Lawyers, Guns & Money

Vic led them down a trail through the South pasture. Off into the woods and into the hills. They rode along in silence for well over an hour, finally coming to a small stream snaking its way through the rocks and trees. “ Let’s water them here.” She suggested. The Kid dismounted and walked over with arms outstretched to help Vic down from her horse when Prancer put out his head quickly, pushing the Kid away. “He’s still made at you.” Vic informed him.
“ The horse…” Curry was dumbfounded, “ is mad at me?” Then he threw up his arms. “ Well, why not? He might as well join the crowd.”
The horses rambled to the cool stream, drinking their fill as riders settled on nearby rocks with their canteens. Curry rested his arm on his leg and looked between Vic and Heyes. “ What am I going to do with you two? This can’t continue.”
Heyes and Vic looked at each other, but then quickly looked away stubbornly, being silent. “ Kid, she’s your wife and nothing I say will change that. I don’t want to say anything that would change that.”
“ Actions say different, Heyes.” Curry reminded him.
“ He makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.” Vic blurted out suddenly, shocking the boys.
“ That’s it?” Curry said in disbelief. “ I know you take great stock in the feelings you get; but, there’s got to be more to it than that.”
“I have tried to make peace with him back on the train, but he won’t have it. Jed, I don’t set well with him and I don’t think I ever will, no matter what I do.”
Vic was picking at a patch of moss on the rock, not looking at either of them.
Curry looked at Heyes,” What is she talking about? She tried to make peace on the train…”
Vic jumped to her feet with her hands on her hips, “ All I asked of you was to make room for me and I would leave room for you; otherwise we were going to tear the Kid apart. And did you listen to me?”
Heyes was on his feet now as Curry silently looked on. “Isn’t he here in Kentucky with you? Didn’t you got what you wanted?”
“ We are here to give you two what you both want, your freedom. Do you honestly want to keep living without it? This is where the money is if we want to get the price off of your heads.”
“ And what is exactly in return for this? What’s the angle?” Heyes questioned.
“ To live with my husband in peace, no matter where he says that will be. You’re his family, so you come along with the package, same as Wanda and Nightlinger come in my package.” Vic looked at Curry, shaking her head in frustration; but he remained silent. “ And what is it about that situation that eats you alive?”
“ Well, we just haven’t had a lot of luck with getting our freedom, so you will have to pardon my skepticism. How do we know you are going to go through with this? For Christ’s sake, we have known you for four weeks. It took you two weeks to get his ring on your finger and I think it’s going to cost him a lifetime of misery. Sometimes the Kid just doesn’t think things through. He relies on me to do that for him, and when he met you any sense he did have went right out of his head.” Heyes threw a rock into the stream.
Oh, I’m gonna remember that later, Heyes! Curry thought.
“ Were you under the impression you would pick his wife?” Vic shouted. “What hidden agenda do you think I have? I have opened my life to both of you, what kind of a chance am I taking on you, Heyes? Knowing the opportunist you are, I am inviting you to hunt for my family’s fortune and know its location when it’s found!”
“ If it’s found.” Heyes said sourly.
“ When it’s found! And if you don’t want to share in it, fine, walk away. But what do you have to lose? You can still have the saloon to fall back on if we find nothing. Then you can go back to running and the saloon will keep you funded until you get your bloody amnesty or a posse runs you into the ground, whichever comes first.” She finished obstinately.
“ You are actually offering me that saloon, no matter what?” he asked incredulously.
“ Of course I am, first time I saw you; I knew you were made for that saloon. McTavish just hasn’t been back with the legal papers yet.” She smiled.
Curry nodded in confirmation. “ That was discussed when he was here.”
“ Yeah, I think I was made for that saloon.” Heyes still looked worried. “ No strings.”
“ Only that I thought it would make you happy, that’s all.” Vic assured him. “You’re Jed’s family, but please, you have to understand that I’m his family now too.”
Heyes stood looking at her, turning everything over in his mind. “ I honestly don’t want you to get hurt riding with us if we’re on the run.” He stated flatly.
“ Two things – maybe it won’t come to that anymore. And if it does, I’ll be fine as long as you don’t put a gun in my hand.” She giggled.
“ Yeah, what about Laredo?”
“ Not the first time I’ve been beat in a fight and it probably won’t be the last.” She smiled, “ but I’m still here. Do you want to get rested up and go treasure hunting?” she held out her hand.
Heyes regarded it momentarily and Curry looked between the both of them. Heyes took a step forward, grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug. Vic saw flashes of hands all over him, pleasuring him, he was drunk, and he was lonely. He’d had the triplets, or they’d had him, all at once, she didn’t want to know. Heyes hugged her even tighter once it had started. He could smell wildflowers in her hair and the feeling of the tight leather on her body, so many curves.
“ That’s enough, you two.” The Kid cleared his throat. Vic, startled, jumped back and put her hands in her back pockets, looking at the ground. “ So are we patched up?”
“ I’m good.” Heyes said, still staring at Vic.
“ I’m fine.” She nodded and said softly. “ Um, Wanda packed some sandwiches if you want to head up to the meadow. It’s just a couple of miles up.”
The Kid gave Vic a hug and a quick kiss and then went to lift her back up into the saddle. Prancer swung his head around and pushed the Kid backward.
“ He wants his apology.” Vic informed him.
“ The horse…” Curry was stunned. “ wants an apology?” Then Prancer quickly grabbed the hat off of his head. He put his hands on his hips and looked up at Vic. “ For what?”
“ I don’t think he liked they way you talked to him in the pasture. He just nosed you and he was trying to protect me. You could have gotten a hoof to the head, you know.” She reminded him.
“ Prancer, I apologize.” The hat returned to his head, somewhat lopsided. Curry just shook his head as Heyes laughed at him and mounted back up on his horse.

After lunch, they raced each other back to the stable and turned the horses over to Catfish Joe. Vic threw him a questioning eye behind the boys back and Catfish nodded his head with a big grin on his face. Vic silently started clapping her hands and when the Kid turned around to see where she was, stuffed them in her pockets and ran to catch up with him.
After an early supper, Vic leaned over and whispered to the Kid, “ If you’ll show me something, I’ll show you something.” He just grinned, “ I’m in.” She got up and started to lead him away from the table when Heyes called, “ Where you two off to?”
She turned back around and motioned with her finger for him to follow.
“ You want Heyes to come?” Curry asked curiously and a little disappointed. They wouldn’t be going to the hayloft, which had quickly become a favorite foreplay spot for them.
She led them back over to the corral, the scene of the earlier havoc. She ducked under the fence with Curry and Heyes following. She turned and hopped up on the fence rail. Curry looked puzzled. “ I want to see you fast draw.” She demanded as she pointed to the bottles still lined up on the opposite rail.
Heyes jumped up on the rail and mocked, “ Yeah, honey, I want to see you fast draw.”
Curry walked to the middle of the corral and looked back over his shoulder at them. He then pointed to another spot further down on the rail. “ Sit there, the view will be better. Heyes, go get some more bottles.” He took his right glove off, tucked it in his gun belt and took the safety off of his Colt. He looked over at her and smiled wickedly. Before she knew what had happened, he drew, fanning his Colt down the line; taking out all six bottles. He spun his revolver, holstered it and tucked his thumbs in his gun belt. “ Do you want to see it again?”
Her mouth was slightly agape and she just nodded. Just then Heyes showed up.
“ Could only find some tins.” He called as he went out to set them up and then took his place on the fence. He looked over at Vic, with the stunned look still on her face. “ I see you started without me.”
The Kid reloaded three times displaying his skill until Vic seemed satisfied. She hopped off of the fence and walked over to him, running her hand up his arm. “ That gives me tingles all over.” She grabbed his hand and started pulling him out of the corral. “ Now let me show you something.”
“ I’d love to see it.” Curry replied huskily.
“ C’mon Heyes.” Vic called.
“ C’mon Heyes??!!” Curry questioned.
“ He can see it to.” Vic replied.
“ We better not be talking about the same thing.” Curry warned and Heyes followed, slightly amused.
She led him into the stable, leaving them at the entrance and proceeded to walk the long hall, past all of the stables twenty stalls.
Curry watched her walk in those tight leather pants. “ You’d better not be staring at my wife’s ass, Heyes.” he warned. “ Or I’ll put a boot up yours.”
“ Well, you’d better kiss me first,” was the reply.
Heyes and Curry slowly looked at each other and they thought they could hear the crickets chirping outside. Heyes and Curry continued to stare at each other. Vic thought she could hear crickets chirping outside. .
They could hear them coming before they could see them coming. The lamps barely lighting the long hall. He could see Vic walking back with a lead in her hand and could hear the steady clomp, clomp of horse hooves following behind. As she came closer, Curry could see a tall horse behind her, probably eighteen maybe nineteen hands high. He was wearing a long blue warmer, but he could see a cream colored mane and he thought maybe a buckskin coat. The horse was prancing side-to-side, nostrils flaring. Nervous.
Vic came to a stop a few feet from them and looked shyly up at the Kid. “ In this part of the country, it’s customary for the bride and groom to exchange wedding gifts.”
“ The mine doesn’t count?” Curry protested.
“ That was my dowry from father…”
“ I need a rule book...’ he leaned over and whispered to Heyes.
She stepped forward and handed the reins to the Kid and then walked back to the horse and whipped the blanket off of him. The horse reared up in revolt to the sudden movement. It was a palomino stallion. Buckskin coat, cream mane and tail, neatly groomed. Upon his back was a tan saddle with silver studs inlaid with turquoise like the hatband he wore.
“ His name is Trigger, but you can change it if you don’t like it.” She waited for some response from the Kid, but he just stood there. “ Um, he was bred on the Walker Farm in Texas and I had him brought here for you.” The Kid started to walk toward the horse, running his hands down his neck, his sides, his haunches. He looked at Vic and in one smooth jump was up in the saddle. Vic looked up at him, still waiting for his approval.
“ Trigger will be just fine.” He held his hand down to her and when she grabbed it, he pulled her up to settle behind him. She put her arms around him and gave him a close hug. The Kid looked down at Heyes. “Don’t wait up.” Then he gave Trigger the reins and the horse took off like a shot out of the stable.
Heyes watched them gallop off down the road until they were out of sight. He swore he could still hear Victoria’s laughter. He turned to walk back to the porch and fumbled in the potted fern for the bottle of bourbon. He sat down alone and started to drink.

They had returned from a spirited ride to find Heyes passed out on the porch, an empty bourbon bottle still in his hand. The Kid had helped him upstairs to his bedroom and then stood there watching him from the doorway. He leaned up against the doorframe and turned a thought over and over in his mind. It wasn’t an easy thought and it probably wouldn’t be a popular thought, but it was a thought he would probably give in to.
Vic had stepped out into the hallway, looking for the Kid, when she saw him just standing there watching his friend. “ Everything okay?” she asked quietly.
Jed turned around and started toward her. “ Just thinkin’”
“ Isn’t that dangerous?” she challenged.
He was to her in a few steps to scoop her up into his arms; “ I’ll show you dangerous.” He said, slamming the door closed with his foot.


He was off directly after to breakfast, heading to town, enjoying the feel of the powerful horse underneath him. Curry visited the telegraph office first and then the Law offices of McTavish and Matterhorn.
“ Why, Mr. Jones, “ McTavish greeted him. “ what brings you here today?”
“ Business?” Curry snapped. Lord, he did not like this man.
“Come right into my office.”
The Kid elected to stand, he didn’t intend on staying long. “ Tell me about the West Wind.”
“ Well, it’s a mine in Big Bend…”
“ No, I mean other than the obvious.”
“ Can you be more specific?”
Curry shuffled nervously. “Does it have accounts and such? I mean, where do the profits go. I reckon it does make a profit?”
McTavish nodded in understanding. “ A handsome one. How much do you need?”
Curry let out a sigh of relief; it was going to be easier than he thought. “About ten thousand out to do it.”
“Why certainly, I’ll just make out a bank draft for you…”
“ Cash. Now. ” Curry stated firmly. “ And tell me about what kind of stones it has…”
“ Gems,” McTavish corrected.
‘God, please help me resist the temptation to shoot this man.’ Curry thought.


The Kid was back by lunchtime and found Vic and Heyes in the stables, picking out one of her animals for him. ‘ God, please help her resist the temptation to kill me.’
Vic jumped up on him and have him a big kiss as soon as he dismounted. “ Hungry?” she asked, still holding on with her legs around his waist.
“ You bet, Heyes and I will be there in a few minutes. I want to get Trigger into his stall.” He slapped her on the ass and put her down. He waited until Vic was well out of range before he turned to Heyes with his news. “ I’ve got your nine thousand back.”
“ What’d you do, rob a bank?” Heyes joked.
“ No, a mine. Got some other news, too.” The Kid had his saddle off and was leading Trigger down the hall. “ We’re going to have a visitor.”
“ A visitor...” Heyes said slowly. “ You mean?”
“ Yeah, I sent for Clem.”
Heyes seemed relieved, “ I thought you were going to tell me you had gotten Vic pregnant already.”
“ God, no.”
Heyes started to whoop and holler. “ Our gal, Clem?!”
“ You bet, thought you might like a little company.” Curry smiled. “ She’s catching the train and will be here tomorrow night.”
“ Kid, that’s great idea. We haven’t seen Clem in six months.” He suddenly furrowed his brow in thought. “ She coming prospecting with us?”
“ Well, we’ll just play that by ear.” Curry slapped him on the back. “ Let’s go get lunch and tell Vic.”
Heyes stopped up short. “ You mean she doesn’t know?”
“ Nope.”
“ I think I’ll have lunch at the saloon today…”
“ Oh no you don’t Heyes. I need you in there with me when I tell her.” Curry insisted.
“ Why? To write the newspaper accounts of the bloody event?” Heyes shook his head. “ Count me out.”
Curry grabbed his shirt and started dragging him along. “ Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.”

Heyes cut another piece of pork chop and kicked the Kid in the ankle. Wanda was going on about cattle in the south forty and Vic had already finished her lunch. After a few minutes, Heyes kicked him again.
Curry cleared his throat and tried to act nonchalant. “ I’ve invited a guest to the ranch for awhile, I hope that’s okay.”
Vic smiled and got up to start clearing dishes. “ Of course it is. Who is it?”
“ Clementine Hale.” Curry coughed.
“ She’s an old friend of the both of us,” Heyes started to explain to Wanda.
Vic turned around, “ the both of you…is this Clem? The one you both…”
Heyes and Curry looked at each other. “ Yes,” they managed to get out.
Vic walked slowly to the sink and put the dishes in. They she pulled out a bowl, some flour and eggs. “ Wanda, how do you light this stove?”
“ Fer what?” Wanda was suspicious.
“ I’m baking a cake, we’re having company.” Vic said tonelessly. She began to assemble the ingredients; Curry and Heyes just looked at each other in astonishment. She went into the pantry and came back with some of Wanda’s special spices. She went and got a bottle of bourbon.
Heyes shrugged and Curry whispered, “ Wait for it…”
She measured some sugar out and then opened the bottle of bourbon. And took a long drink. More like pouring it directly into her stomach as she just opened her throat instead of gulping. She put the empty bottle back on the counter.
“ Okay then.” After a few more ingredients went into the bowl, she picked up a mason jar and opened the lid.
Wanda screamed, “ Harm ye none!” she was trying to wrestle the jar away from Vic and she kept shouting, “ Harm ye none!”
“ Back off old woman.” Vic hissed.
Curry jumped up and into the middle of the fracas.
“ Get the jar!” Wanda kept yelling at the Kid.
Vic suddenly stopped struggling and looked at Wanda, “She won’t feel a thing, she’ll just go to sleep for a really long time.”
“ And then your soul goes to hell.” She pointed an accusing finger at Vic.
Curry held up the jar. “ What is this?”
“ It’s mistletoe,” Wanda explained. “ an’ it poison fer anyone puttin’ it in their mouth.”
Vic went back to the table and sat down with a blank expression on her face. Curry walked over and grabbed her hand, “ C’mon, let’s go for a walk.” He led her into the formal gardens that he knew she loved.
“ Just listen to me about why I sent for her.”
“ YOU sent for her?” Vic swung around to face him and snatched her hand from his.
“ For Heyes, I sent for her for Heyes.” Curry tried to explain. “ This situation isn’t easy on him and I thought she would be some good company for Heyes.”
“ What situation?”
“ You and me. “ he said simply.
“ This is wrong any which way you turn it…”
“ How is it wrong?” The Kid was confused.
Vic started pacing back and forth, “ You two…well, you’ve seen her…and she’s seen you…and you’ve…Oh my God, was it all of you at the same time…”
Curry looked insulted. “ No, it was never at the same time, Clem’s just not that kind of a girl.”
Vic threw up her hands, “ so now she’s the pillar of moral standards?”
“ No, that would be you,” Curry said wearily.
“ You want me to slap the tar out of you, don’t you?”
He reached out to try to grab her, but she still pushed him away.
“ Why didn’t you discuss this with me before you did it?”
“ Because I knew you would say no.” Curry looked her dead in the eye. “ I thought I was your husband and I ran this ranch. Doesn’t that include invitations?”
“ I thought you would run the ranch, I never dreamed you would take it away from me.” Vic stormed off.
“ Victoria, don’t walk off. I will not come after you.” The Kid warned.
“ Well of course not, you might miss the big arrival!” she called over her shoulder.

She didn’t come back for dinner and Wanda didn’t seem concerned. She hadn’t come back by bedtime and Wanda didn’t seem concerned. Prancer was still in his stall, so Jed knew she couldn’t have gone all that far.
Heyes tried to encourage him with the usual platitudes; but it was hard for him to hide his excitement at seeing Clem again. Not only that, but this time, he wouldn’t have the Kid to compete with. He knew Clem would love it here… if Vic didn’t kill her. He appreciated the trouble the Kid was going through to do this for him, but he just wasn’t sorry it happened, and somehow he felt he should be.
Curry stayed awake until four o’clock in the morning, constantly checking out the window. Nothing. Then he saw the lantern go on in Wanda’s cabin, and by the time he walked over, she was out on the porch with her corncob pipe and cup of coffee.
“ Ye wantin’ breakfast early?” she asked.
“ Victoria didn’t come home last night.”
“ Tha’ aint no surprise.” Wanda shook her head. “ When she wants ta git, she gits! If’n ya don’ want her to git, then ya outta just nail her feet ta the floor.”
“ Do you know where she is?” Curry was getting so tired.
“ More ‘en likely up ta mother rock, jus lookin’ at the stars ‘en tryin’ to git her bearings.” Wanda took another drink of coffee. “ You give her lot of thangs she jus don’t know what ta do wit. She just ain’t as worldly as you be. But don’t ya fret, I reckon she wouldn’t let Miss City Girl near you witout keepin’ a eye on thangs.”
The Kid went back to the cottage, hoping as he went back upstairs that she would be there. In their bed. She wasn’t. It was the first night since they married that they hadn’t been together, making love. It was the first time since they’d met that he didn’t know where she was. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
Vic laid her head in her hands, staring up at the stars from mother rock. She didn’t understand why Jed wanted this woman to come to the ranch; she was feeling completely pushed out of her own house. She rolled over, a tear falling on her hand. This
was the first night since they married that they hadn’t been together, making love.


At breakfast the next morning, Heyes was jubilant, making plans. He wanted to take Clem to the Lucky Strike; he knew she’d love it. He wanted her to see the castle and the countryside and search for the gold.
Wanda got up to get more honey for her biscuits. “ So, ya’ll two splittin’ up that child’s inheritance already. Maybe Miss Clem would like da family jewels too.” She sat back down and gave them the evilest look she could muster.
“ No one is splitting up anything.” Curry snapped. “ Clem is like our family. She’s family.”
“ Ain’t that incest, then?” Wanda continued to snipe and fuss all day until the boys couldn’t stand it anymore. They went out to the stable to saddle up and take a ride before the train pulled in.
When they rounded the corner, there Vic stood; with her back to them, on her tiptoes and hugging Prancer. The horse had his neck curled down around her back and it looked like he was hugging her back. Curry jerked his head back toward the door and Heyes backed out slowly. The Kid walked up to her as quietly as he could, “ Do I get one of those?” Vic screamed, Prancer reared back and retreated to his stall. She turned and stuffed her hands in her back pockets, trying to stare him down. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “ You don’t understand how you are going to stay under the same roof as a girl I have…well… I don’t understand how you could not stay under the same roof as your husband.” She didn’t say a word. “ So, how do we get to the middle?”
“ Get drunk?”
Curry chuckled,” Besides that.”
She cleared her throat and finally spoke. “ Let’s stay in the castle.”
Curry was shocked and a little more than nervous. “ The place with the wind and the funny pictures. Letters falling from the ceiling?”
“ I have lived there before. There isn’t anything to worry about.” She finally smiled, “ I’ll protect you.”
He walked toward her and was pleased that she didn’t back away. She looked up at him and tentatively put her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer and bent down for a kiss. A long, searching kiss. She finally broke it and whispered, “ It hurts to trust you.”
He just looked into her eyes and said as plainly as he could, “ Believe in me.”


Heyes, Vic and the Kid waited on the platform for the southbound seven fifteen to come to a halt. Heyes had driven the buggy, and the Kid and Vic on their mounts. The passengers began to disembark and Vic searched each ones face, wanting to know if she could pick out Clem. Suddenly she heard a shriek and turned to see a petite woman with brown hair hike up her skirts and come running in their direction. She jumped directly into the Kid’s arms and kissed him. You festering strumpet, I will pop out your eyes.
Heyes pulled her out of Curry’s arms to collect his kiss.
“ Boys!” Clem cried. “ It’s so good to see you! So, what’s the job?”
“ No job, Clem; just a friendly visit.” The Kid assured her.
Heyes put her down and she bent to smooth her skirt.
My god, she’s wearing a hat with fruit. Prissy bitch
“ We’ve kinda got a surprise for you.” Curry started. “ I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Victoria.” He nudged Vic and she extended her hand in greeting.
Then Clem started laughing, “ What are you boys really up to?”
Vic looked at her hand, looked at the Kid, and put it back down at her side. “Amusing but true!” Vic started and Jed elbowed her.
I want to slit your shiny throat.
Clem was still laughing, “ Remember when you married me, Kid?”
Excuse me? Oh no, you didn’t!
The Kid grabbed Vic’s arm and squeezed tightly.
You’re gonna pull back a bloody stub, you bastard.
The Kid looked at Heyes and then lifted Vic’s left hand.
Clem stopped laughing, “ Why didn’t I get a ring like that?”
Here, let me shove it down your throat. You’ll get a better view.
Clem turned to Heyes, “ That thing real?”
What would you know about real, you sniveling tart.
Heyes just chuckled and grabbed her bags. “ How about we stop for a drink before we head out to the ranch?” Clem nodded in agreement and Heyes helped her into the buggy.
Vic was on Prancer before the Kid could give her a hand. He just shook his head and climbed on Trigger.

Walking into the Lucky Strike, Vic saw Stella behind the bar and she brushed the brim of her hat with her fingers, indicating she didn’t want to be known. Stella just nodded. They wandered briefly as Clem admired the place and then Heyes led the way upstairs to the High Rollers suites. The concierge greeted them and ushered them right through when he saw Victoria standing in the back. Clem just gushed at the surroundings and Heyes invited her to play a few rounds with him. Vic grabbed a glass of champagne off of one of the waiter’s trays and went into the smoking room. She immediately went to the humidor and made a selection. After she had the cigar clipped and lit, she paced slowly back and forth to see if Jed would have the nerve to follow her in. He did. He helped himself to a drink and a cigar, eyeing her the entire time. They were at opposite ends of the room, smoking their cigars and pacing back and forth like caged lions at the zoo.

Vic couldn’t stand it any longer. She walked slowly over to him, half expecting him to walk away, but he didn’t. “ Anything else you forgot to tell me, stud? Maybe a third wife and a couple of kids.”
The Kid was staring her down intently. “ It was just for show. We didn’t actually get married with a license or anything.”
“ Kind of like us, huh? You gave her a ring. You fucked her.” Victoria hissed at him. “ You do this for a living?”
“ As much as you’re in the habit of buying husbands.” The Kid shot back. He regretted it immediately.
“ Well, darlin’ you just paid me back with change..” She put her cigar into his drink and started to walk away.
Curry grabbed her and escorted her forcefully to the nearest corner. She stood with her back to the wall, determined not to make eye contact. He put a hand on either side of her head and bent down. “ I know it’s hard to think when that fire just comes up your soul, but remember, you’re the one that said we had to learn to communicate.” He reached down and lifted her chin to make eye contact. “We were just trying to lay low in Santa Marta for a while and wanted to look respectable. Heyes and I drew cards and I lost. Loser got Clem, darlin’. “
She seemed pleased at this revelation. “I have never bent my knee to any woman before.” She could feel light kisses on her ear, and it was turning her mind inside out. “ I have never killed for any woman before. And both I have done for you without hesitation.” She turned her head slightly and pulled on his collar so she could reach his lips.
Heyes escorted Clem in for a look around. “ Heyes owning a saloon like this?” she was ecstatic. “ What have you too fallen into here? And how do I get some.”
Heyes looked around the room and saw the Kid and Vic in a corner kissing. “ Oh, good grief.” He turned Clem back around. “ We’re about done here. You ready to go to the ranch?”
Clem clapped her hands, “ Well, let’s go. I can’t wait to see this.”
The Kid and Vic rode behind them back to Black Cove, both dreading every mile. He had a feeling he had made a big mistake. He might have sorely misjudged Clem’s greed and Vic’s tolerance of an ex-lover as a houseguest. He just couldn’t figure her out, or Clem for that matter. He was pretty sure now that all women should come with a rulebook and they should have to wear them around their necks for quick reference. And for each contradiction you encountered, you could tighten the string. He could hear Clem’s squeals of delight as they came to the massive gates of Black Cove and the majestic castle behind it.
“ We live in a cottage in the back.” Curry called to her.
Her face fell, “ What? Are you out of your mind? This place is a palace! Why, it would just be a sin not to live here.”
“ Well, it’s just a nest of sin here…” Vic started until the Kid shot her a dirty look.
Heyes motioned to the small trail off to the right, “ It’s just down that road.”
“ Well, is it far from here, because I can just come back here if I don’t like it!”
Clem exclaimed.


“ Well, isn’t this quaint?” Clem said as they rounded the bend to the cottage.
Well, sorry it’s not up to your standards, you snake. Vic and the Kid dismounted and let Matthew lead the horses away. She walked up the porch and went through the door Heyes had opened for Clem.
“ Wanda, we’re back.” Vic said as she stepped inside. Wanda came out of the kitchen with her spectacles on.
“ wa’ll let’s have a look at ya, then.” Wanda walked up to Clem and looked at her from head to toe and clucked her tongue. Then she put her hands on hers hips and sighed. “ Wa’ll then let’s git them vittles.”
“ Oh, how charming,” Clem whispered to Heyes as they were led into the kitchen.


Wanda returned to the table with the roast and watched the interaction of the four dining. She could tell so much by watching them eat together. Those boys and Clem had known each other most of their lives; Vic had no clue how to cope with it. She hadn’t known them but a few weeks. “ Ya’ll make shore ya git some a my horseradish sauce wit the roast.”
“ Tell me more about the gold. Is it really a pirate’s treasure? Oh, and isn’t there usually jewels, too?” Clem said
Touch it and I’ll scratch your eyes out, you gold digger. “ We don’t exactly know what will be there, to tell you the truth.” Vic stated. The Kid was keeping a hand on her thigh and would squeeze it when he felt her out of line during supper.
“ Where’s the map?” Heyes asked Vic.
Vic dropped her fork loudly, “ and you want me to get that for you right now?” “ Well, from what I remember, “ Heyes ignored her. “ there just isn’t many trails wide enough to accommodate the wagon train that it had to have taken to haul it all in. So much of the back thousand acres is dense forest, and so much of it has already been searched.”
Clem’s eyes grew wide,” A thousand acres.”
Surely you know that number, you know number of men you have fucked? Vic was at it again.
“ Yep, that’s whats in ta back, we got a bit moe up front.” Wanda was starting to wish she had baked that cake herself. “ Ya’ll git some horseradish sauce now.”
“ Has it ever occurred to anyone that they might have missed it in the first search?” the Kid pointed out.
“ Well, Kid, that thought has crossed my mind, and I still think finding the way it was brought in is the key.” Heyes reasoned.
Clem was mesmerized. “ How much of a wagon train did it take? How many ways are we splitting it? Three?”
” I beg yer pardon, missy.” Wanda interrupted and for a moment, she thought she saw a disgusted look on Curry’s face.
“ Well, that would be a share for the Kid and Victoria.” Clem started.
The Kid was squeezing Vic’s thigh for all it was worth. He could envision her leaping across the table and snatching Clem’s tongue right out of her mouth.
“ And then a share for Heyes and a share for me.” Clem finished.
I will turn you inside out and wipe your guts on my wall. Vic thought with a smile on her face.
“ Clem, this isn’t ours to give away. This money is to buy our freedom. Heyes and Me.” the Kid advised.
“ Well, if I’m going to share in the risk of going out into the wilderness to find this gold, I deserve just as much as you two get.” Clem insisted. “ And if I’m left behind, I’m just likely to ride into town and tell the sheriff where to find you.” Clem played her trump card.
“ Aw, Clem, you wouldn’t do that to us. We’re family.” Heyes started.
“ No, Heyes; she’s blackmailed us before. It darn near getting to be a habit.” Curry started.
“ Now boys, don’t be angry,” she said coyly.
Vic reached down and grabbed the Kid’s hand on her thigh and she started squeezing it hard. You low down, blackmailing, black hearted, evil cunt. Then she jumped up, “ Dessert anyone?”
Heyes and the Kid just looked at each other across the table. Wanda laughed, “Let me help ya, child!”
“I made it myself,” Vic stated as she sat a large white cake in the middle of the table.
Heyes looked at it and swallowed hard. Vic was smiling sweetly as she cut the first piece and offered it to Clem. Heyes intercepted it. “ Why don’t we go get you settled in your room? You must be getting tired.” He put the plate on the table. “ We can just save that for later.”

Wanda laughed to herself as the occupants of the cottage went to bed down for the night. She shut the door and walked back to her cabin. She took the jar of Spanish fly and put it back into her cupboard. “ My horseradish do always please!”
Clem watched Curry push Vic into their bedroom and close the door, and felt a twinge of jealousy. She had always enjoyed their romps together. He was a very attentive lover, but then so was Heyes. Different styles, like night and day. There had been nights she went from one bed directly to the other. She was starting to feel a little warm and tingly all over. She felt herself getting moist just thinking about it. But now, he seemed pre-occupied with this…this woman who didn’t even dress decently. Leather pants of all things, what did she think she was, a trail hand? She pulled out her nightgown and inspected the bed and the sheets.

Vic was in the dressing room, preparing for bed. Curry was already in bed, naked and hard; waiting to see what she would wear tonight. God, she seemed to have an endless supply of the fanciest under things he’d ever seen. That was good, because some nights, he would get too rambunctious and just rip it right off of her. She seemed to really like that. Each night he would push her a little further, he smiled to himself; kinda like bustin’ a wild horse.
She had finished lacing up her black corset and stood regarding herself in the mirror. Corset, the black silk stockings the Kid liked, her Parisian underwear, a black gossamer robe that trailed behind her.
Anytime now, darling, he was thinking, too aware of the feeling of the soft cotton sheets on his hard cock.
Vic knew that the Kid had kept his hand on her thigh during dinner in an attempt to help her control herself. Halfway during the meal though, she had wanted to grab it and placed it in her crotch so he could rub her through her pants. She was feeling absolutely wicked and she didn’t know why. She took another look in the mirror to make some minor adjustments.

Heyes was settling in for the night thinking about Clem in the room down the hall. About sneaking down to the room down hall later tonight. He had been hard a rock halfway through dinner and had attributed it to the discussion of gold. That would usually do it for him. And he knew she wouldn’t turn him away, never had. The nice part was that he did have to share her with the Kid anymore, always wondering which bed Clem had chosen to visit first. Always wondering which she truly preferred as a lover. Fate had made that decision for her. For that much, he silently thanked Victoria.

The Kid heard her shoes walking out of the dressing room, wait, shoes to bed? She walked slowly around the corner and stopped briefly. She stood there, draped in a sheer black gossamer robe. He could see the tiny underwear just barely covering the patch between her legs, with the little ties on the side. He smiled, easy access. Her large breasts were uncovered and the nipples erect from the feel of the material on her skin. She walked over to the bed and placed her foot square in the middle of the Kid’s chest. They were black shoes like he hadn’t seen before, heels well above the normal two inches for the ladies.
“ I picked them up in Italy, “ she murmured. “ Do you like them?” She turned around quickly spreading the long gossamer over his chest and started to walk away. He could see the roundness of that magnificent ass peeking out of the skimpy panties. She stopped at the end of the bed and slowly turned back around. “ I want to show you something.” She teased.
“ And darlin’, I want to see it,” Curry assured her.

Heyes heard a light knocking and smiled to himself, he liked the fact she was coming to him first. He opened the door and Clem jumped on him like he was a bank draft. She spread kisses all over his face as he tried to get the door closed. She pulled his henley over his head and started to spread kisses all over his chest. She jumped up to wrap her arms around Heyes’ neck and legs around his waist. He kissed her as he walked back over to the bed and lay both of them down together. “ Oh Clem, I have missed you.” He breathed into her ear.
“ Tell me about the gold,” she whispered back into his. “ When can we go get it?”
Heyes smiled to himself, talking to Clem about money was foreplay for her. He knew it to be the best way to get her dripping wet. “ Next couple of days.” He reached in to liberate his cock from his long johns and pushing in, she hadn’t disappointed him. Warm, moist flesh to envelope him.
“ And you’re going to make sure and take care of me, right Heyes?” she nibbled on his ear.
“ In case you haven’t noticed, I’m taking care of you right now.”


Victoria threw an edge- worn book onto the bed and crawled slowly up from the bottom of the bed. Curry watched her breasts sway under the fabric and decided that robe had to go. He pulled her up to him and lowered it back over her shoulders, then twisted it around her hands in the back. He kissed her intensely, feeling her bare breasts against his chest. With one hand, he reached down and made quick work of her panties, tossing them to the floor. He was burning so fiercely, it was consuming him. He didn’t want to look at a blasted book, he wanted to be inside of this heavenly creature; wanted to make her scream and whimper. “ I’m going to show you something first,” he said as he slid behind her. She had fallen forward and her head was resting on the bed, ass in the air, arms bound exquisitely behind her back. He started by tracing down her spine with his tongue and lavishing her backside with kisses; all the while keeping a tight rein on the fabric holding her hands.
Vic felt no worry about what he was doing; she was learning to trust his hands and his body. She knew he would show her what to do; and she felt a searing desire to let him do anything to her body that he wanted. She had never been kissed there, but all that was in her mind was his lips, his tongue on her flesh. She felt him move her legs apart wider and something wet slowly working its way through her lips. It was warm and so wet; it didn’t feel like his finger. She didn’t care what was, it felt incredible and she wanted more; so, she moved her hips slightly in enticement. She heard him moan softly and felt what she thought was a kiss on her lips there. Then the kisses returned to her back, her spine, her neck. She felt the tip of his cock against her and she pressed backward as much as she could. He lunged forward to drive himself as deeply as he could and was rewarded with a scream. He twisted the gossamer more tightly around her wrists and used it to pull her to himself.
It was pain and pleasure, it was different, so foreign; but she couldn’t help but wish for him to plunge deeper and harder. Just like the button she had on the outside, she felt there was something inside of her that he was reaching for that was causing the explosion inside of her. The Kid rode her hard, showing no mercy; he was beyond any rational thought about tenderness. He was so proud of her, taking everything he wanted to give and screaming for more.

Heyes had his arms around Clem, and they were cuddling, talking about riches and all that it could buy. She was excited to find out how lucrative the saloon was and how it would soon be his; they just needed a few signatures. He talked about what he wanted to do with the place when he could put himself into it.
“ For Christ’s sake,” Clem said, “ does she always scream like that?”
Heyes smiled and chuckled. “ Yeah, pretty much.”
Heyes had often wondered what the Kid was doing to elicit the moans and cries he heard in the night.
Clem didn’t ever remember screaming like that when she was with the Kid. She wondered what they were doing in there that had her screaming.
Heyes just smiled and shrugged, “ You kind of get used to it.”
Clem pulled the blankets up farther on her shoulders, “ Well, it’s positively indecent.”
Heyes just laughed. Indecent was not a word he had ever associated with Victoria. She was just making up for lost time, and as for the Kid, well he had a natural propensity for sex and lots of it. He was amazed most mornings that Vic could still sit a horse and ride.


The Kid and Vic lay entwined in each others arms, listening to their hearts beat together. “ Well, that was better than looking at a book,” Vic admitted. He searched the covers for it,” I’m sorry I forgot.”
“ I’m not.”
“ Here we go, what is it?”
“ Well, it’s called the Kama Sutra, and I don’t remember what country I got it in, but…” she opened the book and thrust it up for his inspection,
Okay, I’ve done that…oh and that’s a good one, the Kid thought as he thumbed through the pages. But do I tell her that?
She turned it to page 89 and tapped the paper. “ Have you ever done that?”
“ Uh, yeah,” he waited to see if he was going to get slapped. She giggled and turned to another page, “ Ah, yeah, that too.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek, “ Are they worth doing again?”
He looked over at her in astonishment. “ You bet.” He started flipping pages, noticing some were dog-eared and turned down. It was then that it struck him how long she had waited for physical pleasure, how long she had waited for him. He looked into her quizzical eyes and pulled her in for a kiss, “ You are the love of my life.”