Chapter 9

Damn this rain to hell!  And damn the bastard that had killed Royce.  He'd finally picked up their trail just before all this rain had started to fall.  But that didn't matter.  He'd find them.  And when he did,  he was going to cut that miserable whelp of a mangy bitch up into little pieces.  And he'd make sure that pretty little girl watched it all.  Nobody shot up his gang, took what belonged to him and got away with it.  Nobody made a fool of Harlan Mathis.  When he'd left Doyle and Carl behind to heal up, he'd promised them both he'd make that interfering son of a bitch pay.  And pay he would.  Just like that fellow in the circus who had shot at them while they were riding off with them two girls of his. He had shown him what happens to anybody that messed with his gang.  He'd stripped him naked, tied him to a tree and carved him up like a Christmas goose. He'd took his circus clothes with him as a souvenir.

Both of those little gals had been lookers, too.  Dark and exotic, like gypsies.   Too bad he'd had to let the boys have one of them.  If he could have sold both of them he might not be crouched here under this ledge in the cliffs waiting for the rain to stop and the daylight to start.  If he could have sold both of them, he wouldn't have been so anxious to find another girl to sell and they wouldn't have been in that valley and Royce would still be alive.  But he also wouldn't have found the girl.  This girl was sure to bring his highest price yet.   He knew that from the first moment he'd seen her walking out of the woods towards the stream.  She had the face of an angel and the body of a whore.  She was like peaches in cream.  Sweet and creamy smooth. He could remember the softness of her skin and the smell of her.  It was making his mouth water to think about her.  The man who had her now had better keep his sorry paws off of her.  If he ruined her she wouldn't bring half as much.  But then again if he'd already ruined her it wouldn't matter if he took a turn with her himself.  An evil, sadistic smile split his face, revealing rotten snags that had once been teeth.  So either way he was a winner.  He took his knife out of its sheath and caressed the cold blade.  He loved the feel of the sharp steel in his hands. Guns were so impersonal.  He preferred to be up close and personal when he killed his victims.   He loved the feel of the knife severing the skin and plunging  into the flesh.  When you shot someone, you could only see their reaction.  With a knife, you could actually feel the reaction  as their body endured the first stabbing wounds.  Oh, he was going to have some fun when he finally caught up to them two.  He could hardly wait for the day to break.

Chapter 8

This chapter contains a brief PG-13 moment.  If you are not old enough then don't read any further.



"Really?  Seven feet tall?

"Yep."

"Indians?"

"Yep."

 "But they weren't really redheaded?"

"Oh, no.  We figured out that there was something in the soil there that turned their hair red."

The creak of saddle leather and the jingle of harness and tack created a melody of sorts as they rode together  on the back of the strong stallion they had both affectionately come to know as Rusty.  As Rusty carried them southward at a brisk walk, Evangeline thought about the story Joshua has just told her.

"That's unbelievable.  If I didn't have complete faith in your trustworthiness Joshua, I'd think you were making the whole thing up. I think I'd very much like to see that cave with those Indian bones someday.  But I don't think I would want to go anywhere near Devil's Hole though."

"So you've heard of Devil's Hole, have you?"

"Everybody's heard of Devil's Hole.  That's where the Devil's Hole Gang lives. I've read stories about them, and that's why I wouldn't want to go there.

"Oh, you'd be alright.  Those stories are exaggerated.  Half of what's in them isn't  even true.  Not all outlaws are murders, Evangeline.  Most of them are just good men who've been forced to make some bad decisions.  And before they know it they're stuck in a way of life that they can't get out of."

She turned her head so that she was looking up and behind her directly into his beautiful brown eyes.  She squinted curiously at him.  "And just how do you know those stories aren't true?  And just how is it that you know anything about outlaws, Joshua?"

"Because I'm Hannibal Heyes, the former leader of the Devil's Hole gang and the subject of many of those tales you've read. Perhaps you've heard of me,"  That was what he'd like to say.  "Oh, I've known a few outlaws in my day.  And I'd trust most of them with my life.  Not my money or my girl maybe, but definitely my life."

"And speaking of girls.  That girl, Julia,  that you explored that cave with....was she nice?"

"Uh huh.  Real nice."

"You liked her, huh?"

"Yeah, I liked her."

"Was she pretty?"

"Yes, she was very pretty."

"What did she look like?"

"Long blonde hair, blue eyes.  Short.  Came to about here,"  he put his hand to his shoulder.

Oh that figures, she thought.  Why did men always find the petite blondes pretty? Why couldn't she have inherited her mother's blonde beauty and small stature?  At five feet five inches tall she had felt like a giant next to her mother's five foot height.

"Did you fall in love with her?"

"My, you are direct aren't you?"

"I'm sorry.  It's one of my many faults, I'm afraid.  Another of the Scottish traits that, according to my father,  I inherited from my mother."  A pause.     "Soooo,  did you?  Fall in love with her I mean."

"Direct and persistent.....I like that.  It reminds me of......me.   And the answer is 'no.'  She was a real sweet girl.  I liked her alot, but I didn't fall in love with her."

"But she fell in love with you didn't she?"

He chuckled deep in his throat.  "I guess maybe she did.  She wanted me to come to Boston with her."

"Why didn't you?"

"I've never lived anywhere but in the west.  I don't know if I could survive back east.  Especially in a big city like Boston.  Thaddeus and me like the open spaces of the west.  It's our home.  Doubt if we'll ever get further east than the Mississippi.

"Have you ever been in love, Joshua?"

He thought about that for a minute.  "There was this girl at the orphan's home where me and Thaddeus grew up.  Her name was Laura.  I was only thirteen.  She was fifteen.  She was the first girl I ever loved.   We were inseparable for almost a year. I used to daydream about me and her being married.   Then on her sixteenth birthday,  I went to look for her to give her a birthday present I'd made for her.  When I found her she was behind the outhouse kissing a boy I couldn't stand.  My heart was broke. Well first I was mad.  I punched that boy in the nose. Then she informed me that I was too young and immature for her and Bradley was her new beau.   Then I went off by myself and cried like a big baby."

"Awwww.  That's so sad.  I'm so sorry."  She gave his hand which was resting on his thigh beside hers a squeeze. "But if she couldn't see how wonderful you are and grab onto you and not let go then she was a foolish girl and didn't deserve you anyway. I know I wouldn't have let you go."

His brows shot up in surprise at that.   He cleared his throat.  "Yeah that's what Thaddeus told me too, when he found me sulking in the woods. That was the first time he'd seen me cry since our folks died.  And the last time."

"You mean you haven't cried since you were thirteen?"

"That's not what I said.  I said it was the last time he'd seen me cry."

"Well, it's not many men who would admit that they've ever cried, even in private."

"Everybody cries.  It's called being a human.....Whoa."   The horse halted and he announced, with a self satisfied grin, "There it is."

"There what is?"

"What I've been waiting to run into all day."   He dismounted and reached to help her down.  He took her hand a led her towards a spot in the creek where there were no trees allowing the afternoon  sun to shine down on the water.  "I think I promised somebody a bath."  He smiled down at her with his crooked  smile, making his prominent left dimple grow deeper in his cheek.  She really liked that dimple.

She was overjoyed at the sight of the inviting water glistening in the sunshine.  "Oh, Joshua, I can hardly wait!"  She giggled a little as she clapped her hands and hopped up and down, before turning on her heals and bounding back towards the horse.  "I'll get the soap,"  she called over her shoulder.

Joshua watched her, fascinated.   One minute she was so like a woman and the next she was more like a child.  This woman child was bringing out instincts in him he didn't think he would ever have toward any other human except the Kid.  Instincts to protect and provide.  And to make her happy.  He felt a tightness in his chest as he witnessed the happiness she was experiencing from something as simple as a bath.   He hadn't felt this happy at somebody else's happiness since he'd surprised Kid with that new hat back in  Carson City last year.

"Come on  let's go," she said as she grabbed his hand and tugged him along down to the water's edge.  

She kicked off her kid skin ankle boots without even unlacing them, pulled her socks off and gingerly stepped over the rocky ground until her feet were submerged in the rippling stream.  "You don't mind if I go first do you?

"Of course not.  Lady's first.  I'm gonna go look after the animals while you get in the water.  And be careful.  Stay close to the bank and watch your step, the bottom can be tricky.

"Joshua, I've been bathing in streams and creeks for weeks now.  Ever since we left  Fort Worth."  She unbottoned  her dusty shirt as she waded further out into the rushing waters and tossed it onto the rocky  bank.

"I've been bathing in streams and creeks for most of my life, Evangeline,"  he spoke to her over his shoulder as he walked back toward the horses, "and no two are the same and they can fool you.  The bottom can drop out from under...."

He was cut off by a scream followed by a noisy splash.  He ran back to the stream and splashed into the water,  boots and all, to grab her flailing arms and pull her up out of the water and against his chest.   She coughed and gasped for air,  grabbing onto his shoulders for support.  When she had gotten her breath back, she looked sheepishly up at him. 

"You alright?" he asked, pushing her wet clinging hair from her face with his leather gloved hands.

 "Wipe that smirky grin off your face, Mr. Smith," she sputtered out as she gripped his firm biceps to better steady herself. 

"Alright, how about I just laugh at you instead,"  he said and gave a throaty chuckle.

She looked down, embarrassed at having made such a fool of herself and what she saw made her go from embarrassed to down right mortified.  There she stood holding onto him in her sopping wet camisole.  The wet fabric had become practically see through and was clinging indecently to her breasts. Their eyes traveled slowly upward in unison until their gazes locked.  He wasn't laughing anymore. And she knew he had seen too.  She quickly turned her back to him,  crossing her arms over her breasts.  "I'm sorry.  I should have listened to you.  And I made you get your clothes and your boots all wet."

"That's alright.  No harm done."  His voice sounded a little shaky even to his own ears.  He cleared his throat and made his way out of the water. "I'm going to get you some dry clothes.  Don't move from that spot 'til I get back.  Understand?"

"I won't move. I promise."

When he reached the mule he had to take a moment to compose himself.  First from the scare she'd just given him.  The thought of her in trouble made him sick to his stomach.  And second from the sight of her breasts in her clinging wet undergarments and all that glorious hair dripping wet down her back.  Hopefully they'd be in town tomorrow night.  Thirty six more hours and all this alone togetherness would come to an end.  If it didn't end soon he was afraid they were both going to be in trouble from more than murdering outlaws.  He just couldn't figure it out.   Women didn't get to him this way. Oh, he liked women.  Liked them alot.  Enjoyed looking at them, talking to them, smelling them, and....well, he liked women alot.  But one thing he didn't do was let them get in his head.  But this young lady was getting in his head and she was getting to him.  And he could tell he was getting to her too.  He was no idiot.  He knew when a woman was attracted to him.  Most women found him attractive, he knew that, but this was different.  She found him attractive and she had become dependant on him.   It was just lucky for both of them she was too innocent and afraid to act on that attraction.  Because if she had acted the slightest bit inclined a minute ago, he would have pulled her into his arms and kissed the breathe right out of her again.  But she had been frightened and turned away from him just in time. Shaking his head to clear the lingering vision of her in her nearly transparent underclothes, he took the set of saddlebags from the mule's back that held  a couple of towels, his soap, tooth powders , shaving things, and changes of clothes for both of them.  He took a deep breath, exhaled it slowly and  headed back to the stream.

"Here's one of those dresses  I told you about and a pair of stockings.  I'll lay them here on this rock.  Go ahead and take off...uhm....everything.... and wash them out and they should dry by morning.  I'll take your other clothes downstream aways and wash them.  I'll be close enough to hear you if you holler.  But be careful. Don't get so far out in the middle.  Stay closer to the bank, will ya?"

"I will."  Keeping her back to him, she watched over her shoulder as he disappeared around a thicket of trees with her dirty clothes she'd thrown onto the bank.  When she was sure he was out of sight she let out a long, tremulous sigh.    She walked back to the creek bank on shaky legs.  Just from so many hours gripping the saddle,  she told herself.   She retrieved the soap and wash cloth and  busied herself with scrubbing her hair, face and arms.  Her under clothes needed to be scrubbed too, as well as her body beneath them.  But the thought of baring herself completely made her quiver all over.  But what exactly was she afraid of?   Was she afraid of eternal damnation if she was unclothed with a man so close by. The pastor of her church back home would have told her it was sinful to even think of being unclothed with a man so close.  But that wasn't it.  Was she afraid that Joshua might be lurking behind the bushes watching her?  No, he was far too gentlemanly to do such a thing.  What then was she so afraid of?    She was afraid of what she had felt when she realized he had seen her  even partially naked.   When their eyes had locked for that brief second,  and awareness had passed between them,  a strange tightening happened low in her abdomen.  And she felt flushed and warm in places she'd never even paid any mind to before.   And removing every bit of clothing and being completely nude when he was so close made her feel reckless and wanton.  She couldn't put a name to what she felt but it was definitly new to her.   She began to shiver a little.  The water must be chillier than she had thought.    The once inviting water was slowly becoming downright cold and the  warm breeze that had been blowing was quickly becoming a brisk, cool wind.  Unable to put it off any longer she timidly removed her undergarments, after looking  around in all directions as if someone might be watching her out here in the middle of nowhere.   When she and her underclothes were scrubbed  clean, she cautiously  stepped from the water and onto the rocky shore.  She dried herself and picked up the dress he had left for her.  She knew it wasn't one of hers as soon as she saw it lying there folded up.  The simple cotton dress was a beautiful lavender print that had been one of her mother's favorites.  She unfolded it and  pulled the dress over her head.  The bodice of her petite mother's dress fit so snuggly that her ample breasts spilled out of the scooped neckline. She expected it to be far too short but her lack of bloomers and petticoats to take up the length allowed the skirt to fall to her ankles.  She wrung out her wet underwear and laid them out on a bush hoping the afternoon sun would help dry them and her hair. It was only then that she realized the sun was no longer shining.

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All their clothes were clean and spread out to dry on an old pine log nearby.  Hannibal Heyes was now busy at the task of getting himself clean.  He knew he had been dirty but he didn't realize how dirty until he began to wash away the layers of grime and grit that clung to his hair and skin.  The cool brisk waters felt good to his overheated skin.  All he needed now was a shave.  He hadn't shaved in a couple of days and his beard was getting pretty thick and scratchy. He withdrew himself from the water, dried and dressed.  Settling his mirror between two branches on a tree he lathered up and started to shave.  His mirror caught the reflection of the sky in the west behind him.  Rolling in from the west, behind the mountains,  were thick heavy clouds that matched the color of Evangeline's eyes.  Oh, no.  Rain was coming.  He shaved almost as fast as Kid Curry drew a gun then grabbed all their wet belongings and headed back to where he'd left her. 

 She  had just finished  lacing  her shoes when he came running around the thicket of trees he'd disappeared around earlier.  Only this time he was clean shaven, his dark hair wet and slicked back on his head.  He'd changed from his buff jeans and dark shirt into dark  brown pants and blue shirt which he hadn't even taken the time to button or tuck in.  The look on his face told her something was wrong.

"What is it?  What's the matter?"  she jumped up and ran to  meet him

.  

"It's alright,  It's nothing that serious.  It's just that we're fixing to get wet from more than a bath."  He pointed to the western sky and she followed his gaze to see the dark looming clouds lurking behind the mountains.

"What should we do?"

"We gotta go west towards the mountains.  Those foothills have got to have some caves or something we can take shelter in." 

"Won't we be riding right into the storm?"

"Yeah, but I think we got time to get there and find shelter before the rain gets here.  Anyway, we can't just stay here in the open."  

As he spoke he began buttoning his shirt.  He must have washed the white henley under shirt he had been wearing because his chest was bare under the blue shirt.  She was momentarily hypnotized by the sight of  his well sculpted chest with a small triangle of dark hair nestled in the middle.  And then there was his hard, flat belly with it's own sprinkling of dark curls surrounding his belly button that tapering  down to disappear below the waist band of his pants. A few tiny droplets of water still clung to his skin and sparkled against the ripples of his abdomen.   There was that tightening feeling again. "You ready?" he asked, tucking in his shirt tail.

She jumped in her skin as his words startled her out of her appreciative examination  of his upper torso.  Not trusting her voice, she merely nodded.

They packed all their belongings back into the saddlebags. Joshua  mounted the horse and reaching down pulled her up behind him.  The proud stallion swiftly carried the pair  west towards the mountains and the impending storm.

                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later they came upon the foothills of the Davis Mountains.  They dismounted and searched on foot until they found a perfect place to take shelter.   Projecting out of the side of a steep cliff was an overhang.  Evangeline said it looked like God had taken a spoon and dipped it into the side of the mountain, leaving behind this dry shelter with a soft sandy ground inside.   The overhang extended about ten feet from the side of the mountain and was about twelve feet wide and eight feet from the ground.   There was plenty of room for Joshua, Evangeline and their animals and equipment.    Large raindrops began to fall and thunder began to roll in the distance as Joshua removed the last of the gear from the mule and placed it under the overhang.   Evangeline was busy placing their blankets on top of the pine needles and leaves she'd gathered and arranged in a neat pile on the right side of the shelter.  Soon a fire was blazing in the center nearer the front edge  with the animals on the left.   As Joshua unsaddled the horse the winds picked up, lightning steaked the sky and rain began to fall in sheets to beat the ground outside.  

"Whew.  We barely made it.  Couldn't have done it without you," he said.

"Hey, we're in this together remember.  Until we get to Red Rock, I'm your partner."

"Well, partner,  looks like we're stuck here for the rest of the night."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"As long as it keeps raining like this I think it's a good thing.  Our tracks will get washed away if anybody's trailing us.  And nobody can do much traveling in this kind of weather.  So I think we're alright for tonight." 

He didn't know if he was trying to convince her or himself.  He just had that nagging feeling that trouble was looming.  He stood for a long time at the edge of their shelter scanning the surrounding area and the trees. If somebody did find them here in this cave, there was no where to run. It made him feel trapped and he didn't like that.  And his gun had to be cleaned and oiled now that he'd gotten it wet earlier when he'd went in the water to pull Evangeline out.  At least he had the dead man's rifle.  But he didn't have any extra ammo for it.  He only had the few bullets he'd found in the dead man's pockets.   It made him nervous and so he paced.  Like he always did when he was nervous.  He turned to watch her as she busied herself with  unpacking their wet clothes and laying them out by the fire to dry. Then there was the other kind of trouble he felt was looming.  All the alone togetherness he was hoping to avoid was now unavoidable.  He resumed his pacing, as he watched the rain fall in sheets outside.  Being confined with her for the night was going to be a real  test of willpower.  His mind went back to the day he'd cracked the safe at the Armendarez Ranch and found priceless jewels and thousands of dollars inside.  He had resisted the temptation that day and it had paid off in the long run.  And he would resist this temptation too. 

 "Will you sit down somewhere please?  You're making me nervous with all that pacing."

Her words roused him from his thoughts and he turned to see her sitting cross legged on their make shift bed. Her words sounded like something the Kid would say to him. 

 "Didn't you say you had some more of my clothes?" she asked, looking for anything to distract him so that his nervous pacing would stop.  She didn't like it when he was nervous.  

"Yes, they're in my extra set of saddle bags.  I tried to fold them up as neat as I could."

"I'd like to have a look at them please.  I'd like to know if they're mine or my mama's.  This one is Mama's,"  she fondled the material of the skirt a she spoke.  "It's a little too small."

"Yeah, I noticed.  Sorry."

She didn't know if he meant he was sorry he had grabbed the wrong dress or if he was sorry he had noticed the indecently tight fit of it.

  

He handed her the saddlebags and sat down on their leaf and pine needle bed beside her.  She pulled out the articles of clothing and after inspection determined that he had indeed salvaged two  of her dresses.   As she pulled the last dress out of the bags a boxed deck of cards fell out.  "Now, why have you been keeping these a secret?" she asked as she held up the deck in front of him.

"I didn't think it would be proper in the presense of  a young lady that's all."

"Now didn't you tell me that propriety had to be set aside when you're trying to survive?"

"Oh, yeah, I believe I did say something like that."

"Well I can't think of a better way to pass the time, can you?"

He smiled, intrigued by her boldness and charmed by her childlike eagerness.   "Alrighty, then," he said as he removed the deck and began to shuffle.

                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Why, you little cheat." he said with a grin on his face.  They sat cross legged, facing each other.

  

Her mouth fell open for a split second and then snapped shut.  Always deny it even if you get caught her father had taught her.  "Whatever are you tallking about?"  she feigned innocence.

" Well first off I'm talking about you making me think you didn't know how to play poker.  And second, I'm talking about that ace of clubs you just played.  I saw you palm it when you were dealing."

She knew she was caught.  "I was only returning the favor."

It was his turn to play innocent.  "What is that supposed to mean?"

"That means I saw you deal me that deuce off the bottom of the deck a while ago and spoil my staight."

His grin turned into a full on dimpled smile.  "You saw that did you?"

"Yes I did."

"Well,  that was just me returning the favor.  You were dealing me seconds the whole time we were playing black jack earlier.  So I thought I would do a little cheating myself to see if you would call me on it."

"Yes, I spotted it and yes I'm calling you on it.  And it takes a cheat to spot a cheat so I guess we're both cheats, huh?"

They laughed at each other.  "Yeah I guess so.  But I never cheat in a legitimate game, " he added with seriousness.   " Where in the world did you learn to deal seconds and palm cards?"

"Oh, I can do alot more than that.  And my daddy taught me.  He was a con man and a gambler back in the day remember."

"Oh, yeah I remember you mentioning that."

"But he only taught me to cheat so I could spot a cheat.  Mama never even knew he taught  me to play cards let alone how to cheat at them.  She said it wasn't decent or respectable for a lady to ever be caught playing cards or shooting a gun or going in a saloon.  But Daddy had grown up an orphan with no money  and he'd had to do what he had to to survive.   Mama never had to worry about anything like that.  And Daddy said if there ever came a time in my life when I might have to do whatever I had to to survive he wanted me to have every advantage I could,  because the world could be a cruel and a hard place."  She paused.   "Looks like he was right."

She became very quiet then.  He knew she was missing her folks.  "I think your father and I would have gotten along just fine.  He sounds like my kind of people."

 "You would have liked him very much.  And he would have liked you too.  And he would have spotted that breathers crimp you put  in that ace of hearts long before I did."

He looked at her in disbelief, astonished that she even knew what the art of putting an almost invisible diagonal crease in the center of the card was called.  Let alone that she'd spotted it.     "You spotted that?"

"It took me awhile but yes, I spotted it."

"It takes a real good eye to spot a breathers crimp.  You're quite a woman, Miss Webb."

"Why thank you, Mr. Smith."

"Except for a couple of things.  Your left eyebrow arches just a little bit when you draw  what you need. And the right side of your mouth twitches ever so slightly when you bluff."  He reached out his finger and brushed the corner of her mouth lightly.

She blushed a little knowing he had spotted her tells, and at the fluttery feeling she had in her stomach when he touched her.   She on the other hand had spotted none of his tells. "I know.  I need to work on that. But my hat's off to you.  I never spotted a single tell from you."

"Well, it takes alot of practice and I've had alot.  You're good though.  Nobody else would have noticed your tells.  You're pretty amazing."

How many other men  would think her skill as a card sharp was amazing?  Her guess was none.

He picked up the deck of cards.  "I believe it's my deal."

"Yes, Joshua I believe it is." 

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sounds of rain and thunder were loud outside the cave.  But inside it was the sound of laughter that reverberated off the cliff  walls as they lounged on their blankets with their heads against Joshua's saddle.    They both laughed as Evangeline shared tales of her misadventures as a child.

"I came stumbling out of the barn, tripping over my own feet.  Mama and Daddy thought I was sick with some terrible disease.  They put me to bed and Daddy went into town for the doctor. When the doctor got there I was puking my guts up.   After he examined me  he  said 'What do you want me to do for her, she's not sick she's drunk as a skunk!'."  

  

"I'd love to see that.  You - three sheets to the wind."   He laughed at the picture of her falling down drunk as a kid.  "How old were you?"

"About ten I think."

"So I guess you got your hide tanned for that one too,huh?"

"No, actually I didn't. Daddy said the hangover I had the next day was punishment enough.  I thought I was dying.  And I learned my lesson, too.  I have never touched liquor since.  Except for egg nog at Christmas."

"It sounds like you have some real good memories of you and your folks.  That's something  you should be grateful for.  I never got the chance to make a whole lot of memories with my folks."

"That makes me sad, Joshua.  My heart hurts for the little boy you were.  All alone with nobody to take care of you."

"I wasn't completely alone,  I had Thaddeus.  We took care of each other.  But you, you don't have anybody."

"Not true.  I have you."

 For the first time in a long time, Hannibal Heyes' silver tongue failed him.  Having nothing suitable to say he just gave her a sympathetic smile and went to stir the dying fire.

                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As dusk fell outside the cave, they shared a meager meal of beef jerky, hard tack and Joshua's  coffee.

When the dusk was overtaken by complete darkness, Joshua added more wood to the fire, as it was sure to get colder as the night went on.    He reclined across their leaf and blanket bed propped up on one elbow, watching as Evangeline brushed her hair by the firelight. Her eyes were closed as she gently tugged the tangles from her long lush tresses which had finally dried.  So she didn't see his deep intake and slow release of breath as he envisioned brushing her hair for her.  

He watched, transfixed by the play of the firelight on her hair as she pulled the brush through the length of it.  Still she kept her eyes closed as she tended to the silken mass, straightening the knots and tangles.  He took the opportunity to study her.  She was so lovely.   His eyes traveled slowly up the length of her as she sat with her legs stretched out in front of her.  The tight fit of her dress left little to the imagination about the shape of her body underneath.  Round hips, small waist, ample bosom, which protuded from the top of the  too small garment.  A gracefully slender neck which supported one of the prettiest faces he'd ever seen.  Skin that reminded him of the cream his mother used to let him drink after she'd milked the cow.  He remembered how soft if had felt against his fingers earlier.  And then there was that hair.  The tangles were loosening for her  now and she was able to pull the brush  all the way through the length of it and it began to crackle with static as she did so.  He envisioned his fingers replacing that hairbrush.

"Would you mind?"

"Huh? What? Oh."  Her voice had shook him out of the stupor he had found himself in as he fantasized about running his fingers through her hair.  She was extending her hand with the brush in it towards him.

  

"There are some tangles back there I can't reach."   She sensed his unease at her request and she wished now she had not asked him to brush her hair for her.  It was quite rude and presumptuous of her.  "You don't have to if you don't want to."

If he didn't want to?  Was she kidding?  That's all he'd thought about doing for the last half hour.  But now that she was giving him the opportunity he felt as nervous as a school boy about to kiss a girl for the first time.  "No, no.  It's fine.  It's just that I've never....uuhh."  He laughed nervously, rubbing his jaw with this hand.   He took the brush from her hand and looked at like it was a three headed frog or something.

"Well it's not that hard, Joshua, you just pull it through.  But not too hard though."

She turned so her back was to him.   He sat cross legged behind her.  And he brushed her hair.  That glorious hair that was the stuff of fantasy for him. He gently worked out the knots and tangles he found until the brush ran easily through the entire length of it.    He couldn't resist the urge to touch it.  He ran the fingers of his free hand through it.  It was softer that he had imagined it would be now that it was washed and brushed.  

"Joshua?"  

"Hhmm?"

"What's going to happen to me?"  she asked in a subdued tone.

"What do you mean?  I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"I know you won't but, that's not what I mean.  I mean after we get to Alpine and we tell the sheriff about everything that happened.  What happens then?"

"Well...I guess you'll go with me to Red Rock. We'll meet up with Thaddeus and decide what our next move is."

"Your going to contact my mother's family in Tennessee, aren't you?"

"They're your  family too, Evangeline.  And don't you think they'd want to know about your mother and brother, and about you."

She turned to face him and looked into his brown eyes, which had a hazy seductive look to them now.  "What if I don't want you to contact them?  What if I asked you not to?  Would you do it anyway?"

"They're the only family you've got now.  You're going to need all the support you can get from any family or friends you have.  Believe me I know.  My life might have been alot different if I'd had some kin to take me in after my folks died."

"They may as well be strangers.  I don't know them and they don't know me.  And what if they don't care?  What if they don't want me?"

"How could anybody not want you?"  

He was doing it again,  looking at her mouth like he meant to devour it.  And oh how she wanted him to.  The whole time he was brushing her hair, she was acutely aware of the fact that she had nothing on under her dress.  Why in the world would his brushing her hair make her aware of that.  And why in the world would that last question he asked make her feel all fluttery in her belly and weak in her knees?  If she hadn't been sure before, she was sure now that these strange sensations were the awakenings of desire.  She didn't quite understand it but she wanted to find out what happens next.

Yes, it was desire.  He had seen it in the way her facial expression changed as soon as those last words had left his mouth.   Had seen it in her eyes.  He tossed the brush down on the blanket and  rose quickly. He walked towards the fire at the front of the cave, needing to distance himself from her.  But he heard her rise and follow to stand behind him. He didn't know how much of this he was going to be able to take.  Lightning flashed outside followed by a loud crash of thunder.

She didn't know what to say to him. Was unsure of what to do.   She lightly touched his shoulder.  "Joshua, please...."

He turned suddenly and pinned her with a look that silenced her.  She had never seen a look like that  from him before. But she had seen that look somewhere else.  It was the way her father had looked at her mother on many nights when she and Gabe were told to go to bed early.  His voice was deeper and huskier than usual when he said,   "Joshua, please what?"

He took her face in his hands and ran his thumb across her soft full botton lip.  He was testing the waters to see just how far she would let him go before she tucked tail and ran.  When her response was to match his gaze with one of anticipation instead of fear,  he stepped closer to her, closing the space between them.  Her soft, full lips parted as if she were going to speak, but she said nothing.  Good, grief, she's asking for it.  Does she even know what she's doing?  Well, if this is what she wanted then he would oblige her.  He felt like he was moving in slow motion as he lowered his mouth to her waiting lips.  It was a very quick almost chaste kiss.  And when still she didn't retreat,  he lowered his mouth to hers again.  Only this time he opened his mouth over hers.  His warm soft lips coaxed hers apart.  He felt her momentary hesitation, as she was unsure of what to do.  But as he moved his mouth over hers,  she began to open to him and give him access to the honeyed sweetness inside. 

She learned quickly.  Soon she was kissing him back.  An animal like growl sounded deep in his throat and he moved his hands from her face down to encircle her waist.  She wrapped her arms around his back and clung to his shoulders.  He deepened the kiss even further and slanted his mouth back and forth over hers. She tasted so sweet.  Then his hands drifted back up to plunge into her hair.  He kneeded her scalp with his fingertips loving the feel of her silky hair as it slid through his fingers. He could smell the scent of the lavendar soap she 'd bathed in.  It mingled with the unidentifiable scent that was Evangeline and it intoxicated him.  He released her mouth to trail tiny kisses across her cheek and down to her jawline before making his way back to her waiting mouth.  His hands left her hair and moved downward until they were grasping the soft round cheeks of her bottom. He pulled her closer, pressing her pelvis into his.    And that was it.  She stiffened in his arms and her once pliant mouth became still and hard.  He had ventured into territory her innocense would not allow her to go.  She released her grip on his shoulders and  brought her hands up to her flushed face.  She was unable to look at him.  He searched her face to find her eyes but she would not look at him.  And he wasn't going to force her to.  He released her from his embrace and turned again to face the fire.

  

"I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have......Don't worry.....it won't happen again."

She stood rooted to that spot as he marched past the fire and the animals to sit at the far left side of the overhang.  Her legs  felt like they  were made of paper and they weren't going to support her much longer. She wanted to follow him and ask him why he had stopped.  But she felt like her knees were going to buckle.   She made her way back to the blankets and half way collapsed onto them.  She brought her fingers up to her lips and touched them.  They still tingled from his kisses.  Her first real kiss.  And Joshua had given it to her.  Oh, how wonderful it had been.  And how scary at the same time.  Despite the warmth inside the cave she found herself shivering.  How could she be shivering when she felt like her insides were on fire?   And everytime she thought of how his mouth had felt on hers, she felt a throbbing heaviness in her womb.  He was awakening feelings in her she didn't recognize.  When he had grabbed her bottom she had stiffened in his arms.   He had thought she was afraid.  And she had been, a little at first.   But actually she just didn't know what she was supposed to do. She was embarrassed by her complete lack of experience.   If she could do it again maybe......but he'd said it wouldn't happen again.  She was suddenly as limp as a rag doll.  She fell back onto her bedroll and closed her eyes.  "I wish you were here, Mama.  I need you to tell me what to do.  I'm so confused.   He makes me feel things I've never felt before."   She threw her arm across her closed eyes as tears began to squeeze from the corners and run down her cheeks. What if he thought she hadn't wanted him to kiss her.  What if he thought she had stiffened in his arms because she was afraid of him.  She could never be afraid of him.  He was her knight in shining armor.  Her savior.  She trusted him with her life. She wanted to go to him and tell him she was the one who was sorry for making him think he had taken advantage of her when she had wanted him to kiss her.   But she sensed he wanted to be alone right now. And she didn't think her trembling legs could carry her that far.   And so she lay there silently, trying to ignore the lingering scent of him.  It was a tantalizing combination of leather, saddle oil and shaving lotion.  The heaviness and the shivering were getting worse.   She lay awake staring at the cliff wall wondering if what she felt was normal.  And if this was desire, how did one get the quivering and aching to go away?

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He sat by the far edge of the overhang looking out at the endless blackness, listening to the sound of rain as it pounded the ground outside.   He was grateful for the two big animals that stood between him and the young woman on the other side.  The same young woman that was responsible for the fire that was burning inside of him.  He was hoping the cool night air wafting in would cool him off.  So far it had not.  Even the cold rain drops that found their way inside and splashed against his heated skin did little to calm the need she'd aroused in him.  My God, what was wrong with him? He was ashamed of himself.  He'd  known better than to touch her.  He knew once he did he'd only succeed in scaring her and losing her trust, and making himself miserable with wanting something he couldn't have. Never mind the fact that she was an innocent young woman who'd probably never been kissed before.  No "probably" about it.  He could tell when he'd  first opened his mouth over hers she had never been kissed.  At least not a real kiss.  She had probably dreamed of her first kiss being a wine and roses experience.  Which is what she deserved.  To be treated like a lady.  But he had treated her like a two dollar whore.  He slammed his fist into his thigh.  "Kid, I've really messed up this time.  I wish you were here.  I need you to tell me what a blasted fool I'm being."   Just then Jenny decided to put in her two cents and brayed at him.  He looked at the mule.  "So you agree, huh?"   Then it was Rusty's  turn to give a snort.    "You too?  Well, that makes three of us."

He sat and stared into the darkness until he knew she was asleep. It must have been a few hours. The storms were moving east and had left behind a cold mist of rain.  The temperature had probably dropped twenty degrees.  But it was still plenty warm inside their cliffside hide away.  He added more wood to the fire anyway, and settled down by the fireside to clean and oil his gun.  He looked at her sleeping form covered by her blanket.  He hoped he hadn't destroyed her trust in him.  They still had a day and a half's ride ahead of them.  He didn't want her to be afraid of him.  But one thing was for sure.  He was not going to lay down beside her here in the confines of this cavern.  And that was a promise he was making to himself and one he planned to keep.  Lying beside her now was asking for more  trouble than he'd already created.  He'd just sit here by the fire and clean his gun.  Then maybe he'd do a little reading.  Anything to take his mind off the memory of the taste of her kiss and the feel of her in his hands. Not to mention the emotions he'd felt when he'd first felt her returning his kiss.  He looked at his watch.  One am.  Five more hours and the sun would be up and he could get out of this cave.  And he couldn't wait.  For some reason the air in here had become stifling and he felt like he was suffocating.  

                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite his best efforts to stay awake,  Heyes dozed as he leaned back against the cliff wall.  But he was jolted from his sleep by a blood curdling scream that echoed off the rocky walls.  Evangeline was having another nightmare.  He was by her side in less than a heartbeat. 

"Joshua!" she screamed, as though she were terrified.

"Wake up, Evie!  It's just a bad dream."

The sound of his voice brought her instantly awake.  She sat up, not sure where she was for a moment.  She was bosoms rose and fell with her  heavy breathing.  She felt as if she had been running for a long distance. Then she saw Joshua kneeling beside her.  She touched her hand to the side of his face to make sure he was really there.  Solid and warm.  He was real.  "Oh, thank God.  I thought he'd killed you.  I thought you were dead."  She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, comforted by the reassuring sound of his heartbeat in her ear.

   

"It's alright, I'm here and I'm just fine.  It was just a dream, that's all."

   

"It was  a terrible dream.  It seemed so real and I....what did you call me? 

"Huh?"

"Just then, when you woke me, what did you call me?"

"I called you 'Evie' I think.  It just came out that way.  Evangeline is quite a mouthful, you know."

"That's what Daddy and Gabe called me.  They were the only ones who ever called me that."

"Oh.  I won't call you that any more if it bothers you."

"No.  It doesn't bother me.  In fact I can't think of anybody else in the whole world I would ever want to call me that except you."

There was a strained silence then as both were remembering the kiss they had shared earlier, but neither was willing to broach the subject.

  

Then they blurted in unison, 

  

"I hope you don't think.....

"I'm a real jackass for.....

A moment of silence.  Again in unison,

"You're not a jackass....

"I wasn't thinking....

Silence.  Then they both began to laugh.

"Listen,"  he started before she could, "I was real stupid earlier and I know I probably made you feel uncomfortable and that's the last thing I wanted to do.  I'm sorry." 

"You didn't make me feel uncomfortable.  You just...surprised me that's all.  I could never be uncomfortable with you around.  And you're not a jackass.  There's nothing to be sorry for."

"Is that the first time anybody ever kissed you?"

She looked away from his piercing brown gaze.  He seemed to be able to look inside her and see the answer without her speaking.  And so she said nothing as a soft blush crept up her cheeks.

"That's what I thought. Tell you what.  Let's just forget that it ever happened.  That way, someday when you meet Mr. Right  your first real kiss it will be perfect and romantic with candlelight and roses.  Deal?"   Needing the deeper connection of eye contact, he placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head until her eyes locked with his.  

Forget it?   Was he crazy?  How could she ever forget it?  It had been the most wonderful experience in her life so far.  And to her mind it had been perfect and romantic.  It made her sad to think that he thought otherwise.  Or that he felt he had cheated her out of a memorable first kiss.  She would trade candlelight and roses for firelight and pine needles any day, as long as Joshua was with her. But he obviously ranked it very low on his list of memorable moments since he was so eager to forget it. Trying to hide her disappoitnment, she said softly, "Deal."

He smiled that dimpled smile she had grown to love so much and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Kisses on the forehead don't count, though."   Then he laid back against his saddle that she had been using for a pillow.  He was mentally and physically exhausted.  

"If I promise there won't be any kissing involved, can I maybe sleep next to you again?  It seems to keep the bad dreams away."

He didn't speak but instead stretched his arm out to the side and patted the spot beside him.  She wasted no time, as she dropped down beside him and lay her head on his shoulder.

He casually stroked her soft hair which cascaded over the arm he had loosely draped around her. So much for keeping promises, was Hannibal Heyes' last thought before he followed the young woman at his side into a deep peaceful sleep.

Soundtrack Selection for Chapter 8

"The Way He Makes Me Feel"  by Barbra Streisand

Setting the Mood for Chapter 8

Who needs Calgon?

Whenever I have a particularly bad day,  all I have to do is pop in an AS&J dvd and like magic,  Hannibal Heyes takes me away from it all.  I sent a request to Laura, the wonderful lady who keeps the Pete Duel Memorial Site up and running,  for a video to this song.  She very graciously agreed and this is the result.  What a wonderful job she did.  Thanks again, Laura.  So kick back, relax and let our cowboy do his thang.

P.S.  Thanks, Clarissa for your wonderful e-mails.  Your compliments to my story made my day.  

Chapter 7

"You wanna reply, mister?"

Blue eyes stared thoughtfully at the scarred wooden countertop of the telegrapher's office.  "Yeah."  Kid Curry picked up the pad of paper and the pencil that were lying on the counter and hastily scribbled an answer to the telegraph he'd just received.
 "If Smith not there by morning, send word.  I will come immediately.  - Jones"

"Could you send that right away, please?"

Kid paid the telegrapher before stepping out onto the rainsoaked boardwalk.  Rain had started falling in the night and had progressed into heavy thunderstorms by morning.  Lightening flashed across the sky and seconds later a loud clap of thunder shook the boards beneath his feet.  He took out the telegraph he'd just received and reread it.  He had expected to receive a message from Heyes saying that he had arrived in Alpine and would be in Red Rock in a couple of days.  Instead, he had received a message from Big Mac.  Heyes hadn't made it to Alpine yet.  He was a day late.  There was any number of reasons a man might be a day late.   But if Heyes wasn't there by the morning,  that meant he must have trouble. Short of getting himself killed or hurt so bad he couldn't set a horse, the Kid knew that Heyes would get those documents to Mac, come hell or high water.  That's why it made him a little nervous knowing he was late. Kid crumbled the piece of paper in his fist and forcefully threw it into a puddle that had formed in the dirt main street.  Nothing bad can happen as long as we're together.  Those words replayed in his head like an echo in a canyon.  Why hadn't they just gone together?  They could have delivered Mac's art pieces together. Then set out together to deliver the documents.  It would have taken a little longer, but at least they would have been together, and he would have been with Heyes to watch his back.  But for some reason Mac had insisted that those papers be in Alpine within ten days.  That meant they had had to split up.  He was starting to get uneasy.

Kid stepped through the sheet of water that fell like a waterfall from the porch roof over head.  He trotted across the muddy street as he pulled  his brown hat low on his head, and burrowed deeper into his sheepskin jacket to ward off the torrential rainfall.  He headed for the saloon.  He would stay in town and play a little poker.  It wasn't quite noon, but since the weather was foul, maybe some of the ranch hands were in town to pass the time. Hopefully,  before he left town and headed back to Mac's ranch, he'd get that telegraph saying Heyes was safe in Alpine.

Kid entered the dimly lit saloon and headed to the bar for a beer.  He took a long swig of the cold brew, threw his money on the bar and turned his attention to  the table of poker players in the corner.  He leaned against the bar and observed the game.  Just like Heyes had taught him, he just watched the game for a while.  Taking note of the five  players' mannerisms.  Watching for their tells.   Summing up each player.

 Heyes would have been proud of how quickly he measured up each player. They were decent poker players, but if they let him in the game he could probably walk out with a good bit of pocket change.  He didn't really need the money.  But he did need the distraction.  Anything  to keep his mind off the trouble he hoped Heyes wasn't in.  When the winner of the last hand was raking in his winnings, Kid approached the table.  "You fellas got room for one more?" 

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four hours later Kid Curry left the saloon, $75 richer, but no less anxious than he had been when he'd went in.  At least the thunder and lightning had stopped.  The storms had moved off to the east and left behind a cold steady rain.  The storms would probably be reaching the mountains where Heyes was within the hour.  He sure hoped his partner could find some shelter or he'd be drenched to the bone in no time. And the temperature had dropped some ten or fifteen degrees. He stepped into the telegrapher's office hoping for good news.  He stepped out again a short moment later.  No telegraph.  He just had a bad feeling.  He was deeply regretting not going with Heyes.  He wasn't going to regret not following his gut now.  He turned around and went back into the telegraph office.  "I need to send another telegram.   Again he picked up the pencil and wrote,  To Pat McCready,  am on my way to Alpine.  If Smith arrives tell him to wait there for me.  - Jones   

                    

Determined now to get to his friend,  Kid ran down the muddy mainstreet to the stage depot.  "When's the next stage to Buckton."

"Pulls out at 5:15.  One hour from now,"  the short bald man behind the counter informed him.

"One, please," he said as he threw a twenty dollor gold piece on the counter

.

Kid hurried back to the ranch.  He just couldn't shake this nagging feeling that Heyes needed his help.  If Heyes were here he'd tell him to quit worrying so much and have a little faith.  But right now all he had faith in was the Colt on his hip and his own instincts.    He threw his belongings into his saddlebags and rushed back to town.  He made it to  the stage with ten minutes to spare.

"How long before we stop for supper?"  he asked the driver as he boarded the stage.

He hoped it wasn't going to be too long.  He hadn't eaten since breakfast.  Heyes, if you are in trouble.... rest easy.  I'm on my way.  And if you ain't in trouble....you owe me a steak supper.

As the stage headed south Kid Curry had the terrible feeling he wasn't going to be getting that steak supper.

  

Chapter 6

It was a cloudy morning on their fourth day together.  Heyes eyed the mule with dread as he saddled the horse.  He did not want to get back on that beast of burden.  His backside and his manly parts were taking a real beating from that animals back bone.  As though she could read his thoughts the mule raised her head and snorted in his direction.  She did move alot faster being lead by rein but he was not going to ride double with Evangeline.  That was just asking for trouble.  Especially after the reaction he had had to her closeness last night.  He scowled at the animal.  His restless night had him in a very foul mood.  Evangeline on the other hand had slept like the dead and was in a particularly sunny mood despite their current situation.

She was bright eyed and bushy tailed, as his grandpa used to say, when she came back from her morning trip to the creek, rifle in tow.  "I'm glad the sun is behind the clouds today.  Maybe it will give us a break from the heat.  I won't be needing your hat today so you can have  it back if you want."   She held it out to him.  He snatched it abruptly from her hand and looped the stampede strings around the saddle horn.  Then he angrily flipped it around to the other side of the saddle so he could finish tightening the saddle cinch. 

His sour disposition didn't go unnoticed.  Her eyebrows shot up in bewilderment.   Had she done or said something to make him mad?  She hoped not.  Maybe he was growing weary of her incessant crying and waking him in the night with her bad dreams.  Or maybe he was just plain weary of her.  Whatever the reason, she couldn't bear the thought of him in an unhappy mood.   "I'm sorry I woke you last night.  And I don't mean to cry like that all of the time.  I just can't help it.  I've never been one to have nightmares so many nights in a row.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  I know I'm probably keeping you from getting the rest you need and I guess I'd be a little cranky too, if I had to deal with a blubbering ninny like me."  She fidgeted with the buttons on her shirt as  she stared down at the ground, waiting nervously for his response.

He hadn't realized how his foul mood might affect her and he was immediately sorry for the way he'd acted.  Now she was blaming herself for his less than chipper mood.  It wasn't her  fault he'd lain awake last night having improper thoughts about her.  He hung his head shamefully for a moment and then produced a smile that made her stomach flip flop.  "No, I'm the one who's sorry.  I'm not mad at you. I didn't get much rest last night, but it wasn't because of your bad dream. I've never been a real sound sleeper.   And if you didn't cry I'd think there was something wrong with you.   I'm just not looking forward to riding her for one more mile."  He stabbed his finger into the air in the mule's direction as he made the final adjustments to the saddle.

She felt better now, seeing him smile and knowing she hadn't done anything to make him upset.  "She has a name you know.  Her name is Jenny.  And she's very sweet."  She walked over to the mule and lovingly scratched her nose.   " Do you want to switch?  I could ride her today."

"You're already sore from the saddle.  You spend the day straddling her bony spine and you'll be hurting in unmentionable places."

She frowned at him, not sure what he meant at first.  "Ooohhh,  I see. Well there is another alternative.   We could ride double again.  You did say Jenny made better time being led."

"Uuhh, no, I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why didn't you rest well last night?  Was it because you are sore in unmentionable places due to riding her bony spine?"

"Something like that."  It had to do with his unmentionable places alright, but not in the way she thought.

"Then it seems to me the only logical and practical thing to do is ride together. It will probably save us a day's ride." 

He knew she was right.  And how could he argue with her.  Hadn't he been the one preaching to her about putting propriety on the back burner.  And didn't it make sense to do whatever got them to safety the quickest.  Short of telling her the truth, there wasn't much he could say.

With a heavy sigh, he  walked over to the mule and took her lead rope and after removing his hat and placing it on his head, looped it around the saddle horn, then he gave the mule an affectionate swat to the rump. "Sorry, Jenny, looks like the honeymoon's over."

He pushed his hat back on his head and study her for a moment before he asked, "You sure you're alright with us riding this way?"  He was hoping she would give him an out.

"Is this the quickest way to get to Alpine and to safety?"  she asked hypothetically.

He didn't bother to answer. He had expected her to at least  pretend that she felt it was highly improper, and that she was only going along with it for the sake of making faster time to Alpine and saving him some discomfort.  But she hadn't.  Instead she seemed to be looking forward to riding double.  He supposed she felt safer this way.  But he was beginning to wonder if she was going to be safe from him.

Evangeline smiled victoriously to herself as she watched him take Jenny's lead and tie it to the saddle horn.   She was looking forward to riding again in the safety and comfort of his arms.  Listening to his deep voice so close in her ear.  She knew she should have at least  made the token protest  that was only befitting a proper young lady.  But like he had said, propriety had  to be put aside in these situations.

  

He was removing saddlebags from the horse to place across Jenny's back when he remembered the silk drawstring bag he'd placed inside days ago.  He dug it out and held it out to her.  "Here, I grabbed this that day..  Forgot I had stuck it in my bag.  I don't know why I grabbed it, it just looked like something that might be impo....."  he trailed off when he saw the expression on her face.  It was a mixture of shocked surprise and sorrow. 

  

She took the delicate pouch made of purple silk and held it protectively to her breast.   She walked silently off the trail and sank down onto the grass.  "I thought I'd never see this again."

He sat down beside her on the grass. She didn't speak but instead opened the pouch and began to remove objects one by one and lay them out on the ground before them. 

The Bible and this bag were all that she had left of her family.  "I was fascinated by this when I was a little girl.  Mama called it her memory bag.  Sometimes after I begged and pestered for hours she would let me take it out of her dresser drawer and look inside. This is the only tintype photograph that was ever made of my family.  I was eight and Gabe was two."  She stared at the faces in the photograph and ran her finger across the images of each face.  She looked closely for a moment at the face of the little girl in the photograph.  How different she was now from the innocent child she had been. 

 " This is a lock of my baby hair, and this is a lock of Gabe's."  Each was tied with a piece of silk ribbon, hers pink and his blue. " Daddy's pocket watch. It's the only thing he owned that had belonged to his father, William.    And these hair combs belonged to his mother, Ruth.  Mama used to let me wear them to church sometimes.  She told me they would be mine someday and that I should pass them on to my daughter."  The silver combs were encrusted with rhinestones and pearls.  "Mama's lavender scented soap." She smiled at the memory of her mother.  "For special occasions only,"  she quoted her mother. "This locket was a gift to my mother from her father on her sixteenth birthday."  She opened it revealing photos of a man and woman.  "This is a picture of my grandmother and grandfather."    Also inside was a silver handled hair brush and mirror, and several letters, tied together. "These are the love letters Mama and Daddy exchanged when they were secretly courting.  Mama told me she would let me read them one day when I was a married woman."    Once each memento had been lovingly examined she turned the silk back upside down and shook it.    A small shiny object fell out.  It was her mother's wedding ring.  "She didn't  want to wear it while we were traveling.  She was afraid she might lose it or damage it."   It was a simple sterling silver band.  Inside was inscribed the date, June 16, 1859.  The day they were married.  "Daddy used to tell us the story of how he won enough money to buy this ring for Mama in an all night poker game.  He had to lie to her about where he got the money because he had sworn to her he wouldn't gamble any more. But she found out anyway.  And she forgave him of course... like she always did."   As she slipped the ring onto her finger tears that she had been holding back began to slide down her cheeks.  She turned away from him.  She didn't want him to see the tears.  He must be so tired of her wailing and sobbing. 

But he did see and he found himself again acting on instinct.   He put his arm around her  and pulled her head onto his shoulder.  His small gesture caused the floodgates to open and  what started as a few tears became a waterfall.  She felt  oddly at peace as he held her in spite of the sorrow that also tore at her heart,  and she was able for the first time to think clearly about all that had happened to her. And she was able for the first time to truly accept that her family was gone.  She took a deep breath and lifted her head from his shoulder.  "Here I go again, blubbering like a ninny.   And I'm getting your shirt all wet."

"Hey, will you stop calling yourself that."  He took her face in his hands and wiped the tears with his thumbs.  "You can cry all the way to Red Rock if that's what you need to do.  I've still got one dry shoulder and two clean shirts in my saddle bag.  He reached behind her head and removed  the bandana she was using to tie her hair back and dabbed it at her runny nose.  She took it from him to finish the job herself. 

"I don't know how I would have survived all of this without you, Joshua.  Thank you."

After every object was safe and secure back inside the bag, Evangeline made her way  back to the horse.  She tucked her memory bag into  the saddlebag.  She would forever have the memories in the bag and the bittersweet ones that lived in her heart.  She silently said her goodbyes to her beloved family and to her past.   Her eyes peered over the saddle to land on the brown eyed man who, in a few short days,  had  become so vital in her life.  It was time to look toward the future. 

 She mounted the fiesty stallion who seemed impatient with waiting and tossed his regal head as if to say, "Come on fella, let's get moving."   Unable to avoid the inevitable any longer, Joshua, with a sigh of resignation, swung himself up into the saddle and settled himself behind her.  A serene smile crossed her face as his strong leather gloved hands came around her and took the reins, enclosing her in safety and comfort.   He on the other hand felt an uneasy tension begin to coil again in his belly.  Gun packing, poker playing, safe cracking genius. That's who you are.  You can handle a little thing like riding double with a pretty woman.           Once again his silver tongue was working its magic. He lifted his chin and straightened his spine, sitting a little taller in the saddle.  What was I getting so worked up about?  I'm Hannibal Heyes.  Former leader of the Devil's Hole Gang.  Women don't get to you, you get to them.  And this one is not going to get to you.  Just as long as that blasted hair of hers stays put.    On this sunless day, without his hat and without the bandana confining it, that blasted hair of hers was  falling loosely down her back and over her shoulders. As the horse began an easy trot southward,  a westerly wind began to blow.  A loose lock of her chestnut hair was lifted on the breeze and like a snake being charmed by the flute, danced on the wind before wrapping itself around his head, covering his eyes, nose and mouth.  She was completely unaware of what was happening and so he was forced to reach up and pull the wayward section of her silky mane  from across his face and lay it gently back over her shoulder.  Dark eyes again rolled  and a silent groan hung in his throat. 

"Is something wrong?"  she inquired over her shoulder.

"Nope.  Nothing at all."  At least nothing that a good stiff drink and trip upstairs at the next saloon wouldn't cure.   He urged the horse into a canter.  The quicker they got to town the better.  But for now it was going to be another long day of handling himself in the clinches.

                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then would they say,-"Dear child! why dream and wait for him longer?

Are there not other youths as fair as Gabriel? others

Who have hearts as tender and true, and spirits as loyal?

Here is Baptiste Leblanc, the notary's son, who has loved thee

Many a tedious year; come, give him thy hand and be happy !

Thou art too fair to be left to braid St. Catherine's tresses."

Then would Evangeline answer, serenely but sadly,-" I cannot !

Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, and not elsewhere.

For when the heart goes before, like a lamp, and illumines the pathway

Many things are made clear, that else lie hidden in darkness."

Evangeline sat by the fire as she read while Joshua stretched out on his back nearby, his hands behind his head.   They had ridden until early evening, stopping while the sun was still up.  They'd had just enough daylight left to go down to the creek and wash the dust off their faces and hands and do a little fishing.  After cleaning, cooking and eating their catch, they settled down by the fire as Evangeline continued the story.

    

"So everybody wants her to forget about Gabriel and marry somebody else."

"Yes.  She is far too beautiful and full of life and spirit to waste her time waiting and searching for a man she will probably never find.  At least that's what the townsfolk tell her."

"And let me guess.  She doesn't listen to them."

"Oh no.  If she did the story would end there."

"It really is a beautiful story.  The man had a way with words.  Thank you for sharing it with me.  I enjoy listening to you read it."

"I'm the one who should thank you for indulging me the way you have.  I'm glad you like it, Joshua.  Most men would have snarled their noses at the thought of listening to anything resembling poetry." 

"Well, I'm not most men, Evangeline."

Truer words had never been spoken.  Evangeline was beginning to think there was no one else in the world quite like Joshua Smith.  She looked over at her companion as he lay on his back looking up at the dark sky and smiled.  His life had been turned upside down because of her and yet he never complained.  He was always kind and considerate of her feelings.  Always trying to make her feel better and doing what was easiest for her.  He was funny, charming, smart and oh so handsome. He'd never mentioned a wife or a sweetheart who might be waiting for him.  He only mentioned Thaddeus.  Surely he would have mentioned it if he had either one.  Maybe she would get the courage up to ask him about it later.

Evangeline put the book away and took her spot beside him on her bedroll.  He had laid her bedroll out near his but not too close.  She wondered why.  She felt slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to sleep close to his warmth again tonight.  She had assumed they would sleep snuggled together again tonight.  But she knew he was probably just being a gentleman like always and not putting her on the spot by forcing her into such a situation.  And she certainly wasn't going to suggest that they share their blankets.   They lay on their backs looking up at  the sky which had been cloud covered all day long.  As if they knew the two weary travelers were watching, the clouds at that moment parted like the curtains on a stage and  revealed the unmatched beauty of an endless black sea of stars. 

"Silently one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,

Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels"

She quoted from the book she had just been reading from.

"See what I mean about his way with words.  I would have said 'the stars came out in the sky and they looked real pretty.'"

She laughed, thinking him very funny and charming. "Yes, you have to give Longfellow credit for the beautiful words, but you have to give God the credit for the beautiful stars."

He rolled over onto his side and looked down at her. "Speaking of God making beautiful things....did anybody ever tell you that you have beautiful hair?  I think it's the most beautiful hair I've ever seen."  He lifted one of her loose tresses which fanned out across the space between their bedrolls,  and wrapped it around his finger, caressing its softness.

She hoped the firelight wasn't bright enough to reveal the blush that now crept up her throat to cover her face.  She had been told many times that she was beautiful or pretty or lovely. Everywhere she'd gone with her mother, men had always looked their way with appreciation.  Of course her parents had always told her she was the prettiest girl in the world.  And her suitors had always lavished compliments on her.  But no one had ever told her she had beautiful hair. And no man had certainly ever touched her hair.  And out of all the compliments she had ever received, only this one from Joshua made her feel quivery inside her belly.   "No. I've never been told that before."

"Well, I'm telling you now.  You have beautiful hair."

"Thank you.   But  I know it's a filthy tangled mess right now.  You don't have to say that to make me feel better."

"I'm not.  It really is beautiful.  Even tangled and a little dirty."

"Well, if you think it's beautiful now, you'd think it was absolutely magnificent if you could see it washed and brushed.  I haven't had a real bath in days."

"Well, maybe tomorrow we can remedy that and go down to the river and dunk ourselves.  You can use some of that nice smelling soap.  I declare tomorrow a special occasion.  And you've got a hair brush now too."

"Maybe I can change clothes too.  These are pretty dusty."

"We'll see."

He continued to play with her hair.  He liked the way it felt against his skin.  Not only was it prettier than Clem's it was softer too.    He really shouldn't be touching her like this.  It wasn't proper and it wasn't smart.  "Careless in the clinches, Heyes. Careless in the clinches."  The Kid's face danced before his eyes saying the words.  He also liked the way her storm colored eyes almost twinkled when she read from that book she was named after.  In fact there wasn't much about her he didn't like. "Careless, careless."  He'd ridden all day with her bottom in those form-fitting pants against his thighs and her breasts grazing his arms as he held the reins, and that glorious hair blowing in his face.   The Kid's face disappeared and his voice wasn't heard anymore.  All he could focus on was her mouth and how much he wanted to kiss it.  What was he thinking?  Alright, Heyes, you're an odds player.  What are the odds that if you kiss her she won't slap your face?  Umm, judging from the way she's looking at you, odds are she won't.  Alright then, what are the odds that she'll let it go further than just a kiss?  Umm, odds are that won't happen either, because she's too young and innocent.   So what are the odds that if you kiss her  and it ends there you'll end up spending most of the night in cold creek water and you'll feel like a complete ass for taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman , who doesn't deserve to be taken advantage of.   Umm, odds are pretty good that's what will happen.  So if the odds favor a bad outcome what do you do?  You throw in your hand, that's what!  So put the hair down and back away. He let the soft hair fall from his fingers as he quickly turned away from her and onto his  back and in a more abrupt tone than he intended said, "Time to get some sleep, night." 

She'd  held her breath as she watched him watching her.  His dark eyes had gazed into hers so deeply and intensely , she couldn't look away. When his gaze had  shifted to her mouth she thought for a moment that he wanted to kiss her.  And she wanted him to.  She was afraid for him to but she still wanted him to.  She had dreamed of the day she would be kissed by a man.  A real kiss.  She had been kissed by boys before.  But they were all quick chaste pecks on the lips.  She wanted a kiss like the ones she'd seen her parents share.  Lingering open mouthed kisses full of passion.   And she was so hoping this was going to be the moment and Joshua was going to be the man.  But he had very quickly and abruptly turned away from her.  Her feelings were a little hurt.  But what had she expected him to do.  Sweep her into his arms and kiss her passionately.  He was a gentleman, he wouldn't take advantage of her like that. Not when his mind was probably preoccupied with their safety and survival.  Besides she still didn't know for sure if he had a lady love waiting for him somewhere.    "Do you have a wife or a sweetheart somewhere waiting for you?"  She slammed her hand over her mouth. She had blurted it out before she could stop herself and wanted desperately to grab the words from mid air and stuff them back into her mouth.  She squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the answer. 

"Nope. Neither one."

"I'm sorry.  That was very rude of me to pry like that."   She just wasn't satisfied with being rude once.  A silent pause.   "Why not?"

He said nothing.  How could he explain that one.  "Well, you see,  when you're a wanted man and you're running from the law, it's kind of hard to commit to anyone or anything.  Especially when you're Hannibal Heyes and you're worth ten thousand dollars, DEAD OR ALIVE."   That was the real answer, but not the answer he could give her, and certainly not the answer she was prepared to hear.  So he settled for "It's complicated."

"You just haven't met the right girl yet, huh?"

"It's not that simple.  Thaddeus and me, well we move around alot.  Never stay put in one place too long.  It's hard to think about settling down when you're always moving from place to place."

"And you move around alot because you don't really have a place to call home do you?  You know what it's like to lose your family too, don't you, Joshua."

He was silent for a long moment.  Then he rolled back onto his side and propped his head on his elbow and looked down at her.  "Yes, I know what it's like."

"What happened?"

"My entire family was killed in the border wars, during the war between the states.  Thaddeus and I had been down by the creek playing all day.  We came home and found his place burning, his whole family dead.  I ran to my folk's farm and found the same thing there.  Everything was burned to the ground except the barn at Thaddeus' place."  He paused for a moment and stared off into the distance as if he were reliving the whole thing over again.  She was overwhelmed with an urge to hug him and comfort him.  His voice was steady and almost devoid of emotion as he continued,   "We stayed in that barn for a few days until the sheriff and some other folks  finally came out and found us.  Then they shipped us out west to the Valparaiso Home for Waywards."

"Oh, Joshua, I'm so sorry.  And you..."  She fell silent as she suddenly remembered her hateful words on that first morning when she had accused him of having no idea how she felt.  No wonder he was so understanding and considerate of her.  He knew exactly how she felt.  And he had only been a child.  She was suddenly ashamed of herself.  At least she had been given the opportunity to grow to adulthood before she lost her family.  Joshua had not.  "Oh, Joshua, I'm so sorry.  Please forgive me.  That morning when I said that you had no idea how I felt...."

He held up his hand to stop her.  "It's alright.  You didn't know."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Now is that what you really needed to hear?  The last thing you needed was a "you think you got it bad" story.  It just wasn't the right time."

"How old were you?"

"I was about ten years old and Thaddeus was almost nine."

"And you've been taking care of each other ever since, right?"

"That's right. He's all I've got and I'm all he's got. That's why I'm so anxious to get to Alpine so I can send him a telegraph.  I know he's going to be worried now that I'm late and he's just liable to set out looking for me.  I would have been there by now if things had went as planned.  But I think we're going to be a couple of days late."

"I'm sorry.  I know I'm slowing you down."

"Will you stop saying your sorry all the time.  None of this is your fault, Evangeline.  It's those miserable cutthroat's who are to blame, not you."  His face clouded over with anger as he thought about what  those, he hated to even call them men, had done.  "Besides, Thaddeus will get over me being a little late.   Oh, he'll act real mad and fuss and yell a little bit, might even threaten to kill me, but it won't last long.  You know things might have turned out alot different if he'd been with me that day."

"Why is that?"

"Because if he'd been with me, none of those men would have gotten away without a bullet in him somewhere.  But none of them would be dead either.   Thaddeus can shoot the head off  a rattlesnake from 10 yards in one shot.  He's fast too.  Fastest draw I've ever seen.  You know I'd probably have gotten myself killed by now if it wasn't for him."

"You mean he's better with a gun than you are?  You hit three of those men from alot further than 10 yards."

"I just wanted to wound them all, but I killed one on accident and missed one completely.  But Thaddeus, he would have disabled every man with a bullet placed exactly where he wanted it to go."  She didn't miss the smile on his face and the note of pride in his voice as he talked about his friend's skill with a gun. 

"You've never killed anyone before have you?"  

The smile faded from his face and he rolled over onto his back again and stared up at the stars.  "No," he said somberly.

It was her turn to lay on her side and stare down at him.  Taking another person's life, no matter what kind of person they had been couldn't be an easy thing to live with.   "You didn't mean to kill him, Joshua.  You were trying to help us that's all.  It's not your fault. Besides, he would have probably ended up getting killed by someone else eventually anyway. Or hanged."  Now she was the one who looked angry.  Her eyes turned a dark stormy gray as she thought about the unmerciful treatment her family had suffered at the hands of the dead man and his cohorts.   "If you ask me he only got what he deserved,  the no good, thieving, murdering outlaw!"

Ouch.  That hit Heyes where it hurt.  To hear her talk about thieving outlaws made him remember just who and what he was. Although he was no murderer he knew she wouldn't think any better of him than she did of those murderers if she knew who he really was.   An outlaw.  Wanted, dead or alive. But it also reminded him that men had lots of reasons for becoming outlaws.  He didn't know the dead man's story,  and now no one would because of him.   It was a bitter pill to swallow.

"I apologize.  I shouldn't speak out in anger like that.   Daddy always said  I inherited mama's Scottish temper and I let it  get the better of me sometimes.  It's just that I wish they were all dead.  They should be the ones buried out in that valley, not my parents and my brother."  She ground the last words out between clenched teeth. 

 "Well, they're not buried.  They're still out there, I'm afraid.  Which is why we need to get some sleep.  We've got some hard riding ahead of us tomorrow. I want to get as close to town as possible tomorrow."

"Yes, I know.  I'll stop blabbering now.  Blabbering on is another of my more endearing Scottish traits, I'm afraid. I just hate to think of you carrying around any guilt, Joshua.  You didn't mean to kill him.  Another thing my daddy always said, 'You always have a choice.  Everything that happens to us is the consequence of a choice we make.'  Well, that man chose the kind of life he lived  and he paid for it with his life.  His death was the result of poor choices he made, not your aim.    So don't feel guilty, alright. " She leaned across the space that separated their bedrolls and planted a quick kiss on his dimpled cheek.  "Good night, Joshua," she said as she turned her back to him and burrowed into her blanket.

"'Night, Evangeline."  

He lay awake for a long time listening to the sound of her breathing, thinking about what she had said.  Choices.  How many wrong ones had he made in his life?  Dozens?  Hundreds?  He had chosen to become a pick pocket when he was fourteen.  He'd chosen to run away from the home at fifteen.  He'd chosen to learn the art of picking locks, so he and his friends could rob businesses at sixteen.   He had chosen to leave Jed behind and start riding with the Plummer gang at eighteen.  He'd chosen to become the master of safe cracking by the age of twenty.  He'd chosen to introduce Jed to the business at twenty-one.    He'd chosen to be the leader of the Devil's Hole gang at twenty-three.  He'd chosen the path that had led him to being one of the most notorious, most wanted, most feared outlaws in the west.  Once, the fact that he was worth $10,000 dead or alive made his chest swell with pride. Once, the fact that there were dime novels in every general store, with grandiose tales of his exploits, brought a smug smile to his face.  But now, when every nickle and dime outlaw tried to cash in on your name.  Every two bit con man tried to imitate your work.  And every law man in the western half of the nation would give his first born to turn you in for the glory of having captured Hannibal Heyes. And every bounty hunter wanted to hunt you down for the price on your head, it no longer became a source of pride. Instead it was a huge obstacle in the path that lead to having a normal life. He looked over at the young woman sleeping not a yard away.  Everyday that he spent with her made him want that normal life even more.  That's why the amnesty was so important to him and the Kid.   Being wanted had become a  tremendous burden that was like a bag of rocks around his neck.  And he was tired of carrying it around.