Julia
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Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry rode slowly down the main street of Denver, carefully eying all the important spots. Their standard list included the jail, hotel, livery, and saloons. Ordinarily, a visit to Denver did not necessitate a hotel stay as they always had an open invitation at the cabin of their friend, Clementine Hale, but Miss Hale was in St Louis visiting her father.
Heyes brought his horse nearly to a stop when he and Kid rode past the Brown Palace, one of the newest and fanciest hotels west of the Mississippi. A brick and stone hotel that occupied an entire city block, the Brown Palace rose five stories from the ground, had a grand and open atrium lobby, three elevators, and a very high-end restaurant with a world-renowned chef.
"Let's find a hotel, get a bath and maybe a shave, and then come here for dinner," Heyes suggested.
Kid looked at his partner curiously. "You know how much dinner likely costs in a place like that?"
"It might be a tad on the expensive side but when would we ever get another chance to have a perfect cut of prime steak seared to perfection?"
Kid shook his head but remained silent. It wasn't often either of them ever indulged in something frivolous, but when they did, it was usually nothing more than an imported five-dollar cigar. Still, the idea of a thick, juicy, medium rare steak was rather appealing.
Kid took a quick but scrutinizing look at the people coming and going at the hotel and noticed that every person was dressed to the nines.
"I'll admit that does sound tempting, but do you really wanna dress in a suit and worry about spillin' gravy on your shirt just to eat a twenty-dollar steak?" Kid asked.
"Do you realize that in our former occupation we often let thousands of dollars slip through our fingers playing poker, drinking whiskey, and spending time with ladies of the evening, and we thought nothing of it?" Heyes reminded his partner. "I'm talking about a mere twenty dollars."
"Each," Kid replied with a huff.
"Is that a yes, Kid?"
Kid shook his head in disbelief. "Have it your way," he grumbled.
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Near seven in the evening Heyes and Kid, both dressed in their finest, crossed the open atrium lobby of the Brown Palace to the restaurant aptly named The Cattlemen's Club.
"A table for two," Heyes told the Maître D.
After a thirty-minute wait in the lounge where they each drank a fifty-cent whiskey with a three-dollar price tag, they were escorted to a table near the center of the room.
Kid studied the menu with a disapproving eye. "What is fill-it meg-non?" he asked his partner.
Heyes scanned the menu until he spied what he thought Kid was likely trying to pronounce. "I think that's French, or maybe South American and it's a cut from the short loin of the beef."
"It's over eight dollars," Kid said in astonishment. "That and two whiskeys and I've spent as much as the cost of a new pair of boots," he grumbled.
"Joshua?" a female voice asked.
Both men looked up to see a pretty blonde woman with a soft British accent standing next to their table. Heyes immediately recognized the woman, while Kid was certain he had never seen her before. Both men quickly pushed back their chairs and stood.
"Julia!" Heyes exclaimed. "I thought you moved back to Boston."
The woman smiled. "I did, but now I'm on my way to Greeley. I have a sister living there."
Kid cleared his voice and Heyes suddenly remembered the call for introductions.
"Oh Julia, this is my partner, Thaddeus Jones. Thaddeus, this is Julia Finney."
Julie turned toward Kid. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Jones," she said, but quickly turned her attention back to Heyes. "And it's McCallister, not Finney. If you recall, that was just a name I was using for the disguise."
"Disguise?" Kid asked but got no explanation as Julia and Heyes were far too focused on each other to answer Kid's inquiry.
"Are you dining alone?" Heyes asked, seeing no escort. "Why don't you join Thaddeus and me."
"If it's not an imposition," she replied. "I really hate dining alone."
Heyes gave Kid an urgent sort of nod and Kid looked around for a vacant chair. Finding one nearby, he brought it to the table and held it for Julia to sit down. But Heyes quickly gave him a subtle shove with his hip so he could do the honors himself. Kid frowned as he shot Heyes a sideways scowl but returned to his own chair and waited for Julia to be seated.
"So you're going to Greeley to visit your sister?" Heyes asked once they were again all seated.
"Yes. She and her husband moved there two years ago, and I promised to come for a visit, but time just seems to have a way of getting away from a person sometimes."
"Well, you don't have much further to travel," Kid said. "Greeley's only about twenty-five miles north of here."
"Yes, I know. Unfortunately, there's not a stage passing through there until Tuesday. My sister and her husband are not able to spare an afternoon to come here so, here I am."
"Twenty-five miles is just a couple of hours ride," Heyes added. "Maybe two and a half hours by carriage. "I could drive you there myself tomorrow, if you'd like."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose, Joshua."
Heyes smiled. "No imposition at all. In fact, a nice, easy carriage ride through the countryside sounds like a fine way to spend the afternoon. What do you say we leave about noon?"
"Well, if it's not too much trouble…."
"I'll meet you at the front door of the hotel at noon," Heyes replied.
A waiter approached the table and stood patiently for a pause in the conversation. "Are you ready to order?" he asked.
"Yes, I believe we are," Heyes replied. "Dinner is my treat Julia, and the sky's the limit."
"Your treat?" Kid asked and picked up the menu for a second glance.
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Kid sat quietly through most of the dinner and listened as Heyes and Julie became reacquainted. It was obvious to him that his partner and this woman were each quite enthralled with the other so, when the waiter returned at the end of the meal, Kid seized the opportunity to give them some time alone to get reacquainted by extracting himself from the equation.
"Is there room for dessert?" the waiter asked, then began reciting a long list of options.
Heyes opted for blueberry pie while Julia chose a slice of spice cake.
"And for you, sir?" the waiter asked Kid.
"I think I'll pass on dessert," Kid told him, then turned his attention to his partner. "I believe there's a poker game calling my name."
Heyes gave Kid a subtle but appreciative smile. "If you're sure, Thaddeus."
Kid pulled his napkin from his lap and set it on the table as he pushed back his chair and stood. "A pleasure meeting you, Ma'am," he told Julia. "And Joshua, thanks for dinner," he added with a slight grin."
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Heyes and Julia lingered over coffee and dessert.
"So, you haven't told me what you've been doing since that rather fateful excursion," Julia reminded him.
Heyes smiled. "Thaddeus always likes to say we do as little as possible, and that might be more truth than fiction."
"You've not settled down somewhere?"
Again, Heyes smiled. "Somehow I doubt I'll ever do that," he replied.
"A lifelong vagabond?"
"No. More like a couple of prodigal sons, minus the return home, of course."
"Prodigal sons…. You live recklessly?"
"Not now so much as in our younger days," he replied with a chuckle.
"And just what did you do in your younger says?" Julia asked curiously.
"Thaddeus and I have been on our own since we were fifteen and seventeen. When you're on your own at those young ages you… don't always consider the consequences to your actions. I'm happy to say we've outgrown those prodigal days."
"No wives, no responsibilities?"
Heyes looked at her with a dimpled grin. "Maybe somewhere down the road."
Julia took a sip of her coffee, then kept her eyes focused on her drink. "I have a confession to make, Joshua…. That brief encounter between us on the expedition, when I told you I was not really Mrs. Finney…. I was quite moved by your kiss."
She raised her eyes timidly and was quite relieved to find his dark eyes were focused right on her, gazing at her intently. "So was I," he affirmed.
She smiled at the assurance her feelings were not unrequited but was then suddenly aware of their very public surroundings. "It's late. I should be going."
"I'll walk you to your room," he replied and motioned to the waiter for the bill.
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Kid was back in the hotel room and had undressed down to his faded red long johns and Henley when he heard the key turning in the lock. He reached for his gun but holstered it again when he saw Heyes stepping into the room.
Despite the late hour Heyes was surprised to see the Kid. "I thought you'd still be over at the saloon."
"No, I thought I'd come back here and wait for you. I didn't realize dessert would take hours," Kid replied.
"Absolutely the best blueberry pie I've ever had in all my life," Heyes replied.
"Blueberry, uh? By the way the two of you was looking at each other, I would have bet money you'd go for the cherry," Kid teased. "You gonna tell me about this Julia Finney, or rather McCalister?" Kid asked. "You two was certainly acting like old friends but I don't recall you ever mentioning her before."
"I'm sure I've told you about her," Heyes replied but Kid quickly interrupted.
"No, you haven't, Heyes. The only Julia you and me have ever talked about was a nun, and this lady sure don't look like a nun to me."
"This Julia was on that expedition," Heyes replied as he sat down on his own bed and began to undress.
"What expedition?"
"Remember that time you took a job transporting dynamite and nitro to that mining camp, and I took a job leading a group of people into Devil's Hole country in search of eight foot tall, red-headed Indians?"
"Yeah, I remember now."
"Julia was one of those people."
"You took a woman into Devil's Hole a second time?" Kid asked. "Heyes, don't you ever learn from your mistakes?"
"Well, this time we didn't go into Devil's Hole," Heyes said defensively. "As it turned out, Julia was just posing as the wife of Kevin Finney, who was an investigator for Scotland Yard."
"If I recall correctly that expedition turned out with you not getting paid a red cent," Kid replied. "And I ended up having to give you a hard lesson on the value of a dollar."
"That too," Heyes reluctantly admitted while remembering the pain of two black eyes and a very sore jaw.
"So, while she was posing as the wife of one of the Archie-ologists…."
"Gotta correct you, Kid. Julia was posing as the wife of the Scotland Yard Investigator."
Feeling as if he was getting nowhere with the conversation, Kid shook his head. "Why?" he asked.
Heyes shrugged. "Better cover for Finney, I guess."
Kid sighed. "So, while Julia was just pretending to be married to Finney, you was busy making eyes at who you thought was another man's wife?"
"I didn't make eyes at her until she told me the marriage was a ruse."
Kid grinned. "Nice of you to be so gentlemanly."
"When the expedition was over, Julia decided to go back east, and I thought I'd never see her again."
"But here she is and now the two of you are as free as a couple of birds and you're planning on carting her to Greeley tomorrow?"
Heyes nodded. "You have an objection to that?"
"No. No. Not at all. Just don't go getting her hopes up of landing a real husband, that's all."
"Kid, let me remind you that I'm older than you, and I think we can both agree that I'm a bit wiser than you when it comes to women. I know how to handle this."
"Uh-huh," Kid replied with obvious skepticism. "That'll be the day you're wiser than me when it comes to women. I'm just saying, Heyes, you'd best be careful. She's a beautiful woman and it was plain to see that she's got her eyes set on you."
"Kid, you keep talking like that and I'm gonna think you're taking an interest in Julia."
Kid couldn't hide his amusement. "I don't mind paying for my cherry pie," he chuckled as he climbed into bed and turned his back to his partner. "You mark my words, Heyes. She's got her sights set on you."
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As he drove the rented carriage up to the hotel's grand entrance, Heyes saw Julia waiting on the veranda with a large trunk and a smaller suitcase. He loaded both into the back seat, then walked around to help Julia climb into the front seat of the carriage.
"I stopped at the café and got food for a picnic. Most of the trip follows the South Platte River and I thought it would be a nice spot to stretch our legs and give the horses a rest," he told her.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Joshua. It's sounds lovely."
Heyes gathered the reins and gave them a shake and the horses started down the drive. Fifteen minutes later they were out of the city and heading north on a quite scenic dirt road, passing only an occasional traveler heading toward Denver.
"I do love being out in the open country," Julia said, earning a pleased glance from Heyes as she casually slipped her arm about his while he maintained a loose grip on the reins.
"I guess civilization has done a lot to tame the west over the years."
"You sound like that's a bad thing," Julie replied with some surprise.
"Oh, I wouldn't say a bad thing, so long as it's within moderation. Once the wilderness is gone, there'll be no getting it back."
Julia was quiet for a moment. "I hadn't thought of it like that, and you're right. It would be a shame to lose all this beauty."
Heyes turned to Julia and smiled. "Yes, it certainly would," he replied.
"Are we still talking about nature?" Julia asked.
"At least one of us, I think," Heyes replied.
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About an hour after leaving the city limits the road took a steep incline. Reaching the top of the hill they could see the river at a spot where it widened and moved along slowly with little rift or current.
"I can see the water now," Julia exclaimed and eagerly pointed toward the spot where the river widene.
"It'll be another ten minutes or so before we reach it," Heyes told her. "It's going to be kind of a rough ride in the carriage," he added as he pulled the reins to lead the horse off the road and into the field toward a small clump of trees along the shoreline. "Hold on tight."
Julia tightened her grip on Heyes' arm. "I'm ready," she assured him.
Heyes gave the reins a flick of the wrist and the carriage bounced them both about in their seats. Arriving at the clump of trees, Heyes brought the horses to a halt and secured the brake, then helped Julia out of the carriage. Lastly, reached into the back seat for the blanket and basket of food. He spread the blanket out on the ground near the edge of the water while Julia walked slowly along the shoreline admiring the view.
"Oh Joshua, it's beautiful," she said, spreading her arms wide and twirling herself around to face him. "And so secluded. Why, I can't even see the road for the trees."
Heyes set the basket down on the blanket and turned to admire the view. "It is a nice spot."
"Would you think it too bold of me to go barefooted and wade into the water a bit? It's such a warm day and…."
"Would you think it too bold of me to join you?" he replied and started to pull off his boots without giving her time to finish her sentence.
Julie laughed and sat down on the blanket to remove her shoes and stockings. "I have a wicked idea," she said as she folded her discarded stockings. "How much longer till we get to Greeley?"
"It's about an hour and a half from here," he told her.
"It doesn't get dark till nearly nine. If we get to Greely around suppertime, you'll still have enough daylight to drive back to Denver in daylight."
Heyes nodded, certain he knew where this conversation was leading."
"Would we have time for a swim?"
"One of us or both of us?" he asked with a very deadpan expression on his face.
"Well, it's not like you've not seen me without all these cumbersome garments. You did escort me down to the river when we were on that expedition."
The memory of watching of her bathing in the river near Devil's Hole with only the light of the moon reflecting off her wet, glistening skin brought a smile to his face. "You knew I was watching?" he asked.
Julia laughed. "I not only knew, I made sure to give you the full advantage of the moonlight."
Heyes nearly blushed. "An evening I will never forget."
"Nor will I, and your kiss when we sat under that tree the next day…. If I close my eyes, I can still feel that kiss," she confessed "It felt…."
"Something like this?" Heyes asked and pressed his open mouth hard against her parted lips."
Julia couldn't contain a whimpered gasp. "Exactly like that," she confessed.
"Shall we make it a race to see who's in the water first?" he asked.
"Only if you will assist me with the buttons on the back of my dress before the competition begins."
A very boyish grin spread across Heyes' face as he moved behind her and began to free each of the seventeen buttons on her dress. When he was finished, he gently slid the sleeves down her shoulders, then softly kissed each shoulder. Julia smiled, then turned around to face him and let the dress fall down around her feet. Still in her camisole and bloomers, Julia watched Heyes as he took a step back and let his eyes absorb her beauty. Then he slowly raised his eyes to meet hers and again leaned in and kissed her lips.
Heyes pulled his head back just inches from her face. "You think there'll still be time for a swim?" he whispered.
"I think we both may need one," she whispered in return.
He reached for the ribbons of her camisole and with featherlight fingers unlaced the strings, then let that too fall to the ground. Neither spoke as Heyes gazed at her bare breasts and she slipped her hands to the waist of her bloomers and slid them down before gracefully stepping out of them.
"As beautiful as I remember," he told her.
Julia reached for Heyes' vest and pushed it back and down his arms, then reached for the buttons of his shirt while he quickly unbuckled his gun belt and unbuttoned the fly of his pants.
Moments later, wrapped in each other's arms, they lowered themselves to the blanket.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Julia smiled as her eyes dropped down below Heyes' waist. "Don't you think it's a bit late to be asking me that?" she asked with a soft, breathy laugh.
"I just don't want to do something that you'll regret later."
Julia shook her head. "Regret? I've dreamed of this moment, and when you suggested a picnic by the river, I knew my dream was finally coming true."
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Half an hour later Heyes rolled to his back on the blanket but turned his head toward Julia who was now lying on her side, facing him.
"You ready for that swim?" he asked.
She laughed and he noticed how brightly her eyes sparkled in the sunlight. "I'm game," she replied and sat up on the blanket. "Race to the water?"
Heyes took a deep breath to try to slow his breathing. "You go. I'll catch up in a minute."
Julia stood and padded barefooted down to the shore and took timid steps into the water. All the while Heyes watched her until she was submerged to her shoulders.
"The water is warm and wonderful," she called to him.
Thankful for the assurance that the water was warm, Heyes pulled himself to his feet and headed to the river, keenly aware that he was being watched and admired just as he had watched and admired Julia.
They spent most of the time treading water and chatting and laughing. Occasionally one or the other would use an arm or hand to send a splash of water in the other's direction.
Heyes swam up close to Julia and wrapped his arms about her lower back and pulled her close. "You're everything I'd imagined you'd be," he told her.
"You've thought about this before?" she asked.
"Only about a thousand times," he confessed before giving her a very passionate kiss.
"It pleases me to think that you have thought of me in the way… in the way I have thought of you," she told him.
"I guess today we've left nothing to the imagination," Heyes said with a grin. "But I'm afraid we need to get dressed and have lunch and get back on the road again."
Julie raised a wet hand out of the water and gently touched his lips. "Or perhaps a few more minutes in the water and a picnic in the carriage as we ride?"
A very seductive chuckle erupted from Heyes' throat. "I'm all for that," he said and pulled her tight against his body and she felt him harden against her.
"I'm glad the water's warm," she cooed and wrapped her legs around his hips and felt an urgent plunge.
Minutes later, with Julia still wrapped about him, Heyes slowly waded toward the shore. Nearing the water's edge, Julia lowered her feet to the riverbed and together they made their way back to the shore. Julia stood ankle deep in the river while Heyes climbed out of the water and gathered up the blanket. He then reached for her hand and helped her back onto the shore and wrapped her in the blanket. She walked over to her clothes as Heyes gathered his own clothing in his arms. They both quickly dressed while keeping an admiring eye on the other. When done, Heyes picked up the basket in one hand and wrapped his free arm about her shoulders and they walked slowly back to the carriage.
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"Joshua, this has been an afternoon I will never forget," Julia said as Heyes drove the carriage down the road toward Greeley. "Ever since the expedition I've felt we had a connection but…" She paused to consider her next words.
"It always makes a man nervous when a woman adds a but to something she is saying," Heyes told her.
Julia fidgeted with her hands that she held in her lap. "As I told you on the expedition, I somehow think that Joshua Smith is just a fraction of who you really are. There's something more, something far deeper to Joshua Smith that doesn't often see the light of day."
"You make me sound quite profound," Heyes said, attempting to lighten both her mood and the conversation.
"I think I've only scratched the surface when it comes to knowing you."
"Maybe it's not that Joshua Smith is so elusive," Heyes replied. "Maybe you're just looking for something… more."
"Is that your way of telling me this relationship can't go any further than it has?" she asked.
Heyes slipped the reins into his right hand, then reached over with his left and took Julia's hand. "No, that's not what I'm saying at all," he assured her. "In the time that I've known you, you have worked in San Francisco, you've posed as a man's wife and gone camping with him, you've packed up and moved east, and now you're coming back to the west to reunite with some family. All that sounds like you have a bit of wanderlust. There's usually a reason for that and sometimes it takes quite a bit of searching to discover just what it is you're searching for."
Julia contemplated Heyes' words. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I'm searching for something quite elusive to me."
"All I'm suggesting is that you take your time to figure out what you want in life. Maybe I'm your brass ring. Then again, maybe not. But don't settle for anything less, and don't settle until you're certain."
"Is that why you and Thaddeus are always on the move? Are the two of you each searching for your brass rings?" Julia asked.
Heyes smiled and lifted his hand from hers to work the reins. "I think that's a pretty accurate way of seeing us," he confessed.
Julia was quiet and contemplative for the last few miles to Greeley but once there she directed him to her sister's house.
Heyes helped Julia out of the carriage, then gathered her luggage as she made her way to the porch to greet her sister.
"Haley, I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Joshua Smith," Julia said.
Heyes brought the luggage to the porch, then stood and quickly removed his hat. "Ma'am," he said in greeting.
"Joshua was kind enough to drive me here from Denver. It was a lovely afternoon ride."
Haley's husband appeared at the door and announced he could get the luggage into the house.
Julia turned to Heyes and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "I'll give some serious thought to everything you've said," she told him. "And thank you for being honest enough to say it."
"That's me, honest as the day is long," Heyes said before giving Julia a return kiss.
"I do hope we see each other again someday Joshua; perhaps in the not too distant future."
"So do I," Heyes said sincerely, and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. "And I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for."
Heyes said his obligatory goodbyes to Haley and her husband, then slipped his hat back on his head and headed back to the carriage and climbed onto the seat. He gave Julia a final wave and a smile, then urged the horse forward.
Julia stood on the front lawn and watched the carriage slowly disappear down the street. "I just may have found exactly what I'm looking for," she whispered to herself.
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It could not have been better timed had they planned it. Just after nine in the evening, Kid stepped out of the saloon and looked a half block down the street to see Heyes emerging from the livery. He leaned against a wooden post and folded his arms across his chest while watching his partner approach.
The amused and knowing smile on Kid's face did not go unnoticed but did manage to evoke a slight degree of embarrassment and perhaps even guilt from Heyes.
"Are you coming or going?" Heyes asked with a quick glance toward the saloon.
"I s'pect that's your call," Kid replied, the amusement still very evident on his face.
Heyes knew a rather awkward conversation was about to ensue and he silently considered just where that conversation should take place. But his desire for a shot of courage outweighed his common sense and he stepped up onto the boardwalk and headed into the saloon with a determined step.
Kid caught up to him at the bar and when the bartender returned with Heyes' whiskey, Kid ordered a beer.
"So, how was your trip?" Kid asked.
Heyes took a sip of his drink and set the glass on the counter but kept his hand wrapped around the drink. "Uneventful."
"Uh-huh. So, you make a habit of walking around with your fly unbuttoned?"
Heyes' free hand immediately dropped to his pants, only to discover Kid's bold-face lie. "Alright, two events," Heyes confessed sheepishly.
Kid gave his partner a congratulatory slap on the back. "Ah, my partner is growing up," Kid teased.
"Shut up," Heyes growled. "You know, this is the very reason I never told you about Julia in the first place. You're not the only one who…. Oh, never mind."
Kid's grin suddenly disappeared. "You make her any promises?" he asked with an obvious hint of trepidation in his voice.
"Are you asking me if you should be scouting a new partner?"
Startled by the possibility, Kid's head jerked back, and he nearly spewed his beer. He quickly wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "I didn't realize you was actually taken with this woman," he said apologetically.
"Well I was… I am," Heyes replied defensively.
"You gonna see her again?"
"I hope so. Someday."
"Oh," Kid replied knowingly.
"What's that 'Oh' mean?" Heyes demanded.
"Nothing, just… Oh."
When Heyes made no reply Kid knew he was not off the hook. "I just… know about having to walk away. I'm sorry Heyes. I won't make light of it no more."
Heyes recognized the sincerity in his partner's voice. "Thanks," he said, then downed the remaining whiskey in one gulp. "You ready to call it a night?"
Kid nodded. "Sure."
They headed out of the saloon and started across the street.
"Who?" Heyes asked.
"Who what?"
"Who did you hafta walk away from?"
"Me?" Kid asked.
Heyes gave him an exasperated frown. "You just said you know what it's like to hafta walk away, so who did you have to walk away from?"
Kid grinned. "You've got your secrets Heyes, and I've got mine."
Author's Note: This story came to be for two reasons. The first is that I do like to force myself out of my comfort zone from time to time and the combination of Heyes and sex is way out of my comfort zone. The second reason is to appease those who think I should try to give Heyes equal time (you know who your are),at least once in a while.