Matters To Me

Billy rode into town with Pat, Jesse, Frank, and George. They stopped at the Murphy store, tying up their horses, and walking in.

"Howdy," Billy greeted a couple of women shopping.

"Come in!" A man shouted from the back as the men led the way as Billy glanced around the shop.

Billy was last to enter, leaning on a table, as the door closed

"Jesse, Frank," a man greeted.

"Mr. Murphy," Frank nodded.

"Great to see ya's again.... So you're Billy the Kid?" He asked, noticing Billy in the back.

"Yes, sir, I am," Billy answered as Murphy approached him as he stood up straight.

"Well, Billy, I want to say it is a great honor to finally meet you in the flesh. Great honor."

"Why's that?" Billy asked, cocking his head.

"Why's that, he says," Murphy smiled, turning back to the others, chuckling. "Because you've a reputation," he continued, patting his arm. "From where I'm standing, it is a great reputation. You know how to look after yourself. That's what I'm lookin' for. I'm lookin' for tough people who can take on any challenge! And who aren't afraid to take on new challenges. Am I right in saying that, son?"

"I guess so," Billy answered.

"'Course I'm right. You're an Irishman, just like me. Just like my partners here, Johnny Riley, Jim Dolan. Say hello, boys."

"Nice to meet you," Dolan said.

Murphy stepped away from Billy as he continued. "Now, Billy, I don't know what these lads have told you. But we pay well here for a job well done."

"An important aspect to your work will be to enforce our business interests. You may have seen this new store down at the end of the street. This fellow Tunstall, he's brought in a herd of cattle and he's already grabbing land and hiring cowboys," Dolan said.

"And we need that to stop," Riley added.

"You see, what you need to understand here, Billy.... Is that this is my kingdom. My kingdom. I founded it, and I built it up from nothing," Murphy said, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "So I'll be damned if I'm gonna let a stranger, let alone some prick Englishman, take it away from me. That's not gonna happen. Not gonna happen. Not as long as you're around, Billy. That's for sure, right?"

Billy didn't say anything and just gave a small shake with his head.

"So, here's to a new partnership. You, Jesse, and your friends are all welcome additions to The House. I sincerely hope that this ongoing partnership enriches all of us. Now, here's to ya's," Murphy continued, gulping down the whiskey.

~

Billy watched as Missie carefully shaved his face.

He had told her about Murphy and the job they were instructed to do after dinner.

"What are your thoughts on Murphy?" She asked, gently tilting his head by his chin to work on his jaw, pausing to let him speak.

"I think he's all name."

"Now there's a new name in town and he feels threatened."

Billy nodded and then she gently continued.

"Do you think I'm making the right choice?" Billy asked as she dipped the blade in water and wiped it with her cloth.

Missie bit her lip and sighed. "As of right now, he hasn't given us any reason to think otherwise. Who knows, maybe Tunstall is swooping in because he wants to grab what he can. We don't know these men very well, and I trust your judgment. If you think he's alright, maybe a bit of a drunk, and if you think this is a good choice, then I don't have any opposition."

"That's a big word, opposition," Billy teased, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her closer and having her sit and straddle him.

"It means to disagree," she smiled.

Billy smiled, quickly kissing her, laughing as she squealed as the soap on his face got on her face.

"You got a little something on your face," he teased.

She glared at him with a smirk on her face as he rubbed his nose against hers. She dipped her fingers in the water of the bowl and flicked it on his face, laughing at his reaction.

He quickly tried to stand up, his goal to grab the bowl as Missie tried stopping him, her only advantage being on top of him. However he stood up as she giggled between her protests, knowing what he was about to do, but once he went to take a step he tripped over her and the two stumbled, landing on the ground in a fit of laughter, tangled up with each other.

"Are you alright?" Billy breathed, hovering over as he had caught himself with his forearm before he completely landed on her.

She nodded between laughs. "Are you?" She breathed.

"That's gonna leave a mark," he laughed, his arm slightly throbbing.

Missie slowly stopped laughing, catching her breath and looking at Billy. She smiled fondly remembering the times like this before they were married and how playful they were. They were always getting into trouble at the inn where they worked with his mother. Carlos would sometimes cover for them as they ran off to go have fun in the town or play cards. He was her best friend.

Billy seemed to be lost in own thoughts before he kissed her. Missie didn't seem to care about the soap on her face anymore as she kissed him back.

The two felt like they had all those years ago, young and passionate, yet they always refrained from anything more. But now, they refrained from stopping, finally able to do what they had wanted to do so many years ago, making love through most nights.

One might assume they would get bored of each other, knowing each other for so long. Yet they could never grow tired of their time together. If anything, as time continued, the more they yearned for each other, their need and want only grew. A craving that couldn't be fulfilled only once, a craving that grew back even stronger after each fixing.