You're making me insane, [Duke].

[Duke]

"Sweet Evelina? Mmm, never figured you the type, love."

Duke laughed and looked down for a moment in contemplation and returned her look. "I heard it some time back and, well ever since I met you, the dern song has been playing in my head," he confessed to her. "It's a love song from a soldier to the woman he loved. I think it's quite beautiful."

"So, how'd you come into the saloon business, darlin'? Don't you dare spare a single detail."

"Honestly? Easy money," he dangled that carrot in front of her. "Men are men where you go and they all want the same things; a hard drink, a chance to win big at a game and a woman. They spend their money buying booze, loose at poker or faro and but a whore for 30 minutes. It's a no loose situation fro me. But here in Del Fuego I've added some class in the form of entertainment and culture. For a few dollars more they can watch Can-Can dancers from France, see a juggling act or an actor act a scene from Shakespeare. Why, The Blackbird is now a part of what is called the gamblers circuit. That's the reason Doc Holliday is here. The man's a famous gambler and moves through the circuit taking on any comers who think they can best him. Last month he was in Denver, a few months before that Kansas City. After he decides to leave here he'll go to San Antonio and then to Sante Fe and eventually stop in San Francisco. You see, the circuit, as it's called, starts in New York then moves to Chicago, St' Louis, Kansas City, Denver and then south to Del Fuego west to San Antonio then onto California. The Blackbird has just recently been added so I am really excited to have been a part of that. So why not be a part of that money making machine. Anyone with any sense would be a fool to pass it up."

"And you in mine." She murmured, unsure of what to say.

Her small words were the most powerful he could recall hearing her say. Even though he was beginning to feel the first real rays of love that warmed his heart he knew it wouldn't be wise to open up completely to her regardless of what he was feeling. His experience had been that feelings were fickle stripping the lover or dreamer of their hopes and heart and then casting them alongside the road to die in their own foolishness and brokenness and vulnerability and he wasn't about to allow her or anyone that close. Not yet, anyway.

Looking over at her his face softened and he drew her close to him and gently kissed her mouth. He knew Lewt was behind this, trying to find out all he could about the great and mighty Duke as a way to get to him but for right now he would allow her close.

"I can have sex with anyone but with you I want to make love. Love me, Angie. Make me forget everyone before me."

[Angela Waters]

That sole act that he proposed was something she had no problem going through with. Of course, she had more on her mind than just giving way to what they both seemed to want. Something to remember about Angie was that she worked with people; not for people. If they tried to treat her like a dog, she beat them to within an inch of their pathetic lives and left them to try to salvage whatever was left of their sinking ship. Sometimes, however, it was easier said than done. Adjusting herself, she pushed the man gently onto his back and got to work, deciding to show him that she could do more than just be on her back. Angie was one of those that when she was in the mood, there was no going back, once the proverbial ball was rolling.

It was almost satisfying to know she had some inkling of power over the man that was literally beneath her. When she was finished, she straddled his lap with a playful grin. "You realize we've known each other for almost a year, don't you?" She chuckled, shedding the gaudy dress he provided her with whenever she visited. To most, it would be a gift but for her, it was more a hindrance than a blessing. Her movement was minimal and thus, despite the fact she was often able to make up for it, her reaction time was greatly slowed. Her fingertips grazed lightly along his chest as she gave them both relief, rather than just him.

It wasn't her fault she liked to play in a way that made it look as easy as if she were playing an instrument. You just had to know your instrument and in this case, she thought she knew Duke fairly well, at least as far as the bedroom was concerned. "April." She said after a long moment of silence, her thoughts drifting toward the night she had first spent with him. What an impression she must have made! She wanted to discover what he was thinking. She knew better than to push it, though.

[Duke]

"You realize we've known each other for almost a year, don't you? April."

His eyes were closed but a grin was spread across his face. What she had just done to him could have been called a crime in most states. He was beyond satisfied. He was fulfilled and sexually satisfied.
His arms were around her holding her tenderly as she spoke, her words were soft and dreamlike.

"Huh?" he asked and looked at her. She looked radiant in the light and he felt himself becoming aroused once again. "April? What happened in April?" he was rubbing her shapely legs in anticipation of reenacting what they had just done.

[Angela Waters]

She watched the man for a moment, biting her lip as she pressed gently against him, her damp cheek resting against his neck. "April was when we met each other. It's now September." She reminded him softly, feeding off of his arousal. A hunger grew within her, becoming too much to bear. Sitting up a little ways, she decided to push all sentimentality and various thoughts from her mind. She'd just live in the moment and worry about all of that when she wasn't nude atop a man that was causing her stone heart to soften.

How could he do that? She had to remind herself of the sort of man he was and the sort of person she was. She couldn't let him know what she felt or even that she felt anything at all. Sitting up a little ways, she moved her hands to his chest and seemed rather determined to relieve whatever else it was that she felt. It felt more right than it should have, and she justified it by saying he had more experience than the other lugs she had laid with. Who did he think he was? As she tried to regain her breath, she thought more about the man beneath her and the more she thought about him, the more frustrated she became.

[Duke]

He held her tight to himself feeling her tears and kissed them away. When was the last time that he had felt this strongly about a woman? There had been oh, so many, and yet two that he could recall that had held his heart. One was here in his arms and the other one had died so long ago.

Regardless of what had happened five years ago there was nothing he could do to change the past. The other woman, he couldn't bring himself to even think her name, had simply disappeared, the tiny house he had put her up in had burned to the ground and she was gone. It was assumed that her body had burned to ashes in the fire. Fire. Sapphire.

No, he couldn't bring himself to think about her, his precious virgin bride, the first and last woman he had ever married. The first woman he had ever truly loved. The thoughts of her made him insane but he had to somehow drive her deep into his soul. Back so deep he could never think of her again.

Wrapping his arms tightly around Angie he turned them both over in the bed so that he was now on top. She would be his redemption and he began to pound that memory into her as tears fell from his eyes and splashed onto her bare breasts.

"Oh Angie! Angie! Angie!" he spoke her name softly ."I love you."

The words fell out of his mouth and surrounded them both like a web, binding their hearts together. Holding her legs up with his arms he buried his face in the pillow next to her head and continued until he was spent and weak and could continue no longer.

Breathing heavy, his face covered with sweat he turned his face towards her ear. "I'm sorry," he said as their bodies collapsed together with him on top. After a few moments he rolled on his side and onto his back. Still breathing hard he closed his eyes, the only thing moving was his chest moving in and out.

He knew he had not satisfied her nor himself but he had nothing left to give. He was at that moment like a baby, unable to do anything as he laid there, his breathing slowly returning to normal.

[Angela Waters]

She could feel her heart racing and though she knew it was from what they had just done, she wondered if part of it was her feelings and their close proximity. Rolling over onto her side, she rested her head on his chest and burrowed beneath the covers. No words needed to be spoken. All that mattered to her, in that moment, was the man beside her. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know how. "It's alright." She said softly, lifting her hand to brush away his tears.

After a moment of silence, she sat up a little ways and pulled him close. Her hands coaxed his head to her chest as she ran her fingers through his hair. It was all she could think to do. Her very core felt raw and her head was fuzzy. Normally, it was a pleasant sensation but now, all she felt was hurt, hurt because the man she had started to care about was hurting, and there wasn't a thing she could do to help him. It was so...frustrating.

She wouldn't coax him to tell her what was on his mind, as it wasn't her style. This entire fiasco, no matter how upsetting, was almost funny. Perhaps, in a sick sort of way, it was so sad that it was funny. Everything she did when she was with Duke went against who she was. Her eyes drifted closed. For now, she would just doze off and if he needed her, all he had to do was nudge her. It never took much for her to wake up.

[Duke]

After a moment of silence, she sat up a little ways and pulled him close. Her hands coaxed his head to her chest as she ran her fingers through his hair. It was all she could think to do. Her very core felt raw and her head was fuzzy. Normally, it was a pleasant sensation but now, all she felt was hurt, hurt because the man she had started to care about was hurting, and there wasn't a thing she could do to help him. It was so...frustrating.

He had no strength as she pulled him close to her. Her arms around him was comforting and he buried his head into her arms and wept like a child, sobbing bitterly. All of the pain he had stuffed so deeply poured out of him like a river until he was physically exhausted.

After a few moments he quieted and sighed raggedly. "I loved a woman once," he began. "She was my virgin bride. We were married for over a year when she died in a fire. I never thought I would love again until I met you. I wanted you to know that."

[Angela Waters]

How did he expect her to respond? Love you too? Sorry for your loss? Each option seemed so...hollow. She decided to just keep her mouth shut, lest she wind up insulting him or upsetting him further. What if her silence did both? Why did this have to be so difficult?

It didn't take much to say a few words and yet, she couldn't figure a way to say it without sounding like she usually did: uncaring. It didn't really affect her, and she was still trying to wrap her head around all of it. How did he expect to go from sleeping with her to suddenly uttering words of love and affection? It was like asking a child to run before he or she knew how to walk. It turned her sides inside out, and she was trying to figure out if that was good or bad. "I-I..uhm.." She trailed off, unable to think of anything appropriate to say as her brow began to furrow.

[Duke]

Gathering his emotions he felt drained. "Thank you for listening," he said to her and gently kissed her mouth. "Just let me hold you," he laid down and pulled her closely.to him. With his arms around her he rubbed her back. "I don't know what got into me but thank you for listening."

Closing his his eyes he soon drifted off to an exhausted sleep, snoring softly..

[Angela Waters]

She sighed heavily and bit her lip lightly. She wanted nothing more than to squirm out of his arms. She felt trapped, to say the very least. She wriggled free after he fell asleep and slid her arms through the sleeves of the robe before grabbing a chair and settling down by the window. As she gazed outside, she ran her nimble fingers through her dark hair. On the bedside table, as it always was, there was her gun and her knife. She always kept them within reach, just as a precautionary measure.

Magowan might be good at what he did, but she wasn't about to put her life in his hands and trust him to protect her, should things go awry. She'd much rather go down fighting instead of ducking behind a mountain of a man and hoping she didn't get caught up in the crossfire. Getting up, she poured herself a glass of whiskey before settling back down again. She brought the glass to her lips and took a swallow, allowing the alcohol to warm her insides as it always did. Tipping slightly back in her chair, she took another swallow of the whiskey and finally got comfortable, her cheek pressed against the glass. Biting her lip, she glanced over to Duke before quietly singing a song her mother had sung to her when she was little. By definition, it was a sad song but for some reason, it made her somewhat happy, even if it was only because it preserved the memories she had of her mother.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H77ksuWvPr4

[Duke]

He didn't know how long he slept but the darkening rays of the sun coming through the window told him it was twilight, nearly dusk. He was alone in the bed and looked around the room.

"Angie?" he questioned as he sat up, the sheet that had been covering him tumbled to his waist.

[Angela Waters]

When she heard his voice, she glanced toward him. It didn't take her long to adjust to the dim lighting in the room and see him sit up. She took a moment to admire him while thinking of how to phrase her next words to him. "Yes, Duke? It's good to see you're still among the living." She teased, standing slowly as she went to the bed and crawled into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. It didn't take long for her to greet him by brushing her lips along his.

How was she going to be able to keep her head around him if things continued like this? The only good thing that came of this was that she was still somehow focused on her duty to the gang. This was just....a bonus, if you will. Certainly, she preferred sex with no strings attached and though he had developed feelings for her, it didn't necessarily mean she had to reciprocate the feelings, did it? She nipped playfully at his lower lip and chuckled quietly. "You almost had me worried, darlin'." She murmured, scooting closer to him as she closed her eyes.

[Duke]

"Yes, Duke? It's good to see you're still among the living. You almost had me worried, darlin'."

She knew just how to arouse him and it was working. Opening her robe he gasped at how beautiful she really was and in no time he was helping himself to her treasures, but this time there was no hurrying. He wasn't trying to forget another woman, he was simply loving the one with him; easy, slow and passionately.

Finished now he laid beside her and pulled her close to him, wrapping her in his arms. "What are you thinking?" he asked her.

[Angela Waters]

When they had finished their fun, something she figured was never ending, she shot him a coy smile and tilted her head. She knew she was becoming too comfortable in her own skin around him and that she'd have to do something soon to change it but still, it was nice enough that she felt as if she didn't have to worry much. What harm was going to come of it? It wasn't like she didn't have sharp reflexes and couldn't shoot her damned gun. She was one of the more trigger happy people in the gang, and she didn't much care. She got the job done and had some time to herself. If they didn't like it, too bad.

When she heard him speak, a faint chuckle rose from within the depths of her throat. "Well, I'm thinking I'm tired and a mite hungry." She mused aloud, her tone teasing. There were many thoughts in her head, but she wasn't inclined to share them all. "I'm also thinking I need a strong drink." Drinks were always appealing to her. The difference was she never drank enough that she'd be dumber than a box of hair and unlike many of the people that occupied the saloon on a daily basis, she both knew her limits and accepted them.

[Duke]

"Well, I'm thinking I'm tired and a mite hungry. I'm also thinking I need a strong drink."

Duke laid on his back, his arm around her and looked up the ceiling as she talked. He could sense her restlessness and it in turn made him restless. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked himself. "This is not for me. This is not what I want."

"Let me up," he spoke as he pulled his arm out from under her and got out of the bed. Naked, he moved over to the washstand and looked into the mirror. For a man his age he was in fairly good shape. Trim waist, broad shoulders, lean long legs. Pouring water into the basin he splashed his face. Taking a shaving mug he dipped the brush in the water and back into the mug. In no time he whipped the soap into a lather and smeared it over his lower face. With a straight razor he carefully shave until he looked smooth. Wiping off his face with a towel he splashed bay rum on his cheeks, neck, and then his chest and underarms.

Pulling out a new suit, he had dozens, he chose a dark blue worsted, a pale yellow shirt and a patterned four-in-hand tie. His boots were soft brown leather with a low walking heel. Dressed now he turned to look at Angela.

"I'll be downstairs. Come down when you are ready," he gave her a piercing look that revealed nothing but an impenetrable wall that he had a habit of pulling up when he felt threatened or scared and showed only the facade of a hard man who was cold and calculating. When he spoke it even and level, almost monotone. "I'll tell the kitchen to fix you supper."

Giving her one last look, several indeterminable emotions flashed across his face. He wanted so much to love her and have her love him, but he could not get past the wall that she also built. What a pair they were.

Moving across the room with long, determined strides he was out the door and down the hallway, disappearing into his world of smoky haze, raucous laughter, strong whiskey, loud piano music and lusty women wrapped up in a package of black walls, green money and scarlet drapery.