DEAD/ALIVE - Chapter Sixteen
DENVER, COLORADO
Kid placed the plate of eggs and bacon in front of his partner. Heyes gave him a grateful nod as Kid took his seat across the table.
"Did you save some for Clem?"
Kid looked up and froze with his mouth full of food. Kid started to answer but his words were muffled by the food, so he simply shook his head no. He gave Heyes a sheepish look and shrugged.
Kid yawned and stretched after eating. He looked longingly towards the bedroom door.
"Think I'll get a little more rest. Wake me when Clem comes back okay Heyes?"
"Might want some more sleep myself. So I guess we'll just have to listen for her."
Kid nodded and shuffled back towards the bedroom; his bare feet slapping on the wood floor. Heyes trailed, pausing to give his backside a good scratch.
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Clem hurried up the steps and through the front door. She clutched a bag tightly in her hand, which she set down on the nearest table. She put her hands on her hips.
"Men." She said as she surveyed the table littered with dirty dishes.
She started to call out to them, but instead tiptoed to her bedroom and peered in. Kid and Heyes lay sprawled out on the bed. Heyes lay on his stomach, one arm hanging off the bed with dark hair spilled across his face. Kid was flat on his back, his mouth open as he snored loudly.
There looked like a sliver of room between them that was too inviting for Clem to resist.
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Heyes woke and froze. There was a bare arm draped over his body. He peered at it.
Female.
As the sleep cleared he remembered...Clem. He smiled and relaxed as he rolled onto his back; her arm now resting across his chest. She stirred and nestled closer. Heyes watched her sleep, before reaching out and gently brushing some hair from her face. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Morning Sweetheart," Heyes said with a smile.
"Morning?"
"Afternoon?"
Clem nodded her head with a smile. "I think that's more accurate. I should have woke you both and made you clean up that mess you left."
"Sorry," Heyes said, giving his most apologetic look.
Clem shook her head and laughed. Who could ever stay mad at them? All Heyes had to do was flash those dimples and Kid give his best hurt look with the bluest eyes she had ever seen….They didn't play fair! Hell, if all the bank tellers had been women, they would have given them all the money with a smile and a wink.
"So what's the plan, Heyes? Because you always have one."
"Well I thought tonight we'd take our favorite gal to the Brown Palace."
"Whose favorite gal?" Clem teased.
"I guess you can't be Kid's favorite gal anymore but you can be mine."
"Before I say yes...who's buying?"
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"Before we go…" Clem drew out two wrapped packages. She handed Kid the long present. He took it and weighed it in his hand.
Hammer?
Clem handed Heyes a flat gift. Heyes ran his fingers along the edges. They felt hard with ornate edges.
Picture frame?
Both men raised their eyebrows, and looked at Clem. She nodded and held up a single nail.
Both men unwrapped the gifts. Heyes smiled when he saw the now framed picture. He remembered the day it had been taken. As he remembered, it had been Clem's idea...that alone should have been a clue to the misery it would eventually cause them.
"Where would you like it hung?" Heyes said, calling her bluff.
Clem's eyes narrowed, as she tried to read Heyes' face. He seemed to be telling the truth. Damn she thought, had she just lost her leverage?
"How about over the mantle? So it will be prominently displayed."Heyes suggested innocently with a smile. He took the nail from her hand.
"Here?" Heyes asked. "Or here?"
"Damn you Heyes! Kid!" Clem snatched the picture from his hand."You two are no fun." She said as she stomped into the bedroom. Heyes' and Kid's eyes met as both their smiles broadened. They heard a drawer open and close, then Clem emerged from the bedroom, brushing by them and heading towards the front door.
"Well...You going to take me out? Or just stand there?"
"Yes Ma'am." Both men said in unison and followed her out the door.
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They stopped at the telegraph office before dining at the Brown Palace. Heyes sent a telegram to Soapy to confirm their plans for the holidays. If they didn't get back too late he would check to see if there was a response.
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The Brown Palace was more spectacular, now that it was completed. The Italian Renaissance inspired interior was like nothing Kid and Heyes had ever seen. The atrium rose eight stories with ornate cast iron railed balconies on each floor, reaching to a capped stained glass ceiling. Kid and Heyes looked around admiring the unique craftsmanship and carefully selected material; from Colorado red granite, Arizona sandstone to white onyx marble from Mexico.
"Hope the food is as good as this place looks." said Kid as he watched Heyes rap his knuckles on the wall.
"Ain't even wood." Heyes said in amazement.
There were no wood floors or walls, only hollow blocks of porous terracotta which reduced the chance of fire to the four hundred room hotel.
"We going to eat?" Clem asked impatiently, "Unlike you two...I haven't eaten today."
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"Thaddeus, have you ever had a better steak?"
Kid shook his head, as he continued eating Clem's uneaten portion.
Heyes leaned back in his chair and breathed a heavy sigh as he unbuttoned several of his vest buttons. Both their jackets hung off the back of their chairs, their bowlers side by side on the table. A waiter came to their table asking if they would be having dessert. Heyes looked at Clem who shook her head politely. Kid emphatically shook his head. Heyes didn't recall him ever turning dessert down. No matter how full he always seemed to find enough room to accommodate a piece of pie, cake or a fancy pastry. Especially chocolate.
When Kid finally pushed his plate away, Heyes refilled their glasses.
"A final toast...to...friends...well...more like family."
Both Kid and Clem smiled as they tapped their glasses.
"The best I might add." Clem said beaming, as she looked from Kid to Heyes.
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After dinner they ended up on the eighth floor where the dance floor was. The floor was made up of the beautiful imported white onyx marble that the lobby shared.
"Come on Joshua, dance with me." Clem said tugging on his hand trying to pull him onto the floor. Heyes resisted, shaking his head. "I ain't had enough to drink to do that."
"Come on," Clem whined, "it's a slow one. All you have to do is rock back and forth and pretend like you know what you're doing."
"Go on Joshua." said Kid, as he waved a hand towards the dance floor.
Kid's head was resting on the table when Clem and Heyes returned, hand and hand.
"I'm getting a room," Kid said through tired eyes. "I think they're only five dollars. And...if you two...if you're thinking." Kid fumbled for the right words, "Get your own room okay?"
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"We're really not going to do this are we?" Clem asked. Heyes' head popped out from under the sheet.
"We're not?" There was a pained look on his face. Clem almost laughed; he looked so...well pathetic.
"After that toast...saying we were family. Wouldn't be right."
"Now you tell me," Heyes said, making his way to Clem's side and dramatically throwing himself beside her.
"Disappointed?" Clem teased as he nestled close.
"You know there is a name for gals that...Nevermind...Yeah I guess you're right."
"Glad you agree," Clem said as she closed her eyes to sleep. She missed the dirty look Heyes gave her. He knew it was going to be a long sleepless night.
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Like the show, I've taken liberties with the Brown Palace Hotel which was completed in 1888.
