Chapter 4

The next thing Kid knew, Heyes was shaking him awake. "You might want to move before the others wake."

Kid was still leaning up against the log with Jennifer in his arms. He slowly moved his now numb arm from around her and laid her head gently on the bedroll. She moaned but didn't wake.

"Coffee?"

"Yeah," said Kid as he stretched to get the kinks out.

Heyes handed him a cup of the strong brew. He took a tentative sip. One thing about Heyes' coffee, it put a jangle in your spurs.

"What was that all about?" Heyes nodded his head towards Jennifer.

Kid motioned for him to follow a little further from camp. "Heyes, she was dreaming that I was dead."

That instantly sobered him. "Dead?"

"Yeah, it's a dream where she relives her husband dying, but this time it was me."

"Wow!"

"Yeah, I know. She's scared that, if we fall in love, I'll die and she couldn't live through that again. She asked me to leave if I wasn't in it for the long haul."

Heyes held his breath, "What are you goin' to do?"

"Heyes, I told her…" Kid looked at the ground and then back at his partner. "I wasn't goin' anywhere."

Heyes' eyebrows shot up. "Then, you…?"

Kid looked Heyes square in the eye. "Love her? I don't know. I have very strong feelings for her." He threw his hands in the air in a gesture of self-defense. "I know, I know, I just met her. Despite that Heyes, I have never, ever, felt this way about another woman. She's all I think about. I want to be with her, protect her, share my life with her. I don't know how this is going to play out, with her bein' on the road and all but I have to find out." He glanced up at his friend; Heyes was beginning to recognize the look his eyes held. "What I need to know from you is…will you stand by me?"

Heyes looked at his best friend, and answered as honestly as he could, "Kid, I will always be there for you, no matter what happens."

They just stared at each other for a second and then Kid's face split into a big grin. "Thanks." He held out his hand for his partner to shake. "One thing Heyes…"

"What's that?"

"If you try an' get all noble, try to leave, thinkin' it's for the best, well…I'll just have to shoot you!"

Heyes grinned broadly at this. "Me? Noble? Not a chance cousin. Not a chance." He slapped Kid on the back as they walked back to camp.

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They broke camp a little while later and started on their way. Jennifer rode next to Kid but was very quiet. He tried to engage her in conversation, but she was clearly absorbed in her own thoughts. Kid lapsed into silence.

Sometimes Jennifer would ride with her eyes closed, as if looking at something in her head, or she would hum absently to herself. Her behavior reminded him of something but he couldn't quite figure out just what. He determined to watch her closely.

They stopped for lunch in a little glen. He noticed she barely touched her meal.

She just sat on a boulder, staring into space, fingering the locket around her neck. He wondered if something he had said last night was bothering her.

Kid walked over to where Heyes was giving some extra attention to his horse. Leaning up against a tree, one foot on the trunk, arms across his chest, he said, "Heyes, what do you thinks wrong with her?"

"Huh, wrong with who?" he said looking around.

"Jennifer."

"There's something wrong with her?" he asked concerned. He looked over to where she was sitting.

"Well not with her exactly. She is just being….well, when I try to talk to her she….." he broke off confused.

"Well Kid, if you are talking to her like that, then she probably thinks you're nuts." Kid glared at him. "Look, I don't know what's wrong with her. Why don't you just go ask her?" Heyes returned his attention back to his horse.

Kid went back to the log he had been sitting on, and continued to stare.

Scott noticed Kid's concerned glances and thought he would try to explain. Walking over and sitting next to the young man, he nodded at the absorbed singer and said, "A smart man would remember that look."

Kid looked at him confused.

Scott just laughed. "She's alright Thaddeus, she's just writing a song. Wait until we get to town. She'll not eat, not sleep, until that song is down on paper, just how she hears it, feels it."

Kid stared at him. He thought he was beginning to catch on.

A niggle of a memory surfacing.

"When we get into town she'll want to get to the nearest piano. She'll not leave until her song is finished."

"How long does that usually take?"

"Hard to say. I have seen her finish in 30 minutes and have seen it take days."

Kid just groaned. 'Oh great!' he thought. 'A female Hannibal Heyes.'

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They arrived in town just after 5:00. Just as Scott predicted, Jennifer jumped off her horse and called out her manager's name. Scott winked at Kid, "I'll stay with her for a while. Unload, get some dinner. You can find us in the play house when you're done."

Kid nodded. He and Heyes helped unpack the wagons and then went to get something to eat. After polishing off a whole chicken, a bowl of mashed potatoes with gravy, corn and several biscuits, Kid announced he was done. Heyes had been done for the last half hour and was reviewing his notes on the background of each crewmember. He was also listing the hotels in town.

"I need to get over to the hall, wanna come?"

"No, no, you go ahead. If the culprit is not among the crew, he must be trailing us. In that case, he has to be staying somewhere. I mean to check out other arrivals." He rose, putting a few coins on the table for a tip, and exited the café.

Kid left also. He found Scott in a back seat of the playhouse, watching Jennifer. She was sitting at the piano, head on her arms apparently asleep.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, just watch," Scott smiled.

Kid sat down and watched. Nothing happened. "What am I watching?"

"Wait for it."

Kid sat there quietly for another five minutes. Jennifer lifted up her head, slowly. She placed her hands on the keys, closed her eyes and began to play. At the end, she picked up her pencil, made a few more notes on the paper in front of her and sighed.

"It's done," Scott announced. "Come on, it's safe now."

They walked up on stage and stopped at the end of the piano. Jennifer looked tired; when she looked at them, her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.

"Jen?" Kid asked concerned.

She smiled at him through the tears. "I'm okay." She looked at Scott, "It's good."

"I thought it might be. You seemed a little more… driven, than usual."

She looked at him apologetically.

"Let's hear it," Scott requested.

She looked at Kid, "Thaddeus, I have you to thank for this. You were right about what you said last night." She smiled at Scott, "It's called, Nathan's Song."

She started to play.

"I found happiness with you

You were always by my side

Through thick and thin

And even though it was but for a moment

I am happy I met you

You broke me out of my shell

And gave me life

I know God has his reasons

But sometimes I don't understand them

He gives you to me

And then takes you away

But the good news is I'm better for the time I spent with you

And the bad news is, you're gone"

They were quiet for a moment and then Scott went around the piano, drew Jennifer up from the bench and held her in a tight embrace. "You're right, it's good," he whispered into her hair. He drew back from her, "I'll give it to the band, and we'll rehearse it in the morning. Now, young lady, something to eat and then bed."

She smiled up at him and nodded.

"Thaddeus, do you think you could get her settled for the night?" Scott asked.

Kid smiled gently at her, "I think I could manage."

Scott left them then. Kid walked over to her. He wiped a tear away that had escaped down her cheek. "That was really beautiful you know."

She blushed at his praise. "Well, now you've seen the temperamental, artistic side of me. Kind of scary, huh?"

"Honey, that was nothing compared to a certain man I know."

She smiled at him, "How about some dinner cowboy? I'm starved!"

Kid offered his arm and they headed to the dining room.

00000

The dark one, Joshua Smith, has left, so it is safe to approach the playhouse, hat lowered to shade my face.

I hear… HER, that Landis woman, singing. The lyrics make my hatred rise to such a height! Your husband was always by your side, was he? And how did you repay him? Every word she sings, regurgitating the sentiments of honest wives, is… a LIE! Scott McBride praises her. A wry smile twists my face. Whatever I think of the lyrics, McBride is right about the music…that IS good. She STOLE that! A thief as well as a …a…

The blond dupe laps it up. Poor fool. I cannot find it in my heart to do more than pity him. He is so…stupid. 'Really beautiful'…Well! Move over the music critic of the New York Times! You have a rival!

'Artistic!'? Did she…SHE… just call herself artistic? I have to leave quickly before I laugh!

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The next day had started out overcast. The wind whipped through the trees and blew up dust devils along the street. Finally, around noon, the torrent of rain that had been threatening all morning, broke loose and drenched every thing that was unlucky enough to be outside. Jennifer and the band were already in the playhouse, setting up for that night's performance.

"Here's yer tea, Miss Jennifer," said Jimmy Henderson, a look of adoration on his young face.

"Thank you Jimmy," she smiled at him. The 16-year-old youth, blushed deeply and stumbled backwards over a crate.

"Here, let me help you," said Kid coming around the corner. He helped the young man to his feet. Jimmy's face turned scarlet as he went backstage to continue his work. "I think he has a little crush on you," Kid said as he approached Jennifer.

"I've a special soft spot for Jimmy as well." Jennifer gave a sad smile. "His father was part of my crew for years and Jimmy always traveled with him. His mother died when he was born. So, I suppose Nathan and I came to think of him as kind of an honorary nephew." She stared into her teacup. "Jimmy's father was one of the men killed in the fire. So you see…Jimmy and I share…"

Kid laid a hand on her arm, just for a moment. Jennifer gave herself a tiny shake and summoned up a smile.

"As for the crush…" The smile turned into a grin, "He'll grow out of that soon enough!"

"Never! Once you're hooked…you're hooked," Kid teased, his eyes laughing.

"Thaddeus!" she laughed.

He grinned impishly. "The hotel sent over some chicken and coffee. Care to join me?"

"I'd love to get off my feet for a few minutes but I'll just stick to my tea."

"You really should eat something."

"I never eat before a performance, it makes it difficult to hit the high notes. That's what the tea is for. It helps to keep my throat clear. My Grandmother sends a special blend for me. Want to try?"

"I'll stick to coffee. Never did understand how anybody could drink that stuff."

She smiled indulgently at him.

00000

I know enough about the crew and their routine now, to watch young Jimmy return to the kitchen area in the playhouse, unseen. He looks confused for a moment. Then, he spots the tea canister where I have hastily replaced it. It is all right, though. He simply shrugs, probably putting his conviction, he had already returned the canister to the cupboard, to his own absentmindedness. I wait until that Landis woman leaves with her new dupe. Then, after checking Joshua Smith is nowhere to be seen, I head casually for the wings.

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After lunch, the band started rehearsal. Some of the crew were in the audience while some were backstage. Heyes and Kid were in the wings, watching. They had taken to standing, one on each side, as it gave them a good view of both on and off stage. About halfway through the rehearsal, a movement caught Jennifer's eye, a bird had gotten stuck in the rafters. She saw a weight bearing rope, balancing the curtain, suddenly twitch and unravel. "Look out!" she yelled, flinging herself against Kid, pushing him out of the path of the plummeting sandbag. He fell and skidded across the floor. The sandbag had just missed his head by inches and then hit the floor spewing sand everywhere.

"Ki…Thaddeus! Are you alright?" Heyes asked as he ran to his partner.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Kid, answered somewhat dazed. "What about Jen?"

Jennifer was sprawled on the floor in a stupor. She had hit Kid so hard; she had knocked the wind out of herself. Heyes knelt beside her and asked, "Jennifer, are you okay?"

She looked at him blankly for a minute then back at the broken bag. "If that had hit him…."

"But it didn't. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. "No, no, I'm fine. What about Thaddeus?"

"I'm alright," he said coming over to her. They helped her to her feet.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked with concern.

"No. Just bruised my backside a bit."

"Oh, Thaddeus," she whispered, shaken.

He came and put his arm around her waist.

"I better get that cleaned up, before it causes another accident," Heyes suggested.

Jennifer was trembling slightly, but in control of herself. She looked up at Kid's face confused, "This doesn't make sense." She walked over to the bag, "The rope, it unraveled. Gunny always checks the ropes. I don't understand."

Kid's eyes had gone icy blue. "I don't either, but I intend to find out."

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They had tried to discourage Jennifer from going on that night, but she would have none of it. Kid had silently been proud of her courage. After the show, he had walked her to her room and then met Heyes at the saloon.

"Did you get a good look at that rope?" he asked sitting down at the table with a whiskey.

"You know Kid, I've been sittin' here thinkin' and it must be one of the crew. I mean who else would have access to the equipment?" He tipped his hat back on his head. "That rope had been cut part way."

This brought Kid's head up. "Did you ask Gunny about it?"

"Yeah, he said they'd been checked first thing this morning, and I believe him. It must have happened after that." He drew the crew listing he had made from his pocket. "The names I've marked are the ones I've managed to check on, and were not alone at any time since Gunny went through his safety check."

Kid blinked at the markings. "It's not many, Heyes."

"I'm trying not to be obvious, Kid," Heyes sighed. "Besides, innocent people tend not to have alibis."

"I think we should tell Jennifer. She needs to be careful."

"We were hired on the understanding we didn't tell her. Besides…" frowned Heyes, "if she knew, she might let on and it might just scare away whoever it is doin' this. I'd like to solve this, not have it marked down as a failure. I think we should wait just a bit longer."

"Heyes, need I remind you that she's been thrown from a horse and almost got her neck broke savin' me, all in the space of a few days. How much more does she need to go through before she's told? What if they get to her before we find out who's doin' this?"

Heyes looked over at his friend, he could see the frustration and concern in his blue eyes. "We'll keep her safe Kid. Trust me, just a bit longer. Look, we're going to Kendra by train. It'll take us three days to get there and I'll have time to think. What's goin' to happen on a train after all?"

Kid just rolled his eyes, "Don't ask Heyes, just don't ask."