After our busy weekend, Belle and I took the Monday morning train from El Paso to Santa Fe. Mister Garnet, one of the conductors that roomed at Molly's, set us up with nice seats in the coach next to the dining car. It took nine hours to make the three hundred mile trip.
Once we were in Santa Fe, we took us a very comfortable room at the Concordia Hotel for two nights. I signed the guest register as Mister and Missus T. R. McGuinn, El Paso, Texas. Belle held onto my arm as we stood at the hotel desk; she was the epitome of the proper, well groomed Victorian lady. Her eyes sparkled when she saw me only book one room and list us as husband and wife.
Once in our room, we each went to one of the floor's bathrooms and freshened up for dinner. I mentioned to Belle that we could both use the same one and she seemed scandalized by the idea.
"When we are alone, Tyler, I am as ready for anything as you are. However, when we are in public we will act with the proper decorum," she chided.
I gave her a look, shrugged and sighed. She was right, of course, but I wasn't going to tell her that.
"I knew things would change as soon as we were married," I quipped.
She stuck her tongue out at me and whacked me on the arm.
"I'll show you change later tonight, Tyler McGuinn, but right now we need to hurry. I'm famished."
Belle was a very sophisticated young woman of her times, and much more adroit at handling the social graces of Victorian 'polite' society than I could ever hope to be. I was clueless when it came to the current social conventions. Uncle Ty was a man of these times, but he had preferred to spend his time with criminals and low-lifers. Needless to say, I watched Belle during dinner at the hotel's hoity-toity restaurant. She was so comfortable with her surroundings that I had to ask her about it.
"This is how I was raised, darling. My family has money. My father owns a large section of the docks and warehouses on Mobile's oceanfront. He is also a cotton merchant. My mother's family owns what Daddy doesn't."
"Do you miss living like this, Belle? I mean even if I make some serious money, I still don't think I'd be happy living like these people. It's to constraining and dull for me."
Belle patted my hand reassuringly.
"I have the money to live like this if I wanted, Ty, but I feel as you do. That is why I was working at a saloon. These people are satisfied just to exist; I want to wring every drop of living out of my life. That's one more reason why we are so good together."
She had a point. As I sat there looking at her, another question came to mind.
"Belle, was Wilson your maiden name?"
She shook her head negatively.
"My maiden name is Sikes. Wilson isn't my married name, either. It's just a name I picked out of the air."
When she said that, I could feel the blood drain from my face and I was suddenly light headed. Belle noticed my stricken visage right away and grabbed my hand.
"Are you alright, darling? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
Belle couldn't even guess how close to being right she was. I took a sip of water to compose myself before answering her.
"I knew a girl named Cora Leigh Sikes; I thought we were in love until she tried to kill me."
Belle gave me a startled look.
"I have a niece name Cora Leigh, but she is only eight years old. Everyone says she looks just like me when I was that age."
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her she also had a great grandniece by the same name that was as crazy as a bedbug, but I stifled that urge. This going back in time thing was becoming more and more complex. It was obvious that becoming involved with Cora Leigh's great aunt was no more of a coincidence than meeting the Lopezes or finding the law books.
The Cora Leigh Sikes of the twentieth century had suffered from a form of psychosis cause by lead poisoning. Cora's mother told me that she gnawed on everything when she was a toddler, and no one knew about the dangers of lead paint back then. Well I knew about it and I was way back when, so I thought I might have a chance of saving Cora Leigh's future sanity. Come to think of it, there were a number of things I could do that could make the future world a safer and better place. I needed to think about that some.
After dinner, Belle and I walked around the square that surrounded the historic Palace of the Governors. I had visited the building in my other life five or six times. In 1977, it was a museum; in 1877, it was the seat of the territorial government. The Palace of the Governors was truly a historic building. Built in 1610, it served as the seat of government for New Mexico continuously for three hundred years under governors appointed by Spain, Mexico and the United States. Amazingly, the sun dried adobe brick walls were still in excellent condition, even in the twentieth century.
As I recalled, Lew Wallace was the territorial governor in the late 1870's. Wallace spent his days ridding his territory of the bad elements and his nights writing the book 'Ben-Hur'. I knew about Wallace, because I had researched gunfighters at the Palace of the Governors Museum and read about his dealings with Billy the Kid. At one time during the Lincoln County Wars, Billy the Kid was an informant for Wallace, and the governor granted the Kid a pardon. When Billy went back to robbing and murdering, Wallace rescinded the pardon.
As we walked around the square, I saw the office of the United States Marshal tucked into one of the back corners of the building. I pointed it out to Belle and asked if she wanted to be with me when I kept my appointment.
"Of course I do, silly. I want to be a part of everything in your life," she replied.
Belle remained the perfect Victorian woman until I snicked the lock home on the door to our room later that night. From that minute forward, she was a sexual dervish as we tried to wear the hotel bed out in one night. While I had her on her hands and knees, I told her this was how I was going to take her while she was munching on Maria's little black muff. Talking dirty really lit Belle's fire. Even though she had her face in the pillow, her lusty squeal when she climaxed reverberated throughout the room and probably the entire hotel.
I taught Belle all about sixty-nine that night as well. She loved being on top of me over my face. She saw the benefits of the position relative to Maria right off the bat.
"This is how I want to be when you take me, sweetheart, while I'm riding Maria's pretty face."
That sounded like a plan to me.
Frocked out in all our best duds, Belle and I arrived at the Marshal's office at ten the next morning. The U.S. Marshal for the New Mexico Territory and West Texas was the legendary Jeremiah Dwayne (J. D.) Cahill. As we sat in his waiting room while the Marshal dispensed with some court business, I wondered what Cahill would think about the way John Wayne portrayed him in a movie ninety years in the future. Because of that movie, I had the image of Cahill being a big, gruff, rough and tumble man.
My expectations were shattered when he finally walked into the room and called us into his office. Cahill was a medium sized man with city slicker manners and a disarmingly soft voice. Cahill was a protégé of Lew Wallace, having served on Wallace's staff during the Civil War. When Wallace became governor, he brought Cahill to New Mexico with him. Cahill was a fearless lawman when he had to be, but his real forte was organization. The New Mexico district court was probably the best run in the country, thanks to him.
The meeting with Marshal Cahill went well, as the letter from Agent Gordon helped prove my sincerity. The marshal even took us to lunch at a restaurant near his office. He said it was to apologize for keeping us waiting, but I'd bet my last nickel he did it just to spend some more time in Belle's company. I couldn't fault him for that, because Belle was beautiful, vivacious and charming. I could have been a wanted fugitive and still gotten the deputyship because of her.
After lunch, Cahill walked us back to the Palace and ushered us straight into the District Judge's Chambers. The judge was named Horace Gault. He was a suave, silver haired and handsome man. When Cahill introduced Belle, the judge bowed over her hand and said something in French about being enchanted. Belle answered him right back in the same language and before you could say spit, Cahill chimed in and the three of them were yammering away in damned French.
I stood by politely as they had their gabfest; I didn't have to pretend that I didn't understand what they were going on about. Of all the things I might ever do, learning French wasn't one of them. My Abuela Isabel taught me from infancy that anything French was poison. She still held a grudge against the Frenchies because they invaded and subjugated over Mexico in the early 1800s. I figured that Abuela Isabel was the next thing to being a saint, so if she didn't like the French, then neither did I.
Finally Belle switched them back to English, and the Judge administered the oath of office to me. Belle made a production of pinning my new badge on my suit coat. Man oh man this Federal badge was way better than the one I was issued by El Paso County. It was a sterling silver two inch circle with a five pointed star in the center. Around the edge of the circle it was stamped in bold relief: U.S DEPUTY MARSHAL. Cahill said the badges were made at the new Denver Mint on the same presses that struck the one dollar silver coins.
I think the judge and marshal would have been pleased if we had stayed there all day, just so they could be near Belle, but we made our excuses and left after another ten minutes or so. Once we were out of the building, I took the badge off my coat and attached it to the little leather flip-open holder Joaquin had made for me. My deputy sheriff's badge was already attached to one side of the holder. I could wear the holder hanging out of my coat or vest pocket with whichever badge I needed, just like Kojak. As soon as I thought that, I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to Belle. I just couldn't resist.
"Who loves you, Baby?" I asked.
Belle gave me the 'you are an idiot but I still love you' look and shook her head.
"You love me, Tyler McGuinn, that's why you are taking me shopping next," she replied matter of factly.
I thought women that loved shopping were an invention of my century. Boy was I ever wrong. Belle dragged me through every store and vendor around the square for the next two hours. By the time we made it back to the hotel, I was staggering under a load of parcels that would have felled an Army pack mule. Belle had shopped with a missionary's zeal as she bought things for me, and, so it appeared, everyone else in El Paso. The good part though, was that she insisted on using her own money; a seeming endless supply of which she had in her purse. Being not very well off myself, I had at least tried to diplomatically dissuade her from blowing her loot on me.
"Belle, you don't need to be spending your money on me, Honey. Why not save it in case you need it for something later?"
Again, I got the look.
"Dear heart, I told you before that money was no problem for me. You need to believe me on that, okay?"
Once we were back in the room, my prim and proper little lady ripped off her clothes and jumped onto the bed, buck ass naked. She gave me a wicked little grin and spread her legs.
"Come over here, Marshal McGuinn, and see if that big old pistol you're packing will fit in this Alabama model holster."
We were on the train heading back to El Paso early the next morning. Belle was wearing another of what she called her traveling dresses, so she was not as tightly constricted as in her normal outfits. The dress was blue with little yellow daisies, and it hugged her slim athletic figure perfectly. With the dress, she wore a jaunty little white straw hat trimmed in yellow and blue.
Belle also picked the clothes I was wearing, most of them newly purchased in Santa Fe. I wore a long sleeved white shirt with a detachable collar, black pants, and a black morning coat over a herringbone vest. Belle insisted I wear my badge and my fancy two holster gunbelt.
"You look so fiercely handsome and heroic, darling, that it makes my knees weak," she gushed.
Well, since she put it that way, how could I refuse?
The trip back to El Paso went without incident. We spent the entire journey talking about all the things we wanted out of life. It was amazing how closely our ideas matched one another. The more I learned about Belle, the better I felt about letting her take charge of getting us to where we wanted to be. Belle strengths complimented and augmented mine perfectly. Belle was detail oriented, while I tended to focus on the big picture. I had the vision and she had the tenacity and organizational skills to get us there.
It was a pleasure going to work that night after being away for three days. Everyone said they missed me and that it was dull without me there. Sweet little Conchita was especially happy to see me and gave me a big hug and welcome home kiss. Belle received the same treatment; it was very hard not to like Belle.
I sang a couple of songs that night, but mostly left the performing up to Belle and the Hombres. They did just fine without me. The only thing that was a change in my usual routine was that with me singing less, I had more time to play cards. I had a nice run of good hands and caught a couple of bluffs, so I made the money back that I spent on our trip to Santa Fe.
I closed up the saloon right after midnight. It had been a nice evening for us, even considering that it was Wednesday. I locked the money from the night's take into Pen's safe and went out to police up Belle to go home. Belle was standing near the closed front door talking with Conchita, the two were standing close and Belle was holding Conchita's hand as they talked.
Belle and Conchita were about the exact same size; both of them were five foot four or so and about a hundred and fifteen pounds. Any similarity ended after that though, as Belle was blond and fair with blue eyes, while Conchita was dark, with coal black hair and eyes almost as dark as her hair. Their personalities were also the opposite of each other; Belle was sunny and outgoing while Conchita was almost painfully shy.
As I walked up, Belle turned Conchita's face towards me.
"Here he is, little flower, now you can kiss him without an audience."
I looked at Belle in confusion; she nodded her head and winked.
"Conchita and I made a deal, darling. She can kiss you anyway she wants as long as she kisses me the same."
I wasn't so sure about this, even though I should have known better than to question Belle's judgment about such things.
"Is that what you really want, mi Chita," I asked in Spanish.
Conchita blushed but nodded her head.
"More than anything," she replied in a whisper.
I took her in my arms and gave her as good a kiss as I was capable of. Her arms flew around my neck and she moaned into my mouth. When I finally broke the kiss, we were both panting. As soon as our lips parted, Conchita dreamily dropped her arms and turned towards Belle. Belle took Conchita's face between her hands and leaned into her. The kiss started gently, with Conchita's hands on Belle's hips, but in just seconds, they were kissing passionately.
As Belle and I walked home, I asked her again how she knew that Conchita would be open to kissing her the same as she kissed me.
"I don't really know, sweetheart," she replied, "but I can sense when a woman is interested in me. I've felt that from Conchita from the night I met her. I didn't say anything to her until I knew she had that same spark for you too."
Needless to say, Belle was all revved up from making out with Conchita. I didn't get to write in my journal or account for my money until after forty-five minutes of lovemaking. Not that I was complaining though, because once I had taught Belle how to give me head as I liked, having me in her mouth turned out to be one of her favorite things in the world. When Belle and I had wrung each other dry, she curled up under the sheet and light blanket and promptly fell asleep.
Thursday morning, Belle stayed at Molly's, while I went in to work. She gave me a lingering kiss and told me she'd meet me at noon at the El Paso Hotel for lunch.
I did my morning duties at the Toro and then walked over to the hotel at eleven to check on the progress of the second floor renovations. I was one happy camper when I saw the gleaming white plaster walls and light blue tinted ceilings with cloud like whirls of white. The lead carpenter and I jawed awhile about how to make the moving partitions that I wanted. The partitions were going between the dining room and what I was now calling the Piano Bar. The partitions could be closed off to make two forty by thirty foot rooms, or opened to make one big forty by sixty foot room. On the other end of the short hallway that was the landing for the stairs and the entrances to the bathrooms, I had designed a similar set of rooms for the library and game room.
At five minutes to noon, I wandered downstairs to the restaurant. Belle was already seated when I arrived. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before plopping down in the chair next to her and against the wall.
"So what have you been doing this morning while I was slaving away?" I asked.
"Liz and I went horse shopping so your precious Melosa won't have to pull a carriage," she answered.
Her little dig didn't get by me, but I ignored it.
"Good," I said, "did you find one you liked?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Actually, I found three, one for me to ride and a nice matched pair to pull the cabriolet that I bought."
Wow, I guess Belle really took what I said to heart!
We had a nice meal, even though Maria was busy and couldn't spend more than a couple of minutes talking with us.
It was almost one when I left the restaurant. Belle said she'd meet me back at my room at three. I guess Belle didn't get in enough shopping in Santa Fe, because she and Maria were going across the river to do some more. I was glad that she had someone else to drag along with her.
From the hotel I went to the stables to see Melosa. I really felt bad I hadn't been to see her for three days. Melosa was as happy to see me as she always was, and didn't seem offended that I'd missed a few days. I noticed that Melosa had been moved to another stall, and figured that the horses an either side of her must be the ones Belle had purchased. If they were, Miss Belle had spent a pretty penny on them, because they were some fine looking animals.
As I was standing there rubbing Melosa's forehead, a Mexican young man who appeared to be in his late teens came walking up. I could tell he was nervous, but he squared his shoulders resolutely and extended his hand.
"Señor, I am Jose Colon, mi tÃÂÂa abuela, (great aunt) says la señorita Belle has a job for me tending your horses and driving your carriage."
I told the young man that was entirely between him and Belle, because I took care of my own horse. I said for him to come around the next morning at ten, and I'd let Belle know he was going to be here. We shook hands again and he departed. I watched him walk away and shook my head in amazement. Belle and I were going to have a chat about the way she spent money.
From the livery stable, I walked back to Molly's. I was surprised that Jose fell in step with me. When I gave him an inquisitive look, he explained that he was with his great aunt Anna who was visiting a friend that lived in this direction. I figured out right away that Anna must be at Molly's, so I went by the kitchen to say hello. I spent an enjoyable fifteen minutes shooting the breeze with the two women, before excusing myself and heading for my room.
Back in my little apartment, I stripped down to my union suit and crawled into the bed, thinking Belle would be joining me in a few minutes for a little siesta. I was propped up against the headboard reading up on writs and warrants, when the door flung open and Belle and Maria burst into the room. I was surprised to see Maria, although I should have known Belle would bring her here. I started to get up to greet them, when Belle put up her hand, motioning me to stop.
"Don't get up, darling, because you are right where we want you,"
she said.