Pg 1: The stagecoach rocked back and forth, as the horses galloped along the dirt road pitted with the passing of other coaches that had traveled the road over the years. The passengers swayed with the movement, sometimes thrown into each other, other times being thrown into the sides of the couch. I held onto my seat when we hit a particularly rough stretch, each pothole throwing me further and further into the arms of the man that occupied the seat next to me.

“I’m so sorry,” I stated after a particularly deep pothole landed me practically in his lap,

He smiled at me and said, “Don’t worry about it. I certainly don’t mind.” He was staring into my eyes and I lowered my head in embarrassment.

I smiled to myself and, after leaning back in my seat, studied him from under my hat. His hair was long and dark and his eyes were black as night and seemed to pierce my soul. His skin was extremely pale, his fingers were long and tapered as if he had spent many years playing the piano or dealing cards. I was pretty sure it was dealing cards. His lips were wide and full and turned up slightly at the corners indicating that he had spent a lot of time either smiling or laughing.

The coach had left town at early dusk and was headed for Amarillo. The night was bright with stars and a nearly full moon. The road was easy to see ahead. According to the driver, we should arrive a few hours before sunrise. It was mid summer and quite hot in Texas, so it was much more comfortable to travel at night.

I looked to the seat on the opposite side of the coach, and directly across from me, and noticed that our other traveling companion was fast asleep. His head was propped against the side of the coach with his hat pulled down over his eyes. His mouth was slack jawed and every once in a while he would snore.

I decided to try to get some sleep myself and tried to lay my head against the coach. It was impossible; with every jostle, I hit my head. I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes, but each time I relaxed my head would bounce around causing me to wake. A headache was just starting to pound behind my eyes.

“Might I make a suggestion?” My seatmate asked.

I looked over at him and nodded.

He motioned toward his shoulder. “You could lay your head against my shoulder. I’m sure it would be much more comfortable than the side of the coach. I don’t sleep much so I could keep you from being thrown all over the place.”

“Oh! I don’t think I could do that.” I stated. “We’ve not even been properly introduced.”

Pg 17: She laughed. “Yeah, honey, and I know what that feeling is. I’ve had it a time or two myself.”

I laughed. “Well, that wasn’t the feeling I was talking about, but I’ll go for it too.”

I turned to Randall and told him to send a drink over to Zeke. I reached for a bottle and glass and headed to my usual table. It had a good view of the saloon and most of my regular customers knew to find me there. I stopped along my way and said hello to a few of the cowboys.

I listened to the piano as I daydreamed about Wes. I looked over at him every once in a while during the night, he was always busy playing, but it seemed he felt my eyes on him and he would look over and smile. Things were starting to die down around three a.m. and he approached my table and sat down.

“How’s it going?” I asked.

He laughed. “Slow.” He pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and counted a pile out. Slowly he slid it across the table toward me.

I looked up at him questioningly and said, “My cut?”

He smiled. “What else would I be paying you for my dear?”

I chuckled. “Thank you.”

I called Randall over from the bar and told him to put the money in the safe. I didn’t bother counting it.

We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes then Wes spoke. “I think I’m going to head upstairs for a bit.” He turned to me and his eyes burned into mine. “Would you care to join me?” He stood up and held his hand out to me.

I looked into his eyes and my tongue came out to wet my lips. My gaze moved to his hand and slowly I put my own in it and stood. As we started by the bar I stopped for a moment. “Randall, handle things for a while. I don’t want to be disturbed. For anything.” Without stopping to hear his answer I turned to follow Wes up the stairs. At the top of the landing, he turned and pushed me into the wall, pulling me into his arms and kissing me roughly.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all night.” He groaned.

I returned his kiss as fervently as he gave it. I couldn’t speak and my heart was racing. He picked me up and carried me the rest of the way down the hall, pausing at his door just long enough to pull the key from his pocket and open the door. Once inside he let my feet fall to the floor slowly, my body sliding down his until my feet touched the floor. His mouth was all over my face and neck. When I thought he would drive me wild it returned to my mouth and lips. He kissed and sucked my lips, biting them gently. I felt his hands on the buttons on the back of my dress and felt him making short work of them. It fell in a rustle of silk as he kissed my shoulders. Next was my corset and I remembered his prowess with that implement of terror. I laughed as I heard him swear at the knot in the back and he turned me around with my back to him. A minute later I was standing in front of him in my chemise, stockings, and shoes. He stared at me for a moment then told me how beautiful I was. I could feel myself blushing.