GUNS AND ROSES

Alias Smith and Jones

Drena Hills

 

“The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong,

but that’s the way to bet.”

-

Damon Runyon

 

Louisville, Kentucky

May 1886

 

Post Amnesty

 

 

          He was moving even before she had chance to scream.  Three years of amnesty had done little to extinguish his alertness or dull his senses and despite being a stranger to the crowded chaos of the track’s stable area he was the first to spot the impending disaster.  How the lead pony had broken free or what had spooked it in terror to run he didn’t know, but the woman standing in the fence infield was completely unaware of the huge creature charging down on her.

 

Breaking into a dead run he caught her around the waist with one arm  propelling them both out of the way of the terrified animal and landing on a pile of hay with him on top.

 

          He paused to gulp a breath of air and made the mistake of meeting her angry brown eyes.

 

          “Get off me you stupid oaf!” she spat furious.

 

          Jedediah Curry considered this.  His mother had raised him to be a gentleman and a gentleman always respected a lady’s wishes.  But seeing as how he had just saved said lady from at the very least being trampled he didn’t feel he was required to rush in his duty to respect those wishes.

 

          “Glad to see you are all right ma’am,” he smiled wickedly implying by the twinkle in his eyes that the sensation of her soft body under his hard one was completely agreeable to him.

 

          She snarled something he didn’t quite catch and made another effort to push him off.

 

          “If you do not get off me this very instant I will have you dealt with…severely!  Do you have any idea who I am?”

 

          He began to lose interest.  The vast number of women who had taken the trouble to explain their importance to him were generally more trouble than they were worth.

 

          “No ma’am, but I can’t think of a more interesting way to get to know you better,” he said just to see what she did and then frowned.  “Ma’am you keep kicking like that and next time I’m going to feel compelled to save the horse first.”

 

Furious, she swore something unladylike and the exclamation startled him coming from something so feminine looking.

 

          From behind him he heard the commotions of other rushing over and from their concerned noises he realized the moment was lost and agilely got to his feet offering her a hand up.

 

          She refused to take it as an older blond woman and a younger man hurried to her assistance, which she accepted though hardly graciously.

 

          “Davina good heavens are you hurt?” the woman said crouching down, but her concern was brushed aside with equal distain.

 

          “I demand you arrest that disgusting man for accosting me!” the younger woman venomously spat as she got to her feet and then let out a prime evil scream of rage at the state of her dress, a light flimsy organza print completely unsuitable for the stables. “Look what you have done to my dress!” she screeched.

 

          Kid shook his head.  He had noticed her when she had arrived decked out in billowy pink complete with parasol, but her attitude to the poor unfortunate young man escorting her had let his eyes stray elsewhere.  She had that petite porcelain doll beauty now all the rage in the east, but looks were clearly deceiving; there was nothing fragile about this cold beauty.

 

          “Davina darling how terrible for you!” her escort cried, a chinless dandy with slicked down hair and a mistaken belief that bowler hats made him look dapper.

 

          Kid noticed he made no effort to get too close to her and considering her fury agreed it was probably the wisest move.

 

          “You sir are no gentleman!” she told Kid with a glare that could wither stone.

 

          Kid gave her a small mock bow and bit back the thought of pointing out his doubts about her having any claim to being a lady after her last tirade.

 

          Appearing to have read his mind she let out another shriek of anger storming off and nearly knocking her companion over in her effort to leave all of them far behind.  Dazed the man scurried to follow clutching her dropped parasol with far too much care.

 

          “I am so sorry,” the older woman said turning.  “My stepdaughter…Mr. Jones?”

 

          Kid’s face broke into a genuine smile as he recognized her.

 

          “Mrs. Hanley!” he said memories of Santa Marta and the murder of her husband Rolf Hanley flooding back.

 

          “You are a bit far from home aren’t you?” she said and despite him being a poignant reminder of her husband’s death she seemed sincerely glad to see him.

 

          “My partner and I are escorting Mr. Haggin and his family.”

         

          She nodded, “I’ve heard of him and his horse Ben Ali, a westerner entering is the talk of Louisville.”

 

Kid didn’t miss she was leaving something out, but merely smiled pleasantly and asked; “Are you racing a horse?”

 

          The Hanley’s were famous for their thoroughbred stock and it was this preoccupation that had been the reason Rolf Hanley had been in Santa Marta when he had been killed.

 

          “Blue Wing,” she smiled.  “He is the son of Billet the horse you helped me with,” she suddenly glanced up at him curious.  “I would have thought from what I read you and your partner had moved on from body guarding horses Mr. Jones…or should I say Curry?”

 

          Kid had the graciousness to look abashed, “Yes ma’am, I apologize for not being straight with you about that back then, but my partner and I were doing our best to stay out of trouble until the amnesty came through; made an alias necessary.”

 

          She smiled, “I always wondered about you and your partner after our trip to that ranch.  I just could not understand how you two were only drifters!”  Her eyes were twinkling now. “When I read about your amnesty and saw the picture I realized I was a great deal safer on that journey than I realized!”

 

          Kid smiled modestly, “We appreciated the work ma’am I’m just sorry we met under such tragic circumstances.”

 

          She nodded a thank you for his concern, “Rolf was a wonderful man.  I miss him very much.”

 

          “And he had a daughter?” Kid said poker faced.

 

          Charlotte Hanley closed her eyes as if seeking patience.  “My husband’s child by his first wife, she died in childbirth.  I’m afraid Davina is rather conscientious about her appearance.”

 

          “Well I didn’t meant to ruffle her feathers, but I thought the horse might do worse,” Kid said dryly.

 

          Mrs. Hanley smiled, “I have missed the straight talk of you westerners you must allow me to thank you properly. I am holding a small gathering for brunch Sunday after the race, I would be honored to have you and your partner attend if you are available.”

 

          Kid looked at her surprised.  They had left Mrs. Hanley’s employment on good terms, but it had always been clearly accepted that they were employees not friends. “Are you sure ma’am that racing society won’t be shocked by you having Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry over for tea?”

 

          She smiled at the picture, “Mint Juleps will be the drink of choice, but I will have tea if you prefer it.”  She stopped suddenly serious, “Strangely enough with some of the things happening lately I feel oddly comforted knowing you two will be there, especially after your rescue of Davina.  Where are you staying?”

 

          “The Brown ma’am,” and he noted her twinge of surprise at the name of the expensive hotel.

 

          “Thank you I will have my man bring you directions.”

 

          Saying their goodbyes he watched her walk away intrigued.  Something had her and a lot of people in Louisville worried.

 

 

                                      ****************************

 

          Davina Hanley stood fuming as her escort ran ahead to speed up the arrival of her carriage.  In truth he could do nothing to hurry it along, but having considered her mood he felt it best to put as much space between them as possible. 

         

Enraged she knew people were watching her amused. To say she was spoilt was as much an understatement as suggesting the sun might be hot.  Davina Hanley had grown up with servants, a doting father and a selfish heart.  The only thing that had kept this combination from leaving her companionless was her beauty and her money.  Her doll like looks and cascading curls caused men to acclaim her a vision and a goddess.  She preferred goddess, next to heiress it was her favorite word.

 

          Frowning she glanced over at ‘her’.  She had rarely thought of her stepmother any other way since she had arrived in her home when she was 5 years old.  And despite endless temper tantrums the woman had stayed taking her father’s love and attention solely from her and ruining her life forever.

 

          It was her jealousy of the woman that had caused her stepmother to fall when the woman had been pregnant that first year.  Of course people had assured her she hadn’t meant to trip her stepmother forcing her down the stairs and losing any chance she would ever have to give her father a second child.  Her father had believed her, but ‘she’ had always looked at her different after that.  Davina sighed heavily put upon.  She was used to women being jealous of her.

 

          A stable boy made the mistake of getting too close and viciously she lashed out at him with her parasol.  It made her feel better and calming slightly she studied from afar the man who had rescued her.

 

          He was more male than this place had seen in some time, definitely a westerner, despite the well cut suit, his manners proved that.  But he did wear it well and if she was honest his body had pressed down on hers with a masculine hardness she hadn’t sampled in some time.  He had been armed too.  They still wore guns out in the wilderness didn’t they?  She found it highly erotic and bit down on her lip hungry for something more than clean clothes.  Maybe she could use him to save her after all.

 

 

                             *************************

 

          Diamond Jim Guffy leaned casually against the track fence looking to all the world like a retired gentlemen of leisure.  His fashionable striped vest and cocked bowler hat added a splash of pinash to his expensive suit and shoes and more than one lady passing let her eyes linger intrigued.

 

          He met each glance with a wolf’s smile that made them either blush or smile back.  It was a contented way to pass the time.

 

          But his relaxed stance belayed his interest in the going ons around him.  People had been his profession for too long for him to give up his curiosity in them or their potential as marks.  Hiding a smile he had not missed Curry’s encounter with the grand Davina Hanley.  Very few men who knew her would have even attempted the rescue presuming no animal would be mad enough to ruffle her finery.  Even now he was sure she was ordering the creature shot and turned to glue.

 

          Curry had not changed much in three years unless it was to get faster and more confident he thought.  Oddly even at 32 his nickname was still appropriate, his boyish good looks still evident and misleading. 

 

          Calling him and Heyes for help had been an act of desperation and even then part of him had wondered if they would come this far to help a friend who owed them far more than he could ever repay.  He knew Heyes for certain had never been west of the Mississippi and Kentucky was certainly out of their territory.

 

          But he need not have worried; Heyes quick one word answer of ‘Tuesday’ had been proof they had made an instant decision to answer his call and it warmed the old man’s heart as much as it helped keep his worry at bay.

 

          It had not surprised him that the two after attaining amnesty had drifted into investigative work.  Heyes’s quick mind and Kid’s relentless restlessness had made him doubt they would ever settle down successfully in the routine of the 9-5 workforce.  The danger and uncertainty of solving problems no one else could suited their natures and their skills and from what he had heard paid them very well.

 

          Curry walked past him without acknowledgement that was recognizable and almost jauntily he strolled away to prepare for the meeting that had just been agreed upon without a single person on the crowded field noticing…with the exception of one.

 

 

                             ***************************

 

 

          Edith Haggin stood in the doorway of the stable box and watched him with her father.  James Haggin was going on as usual about horses with a passion he could move to whatever object took his fancy that day.  Currently it was horse breeding and so devout had his obsession become he had moved the entire family back to his native home in Kentucky to pursue it.  His horse Ben Ali represented his first proper step into the racing world and the large white bearded man was zealous in his enthusiasm to discuss him.

 

          She had expected the rail trip from Sacramento to have been mildly distracting, but tedious and then she had met him.  He and his partner had entered the dining car and been called over to join them by her father who had been intrigued to meet the infamous Heyes and Curry.

 

          Edith smiled at the memory of the two men’s surprise at being asked to join a well known millionaire for dinner and later drinks.  But her father didn’t have much use for society or its protocol having set out to make his fortune in ’49 in the California gold rush and succeeding.  He took people as he met them and made up his own mind and it had quickly been clear he approved of the two ex-outlaws and them of him.

 

          But she had never suspected one of them would intrigue her so.  Never had she met a man so vibrant, so dynamic.  Uncomfortable with social situations she had sat silently studying him presuming as usual she had been overlooked in the presence of her overshadowing father.

 

          But she had been wrong.  Early in the conversation Hannibal Heyes had turned his eyes to hers and cleverly drawn her into the discussion with an ease that had her completely involved before she knew what had happened.

 

          Maybe it was the way he looked at you as if what you were saying was the most interesting thing he had ever heard.  Or perhaps it was how he knew just what questions to bring up to lure her in.  He was fascinating and later when he had come to the stable car to see her father’s horse she had let him kiss her.  Well the truth be known she had kissed him, but he had been quite quick to return the assault.  Even now watching him she felt her insides tighten and nervously she dragged her sweaty palms down the side of her trousers.  No one but Richard had made her feel this way and he had gotten all proper and haughty after they had kissed. 

 

          Thinking of Richard Lounsberry of Boston made her wrinkle her nose annoyed.  She had decided she loved him at 16 and was going to marry him, but as of yet the Harvard lawyer had not cooperated.  Oh he liked working for her father, but even her considerable fortune had not tempted him.

 

          Which was why Mr. Heyes’s attention had been like a balm on her angry and scorned heart; she would show Richard other men wanted her even if she did have to kiss them first!  Not that kissing Mr. Heyes had been drudgery, in fact quite the opposite.

 

For the first time in her life she wished she had taken a bit more care in her state of dress.  She had come straight from the train’s boxcar stable and with her hair tucked up haphazardly dressed in trousers and a rough work shirt she might have been mistaken for a young boy.  As her father’s youngest child she had been able to slip through the cracks and her mother’s strict attempts at ladylike behavior to become the tomboy her father loved and allowed to train horses with.

 

          Hannibal Heyes turned pretending he had just noticed her and smiled appreciating the picture she made with the green race track behind her.  When she had kissed him in the boxcar his first thoughts had been a school girl crush, but he was learning the girl was in reality a 26 year old woman who knew how to get what she wanted.

 

          Normally he would have thought her father a barrier to such romantic pastimes, but Haggin barely saw his daughter when she was right next to him and then it was more as a son.  But Heyes had quickly recognized the female potential in the lady and felt it rude to turn down any offers to investigate it further.

 

          “She’s going to win boyo!”  Haggin said slapping Heyes on the back and then seeing someone he knew hurried past his unnoticed daughter barking orders to a groom to look after the prized animal.

 

          “Good morning Edith,” he smiled lazily.

 

          “Why are you here?” she said arms folded.

 

          He gave her his best innocent surprised look.  One she was starting to suspect after their last kiss as being less than trustworthy.

 

          “Protecting your father’s investment.”

 

          “From what?  Train robbers?  My father was completely comfortable bringing Ben here without security until he talked to you two on the train.  Then suddenly you and Mr. Curry are working for him ‘protecting’ his horse.  Something smells sir and it is not the stables!”

 

          “Edith your father is a very wealthy man and this race means a lot to him.  Your family moving here, all the details of settling in, he just wants to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

 

          She ‘harrumphed’ him disbelievingly.  “You two are the most famous detectives in the country and the most selective! They say you don’t take any case unless it interests you and sometimes you even don’t get paid for them. I think you’re here for some other reason Mr. Heyes!” she said formally having continued to call him that even after their first kiss.

 

          She moved closer and he smiled liking the way she interrogated a man.  “Maybe I just like the fringe benefits I get working for him?” he asked brushing the hair from her eyes.

 

          She swallowed hard distracted, his touch, even accidentally always did that to her.  Horrible man, she wondered if he knew.

 

          He did, but had only used the ability to protect her; the less people who knew the real reason why he and Kid were here the better.

 

          “Father says were all staying at the same hotel,” she said slightly breathless her curiosity sated by a hunger for something else. Can I come by your room later?”

 

          He frowned, “Genteel society ladies do not come by strange men’s rooms without chaperones Miss Haggin.

 

          She smiled catching Richard standing next to her father watching them and leaning up kissed him.  “How lucky for me then as I am neither!”

 

 

                                      *****************************

 

          Kentucky Derby founder Colonel M. Lewis Clark had taken to pacing now and Police Detective John Robbin leaned his head back against the comfortable leather chair he was seated in and once more questioned the temperament, sanity and likeability of the upper crust racing world.

 

          At 27 Robbin looked far too youthful to be his department’s chief investigator. With his collar length dark hair and even darker expressive eyes his slender form made him look younger than his years or his experience.  Added to that he dressed far more elegant than most of his colleagues having a natural flair that made him an instant temptation to ladies, something he took no end of ribbing for.  But his success rate with his cases and with women had earned him respect and some grudging admiration.

 

          Across from his Diamond Jim Guffy glanced at him and for a moment he caught something resembling distress in the older man’s eyes.  He knew Guffy had not expected him to be here when he explained his concerns to Clark wanting to keep it quiet and not an official matter; but he was here unofficially and he cared far too much about what was going on to stay out of it, especially now.

 

          He had grown up knowing Diamond Jim Guffy as Uncle Jim.  A close friend of his mother’s who had an uncanny knack for being there when she or later he needed him. 

 

          His mother, a flighty fragile woman, had married a stern cold older man who while giving her every comfort and protection did little to provide the emotional support a woman like her needed.

 

          His father, a successful lawyer, had also had little time for a small boy and so it was with Uncle Jim he had learned about the amazing world outside his staid and privileged  existence.  It was with Uncle Jim he learned about handicapping horses and spotting card sharks and the peril of being marked as a sucker.  He had long ago come to realize that while he might have learned about the law from his father, from his uncle he had been educated on life.

 

          It had only been last year on his mother’s death that both men had learned the truth for the natural closeness between them; Diamond Jim Guffy was his father.  Such a revelation though welcomed by both men was not, Guffy was quick to point out, the best thing for the public to learn about a promising member of the Louisville Police force and so John and reluctantly agreed to keep the revelation a secret...for now.

 

          Diamond Jim Guffy was a legend and not all of it from his skill with the ‘confidence game circuit’.  He was avid race hound and possessed an uncanny ability to assess horse flesh, which accounted for more than his share of the fortune he lived off of.

 

          His love of racing had naturally lured him to Kentucky and its thoroughbred stables and when Colonel Clark, after a trip to the European racing community, had decided to create a track with a signature race his father had been one of the first to invest, a decision which now appeared to have endangered his father’s life. 

 

          “Surely you both cannot be serious,” Clark said finally sinking into a chair overwhelmed. 

 

          “Didn’t it occur to you that maybe something might be wrong when six of the Louisville Jockey club members turn up dead in little over three months?” Robbin said angry at the man’s lack of concern.

 

          “Sir the club has 320 members!” Clark blubbered.  “Men die…”

 

          “In alphabetical order?” Robbin said on his feet now. “Bashford, Buford and Catrill died first together in a carriage accident.  Freak thing they were drunk, racing a train, all went horrible wrong.  Dardell drowned next.  He was followed by Fishburn who was shot outside his home in an apparent robbery gone awry.   The last was three days ago, Grimstead, he was found in his study with his head caved in,” Robbin recited from memory.  And may I remind you now Mr. Clark, Mr. Guffy here is in next in line!”

 

          Guffy watched the exchange unable to keep his heart swelling with pride at his son’s concern for him, he just wished he had told him he intended to storm into the meeting.

 

          Clark, at a loss for words, was saved as the door to the founder’s office flew open and James Haggin stormed in flanked by Curry and Heyes.

 

          Clark!” Haggin roared.  “What is the meaning of this!”

 

          “Mr. Haggin I am in a private meeting!”

 

          “You are always in a private meeting and if those damn easterners have their way you’ll never see me!  Now I have a complaint about…”

 

          He never got to finish.  Suddenly Guffy let out a little cry and slumped over in his seat unconscious.

 

          “Jim!”  Robbin said leaping over to the man, but Heyes had reached him first.

 

          “Get a doctor!” Heyes ordered gently laying the old man on the ground and pulling off his coat.

 

          For a moment Robbin was going to argue, but then knowing his badge would assure a far faster response took off out the door.

 

          It never once leaving his mind that his father had been next on that list.

 

 

                                      ************************

 

          “How is he doctor?”  Robbin said stopping the medical man who fortunately had been visiting the track that day with friends.  The older man sighed his face grave as he shook his head no sadly.  Robbin stared at him as if he didn’t understand.  He had been shooed out with the others and a crowd had gathered now as everyone waited for news.

 

          In answer the door opened and a gurney was silently carried out, a sheet over the slender body.

 

          Robbin swallowed and forced him self not to show any emotion.

         

          “We need to talk,” a voice from behind him said and turning he saw the blond man who had arrived with Haggin.

 

          “I have to…”

 

          “It’s about your father,” Kid said quietly.

 

          Startled Robbin looked up and nodded.

 

          Two hours later his grief had turned to rage which he unleashed the moment he stepped through the sparsely furnished bedroom he had been taken to in a vacant house in the most expensive part of town.

 

“You could have told me!”  Jack Robbin yelled angrily at the man looking up from a book and his glass of wine.

 

“Jack!  My boy…”

 

“Don’t you my boy me!” Robbin said furious. 

 

          “Son there wasn’t time and the boys didn’t realize who you were!” Guffy, startling alert for a dead man, said calmly.

 

          “The boys?”

 

          “You remember me telling you about my friends Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry?”

 

          Jack stared at him slack jawed.  “You called in outlaws to help you!  What your son the police officer wasn’t enough?”

 

          “I didn’t want you involved son.  You have your career to think of.”

 

          “And so you just decided to die?”

 

“It’s an old con son, I’ve worked it many times.  Makes a mark think you are unreachable.  The boys set it up last night.”

 

          “Without me!  Didn’t you trust me?” the words came out hurt more than angry.

 

          “He did, we didn’t,” Heyes said coming into the room with Haggin.  “All clear, our doctor has reported to the newspapers that you have gone on to your great reward. This being race week and you a founding member of the track should guarantee us the front page.”

 

          “And which outlaw are you?” Robbin said giving Heyes a steely look.

 

          “I’m the smart one,” Heyes said and turned back to Guffy.  “No one will think anything of Mr. Haggin delivering boxes to his new house so you should be in the clear to stay here.”

 

          “Servants don’t arrive until next week, couldn’t get any before race week,” Haggin said clearly enjoying himself.

 

“I am extremely grateful to you and your wife Mr. Haggin,” Guffy told the man who brushed his word aside.

 

          “When Heyes asked for my help keeping you out of sight I was more than willing, man needs a little adventure.  Besides I’m a pariah right now coming in from the west these easterners don’t open their doors easily even if I did grow up here.  So what happens next?”

 

          “If someone doesn’t pay attention to me I’m what happens next,” Robbin said darkly.

 

          Everyone in the room turned their full attention on the man surprised.

 

          Kid entered the room and stopped at the silence, “Problem?”

 

          “I want to know what is going on!”  Robbin growled.

 

          Kid looked at Heyes who shrugged.

 

“Look we didn’t trust Clark and we didn’t know about you,” Heyes told Robbin simply. “Jim is too good a friend to play wait and see with.”

 

          “Besides,” Kid admitted honestly.  “We think whoever is doing these ‘accidents’ wanted to reach Jim.  He’s the only man on the list with enemies creative enough to try something this crazy.  With Jim gone the killing stops and we get a chance to find out who it was.”

 

          Robbin slowly exhaled, he was angry, but if he was honest part of him was relieved his father was now safe.  It had been quick, clever and effective, he just hated feeling on the outside especially with these two strangers.

 

          “And what he comes back from the dead when this is all over?” Jack said bitter at the scare the three men had put him through.  “You could have warned me!”

 

          “Son you just showed up what was I suppose to do excuse myself and warn you I was about to move on to my final reward?”

 

          “He did stuff like that all time to us,” Kid told Robbin in sympathy.  “Used to drive me crazy.”

 

          “Which one are you?”  Robbin said feeling his anger leaving and annoyed he couldn’t hold on to it.

 

          “The one that never gets any sleep when these two come up with these ideas,” Kid said ruefully.

 

          Jack glared at them, a myriad of emotions. He was duty bound to report this, but part of him like the creativeness of the plan and it would keep his father safe.

         

          “He isn’t going to like missing the race,” Jack said finally.

 

          Kid broke into a smile, “With a little luck he won’t have to we have a week to figure out who is doing this.”

 

          “You are very confident,” Jack replied.

 

          “I’m not, he is,” Kid said indicating his partner.

 

          “I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” Heyes said offering his hand and his sincerest smile.  Hannibal Heyes.  This is my partner Jed Curry.”

 

          If he had expected them to look like dime novel rogues he was disappointed.  Both men were conservatively dressed in impeccably tailored business suits and now with close inspection it took Robbin a moment to put his finger on what was different about them from every other man he had ever met.  Then he had it, confidence, something in the degree his father had, but a 1000 times more potent.  They possessed a self assured poise that should have been oppressive, but oddly was strangely appealing.  He started to understand what his father and the dime novels had been talking about all this time.  It was a westerner’s self reliance intermingled with a natural charm that took the edge off the threat they represented. 

 

          Guffy had described it as being able to fit in anywhere and never lose your sense of self.  He said he had only ever met one other man with the same ability, Davy Crockett as a senator in Washington DC.

 

          “So you’re the fastest gun in the west,” Jack said dryly taking Kid’s hand disbelief evident.

 

          Kid merely smiled and Robbin suddenly had the funniest feeling he never wanted to have to draw on the man and find out.

 

          “So you really believe someone is killing all these people just to get to him?” Haggin said suddenly mulling it all over. “That is insane!”

 

          “But it buys confusion and diverts suspicion unlike one murder would,” Heyes said.

         

“Did these men have anything else in common?” Haggin said having trouble understanding such cold blooded calculations.

 

          Robbin shook his head, “I checked, aside from this and horses no.”

 

          “They ever play poker together?” Kid said under his breath causing his partner to swallow a smile.

 

“I’m not convinced they were all murders.  The first accident would have been fairly difficult to orchestrate, but it might have been what gave the killer an idea,” Heyes said pleasantly.

 

          “Mr. Heyes you have a most wicked and devious mind!”  Haggin said shocked at  such an idea.

 

“I thought that was why I was called here to help,” Heyes said pleasantly.

 

          “So Jack how are you going to play your hand?” Guffy asked his son.  “If you feel you have to report all this…”

 

          “I’m not here in an official capacity at the moment,” Robbin confessed.  “I took a few days vacation when I realized…Jim’s name was the next one up.”

 

          Both men caught the hesitation on what to call Guffy.

 

          “Good we can work together,” Heyes said.  “Should have this solved in no time.

 

          “Unless,” Kid said in such a way everyone’s eyes turned on him.  “We are wrong about Jim.  In that case we have another 313 to go.”

 

          “Goodness I hope not,” Guffy said poker faced.  “Think of what that would do the Derby!”

 

 

                                      ***********************

 

 

          The next two days moved swiftly, but were lackluster in any leads that might help pinpoint who might go to such extremes to enact revenge on Guffy.

 

          “Where are you off too?” Heyes asked looking up as his partner picked up his hat and moved towards the door of their hotel suite as the hour neared midnight.  It had been a fruitless day and both men had returned to their rooms frustrated.

 

          “Thought I might take another look around the track; someone has to know something maybe this close to race day I can find something out.”

 

          “You want me to come?” Heyes asked moving to rise.

 

          “No, I’m more likely to get someone to talk alone,” he said opening the door.

 

          “Good luck,” Heyes said returning to his notes and then looking up a moment later as the door opened.  “Forget something…”

 

          He stopped and blinked as Edith Haggin walked into the room and very deliberately locked the door.

 

                            

                                      ****************************

 

          “My we are diligent.”

 

          Kid turned and raised an eyebrow in surprise at Davina Hanley draped in the doorway of an interior room in the large barn used to stable the leading horses.

 

          “Miss. Hanley,” he said.  “Rather late to be visiting isn’t it?”

 

          She sighed exaggerated, “Being a horse owner is very hard work.  My stepmother just doesn’t seem to understand that.”

 

          “She is lucky you are so dedicated,” Kid said politely noting she was hardly dressed for the stable in the cream two piece gown layered in lace, her hair perfectly arranged.

 

          “And you?  Are you here protecting that nasty man’s beast?” she said coming closer and finally stopping directly in front of him.

 

          He could smell her perfume now and her closeness made it all the more obvious how alone they were for human company in the barn.

 

          “I take it you are not Mr. Haggin’s biggest fan?” Kid said poker faced.

 

          “He’s dreadful!”  she said rolling her eyes. “Waltzes in like he owns the place; insufferable creature, well he will learn his place when his horse comes in last.”

 

          “And you are sure that is going to happen?” Kid asked.

 

          “It’s what I want to happen and I always get what I want Mr. Curry.”

 

          “Ah you found out my name.”

 

          “My stepmother, she seemed most taken with you,” she smiled up at him and ran her finger down the front of his shirt.  “Were you lovers?”

 

          “Ma’am I worked for your father,” Kid said sharply.

 

          She smiled amused, “Oh dear a moral streak have we?  Such a shame I was so hoping we might get to know each other better.”  And reaching up she kissed him ending it with a bite on his bottom lip teasingly.

 

          “Careful Miss Hanley or you are going to get your dress dirty again,” Kid said both excited and annoyed by her.

 

          “I can get other dresses, I’m very rich you know,” she smiled turning to walk away.  “But men, men are so much more difficult to find!”

 

          He caught her by the arm and pulled her roughly to him.

 

          “Oh my how brutal!  I was afraid I had been wrong about you,” she said with a sneer.

 

          Against his better judgment he kissed her holding her hard against him until he was satisfied he had her attention. 

 

          She looked up breathless and excited.  “More!” she commanded.

 

          Shaking his head at her folly and his Kid entwined his hand in her hair pulling her face up to his as his hand slid down the back of her gown.  There wasn’t too much to her and it was going to be work finding it under all that silk and satin.

 

          Expertly he held her firmly in place as his kiss distracted and his free hand made short work of the buttons on the front of her dress.

 

          She gave a small gasp of surprise as his rough hand slid inside to cup her breast.  This was happening way to fast.  She was supposed to be in charge, when had he taken control?  Men always asked permission and she made them beg.  He wasn’t begging, far from it, he was taking and what was making her head swirl was she was enjoying his brutish behavior.

 

          “Stop please sir!” she said pulling away slightly feeling her knees start to buckle. 

 

          “You want this or not?” Kid said stopping and looking no where near like a man desperate for her. 

 

          “You are horrible!” she pouted.  “Men always tell me how beautiful I am and how they can’t live without me!  All you’ve done is paw me like some bar maid.”

 

          For a moment Kid considered how better off he would be with a saloon girl and she noticed his distance.

 

          “Don’t you want me?” she said kissing him and then sliding her hand down smiled as she felt the bulge in the front of his trousers. 

 

          In answer he picked her up and deposited her on a pile of just broken hay.  She lay their startled by his swiftness and gasped as he slipped off his vest and then his shirt.  He was magnificent and without thinking she reached up to him.

 

          But he merely gave her a lazy smile and unhooked his gun and then unbuttoning his trousers moved down next to her.

 

          “You wear too many damn clothes woman,” he growled and in one swift motion pulled her bodice apart in a savage rip that made her cry out startled.

 

          This was nothing like she had experienced before.  Even when she had bedded stable boys they had been polite and asked permission. He was taking her and the sensation of his hands on her body was making her head swim.  Never, ever had it felt like this before.

 

          Her breasts open to him he began to kiss one nipple and coax it into hardness while his hand tweaked the second one playfully, but firmly.

 

          Instinctively she felt her legs move open and despised him as he noticed and smiled smugly.

 

          “I hate you, you aren’t talking nice at all,” she said and then gasped as his hand pushed up her skirt and found the strip of satin separating him from the final step.

 

          “I don’t need words to be nice,” he said devilishly and sitting up slowly slid the first stocking down her leg and then returned to remove the other.  This accomplished he let his hands linger as he traced his way back up her inner thigh and then with a sudden yank freed her of the lace underpants she had sent to Paris for.

 

          “You are an animal!” she tried to cry, but he was kissing her again this time hard and demanding his passion clearly at its height.

 

          Never had she felt so helpless or wonderful and when his fingers moved into her she tried to force him away.  No man had ever dared such a thing!  He looked up and studied her carefully. 

 

          Jed Curry liked women.  In fact it was rare he met a woman past the age of consent he wasn’t attractive to or didn’t consider bedding.  But he did have one rule, they had to be willing.

 

          “You want me to stop?”  he questioned his breath ragged.

 

          “No,” she said a little lost.

 

          “Don’t worry I’m gonna look after you too,” he promised kissing her, something few women believed until he rolled off of them.

 

          Freeing his erection he shoved her dress up around her waist and plunged into her with a groan of satisfaction.  She was tiny, not much for a man to work with, but she was willing and female and he needed the distraction. He had no qualms about taking what was offered as the woman clearly took her pleasure where she wanted it.  It was enough just for the moment that they come together and enjoy each other.

 

          Davina grunted in amazement as he rode her like she was some damn stock animal.  Given permission to proceed he was consuming her, his hands everywhere, his mouth and tongue commanding hers into submission.  Her senses were on fire and she found herself sliding her hands down his hard bronze chest curious as to how amazing her flesh felt against his.  Never had she been so exposed with a man before or wanted to please him with the intensity he was inflicting on her.

 

          The assault continued so long she almost felt like she was going to black out, was he an animal?  How could he last so long!  Men usually came the minute she permitted them access.  He seemed to be taking his time and it was making her crazy.

 

          Gasping she felt him climax and his body come down on hers in victory.  The hard heaviness of him only made the ache that had been building in her scream out frustrated.

 

          He looked up and wiped a curl from her eyes.  “Your turn,” he said simply and before she could speak he had sat up and leaning against the post pulled her up against him.

 

          “What are you doing?”

 

          “Looking after you, I thought you might need a little extra help,” he said gently and holding her firmly with one hand he moved the other between her legs and began to massage her swollen opening.

 

          “What are you doing!  Stop that…” she gasped in pleasure as he found the spot he wanted and smiling pulled her up tighter against him. 

 

          “Just relax honey I’m gonna make you feel real good.”

 

          She began to swear at him in language that made him grin as she fought his skilled touch.  Finally she let out a scream and stiffened in pleasure shaking with shock at the intensity of the orgasm.

 

          Almost frightened she tried to pull away, but he kissed the top of her head and held her firm.  “Not yet ma’am, need to repay you for your kindness,” he said and again and again his fingers shot lightening through her until finally she collapsed back against him spent.

 

          He smiled and gently smoothed her hair off her face. 

 

          She rolled over to face him.  “How…”

 

          “Shhh you talk too much,” he said and kissing her pulled her onto his lap and positioning her entered her again. 

 

          This time he let her ride him.  Sensitive she came almost immediately and nearly fell over forcing him to slide her onto her back again and take over the pushing himself.  He took it slow this time suckling her breasts content she was enjoying it as much as he was.

 

          They finally both climaxed together and he rolled off her and moved to pull her to him only to find she was all ready on her feet.

 

          “Davina?” he said confused.

 

          “I have to go!” she said suddenly afraid and confused.  “What you did to me was wrong!  A man does not make a lady feel like that!”

 

          Kid felt a pang of pity for her, “It isn’t any fun if we both don’t enjoy it.”

 

          “I always enjoy it!” she lied.  The truth was she enjoyed making men beg, making them need her, not this wild abandoned feeling where she had no control.  She had surrendered herself to him and the revelation was terrifying.

 

          “Look come back here and let me…”

 

          “Don’t you touch me!” she said angry now pulling her clothes together.

 

          Kid sighed and pulled his own clothes on disappointed he had not been wrong about her.

 

          “Let me see you home,” he said as she almost stumbled towards the door.

 

          “Get away from me!” she snarled like a wounded animal and without waiting ran from the barn.

 

          Confused Kid moved to pick up his gun belt and stopped.  In her haste to leave she had dropped her purse and something had fallen out of it.

 

          Frowning he picked up the large brown stained bottle and read the label.

 

          Rat poisoning.

 

 

                             *****************************

 

          “Edith is something wrong…”  Heyes didn’t even have chance to leave the bed, with one pounce she was on top of him kissing him desperately.

 

          “Whoa, whoa woman what brought this on?”  Heyes said catching her to get a breath.  It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy a woman taking the lead sometimes, but this felt wrong.

 

          “I want you to make love to me,” she said kissing him again.

 

          “All right,” he said.

 

          “That’s it?  All right?” she sat up disgusted.  “You are as bad as Richard.”

 

          “Ah,” Heyes said and she turned and glared at him.

 

          “And what does that mean.”

 

          “It means you are too beautiful and interesting a woman to keep throwing yourself at men.  They should be lining up to throw themselves at you.”

 

          “You didn’t,” she pouted.

 

          “I try to make it a point to be certain the lady is open to my advances,” Heyes said moving up behind her and sliding a hand around her waist.  Even in the old denim shirt and trousers she aroused him.   Richard Lounsberry was a fool.

 

          “Really?” she said so sadly he turned her back to him and cupping her face kissed her long and slowly.  When they both pulled away they were breathless.

 

          “Edith I don’t want you doing this because you want to get back at Richard,” he said his voice raw and ragged.

 

          “You aren’t the first man if that’s what you are worried about,” she said not understanding.  “I’m 26 you know and a girl can only wait so long.”

 

          He chuckled, “Yes ma’am