DEAD/ALIVE - Chapter Thirteen

Some might have considered it a lonesome ride, just two cowboys riding side by side, through the wide open country, but Heyes and Kid cherished it. After their near death experiences in Deadwood, it was a nice respite. There still was enough money left, if they weren't extravagant and if funds ran short, there were always Heyes' poker games to replenish the kitty.

They decided to head west, with their final destination California. It wasn't a hardsell...Heyes knew Kid missed Joanie and he had promised if they made it out of Deadwood alive, they would winter in California.

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Heyes watched Kid loosen his stampede strings, and push his hat off his head. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. There was a small content smile on his lips as his head bobbed up and down with every step of his horse, almost lulling him asleep with the warm sun on his face and the gentle breeze blowing through his hair.

Heyes smiled as a warm feeling passed through his body. Remembering Kid lying broken in bed was a stark reminder how close he had come to losing him.

"You hungry?" Heyes called out to Kid. Kid opened his eyes and raised his head. He pulled his horse to a stop.

"Was that a serious question?"

Heyes smiled. "Yep that was a stupid question" he admitted. "How 'bout we treat ourselves to a steak dinner, bath, real bed and...What did Jane say you called it…'companionship'?...iffing we ain't familiar with the law in the next town.

"I think I could be persuaded."

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Heyes noticed that Kid selected a girl that looked similar to Joanie. He wondered if Kid had done it on purpose or if it was his subconscious at work.

The whore took Kid's hand and led him up the stairs to her room.

Kid unbuckled his gun belt and hung it off a chair with his hat. He suddenly looked uncomfortable. The whore noticed Kid had stopped getting undressed and stood unmoving in the center of the room.

Maybe he was one of those men that liked a woman to take charge, the whore thought, so she slipped his leather vest off and started to slowly unbutton his shirt. She watched his face as she unbuttoned it, one button at a time.

Kid took the girl gently by both wrists and stopped her. She cocked her head with a puzzled look on her face.

He released her wrists. "I don't mean you no offense, Ma'am. But could we just...talk?"

The bewilderment on her face deepened.

"Of course I would pay you for your time."

The whore slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What would you possibly want to talk about? If you ain't noticed I'm a whore."

"I'd just like to try and understand your kind better."

"My kind? A whore?"

"No," Kid said quickly, shaking his head "A woman. How ya all think?"

The question caused her to laugh out loud, "I'll let you in on a secret...It's a mystery to women too."

The woman looked into the handsome cowboy's face and saw that he was serious. She patted the bed. Kid's eyes looked from her hand to the bed.

"Don't worry honey. I ain't asking you to take your clothes off. Just to take a seat and get comfortable. This might work it's way into a long talk."

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Kid stood in the doorway and readjusted his hat, before leaning forward and brushing a kiss across the whore's cheek.

"Thank you", Kid said with sincerity.

"Can you at least tell me the gal's name?"

Kid smiled a smile that reached his eyes, "Joanie. It's Joanie."

"Well Miss Joanie is one lucky lady." She said with a sigh.

"No Ma'am, I'm the lucky one."

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Heyes was sprawled out on his bed. His hands were locked behind his head waiting patiently for Kid to tell him what was bothering him.

"I couldn't do it." Kid finally said softly.

"Do what?"

"Just don't feel right...like I was stepping out on Joanie. I mean one part of me wanted…"

I bet one part of you wanted to, thought Heyes.

"I...we just talked."

"About?"

"Women...what they like and don't like...What they think...I don't know Heyes...I just want to understand them better."

Heyes moved to the edge of the bed, pushing a hand through his hair, as his face screwed up in concentration. He thought for a moment before he finally said, shaking his head, "Can't be done." He said with confidence. "I've yet to meet one man that has solved that mystery. It's kind of like robbing a bank and cracking that safe. You think things through over and over again. Every little detail gone over in your head a hundred times...Every scenario...Damn maybe even a thousand...then you're ready."

Heyes held a hand up and moved his fingers like he was working the tumblers. He closed his eyes, tilted his head, as if his cheek was pressed to the door of the safe.

"Then suddenly," Heyes' eyes snapped open as he clapped his hands together, "You're working on a Brooker 404 instead a 202 and everything is out the window."

Kid stared at Heyes, before finally saying, "What the hell are you talking about...And why the hell am I asking you? Ain't like you're an expert."

"Kid there ain't no man that can say they're an expert pertaining to women. And if they do, they're damn liars."

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Kid, You Awake?"

"Does it look like I'm awake Heyes?"

"No...but it sounds like it. I was thinking…"

"Could you stop doing that until I'm awake?"

"No...kind of hard. I guess if I was unconscious…"

"Believe me Heyes that can be arranged if you don't stop jawing." Kid angrily rolled over on his other side, away from Heyes, and pulled the blanket up over his head.

Kid could feel Heyes' eyes bore into his back. He tried to ignore it, focusing instead on finding the sleep that had been rudely taken from him. He readjusted his body, squeezed his eyes shut tighter, slowed his breathing but it was to no avail. With a frustrated sigh, he angrily flung the blanket aside . Heyes was sitting cross-legged on his bed staring at him.

"What Heyes?!" Kid said exasperated as he pushed to a sitting position, dropping his head as he vigorously rubbed his hands through his hair.

"What's so dang important?"

"I didn't say it was important...Just that I was thinking."

"I give up," a frustrated Kid said as he got out of bed and reached for his clothes hanging off the chair. "I'm going to get something to eat since obviously you ain't going to let me sleep. You coming?"

"Yeah...but you don't need to be so proddy. Hopefully a belly full of food will put you in a better mood."

Kid stared at Heyes and shook his head as he pulled his last boot on.

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"Heyes why are you always trying to compare women to safes?" Kid asked in a low voice between bites of food.

"I guess it's because they are two of the trickiest things to crack." Heyes said, sipping his coffee.

Kid swallowed quickly and stared at his partner as a smile touched his lips that quickly grew. Suddenly Kid started laughing so hard he couldn't stop. Some of the other patrons that were eating turned annoyed glances their way.

Heyes quickly grabbed one of Kid's arms. "You intentionally trying to draw attention to us?" There was irritation in Heyes voice as he looked around the room nodding to people trying to let them know things were okay.

Kid nodded and got himself under control, before he wiped a hand across his face and brushed tears away.

"So what's so dang funny?"

"You."

"Me?"

"I can see it now...So was she a 202 or 404?"

Heyes glared at Kid.

"No wait...better yet. In the throes of passion and you yelling out 202 or 404"

"That ain't funny."

"Or just Brooker." Kid was struggling to stop from bursting out laughing again. "Probably be more like Brooker Brooker Brooker." Kid quickly put his hand across his mouth and pretended he was rubbing his chin. Tears started forming in his eyes as he choked back the laughter.

"Still ain't funny."

"You started this." Kid said as he bit the inside of his mouth to stop the uncontrollable laughter from returning.

Heyes' eyes narrowed as he glared at Kid. Slowly a smile started to curl the corners of his mouth. His eyes began to sparkle as his smile widened and his dimples deepened. He started to chuckle.

"Ready?"

Kid could only nod. Heyes threw money on the table, slapped his partner on the shoulder, and hurried outside. Kid followed Heyes into a side alley. Kid had a questioning look on his face until Heyes said:

"Brooker huh?"

Kid looked at Heyes as they both started laughing until they were doubled over gasping for air.

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