Chapter 59

They were holding each other on the bathroom floor. John told Billie she didn't look well, and given the circumstances and what had just transpired she admitted to feeling ill. As they remained close the kitten had heard them and joined the room. He trotted over to Billie and began nuzzling her leg, purring. Already the cats purr was a strong and steady sound, reverberating through the quiet room. They both grinned. Billie picked up the little guy and John watched their interaction for a minute. Eventually he suggested that Billie change and clean up and head off to bed. She agreed easily.

Soon they met under the covers, the kitten close between them. Billie felt weak from the events of the night and sleepy. She snuggled close to John, a hand against his chest. He wore an undershirt but Billie could still feel the warmth of his skin. She could smell remnants of his cologne and realized how much she liked this smell, how it relaxed her, purely because it was on his body. The kitten paraded on his chest until it too fell on its side to rest. They both petted him, spoiling him already.

"You thought of a name yet, baby?"

She gave a little smile. "How about Clark?"

After a moment John tensed. When he spoke next his voice came out a bit stern. "Like Clark Gable?"

John was right and Billie smiled in amusement that it made him upset. The man had let her dance with multiple men that night and yet he was jealous of naming the kitten after a celebrity she admired. "We could call him Gable?"

"No," he pouted, taking his hand away from the cat. Curiously the kitten looked in his direction, wondering why he'd stopped petting.

"Oh, Johnnie," Billie raised her head and met his eyes. She tried to look serious but it came off far too amused to have any real effect. "Are you really going to be jealous of a kitten?"

"If we name him Clark you'll be thinking about Clark Gable every time you look at him!"

He sounded very serious but the subject matter was too entertaining. When she didn't reply but continued to stare at him, smirking to the point of holding back laughter, John started to feel as though she were cracking him, too. Soon he might just chuckle himself so he looked away, offering another suggestion. "We should call him something strong. Manly. Like...Buffalo Bill."

This time Billie actually laughed. "Buffalo Bill?"

"Jesse James."

She shook her head, looking down at the innocent kitten. Maybe one day he would grow to be big and strong and dangerous, but the names still didn't fit. At least, not in her opinion. She petted the kittens head and listened to him purr. "He looks like a Clark. It's a distinguished name. Gentlemanly."

She heard John tisk in the background, he realizing he would likely loose this battle. She gave him a kind smile. "And I won't be thinking of Clark Gable every time I see him," she assured. For effect he tried very hard to look displeased and upset, gazing down at the cat resentfully.

"Stool pigeon," he uttered finally. "That's what I oughta call ya," he poked the cat gently on its belly. Billie narrowed her eyes at him. John was smirking now. He'd brought the cat into the house to benefit both of them- Billie would love the cat and Billie would love him even more for bringing it to her. Now that this kitten was catering to Billie's fantasy man he felt betrayed... John was only kidding, of course.

Billie settled herself back down against his chest. For some moments she became lost in daydreams. Her voice was light when she spoke next. "One day we should have a farm, with lots and lots of animals. Would you like that?"

He smiled warmly. "If you would."

"I want to know what you think."

He pondered and gave a low murmur. "I don't know if I'd enjoy waking at dawn to plow the fields. What if you had to milk the cows?"

She chuckled, agreeing with him. He told her how when he was young he imagined his life would only amount to being a 'farm boy.' He lived on a farm, his father worked in it all day and as a child he could only picture himself doing the same. He'd never dreamed of being a bank robber; due to his choices, it was more or less a matter of survival. Billie liked and wanted animals and John promised she'd have them; any ones she wanted. What he liked more about the entire conversation was that they spoke about a future together. Even knowing John's predicament of being a wanted criminal and all, Billie still spoke like a future was naturally guaranteed for them. It was a strange thing for John to get used to. He tried to live each day knowing it would all end any second.

With Billie he realized he wanted a future more than he could imagine, and that the idea excited him. He was beginning to feel like a serious optimist; there was no way anything bad could happen to him. It couldn't. He needed to give Billie that future and he wanted a share in it. It was possibly the first time his confidence and greediness would work for him completely. He felt happy and content.

John reached toward the end table to shut out the lamp. "You gonna let that pigeon stay on the bed all night?"

As darkness settled around them Billie lunged for John, tickling his ribs in punishment, his laughter filling the room.