Boundaries: An Old West Tale - 4. Chapter 4 Texas Two-Step

Texas Two-Step

Bill wasn’t tending his livery, so Wyatt helped him get Sally settled. There was a box stall available, already bedded with sweet-smelling straw, and he led her in there. Enough light was shed from a lantern Wyatt found and hung to see the interior. He went off to get some oats while Virgil unsaddled his mare. She nuzzled into him when he removed her bridle, wanting some deserved attention.

“You two got a bond,” Wyatt said as he returned with the oats and a pail of water.

“She’s family to me.” He hung the pail on a hook, and she drank three-quarters before her head came back up.

“I feel that way about Juana… the mare I’m going to own one day. She gives me good comfort when I visit. I’ll show her to you if’n you want, after I fork some hay over for Sally.” A few seconds later she had plenty to last her through the night.

“I’d love to see Juana… pretty name.” He took a handful of the clean straw and gave his horse a good rundown while she chewed her oats. He smiled when Wyatt came back with another pail of water. He was a good man.

Following him down the back and outside, he saw horses tied in open standing-stalls. They were roomy enough the stock could lay down if they chose.

“She’s that one, down at the end,” Wyatt said, a happy excitement in his voice. The moon was a full one, and he saw the appaloosa clearly. He doubted she reached fifteen hands, being about an inch off. She was sturdy-built, though, and pretty. Mostly white, she had plenty of spots over her hips and back. They were red ones, and they matched her mostly red ears, and the pretty red varnish marks on her face.

“You’ve made a good choice, Wyatt.”

“You think so?”

“Yep. Her size fits you good. Some folks don’t like appaloosa horses because they’re Indian horses, but what they don’t realize is what a superior horse they bred. She’s built for moving, with a nice slope to her shoulder and plenty of deep hip for power. Good solid legs, and a head as fine as Sally’s. Good-sized feet too.”

“Pleased you like her, and you’re right about some folks not wanting anything to do with Indian horses. She’s smooth too. I hardly move at all when I’m on her. Don’t have a saddle, though… she’s only been ridden bareback.”

“If she trusts you, she’ll be ready for a saddle with no trouble, I suspect.”

“Yep, she’s got a good head on her shoulders. Want to sit a spell before we go back?” He pointed to a broken-wheeled wagon up against the back of the barn, and they both took a seat on the end of it. Virgil’s feet were on the ground, but Wyatt’s were an inch or two above, as evidenced by his legs swinging.

“Reckon the sheriff will be wanting to talk to us soon.”

“He’s not a bad man, but he mostly stays in his office. I doubt he’ll keep us long. You need some sleep before you set out tomorrow.” There was a sadness behind the words, and neither man spoke for a time. “I’m reckon I’m going to miss you, Virgil, but maybe I shouldn’t say such.”

“Course you should. You should say what you feel if you trust someone. I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?”

“Well… I was thinking… if I paid what you owe for Juana, you could come with me when I leave. Maybe pick up a saddle too. Someone always has one to sell.”

Wyatt turned sideways to face him. “No! I can’t take charity. My ma, god bless her, would roll over in her grave.”

Virgil sighed, expecting this was the reaction he would get. “It wouldn’t be charity, you understand? You’d be paying me back.”

“How would I do that? I’ve been paying a dollar a month for almost a year, and it could take that again and more to pay such a debt to you. I ain’t got nothing now, and I wouldn’t have a job if I left. You need to stop worrying for me… you’ve done enough.”

“I wouldn’t care a whit how long it took to pay me back, I promise you that.”

“But I would! My ma taught me to never take a handout. Beholden to someone is like selling yourself to them, and I can’t do such a thing.”

Another sigh worked its way out, and Virgil tried his best to take hold of his frustration. “I understand why your ma felt that way given the treatment she had. She had to prove herself to this whole godforsaken town, but you don’t have to if you leave. It wouldn’t be no handout, so you need to forget about your damn pride. I thought you said you’d miss me? Ain’t that what you told me not a minute ago?”

“Course I did, and I will. I understand twice as much about myself today as I did yesterday. I… I never knew anyone like you, and I appreciate that you’re concerned I’ll get kilt, but—”

“I never met anyone like you either, Wyatt. You got strength to you, but you ain’t closed up despite what you been through.”

“I am strong, and I reckon I’ll get by like I always have… on my own.”

“In this town?” Virgil scoffed. “You said it yourself. The resentment for Mexicans won’t go away just because Lucas got caught, or do you think different?”

“No, I know you’re right, but I have to bide my time till I can get away.”

“You’re asking me to leave you behind, and it don’t feel fair.” Virgil wasn’t even sure what he wanted to happen, but he had no plan to accept this defeat.

“What? Why ain’t it fair, Virgil? You don’t got to worry about me… you already said I was strong.” Wyatt’s eyebrows were raised high as he stared his way.

“It ain’t fair because… well, I will worry, but it’s not that… not only that.”

“No? Then what is it?”

“I… all right, I’m going to be straight with you. I’m a mite confused, but I got these feelings what keep getting stronger… and… it seems wrong to leave you behind. I don’t want to ride out without you. Got all kind of plans, but none of them matter right now, and that’s telling you plain as I can.”

“Don’t seem plain to me. Why don’t your plans matter?” Wyatt asked, his voice low.

Virgil spoke low too. “Those feelings I mentioned. I used to have someone, someone special in the way we talked about in the hotel, and we were happy as squirrels in an oak tree.”

“You meaning you were together?”

“Exactly what I’m meaning. His name was Norrie—short for Norbert—but I never dared call him that. I loved him and he loved me… but he’s been gone a long time now.”

“What happened to him?”

“Rattlesnake bite. Found him hours after he died. He was out hunting by hisself, something he loved to do. So what I’m saying is, those feelings I had for him… I might be having some of them for you.”

“You might?”

“Told you I was confused. I didn’t want those feelings for the longest time, but today something’s changed, and I think if I left here without you it would drive me plumb loco. That’s why them plans aren’t mattering. I got money, Wyatt. I got a bank draft in my pocket for eighteen hundred and fifty dollars, money I’ve been working at saving even before I lost Norrie, and I have seventy dollars in coin hidden outside town for safety, besides what’s in my pocket.”

“What’s a bank draft?”

“It’s a bank paper only I can cash in. It’s the safest way to carry money, but that’s not the point.”

“What is the point, Virgil?”

“That I could carry both of us, since you’re not prepared yet to—”

“Sounds like pity to me, and I don’t want to be pitied. Don’t need it, and don’t need anyone’s help.”

“I reckon you could see it that way, but you’d be wrong. Look, we only just crossed trails today, and I don’t know why it happened, or even what it means, but what I said about them feelings I have is true.”

“Are you saying you want me to care for you… to have those same feelings?”

“I think I do, but that’s up to you. I still want you to ride from here with me no matter what you feel.”

It was Wyatt’s turn to sigh. “You’re mixing me up something awful.”

“I don’t mean to do such. Look, I’d be obliged if you just think on it. I wouldn’t be opposed to waiting another day or two for you to decide, if’n that’s what you want me to do?”

“Virgil?”

“Yep.”

“I will… I will think on it, but not right now, not with that bastard Lucas being fresh in my mind. I got to sort through what you’ve said and try to make my own sense of it, because right now I just be confused. Can we go see the sheriff now?”

“Surely. You say good bye to Juana. She’s a pretty one.” Virgil walked back to Sally’s stall to mutter a few words. Her ears pricked forward, and she moved closer for her nightly attention. “Be good, girl. We might ride out in the morning, just you and me like we always do, but I surely hope not… not this time.” She dropped her head, content to continue eating. He wasn’t content a’tall.

When he got to the front of the barn, Wyatt was already there. He must have walked up the outside. Falling into step, neither man spoke until they reached the sheriff’s office. The lawman stepped out, and Virgil noticed right away he’d seen better days.

“Just the men I want to see. Good evening, gentlemen. You Virgil?”

“Virgil Pruitt, sir. We figured you would want to talk to us. What happens now, Sheriff?”

“Not anything to worry for. Got all the information I need from the other witnesses. They say Lucas held you at gunpoint, Wyatt, and, Virgil, you shot him in the shoulder after he fired at you. Is that what happened?”

“Yep.”

“Yep,” Wyatt repeated.

“Were you aiming for somewhere else?”

“Bullet hit right where I wanted.”

The man nodded, looking him up and down. “Well. Looks like he’ll live… for now. Did you hear Lucas’s confession?”

“We did,” Virgil answered.

“All right then. I can attest you’ve verified the written testimony given by eight men, but I’m needing your signatures added to theirs to finish up. Follow me.” He went back into his office, turning up the lantern as they walked in. Vigil could better see his lined face and figured he was closing in on seventy. A worn-out seventy. A document with a lot of scrawling lay on the desk, beside the pen and open inkwell. The man had been waiting for them.

“Put your John Henrys at the bottom.”

Virgil read it quickly all the way through before he signed. He nodded to Wyatt, and he signed as well. The sheriff picked it up and blew on the wet ink. “I’ll just put this in the safe. Be right back.” He disappeared through another door.

“Guess we’re supposed to wait. Lucas must be with the doc, cause he ain’t here.”

“Reckon they figured out he can’t help them if he’s dead. That’s what I figured out before I shot him.”

Wyatt’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t say anything. The sheriff was back.

“I don’t have to stay in town, do I?” Virgil asked.

“No need for that, but if you stay you’ll be treated well. You’re something of a hero ‘round here.”

Virgil chuckled. “I ain’t no hero, no more than Wyatt. He got Lucas talking in the first place.”

“Heard that too from Murray. You were smart to keep good and calm like you did, son.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Wyatt said, a surprised expression on his face.

“Just so you know, I’ll be contacting the regiment commander to see what he wants to do about that weasel, but I see no reason for him needing to talk to you fellas.”

“Good. Thank you, Sheriff. Think it’s time I went and got me some dinner.”

“Patsy’s is closed now, friend.”

Virgil turned to Wyatt and sighed. “I left it too late, but I reckon I’ll survive till morning. You coming back to the hotel?”

“Got work to finish up. Have yourself a good night, sir.”

“Ain’t none of them much to speak of when you’re my age. Wyatt, hold on, would you? There’s something else I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. That property of your ma’s… it’s yours now.”

“Yes, sir, I’ve been told that was so.”

“Can I ask what you’re going to do with it?”

“Got no plans. Got no money to rebuild even if I was of a mind to.”

“Would you sell it to me then? I’ll be needing a place soon. Can’t sleep in the back when I’m not sheriff,” he said with a chuckle.

“You’re quitting sheriffing?”

“Retiring, son. It’s past time, since I can’t even do a day’s ride anymore. So what do you say? That land would suit my needs just fine.”

“Well, I don’t know. It can’t be worth much.”

“Bank says thirty-five dollars for the land. If you want to call in to Warren Sykes, he’ll tell ya what he told me. But, I’d be willing to give you forty since the well is a good one and the barn is still standing square. Fencing’s in fair shape too, so I’d pay that small bit of taxes owing on the land. It would be a good spot for me and my old horse to live our days out.

“Hank Jessop… he says he can drag the empty cabin to the east over onto that property of yourn, since there’s a slope down from there to there. He swears his four-horse team can do it easy, and says he’ll set it good and level for me too. Forty dollars sound fair to you?”

“Seems like, but can I let you know tomorrow? I best think on it a spell.”

“Tomorrow’s just fine, and if you want to keep it for yourself, that’s fine too.”

“All right. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

“Good night, Sheriff. So what did you think of that?” Virgil asked as they walked out into the road.

“I’m not sure. Was a shock, to be truthful. Forty dollars seems a lot for that bit of land.”

“Is the property in town?”

“Just at the end. Short walk from here. It’s shy of two acres, but the well is a good one.”

“And he seems to like the barn. Reckon if he offered you forty dollars then it’s worth at least that. Do you want to hang onto it?”

“Don’t see any point to keeping it, but can’t help wondering what my ma would say. Should have been her decision to make.”

“I understand, but I’m sure she’d want what best served you. You should think on it.”

“Yep. Got me a lot to think on, but right now we got to get you fed. Follow me.”

“To where?” Virgil could see a few folks observing them. “How you planning to feed me?”

“There’s good ham in the larder, and there’s fresh bread and cheese, and eggs. Likely other stuff too.”

“The hotel has food?”

“Just breakfast. A woman comes in the morning and cooks and serves. She and Murray split the profits in some way what suits them both.”

“Well, what do you suggest then?”

“Ham, some bread, and a hunk of cheese suit you? Cheese has good flavor, and there’s some fresh butter?”

“Would surely hit the spot. Will you be joining me?”

“I’m allowed a meal any day I work as part of my pay, so I’ll bring up enough for both of us.”

“We’re passing the hotel! Where are you taking me?”

“I don’t know about you, but there be a lot of men in the saloon right now, and I don’t want to be answering questions about… what happened—I don’t even care to think about it—so I say we take the back stairs to your room. Remember what the sheriff said? If you go through them saloon doors, you’ll get all kinds of bother from drunk folks calling you a hero.”

“To hell with that foolishness. Lead the way… I can’t see much a’tall,” Virgil said as they walked down the side of the hotel.

There were occasional shouts and cheers coming up from the busy saloon, but Virgil’s room felt peaceful after the night they’d had. He was propped against the headboard of the squeaky bed with a tin plate in his lap, originally heaped with food, while Wyatt sat on the chair he’d moved out from the corner. He was a few feet from the bed.

“Damn, I was hungry. This ham is good. Good and salty. I best drink some more water.”

Wyatt tossed him the canteen at his feet. “It ain’t the fanciest, but it’s best I could muster up.”

“Can’t imagine a better one right now. Appreciate having some food between my belly and my backbone, so thank you kindly.”

“Thank Murray. He’s the one what said it was on the house. Glad I took care of the bath tub and such before I brought the food up, cause I’m feeling too worn out to move.”

“Your chores done for the night?”

“There’s always chores to be done, but another fellow cleans the saloon and stays till breakfast Alice takes over, so yep, I’m done till noon, when the rooms empty out.”

“And there’s only you what does all the cleaning?”

“There’s two women who do the bedding, and there’s always some who need to make a few dollars before moving on, but I’m the one always here when Murray needs me. Rather be working in the outdoors, but this is my lot, I reckon.”

“Doesn’t need to be.”

“No, I suppose it don’t, not forever.” Wyatt was chewing on a hunk of bread, while he stared at the ceiling. “I reckon you want to have us another one of them talks?”

“Not if you don’t want to. You look tired, Wyatt. You say you’re always here. That mean you got a room in this place?”

He fussed with the little bit left on his plate before putting it down on the floor. “Not no room, no. I sleep in a cupboard at the bottom of the back stairs.”

“A cupboard? That’s how you been living?”

Wyatt met his gaze, and the lantern light showed more shame. “It’s a big cupboard meant for storing things. I got plenty of room to lay down, and one of those laundry ladies sewed me up a mattress what fits in there, and there’s hooks for my clothes. Can have a hot bath anytime I want, right outside the door.”

“That don’t sound too bad then. I’m used to sleeping on a blanket covering dirt most of the time.”

“You work cattle, don’t you? I saw your rope… looks well-used.”

“Most of the time, yep. I like the peace of it, and I like the excitement of it. Not against having my own farm one day, though. There’s a lot of reward in growing things. My ma’s kid brother wrote me a while back and told me about a place in high country where’s there’s lots of land being opened up. There’s good game and good fishing, plenty of trees for building, lots of rivers and springs, and fertile land for growing. Says the town is a friendly place—heaven on earth, he called it—and he expects the railroad will make its way there soon enough. Land is three-fifty an acre, so I could afford a good chunk of it if I’ve a mind to head there.”

“Heaven on Earth, eh? Sounds like a fine place to settle down.”

“It surely does. Been thinking on it for a time. Reckon it’s been calling to me.”

“Is it in Oregon, ‘cause I heard you tell Murray you were headed there?”

“Don’t tell folks I don’t know what my real plans be. Only tell ones I know I can trust. Got a map drawn I’ll show you. It’s in my saddle bag, but I know it by heart. Surprised you heard my talk with Murray.”

“I hear lot of conversations. Sounds come up those stairs like wind. Your uncle have a farm thereabouts?” Wyatt’s face had taken on a dreamy expression, like he was thinking on such a place.

“Don’t believe so. He’s a doctor, so he’d be a busy man… too busy for farming, I reckon.”

“Well, if it’s been calling you, you should go.”

“I’d rather not go by my lonesome. Could you sit up here beside me?”

“Why?” Wyatt asked, suddenly wary.

“I’d say it’s for you looking tired—and I know what happened with Lucas shook you bad, though you’re trying to act like it didn’t—but that wouldn’t be the whole reason.” Wyatt’s eyes had widened as he listened. “I know there’s much to sort through, but I need to know something, and I thought it better to see you closer. You can trust me, I swear.”

“I… I do trust you… I surely do. I ain’t got trust for many men, but I got plenty for you.”

“Pleases me to hear such. So come up here and lay beside me.”

Wyatt did, crawling onto the other side of the bed, his movements awkward and unsure. It made him look younger to Virgil somehow, and he had to keep in mind he was barely twenty, and never been anywhere.

“What did you want to ask me?”

“You have to face me first,” Virgil said, doing what he could with his smile not to spook the man.

Wyatt turned on his side to match Virgil’s position. They were only a handful of inches apart. “What I need to know is, do you want to me to stay in town a few more days, or should I be leaving tomorrow?”

“Why is that up to me?” His breath floated across Virgil’s face, and he shivered at their closeness. He had it bad, no doubt, and had stopped caring why that was.

“Because I say it is.”

“But… I don’t got no claims to your life or what you do, surely?”

“Is that your answer?”

The question startled the man, and he frowned, but his gaze didn’t leave Virgil’s face. “I know what you said earlier, but I can’t help think you see me as someone needing help, needing you, and I know you said it wasn’t pity, but—”

“It ain’t.”

“Fair enough, but I can stand on my own two feet. I have been since my pa died and my ma was left alone. I took care of her and I took care of me. I said you have no need to worry for me, and I doggone meant it!” His voice had gained an intensity Virgil loved hearing. Wyatt Burnham was no pushover, but he was scared of something.

“And I told you it wasn’t just worry for you. I got these feelings—”

“And once we’re safely away from this town, what would happen to those feelings?”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand what you be asking, Wyatt, so—”

“Guess what I mean is why would a man, a good man like you who’s handsome as all get out, have feelings for me? I can see helping is your nature, that’s plain, but once you’ve helped me get away from here, what have I got to offer to keep you from riding off one day?”

“Ah… I reckon I see now. First of all, I can’t say what would happen down the road, from your end or mine, but Norrie and me, we would be together still if he was walking this earth, because that’s who we were. That’s who I am. This is but the second time in my life I’ve felt such as I do, and I won’t say it don’t scare me some cause love can be a tough road that needs to be—”

“Love?” Wyatt asked, interrupting with eyes wide.

“Ain’t that what we’re talking about here? Maybe you don’t feel it, but…. Look, I know the people who loved you are gone, and the one man who showed you kindness and friendship went and betrayed you bad as bad can be, so I understand your fears, I truly do. But don’t make no mistake, Wyatt. I don’t ever say what I don’t mean, and I ain’t Lucas and I never could be.”

“I know that!”

“If you do, then answer my question.”

“Right now?”

Virgil sighed, pretty sure the man weren’t ready for what he was offering. He mustered up a smile. “It be fine not to answer. I shouldn’t have asked you to, what with us only knowing each other a day.” It was hard to hold eye contact, but he did for Wyatt’s sake. No reason for him to see his powerful disappointment.

“Virgil? I don’t want you to leave.”

“You don’t? Are you sure, because—”

“Yes, I’m sure, and I should have said so sooner.”

Virgil couldn’t stop the grin coming. “Well, all right then. I’ll stay until you tell me to go… if that’s what you want?”

“It is.”

“I just need to say one more thing. I’ve met plenty of men in my life, many of them good ones, but you stand tall to me. I like looking at you, I like talking to you… I like spending time with you, and yes, I worry for you too, but that is because you are who you are to me. Don’t ever think you don’t have anything to offer, cause that just ain’t true.” His body stiffened in surprise when Wyatt’s lips met his, so softly he barely felt the touch of them. The caution of it made him do his best not to lean in. Wyatt had to do the leading.

“Was that all right?”

Virgil breathed a sigh of relief. “Couldn’t have been a better thing I wanted than you kissing me. How did it make you feel?”

“Brave,” he answered before his lips curled into a smile. “I been wanting to do that since I first laid eyes on you, but I was too scared to even consider such.”

“Are you brave enough to do it again?”

Wyatt laughed. “If’n you’ll let me.”

“Won’t never stop you, Wyatt, you can have faith for that.”

This time Virgil met him halfway, and the press of Wyatt’s lips was more sure, but his closed eyes flew open when he felt the tip of Virgil’s tongue slide between his lips and up against his teeth.” He pulled back just an inch or two. “Is that what you meant to do?” he asked in a whisper.

“Sorry. Did I scare you?”

“No… but I got a funny feeling right to my toes.”

Virgil chuckled softly. “That’s supposed to happen when it’s done right. It’s better when we both do it, but yeah, it’s what I meant to do. Have you never kissed before?”

“No… never. That be my first.”

“Have to say I don’t mind hearing such as that. Do you want to try it again?”

“Yes,” he answered happily.

He was right about being a fast learner, following Virgil’s lead like he was born for it. It’d been a long time since he’d had such a satisfying kiss, one that caught what was left of his heart in its grip. As quick as it happened, he felt true love for this man.

“Whoa! That’s kissing?” Wyatt asked as he lay back.

“For sure and certain that was kissing. Was it worth waiting for?”

“I swear to the Lord above it was better than anything I could have imagined. It felt like we were joined close as can ever be. Now I understand why my ma and pa were always kissing.”

Virgil shifted to his back too, and chuckled. “Good. I like those words you used… joined close as ever can be,” he repeated. “A man likes to hear he did a good job.”

Wyatt snickered. “I suppose that’s true. How did I do?”

“You set my toes to tingling, Wyatt, along with some other parts. I got a lot of loving to show you if you’re wanting the same thing.”

Wyatt stayed quiet for a time, and Virgil got worried.

“Wyatt?”

“Yep?”

“When you kissed me that first time, were you only curious?”

“Lord above, no. I let my feelings come up, Virgil. I’m going to be brave again and tell you I got those feelings too… got them real bad for you, but I’m not scared anymore.”

Virgil sat up, his heart pounding at Wyatt’s words. “Can’t tell you what it means to hear you speak such to me.”

“I’ve been thinking on what you said… that I have something to offer, and I understand better that I do, ‘cause if I can give you the feelings you give me, then I got plenty to offer. I know you don’t care for my pride, but it’s all I’ve had since my pa died and the town folk scorned Ma and me. Lucas took it from me for a spell, but I got it back, and he tried to take it again tonight, but I wouldn’t let him. It’s hard to let loose of.”

“And it should be when you put it so. You have a right to be proud, and I accept every part of you as long as it doesn’t keep you from me.”

“It won’t, and I’m ready to swear it. I got more things sorted now, and I feel proud a man like you has some love for me after a day. Don’t need more than that.”

“Plenty of love, Wyatt, I’m sure of it. So it’s settled for us then?” Virgil asked, happiness washing over him like another hot bath.

“Well, I reckon it is for me, but if I take the sheriff’s offer of forty dollars, I have something besides myself to offer, even though I see I’m enough for you, like you be for me. I could pay for Juana myself, and I know Bill has saddles and bridles for sale. There’s one that’s nothing fancy, and it’s likely old as the sheriff, but the leather’s good and supple and the tree ain’t broke, and it’s only six dollars, a bridle included. He might even take five dollars since it’s been set there a long time. That would leave me twenty-six dollars for sharing supplies and such.”

His clear excitement stirred Virgil’s, as well as his dreams. “Then… are you saying you’re willing to come with me to Larkspur?”

“Larkspur?”

“The town my uncle wrote me ‘bout.”

“Heaven on Earth? Hell, I don’t think there’s anything I’d like better than to go there with you and build the life you’re wanting. I never thought I could have something like you’re offering, but I do know I want it same as you. Best birthday I’ve ever had in my whole life, thanks to you choosing to ride into Matador Hill.”

Grinning from ear to ear, he leaned over the man who had the courage to open his heart for him, the one he was betting on to be his new future. It seemed a safe bet to make. “Can I kiss you again, Wyatt?”

“I surely wish you would, Virgil.”