assassinwithahairpin | Couldn't roll me a seven if you gave me loaded dice

They arrived in Reno in the early evening, the sun glinting gold and red on the Sierra Nevadas to the west. The last time Billy had seen those mountains, he had been young, and it had been from the western side looking east. Not long after, his family and he had headed north to Oregon, then Washington, until he was sold into his indenture.

To consider the mountains from this angle was to consider his traveling companion. Goodnight had already gone in to get them a room at one of the various hotels while Billy saw the horses tended to in a stable near the common. It was better to house them there, Billy knew. Reno had a reputation for thieves, and he'd prefer they not encounter that with their horses.

He made his way back to the hotel, contemplating the makeup of the city. There were more blacks and asians here than in most places they'd stopped over the past months. Billy felt considerably less out of place.

When he reached the hotel, he found Goodnight sitting out on the front porch, contemplating the street. Billy did not walk up the steps yet. He considered Goodnight from that angle, the line of his jaw and the sweep of his hair around his ear. Billy had known he was in trouble about this for weeks, at least. He just didn't know what else to do. But these past few days, working their way toward Reno, he'd been feeling it more and more.

Goodnight was relieved to have a bed and a bath to look forward to. He hoped being clean would... clear his head a little. Maybe crossing the mountains would.

Traveling with Billy Rocks had turned into an unexpected pleasure and comfort. Goodnight had always figured it would just be easier to be on his own, but it wasn't. Being with someone - with Billy - the last several months had made his life infinitely easier in many ways. Once he actually got to know him, he was a delight. But he knew his eyes were lingering more and more these days.

For the life of him, Goodnight could not stop looking at Billy. Nor could he help the smile that tugged at his mouth when he caught sight of him, like he did just now. Oh he was in trouble if he felt a flutter just seeing him come up the street.

"You want the first bath?"

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