Modes of Transport

The train had slowly significantly and they could hear and feel the engine struggle on its laborious climb. The time had come to jump off. Kat had decided that rather than ride the train into Hardy City and risk discovery, she would jump off with her fellow passengers. Her aunt owned a ranch a little way from the point the two men were proposing to jump.

The Kid went first. Kat watched him closely. Even though she knew what would happen she still gave a small scream when he stepped out into space, quickly silenced by a hand to her mouth. With Heyes' hand on her arm, she leant out a little to see the Kid come to rest. She was relieved to see him struggle into a sitting position and wave to indicate he was unharmed.

"Okay?" Heyes queried.

Kat looked round at him. The wind from the open door tore at her hair, throwing locks over her face. She brushed them away.

"Yes I can do this," she said, determinedly.

"Good girl. Now come and stand behind this yellow line." He pulled her back a foot. She looked down in confusion.

"There isn't a yellow line."

"Just pretend there is and stand behind it. Now pick your spot. Look for somewhere clear." He pointed in the direction they were headed. The train had started to negotiate a wide uphill curve so they could see easily the terrain in front. To the side of the tracks, the ground sloped away. Dotted here and there were shrubs and trees. "Got one?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Good now remember, tuck and roll and don't bite your tongue."

She nodded and then he pushed. "Go!"

Kat found herself screaming in mid-air. Her arms and legs whirling in panic, the ground hurtling towards her. Then she remembered the mantra. Tuck and roll. Tuck and roll, she recited. From the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of saddlebags fly followed by a blue/grey blur. Then her attention focused on hitting the ground. She landed to tuck and roll, tuck and roll blaring in her head.

The Kid winced as he ran up. Kat had hit the ground hard, rolling several times head over heels rather than to the side, as she should. She finally come to rest backside pointing down the slope, her legs up over her head, next week's washing on full display. Her legs flopped down and she lay panting staring up at the sky.

"Okay ma'am?"

"Yes," she gasped.

If the Kid expected her to be a crying wreak, he was disappointed. Accepting his hand to sit up, she looked at him wide eyed.

"That was so exciting! To think I'll probably never do that again," she laughed.

"Er yeah," the Kid said, doubtfully. "Come on. Let's go see how Joshua is." He pulled her to her feet. She took a moment to brush herself down before taking his hand. They walked along hand in hand towards Heyes, the Kid snatching up that man's saddlebags on the way.

Heyes had made a fundamental mistake. He had hesitated before jumping. Although he had picked his spot, it had moved by the time he arrived. He'd tucked and rolled as prescribed but the slope was much steeper where he'd landed. It had turned his roll into an out of control slither of arms and legs. He'd only come to rest when a delicate part of his anatomy and hip slammed against an unaccounted for tree.

When the Kid and Kat caught up, Heyes was groaning loudly.

"Joshua, are you okay?" the Kid asked in concern.

"Yeah, think so," came the gasped reply, followed by another anguished groan.

The Kid leaned over and pulled Heyes gently onto his back. Heyes looked up at him wide-eyed from under his crumpled hat. "Thaddeus you promised me we'd never do that again," he squeaked, accusingly.

"Nope. I promised we'd never jump ON a train again." The Kid grinned.

"Yeah well I kinda figured jumping OFF was a given!" Heyes gave a groaned laugh.

"C'mon up y'get." The Kid grabbed for Heyes' hand and hauled him to his feet, where he remained doubled up, a comforting hand protecting his hurting parts. "You're all right," the Kid informed him brushing dust not too gently from Heyes' shoulders.

With a loud grunt, Heyes attempted to straighten. He managed it by leaning against the out of position tree. "Ye-ah I might be but I doubt if my progeny will be," he gasped. In later years, the Kid would take great delight in reminding Heyes of this incident when he had cause to complain about his daughter and elder son.

"Sheez! That hurt." Heyes bent over double once more, remained there for a moment before straightening up again, with support from what he could swear was now a guilty looking tree.

"C'mon let's go," the Kid urged, moving off in the direction of Hardy City.

"Are you alright, Mr Smith?" Kat asked, in concern.

Heyes hitting his hat against the tree served two purposes. The first was punishment for being there, which was immensely satisfying, and secondly, it helped with expunging some of the dust from his hat. He sighed regretfully as he looked at it, attempting to mould it back into some recognisable shape. Giving up, he finger combed his hair back before slapping the sartorial disaster on his head and motioned for Kat to follow the Kid.

"I'll do," he nodded and started to walk with a noticeable limp.

It was a while before he could make more than a word in conversation. The longer they walked, the easier his stride became.

"So how did you find your first authentic experience of jumping from a moving train?"

Kat grinned at him. "It was so exhilarating. I've never done anything so thrilling before."

Heyes grunted. "It's dangerous Kat. You don't wanna make a habit of it."

"No I won't. But I've done it and I can write with authority now. Which is what I wanted."

"Glad we could help with investigative journalism." Then a though struck him. "You won't mention our names will you?" His voice had taken on a sudden hard note. The last thing he wanted was Heyes and Curry mentioned in close proximity to Smith and Jones.

Kat smiled. "No I'll just refer to you as gentleman hobos."

Heyes grinned. "Good. I don't think his betrothed would understand." He nodded at the Kid.

"Your secret is safe with me," she assured him, linking her arm through his.

ASJASJASJASJ

The time soon came for them to part. With a short farewell, Kat was walking down the slope to the yard of her aunt's ranch.

"She was a really likeable young lady," the Kid said, wistfully as they watched Kat walking away.

"Yes in a lethal sorta way," Heyes said, slapping the Kid on the shoulder to get him moving again.

The Kid frowned the question at Heyes.

"She knows marital arts, y'know," Heyes informed him, straight faced.

The Kid rolled his eyes and started moving.

"You don't think we shoulda gone with her?"

Heyes looked back. "No I somehow think Slugger Mallory can take care of herself."

"I dunno Heyes. Don't seem too gentlemanly to me." The Kid stopped and looked back. "We coulda gone with her and they might have sold us a couple of horses," he mused. "Rented us a couple mebbe."

Heyes shook his head. "Don't think I could sit a horse right now Kid," he winced at the thought.

"Still hurt huh?"

"A little tender," came the reluctant answer, as he trudged on.

"Mebbe they coulda given us a lift inta town on a buggy?"

Heyes stopped and turned back. "Kid no. You heard what Lom said. We're supposed to be incognito. Now come on. It's not that far into Hardy City. If we get a shift on, we'll be there in time for supper. I'll buy you a roast dinner with all the trimmings. How's that?"

The Kid nodded and the thought of food spurred him on. He trudged passed Heyes, who had waited to make sure he was moving. Heyes fell into step beside him.

"I suppose ya still got the package," the Kid said, after a while.

"Oh not this again! You're gonna drive me crazy d'you know that!"

"Well have ya? Simple enough question."

Heyes gave a disgusted look, stopped and unbuttoned his coat. His hand went to the top inside pocket, where he'd placed the pouch before. He froze and his face took on a horrified expression."

"What? No!" the Kid wailed.

Heyes frantically began patting and searching all his pockets.

"Ya can'ta lost 'em Heyes. Ya always telling me that coat has poacher's pockets. Whatever that means."

"It does. I'm telling you Kid, I've got 'em. I jus' can't put my hand … ." Heyes looked back and started in the direction they'd come from. "I had 'em on the train. You know I did."

The Kid groaned, resigned to help Heyes look. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground as he retraced his steps, grumbling about pearls, and walkin' and poacher's pockets as he went. He came to a stop when he realised Heyes had pulled up.

Heyes stood, grinning widely and holding up the velvet pouch.

"So you had 'em all the time? You were jus' funning me?"

"No Kid … well what I mean is … yes I did have 'em but …," Heyes spluttered.

The Kid threw up his hands and marched quickly away.

"They slipped down inside the lining. Musta happened when I landed," Heyes said in justification, starting to run after him but winced and slowed. "I didn't do it on purpose!" He sounded desperate.

The Kid turned, his face menacing. "Heyes I swear one of these days, I'm gonna flatten ya!"

Heyes frowned. "You're gonna WHAT?"

"Flatten ya!"

"Now what sorta talks that? There's no call … ." Heyes raised his hands in surrender and took a step back. "Alright, alright, I WAS having a joke with you," he admitted.

Heyes looked so contrite the Kid was doubtful. Giving him the look, the Kid started again in the direction of Hardy City. "Let's get this over with. These boots aren't made for walking. Yet here I am, walking in 'em," he groused. "Again."

"Oh hush up. Anyone would think you were the only one," Heyes grumbled, as he followed slowly. "You're not nearly as bad off as I am. An old man, grippe ridden, manhood damaged, hand burnt. Y'know … ."

"Will you stop bellyaching and come on!"

"Kid, it's not my belly that aches … oops!"

The Kid had turned and was now in Heyes' face. "Button it will ya. I'm in no mood."

Heyes nodded and followed quietly behind.

"An' by the way if ya tell that story of me marrying the mayor's daughter one more time … ."

"What?" Heyes stood hands on hips and looking astonished. "Don't you like the mayor's daughter?"

"Heyes I don't KNOW the mayor's daughter!"

"Kid I just want the best for you y'know that." Heyes eyes focussed on the fist in front of his nose. "Okay buttoned." A movement behind the Kid diverted his attention. He smiled slowly. Then they both heard it, the rhythmic clip clop of a horse and the whoosh of a buckboard.

"Kid, d'you ever think about changing our mode of transport?"

"Funny that thought should occur to you as well. C'mon unless you don't think you can manage a ride in a buggy?"

"Oh, I'll manage, Kid. We'd better be Rembacker and Hotchkiss if he asks!" When the Kid looked the question. "Incognito remember?"

A moment later, they were running onto the road in front of the small buckboard, driven by a middle-aged man. He pulled up sharply to avoid running them over.

Heyes grinned and raised his hand.

"Howdy!"

"Howdy, what can I do for you … gentleman?" the man asked suspiciously, his hand straying to the rifle on the floor of the buckboard.

"Ah, we're stranded out here in the middle of no-where. Could we trouble you for a ride into Hardy City? That is where you're going isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's where I'm going. How d'ya come to be stranded out here?"

"Horse thieves," Heyes said with aplomb.

"Horse thieves! I ain't heard of no horse thieves round here."

Heyes gave a deep sigh. "Well you have now."

"There's a ranch 'bout half mile back. You might get some horses there," the man suggested.

Heyes and Curry swopped glances.

"Yes sir but that's half a mile an' these boots aren't made for walkin'. No guarantee they'd sell us some an' then we'd havta walk back here again … ," the Kid began.

"And as you're going to Hardy City, which is where we're going … ," Heyes added.

The man stroked his chin. He was still doubtful but the two men looked innocent enough, despite the tied down guns.

"Waal, okay. Hop on the back. Jus' leave the hardware with me."

ASJASJASJASJ

Kid Curry pushed into the saloon and a familiar voice greeted him.

"Well its about time you got here!"

Looking round, Lom was coming towards him.

"Lom!" the Kid grinned. "What are you doing here?"

The two men shook hands briefly.

"Looking for you. How'd it go? And where's Smith?"

"Joshua is over at the hotel, taking a nap." Having arrived in time for supper, Heyes had bought two roast dinners as promised. While the Kid had wolfed his down, Heyes had picked at his. Afterwards, the Kid had suggested the saloon, Heyes had declined saying something he'd eaten wasn't agreeing with him and he'd head on back to their room. The Kid wasn't ready for bed so had come to the saloon alone. "Buy you a beer and I'll tell ya all about our trip."

Lom grunted. "I've got one. Quiet table over there. You can tell me all, it should be interesting."

The Kid bought his beer and joined Lom at the table indicated.

"I heard you had some trouble leaving Medicine Bow. That's why I'm here. Figured you'd put in an appearance right about here."

The Kid nodded. "Yeah, we were spotted. Had to jump a train."

"Still got the package?"

"Heyes has it back at the hotel."

Lom nodded. "Good."

"So who's upholding the law in Porterville, while you're here?"

Lom scowled. "Harker," he growled.

"He did a good job that time we were there," the Kid said, lifting his mug to his lips to hide his smile.

"Good job? Huh! The bank was robbed! No. The bank was blown to smithereens! Could hear the explosion five miles away. All the windows, in all the buildings busted round the square. Money floating down all over like confetti. And I'm still not sure that you and Heyes didn't have anything to do with it!"

"Lom, it was those transients you know that." The Kid put on his best hurt face.

Lom grunted doubtfully. "Did you know 'em?"

Under the table, the Kid crossed his fingers. "They didn't give their names. On account of them being transients."

Lom grunted again. "Well its all cleared up now. Kept finding dollar bills in rose bushes for weeks but we got most of the money back eventually. Bank's rebuilt strong as the Denver Mint."

"Miss Porter back?" the Kid asked quickly. Too quickly and he had to cover up. "It was a terrible experience for her."

"No, after the explosion, she went to San Francisco where her parents were vacationing. She stayed when her father decided to retire. There's a new manager in the bank now. Not to mention a brand new, fool proof safe." Lom tapped the Kid's arm. "Be sure to let Heyes know that."

The Kid grinned. "Lom we're honest law abiding citizens these days. Our only concern is that folk's money is held in a safe and secure place."

Lom still looked doubtful but decided to let it go. He drained his glass.

"Well now I know you're here, I can go to my bed. You staying at the hotel?"

The Kid nodded. "Room number nineteen."

Lom scrapped his chair back. "Okay I'll come and get the package from you at seven tomorrow."

"Before breakfast?" The Kid looked up in astonishment.

"Yeah, before breakfast. My train back to Porterville leaves at seven thirty. Can't leave Harker on his own for another day. Who knows WHAT might happen!" With a growl and a nod, he walked away.

ASJASJASJASJ

Heyes and the Kid watched as Lom tipped out the pouch, counted the pearls and nodded.

"Well done. All looks in order."

"Was this a test Lom?" Heyes asked, as Lom slid the pearls back into their pouch.

"Huh?"

"A test. To see if we're law abiding and trustworthy enough to give an amnesty to." He grinned.

Lom tightened the string around the top of the pouch slowly. He looked at Heyes. What he saw concerned him. When had Heyes started spotting such bushy and long side-whiskers and allowing his hair to grow that long? He was usually quite fastidious about his toilet. When had that man started to look so weary and strained? And why was he leaning so heavily against the foot rail of the bed? The closer Lom looked he could see desperation in his eyes. That was something Lom had never seen in Heyes before. Heyes was always the pragmatist. Ever the optimist. Glancing at the Kid, he saw him through fresh eyes as well. He'd put on weight and there was a hounded look about his mien. Neither looked like the two fresh faced young men who had come to see him in hope and trepidation nearly two years before. Lom suddenly realised quite how hard the quest for amnesty had become on these boys. Now he could see it quite clearly. The thought that he was partially responsible didn't sit too comfortable with him. He resolved to do more.

"I'll see what I can do Heyes," he said, softly, touching his arm reassuringly. "Don't give up. Not now."

Heyes licked his lips and nodded, resigned to that answer. The fact that he didn't protest or say something snarky spoke volumes.

"Here." Lom held out some folded dollar bills. Heyes was reluctant to take them. They'd already had payment for the delivery. He knew this was from Lom himself. Lom insisted until Heyes sighed and tucked them away in the breast pocket of his shirt. He gave a nod of thanks.

Lom turned away and nodded for the Kid to join him outside.

"Me?" The Kid thumbed at his chest in surprise. The Kid glanced at Heyes, who frowned at this development and followed Lom outside.

When the door had closed, the Kid turned to Lom.

"What's up?"

Lom hesitated. "You'd best get him to see a doctor. I think jumping from the train yesterday hurt him more than he's letting on. Is that how you got that split lip?"

The Kid looked at the door in alarm. Guilt that he hadn't noticed that Heyes was in real pain. Embarrassment that someone else had spotted it and he hadn't.

"Er no that was something else," he frowned, still pondering on how he could have missed Heyes' condition.

"I know this hasn't been easy on either of you. I'm sorry its taking so long. I genuinely believe you two deserve a second chance and I'll be telling the Governor that. In the strongest possible way. Look after yourself. And him." He nodded to the room. "I'll be in touch real soon. I promise."

Lom gave the Kid's shoulder a shake and walked away.

"Hope the Governor's daughter likes her pearls," the Kid called.

Lom paused and looked back, grappling with himself.

"The Governor doesn't have a daughter," he mumbled, with a guilty look, before walking quickly away.