I've never enjoyed riding by stage. The ride is rough as either the horses or the drivers seem to aim for every pothole on the road, and a time or two I've been jolted so hard as to hit my head on the roof of the coach. Stage coaches are also the easiest targets to rob. The driver and the fellow riding shotgun are often the only two with a gun or riffle, and most passengers carry their valuables on their person, so it don't take long to collect the harvest and be long gone before any law even gets wind of the robbery.

Now my partner, Kid Curry, don't mind riding on a stage one bit, but I think that's cause he can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and usually does so as soon as he boards.

In fact, the only thing I do like about riding a stage is the fact that everybody is clumped together in the little space, so conversations can be started easily, and once in a while you meet some really interesting person to help you pass the time.

Still, that one enjoyable thing just can't compete with all the negative aspects to stage coach travel. But, having taken a job as an escort for Mrs. Whitherspoon, I have to travel according to her choosing.

Mrs. Whitherspoon is a widow, having lost her husband in some sort of riverboat accident. I wasn't told the details, but apparently he drowned somewhere in the Ohio River, I think somewhere near Cincinnati.

Mrs. Whitherspoon came into a good sum of money when her husband died, but having been born and raised in Oregon, she decided to return to her roots rather than stay in Cincinnati where she and Mr. Whitherspoon had only lived for a few months.

She had traveled by train as far as Porterville, Wyoming where her sister lived and spent a week visiting there. But she also wanted to visit a cousin in Grass Creek and the train didn't go anywhere near that tiny little borough. Well, her sister weren't comfortable with her traveling by stage alone that far, so her sister contacted Lom Trevers to see if he knew of anyone that might be interested in an escort job. Lom contacted Kid and me and we flipped a coin. That's how I got the job.

I was to travel with Mrs. Whitherspoon from Porterville to Grass Creek, and then up to Cody where she would resume her trip on her own by train and I would return to Porterville where Kid would be waiting. The amount Mrs. Whitherspoon offered was more than enough for the seven to ten days I was hired for.

Now, being as Mrs. Whitherspoon was a widow, Kid and me just assumed she was probably an old lady. But she weren't and I rather enjoyed the look of disappointment on Kid's face when we discovered she was in her mid thirties, and pretty enough to stop traffic. I figured this was one job I was going to enjoy

And so the story begins:

"Heyes, you sure you want to do this? I know you ain't fond of stagecoach rides," Kid said, trying hard not to sound over eager to replace his partner on the job.

"I appreciate your thoughtful consideration Kid, but the flip of a coin is the flip of a coin. "I'll find some way to manage to get through this job."

This time Kid couldn't hide his disappointment. Mrs. Whitherspoon was an exceptionally attractive woman.

"Well, I was just thinking if the stage were to get robbed, well, I am a better shot than you. I could probably watch her back better."

Heyes grinned. "You're just full of it, aren't you Kid? We both know darn well you'd be watching a heck of a lot more than her back...same as I plan to do."

Kid couldn't suppress the grin when Heyes called him out for his true motives. "You can't blame a man for trying, Heyes."

"Nope, but this time I can stop you," Heyes said triumphantly.

Kid, still grinning, just shook his head and sighed. "When she planning on leaving?"

"Tomorrow. There's a late morning stage heading toward Grass Creek."

"You know, you play your cards right, Heyes, she's a wealthy woman," Kid teased.

"But she's only been widowed for three months, Kid."

"You know, Heyes. Somehow that makes me feel a whole lot better."

"You're really kind of a cad at heart, aren't you?"

Kid just smiled.

The following morning Kid saw Heyes and Mrs. Whitherspoon off on the stage. They were the only two on the stage, so each had a full side for sitting.

"I'll say once again Mr. Smith how very much I appreciate your escort. Traveling by stage alone is not something a woman exactly looks forward to doing."

Heyes smiled. "Mrs. Whitherspoon, as long as we're going to be spending a few days traveling together, please call me Joshua. It sounds much less informal to other passengers."

"Thank you. You may call me Olivia."

"That's a very pretty name, Olivia."

"So, what do you do for a living, Joshua, when you're not providing escort services?"

"As little as possible, actually. My partner, Thaddeus, and I travel around a lot. We find work when we need to, but mostly, we just travel."

"At least one of you must come from money to be able to do that."

Heyes chuckled. "No, in fact we were both rather on the poor side growing up."

"You've known each other since you were children?"

"Yes, Ma'am. We grew up in Kansas, our families were farmers."

"So you've had some experience with hard work."

"Hard work, hard life, Ma'am."

The coach hit a bump in the road and they both bounced in their seats. Olivia's purse fell to the floor and Heyes picked it up and handed it back to her.

"Thank you. I've not ridden on many stages. I didn't realize they could be so..."

"Uncomfortable?"

She laughed. "Precisely."

"Well, I wouldn't want to travel across the country in one, but a few hundred miles is tolerable."

"My sister insisted on my having an escort. She says stages are often robbed."

Heyes smiled. "No, not often. The chance of a stage being robbed depends on the load they're carrying. Bandits keep track of what a stage is likely carrying. This one just has our luggage. No bandit is interested in stealing anything you and I are carrying. No, once in a while a stage will be delivering a big payroll to some company or work site. Then the risk increases. But if they're carrying a payroll, they usually add another employee here in the coach to help protect it. Thursdays and Fridays are the biggest days for stage robberies because that's when they are likely to be carrying a big payroll."

"You seem to know quite a bit about robbing a stage, Joshua."

Heyes smiled. "Not really Ma'am. Everything I've told you is pretty common knowledge."

Another bump in the road sent them both bouncing in their seats once again.

"I see what you mean about trying to ride cross country," Olivia said.

They had traveled for three hours when the stage made it's first stop at a little shanty type stopover.

"Why are we stopping?" Olivia asked.

"To change horses. Every fifteen or twenty miles we'll come to a stage stop. It keeps the horses fresh and allows passengers time to stretch, get a drink, sometimes a bit to eat. Would you like to get out and walk a bit?"

"Yes, thank you, Joshua. Maybe freshen up a bit."

Heyes climbed out of the stage and then helped Olivia out. "The Privy is over there," he said, pointing to the outhouse. Inside the shanty you can usually get coffee or tea, sometimes there's cool lemonade, but this don't look like a place with too many luxuries. Prices are often a little steeper than in a town, too."

"Thank you, Joshua," Olivia said and walked toward the outhouse. Heyes waited near the stage for her and helped her back inside, then he climbed in after her.

"There will be one more stage stop around four this afternoon, then the final stop for the night will be Medicine Bow. That's a nice little town with a fine hotel called The Virginian where we can each get a room for the night."

It was nearly seven in the evening when the stage pulled in to Medicine Bow.

"Why don't we go get our rooms and then perhaps we could have dinner in the Hotel dining room?" Heyes suggested.

"That would be lovely, Joshua. Do you know what time the stage leaves in the morning?"

Heyes pulled the schedule from his back pocket. "Looks like nine in the morning."

They each got a room and Heyes carried Olivia's bag to her room for her. "We could meet in the lobby in about an hour?" Olivia suggested.

Heyes smiled. "That will be fine."

They had a nice dinner and both retired to their rooms early. Heyes had decided it would not be proper to visit the saloon as Olivia was paying him to be her escort and he felt he should be available if she were to need anything.

The trip to Grassy Creek took four and a half days and, despite restful nights in hotels, both Heyes and Olivia were travel weary by the time they reached Grass Creek. They plan was to spend two days with Olivia's cousin, then make the last trek of their journey to Cody where Olivia would take the train to her brother's home on Oregon.

Olivia's cousin, Rachel Bennett was a delightful woman whose husband, Walt, owned a cattle ranch a few miles out of the small town.

"Oh, Olivia, I wish you were staying longer. It's just been so long since we've seen each other. I have every minute of this visit planned, but tonight is just a leisurely dinner at home so you can rest up from that long trip."

"It's actually been a very nice trip, Rachel," Olivia said smiling at Heyes. The company has been rather interesting and the scenery has been beautiful."

"I don't know, I keep telling Walt that if you've seen one mountain, you've seen them all," Rachel replied. "Tomorrow evening there is a barn dance that I thought you might like to attend. Walt is playing the fiddle with the little makeshift band. People come from miles around and everyone brings a dish, so there is plenty of food as well."

"Do you dance, Joshua?" Olivia asked.

Heyes smiled. "Not well, but I manage not to step on any toes," he replied.

"Would you be willing to attend?"

"I'm here as your escort, and a carry in dinner sounds appealing," Heyes replied, not wanting to appear forward or brazen with a woman who has only been widowed for three months.

Olivia smiled and reached over and patted Heyes' hand. "I appreciate you willingness to humor me," she said as their eyes met.

"We'll have to arrive early. I'm on the food committee which means there will be tables to set up and food to arrange. But once that's all done, we can enjoy the dance."

"It sounds lovely."

When they arrived at the ranch, Walt gathered the luggage and carried it into the house and showed them where they would each be sleeping. Olivia offered to help with supper but Rachel insisted she should rest. So, Olivia and Heyes ventured out to the porch to sit and enjoy the late afternoon.

"Your cousin seems like a very nice lady," Heyes said just to make conversation.

Olivia smiled knowingly. "You're not looking forward to a country bumpkin barn dance, are you?"

"Oh, on the contrary. I'm actually looking quite forward to dancing with you."

Olivia looked in his eyes and smiled. "You're a bit of a dichotomy, aren't you, Joshua."

"How so?" he asked.

"Well, when I first met you and your friend, I got the feeling that both of you are use to, even comfortable with a far more adventuresome life than simply traveling as an escort. There is a...wilder spirit in your eyes than you'd like me to see or know about."

Heyes smiled. "You may be right about adventuresome, but I don't know about a wild spirit."

"Oh. It's there. I think you may be trying to tame it a bit around me, but it is definitely there."

"And that intrigues you?" Heyes asked.

The tip of Olivia's tongue pressed against the corner of her upper lip. "Very much," she replied.

Heyes studied Olivia. "Would it be too bold of me..."

"Not at all," she interrupted.

Heyes glanced at the door to be sure neither Rachel nor Walt were near by. He turned back to Olivia and leaned in and kissed her.

"This dance might prove to be more fun than I thought," Heyes said teasingly.

Olivia's eyes softened and saddened a bit. "Joshua, I don't want you thinking... I want you to know...I loved my husband very much," she said quietly.

Heyes put his hand on Olivia's. "I know."

At that moment the screen door opened and Heyes quickly withdrew his hand.

"Dinner's ready," Rachel told them.

The next day Walt took Heyes for a ride to show him the ranch while Olivia helped Rachel prepare food to take to the dance.

"Mr. Smith seems like a very nice man," Rachel remarked. "How did you meet him?"

"My sister helped me arrange for an escort so I wouldn't be traveling by stage alone. Joshua was recommended by the local Sheriff."

" How long has it been since your husband died?"

"Rachel, are you trying to tell me something?" Olivia asked, preparing herself to defend her actions.

Rachel stopped peeling potatoes, wiped her hands on her apron, and looked at Olivia. "I'm just saying that Mr. Smith... seems to be a very nice gentleman."

Olivia sighed with relief and smiled at her cousin. "He is a very nice man, and I am enjoying his company a great deal. And thank you for not being judgmental."

"Olivia, life is too short to waste time with protocol, and there's no sense wasting an entire year over something, or someone that just ain't attainable. Mr. Smith here may or may not be a permanent fixture in your life, but you might as well enjoy finding out."

Olivia laughed. "Is that why we're going to this dance?"

Rachel looked at Olivia with a bit of mischief in her eyes. "Well, the truth is... I'm not really on the food committee."

Both women shared a laugh. "Ah, Rachel, I haven't laughed like this in a very long time," Olivia told her.

Late in the afternoon everyone dressed for the dance. Heyes had not packed any dressy clothes, but he did put on a clean shirt and pants, and he did give his boots a quick polish.

The barn dance was a lively affair with lots of music, good homemade food, a large punch bowl with bottles of vodka discretely tended by one of the dance organizer's for those who preferred their punch spiked. Olivia and Heyes danced several times, once to the point of being quite winded.

"A bit of fresh air?" Heyes asked and Olivia nodded.

They strolled outside and about walked leisurely, gradually distancing themselves from possible on-lookers.

"If I haven't told you before, you look lovely," Heyes told her.

"Why, thank you, Joshua."

"You're not going to tell me I look lovely, too?" Heyes teased and Olivia laughed.

"I couldn't possible be so bold," she teased.

As they neared a large oak tree, Heyes stopped and turned to her. Leaning in, he kissed her, first softly, then gradually the intensity built. After the fourth kiss, Olivia pulled back and uttered a slight gasp, but she looked at him softly and the tip of her tongue rolled gently against her lower lip, tasting the remnants of his kiss.

"We should get back," she said reluctantly.

Heyes brushed two fingers across the edge of her hair and her head tilted slightly toward his hand. She sighed slowly.

Heyes reached down and took Olivia's hand. "Another dance?" he asked, nodding his head toward the barn.

"Uh-uh," she cooed. "I hope it's a slow one."

They returned to the house well after midnight and everyone soon retired to their rooms. Heyes undressed down to his long johns and stretched out on the bed. With hands clasped behind his head, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift over the course of the evening. Normally a bit of an insomniac, Heyes was so content, he quickly fell into a very peaceful sleep.

"I thought we might go on a picnic this afternoon," Rachel suggested over breakfast the next morning. "There's a beautiful spot near a large pond that Walt and I often visit for a picnic."

"That sounds lovely, and very relaxing," Olivia said

"Alright if I just pack leftovers from last night? There was so much food to split up, I've got plenty for a picnic."

"You're making me hungry just thinking about it," Heyes replied.

"We'd better make it an early evening, though," Olivia added. "The stage leaves at seven tomorrow morning."

"We'll make sure you're both there on time," Rachel promised.

So they spent another very relaxed and enjoyable day just being lazy and frivolous. Before lunch, Heyes rolled his pants cuffs up and Olivia slipped off her shoes and stockings and raised her skirts up a couple of inches and they waded in the cool waters of the pond. They held hands, but both knew they were being watched so were discrete about any further physical contact. Rachel called to them when she had the blanket spread and the food laid out.

After lunch, Rachel and Olivia sat side by side while each provided a head rest for their respective companions. Heyes chewed on a blade of grass while Olivia toyed gently with strands of his hair.

"Rachel, this has been a wonderful visit," Olivia told her. "You and Walt will have to come to Oregon next summer and let me reciprocate.

"I'd love to, but I doubt Walt can spare that much time away from the ranch."

"Well, you and I will have to figure something out to see each other again. I've just enjoyed this so much."

"So have we, haven't we Walt?"

But Walt had fallen asleep so Rachel looked at Olivia and smiled and rolled her eyes."

True to her word, Rachel saw to it that Olivia and Heyes were safely on the stage the next morning and on their way to Cody. This stage was full with three passengers on each row of seats. An older gentleman sat at the window seat next to Heyes, with Olivia sitting at the other window seat on Heyes' left. Conversation among the passengers was pleasant and casual, but all enjoyed the respite of the first coach station where they stopped to change the horses.

"We'll be in Cody late tomorrow," Heyes told Olivia as they walked about the barren ground outside the station.

"Will you be leaving right away?" Olivia asked.

"I'll see that you're safely on the train before I go," Heyes promised.

"In a way, I hate to see this part of my trip end. I've really enjoyed your company, Joshua."

Heyes sighed. "I've never been as far northwest as Oregon. Maybe Kid and I will visit that area someday."

Olivia smiled. "I truly hope so."

"Time to board," the driver shouted and all the passengers began migrating back to the stage.

The layover that night was another very small town. Heyes and Olivia dined in a small cafe and then strolled the boardwalk till sunset, occasionally stopping to window shop. When night came, they each turned in for the night. Heyes lay in his bed feeling a bit melancholy about the excursion coming to an end. He had become quite fond of Olivia and was certain she felt the same. He sighed heavily and sleep did not come easily.

The final trek of their journey ended when they arrived in Cody mid afternoon the next day. Having time to spare, they each ordered baths and parted company for the better part of two hours. Meeting in the lobby, both spruced and refreshed, they dined in the hotel dining room and lingered over an after dinner sherry.

"Train doesn't leave till ten, so there's no hurry in the morning," Heyes told Olivia as they stood outside the door to her room.

Olivia didn't reply.

"Something wrong?" Heyes asked.

Olivia gazed up into Heyes eyes and shook her head. Slowly the head shake turned into a nod.

"What is it" Heyes asked.

Olivia turned and slid the room key into the lock and turned the door nob, opening the door a few inches. Then she turned back to look at Heyes. Her hand slid down his arm, coming to rest on his hand. She wrapped her hand in his and ever so gently pulled him toward the door.

"Are you sure?" Heyes asked.

Olivia looked directly into his eyes. "I'm sure. I don't want to spend the rest of my life wishing we'd been together."

Heyes smiled and leaned in and kissed her gently, then followed that with a much more passionate kiss.

She kept hold of his hand, gazing into his eyes, and led him into her room. Heyes shut the door with his boot...

The next morning Heyes and Olivia stood on the boardwalk of the depot, waiting for the conductor to announce the boarding of passengers.

"Last night was wonderful," Olivia told him.

Heyes nodded. "It was special," he replied.

Olivia sighed. "I'll likely never see you again."

Heyes didn't reply to the obvious truth. Instead he leaned in and kissed her.

"All aboard!" the conductor shouted.

They looked at each other sadly, before Heyes picked up her luggage and helped her up the stairs. She reached for her bag and set it down by her feet. She stood, grasping the rail with both hands as Heyes stepped back from the train. Neither moved. Both stood watching the other, as the train pulled slowly out of the station and Olivia slowly rode out of Heyes' life...

0-0-0—0

The Virginian was built in 1901. Like the Brown Palace reference Heyes made in the series, a bit of liberty was taken as to the time the Hotel was really in existence.