Changing Plans
Along with a new day came better moods. Heyes seemed to be in good spirits and they talked about places they had been. To be true, Heyes talked and Jed just made a remark now and then.
During the day, Heyes noticed Jed Curry getting more and more absent and he seemed unusually tired as they took a short rest about noon. When they continued their ride, Heyes began to watch his friend closer. His skin seemed paler now and there was a distinctive shine in his eyes.
It dawned on Heyes what was happening. When he was young, Jed was prone to suddenly appearing fevers. The combination of hot water and cold air last night had probably triggered his disease. His constitution decreased from minute to minute but they were in the middle of nowhere – no town near enough to reach it in time.
Jed's hold on his mount became unsteady.
'Your chance to escape!' a devious voice inside Heyes's mind tempted him. 'Ask him whatever you want – he won't reject it. You only need a blink to spur your horse and be a free man! You'll make it easily to Devil's Hole and nobody will ever catch you...' Heyes cut the voice off.
Suddenly, Jed's horse jumped over some small branches on the path. Its rider slid down like a sack of flour and hit the ground heavily.
Heyes leaped off his mount within the same beat. He hunched down beside his cousin and found him unconscious. Jed's skin was burning and covered with cold sweat. Heyes checked on him and was relieved that he found no serious injuries caused by the fall off the horse's back.
Heyes's thoughts raced. Jed wasn't in the condition to be moved very far anymore and this place was improper to care for someone ill. Instantly, the outlaw made a decision.
He took off Jed's marshal's badge and hid it between his own belongings. Then he tied the horses together before he pushed Jed cautiously on the back of his own horse. Due to his own injury, it took Heyes half a dozen tries before he finally managed it. Awkwardly, he mounted up behind him, nudged the horse forward and drove it towards the mountains – towards Devil's Hole – the only place close enough where he could find help for his friend.
Devil's Hole promised them shelter, security and medicine ... and a bunch of outlaws who wouldn't be amused when they figured out, that their leader brought a lawman straight to their hideout. Nevertheless, Heyes would do so.
Whatever it meant for him, he would never risk his cousin's life. Jed was everything good he had left. It was no question that he would take every chance to save him.
-o-o-o-
A few hours later Heyes reached the outer areas of the gang's hideout. He reined his horse and fired the appointed shots into the air to be recognized as a friend. Impatiently he waited for a response. Jed leaned heavily against his chest, silent and unresponsive.
Eventually, Hank looked down from a cliff nearby.
"Heyes, you're back! We thought they snagged you!" he called, glad and surprised to see him. "Who's with you?"
"A friend – he's suffering by a fever and needs help," Heyes replied.
"All right, I'll send Kyle ahead of you, to clue up Preacher," Hank responded and added quietly, "and to shoo Wheat out of our cabin. I doubt you're in the mood for discussions right now."
-o-o-o-
When Heyes arrived at the compound all present gang members were at the square to welcome their returning leader. He looked weary and drained and none of them dared to provoke the sharpness of his tongue by asking him questions now.
Wheat had hastily moved his belongings out of the leader's cabin and back into the bunkhouse. He simmered in silence. The second in command had had a good time during Heyes's absence and developed an appetite for being in charge. A part of him had enjoyed the thought that Heyes might never return. But now their leader was back, and considering his mood it wasn't the best time to challenge him.
"Hi, boys. Good to be here again," Heyes greeted his men and gestured them closer. "C'mon over and help me get him down."
Several hands reached up and dragged Jed Curry cautiously off the horse's back. Released of his burden Heyes dismounted, too. With his sleeve he wiped sweat and dust off his face and slipped within a blink into his role as leading man.
"Hold it, don't bring him to the bunkhouse! I want him inside my cabin. Preacher, he's running a high fever and will need your help. Jenkins, get me cloths and a bucket of fresh water. Carl, stir the fire. John, take care of them horses. They need a thorough rub down and a hand of grain. Who's cooking today?"
A hand in the background rose. Heyes nodded towards the direction. "Fine. Bring some chicken broth on its way, too. It can simmer at my stove until it's needed. That's all, boys! Thanks."
With a nod he released his men. Heyes's eyes panned over the bunch, while they hastily hurried apart to accomplish their tasks.
Heyes stretched and rolled his shoulders to loosen the tension before he strode into the cabin, following the escort of his unconscious friend.
Inside he found Jed temporarily draped at the bed beside the door while Preacher checked on him. Jed's face was paler than the sheets and inaudible words trickled off his lips.
"What happened?" the healer asked. "He's bruised but I ain't seeing no cause for wound fever. Internal injuries?"
"No, it's a kind of cold," Heyes told him. "A returning fever, most likely triggered when he slept outdoors in the cold the last few nights. He got bruised when he fell off his horse, shaken by the fever."
Preacher raised and shook his head. "Ain't looking good, Heyes. The temperature is pretty high. I'll do what I can, but I ain't no medic, just an apostatized man of God."
A short glace of fear flashed up in Heyes's eyes and his chest constricted, but his demeanor stayed casual until everybody but Preacher had left the room. Then his hand sank heavily down on Preacher's shoulder, who still hunched over the suffering blond.
"Do whatever you can, Preach, please," he pleaded quietly. "Tell me what I can do."
Preacher noticed with surprise, the urgency and affection in the voice of his leader and friend and lifted his eyes. There was a deep look of concern on Heyes's face he had never seen before.
Preacher nodded. "I will," he assured him and added in his mind, 'And it won't hurt to pray for him, too.'
Together they moved Jed into the second chamber and onto Heyes's bed. They left the door open to give the heat of the freshly stirred stove a chance to circulate faster.
"You know the disease, don't you? Do you expect chills?" the healer asked.
Heyes nodded.
"So, we have to prepare to keep him warm, too. I need more ingredients."
"I'll get along for now. Just get your remedies, old quack." Heyes waved him away, trying to joke half-heartedly. He showed a short smile before Preacher left to prepare his herbs and medicines.
Meanwhile Heyes carefully undressed his cousin. He soaked some of the cloths Jenkins had brought him and applied a set of cold compresses on Jed's burning skin.
After that Heyes left him alone for a few moments. Meticulously he stowed their belongings to keep them away from curious eyes. They could get into trouble soon enough without anyone stumbling over the undeniable evidence of Jed's profession.
Then he put a kettle with water at the stove and stepped outside to get a couple of large fieldstones. He placed them at the stove to heat them up as preparation to fight the chills his cousin would develop sooner or later.
It was a long time ago, but he still remembered the course of the fever well enough. The illness ran in waves turning from burning fever into icy chills while getting progressively stronger until it eventually broke.
Preacher returned with a crate containing his utensils. He took a linen-pouch with herbs out of it and poured some of its content into the heating kettle. Soon an aromatic scent filled the air.
"You'll have to sweeten it or he'll refuse to down it – and he has to drink as much as possible," he told Heyes while he stepped closer. He removed the compresses and felt the temperature again. He sighed and pulled a large bottle out of his crate. He opened it and drenched a cloth with its sharp smelling content. Cautiously he washed Jed's body with the liquid that seemed suspiciously similar to vinegar.
"Make yourself useful and take out the onions," Preacher instructed the gang leader, degrading him to his assistant. "Peel and cut them to pieces. Pour some water in the small pot, put the onions in and set it on the stove."
Heyes wrinkled his nose. "What's the plan? Spicing him and prepare him for supper?"
"Who knows? You ain't the only one making backup plans." Heyes shot him a sour side-glance and the healer laughed. "Why so serious, Heyes? I hope the vinegar will reduce his temperature and help to disperse the heat inside his body. When the chills set in I'll apply compresses of hot onions on his feet to keep him warm."
"Never heard that one before but sounds simple enough."
"An old home remedy of my dear mother, may she rest in peace. Did a good job now and then." He shot Heyes a scrutinizing glance. "But something's wrong with you, too. And don't tell me it ain't. I saw how you handled him," he told him, nodding towards the bed. "It's your shoulder, right?"
"Upper arm. Bullet wound. Sewed. Just a scratch," Heyes replied absently.
"I'll have a look at that scratch for we have to wait now, anyway. Pull off your shirt!"
"All right, boss." Heyes grimaced but did how he was told. Preacher took off the bandage and examined the wound.
"Nice piece of work. Fine stiches," he praised the seam. "Who did it?"
"Doc Martin down in Deceit. Fine man. But keep away from that place. It's cursed. Got that needless shot right there."
But the shot hadn't been needless, Heyes had to admit. He would never have stopped running, if Jed Curry hadn't put an end to him. Heyes just wasn't sure about whether it was good or not.
Preacher grinned. "Would like to meet him one day. Could learn a few nice tricks from him, I'm sure," he told while he tended the injury. "Nevertheless, the wound looks like one damned fool has danced a jig on it. It's inflamed and some of the threads are stretched or torn out. But bad weeds grow tall, you'll heal up. You'll just earn another scar for your collection."
Heyes shrugged. "As I said: a scratch."
"Yeah, yeah, don't argue with me, Heyes. Just give your arm some rest and move it with care – but move it! The muscles will stiffen if you won't. I'll keep an eye on it, too, now it turns out Devil's Hole becomes a sanatory."
"Fine idea, could be as rewardable as our current line of business but less dangerous," Heyes pondered the thought. "We just have to attract all the fine eastern ladies with affected nerves and be rich men soon."
Preacher laughed. "I can almost see them walk the yard, stalked by the drooling boys. Wouldn't last very long, I guess. Who needs to be rich anyway?"
He grinned. "I almost forgot, we actually are rich men right now!"
"Have been rich men. A good share of the loot is already spent. Wheat sent them boys to town to let the steam off when you didn't return and got us supplies and a few new horses. Said it made no sense to wait any longer."
"Nice to hear, he missed me," Heyes growled. "How did he do this time?"
"He did his best. Ain't the brightest one, but runs the daily routine pretty good. Kept them boys busy."
Heyes nodded thoughtfully.
"Are you finished?" he asked the healer.
"Yeah, go on. It's time to change the compresses anyway. Looks pretty young, your friend. If it wasn't for his built, you'd take him for a kid. Must be well in with the ladies."
A warm smile spread on Heyes's face. "Let's get him well again and you can tell it to him yourself."
-o-o-o-
Together, they tried their best to fight Jed's disease. By the time the chills set in, they watched their patient alertly to apply the best treatment according to the current state of the illness. Alternately he had to be kept warm or cooled down. Preacher tried some of his herbal medicines a few hours later, but there was still no sign of recovery.
The uncertainty tried Heyes's nerves. He already was known as a bad patient, but he was worse as a nurse. His impatience took over even when there was nothing left to do but wait for the treatment to show an effect. Time seemed to slow down.
About ten times per hour he checked on Jed, scared to miss a change in his constitution, but as it's said, a watched kettle never boils. The time in-between, he paced. He got no rest. He even made Preacher nervous. The medic tried his best to keep him busy, but it turned out to become a long night for both of them.
-o-o-o-
Preacher had left near morning to get some rest for himself. He returned some hours later and together they continued their attempts. About noon Preacher shooed Heyes out of the cabin to get a meal and some fresh air ... and himself a couple of minutes in peace.
The boys in the bunkhouse tried to get some news from their usually cheerful leader, but Heyes wasn't talkative, just overtired and tense. The only one enduring his presence was Kyle. His good nature took no offence of impatience and bad mood and was probably the reason why he even got along with Wheat so well. Kyle kept his leader company for a while and was rewarded with a few uncertain breadcrumbs, that he spread about the way he lured the posse off their tracks, a duel and his final escape.
They boys would hear rumors anyway and Heyes considered it best to counteract with his own adjusted version of the facts. As soon as his tasks were finished he returned to the cabin. Preacher forced him to rest for a while and threatened to daze him with one of his powders, if he wasn't quiet at least for two or three hours.
Heyes obeyed. He eased himself down at the bed beside the front door, always alert but at least no longer under Preacher's feet anymore. In the evening he took up his chores again, preparing for another long night.
-o-o-o-
Two days later the fever still ran its course. Preacher had returned to the bunkhouse. His treatments would either do their work or not. Nothing was left to do any more other than to cool the overheated body. Nothing! Even the chills had ended their visits. A good sign or not? Heyes wasn't sure anymore.
Heyes sighed. He reached out his slender hand to his friend's burning forehead and wiped the cold sweat away. Gently he ran his fingers through Jed's damp hair. It looked dark now but he could easily recall its natural color. He had always loved these curls, knew them nearly his whole life. He knew how they felt, how they smelled covered with dust or rain, knew their color bleached by the sun or dark of sweat ... dark of blood ...
They both had endured so much – always together, never alone.
Something lacked in his life. Heyes knew it. His heart was empty. No exiting plan, no incredible loot and no company of any kind had ever filled it for long.
Well, certainly he had his share of bedmates but that's exactly what they were and nothing more. He even made it a rule never to see one of them girls twice. It was too dangerous to develop favors and a point of weakness alike.
He had friends, but no close friends - there had never been someone he really trusted.
And there he lay. Sick, suffering ... a damned lawman but yet so much more. Even now he knew that their life-lines where twisted and bound. Jed had always been a part of his life and now that they had met again, he felt the emptiness which had dominated it in the last years just become more painful.
He studied the sweat-damp face on the pillow; restless eyes flickered under closed lids, the skin reddened by the fever still burning inside the body. Jed looked so young and innocent and reminded him of the teenager he left so long ago.
"A lawman," he asked him, "oh Jed, why of all things did you have to become a lawman?" He already knew the answer but it held no comfort for him.
Now the patient went restless again. Another peak? Jed started tossing and turning, mumbling words inaudible but with undeniable urgency. Then a single whisper, "Heyes..."
The said one shifted closer to his cousin, cupped his face in his hands. "I'm here, kid," he assured him empathetically. "There's nothing to fear. It'll be all right. I'll watch over you. I'll come with you, I promise. Whatever you want - just get well again."
It had always been a matter of trust and Jed was the one and only he trusted unconditionally, even now as they stood on different sides of the law. He realized it now.
Jed had always been the better part of his soul. They never were meant to be separated for such a long time. If he had a price to pay for that worst choice he ever made, he'd accept it. His only hope was it wouldn't be the price of his friend's life.
"C'mon Jed, don't scare me. You can't leave me now," Heyes whispered while he changed the wet cloths meant to cool the overheated body.
"Calm down, Jed, will you? You know what? You remember what we planned when we were young? Earning money and move southwards then? To see those jungles and wild animals and beautiful black-haired girls?" Heyes chuckled. "You remember what is said about their outfit...?"
Heyes continued talking of foreign lands and good times they would share.
Every time he changed the compresses, he'd once again try to make Jed swallow some sips of tea. The bitterness of the brew was sweetened by wild honey to avoid resistance of the patient but most of it trickled down the chin anyway.
The night wore old and finally the darkness gave away the dawning of a new day. Jed lay quiet now, motionless and pale, his breath weak but steady. The temperature had decreased, if the fever finally broke had yet to be proven.
During the morning the temperature dropped farther and the restlessness had given away to a deep and calm sleep.
When it didn't increase until evening Heyes allowed himself to relax.
-o-o-o-
It was night again when Jed finally woke up.
"Where am I?" he asked with croaky voice.
Heyes jumped off his chair, the book he held in his hands dropped carelessly to the floor.
"Kid...you're all right? How are you?" he asked concerned.
"Feels like I've been overrun by a train," Jed complained.
Heyes smiled quietly. "Interesting comparison. Someday you'll have to tell me where you found out what it feels like."
"What happened?"
"You started one of your fevers. Hadn't thought you still developed them," Heyes told him.
Jed groaned. "Now and then. Obviously, it had to be now."
Heyes smiled at him. Gently he stroked a few damp curls off Jed's forehead. "Hungry?"
He was answered with a quiet headshake. "Thirsty."
Heyes poured him a cup of tea and gently lifted his head. Slowly Jed took some sips of the liquid and grimaced. "What's that? You wanna poison me?"
"There's no grand hotel here, you know. And it's the best you will get in your condition," he told him gently.
"Where am I?" Jed asked again.
Heyes hesitated.
Jed frowned. "What?"
"You're safe here," Heyes dodged the question.
"Where!?"
"Devil's Hole."
"WHAT!" Jed startled and rose, just to drop back hard on the bed again, too weak to stay upright by himself.
"Sshh ... it's all right. You're safe here. Trust me," Heyes tried to soothe him with a soft and calm voice.
"Trust you?" Jed asked in disbelief. "Damn, Heyes, you're crazy! They'll kill us! They'll kill us both!"
"No, they won't. They are my men. They trust me," he assured him seriously.
Jed moaned and rolled his eyes. "Tell me, Heyes, honestly - is everyone who ever trusted you damned?"
Heyes beamed a smile at him. "Keep calm. They don't know who you are and you don't know where you are. I intend to keep it that way. Everything will turn out fine. Don't worry, just get well again, will you?"
"That's a pretty good risk you take," Jed mentioned with a cautious tone in his voice and glanced at him. "Why?"
"Because of you," Heyes answered gently. "Couldn't just let you die, huh? You'd haunted me to my own last day."
"Maybe I'll do that anyway," Jed answered with a weak grin.
Their eyes locked. Something dropped in its place. For the first time in years they shared a nonverbal exchange of thoughts again. A shining smile lit up their faces.
-o-o-o-
Some days later Jed was on the mend. The fever had broken and his appetite had returned. The cook of the day already complained about the amounts of food he tucked in. Heyes's mood lightened up and he was in good spirits again. Several times a day he joined his men, talked and bantered with them and answered some of their questions.
"Will you eventually tell us, who's that baby-faced kid you harbor at your cabin?" Wheat asked him at one of those occasions. "The boys get a mite nervous."
"That's the way to show your trust, huh?" Heyes countered and shot him a sharp look, just to show his amiable side again only a blink later. "He's no danger. The Kid's my cousin," he added placably.
"The Kid!? Your cousin? Not much of a family resemblance, huh?" Wheat prodded. "What's he here for? You'd like to start some sort of family business?!"
"Wheat, you're calling for trouble when it's not needed," Heyes reprimanded him. "As far as I know, I'm the leader here and you're second in command. You'll trust me!"
"Trust you!?" Wheat snorted.
Heyes gave him time to let the words sink in and shifted slightly. Suddenly his stance was menacing and dark sparks smoldered in his eyes.
Wheat conceded visibly. "Yeah. Sure. I trust you."
"Fine."
The air of tension dispersed.
"When the Kid's well again we'll leave. He won't get to know one of the paths in here," Heyes paused and looked around thoughtfully. "Speaking of leaving - I'll go with him and I might not return for a long time. I'll leave you in charge, Wheat. If I'm not back in spring, feel free to vote for a new leader, alright?"
Wheat frowned. "That's all? You simply go and that's it?"
"Yeah, it's that easy. No need for you to stab me in the back." Heyes winked and Wheat showed enough common sense to look contrite.
Jed – 'the Kid' – watched the exchange from the front porch of the leader's cabin. He was fascinated by Heyes's body language and charisma. He ruled his men just by his will. Jed knew Heyes had another side, too – dark and threatening. It showed up in his eyes sometimes, but he hadn't witnessed its outbreak yet. If they were lucky, he never would.
A few minutes later Heyes joined his cousin on the porch.
"Seems like I've got a new name now, huh?" 'the Kid' asked him.
"Yeah, it seems so. How do you like it?"
"The Kid?" he wrinkled his nose. "I guess, I have to get used to it, first, as much as to the thought of having an outlaw name!"
Heyes beamed him a full dimpled smile and patted his shoulder. "You'll survive it!"
-o-o-o-
Jed was curious about the men, but Heyes did his best to keep them separated, trying to protect Jed as well as his gang. It was like an ambitious dance on a razor but he managed it very well, keeping an eye on everything all the time. But in the end, it wasn't possible to avoid encounters without getting suspicious and Heyes relented somewhat.
Well, there truly were no gentlemen among these outlaws, like Jed had assumed some months ago, but some of the boys seemed to be all right to Jed, especially Kyle. He had a simple and friendly mind and Jed wondered how he got into a life of crime and survived. Others appeared more devious like Wheat and Lobo. They alerted his instincts and he always watched his back cautiously when he knew them to be somewhere around.
Jed especially liked Preacher, a former man of God, who left his vocation behind for reasons he didn't mention to him. He was the only one of the gang Jed got to know better and maybe after some time, they could have become good friends.
All in all, the gang wasn't what he'd expected. Well, they were a wild bunch and had their share of criminal potential, but none of them was particularly vicious or enjoyed violence. For certain, they were no choirboys, but he'd seen enough hardened criminals to notice the difference in their behavior.
Jed, usually calm and amiable himself, got along well with them and it only took a few days until the presence of the Kid was no nuisance anymore. The outlook of his soon to be departure suppressed rivalry which a new member of the gang probably would have awakened. Anyway, Jed hoped none of them would ever cross his path again. He would be sorry, if he had to deal with them businesslike.
-o-o-o-
On a beautiful autumn day, Heyes and Curry left Devil's Hole heading for Cheyenne. Jed was blindfolded, his horse led by Heyes. Some of the boys kept them company until they arrived at the hidden pass through the surrounding mountains.
The farewell was short but heartily. Besides his temper, Heyes had been a good and prudent leader and the last years had been prosperous for the gang. It wasn't easy for him to give up his protection of his men. He was justly suspicious of Wheat's leadership qualities in the long run.
He took a few minutes for a last glace over the place that had been his secure haven during the last years. Then he turned his horse, spurred it and headed for an unknown future.
Down at the plains Heyes released Jed from his blindfold and handed him the reins of its mount. Jed already knew the crossing but had only few hints of where they had come from. He didn't intend closer explorations. He had been trusted and wasn't one to betray this trust.
"You're all right?" Jed asked, studying the face of his cousin, and received a confirmative nod. He drove his horse around Heyes's and took over the lead, heading towards Cheyenne once more.
It would take a few days to reach their destination and even though there was no need to hurry - even less for Heyes - they pushed their horses into a swift pace. The nights became noticeably colder now and the stiff northern wind announced an early winter.
As often as possible they stopped for the night in towns. During their journey they had accomplished a routine for their nightly arrangements. At first, Heyes had tried to persuade his cousin to give them more space, but without success. Jed insisted on shared rooms and sometimes they were lucky to get one with two beds. If not, they didn't mind it either. Everything was better than sleeping on the cold hard ground at this time of year.
Heyes was still under observation, there was no doubt about it, but they made themselves as comfortable as possible.
There was no talk about escape or handcuffs anymore, Heyes actually wore his gun. They travelled as companions, as friends and enjoyed the company of each other.