DEAD/ALIVE - Chapter Twenty Four
Joanie pulled the blanket up over her bare shoulders as she pulled herself up onto Kid's naked chest. She wanted Kid to see her expression of gratitude.
"I can't thank you and Joshua enough…bringing Jane out here." Joanie said as she started to tear up.
"Well I hope you don't thank him like you thanked me", Kid said with a smile, as his hand gently moved up and down, stroking her back.
Joanie laughed. "I'm so glad Jane is not alone. Makes me feel better…"
"For her…Poor Kyle has his hands full."
"It's nice to have someone special in your life. For you…It's Joshua."
Kid cocked his head and furrowed his brow. "Joshua? How about you?"
"Hopefully I'll always have a place in your life and heart, but…your relationship with Joshua is special."
"Joanie…" Kid sat up, his back resting against the wood headboard. Joanie pulled herself up next to him. She entwined her fingers with his and lightly kissed the back of his hand.
"You know how much I love you."
"Of course I do. That's not what I'm saying…I've just never seen two people closer."
"I–" Kid started.
"I'm not saying this out of jealousy…Remember the first time we were together?"
"Of course…That's something I'll never forget."
"You told me about your family…the war…," Joanie watched Kid's face as she carefully threaded through his painful past, "When you talked about Joshua…the look in your eyes…your voice…I wanted to be loved like that."
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Kyle fingered the elaborate curtains, then took a seat on the large bed and bounced up and down on it. He took in the fancy paintings on the walls and the fine furniture.
"Have you ever seen a place like this?" Kyle whispered in awe.
"Can't say I fucking have, but if we had a notion we could come damn close with the money Joshua and Thaddeus lightened that bastard Swearengen of. I bet Thaddeus ain't even told Joanie about that since he ain't the fucking boastful kind." Jane yawned, "Which side of the fucking bed you want…the usual?"
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Heyes looked up from his cup of coffee and turned his head, as he felt someone standing in the doorway behind him.
Kid.
He turned and nodded at his partner with a small smile.
"Up early," Kid said as he pulled a chair away from the table and reached for the cup that Heyes had placed in front of him.
"I could say the same to you. Although you ain't got no excuse being up early."
Kid smiled as he slowly sipped the hot liquid.
"Had to chase Soapy's cook back to bed…I assured her I could handle making a cup…or two…of coffee."
"Maybe you should have let her…"
"Now Kid, my coffee ain't that bad."
"Heyes…"
"Well you ain't dead yet."
"Yet" Kid said with a smile.
Heyes cocked an eyebrow at Kid waiting for him to talk about what was really on his mind. Kid lifted his head from his coffee and saw his partner staring at him.
Kid looked down, then briefly met Heyes' eyes before looking down again. He cleared his throat.
"I'm thinking…thinking about staying."
Heyes gave Kid a small nod as he struggled to maintain a poker face. It wasn't that it came as a surprise, but there was something in Kid's voice that told him there would be no indecision this time.
"Whatever you decide, Kid.." Heyes stopped. Saying it out loud made him realize what a life changing decision for them it would mean. He knew they needed to be honest with each other, regardless of the outcome.
"You should stay " Heyes said, his head bent slightly but his eyes raised to meet Kid's. "Neither one of us deserves to live with a 'what if' as important as this one." Heyes offered a warm smile, "And to be honest, I can't say if I were in your boots, choosing would be too hard."
Kid took a deep breath. They stared in silence at each other for a long moment, as the reality played across each man's face.
"You know you should think about…about staying."
Heyes was already shaking his head no. He saw the disappointment and sadness on Kid's face, before he added, "I'll think about it. Not going to make you any promises I can't keep. What about the amnesty?"
"What about it? Seems like people believe the rumor…and as I remember we made that decision for the Governor."
Heyes nodded then slowly raised his coffee cup with a smile. "Whatever happens…We had one hell of a run."
Kid raised his and tapped Heyes' cup. "One hell of a run, Partner…One hell of a run."
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Kid paused in the doorway, closed his eyes and sighed. He gave Heyes one last look, before he headed up the stairs to Joanie's room.
Heyes heard Kid pause in the doorway, before the soft pad of socked feet headed up the stairs.
Heyes didn't always envision them sitting side by side in wooden rocking chairs; boots on the railing of the porch, with a cigar in one hand and a whiskey in another as they watched the sun set over their Wyoming ranch. But as time went by he thought that's the way their lives and final years would end, once the threat of a twenty year sentence became lost in time or the seal of approval from a future Wyoming Territorial Governor.
Together.
Once Joanie entered Kid's life the dream was tucked away, and held in a safe place. He was happy for Kid…He really was, but there were times he chided himself for being selfish when the dream surfaced. Things changed in their lives, some more dramatically than others, but they were the constant in each other's lives.
Heyes knew he needed to let go.
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Kid slowly undressed, pulling his pants, socks and henley off and watched Joanie as she slept. He slowly and quietly reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out the small wrapped box tucked safely under some papers. He carefully unwrapped it, pulling the ring out. He cupped it in one hand, with the other he pulled back the covers. Joanie rolled over towards Kid once she felt him slide into bed.
"Where did you go?" Her words were thick with sleep. She pulled herself close, placed her arm across his chest and nestled her head on his shoulder. He took her hand off his chest and gently slipped the ring on her right hand; pleased the ring fit.
Joanie's eyes fluttered open, as her thumb moved across the ring. She quickly sat up, and reached for the oil lamp. She turned it up as she stared at the ring on her finger.
Her eyes moved to Kid's.
"I'm staying…If you'll have me Miss Stubbs." Kid said as he pulled himself up.
"But..but you said you couldn't stay." Joanie said with a look of confusion on her face.
"A man can change his mind just like a woman," Kid said with a half smile. "Unless you've changed your mind? Been thinking about the reason I figured we couldn't be together. It was because of the amnesty…and I thought on it some more…Why should we have to wait to be together? Don't seem fair. Heyes and I did what we was asked and more. Me and Heyes decided months and months ago we was tired of waiting. One of the things this amnesty has taught me… there is a point to my patience and I don't want to live another day without you. This ring ain't a marrying ring…yet. After living with Heyes for so long, I might have taken up some habits you might not be able to live with."
"I can't think of one." She said looking deeply into his blue eyes. Suddenly her eyes widened, "Joshua…What about Joshua? Does he know?"
"He does…and he is happy for us. What did he think… we would both live together until we died…cigar in one hand and whiskey in the other watching the Wyoming sunset?"
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"I thought I heard someone downstairs." Soapy said as he tightened his robe and took a seat across from Heyes. He looked at two coffee cups sitting on the table.
"You have company?"
"Kid."
There was something in his tone that made Soapy pause. He waited patiently for Heyes to elaborate, as he watched him run a finger slowly around the lip of his empty cup. Heyes felt Soapy's eyes on him, and raised his head giving him a strained smile.
"Heyes?"
"He is staying."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep," Heyes looked back down at his cup.
Soapy looked at Heyes for a long moment, before retrieving the coffee pot and a new cup. He bent to pour Heyes a fresh cup and filled his, before returning to his chair.
"I don't want you to think I'm not happy for Kid and Joanie…I surely am, but…"
"But?"
A slow smile crept to Heyes' face, "God I'll miss his singing."
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"Does this change your plans? I still could use your help…but it's entirely up to you." Soapy said. "Whatever you decide Heyes…and I hope by now you know it's not a feeling of obligation to you and Kid saving me from a lengthy prison sentence in Nevada, but one of family."
"I know Soapy we could always count on you. Probably won't stay 'til spring like we..I did last year. I told Kid I would think about staying…but…might feel a bit awkward and they both need a fresh start. Sure would appreciate the work since I won't have Kid throwing into the pot. I'll probably go to Denver…Well I have to go to Denver…left the horses there."
"You can't buy new horses?"
Heyes laughed, "Could, but I'm not. Those two horses have saved us more than a few times. If Kid don't want me to send Midnight here, I'll take him with me. Ol' Clay and Midnight are as close as me and Kid. Don't act like it sometimes…ears pinned back..snorting at each other…but you try to split them up..."
"Are you talking about the horses or something else?" Soapy gently asked.
Heyes stopped and stared at Soapy before he admitted, "I ain't going to say this is going to be easy. And that's just between you and me."
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Heyes met Kid and Joanie at the doorway to the dining room. He hadn't missed the ring on her finger. He hugged her and kissed her softly on the cheek as he whispered congratulations in her ear. He affectionately slapped Kid on the shoulder. Joanie studied his face. To her relief she couldn't detect jealousy or anger and he seemed genuinely pleased. Kid pulled Heyes aside as Joanie entered the dining room to take a seat with Jane, Kyle and Soapy.
"Heyes," Kid's tone grew serious,"One time I told you the reason you were still alive was because of me…At the time I was kind of joking, but I ain't joking now. You be careful…ain't no one covering your back in a scrape."
"Don't worry Kid," Heyes said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "You don't need to worry about me anymore. You just concentrate on that fine woman of yours."
"Heyes…I'll always worry about you." Kid said softly.
Heyes tried to muster up his most sincere smile. "Kid…I'll be fine. Really."
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"I thought we could all go to the Parker House. Give you a tour…and Miss Jane I'll show you what I had in mind. I think people would appreciate and enjoy your life story, from a perspective as a woman and legend." Soapy said.
Jane elbowed Kyle, "Went from having a fucking reputation to being a legend." She whispered excitedly into his ear.
Kyle nodded. "I'd be awfully proud of you."
Jane looked at Kyle and studied his face for a minute before nodding her head, "Weren't to fucking sure I wanted to do this, but who am I to deprive folks of a damn legend." Her chest puffed out in pride.
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Parker House
Kid and Heyes laughed when they saw the expression on Kyle's face when he got one look at the pile of cash stacked high on the poker tables.
"Hey…Heyes…" He stammered, before pointing at one of the tables with a shaky hand. "With some simple ciphering there's more on that one table than in any bank or train we ever blowed or robbed." He balled up both fists and rubbed his eyes, "Even with my eyes shut I keep seeing money."
"Might what to refer to me as Smith out in public. Not sure if all the folks wandering around have heard or believe the rumor. Most people know me as Smith here and Kid as Jones."
Kyle nodded, "I can do that…" He whispered and pressed a finger to his lips.
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Dan Dority hurried into the gambling establishment, quickly finding a seat before focusing his attention on Smith and Jones as they entered. There was a woman hanging on Jones' arm, revealed when she pulled her winter wear off.
"I'll be god-damned!" Dan said to himself as his eyes opened wide."If it ain't Joanie Stubbs. Looks like the whore didn't die in the fire after all."
Dan shook his head in disbelief. The world had suddenly gotten a lot smaller…and much more profitable. He now had two cowboys to transport back to Deadwood and one whore. He was sure he could squeeze a substantial amount of money out of Cy Toliver for Joanie's return…a very substantial amount.
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