's knowledge, Kid also asked Heyes to find a suitable woman to have 'the wedding night' talk with Jessie.
In order to make the most of their time and reach Porterville as quickly as possible, Jessie suggested they camp out all the rest of the nights until they got to their destination. This way they could travel a little longer each day and start out a little earlier each morning. Kid was agreeable, but for reasons he did not share with Jessie, namely, sleeping with a mountain chill in the air, and secondly having the responsibility of keeping them safe, thus diverting his thoughts to the more practical matters of the day, and night.
Having had the intimate conversation a few days ago, tensions were gone and Kid and Jessie were back to being very comfortable with each other again, so the time passed quickly as they chatted and Jessie told Kid all her plans for the wedding, the flowers she wanted to carry, the dress she hoped to find off the rack in one of the dress shops, the cake she hoped a local baker could make, and a hundred other smaller details.
Kid listened mostly without comment other than an occasional, 'yes, darlin,' or 'that sounds wonderful.' Despite never having been a groom before, Kid was fairly wise to the ways of a woman when she had her mind set on something specific, and he knew batter than to try to dissuade or argue with her.
"The only thing on Kid's mind was the purchase of a ring. He didn't care about having a ring himself, but he knew a ring was important to a woman and he intended to find the most beautiful wedding ring Porterville had to offer.
They arrived in Porterville early Friday afternoon and stopped first at the Sheriff's Office. Kid had asked Jessie if she would mind staying with Lom for a few minutes so he could have a chance to greet Heyes alone. Knowing how close the two were, rather are, Jessie was more than agreeable.
Kid walked into the bank and spied Heyes at his desk, his nose buried in a ledger. Kid walked up the the desk and loudly cleared his voice. Heyes looked up from his work and his entire face lit up in a smile. He got up and almost jumped over the desk, and wrapped his arms around Kid. Both men hugged and slapped each other's backs and uttered exclamations of greetings so loud that people actually turned to gawk at them.
"I'm gonna need you to help me pick out a ring, Heyes. It has to be the perfect ring."
"Wouldn't expect anything less out of you, Kid. We'll go ring shopping in the morning."
"Jessie's gonna be dragging me around to dress shops and bakers and all sorts of girly things, but I'll tell her you and me need at least an hour just to ourselves."
"Kid, you are not going to believe who is in town," Heyes exclaimed.
Deep furls formed on Kid's brow. "Clitterhouse?" he asked.
Heyes looked absolutely confused by Kid's response. "Clitterhouse? No! Why would you guess him?"
"Just thinking of the worst possible person to be present for my wedding," Kid replied.
"Okay, so now think the best possible person."
It was Kid's turn to look perplexed. "Clementine?"
"Clem is the best person you can think of to be in town for your wedding?"
"Just save me the suspense, Heyes. Who is it?"
"Birdie Pickett," Heyes said with a proud smile.
"Who?" Kid asked.
"You remember that sweet little old lady that gave you that flier about amnesty when we was robbing that train?"
"The robbery where you made us run off with the safe?"
"Yeah," Heyes said, a little less proudly.
"What's she doing in town? She said she was from Boston."
"She is, but apparently she's got a lot of family out here in the west, including a nephew right here in Porterville."
"Why is she the best person to be here?"
"Because she is willing to have that wedding night chat with Jessie."
Kid smiled. "You know, Heyes, that is a great idea. Who better than that sweet little old lady?"
"Where is Jessie?" Heyes asked.
"I left her with Lom. I told her I wanted to surprise you myself."
Heyes smiled. "I'm glad you did, Kid.
"Jessie and me are getting rooms at the hotel. I figured she might feel a bit awkward staying at Lom's. Besides, with all the shopping she's talking about doing, being in town is probably for the best."
"Birdie said she could have that chat with Jessie at one tomorrow. We'll have Lom take Jessie over there and you and I can go shopping for the ring. Then we can go pick Jessie up."
"I'll tell her. Why don't you come by the hotel when you get off work and we'll all have supper together?"
"Bank closes at five."
"If I can borrow your horse, Heyes, I can get Jessie settled in the hotel, then drive my wagon out to Lom's place, and bring the two mules back and sell em."
"Sure. My horse is out front. The brown sorrel."
Kid smiled. "Are you even aware of any other kind of horse, Heyes?"
Kid headed back to Lom's office to let Jessie know the plans for the afternoon and to invite Lom to join them for supper.
"Jed, let's drop our things off at the hotel and then I'll ride out with you to drop off the wagon. We can ride double on the sorrel coming back to town," Jessie suggested.
"You're not too tired from that long trip?"
"I'm too excited to be tired," Jessie replied.
"Okay, that's what we'll do then. We'll see you at supper, Lom," Kid said.
On the ride out to Lom's place, Kid told Jessie about Birdie Pickett and how he had come to know here.
"She sounds like quite the character," Jessie said with a laugh.
"Oh she is that. She's a typical Little Old Bostonian lady."
"You know a lot of little old Bostonian ladies, do you?" Jessie asked.
"Well, she's certainly how I picture them to be. You'll see when you meet with her tomorrow for that wedding night chat. You'll love her Jessie. I swear."