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 I’m sure that’s true, but what I meant was don’t give yourself to me to make Richard jealous.  It’s not fair to either of us.”

 

          “I don’t care about Richard,” she said conscious of how his hand burned on her arm.  “I want to feel something for a change.  You make that happen when you touch me.  Please?”

 

          He understood.  Loneliness was a powerful force and he had found solace enough time in a bought woman’s arms because of it.

 

          “All right if it’s what you want,” he said trying to read her eyes to be certain.

 

          “Is it what you want?” she asked desperate to be needed, desired.

 

          He smiled rakishly, “Woman I have wanted you since I first laid eyes on you in that dining car.  You are lucky I didn’t sweep the china off the table and take you there in front of everyone!”

 

          She gasped at his sudden change into the outlaw leader who had taken the west and only surrendered it back under his terms.

 

          Sitting behind her he kissed her neck and tugged her shirt out of her trousers. 

 

          Still behind her he made short work of the buttons and gently eased the blue denim off her shoulder and kissed it longingly.

 

          She shivered as he slipped the shirt off her and with a growl stood her up in front of him and kissed her again deeply and with such intensity she never felt her trousers open or slip down her legs.

 

          Clad only in a camisole and brief pants he made short work of removing them until she stood naked in his arms.  Quickly his hands began to touch her with precision movements so sensitive she gasped.  He was exploring her, tasting her until she felt like she was going to explode.

 

          She quivered in his arms and he chuckled his approval of her reaction.  He liked a woman that responded.  It encouraged him to want to please her more and eager to do so he returned her to the bed and laid her down with firm, but gentle intention.

 

          Suddenly feeling shy she moved to pull a cover over herself, but he shook his head no and pulled it away as he pulled off his Henley.

 

          “I wanna look at you,” he said with gaze smoky and dangerous.

 

          Never had she felt so vulnerable and yet so oddly safe.  Her breathing was ragged now and she watched him hungrily as he pulled off his remaining clothes and eased down onto her.

 

          “Touch me Heyes, touch me everywhere,” she begged.

 

          He answered with his tongue finding her breasts and squirmed in delight at how he teased her nipples to erection.  His hands and mouth seemed to be a hundred places at once and she reached up her hands desperate to give him the same sensations.

 

          Find his erection she grasped it gently and slid her hand down it causing him to gasp.  His emotion excited her and eager to please she pressured him to roll over and allow her on top.

 

          Grinning at her initiative Heyes sat partly up against the bed board intrigued and then opened his eyes wide in surprise as she slid down to his waist and pulled him into her mouth.

 

          It was rare to find a woman who would do such things even for money and even rarer to find one who enjoyed them.

 

          Licking him and sucking him he groaned trying to ascertain if this was pleasuring her.

 

          Finding some strength he caught her arm and made her look up at him.  “You don’t have to do this.”

 

          “I like to, Billy showed me how to do this.  He was a ranch hand of my father’s.  He said men really like it.”

 

          Heyes nodded wondering how many ranch hands had taken advantage of the lonely girl for their own needs.

 

          Rubbing her face against his erection she pulled him back into her mouth and gasping he grabbed her hair and held on until at last he exploded.

 

          Her job done she lay her head down and let him stroke her hair while he got his second wind.

 

          “You are an amazing woman Edith Haggin,” Heyes said pulling her up next to him.

 

          “Can you do it again?” she asked hesitant clearly this had most times not been the case.”

 

          “Woman we are just getting started,” he growled deciding it was time he took control of the pleasuring and pushing her onto her back began a slow, but steady offensive on her senses as he began to kiss her from her lips on down.  Finally reaching her waist he slid between her legs and she buckled startled by the effect his tongue had on her moist opening.

 

          “Oh God what are you doing…” she said gripping the bed linens in terror and excitement.

 

          “Turn about is fair play,” he responded with a wicked grin and sliding his hands to her hips began teasing a response from her with his tongue.  It was not something he did with just anyone woman, the technique being taught him by an older woman when he was just 17, but it never failed to drive a woman into a panic of passion.

 

          Buckling and arching her back she came and on the third time unable to contain his own growing need he moved to mount her when she stopped him.

 

          “From the back,” she whispered.  “They always do it from the back…”

 

          Shaking his head over what kind of men she had laid with, but having no objection he let her turn over and crouch on all fours.

 

          Deciding this might prove tricky on the bed with the force he was preparing to enter her with, he pulled two pillows free and tucked them under her for support and smiled liking the way it pushed her backside up in the air in preparation for him.

 

          He paused for a moment to appreciate the picture and could see why past lovers had preferred the position.  Caressing her full white bottom he kneeled and pushed into her with a grunt of satisfaction.  She was tight and as she began to move with him he pushed harder into her gripping her hips conscious only of his need for satisfaction.

 

          At last in an explosion of ardor they both collapsed in a tangle of flesh and exhausted satisfaction.  Freeing her he pulled her up against him content just for the moment to breathe and savor a chance to linger over a woman.

 

          Being on the run had limited such opportunities and while the chance to satisfy his body was always welcome he was too intelligent a man not to crave something more.

 

          As of yet no woman he had ever met had come close to fulfilling his needs both mentally and physically and he had cynically begun to think such perfection did not exist.

 

          He glanced down at Edith feeling slightly guilty at using her so, but he could only hope she had enjoyed the experience as much as he had.

 

          And if in answer to his concern she snuggled closer and kissed him lingeringly.

 

          “Again?” she asked hopeful.

 

          He grinned liking her spirit, “All right, but this time we do it my way,” he said sternly pushing her over onto her back. “I like seeing a woman’s eyes!”

 

 

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

 

 

Inspector Jack Robbin watched Kid exit the barn and wrinkled his brow in uncertainty.  He had not yet had the courage to tell his chief about his and Mr. Heyes’s arrival, though word had probably leaked back to him by now.  Kentucky might not be the wild west, but they knew about outlaws and Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes were the most infamous.  And here he was working with them.  No his chief would not take that well.

 

          “Had the same idea?” Kid said coming up behind him and he cursed at how quickly the man had spotted him.

 

          “Not exactly, I ran into Miss Hanley as she was leaving.  She wanted me to arrest you for assaulting her.”

 

          Kid considered this, “Wanted?  You said no?”

 

          “If I arrested every man Davina let assault her there would be no men walking free in Kentucky,” Jack sighed.

 

          Kid nodded, “Know her well do you?”

 

          “Mostly just of her, she doesn’t consider policemen worthy of her social attention or at least not after I told her I wouldn’t let her keep my handcuffs.”

 

          Kid grinned, “I understand, tell me she in any trouble?”

 

          Jack looked up at him, “What do you mean?”

 

          “I mean enough to make her sneak into the track maintenance room in the middle of the night and carry of rat poisoning.”

 

          Jack took the bottle Kid handed him.

 

          “It was in her purse she forgot it when she left in a bit of a hurry.”

 

          “How do you know this came from the track’s supply?”

 

          “Because I caught her coming out of there, probably part of the reason she suddenly got so friendly and I checked there were two other bottles of the same brand on the shelf and an imprint in the dust where a third had been stacked at the back. You folks still write down who buys it when you sell it?”

 

          “Yea we do.  What does a woman like Davina Hanley need with rat poisoning?” Jack said.

 

          “I don’t know, but I am curious Inspector, whose name is after Jim’s on that alphabetized list of track founders?”

 

          Jack reached in his pocket and pulled out a small notebook and flipped it open.

 

          “Ah…Rolf Hanley, deceased…” he looked up.  “Her father.”

 

          “Which means her stepmother inherited his spot,” Kid said emotionless.

 

          “What are you saying?”  Jack said not liking where this was going.  The woman was mean, spoilt and occasionally irritating as hell, but what he was hinting at went far beyond…  “I see,” he said suddenly.  “I think we better do a little checking on Miss Hanley.”

 

 

 

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

 

 

          “Do you want me to walk you to your room,” Heyes said at the door where she was preparing to slip out.

 

          “No, no it’s not far,” she said slightly distant.

 

          “You can stay…” he offered half heartedly, but she seemed as eager to be gone as he was to be alone.

 

          “Thank you, I’m fine really,” she said a little wistfully and after letting him kiss her one more time she was gone.

 

          Once in the cool dark hallway, the door closed, she exhaled not sure how she felt.

 

          So that was what it was like to have a real man love you.  It crossed her mind to start to feel sorry for herself, she had known going in that this would be all they would have, but somehow she couldn’t.  If she was honest she didn’t want him to give her his heart, because she didn’t love him either.

 

          Squaring her shoulders she told herself a moment like this would be enough until…  No she wouldn’t think about until she would just end this night remembering his lovemaking and reveling in the warm satisfied way her body felt.

 

          So caught up in her thoughts she completely missed Richard coming up the stairs from a long night of debauchery.  All ready his head was beginning to ache from drink and he felt slightly sick at the lustful activities Mr. Haggin and he had sampled at a high brow bordello just outside of town.

 

          And then he saw her.  She was just wearing the camisole and it hadn’t been laced up properly.  Her hair was tousled making her look wild and unkempt and incredibly lovely.  Her lips were swollen from being kissed and she had the unmistakable look of woman loved well and long.

 

          His eyes followed her into her room and he stood there watching it for a very long time.

 

 

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

 

 

          Kid Curry would have waited to fill his partner in on what he had discovered until morning, but arrived just in time to see Edith leave.

 

          “Am I interrupting anything?” he asked tapping on the door between their rooms.

 

          Heyes looked up tired, a good tired, clearly he had not been the only one to do well on the feminine front this night.

 

          “No, no come in, you saw her?” Heyes asked knowing.

 

          “Yea, she’s a pretty girl.”

 

          “She’s a wild one,” Heyes said stretching and pouring himself a whiskey and after offering his cousin one as well.

 

          “Ran into a…” he hesitated not sure what word best described her, but finally remained a gentleman and said, “…lady myself tonight,” Kid said quietly taking a seat.

 

          Heyes turned sharply knowing his cousin too well.  “Who?”

 

          “Davina Hanley.”

 

          “The one you rescued at the track?”

 

          “Yup.”

 

          “Grateful was she?” Heyes grinned and then it slipped away as he saw his partner’s face.  “You found out something.”

 

          Kid nodded and explained about the poison.

 

          “Jack and I did some checking with a few of the grooms arriving for workout.  Seems Davina is quite a gambler.”

 

          “She’s a rich woman.”

 

          “Correction,” Kid said. “Her stepmother is.  It seems daddy’s fortune was lost in the war.  Charlotte Hanley is the real money in that family and Davina is on an allowance and Heyes the lady loses a lot.”

 

          “Wait a minute are you saying…where is Hanley on that list?”

 

          “Right after Guffy,” Kid replied.

 

          Heyes stared at him, “Kid it can’t be, she’s a woman…”  He stopped both men had known a few women over the years very capable of murder and in some cases mass murder.  “But for what, the money?”

 

          “I don’t know, but I think one of us ought to check with Mrs. Hanley about who inherits on her passing.”

 

          “You go,” Heyes said his eyes far away.

 

          “Oh thanks!  And what are you going to be doing?”

 

          “If she loses a lot someone is going to know how much and to who.  I’m going to have Guffy find me a good Bookie.”

 

 

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

 

          “Not the kind of place you want to walk into without someone watching your back,” Heyes pointed out politely as Jack stood preparing to cross the street and enter the seedy looking Chinese restaurant where at least three toughs stood outside smoking.

 

          “Did my father send you?” Jack said turning on him dangerously.

 

          “Only when I stopped by and asked the same question you did,” Heyes smiled disarmingly.  “Nice place come here often?”

 

          Jack sighed and gave up and truth by told he just might get a little more information if Hannibal Heyes caused a distraction.

 

          “Louie operates his bookie parlor in back.  If you want to make a bet you ask for the #6 special and then pick your horses like item numbers on the menu.”

 

          “And you don’t close him down?”

 

          “Mr. Heyes the mayor bets here.  As long as Louie doesn’t ruffle the wrong feathers he’s off limits.”

 

          “So won’t you asking questions get you in trouble?” Heyes asked impressed.

 

          “I count murder as ruffling feathers.”

 

          “You think this Louie could be in on it?”

 

          “I think if Davina Hanley is involved she didn’t kill those people alone if for no other reason blood is so difficult to get out of one’s tea dress,” Jack said dryly.

 

          Heyes grinned, “You have a point.”

 

          “And if she owes him enough he might very well have recommended some help.”

 

          Heyes nodding liking he had come to the same conclusion he had, “Let’s go find out.”

 

          Walking across the street the bodyguards instantly stiffened.

 

          “What you want Robbin?” one sneered.  “Louie don’t like you cops coming by, bad for business, scares the nobs.”

 

          “Danny I broke your nose once don’t make me do it again.”

 

          “You talk real big little man lets see you…”

 

          The man moved to swing, but Jack was ready and with one clip to the jaw sent the larger man back reeling.

 

          His friends moved to join in, but Heyes’s six gun was instantly in his hand.

 

          “Who the hell are you?” one of the toughs said startled.  And Jack swallowed.  If Heyes was that fast, how the hell fast was Curry?

 

          “Hannibal Heyes and I just want to talk to Mr. Louie.”

 

          Loud laughter came from inside the door and a genteel looking gentleman with a balding head and a sweaty brow emerged.

 

          “Boys, boys where are you manners let the Inspector and Mr. Heyes come in.”

 

          Louie, who turned out to not only not be Chinese but possess a sharp Brooklyn accent ushered them in and nodding to a pretty Cantonese waitress escorted them back into his office.

 

          “So what do I owe the honor of having the amazing Hannibal Heyes in my establishment!”  Louie said sitting down behind his desk and indicating they should take a seat.  “Tell me your partner with you?  He as fast as they say?” 

 

          Jack rolled his eyes, Louie hero worshipping, did these two have this affect on everyone?

 

          “Yes and faster,” Heyes grinned.

 

          Louie broke out into wild laughter and slapped his knee.

 

          “I like you Heyes what can I do for you?”

 

          “Davina Hanley,” Heyes said simply.

 

          Louie instantly sobered.

 

          “Fine society lady.”

         

          “How much is she into you for Louie?” Jack asked leaning forward.

 

          “I don’t know what your talking about,” the man said suddenly nervous almost frightened.

 

          “Louie I can appreciate your need to maintain client confidentiality,” Heyes smiled pleasantly.  “So let me just speculate and you can just nod at the end if I got it right, no harm in that is there?”

 

          Louie thought for a moment, “Yea guess not.”

 

          “Davina Hanley likes to gamble, but she is very bad at it.  She runs up a tally that she can’t pay and when mommy refuses to bail her out again you turn up the heat.  But Miss Hanley isn’t your usual blue blood clientele.  She comes to you with a plan that even a man of your creative work ethic is appalled by and you turn her down flat.”

 

          “She wanted us to whack her mother!”  Louie spat out with his cigar. “You ever hear of such a thing?  She said she couldn’t pay and since the customary reprisal was to rough someone up we should do her mother and go too far!  Look Mr. Heyes I don’t mind taking a few bets making a little money and when I have to me and the boys well we might break the odd leg, but we don’t kill no women. I got a mother too ya know!”

 

          “So what happened after that?” Jack said fascinated at how easily Heyes drew the tale out of the man.

 

          Louie glared at him, “I ain’t talking to you copper, I’m talking to Mr. Heyes.  Anyway Mr. Heyes she goes off all angry and I finally decided she wasn’t worth the trouble and I cut her off, put the word out to all the track boys that she was poison.  Well she storms in her and threatens me!  Me!  I’m the criminal here!  Don’t ya hate it when folks just don’t understand stuff like that?”

 

          “Absolutely,” Heyes nodded with a weary understanding sigh.

 

          Louie nodded pleased, “Well she threatened if I didn’t lift my ban on her I’d end up having an accident.  Then she said she would be inheriting a lot of money soon and I would have to take her bet.  Mister if she came in with Fort Knox in her purse I wouldn’t take a skin from the woman, she scares me and I’m a pretty scary fella myself!”

 

          “Louie you have been a big help,” Heyes said rising and shaking his hand. 

 

          “Hey you think maybe your cousin could come by and show the boys a few tricks with that gun of his?”

 

          “I will let him know you asked,” Heyes smiled.

 

          “Ah you’re the real thing Hannibal, you mind if I call you Hannibal.”

 

          “Yes,” Heyes said his eyes cold.

 

          “Right you are Mr. Heyes!”  Louie said and practically groveling showed them to the door.

 

          “Tell me does that always work?” Jack said disgusted as they recovered their horses.

 

          “Does what always work?”  Heyes asked innocently.

 

          “Being Hannibal Heyes,” Jack sighed.

 

          “Jack,” Heyes said with charming arrogance.  “It even worked when I was Joshua Smith.”

 

 

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

 

 

          “Mr. Jones this is a pleasant surprise,” Charlotte Hanley said slightly flustered as she turned from the horse she had just checked to find the ex outlaw standing behind her.

 

          “I’m sorry to startle you ma’am, but there was no one up at the house and a work hand said you were down here in the barn.

 

          “Yes I gave most of the staff the afternoon off since they will be working Sunday,” she seemed nervous and moved away from him.  “I presume you are here to inquire about Davina, I have no idea where she is.  But I can assure you she suffered no ill effects thanks to your quick timing.  I’m afraid I can’t offer you…”

         

          “Ma’am is your daughter your only heir?”

 

          The question had the most amazing effect.  Charlotte Hanley clutched her handkerchief to her chest and looked like she would have buckled if Kid had not caught her and eased her down onto a bail of hay.

 

          “Can I get you some water?” Kid said not sure what to do, the woman was white as a ghost.

 

          “No, no, I’m sorry you bluntness just caught me be surprise.”

 

          Kid found a seat across from her and waited letting her gain her composure.

 

          “Mrs. Hanley are you aware that there have been some unexplained deaths of members of the founding track club?”

 

          She got up wringing her hands nervously, “Yes.”

 

          He stood up and faced her, “Were you aware they happened in alphabetical order?”

 

          She turned sharply, “What?”

         

          “Ma’am someone has been killing people off that list in the order their names fall and your name is next.”

 

          She stared up at him, “That is ridiculous?”

 

          “Very good Mr. Curry!”

 

          They both turned to find Davina with a superior smile and beside her the work hand Kid had met earlier.  Except this time he was holding a gun.

 

          “Has she told you that all the servants have left?  Terribly convenient all this!”

 

          “Davina what are you talking about!  Joseph put down that gun!” Mrs. Hanley said horrified to the muscular curly haired man of perhaps 25 years.

 

          “I don’t think so lady,” Joseph said all hint of respect gone from his demeanor. 

 

          “Joseph has been helping me with a little problem, you!” Davina said gaily. 

 

          “Davina if you need money…”

 

          “Oh now that is a change from our last talk on this matter, what were your exact words, cut me off without a penny until I learn the value of money?  Well mommy,” she said using the term bitterly. “I have, I’ve earned every penny I am going to get!  I first just thought of killing you outright, but then when I read in the paper about those three silly men dying in that train accident and saw their names it occurred me that just maybe there was a better way.”

 

          “You killed…”  Mrs. Hanley gasped.

 

          “Well actually Joseph did, he’s been such a sweetheart helping me.”

 

          “Yea and half your fortune is gonna be mine!”  Joseph sneered.

 

          Kid doubted that and could imagine Joseph was most likely going to wind up dead himself after the woman had no more use for him.

 

          “This all would have been over earlier, but you had to step in,” she growled at Kid.  “My dear stepmother was supposed to pull me out of the way of that horse and die tragically, Joseph and I rehearsed it perfectly, but you had to play hero!”

 

          “You are insane,” Mrs. Hanley said numb with shock.

 

          “I am not!  I am not!” she screamed stamping her foot.  “You always made me feel evil!  You thought I pushed you!  You said I was a spoilt child for not going with daddy on that silly horse trip because you were sick!  You felt he would have lived if I had been with him!”

 

          Charlotte Hanley stared at the girl confused, “Davina I never believed you tripped me on purpose and you being with your father would not have…”

 

          “Liar!  You hate me!  All these years you have made me feel worthless, always it being YOUR money!  Well it’s going to be my money now!  And you being here Mr. Curry will tie things up nicely.  It won’t take much for people to believe you and my mother were lovers, especially after you were there when my father died.  They will believe you killed him to get to her and her money!  Why with a few tears society will crown me the poor little innocent daughter and blame all of this on you!”

 

          “Davina this is not going to work my partner knows everything,” Kid said calmly.

 

          “Who is going to believe an outlaw?”

 

          “So does Inspector Robbin.”

 

          She shrugged, “Then he can have an accident too.”

 

          Joseph turned and stared at her uneasy as Kid replied, “And how many people is Joseph going to have to kill for you Davina?  Won’t that make him a loose end too?”

 

          “Shut him up,” Davina shrieked.  “Into the tack room!”

 

          “What are you going to do?” Mrs. Hanley asked suddenly calm as if the truth about her stepdaughter somehow gave her an odd relief.

 

          “Joseph heard you and your lover fighting in the barn over the money and the killings, he ran to get me, but by the time we returned the entire structure was on fire!”

 

          “Hey that is good!” Joseph said suddenly feeling reassured. “They gonna believe that!”

 

          “They might, but I won’t,” Jack Robbin said from the door way.

 

          “Kill him!”  Davina screamed.

 

          It all happened rather fast after that.  Kid leapt for Joseph at the same moment Heyes and Robbin did.  Furious as Joseph hesitated, Davina reached him first attempting to pull the gun free and do it herself.

 

          Heyes reached just as the gun went off and everyone froze as the woman let out a little cry of surprise and then slipped to the ground, a burgundy stain in the center of her dress spreading as she fell.

 

 

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

 

          “A hunting accident!”  Kid yelled leaping out of his seat from where he sat across from the Chief of Police and Colonel Clark.

 

          “Mr. Curry the woman is dead bringing up all that went along with that isn’t going to offer any more justice to those poor people or any comfort to the Hanleys,” Colonel Clark said.

 

          Heyes stood up, “And Joseph’s part in this?”

 

          “He will receive punishment never you mind,” the Chief of police said with a huff.

 

          “Ah in other words we don’t want to mar race day or ruffle the feathers of its racing body so were going to just pretend it all didn’t happen,” Heyes said disgusted.

 

          “Yea well we still know,” Kid said dangerously.

 

          “Mr. Curry your credibility is hardly a threat to anyone,” the Colonel said haughtily.

 

          “Come on Kid it’s not worth it,” Heyes said grabbing him before he did something he felt like doing himself.

 

          Angrily Kid let his partner lead him out of the racing office to find Guffy and Jack waiting.

 

          “They tell you?”  Jack said and then nodded when he saw Kid’s face.  “Yea we heard too.”

 

          “Jack quit his job,” Guffy said quietly.

 

          Everyone looked at the young man.

 

          “I don’t think I can work here anymore and feel like I have a shred of integrity,” Jack said.

 

          “I said what he needs is a trip back west!”  Guffy said patting him on the back.  “See what I’ve been going on about all these years!”

 

          For the first time Kid relaxed, “West could use lawmen like you.”

 

          “Yea now that were not running from them,” Heyes grinned and then sobered. “Did you hear Joseph was scheduled to make sure you had a little accident leaving the track after he spooked the horse Kid saved Davina from?”

 

          “Wouldn’t want to kill out of order,” Kid said shaking his head.

 

“How is Mrs. Hanley taking things?” Guffy asked.

 

          “Well she’s still racing her horse and last time I saw her she seemed fine.  I think she knew Davina was not well for some time.  Seems more relieved than anything,” Kid said sadly. 

 

          “Speaking of horses I hope you boys will be joining me in my box?” Guffy said attempting to lift their spirits.

 

          “We’ll be there,” Heyes promised.  “But our train leaves right after.”

         

          “But you will miss all the parties, mingling with the best of society!” Guffy said aghast.

 

          “Jim, I have had enough of society to last me a lifetime,” Kid said.

 

          “Yea,” Heyes agreed.  “I think its time to go home.”

 

 

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

 

 

          “Not one word in the papers,”  Kid said shaking his head as they reached the box where Guffy and Robbin were waiting.

 

          “This is society Kid, folks don’t like their dirty laundry airing, especially on race day,” Heyes said absently as he watched Edith Haggin walk by dressed to the nines draped on Richard Lounsberry arm.  She seemed happy and excited and didn’t even notice him.

 

          “Well the whole thing still feels wrong,” Kid said moodily as they reached their seats and after being handed mint juleps by the waiter tried to relax.

 

          The twelfth running of the Kentucky Derby was cloudy and hot and while rain had threatened it had so far held off.  Nearly ten thousand people had arrived to watch the race in their finery and all around them people were laughing and talking excited.

 

          “The track isn’t as fast as I’ve seen it, but it is in capital condition, safe and good,” Jim said expertly.  “Ten horses starting, first time its 118 pound limit.”

 

          “So Ben Ali is the favorite,” Heyes said studying his program.

 

          “Yes Mrs. Hanley’s Blue Wing has dropped down to third,” Jack said almost sadly. 

 

          “Come on now boys!  Its race day lets enjoy ourselves, life has  a tendency to even out in the end you just leave what you can’t fix yourself and you’ll see,” Guffy promised.

 

          His upbeat spirit was contagious and soon all four of them were awaiting the race eager for the outcome.

 

          “And they are off!” the announcer in the stand called.  “All ten leaving at even terms.  Blue Wing is in the lead, Grimaldi second, Masterpiece third, followed by Sir Joseph, Ben Ali, Free Knight, Jim Gray, Harrodsburg, Lijero and Laffite in order named.  As they enter the main track Masterpiece is in the lead, Grimaldi second, Blue Wing third, rest well bunched.  Passing the stand Masterpiece still leads, Harrodsburg second, Jim Gray third, Free Knight fourth, rest in close order.  There is no change at the quarter, but the pace is still hot!   Nearing the half Free Knight is a head in front of Harrodsburg, second is Jim Gray, a head behind him third, with Ben Ali, Blue Wing and Masterpiece close up and bunched.  At the three quarter pole, entering the home stretch, Free Knight is a half length in front of Ben Ali second, Blue Wing third.  All three are driving, Ben Ali and Blue Wing are head to head at the furlong pole, Free Knight a half length behind.  Uh oh Blue Wing has swerved to the outside and lost ground, Ben Ali has gained in the stretch.  Its Ben Ali by a scant three parts of a length, Blue Wing is second, Free Knight third!”

 

          The four men stood up and cheered.  Between Guffy and Heyes they had picked the winning three AND in the correct order.

 

          “Well Mr. Haggin said he could do it,” Kid grinned.

 

          Heyes grinned as he watched Haggin arguing with an official.

 

          “I think Churchill Downs is going to have trouble with Mr. Haggin for a long time to come!”

 

 

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

 

 

          The train station was crowded as they stepped down from the carriage both stopping a minute to take a final look back. Both had lied promising to return knowing that while home might not ever take on a particular address, it would always lie west of the Mississippi.

 

          “Heyes I’ve been thinking.”

 

          Heyes sighed, “About what?” he finally asked knowing his cousin never let such a revelation go without a response.

 

          “Maybe we need to concentrate more on this detectiving and less on women,” Kid said his eyes serious and grave.

 

          Heyes considered this as he handed his ticket to the porter and began walking down the platform to the first class sleeper coach.

 

          “You might have something there,” he agreed nodding.  “Distractions like that only hinder a man.”

 

          “Exactly,” Kid said relieved his partner understood.  “We’ll just concentrate on work, making a fortune and then we can…” he stopped as he realized his partner was not listening and followed his gaze to the gaggle of giggling bright colored perfumed feathered beauties boarding the first class car.

 

          “What was that?”  Heyes said trying to return his concentration to his partner as he reached the women who stopped and inspected them with bold interested gazes.

 

          “Excuse me is this a ladies only car?”  Kid said politely.

 

          “I hope not!” a redhead smiled at him. “I wouldn’t feel safe knowing there were no men to protect us from Indians and the like!”

 

          “It’s our first trip west!”  a tiny brunette volunteered gleefully and then giggled.  “Is it as wild as we’ve heard?”

 

          Heyes and Kid managed to almost completely swallow smiles.

 

          “Well ma’am the west is still pretty wild,” Heyes said seriously after a cough.  “But my partner and I are detectives and if any of you ladies feel frightened you just let us know!”

 

          They were greeted by a chorus of relieved exclamations as a porter shoed them on board and then looked at the two men apologetically.

 

          “Sorry gentlemen, some female acrobatic group performing in Denver in that new fancy thee-ater they just build, afraid you’ve got them for the whole trip,” he said checking their tickets and pointing out there section.

 

          “Whole trip,” Kid said a little dazed.

 

          “I counted 7,” Heyes said looking at him.

 

          “Flip you for the 7th.”

 

          “I thought you were just telling me we need to give up women and concentrate on work!”  Heyes said glaring at him with mock seriousness.

 

          “You know what they say Heyes all work and no play…”

 

          Heyes was about to say something when a buxom blonde squeezed by them in the corridor and then stopped.  “Are you the detectives?”

 

          “Yes ma’am,” Kid smiled.

 

          “Do you think we’ll run into any outlaws?”

 

          Kid looked at his partner and they both smiled and then looked back at her as sincere as they could get.

 

          “Ma’am” Heyes said with great authority.  “I can guarantee it.”

 

Historic Note:

Horse racing in Kentucky goes back to 1789 when the first race track came into being there in Lexington.  A hundred years later Colonel Clark created the Louisville Jockey club to conduct race meets by selling 320 memberships for $100 each.  Eighty acres of land were leased from his uncles John and Henry Churchill.

 

Churchill Downs formally opened May 17, 1875 with four races, the highlight being the Kentucky Derby a race for 3 year olds.  An estimated 10,000 spectators were on hand for the race.

 

James Ben Ali Haggin did indeed have a feud with east coast breeders and boycotted the Derby when he felt he had been insulted after his horse Ben Ali won in 1886.  This helped fuel financial trouble that eventually led to Colonel Clark selling the track and committing suicide in 1899.