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tomorrow.”
    Paul looked out her from the corner of his eye, and Mary could see the playful glint there.“Does that mean you’re finally going to go and see the Padre with me?”
    Mary shook her head.“I have nothing I need to confess, Paul Raucous. At least, nothing that the Padre hasn’t seen firsthand.”
    Paul, Tom, and Earl all laughed at that joke.
    “Now, would you like to come and join me upstairs? I think that the good Marshall will have enough of your attention tomorrow.”
    Paul looked at her and then to Tom.“I suppose so. Do you think you can manage to not leave your glasses on the bar if I’m not here to remind you to grab them?”
    Tom laughed and tapped the rims.“That’s why I’m wearing them, friend. You go on with your lady friend. I’m sure she has a nice send-off planned for you.”
    Paul stood and Mary led him to the stairs up to the second level, where Earl kept rooms for all of his guests. She had a special one set aside, with a window over the backside of the saloon.
    “Now, my Twisted Mary,”Paul said as he closed the door behind him.“What kind of send-off do you have planned for me?”
     

Chapter 2: A Right and Proper Send-Off
     
    Mary looked at Paul with her eyes narrow and her hands on her hips. His eyes were full of the same cocky fire that she had come to love. He stood leaning against the door, one leg crossed in front of the other.
    “I thought that I would make a lot of noise up here to let everyone downstairs think we were having the time of our lives. Meanwhile, you would slip down the awning on the back side of the saloon and be off,”Mary said.
    Paul shook his head and stepped forward until he stood inches from Mary. He brushed aside a lock of her curly hair and his blue eyes met hers.“I think I would rather stay up here and make all of that noise with you.”
    Mary huffed.“You are such a stubborn man. Tom Willis means to kill you tomorrow, and you know that. Even if he doesn’t, they’ll hang you when he takes you back to Dodge. Leave, Paul. Escape. Live.”
    Paul brushed his fingers down Mary’s cheek.“What about you? Would you come with me?”
    Mary placed her hand on Paul’s.“If it meant you would be alive, I would follow you to the ends of the Earth.”
    “And I thought you didn’t want to marry me.”Paul gave her a playful wink.
    Mary sighed.“I don’t want to marry, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t run away with you. We’ll take that leap together, you and I. We’ll ride off into the night and never look back at Alto or Marshall Willis.”
    Paul kissed Mary lightly on the lips.“You know that I can’t do that, Mary. I gave Tom my word, and I do not break my word.”
    Mary grunted and turned, dropping Paul’s hand. She looked out over the saloon’s dark corral. The moon was hidden behind clouds tonight. She and Paul both could be gone, unseen even if they walked out in the open. They could go to the Indians in the hills and hide until the coast was clear to ride out. They could go west to California or south to Mexico.
    Paul placed his hands on Mary’s shoulders and kissed her neck softly.“Mary Steward, you are an amazing woman. I would go anywhere with you, but right now, I have something I have to do. It’s a matter of honor, and if I did not do it, I would not be the man you love.”
    Mary let out a sigh.
    “Now, about that send-off. I’m rather looking forward to that.”
    Mary’s eyes widened. Paul seemed willing to go and meet his maker. Perhaps if she showed him why the flesh was so nice, he might have a reason to delay that meeting. I’m sure I can step things up a little.
    Mary turned around to meet Paul’s eyes again.“As you like then, Rowdy Paul.”
    Paul gave a laugh.“Oh I plan to show you just how I won that name.”
    Mary winked at him.“Not before I show you how I won mine.”
    Mary dropped to her knees and loosened the belt around Paul’s waist. He pushed down his pants to find his manhood there, already