Confessions

Brody woke up with an aching head;

And found Annie snuggled up next to him in bed.

"I thought it was a dream," he softly said.

"Not a dream," Annie smiled. "What you saw was true.

Do you remember Lou coming to say goodbye to you?"

Brody nodded. "Why's she going? When will she be back?"

Annie shrugged. "That information is something I lack."

"Annie...last night...did I...did we...did you?"

Annie giggled. "No, Brody. I got tired and laid down next to you."

Brody tried to sit up, but his head ached and spun.

"If I do this again, just shoot me with my gun."

"Oh, I wouldn't shoot you. I'd do...this."

Annie leaned forward and gave him a long, slow kiss.

Brody grinned. "Do you want me to be in a rage for drink?"

"No, I want you to be raging about me."

Brody closed his eyes. "You're on the right track."

Annie sang him a song and he sang one back.

"Are you leaving with Shamus?" The question arose.

Brody didn't care about Shamus; Annie agreed and wrinkled her nose.

"What you did with your nose? Make that a habit.

You're adorable and you remind me of my pet rabbit."

Brody's rabbit had been named Miss Fuzzy Bottom,

But Shamus put her in a stew, which caused a problem.

"So Shamus has always been like that? I wouldn't have put up with him for a minute!"

"But you did..." Brody hesitated. "You have a history and Shamus is tangled up in it."

Annie looked away, but Brody turned her face.

"I...I'm not just a reporter." She stopped, hoping for grace.

"I've been down many paths, and no one is perfect. No one alive.

We've all had to do things we didn't want to survive."

Annie squeezed her eyes shut and hid her face in her hands.

"I worked in a saloon, Brody!"

Brody pulled her hands away. "And...?"

"I'm a wh-wh..." Annie broke down and whispered the word.

"I don't want you to say that word again." He pulled her close, looking stern.

"I need to clean up, then we'll get some food. Okay?"

Annie nodded, then Brody stood up and went away.

Annie took the time to tidy the room and fix her hair.

Brody came back, stopped in the doorway, and stared.

They walked down the street hand in hand,

unaware what fate had planned.