Part 4
Kid looked down at his sleeping cousin in relief, the nightmares were finally over. Just a few minutes ago Heyes had almost thrown himself off the bed because of them. Heyes had been having nightmares off and on but they had been at their worst over the past hour or so. Kid didn't want to disturb his sleep so he had left him be, but when Heyes had almost fallen from the bed Kid had reached out and grabbed his cousin, keeping him from falling.
Heyes stilled instantly, a calm washing over him as soon as Kid's hand touched his cousin's shoulder. It was as if Kid's hand served to turn the tide of the battle Heyes was fighting, and Kid kept his hand on Heyes shoulder until he got him perched securely on the bed. He was almost afraid to let go, afraid of breaking the connection that had been established, as if to let go would bring the nightmares back.
A peace had settled on Heyes, his face washed free of the pain and lines that had been etched so deeply due to the silent agony he had endured. Heyes' emotions were no longer putting more stress on his already weak body. Now that he was at peace he could begin the healing process his body needed. A smile, that familiar smirk, lit up his cousin's face and Kid realized that the battle had been won and that the nightmares were finally over. Heyes was reliving peaceful memories that couldn't hurt him anymore.
Kid knelt beside the bed, bending close to his cousin's ear and whispered as calmly as he could.
"You just leave everything to me Heyes; I'll watch your back. You get some sleep now you hear." Heyes nodded as though through the fog of unconsciousness he had understood his cousin's command. A peaceful, healing sleep washed over Heyes, even the memories slipped away, the years draining off his face leaving the boy Kid remembered from all those years ago.
Kid smiled, he knew he could let go now, Heyes had slipped into the peaceful oblivion that would let his mind, body, and soul rest, healing itself. Kid struggled with the actual letting go, however, now more for himself than for his cousin. It had been so long, Kid wondering if his cousin was even alive. He had been silly to doubt, for of the two he knew that Heyes was the one who could survive on his own.
In the few months after they had gone their separate ways Kid had almost lost his life in gun fights. Kid had gotten good at the draw but had been bad at hitting what he aimed at. It wasn't until that day he stood up for an unarmed man twice his size that he found himself staring down the barrel of a man better than he.
If Big Jim, the man he had protected, hadn't stepped between them at the last second Kid would have been dead. The one rule obeyed by most outlaws was never shoot an unarmed man, Big Jim had counted on that and his opponent stopped himself from pulling the trigger just in time. Thinking back on it Kid realized that if it hadn't been for Big Jim he would have been dead all those years ago. He was truly grateful for the older man's stability and kindness, taking in an unknown, defenseless kid who, at that time, was angry with the world and himself. Things would be different now, he would see to that. Kid was sure he could talk his mentor into letting his cousin join the gang.
Kid's stomach growled telling him it was time for breakfast and he tentatively let go of his cousin's shoulder and watched for any sign of change, but it never came. Heyes was sleeping peacefully now, the deep even breaths of a healing sleep moving his chest up and down. Kid knew Heyes was going to be just fine.
Alias: *** Smith *** and ***Jones
This was their fishing hole, safe and secluded. No one knew where they went and they liked it that way, it was their secret. Heyes and Kid had been fishing for some time when the wind rustled whispering his name. Leaves fell from the trees overhead coming to light on the water in front of them. The leaves transformed as they hit the water, becoming letters that swirled around and formed words. The water carried the words downstream dancing over rocks and disappeared leaving their message carrying on the breeze. He understood their meaning and smiled, nodding his head. Kid was out there, protecting him 'watching his back'. He could sleep peaceful now knowing Kid would look after things for awhile.
Heyes lay back, tucking his arms up behind his head and as his head hit the warm sunlit grass of the meadow floor darkness fell and the scene changed. He was older, the memory different, they were on a cattle drive working as drovers, they had run away from the orphanage earlier that year and had lied about their age to get the job. Heyes had said they were about two years older than they really were. The truth was he had just turned fifteen; Heyes and Kid had learned the hard way how to be men.
Heyes sighed, content though his body ached from a hard days work. This was the life they had dreamed of; they were cowboys at last, a man's man. He smiled looking over at his sleeping younger cousin knowing the real version was out there keeping an eye on things. He sighed and closed his eyes falling into a peaceful sleep.
Alias: *** Smith *** and ***Jones
Kid knew his cousin needed him close at hand, but felt with a certainty that everything was going to be alright. Kid wasn't the best cook in the world but had tasted Heyes' cooking and had learned a thing or two for himself. Unlike his older cousin, Kid needed to eat, breakfast to him it was the only thing worth getting out of bed in the morning. Kid made some coffee and set about trying to find items to cook for breakfast.
Bacon, eggs, and biscuits topped off the coffee for a hearty breakfast. The biscuits were left over from the day before. Big Jim always had food that the other boys were either too lazy or not good enough to cook for themselves. Big Jim had allowed Kid to eat with him since he joined the gang. Kid smiled looking back at his new life and beyond to the one he had shared with his cousin before their split. He chuckled to himself over the many arguments he and Heyes had had over breakfast and their lack of it sometimes. If it was the only meal they had during the day Kid preferred it was breakfast.
As Kid finished his meal and put away the dishes Big Jim stuck his head in the cabin door. He poured Big Jim a cup of coffee and handed it to the other man. Big Jim nodded his thanks and took a large drink of coffee before setting the cup on the table and turning to his patient. Kid watched silently as his friend and mentor carefully unwrapped his cousin's feet. Big Jim had become like a father figure to him in the past four years and he felt his loyalty torn between the two men. He silently prayed he'd never have to choose one over the other. He wanted to be loyal to both, and although Kid would never admit it aloud to anyone, he loved them both. One as the father he'd lost all those years ago, and the other more than just a cousin, a brother.
Big Jim worked silently, cleaning the feet and reapplying fresh poultices to the infected foot. Big Jim was satisfied with the color of the blistered foot, the swelling had gone down and the blisters had begun to fade away. The swelling on the infected foot had also decreased and the infection had responded to the medicinal herbs Jim had applied earlier. Big Jim was pleased, with both himself for a job well done, and with Heyes for recovering so quickly. Somewhere in the night Heyes had found something worth fighting for. He had seen other men, stronger even than the young man before him, lose the fight because they hadn't seen the reason for living. Heyes was a fighter; someone he wanted on his side. He looked up at Kid and nodded his affirmation of what he suspected Kid to already know. Heyes would pull through this; they had gotten to him just in time to save his life.