Chapter 2

"That trout is delicious," Heyes said, as he took another piece. This was his third fish just tonight. They had set up camp close to the cave, but not in it, not yet.

"Can't get any better than this," Curry added, gobbling up the last of it. "So what about that old mine over there. When was it abandoned do you reckon?"

"Well, if I remember right, Patrick and Katie O'Hare settled in Colorado territory in '56 and staked out a claim. While breaking ground, they came upon the gold that eventually made them rich. Morgan was 11 when she hid from four soldiers who robbed and killed her parents. They burned down the house and ransacked the mine, which had run dry years before. She ended up in a convent schools, much like we did, Kid."

"Except ours was more like a reform school." Curry shook his head. "You sure there's nothing in that mine?"

'That's what she told me years ago. Been a long time since I've seen her. All I know is that she ran away when she was 16 and began looking for the four men who killed her parents. She sought out Jim Plummer's gang and robbed with the best of us. She was good at it, Kid, and a quick learner. I fell for her like a ton of bricks."

"And she left you? Just like that?"

Heyes nodded. "I never saw her again. Right after that, we held up a train for a payroll of $30,000, but Jim disappeared with the whole thing. After that, the gang just fell apart and I went out in search of Morgan. I'd been the leader of the Devil's Hole Gang for a year when I found you again, in that saloon playing poker."

"Been together ever since," Kid Curry said, smiling. He clapped Heyes on the back. Guess it's too dark to have a look around?"

"Wait until morning, Kid. We'll figure something out then. I'm exhausted."

"Kinda tired myself, Heyes. I think I'll join you, probably good to get an early start."

Galloping hooves awakened Kid Curry after a long uneasy night. He had woken a few times to the sound of voices but kept drifting off to sleep again. Now hearing the horses had forced him to awaken fully. Not realizing where he was for a moment, he sat up quickly, forgetting that he had fallen asleep on his bedroll. By the time he had gotten to his feet, the sound had disappeared. He looked around and noticed that their horses were gone. He glanced over at Heyes who was sound asleep. He could sleep through a thunderstorm complete with lightening. Speaking of weather, he smiled a little, and then glanced at the horizon. The sun was peeking its head over the mountains. It was going to be a beautiful day. What was it that Heyes always said?

"Red sky at morning, sailor's warning. Red sky at night, sailor's delight."

He always remembered it because that weather prediction never failed. It always worked. And this time was no exception. He started toward the cave to see if anything else was missing, but everything was in the exact same place where they left them the night before. Curry smiled and walked out of the cave. He was about to walk back to wake up Heyes until he noticed three objects on the ground. He squatted down to have a closer look.

One had an HH engraved on it and the other was round with JKC imprinted on the face. The third object seemed to be a small drawstring bag. He opened it, glanced inside and pulled out a stone. He turned it over in his hand, smiled a bit, and then placed it back into the bag. He drew the strings tightly and pocketed it as quickly as possible to confirm his findings with Heyes later. The other two objects were theirs, respectively Heyes' pocket watch and his money clip. It was obvious that they had been robbed, but the Kid didn't know who did it or in what direction they had gone. His eyes were suddenly drawn to the mine. It was light enough now, he decided. He figured he could investigate their surroundings and report back to Heyes. He stood up and began to walk that way when he heard rustling in the bushes.

"Alright, hands above your head," he heard a voice, a female one at that. He also felt the cold steel of a gun poking the middle of his back. "Don't move a muscle. Now I'm just going to let out your pockets one side at a time."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Just put the gun down and we'll be only too happy to oblige you." That voice was Heyes, the Kid recognized it and smiled.

"You alright there, Thaddeus?"

"Never better, Joshua," the Kid said, as he spun around quickly and tried to grab her gun, but she was faster than both of them. She had already turned and pointed the gun at Heyes. "Now you drop that gun and get out of here the same way you two…." She never finished the sentence.

"Heyes?" she asked, tentatively, staring into his face. "Hannibal Heyes?"

Heyes stared right back, his brown eyes wide with surprise and shock. "Morgan?" he asked, putting the gun down. "Is it really you?"

Morgana O'Hare nodded her head slowly and smiled. Heyes smile suddenly widened. She really hadn't changed much since the last time he saw her when she was just shy of 18. Brown hair, which was still worn loose and over her shoulders, dark almost black wide eyes, still small and thin and unlike any woman he had ever come into contact with. Still wearing the trousers, he noticed. He was starting to wonder if she had ever owned a dress.

The two regarded each other for a moment before running into one another's arms.

"I don't believe this," Curry said, rolling his eyes upward as he watched the two old lovers kiss each other.