NC 17 warning. Sexual content ahead, proceed with caution. If you are not 17 do not proceed without parental permission.
Nuptial Sleep
At length their long kiss severed, with sweet smart:
And as the last slow sudden drops are shed
From sparkling eaves when all the storm has fled,
So singly flagged the pulses of each heart.
Their bosoms sundered, with the opening start
Of married flowers to either side outspread
From the knit stem; yet still their mouths, burnt red,
Fawned on each other where they lay apart.
Sleep sank them lower than the tide of dreams,
And their dreams watched them sink, and slid away.
Slowly their souls swam up again, through gleams
Of watered light and dull drowned waifs of day;
Till from some wonder of new woods and streams
He woke, and wondered more: for there she lay.
Heyes studied his reflection in the trough of water the horses were drinking from. He didn't like what he saw. Even with four weeks of hair growth now covering his head, he still looked strange to his own eyes. He looked thin and his eyes looked dull. But that wasn't what really bothered him. It was the darkness that he saw reflected back at him that he wished he could change. Something dark and sinister had taken root inside of him the night Evie had begged him to leave. And it had been growing inside of him ever since. Every time he read another newspaper article about the latest happenings at the governor's mansion or the latest sighting of the newlyweds in town, he was forced to envision her on the arm of another man. Even if she didn't love Clay Ramsey, those visions made that dark and sinister thing grow larger inside of him.
His entire life now seemed surreal. He had to remind himself daily that he was a free man. He could walk up to complete strangers and introduce himself as Hannibal Heyes without fear of going to jail. If he wanted, he could buy a piece of land and call it his own and not have to worry about leaving it behind to go on the lamb to escape a posse. It's what he had wanted for a long time. And now that he had it, he didn't give a damn. What good was freedom without happiness or joy? And without Evie in his life, he had neither. "If you love me, you'll go." That's what she had told him. Those words echoed over and over in his head. If she loved him she wouldn't have traded away the only thing that would have made being a free man worthwhile...herself. The dark thing inside of him wanted to punch something. It wanted to pick a fight for no reason just so it could lash out and release some of the anger that festered inside. How could she have done this? He should have taken her up on her offer to send messages through Martha. At least then maybe he would have gotten the whole story. And he knew there was a lot more to the story. But he had been so hurt and so angry that night that he knew it was best just to leave town, because he could feel the thing urging him to do things he hadn't thought about doing but one other time in his life.....when Harlan Mathis took Evie. He had rousted Kid before dawn and they had checked out of the hotel and headed for Laramie. Kid had protested, but when he told Kid he was leaving with or without him, he had followed.
Odin lifted his wet nose at that moment and nudged Heyes' shoulder. He stroked the big animals jaw. "Thanks anyway, old friend, but I didn't need a drink," Heyes told Odin as he swiped away the beads of water that were left behind on his shirt. Rusty raised his proud head and tossed his nose, sending more water droplets in Heyes' direction. "And I don't need a bath either," he told the other stallion that he had once given to Evie as a gift.
He closed his eyes, remembering that day. The day he had given her the gift of a horse and she had given him the gift of her innocence. There was an emptiness inside of him that he knew would never be filled. She was the only one who could fill it and now she was another man's wife. She had said she didn't love the other man. And he knew that she had only married him as part of some deal to gain their freedom. But that didn't make it hurt any less that she was now Mrs. Clayton Ramsey III and not Mrs. Hannibal Heyes. Fate had certainly dealt him a crap hand this time. Just like it always had. He felt inside his vest pocket. He pulled out the piece of paper that was now growing worn in the creases from being folded and carried in his pocket. It never left his side. He unfolded it once again as he had done countless times over the past month and reread again her words, "No matter where you go or what you do, always remember that I am a part of you and you are a part of me. Nothing...not time, distance or circumstance will ever change that. I love you, now and always." Heyes wanted to believe it. He felt it in his heart that it was true. But the dark thing wanted to shout, "Lies!" His hands clenched into fists of rage, crumpling the fragile paper. Then his real self, seeing the damage, began to smooth the crumpled edges. He gently folded it back as it had been and returned it to his pocket where it rested with the lock of hair he also never parted with. "Why, Evie, why?" he thought for the hundredth time.
"Mornin' Heyes." Heyes looked up from his reverie to find his boss, Mr. Gibbons approaching from the big house. "How are those new geldings coming along?"
"Fine, Mr. Gibbons. I think you got a real bargain. You should be able to sell them for twice what you paid. They should be ready for the buyer in a about a week."
"Fine, fine. Say, where's Jed this morning? It ain't like him to skip breakfast. The missus is wondering if he's sick."
"He had to leave at first light to go into town and pick up that load of feed at the mill. He should be getting back any time. He wanted to leave early to avoid seeing anybody."
"Still having that same problem?" Mr. Gibbons shook his head in bewilderment. "Sometimes I just don't understand folks. Well, you make sure he knows that the missus saved him some biscuits if he's hungry. And she's almost got lunch on the table. So don't be late."
Heyes waved to the man he worked for as he walked back to the ranch house. He was grateful that the man had been willing to give them both a job and a nice clean spacious bunkhouse to live in. When he had left Evie at the mansion that night more than a month ago he hadn't really known what to do. He had lain awake all night trying to decide if he should go back and just take her out of there by force, or just let things be. He thought about what she had said, and how scared she had been that someone would see him. He had wanted to spend some time with her, learning the details of this pact Martha said she had made. Like a fool he had expected her to jump into his arms and drag him off to some secluded spot and tell him everything. And he had also foolishly hoped she would be leaving with him that night. But neither had happened. Why had she been so scared? Was it just his safety and their freedom that she was worried about? And he didn't buy that a married son was all the governor was getting out of this deal. He had something he was hanging over her head. But what was it? He had almost made up his mind that he was going to find some way to scale the walls of the governor's estate and climb the rose covered trellis that led to the balcony outside her room. But then her warnings would ring in his head and he would look at Kid, resting so peacefully in a soft warm bed. Trust me when I say that if you don't leave we could lose everything. Who was the "we" she was referring to? Was it him and her or her and her new family? The dark thing inside of him, growled. It wanted to jump on Odin's back and head to Cheyenne right now, shoot his way into that house and demand that what belonged to him be handed over. But then the calm and reasonable part of himself would remember that he wasn't the only person with something to lose. He didn't care to gamble with his own freedom, but he didn't want to gamble with Kid's. If he had stayed in Cheyenne one more day, he would have been climbing that wall and risking that freedom. So at first light, after he had roused Kid, they had headed out to Laramie. He had to get away from Cheyenne.
The sound of an approaching wagon told Heyes his partner was coming around the bend. He led the horses back into the stables and waited for Kid to join him where they would unload the wagon together. As soon as Kid stepped down from the driver's seat of the wagon, Heyes could tell something was bothering his partner.
"Oh, no. Not again?"
"Yep. I didn't even get half the grain loaded on the wagon. And like always, none of the men at the mill would help me. I could have been out of there before that kid saw me if someone had helped me load. I swear he musta been waiting there for me. I got there just after daybreak. He must have waited all night just hoping I'd come into town."
"I'm sorry, Kid. I'll go into town next time."
"Yeah, you'd like that wouldn't you. Let you go into town and then you'd be the one picking the fight, just hoping someone would draw on you. You've got a death wish and I'm not about to let you make that wish come true."
"I told you I wouldn't do that again. Besides, I did outdraw him."
"Maybe you won't pick a fight that will lead to a gunfight, but you might decide to get caught cheating at cards again, just so somebody will gun you down where you sit. If I hadn't been with you that day, I'd be talking to a dead man right now."
"I promised you I wouldn't do that again, either. So next time, I'll go into town."
"There ain't gonna be a next time, Heyes. Because, first of all I don't believe you. Ever since you found out Evie was married you've changed. You're courting trouble and hoping for a bad outcome. And I'm not about to let you get yourself killed. And second, I'm sick of that town and those people. We never should have left Cheyenne. They loved us there. And we knew the folks in Laramie didn't care for our kind. Now I can't even go into town to get a load of feed without getting called out by some young buck trying to prove he's a faster draw than Kid Curry."
"I see you're still walking, talking and breathing. So I take it you were faster."
"Yeah, this time. But there's gonna come a day, Heyes, when I'm not gonna be. He couldn't have been more than sixteen. I thought when we got our pardon and quit outlawing that I wouldn't have to prove myself anymore. Guess I was wrong. But at least in Cheyenne I didn't have to worry about that. And I didn't have to worry about you. Nobody there would lay a hair on your head." He looked at his partner with pleading eyes. "Heyes, let's just go back to Cheyenne."
Heyes inhaled deeply, not wanting to approach this subject. "I don't know, Kid."
"Come on, Heyes. We don't belong in this town. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons have been good to us and things are fine as long as we stay on the ranch, but we can't stay at the ranch all the time. How many times have I been called out in the street in the past month since we've been here. At least twice a week and every time it seems they get a little bit younger. If I have to kill one of those kids to keep from getting killed myself, I don't know if I can live with that."
Heyes walked away and stood in front of Odin's stall and rubbed the big black's shiny coat. "You can go if you want to. I'll stay here."
"You know I won't leave without you. Something bad always happens when we split up. Either we go together or we don't go at all. I just don't know why you want to stay here." Kid sat down on a bale of hay.
"You know why, Kid."
"No, I know what you've told me. You keep telling me that we can't be in Cheyenne because some of the governor's people might see us and then we might go back to jail. But there's more to it than that, Heyes. All she told us was that she couldn't have contact with us or we would get accused of crimes we didn't commit. Well, nobody said we couldn't live in Cheyenne. We're free men and we can live anywhere we want. You may have gotten past having a death wish, but your still mad. You're mad at her and you want to punish her. And the best way to do that is to up and disappear after she's seen you and not let her know where you are. You think I don't know that but I know you Heyes. Better than you know yourself. There's something inside of you that you're afraid you won't be able to control. It's the same thing that was inside you when Harlan Mathis took Evie. Only this time nobody took her. She gave herself away, and it's making you mad enough to bite a nail in half." Kid paused for a moment and thought about what he was about to say. He had had the thought but had never voiced it to his partner. "Or mad enough to kill somebody. Do you still think about it? Killing him?"
Heyes turned again to face his friend. "Not anymore. I did for a couple of weeks, but now I just...." He paused.
"You just what.......want her to suffer? The way you're suffering?" Kid could see the angry veil cover Heyes' eyes. ""That's not like you Heyes. That's not you talking, that's the bitterness and the anger talking. If I was in your shoes I'd want to be there in that town watching that mansion day and night. I'd be getting to the bottom of this whole secret pact business. If Livvy had been the one who had married herself off to that guy in exchange for a pardon, we never would have left Cheyenne. In fact we'd be camped out in the woods behind the governor's house. How do you know she's not in some kind of trouble? Something happened to you Heyes. I know you're hurt and you're mad, but I've never known you to be cruel. And leaving Evie there at the mercy of whatever or whoever is at the center of all this is downright cruel. "
Kid's words brought the slightest bit of guilt to the surface of Heyes' heart. But the dark thing had his heart buried so deep that it choked the guilt away. "I have thought about that, Kid. But you didn't hear her begging me to get lost. Pleading with me to hurry up and go. You're right, something did happened inside of me when I heard her say those things to me. You want to talk about cruel. What about giving a man a new lease on life then taking away his only reason for being alive. She gave me my freedom but took away any chance I had for happiness. I guess maybe I do want her to suffer.”
“But, Heyes, there’s so much more that we don’t even know. You said yourself there was more to the story that she wasn’t telling you. If we go back to Cheyenne, we’re bound to run into that Martha lady again. She seemed willing to help us before. Maybe she will again. And I would really like a chance to see Livvy and get her side of the story. You know that she’s involved somehow. I know that all you can think about is her living with another man and being that other man’s wife. But all I can think about it her being in trouble and needing help. ”
Kid’s words were like a shot of poison on the growing thing that was wrapped around his heart. He felt a moment’s relief from the stifling bitterness and he did think about Evie, trapped and alone inside of that mansion with a man she didn’t love, who probably didn’t love her and having no one to help her find a way out of the mess she had created. She had thought she was doing the only thing she could to set him free. And he had abandoned her. He still loved her as much as he ever did, even more so, knowing what she had sacrificed for him. The dark thing was weakened long enough to let his heart make a decision. He had to go back and find out if Evie needed help. As if reading his thoughts, Rusty snorted, tossed his head and pawed the ground as if to say, “Let’s get going, then.”
Kid saw something in that moment that he hadn’t seen in over a month, a light in his partner’s brown eyes. “Seems like old Rusty agrees. What do you say, Heyes?“
“You’re right, Kid. I shouldn't have left her there. We’ll leave first thing in the morning. “
A huge smile split Kid’s handsome face. “Now that’s the Heyes I know talking.”
“We’d best tell the Gibbon’s over lunch. Mr. Gibbons said it was almost ready.”
“Good thing too, cause I’m starved.”
Heyes was suddenly starved too. Starved for the sight of his Evie.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clayton Ramsey looked up from the papers he was signing as she sat behind his big oak desk. “Close the door behind you, Bartholomew.”
Clayton rose and met his right hand man in the middle of the room. “Did you find him?”
“Yes.”
“The same place as always?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?
“Upstairs.”
Clayton left his minion and went in search of his son. He found him lying face down on top of his bed, obviously passed out or suffering from a hangover. Clayton could feel the blood in his veins begin to simmer. “Clay!” he shouted, jolting his dishevelled son to a sitting position. “You do realize we have to be in town on a platform in front of the entire community for the ground breaking ceremonies of an orphanage at five o’clock. That gives you three hours to get yourself looking like something that isn’t dead.”
Clay groaned and fell back onto the bed. “Just go without me. Can’t you see I’m indisposed?”
The blood in his veins became hotter. “That might work if the orphanage weren’t being built in honor of your mother, just like you wanted. Now get your disgusting self up and make yourself look presentable.”
“What do you care if I show up anyway? I’m nothing but an embarrassment to you, as you love to remind me everyday, The only reason you want me there is to make a show with me and my wife.”
“You should be kissing her feet. Because if it weren’t for the fact that she lives here I probably would have killed you by now,” Clayton ground out between his teeth.
“Too bad she wasn’t living with us when Mother was still alive then isn’t it?” Clay said accusingly.
Clayton’s blood was now boiling. He sauntered casually to his son’s bedside, then viciously grabbed him by the throat and pulled him to a standing position in front of him. “You will not cost me my bid for the presidency. If I think for one moment that you are going to be a stumbling block, I will make you disappear. Do you understand?” He abruptly released the choking, gasping young man and turned to head for the door. “Be ready to leave in one hour. I am after all spending my money to make you and your mother look good.”
“Don’t you mean mine and Megan’s money? “
Clayton bristled and stopped. “You go too far, son. You can either get ready on your own or I can send Bartholomew in to help you.”
Fear rose in Clay’s eyes at the mention of his father’s henchman. He knew too well that visits from Bartholomew were not friendly. “I’ll be ready in an hour,” he spat out at this father’s back.
“Good. And I expect you to once again be on your most convincing behavior with your wife. In fact, I want you to be extra affectionate with her. Our audience will be the largest yet. Do I make myself clear?”
Clay gave his father a disingenuous smile, “Crystal.”
Clayton left his son’s room and was going to head back to his office when he suddenly turned and headed towards the west side of the house. He knocked on the doorway to Evangeline’s sitting room and waited for an answer. He had knocked on her door many times in the past month. The night of the garden party she had left the parlor with a headache, and he had hardly seen her since. He had had to make subtle threats to even get her to accompany him and his son into town for a speech he had given, and again when he had entertained guests for a small dinner party. It was imperative that she be with them this afternoon. Damage control was necessary after Clay’s all nighter. And there was also the fact that she set his loins on fire every time he saw her. And almost the only time he saw her was when he was in the garden and she was on the balcony. She never knew he was there watching her. She was always staring off into the distance, as if she were watching for something. Or someone. Knowing that she was pining for another man made him all the more determined to wipe him from her memory. If he could spend one night with her, she would forget about that outlaw.
The door opened and as usual Martha’s freckled face appeared in the small crack. “Yes?” she asked.
“I wanted to remind Evangeline that we have an engagement this afternoon and we will be leaving in an hour,” he said with an insincere smile.
“Miss Webb is aware of her obligation and she will be ready to leave in one hour,” Martha said curtly as she started to shut the door.
Clayton halted the door before she could close it completely. “May I speak with Mrs. Ramsey, please?”
“No, you may not. Miss Webb is busy at the moment.”
“Come, now, Martha, surely she can spare a few moments for her father-in-law.”
“My name is Miss Erskine and Miss Webb will be in your company for the entire afternoon. You may speak to her then.”
“Her name is Ramsey now, Ms. Erskine.”
“No, it is not. Unless a marriage is entered into willingly and with love and is then consummated with love, then it is not a marriage. So to me she is still Miss Webb. Good day, sir.”
“But I only want to talk.....’
“Good day, sir.”
Clayton snarled at the closed door. He wasn’t used to not getting what he wanted or his way. And what he wanted right now was Evangeline. He would be his most charming tonight. She would begin to warm up to him he was sure. And as long as he kept her in his sights when they were in public he didn’t have to worry about her making contact with the outlaw. Because there was no way he would get into the mansion. It would take a genius to get past all the guards he had posted outside the high brick walls.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Was that him again, Martha?" Evie asked softly from her ever occupied spot on the balcony.
"Yes, love. But I sent him away. I told him you would be down in time to leave."
A shudder ran down her spine when she thought of Clayton Ramsey. She did not like the way he looked at her. Ever since the day Hannibal had disappeared from the garden party and she didn't get a chance to let him know how phony her marriage was and how much she still loved him, the governor had been making exhausting attempts to win her over. She didn't know why exactly. It was neither necessary nor important that she like him or that he like her. They only saw each other when it was absolutely necessary. But lately he seemed to be....Evie winced to even think the word.....courting her. At least that's the way she felt. He had been sending up bouquets of fresh cut flowers from the gardens. There was always some sort of delicacy sent with her meals. Pastries at breakfast, chocolates at lunch, truffles, caviar and champagne for supper. But when his attempts to soften her had not produced the desired results he had begun knocking on her chamber doors with invitations to dine with him or to accompany him into Cheyenne to see a play or hear a concert. She of course always refused. Evie had finally told Martha to start answering the door so she wouldn't have to see the anger that would flash across his face when she refused. He hid his displeasure at her rejection well, but Evie saw it. It made her extremely uncomfortable.
But what made her skin crawl the most were the times when she knew he was watching her from the gardens below her balcony. He thought she was unaware of him, but she knew. How many times had he watched her when she wasn't aware, she wondered. That was why she never went onto the balcony without being fully dressed. She never knew when he was going to be leering at her. Yes, her marriage was completely bogus, but she was still his daughter-in-law. She was still married to his son.
His son. She certainly didn't have to worry about receiving any invitations from him. He spent most of his days sleeping because he spent most of his nights carousing in Cheyenne or some other nearby town. If the governor had hoped to keep his son at home by forcing him into marriage, then his hopes were certainly gone, because if anything Clay's escapades had grown more frequent since she'd been here.
"I wish Livvy would hurry and come back," Evie said with longing, missing her aunt and needed her comforting and reassuring presence.
"Her last telegraph message said she would be her within the week. That was two days ago. She could be her tomorrow. I certainly hope so."
"I know she feels terrible for having to leave us here without her for so long, but I feel more terrible that aunt Libby took ill just as Livvy arrived back home. I'm so glad she's better now."
"It won't be long my love, before you know it we will all be together again at Heavenly Hills. I'm sure of that. And I'll not give up hope that Mr. Curry and Mr. Heyes will be there with us as well."
"Your optimism and your faith astound me, Martha. I only wish I could believe as you do that Mr. Heyes doesn't hate me now."
"It isn't faith that's needed to know that that young man could never hate you. It only takes eyes and ears. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice that he'd die for you me darlin'. I don't think that feelings like that can be changed in one short interlude behind a curtain. He's gone because he's hurt. He's gone off to lick his wounds. But he'll be back, I can almost guarantee it. But he's a sly one. How he managed to get into that party I'll never know. So when he does show up, it will be without warning."
"I hope you're right. And I hope that once Livvy's back and Mr. Heyes decides to make a reappearance we can all figure out a way to get out of this mess. I'm just praying that the governor doesn't get re-elected. If he isn't re-elected then there will be no need for all these phony public displays and we can do just as Livvy suggested. We'll go back home and get this whole marriage dissolved."
"Oh, my dear, that would be wonderful. But the papers don't give his opponent much hope. That scoundrel can charm bloomers off a preacher's wife and get the preacher's blessing in the process," Martha said with a scowl, her freckled face turning red. "Oh it makes me so angry. If people knew what a scalawag he really was they'd run him out of office on a rail."
"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen, Martha. Unless someone has solid proof that he's a criminal of some sort, no one is going to believe any bad report of him." Evie's shoulders drooped as she looked at the clock. "I had best be getting ready to go down." She sighed a long and heavy sigh. She dreaded these outings more than she let on. She didn't want Martha to know just how uncomfortable she had become when in the governor's presence. If she even suspected that Evangeline was the slightest bit apprehensive she would forbid her to go and she would tell the governor to go strait to Hades on a greasy slide. Martha had already done that on two occasions. And Evie could tell that the governor was very displeased and he had subtly revealed to her the consequences of not living up to her end of the bargain. And so Evie had gone to all the other engagements since. Thankfully there had only been two and today would make the third. When Livvy arrived, she would accompany her on all the rest of these ridiculous public appearances and she would no longer feel like the lamb being left to a pack of hungry wolves.
"I don't know how on earth you've managed to endure it, me love. I would have cracked up by now and run away. I wish there was some way I could accompany you. But that miscreant you call a father-in-law has forbidden me to go with you except on shopping trips."
"It's alright, Martha. But I must do this. I must endure it for Mr. Heyes' and Mr. Curry's sakes." She thought of her beloved as Martha helped her on with her jacket and her hat. She wondered what he was doing now. Was he at that ranch in Laramie? Or had he gone back to Mr. McCreedy's ranch in Texas? Or perhaps he had gone to Mexico. She wondered always where he was and what he was doing. The only thing she knew for sure was that he wasn't in Cheyenne. She had asked around town and James had inquired in the saloon for her. They had been there, but they had disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared and no one knew where they had gone. It was just as well that she didn't know where he was. That way she wasn't tempted to leave this place and go in search of him. Her heart became heavy, as it always did when she thought of how he must think she didn't love him anymore. The only balm for her wounded heart was knowing that he was free now. Free to live the life he had always wanted. A life free of running and hiding. But freedom never comes free. That was a lesson she was learning all to well and she was learning it the hard way.
She looked at her reflection in the full length oval mirror. She looked like a china doll. Most people would probably say she was a picture of perfection with her silk and crepe gown of a dusty rose color, trimmed in white lace and silk rosettes. Her hair was perfect, her clothes were perfect, her hat and gloves and reticule all matched perfectly. Even her shoes were perfect. And while strangers would say her face was one of the most lovely they had ever seen, she could see the sadness that loomed behind her own eyes, and the despair that was masked by every smile. She should have been an actress. Because only an actress of great skill could convince so many that she was deliriously happy when she was in fact fiercely tormented. She lived now in torment and despair, living a lie and keeping secrets. She hated it. But she would endure it. She must. For as much as she hated it, she loved Hannibal Heyes even more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Heyes, you’re a genius. I don’t know why I didn’t think about taking the stage instead of making the ride in on horseback,” Kid said with a smile as they passed the first houses that marked the outskirts of Cheyenne.
If they had ridden on horseback they would have had to leave Laramie at dawn and wouldn’t have arrived until well after dark. But riding the stage, they didn’t have to leave until noon and they were arriving just in time for supper. Heyes took out his gold pocket watch, the same one he had received as a gift from Olivia. Five o’clock. “We’re in luck, Kid. The pies at Fannie's place should be fresh out of the oven.”
They gathered their belongings and checked into the Dyer Hotel. They even asked for the same room as before and were graciously obliged. “Could somebody take our things up to our room, we want to get over to Fannie’s before the supper crowd packs in there. I don’t want her to run out of pie,” Kid told the desk clerk.
“Oh, that shouldn’t be a worry, Mr. Curry. Most everyone from the county is gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony.”
“Ground breaking for what?” Kid asked.
“A new orphanage. The governor is having it built in honor of his late wife. He’s giving a speech. Everyone is anxious to hear him speak. And the new still hasn’t worn off that pretty new daughter-in-law of his. People are scrambling to get a gander at her.”
The boys eyes met and held before both headed for the door. All they had to do was follow the stragglers who were headed to the east end of town to find the wooden platform that had been erected for the governor’s speech. There were so many people they couldn’t get close. But Heyes didn’t have to get close to see her. She sat in a chair behind the governor’s left shoulder. For a moment she was all he could see. He was blinded by her beauty. The crowd disappeared as he took in the sight of her. She was like an angel. A sad angel. Others probably didn't notice. But he did. Because he knew her like nobody else could. She was miserable and he could see it in her face. If he could he would jump up there and hold her close and tell her it was all going to be alright. He was here now and he would make everything right again. But he couldn't do that. Not yet. Not until he knew exactly what he was dealing with. That's when his eyes came to rest on the man behind the governor's right shoulder, standing to Evie's right. The silent man. The watcher. Heyes watched the watcher for a moment. He didn't move a single muscle the entire time, except his eyes. They were constantly scanning the crowd, darting back and forth. Had he seen Heyes or the Kid yet? He didn't want to take chances so he pulled Kid into an alley way and out of the eagle eye view of the watcher.
"Kid, I don't want to get too close. If the gov's henchman sees either of us, we might be asking for trouble."
"I don't like the looks of that guy. He's wearing a Colt just like mine." Kid's eyes narrowed as he peeked around the corner of the building and looked the man up and down as he stood with authority behind the governor. "Wonder how fast he is?" Kid pondered out loud.
"We ain't finding out today, Kid. This might be the only chance I've got to get to Evie. Once she goes back to that palace prison she's put herself in, I might not get another chance. I have to try and get her alone."
"I don't see how that's going to be possible. She's surrounded by people and that body guard ain't about to let her out of his sight I'd wager."
"If I could just get her attention and she knew I was here...." Heyes said as the crowd erupted into applause at something the governor had just said. The boys listened to hear what all the excitement suddenly was about.
"And I leave tomorrow for Denver to officially put my hat in the ring, for president of the United States," they heard the governor announce. The crowd was elated. They cheered, clapped and whistled their approval. Heyes strained to see Evie over the raised hands of the governor's constituents. She was stunned. She obviously had no clue that the governor had planned to announce his bid for the presidency. How could she possibly be out of the loop of communication that much when she was married to the man's son? As the governor concluded his speech and everyone on the platform rose from their seats, including Evie, Heyes made his way out of the ally and into the crowd. He stood at the back of the throng directly in her line of vision.
The crowd began to disperse to Heyes' right as the governor and his son left the platform with shovels in hand and headed to the large open field that extended for several acres behind the platform. Heyes smiled to himself when he saw the henchman follow. His smile widened when he saw the camera that stood in the field. They were going to take photographs of the event. That would take a few minutes. This was his chance to get Evie alone and talk to her. He knew the time would be brief so his plan was to simply tell her how much he had missed her and how much he still loved her and that they would try to work out some way to meet secretly so they could talk at length. But he had to get her attention first. Just as he had the thought her sad eyes lifted and their eyes locked. He saw the surprise register in her face, then the mist of sadness seemed to lift from her lovely face and she smiled, if only slightly. He stepped closer. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. Instead she simply shook her head slowly back in forth as if to say, "I'm sorry." She had said that to him when they had last spoken. He didn't want her to be sorry. He wanted her to be happy. Happy with him, as his wife, not someone else's. He boldly took a few steps closer. He would let her know somehow that he wanted her to meet him in the alleyway. But he never got the chance.
Evie couldn't believe it. There he was, just standing there on the fringe of the crowd, staring at her. He had come back. She wanted to leap off this platform and into his arms. She wanted to smother his face with kisses and never stop. But she knew she couldn't. She tried to tell him with her eyes how sorry she was and how much she loved him. Then he had stepped closer. There was a determined look in his brown eyes. He was trying to get to her. She wasn't going to miss this opportunity to speak with him while the governor and his lackey were distracted. She started to take a step towards the front of the platform, when out of nowhere she was blocked by Clay. He stepped in front of her and pulled her without warning into a tight embrace and he brought his mouth hard down upon hers.
What was he doing? As he ground his mouth unaffectionately and passionlessly against hers, her first instinct was to shove him away and slap his face. But she couldn't risk that. She was supposed to be in love with this man. He released her from his grip and stepped slightly away from her. She tried to look over his shoulder to see it her beloved was still there. But Clay held her head in his hands as he spoke to her softly. "We mustn't disappoint our adoring admirers, darling. And father has instructed me to put on a good show. So unclench that pretty little fist of yours and give us a smile, hum?"
She hadn't even been aware that her fist was clenched. She took his hands away from her face and held them in hers while she spoke though a false smile, "You've made your show, now kindly step away from me. And if you ever do that again, I will not hesitate to lay you out with a right hook. I've done it before and I'm not afraid to do it again, dear."
He smirked his customary smirk and returned to the field with his father. When Evie looked back to the crowd, Hannibal was gone. Dammit. How many times was he going to disappear from her life? Damn, damn, damn. Damn Clay and his father. Damn this day and damn her life. He had seen the whole spectacle she was sure. Now he would probably leave for good. Her eyes frantically scanned the street that ran through the center of downtown Cheyenne. There was no sign of him. Not him or Kid. "No. No, no, no, no, no," she screamed silently inside her head. This couldn't be happening. Was the entire universe against her? She felt as if God himself were plotting to keep them from even speaking to each other. She lifted her eyes to a sky that was starting to fill with gray clouds. They mirrored how she felt. A dark storm of despair was rolling in upon her like rain clouds. But how stupid she was to blame God. She had been the one to sign the agreement. She had chosen her path. And now she would have to walk it....alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Heyes watched the lightning flash in the distance as he leaned against the post supporting the porch roof. He had just left the Long Horn with a fifth of whiskey and stood outside its swinging doors watching the storm roll in. Clouds had filled the sky yesterday evening after he'd stood and witnessed his sweetheart, the love of his life, being kissed by another man. The dark thing inside of him had sprung back to life in that moment. It had grown like a weed and had choked out everything good, sensible and kind inside of him, like a poison ivy vine taking over and smothering a tender flower. The dark and malignant thing wanted to feel rage. It wanted to hurt somebody. But there was just enough of the real Heyes's spirit and soul left untouched to keep him from acting on the urge. So he would medicate his shattered spirit and his wounded soul the only way he knew how. He would douse them with liquor until he couldn't feel anything anymore. Not the hurt, not the sadness, not the anger. But this time the Kid wouldn't find out. He would never let Heyes get back to the state he had been in when they had been in Devil's Hole.
Kid was inside winning big at a poker table. He had wanted Heyes to play, but he had pretended to be still too down to socialize. He would just sit at the bar and nurse a beer while Kid played. The truth was he just wanted the Kid distracted long enough to get a bottle from Gus and head back to his room and drink himself blind. Maybe then the image of his woman kissing another man would vanish for a while. He chuckled deep in his throat. His woman. Not anymore. He headed down the street towards the hotel. Thunder sounded in the west and the wind was starting to blow. A storm was definitely brewing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Evie stood on the balcony and listened as the thunder grew closer. The mugginess had set in yesterday evening when the clouds had gathered in from the west. Signs of the approaching storm. She would be glad when the rain finally came. Hopefully it would put an end to this humidity. She couldn't sleep for the sticky heat. But at least she could relax and not worry about her father-in-law watching her from the gardens below. Clayton had gone to Riverton on family business. He would be gone for a few days. And God only knew where Clay was. And God was probably the only one who cared. So she stood on the balcony in a sheer white nightgown watching the storm come in, and dreaming as always that Hannibal Heyes was riding in to rescue her. But she knew that would never be. Not now. Not after yesterday.
Everyone else was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the ominous clouds. Sleep had come more peacefully for everyone when Clayton and Bartholomew where away. But their absence also meant that the guards around the grounds were double and they had been instructed to not let Evie or any of her staff leave the premises. But that was a trade she was more than willing to make. She had been so relieved when he had announced his traveling plans yesterday on the ride back from Cheyenne. She needed time to be alone. Time to make herself comfortable with the bed she had made. Because now she had to lie in it. And she had to lie in it alone.
Lightening flashed, lighting the surrounding area as if it were daylight. She really should go back inside, but the breeze blowing in off the impending storm felt so good against her heated skin she lingered there on the balcony and leaned against the stone rail and looked out over the gardens. The flowers and trees were in full bloom on this warm night in late spring. She could hear the distant roll of thunder. The quiet night air carried sounds from miles away. She could hear the lonely whistle of a train as it made its way to some unknown destination. She could hear the whinny of horses in the stables and the hushed voices of the men guarding the high brick walls. And she could have sworn she heard another sound. She closed her eyes and listened more closely. But she didn't hear it anymore. She could have sworn she heard the pounding of horses hooves against the ground, as if a rider where coming in fast and for a moment her hopes sprang to life....could it be? Another loud boom of thunder shook the earth. The ominous sounds caused a building up of something inside of her. But it was more than just the anticipation of the storm. It was the anticipation of another kind of storm altogether. Goose bumps formed on her arms.
A gust of wind blew just then, lifting the scent of the mimosa flowers into the charged and heated air. She breathed deeply of the heavy night air, thick with the moisture of humidity. Another lightening flash illuminated the ground below. She could see the trees and shrubs as they swayed together in the stout breeze letting loose there petals to scatter across the balcony. Goose bumps now formed over her entire body. He was coming. She could feel it. Her eyes scanned the courtyard at the front and the back of the house. She didn't know how he would manage to get past the guards and inside the house, but he would be here. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the entire garden below. A shiver ran through her body. He couldn't climb the rose covered trellis. The thorns would not allow it. But he would be here soon. She knew it. Another gust of wind extinguished the one candle she had burning by her bedside, leaving her in total darkness.
She stood there in total darkness for untold minutes. It wouldn't be long now. He was close. She could feel him. It was as if there was an invisible string attached to each of their hearts. And when they were far apart she felt the tug of distance. But now she could feel the slackening length, telling her to stand where she was. He would be here soon. Another flash.....and there he stood. The lightening had lingered long enough for her to see him clearly as he stood below her among the blossom laden trees and shrubs. He stared up at her, his beautiful face a mask of determination, his short hair dancing on his head in the wind. Then darkness swallowed him once more. She waited impatiently for another flash of lightening, but when it came, he was gone.
She had not imagined him. He had been there. And he was coming to her. But not to take her away. Simply to take her. Even from this distance and in the brief light of the storm, she could see the darkness behind his eyes. He was angry, hurt and confused. But she also saw the unmistakable burning of desire. He wanted answers and he wanted her. She began to tremble though she was not cold. She felt her nipples draw and become distended. Her womb tightened and her womanly flesh began to swell and blossom in preparation for what she knew was to come. She did not move. All the sacrifices she had made would be in vain if he was caught here. And as much as she wanted him, she knew she shouldn't unlock her door. But that wasn't the real reason she did not move. She stayed there looking out over the garden, leaning against the railing, because she feared her suddenly weak legs would crumble beneath her should she loose the support of the stone rail and because she dreaded facing him after yesterday. She didn't fear him, she simply wanted to avoid the inevitable confrontation. And there was really no need to unlock the door. If Hannibal Heyes was determined to get to her, there was no mere lock that could stop him.
How many minutes went by before she heard the almost inaudible sound of the lock being carefully picked, she did not know. How long it took him to open the lock was only a few seconds. How long he stood behind her with only the sound of their breathing, both labored though neither had exerted themselves, she wasn't sure of either. The lightening continued to flash and the thunder to roll as she stood there silently waiting for him. She knew he was waiting for her to turn and acknowledge that he was there. He knew she was aware of his presence behind her, just inside the balcony doors. But she could not turn to face him. She could not look him in his face, so full of betrayal and hurt again. And so she remained there against the railing, waiting.
He had forgotten how easy it was to get past sleepy men on guard duty. And he had forgotten how simple it was to pick a door lock. He had picked both the lock to the garden gate and the mudroom door at the back of the house in a matter of seconds. The house was quiet and dark as he slipped his way past the one guard who sat dozing in a chair at the foot of the staircase. He was reminded briefly of the time he had sneaked up to her bedroom at Mr. McCreedy's ranch house, as he took the steps of the grand staircase two at a time. He knew which room was hers. And he knew the door inside too would be locked. Even though he knew she had seen him in the gardens, he also knew that she would not open the door for him. Nor would she stop him from coming in on his own. It had taken him ten seconds to render the lock useless. He silently crossed the room to stand in the doorway that led to the balcony where she still stood looking out over the gardens. The room was in darkness except for the momentary flashes of light from the increasingly frequent lightening.
He just stood there for several long moments, trying to catch his breath. Though he had not run or exerted himself to cause the breathlessness. Being here alone with her at last had simply made him breathless. And he could tell she was struggling for breath as well. The build up of the coming moment was excruciating for both of them. And he saw no reason to prolong the torture.
Her breath caught in her throat when a pair of hands, encased in leather, appeared on the railing on either side of her. She gasped aloud when she felt the heat of his body press against the length of her from behind. She could not see, but could hear the rasp of the leather against his skin as he pulled the leather gloves from his hands. And then she felt those hands in her hair, pulling it away from her left shoulder, exposing her neck and shoulder. His breath was warm against her ear when he whispered, "Don't turn around, Mrs. Ramsey."
Her heart broke a little at his use of her married name. Oh, how she loathed it. But hearing if come from his mouth in his deep, soothing voice, made her cringe inside. She wanted to turn in his embrace and tell him everything. Tell him the truth about why she had married Clayton. To tell him that she had never let another man touch her and never would. She wanted to reveal all the secrets that were being kept from him. But she couldn't. She had promised Livvy and the loss of his freedom was too high a price to pay.
She felt the gossamer lengths of her gown caress her thighs as strong hands lifted the only thing covering her, up and over her hips. He clenched the gathered material in fists that rested on her hips. He pulled her naked bottom back against him. She gave a slight whimper as she felt his arousal against the cleft of her buttocks and he began to slowly grind his body against hers. She couldn't help herself as she let her head fall back against his shoulder. He lifted her arms and removed her gown completely, tossing it to be blown against the rail by the wind. His hands came around to cup her breasts. There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice as he whispered against her ear, "Have you missed me, Mrs. Ramsey?"
She wanted to scream at him to never call her that again. But his mouth began a slow trek from her ear down her throat and across her shoulder, just as one hand wound itself in her hair and the other hand had begun its way down her abdomen and into the nest of dark curls that guarded the entrance to her flowering womanhood. She was incapable of speaking. He had only touched her briefly and already she was on fire. When at last his finger delved inside the wet cavern of her desire, all she could do was moan her pleasure and sag limply against him. He supported her while he worked magic on her flesh with his fingers. Soon she was slithering against him, bucking against that magical hand. She moaned involuntarily as the spasms of release began to wash over her.
"Your husband isn't very wise to leave you all alone in this condition," he growled against the back of her neck once the spasms had subsided. She could hear the bitterness in his tone and she knew he didn't understand. She was just about to turn and explain to him that she had never let another man touch her, when she felt his warm hands push her shoulders down, leaning her over the rail. She heard again the rasp of leather followed by the chink of metal as his belt was unfastened and then she felt him lift her hips slightly. He was poised on the brink, ready to take her. "Do you want me to stop, Mrs. Ramsey?" he asked.
"No," was her breathless reply. She trembled then cried out as he entered her from behind in one swift, powerful thrust. It was a heated, frantic mating that lasted only a few minutes. He pulled her weak and trembling body back against him. He grasped her chin in his hand and brought her mouth around to his. It was a long, slow, deep kiss and Evie could taste the sweetness of the bourbon on his tongue. But she didn't care. He was here. That was all that mattered. "Why aren't you begging me to leave this time?" he asked, still holding her chin in his hands, but not looking her in the eye. His eyes were focused on her mouth. She opened her mouth to speak, but called back the words. She couldn't tell him the whole truth. Not yet. So why bother saying anything at all. She looked into his face and saw the bitterness and the cruelty that was not him. He was lost somewhere inside of himself and the bitter angry man he could never allow himself to be before was now standing in his place. What had she done to this, beautiful, loving soul? A single tear slid from the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek to catch on his hand.
"Tears? For me or for you?" Lightning flashed and the first large drops of rain began to fall, as did more and more of her tears. She almost expected him to laugh at her anguish, but to her surprise he lifted her in his arms and carried her into her room and laid her in the center of her big bed. When he headed for the balcony doors she thought he was leaving and her heart ached with a new wound, but instead he closed the doors to shut out the now pouring rain and blustering winds. The ever increasing lightning made his silhouette visible as he came back towards her. "I'm afraid I won't be leaving tonight, even if you beg me like you did before."
"It wasn't that I wanted you to leave. It's just that I didn't want you to get caught."
"And why is tonight different? Why aren't you afraid I'll get caught tonight?"
She felt the feather stuffed mattress beneath her give under the weight of his body as he joined her in the center of the enormous bed. "Because the governor and Bartholomew are both gone. They won't be back for a couple of more days."
"And what about your husband?"
"I married him only to gain your pardon. He has never touched me and he never will. No man but you will ever touch me. I love you. More than you will ever know."
He did not profess his love for her. She had not expected him to this time. She had wounded him so deeply that the part of him that she knew still loved her was buried deep inside where the hurt couldn't touch him. But the part of him that was in control right now, although seeking to hurt her back and humiliate her, still desired her. If that was all that she could have right now then so be it. She would take him in any form she could get him.
"The only thing I know right now is that I want you, and you want me. And I don't want to waste anymore time talking. You can keep your secrets, Mrs. Ramsey," his hand found the still throbbing mound between her legs, "because this is all I'm here for."
His words bruised her as she knew was his intent, but she didn't turn away. Instead she opened up for him, giving him better access to her still aroused body. He took his time as he made love to her again. He brought her many times to the brink of ecstasy only to pull her back and deny her the sweet release. She knew he was deliberately torturing her and prolonging her agony, but it only made her desire for him burn hotter. She understood why he was angry. He felt like he had no control. And no one could give him the answers that he needed to understand the situation. And so she let him take control of her body. And he did so masterfully. By the time he had made his third trip back up her body with his scorching mouth, Evie had been reduced to a quivering mass of aching need. But he wasn't satisfied just yet.
He hovered over her in the darkness as the storm raged outside the room. Lightning streaked across the sky letting her see his face as it loomed above hers. She spread her legs to accommodate his body. She awaited his entrance inside of her. "Look at me," he commanded. "You were so quick to beg me to leave before, now I want to hear you begging me again. Beg me to come inside you."
She should have been angry. She should have been humiliated. But this was her beloved Hannibal. The man she loved and trusted like no other. She wanted him more than she wanted to hang on to her pride. And perhaps she owed him this. "Please," she whimpered. "Please, I want you inside me."
She couldn't see clearly in the darkened room, but she knew there was a smug smirk of satisfaction on his face. But still he didn't end her agony. When she could take it no more, she begged on last time, "I'm begging you, please, I can't take it anymore, please." At last he put her out of her misery and entered her slowly. They both exhaled a long deep breath as the exquisite sensations overtook them. He began the slow rhythm of an ageless dance that men and women had been dancing since the dawn of time, and she joined him as they danced their way to the highest pinnacle of pleasure and then leaped from the top into a waiting pool of satiated bliss. She held onto him as she floated back to earth. Even though he was being distant and somewhat cruel to her she still felt safer now in his arms than she had in months. Neither of them spoke as the storm continued to rage outside. He trailed kisses down the center of her chest, lingering momentarily to fondle the ring that hung from the chain around her neck. His lips continued down her stomach until his cheek rested there against the flat plain of her belly. She touched the top of his head and thought how child-like he looked with his hair so short. That was the last thought she had before she fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
When she awoke the next morning. He was gone. The only evidence that he had really been there was the musky scent of love making that still hung in the air, the sore muscles of her own body and the single crimson rose, plucked from the trellis beneath her balcony, that he had left on her pillow. She picked it up and held it to her nose and inhaled the sweet perfume. She smiled a secret smile. He was back. He was in Cheyenne. He knew how to get into the house without being seen. He knew that the governor would be gone for a few days. And she knew that he would be back again tonight. If secret rendezvous were the only way she could see him, she would take it. For the first time since this whole thing had begun, she looked forward to rising and facing the day.
