Amnesty: Is it worth it?

"When the Kid returned to the hotel room, he found Heyes angrily stuffing his saddlebags.

"Come on Kid. Let's hurry up and get outta here," he snapped.

"Now hold on Heyes. Let's not be too hasty."

"Why? There's nothing to hang around for here is there?" His voice was hard. He fumbled to buckle the flap, his fingers still sore from the train, not co-operating fully. "Aaah!" He punched the side of the saddlebag in frustration.

"Heyes, slow down will ya?" The Kid put his hands on Heyes' shoulders and gave him a shake. "What is it?"

Heyes shrugged off the Kid's hands. "I just wanna get outta here. Get lost somewhere far away." He tried again with the buckle and this time succeeded. He hefted the saddlebags onto his shoulder and snatched up his hat. By the time, it was on his head, he was moving towards the door.

Only to find his exit blocked. Kid Curry stood in front of the door with arms folded.

"Nope. You ain't going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong."

"Kid. Get outta my way."

"Nope."

"How ya gonna stop me?"

The Kid looked at his partner's pale face. Now that he was close and looking properly, he could see the sunken pain filled eyes and the sheen on his skin. The Kid smiled in sympathy.

"Easily by the looks of ya," he said, softly.

Heyes swallowed hard and put his head down, found out. He gave a huge sigh and his saddlebags slid from his shoulder.

"I don't know as I can do this much longer, Kid," he breathed.

The Kid allowed him to turn away and throw his saddlebags irritably onto the bed. He stood hands on hips, shaking his head.

"Not knowing about this dang amnesty is really getting to me."

The Kid patted him on the shoulder. "I know Heyes. It is me too. Jus' that I'm not in pain like you." He sat on the nearest bed and looked at his partner's stiff back. "Am I?"

Heyes looked round slowly. "What d'ya mean?"

"Jumping off the train yesterday really hurt didn't it?"

Heyes twitched his head. "Yeah well it's a delicate part of the body," he ground out. "Not used to that kinda treatment." His tongue explored his mouth in embarrassment.

"You should see a doctor."

"NO!" Heyes spun round quickly in alarm. From a split second, he winced before setting his features in determination.

"There's one in town. I saw the sign when we came in yesterday," the Kid said, helpfully.

"I don't need a doctor." Then seeing he needed to give the Kid more, added. "I'm just a little stiff is all. I'll ease up when we get moving." Heyes rolled his shoulders in emphasis.

"Okay. How d'ya wanna leave town? We can't get the train back through Medicine Bow. That's asking for trouble. The train to Porterville and Cheyenne just left and there won't be another 'til Friday. Stage south don't leave 'til Thursday, two days time and there ain't one that goes north." He let that sink in. "Seems to me the only way outta this town, if ya don't wanna walk, is to get on a horse."

Heyes blanched.

"So while we're waitin' let's go see the doc." The Kid got up and put on his hat, triumphantly. "C'mon."

Heyes chewed his bottom lip furiously but held his ground.

"C'MON"

"It's kinda embarrassing," Heyes mumbled, quietly.

"I know and I guess I'd feel the same if'n it was me," the Kid admitted. "But you'd be saying the same thing to me. Let's get ya checked out, huh? I promise I won't mention it to anyone. It's just between you and me." The Kid could see Heyes was wavering. "Supposin' you've done some serious damage? And it coulda been fixed if a doctor looked at it in time? What's ten minutes of embarrassment worth to ya then, huh?"

Heyes glowered from under his hat. "When did you get so wise?" he snarked.

"Been around you too long I guess," the Kid shrugged, nonchalantly, hands in pants pockets.

They glared at each for a long moment, until finally Heyes gave a long exasperated sigh.

"Okay, let's get this over with then."

The Kid grinned and ushered Heyes out before he could change his mind.

ASJASJASJASJ

In the doctor's surgery, they found Nurse Chappell behind the reception desk.

"Doctor Fraser has a patient right now. If you'd like to take a seat, Mr Smith."

"No matter, Ma'am, we won't trouble him." Heyes smiled and tipped his hat.

The Kid pulled Heyes back as he was about to start for the door, and smiled at the nurse. He held on tight to Heyes' arm and sidestepped them to the chairs.

"Thank you Ma'am. We'll be right over here. SIT!" The last uttered through gritted teeth.

Heyes perched on the edge of the chair, rested his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together, put his head down and closed his eyes. He let out a long shuddering breath.

"Can I ask what the problem is?"

Heyes groaned and shook his head.

"Um, it's a private matter, Ma'am," the Kid said, his hand firmly on Heyes' arm in case of flight. "No disrespect."

"Very well. I'm sure Dr Fraser won't be too long."

A moment later, the consulting room door opened and Dr Fraser called her in. As soon as the door closed, Heyes was on his feet.

"Where are you going?" the Kid demanded.

"Nowhere," Heyes snapped, starting to pace. "Sitting is uncomfortable that's all."

The Kid accepted the explanation. However, he kept his eyes on Heyes as he paced up and down.

"You don't have to keep watching me?" Heyes growled, after the third time he noticed the Kid's eyes on him. "I'm not gonna run off!"

"Can ya run?" the Kid queried.

"Gah!" Heyes spun round and paced back the other way.

It was a good ten minutes before the door opened again. A woman, holding the hand firmly of a boy of about six came out.

"Thank you Doctor Fraser, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been able to get that off," the woman said, accepting the saucepan. "Davey say thank you to Dr Fraser."

"Thank you Dr Fraser," the boy sang.

"You're welcome, Davey."

As the woman dragged the boy away, Nurse Chappell indicated the next patient.

"What no saucepan to unstick? Or kitchen utensil lodged in an inappropriate place?" Dr Fraser said, faintly amused. "Removing things from an ear or nose is my speciality," he added, proudly.

"Sorry to disappoint," Heyes scowled. "I could come back, Doc. Honestly if you have somewhere more important … ."

"Nonsense, come in Mr Smith." He held the door opened and Heyes gritted his teeth.

"Want me to come in with ya, Joshua?" the Kid asked innocently.

The look Heyes gave him a look, which should have curdled his blood. Instead, as the door closed the Kid chuckled to himself.

ASJASJASJASJ

After twenty minutes, a red faced and rather sheepishly looking Heyes emerged. He took a cautious seat beside the Kid as Doctor Fraser spoke quietly with Nurse Chappell.

"Well what did he say?"

"Said I'd bruised my pelvic bone and surrounding area. He's gonna give me some embrocation that'll help dull the pain. The bruising should settle down in a few days."

The Kid looked horrified. "You're not expecting me to … ."

"NOO! I can manage." Heyes swallowed. "Except I won't be sitting a horse for a while. We'll take the stage south in two days."

"Think ya'll be okay to do that by then?"

Heyes licked his lips. "Yes," he said, though sounded unsure.

ASJASJASJASJ

The Kid went to get breakfast. Heyes clutching his bottle of embrocation, returned to the hotel room. An hour later, when the Kid had finished his breakfast, he found Heyes in bed sound asleep. A smell of medication hung in the air.

The Kid left Heyes to sleep. He went downstairs and secured their room for two more nights, informing the desk clerk that his partner was unwell and shouldn't be disturbed. Then he went off to explore the town.

The Kid returned early afternoon. Heyes was just wakening and was blinking up at the ceiling feeling a little disorientated.

"Hey, how ya feeling?"

"Dunno yet," Heyes said, quietly. "What time is it?"

"Two. Think you've slept a good six hours."

"Probably needed it. Didn't get much sleep last night."

"Wanna sit up? I figured ya might be hungry so I brought ya a sandwich and coffee."

Heyes gave him a lopsided grin. "Think you're confusing me with you, Kid." Then he nodded. "Thanks. Yes, you're right. I should eat," he said, gingerly moving to sit up.

The Kid positioned pillows behind him and Heyes relaxed back against them.

"Okay?"

"Mebbe. Is that a newspaper?" He looked eager.

"Yes. Ya can have it AFTER you've eaten."

Heyes pushed his bottom lip into a petulant thrust, rolled his eyes and sighed as he accepted the packet containing the sandwich onto his lap, a coffee cup placed on the nightstand. He unpacked the sandwich reluctantly. He wasn't really hungry but he knew the Kid would get at him if he didn't try and eat.

The Kid settled in an armchair and shook out the newspaper. He left Heyes to eat so he was surprised when Heyes spoke.

"Kid, do you think we should carry on trying for amnesty?"

The Kid dropped the newspaper and frowned. "Yeah, course. Don't you?"

Heyes took a bite of his sandwich to avoid having to answer.

The Kid leaned forward. "Ya not serious 'bout giving up? Not after all this time. We're doing so well."

"Are we?"

"Lom is going to talk to the Governor," the Kid offered, hopefully.

"He's always talking to the dang Governor!" Heyes spat. "It's not getting us anywhere is it?" He looked away, and took another bite of his sandwich.

"For what it's worth, I think he's gonna try harder this time."

"Yeah?" Heyes said with sarcasm. Then he looked at the Kid sharply. "Why? What did he say when he took you outside?"

"He was worried about you."

"Me?"

"Yeah you."

"There's no cause for him to be worrying 'bout me, Kid."

The Kid raised his eyebrows. "Well he was right to. Look at ya." Heyes harrumphed. "Mebbe he's more worried 'bout what ya gonna do?" He paused. "And so am I."

"Why?" Heyes demanded.

"'Cos you were talking … defeatist talk earlier."

"I was in pain! Can't a body get a little bit cranky if they're in PAIN?"

"Yep I guess so but it was more'n that wasn't it? And it still is." The Kid licked his lips, knowing Heyes was on a knife edge. "It'll take time, Heyes. Lom told us that."

"Lom said it would take a year. It's been two." Heyes paused. "Kid, the Governor's term is up at the end of this year. Then there'll be a new Governor and there's no guarantee a new one will honour the promise. He may even set the clock back. Or cancel the amnesty altogether."

The Kid nodded. "Yeah, that is a possibility," he conceded. "What d'ya wanna do?"

Heyes shook his head. "Dunno." He set aside the sandwich. The Kid noticed only two bites missing. Heyes reached for the coffee and took a sip. "I don't know, Kid. I really don't know."

The Kid leant forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Heyes we can't give up now. We've come too far."

Heyes licked his lips.

The room was silent as each contemplated the consequences of this discussion.

"What would we do? IF we gave up, an' I'm not saying we should. I jus' wanna know if ya have a plan," the Kid, said.

"We were successful at what we USED to do."

"No Heyes, I ain't going back to robbing. I'm passed all that now."

Heyes gave me a lopsided grin. "Good."

The Kid sighed in relief. "I thought for a moment there … ."

"No." Heyes shook his head. "I've thought long and hard 'bout what we did. It was wrong and I regret it more than I can say. We're older now and wiser." He shook his head again. "No Kid that life is not for us anymore."

"Then what? What do we do?"

"I just wanna GO somewhere. I want to stop looking over my shoulder."

"Got anywhere in mind?"

"Nope." He looked across at the Kid. He was feeling a little better now his thoughts were off his chest and shared. "You said the stage goes south. What's south?"

"Colorado," the Kid grinned.

"Big place, Kid," Heyes returned his grin, albeit weakly. "I wanna try something different."

"What?"

"Depends what's south. Can you get us a map later?"

"Sure."