I can say without qualification, that my life changed again there under that big live oak on the banks of the Rio Grande that Fourth of July. It changed because like a flash of heat lightning on a summer night, it came to me that Margaret (Belle) Wilson seemed absolutely committed to my well being and future success. How this came to pass and why it happened so suddenly, I haven't the slightest clue. I knew right then that this was another case of fate slapping me upside the head to get my attention.
After the fireworks display, the three of us strolled around the park as the revelers wound down. I tried to think of a time I had been more contented than right then, but nothing came to mind. The women held my arms lightly, and we acted the part of proper young people at a public gathering. Seething just beneath the surface though, was a sexual tension that the three of us strongly felt. Belle was the first to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
"Do you two feel the energy the three of us generate?"
Maria and I both nodded.
"I thought so. Can you imagine how strong it will be when we are all in bed together, loving each other like crazy?"
Maria's eyes were dreamy as she nodded emphatically.
"My only regret is having to wait until my birthday," Maria said with a tinge of sadness.
Belle brought us to a screeching halt and looked at me inquisitively.
"She is only sixteen, Belle. I asked if we could wait until her seventeenth birthday to consummate our relationship. That's only a month or so from now anyway."
When I finished talking, Belle was looking at me as if I were some sort of dolt.
"She's been of legal age to marry for almost two years, Tyler, and she is probably more mature than you in a lot of ways. Just how much wiser do you think she'll get in another few weeks?"
I was at a loss for words at her question, and stammered out some lame platitude about being an honorable man. Belle, who seemed to have the knack of rummaging around in my head with me, quickly resolved the issue.
"I understand what you are saying, Baby, but you are wrong to feel that way. If anything, you making love to her would erase the bad memories she has about that horse's ass George Howard. We know you love her, so it's past time to show her how you feel."
As I looked from Belle to Maria, I couldn't help but think that I was getting a fore-taste of my life with Belle in it, or more correctly, my life with Belle running it. The thought of Belle taking over my personal life gave me pause, but let's face the facts; my track record with women and relationships was abysmal. How could Belle do worse by me than I did for myself? I sighed theatrically.
"Yes dear," was all I said.
Both women giggled at that and Belle squeezed my hand.
"See Maria, he is not so dumb after all."
We walked back to the El Paso Hotel's tent and dropped Maria off to help her family pack up for home. Belle stayed to help also, so I just walked around making my presence known as Sheriff Faulkner wanted. The food and booze stopped after the fireworks, so the crowd had already started dispersing. It had been a very peaceful night by El Paso standards.
I walked over to where Hector was putting the last of his cooking equipment onto his wagons, and bid him and Maria goodnight. The other women had departed as soon as the fireworks ended, because they had to be up early to open the restaurant. Hector and Maria still had to lug the equipment back to the hotel kitchen and put it away, but they could sleep in the next morning.
I walked Belle back to her room before heading back to Molly's. I was really looking forward to talking to Molly in the morning to see how her day and evening went. She and Clem had been together every time I caught sight of them, and they seemed to have been getting along just peachy.
As we walked along, Belle asked me if I minded her bringing a few items over to my room so she could spend a night or two with me. I told her I thought that was a splendid idea. I was amazed that for all the flirting and being naked together, Belle and I had yet to make love. It was weird as hell that Belle and I were already so connected and we didn't even know if we were sexually compatible. I asked Belle about that while we were walking. Belle hugged my arm tighter against her surprisingly full breast.
"I don't think that is going to be a problem at all, Baby, because I lust for you all the time. It has taken all my will power to delay us this long. I know you want me too; I can see it in your eyes," she looked down and giggled, "and in your pants."
We shared a sweet kiss at the rooming house in which Belle lived, then I walked briskly back to Molly's. As I approached her front door, I saw Molly and Clem sitting on the porch swing together, talking. I started to take the long way around to keep from disturbing them, but my devilish streak prevented that from happening. Instead, I walked up onto the porch. My arrival startled them and they scooted apart as far as the swing would allow.
"Well now," I tried to sound stern, "and just what do you two think you're doing? And Mister Twining, what are your intentions toward my sister?"
Clem looked startled, but Molly put her hand up to her mouth to cover her smile and to keep from laughing.
"Your sister!?" Clem sputtered.
Molly reached over and took Clem's hand.
"Mind your manners, Tyler; I am old enough to enjoy a beautiful evening with whomever I wish."
Molly didn't try to set Clem straight about me not being her brother, I think the idea actually appealed to her. I guess what with Anna adopting me as her son and now me volunteering to be Molly's brother, I was accumulating a family. I winked at Molly when Clem wasn't looking and sauntered inside. It had been one hell of a day.
I was a little sore when I woke up the next morning. I sure hoped Mister Wang over at Clem's had plenty of hot water ready for me, because I saw a nice long soak in my future. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair and dragged my aching ass down to the kitchen to see what my new sister had saved me for breakfast.
When I barged into the kitchen, Molly was working at the stove and humming a little tune. I smiled that she seemed in such a good mood; I was hoping that Clem put that tune on her lips.
"Good morning, Sunshine," I said.
She spun around and gave me a dazzling smile.
"Good morning to you, too, you scoundrel."
I told her I resembled that remark and plopped down at the table. She slid a cup of java and a plate of grits and eggs in front of me almost before my butt was in the chair.
"So I take it you had a nice time yesterday, big sister," I teased.
She stuck her tongue out at me and giggled. Geez, she was acting as if she were a teenaged girl.
"I had a wonderful time, Tyler, right up until you tried to give Clement a heart attack last night."
I chuckled and touched her hand with my fingertips.
"He's a good man, Molly, and you deserve someone at least that good."
She turned her hand over and clasped my big callused paw.
"I think you hit on the right idea for us, Ty, by declaring yourself my brother. That way you can still be in my life, regardless of how things turn out with Clement."
I told Molly I thought so too, even though it was only a joke when I first said it. Then I asked her when she was seeing Clem next.
"I invited Clement, Anna and Joaquin over for supper tonight. Is there anyone you'd like to bring as well?"
It was time to tell Molly about Belle.
"Yes there is, new sister. I would like to bring Belle, the blonde I was with yesterday. Do you mind if I see more of her?"
The question was my subtle way of asking if Belle could spend the night. Molly had never mentioned any rules about overnight guests, but I wanted to make sure I kept dealing with her truthfully. I wasn't about to try anything sneaky with Molly, I respected her too much.
Molly said she was fine with it. We chatted for a few more minutes as I demolished my plate of food, then I kissed her on the cheek and headed for Clem's. I had to grin to myself when I thought of mine and Clem's upcoming conversation.
Clem was busy shaving Wilfredo Acevedo when I walked in, so I went on back to one of the two rooms with bathtubs. Mister Huang, Clem's partner in the bathhouse and laundry, had plenty of water steaming in the large cast iron, wood-fired water heater. I always made it a point to greet any members of the Huang family I met, and I pretty much had all their names straight. Mister Wang's wife was named Ling, but all his children had western first names. His first name was Chong. Chong and Ling had both been born in San Francisco's Chinatown and spoke accented but good English. I said hello to Chong and asked for the water to be hotter today because of my stiff muscles.
Mister Huang fixed me up with water just on the verge of being too hot. Fifteen minutes in the tub with Chong throwing in one more bucket of hot water, had me feeling almost human. While I was soaking, Chong and his oldest son, Robert, brought in a padded, narrow, long table. The two spread a sheet on the table and put a couple of rolled up towels on it.
I was out of the tub and in my skivvies, when Chong came back into the room with a wooden box about the size of a cigar box. The box was inlaid with mother of pearl, depicting a crane in flight. I looked at Mister Huang inquisitively.
"You lay on table, Ty, and I fix your pains," he said.
I figured why not, so I lay down on my stomach. Chong arranged me so that my forehead was resting on a rolled up towel. When I was comfortable and Chong had draped a towel across my butt, he called for his wife. After a brief conversation with Ling in Chinese, Chong switched back to English.
"Close eyes and relax; me and Ling fix aches for you."
I mentally shrugged and did as he asked. The next twenty minutes were some of the strangest I'd ever spent, as Ling pummeled me with her strong little hands and Chong poked about fifty thin wires into my scalp, neck and shoulders. It hurt like hell when Ling squeezed and pounded on me, but as soon as she moved to a different area of my body, the one she just vacated felt marvelous. The wires that Chong stuck in me didn't actually hurt, but they tingled like crazy.
When Ling slipped out of the room and Chong recovered all his skewers, I felt as if I were a new man. I mean not only were my aches and pains completely forgotten, I actually felt energized. I thanked Chong profusely and gave him two silver dollars. He protested that it was too much, but I insisted. I also asked if he could maybe schedule me for a massage once a week.
I was feeling some kind of good when I slid into Clem's barber chair. Clem was not his usual loquacious self that morning. I figured he was still embarrassed by me catching him sparking with my 'sister' Molly last night. I could have let him off the hook with only a couple of words, but what was the fun in that? I put on a serious face as Clem quietly lathered me up.
"You never did answer my question about your intentions last night, Mister Twining," I said.
Clem sat the shaving mug down on the counter behind him, but continued to nervously dab the brush onto my face.
"My intentions are most honorable, Young Ty," he said indignantly. "Your sister seems a wonderful woman, and I am an upright gentleman."
I couldn't help it and burst out laughing.
"Relax, Clem, I was just joshing with you. The idea of you two hitting it off makes me happy for both of you. Now fill me in on what I missed yesterday."
Clem visibly relaxed and launched into an account of all he'd seen for himself and heard from his early morning regulars. I was slightly embarrassed that I had been one of the major topics of conversation. It was gratifying, though, that I had garnered the respect I'd set out to achieve. Clem got back at me for teasing him by telling me that the women who considered themselves high society were scandalized by my friendship with the 'fallen doves' because I looked as if I were marrying material for their daughters. If those matrons knew how quick I was at proposing, they'd have run me out of town on a rail.
Since I was on this side of town, I walked over to the railroad station master's office and sent a telegram to the US Marshal in Santa Fe. The telegram was my inquiry as to meeting him the following Tuesday to apply for a Deputy Marshal position. I paid the telegraph operator a quarter for sending my message, and told him to please deliver any reply to El Toro Cantina.
Even with my side trip, I made it to work before eleven. Pen and Liz were very concerned about how I felt; they were both relieved when I said I was fine. I spent an hour or so doing some odds and ends for Pen, before walking the three blocks to the El Paso Hotel to check on the carpenters and grab some lunch.
The carpenters were making progress, as they already had a few of the partition walls up. The lead carpenter was glad to see me, because he was having a problem visualizing the dumbwaiter I had designed. The dumbwaiter was essentially an enclosed shaft that extended from the main dining room up into the service nook for the smaller, private dining room on the second floor. A platform attached to a crank windlass would move food prepared in the kitchen to the service nook, and send dirty dishes back down. Once I had us both on the same sheet of music, I went down to the dining room for lunch.
After a nice lunch made even more pleasant by Maria's bright and cheerful banter, I headed back to the Bull to meet up with Belle. She was swinging by to pick me up at two, so I could lug whatever she had in mind over to my room.
Unlike Feleena, Belle was right on time. At two on the dot, she breezed into my office, closed the door and kissed the hell out of me. Belle finally broke the kiss and leaned back in my arms. Her usually mischievous blue eyes had a different look in them.
"I had a horrible night last night, Baby. I hardly slept a wink because you weren't lying next to me. Did you miss me too?"
I told her I had and that I was very happy that she was here now. When I said that, she smiled and dropped another surprise on me.
"That's good Baby," she trilled, "we should both be happier now, because I quit my job at the Longhorn so I could work for you, and be with you all the time."
It did make me happy that she'd be around me more, but I had to throw in a cautionary note.
"That's wonderful Belle, it will be a pleasure having you near me all the time, but I don't know if you can make the money here you were pulling in at the Longhorn."
Belle looked confused for a second, then it dawned on her what I was saying. She gave me a gentle sweet smile and kissed me again.
"Money is absolutely no problem for me, Tyler McGuinn, trust me on that. I'll work for whatever you want to pay me to sing, and I'll help out any other way I can for free," she said.
Belle and I went over to her rooming house so I could carry her valise, while she carried a smaller satchel. The bag I was carrying was good sized and stuffed to the gills; it had to have weighed at least fifty pounds. Belle laughed as I bitched and moaned when I shouldered the bag.
"We'll rent a wagon to move the rest of my stuff when we find our own place," she said.
We made it the two blocks to my room about three in the afternoon. Belle set her satchel in my chair, and I dropped the valise on the floor. I think both of us had the same idea at the same time, because we both started throwing off our clothes as fast as humanly possible.
Making love to Belle Wilson had to be one of the most sublime experiences of my life. She had been absolutely correct when she predicted we would be good together. Even our first time together was devoid of any awkwardness, as we meshed together perfectly. As soon as we climaxed together, I disposed of the sheath, and proceeded to explore Belle's nice compact body. Belle was lithe and smoothly muscled, with flawless porcelain skin. As a bonus, all of my favorite places on a woman's body were her most erogenous zones.
Belle went ballistic when I slipped between her thighs and started my oral assault on her furry blond vagina. She thrashed about on the bed so hard, I had trouble keeping my tongue in contact with her clit. When she came, she loudly screeched. Her muscles all seemed to lock up, and a strong stream of her juices squirted out of her sweet little honey pot, right onto my face.
I wiped my face on the quilt covering my bed, and gently kissed the insides of her thighs as Belle regained her breath. Suddenly she grabbed me by my hair and yanked me up her body.
"Oh My God, Baby, What did you do to me?" she asked as she covered my face with kisses.
I was very surprised that she claimed to be bisexual and had never experienced oral pleasure before. When I mentioned that to her, she said she and her girlfriend back in Mobile had only used their fingers and a phallic-shaped object down there on each other. Sure, she'd heard the working girls talk about love in the French manner, but only in the context of a woman performing orally on a man.
Our discussion about sex led Belle to make another of her observations about me having knowledge and sophistication that seemed well in excess of my young age. I shrugged and told her that anyone who kept the mouth shut and their ears open was bound to learn something. She seemed to accept that as she lapped the remnants of her orgasm off my face as if she were a kitten with a bowl of cream. She wanted to dispute my claim that she squirted, but the big oval wet spot on my quilt shut her up.
"Hmmm, I do taste good don't I?" she asked in this way sexy southern
drawl. "I wonder if Maria will taste as good when you show me how to do
that to her?"