Kid woke to bright sunlight streaming into the room through the lace curtains. He looked over to see Jessie still sleeping, her head nestled against Kid's shoulder. Kid lay very still so as not to wake her, but he turned his head and his eyes followed the contours of her body beneath the sheet.

Kid had satisfied his physical pleasures with many the saloon girl over the years but never had he wakened with a feeling of such sheer bliss. He closed his eyes, wishing this moment could stand still in time and never end.

But then he started thinking of the future, of their future and he smiled at the thought of this being the first day of the rest of his life with the woman who lay next to him.

Jessie moaned softly and shifted as her eyes fluttered open and she smiled when she saw Jed lying next to her.

"Good morning Mrs. Curry," Kid said, a slight drawl in his voice.

"Good morning, Mr. Curry," she cooed in response.

"Jessie, you were wonderful."

Jessie stretched her neck to kiss him. "Any you were definitely not a thirteen year old adolescent."

"I still don't understand what you mean by that," he said.

Jessie smiled. "I'll explain it on the train."

"Speaking of that, we'd better get dressed and packed. We're supposed to meet Heyes for breakfast at ten."

"What time is it now?" Jessie asked.

Kid pulled his pocket watch off the night stand and opened the lid. "Eight-thirty."

"Then we've still got some time, don't we?"

Kid smiled. "Oh yeah," he replied and wrapped her in his arms and kissed her as he rolled over on to her."

0-0-0-0-0-

"So, I see you both survived the wedding," Heyes said as they made their way down the stairs to the lobby.

Kid carried their bags to the desk. "Would you see that these are taken to the train station? We're on the one o'clock westbound."

"Yes, Sir, Mr. Curry, and congratulations to you both on you wedding."

"Thank you," Kid said and returned to Jessie and automatically slipped his arm about her waist.

"I suspect you've got a pretty good appetite, Kid," Heyes teased.

Heyes, you know darn well I always have a good appetite."

"That's true, Jessie. You're going to find you have a hard time keeping an ample supply of food in the house."

"How about we quit jabbering and start eating," Kid said and guided Jessie into the dining room, with Heyes following close behind.

"So, if you're not going to be teaching, what's keeping you in Great Falls?" Heyes asked as they waited for their breakfasts.

"Maybe I should let jed explain that," Jessie replied.

"Well, we've both been talking about that, Heyes. Now we don't have any definite plans mind you but, well I was explaining to Jessie how you are just as much her family as mine now, and that's got us thinking of maybe moving to Wyoming. Jessie's gonna see if there is anyway she can finish out the school year, then come spring, we thought we'd make a trip back here again, maybe look for a piece of land to get a cattle ranch running again."

Heyes smiled. "You mean near Porterville?"

Kid nodded. "Of course that would depend on the availability and cost of land but Porterville is definitely a consideration."

"Ah, Kid, that would be wonderful."

"That gives you some time to think about changing occupations, Heyes. Maybe we could partner up with a ranch."

"I know for a fact, Heyes, a change of occupations can be a wonderful thing," Jessie added.

"I'll give that some serious thought, Kid. Ranching is something we both know a fair share about, and I'd love to be partners again."

Kid smiled first at Jessie and then at Heyes.. "I'd love to be partners again too, Heyes."