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
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
“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
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
“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
****************************
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
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
She had expected the rail trip from
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
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
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
“Surely you both cannot be serious,”
“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!”
“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.
“
“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. “
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
“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
***********************
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
“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
“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