Kid Curry sat patiently in the saddle atop his chestnut, one arm resting lazily on the saddle horn as he watched his partner finish cinching his own saddle securely on his sorrel. Heyes tossed his saddle bags across the sorrel's back and slipped his left foot into the stirrup, made two small bouncing movements with his right foot, then hoisted himself up into his own saddle, ready to begin the day's journey.
Kid straightened and gave his reins a tug, leading the chestnut out into the street.
"Heyes, you sure you want to do this?" Kid asked as they made their way out of the sleepy little town.
"I'm sure, Kid."
"All that way for a few measly dollars?"
"Yep."
The two men had been having the same conversation for the better part of the last three weeks, ever since Lom Trevers had wired them a telegram forwarding a message he had received from the Kansas Union Bank. It seems that when the Union Bank bought the Derby County Bank, land records had been found including a deed for some acreage owned by Heyes' father that had not been included in the property sales following his father's death. At that time, the sale of all the known property had barely covered the cost of debts and loans, so Hannibal had come into absolutely no inheritance. But now, as the only surviving member of the family, Heyes could claim the property free and clear. All that was needed was his signature on some legal papers and the transfer of deed would be official. The Derby County Bank had listed one Preston Stokley, Atty as the attorney handling the legal aspects of the matter.
Neither Kid nor Heyes had returned to Kansas after the gruesome murders of both their families during the Border Wars, and Kid had always been determined to make that decision permanent. In addition, neither Heyes nor Kid had ever devoted much time to trying to push their way through the memories of those horrendous events of finding and burying their parents and siblings. For Kid, happier memories of days prior to the Border War days had long ago succumbed to the nightmares of war. In a weak (or maybe a drunk) moment, Kid had once confided to his partner that he could no longer draw up an image of either of his parents, and that the days prior to the Border War days were now a blur, with no concrete memories to conjure up to soothe the ever taunting wounds of war.
"Can't see no good coming out of this, Heyes," Kid warned as they rode slowly eastward toward the Wyoming border.
"We won't be there long, Kid," Heyes reassured his partner. "I'll sign the papers, sell the property, and we'll be on our way with a few hundred dollars in our pockets."
Kid snorted. He didn't care if it was a few thousand dollars. To Kid, the idea of ever stepping foot in Kansas was just plain foolish. After all, you don't stir a boiling pot with bare hands. To Kid's way of thinking, returning to Kansas was just asking for heartache.
The Heyes and Curry families were both farmers. Samuel Curry and Eliza Curry Heyes were siblings. Both families had jointly traveled west from Upstate New York and, in 1851, had settled in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Sedgwick County was located in the south, mid eastern part of the territory. When the Curry's and Heyes' owned adjacent farms there, Derby did not even have a name, and it would be another twenty years before the railroad assigned the name Derby to the scheduled stop along the rails leading west. Both Hannibal Heyes and Jedediah Curry had been born in, and had left Sedgwick County long before the town was bestowed the name Derby.
Heyes and Kid reached Porterville, on the eastern edge of Wyoming late in the afternoon. The plan was to spend the evening with their friend Lom and the night in the hotel, before moving on toward Kansas the following morning. They went first to the hotel where they got a room and dropped off their saddlebags, before walking down the street to the Sheriff's office.
"Don't worry Lom, we'll be out of Porterville first thing in the morning," Heyes chided as he walked into the Sheriff's office and extended his hand.
"Good to see you, too, Heyes," Lom replied and shook Heyes' hand. "Kid, how are you?"
"Good, Lom. How about you, life treating you well?"
"I can't complain none."
"We figured since we was in the area, Lom, we might as well stop by to see if there's been any news about us," Heyes said.
"About the amnesty," Kid added.
I'm sorry, boys, but I haven't had any news."
"Lom, it's been almost three years. Kid and I …."
"Think the governor is just stringing us along," Kid said, finishing Heyes' thought.
"I thought you two understood that the amnesty is all about politics," Lom replied.
"Oh, we understand," Heyes said. "We're just not sure we want to play along with the politics anymore."
"I know how you feel, boys. I remember those outlaw days of my own youth," Lom said.
"Do you, Lom? You remember spending three years constantly looking over your shoulder? Three years being chased by posses and bounty hunters? Three years of never being able to stay in one place more than a couple of days at a time?" Heyes lamented sarcastically.
"Heyes, it's not Lom's fault. Don't go taking our frustrations out on him" Kid cautioned his partner.
Heyes continued to glare at Lom until the edginess began to ebb from him. "You're right, Kid. I'm sorry, Lom."
"You know I wire the governor at least once a month. I try to keep you two on the forefront of his considerations."
"We know you do, Lom," Kid assured him. "Heyes and me are just tired... and thirsty."
"Mostly tired," Heyes corrected and Kid smiled at his partner.
"Why don't we all go get some supper. Then maybe Heyes and me will play some poker at the saloon tonight," Kid suggested.
"Yea, that's probably a good idea," Heyes agreed.
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Lom replied and put the papers he'd been working on in his desk drawer. "Let's go."
The three men headed across the street and found a table at the cafe.
"You know anything about the property that lawyer was referring to?" Lom asked Heyes as the three men sat at the diner eating roast beef and scalloped potatoes.
Heyes knew a bit more about the land than he was ready to reveal to Lom, or especially to Kid. So, he chose his words carefully.
"When I wired the lawyer a while back, he said it was about sixty acres and has a little river running through the middle of it. I think I know where it might be located," Heyes said.
"That sounds like the land your ma always wanted your pa to build a house on. She loved that spot," Kid recalled.
Heyes smiled. "Yea, that's the land. Pa always told her no. Said he didn't want to be that far away from the Curry homestead. He said moving that far away, the two farms couldn't be any protection to each other if there was ever any trouble."
Kid dropped his head a bit and nodded. "I remember your pa saying that."
"Turned out, they couldn't help each other living next door either," Heyes said sadly.
The conversation stopped as both Heyes and Curry fell silent thinking of the irony of the elder Heyes' reasoning.
"Well, having a river should up the value of the property some," Lom finally said, breaking the silence.
"Yea," Heyes agreed. The lawyer said two adjacent farms are both interested in acquiring the land." Heyes said flatly.
"How long are you planning on being in Kansas?" Lom asked, still trying to keep a conversation going.
"Not long," Kid pipped up. "Get in there, get it done, and get the hell right out of Kansas."
Lom washed down the last bite of his food with the last gulp of his coffee. "Well, why don't you plan on stopping by on your way back. In the mean time, I'll try giving the governor another little prod. Who knows, maybe they'll be some good news waiting for the both of you when you get back."
"Sure, Lom," Heyes said, forcing a smile.
"Yea, Lom. We'll do that," Kid added.
Lom pushed his chair back and stood up. "Well, I still have work to do, so I guess I'll see you both in a couple of weeks."
"Or sooner with any luck," Kid said.
Heyes and Curry spent the evening at the saloon playing poker and, at least in Kid's case, drinking beer a bit in excess. They returned to the hotel around midnight and, shedding their clothes down to their long johns and Henleys, they fell into their respective beds. For Kid, the beer had the intended effect and he fell asleep quickly. Typically for Heyes, he remained awake for much of the night. But this night, the reason for the insomnia was different. This night, his father's words rolled over and over in his thoughts and he brooded over the events of that Saturday afternoon back in their Kansas childhood days.
Kid woke with an annoying hangover, not so bad that he couldn't ride, but bad enough that he knew he'd be feeling a bit proddy all day. Heyes had finally fallen asleep an hour before dawn and, since Kid had no sense of urgency to reach Derby, he busied himself cleaning his gun until Heyes awoke shortly before ten.
"You should of woke me, Kid," Heyes said as he pulled himself out of the bed and dressed.
"Sorry," Kid replied.
After dressing, Heyes pulled on his boots and stomped each foot once to slide his feet firmly into the sole. Kid winced at the sudden loud noise, but refrained from complaint.
Heyes noticed how quiet Kid was. "You alright?" he asked.
"Just a little too much beer last night. I'll be fine."
"Want breakfast before we leave?"
"Yep."
They were packed, saddled, and on their way again by noon. They crossed into northeast Colorado in mid afternoon, arriving at Sterling before nightfall. They checked into the Pacific Hotel located near the Union Pacific Railroad Depot, boarded their horses, and returned to the hotel dining room for supper. Heyes ventured to the saloon for a couple of hours, but Kid turned in early and was asleep when Heyes returned to the room well before eleven.
Heyes lit an oil lamp and turned it down low. As he readied himself for bed, Heyes glanced at Kid and noticed something he found to be a bit unusual. Heyes sat on the edge of his bed and watched Kid sleep. Beneath closed lids, Kid's eyes darted about rapidly, as is common when someone is dreaming. Heyes found this a bit amusing and continued to watch. A couple of times Kid's head jerked slightly, pressing deeper into the pillow. He mumbled occasionally. The amusement ebbed when Heyes realized Kid's dream was not a particularly pleasant one.
Heyes reached over to extinguish the light but stopped when suddenly Kid shouted "No!" and jolted up in the bed, instinctively planting the palms of his hands against the mattress to steady himself. Awake now and eyes open but groggy, Kid looked around to acclimate himself. His eyes fell upon his partner across the room.
"You alright?" Heyes asked.
Kid nodded without conviction. "Yea."
"Bad dream?"
Kid sighed. "I don't remember what it was though," he lied and flopped back down on the bed."You win tonight?" Kid asked, changing the subject.
"Not enough to brag about."
Kid rolled over with his back to Heyes. "That's too bad. Good night, Heyes."
Heyes reached over and extinguished the lamp. He lay on his back on his bed with his hands clasped behind his head. He knew Kid had lied about not remembering the dream and he was pretty sure he knew what the dream had been, more or less. Obviously they both felt some trepidation about returning to Derby. He knew Kid really did not want to visit Derby, but now he was having some doubts about it himself. Again Heyes spent more of the night awake than asleep.
Following their customary routine, they ate, packed, and started on their way the next morning. They crossed the South Platte River, a narrow mountain river with a visible but not dangerous current. Just a few hours later they entered western Kansas where they made camp a few miles outside of Imperial.
It took them three more days to reach Sedgwick County, home of both Wichita and ten miles further south, Derby. Those three days had proven to be troubling to both of them. Though neither spoke of it, both noticed tempers growing increasingly short, conversation increasingly less, and sleep increasingly troublesome. Each night Heyes had battled insomnia and Kid had battled gruesome dreams.
So, when Heyes suggested they stay in Wichita and travel back and forth to Derby, Kid readily agreed. Kid couldn't recall any childhood family trips to Wichita for supplies, but Heyes did, and when they rode past Hubley's Mercantile, Heyes insisted they stop and go inside. Kid stood patiently while Heyes reminisced with the owner, Frank Hubley, a man in his late sixties now, a bit more portly than Heyes remembered, but a pleasant, friendly man who Heyes recalled was always eager to assist his customers.
Heyes walked up to the counter and studied the large array of big glass jars containing an assortment of penny candies.
"Can I help you with anything, young man?" Mr. Hubley asked.
"My family used to come in here for supplies once a month when I was a boy," Heyes explained.
"What's your name, son?"
"Smith, Joshua Smith," Heyes lied.
"There's a lot of Smiths in the area. You related to any of them?"
Heyes smiled. "I doubt it. My whole family left the area when I was thirteen."
Mr. Hubley looked carefully at Heyes. "That would put you leaving the area just about the time of the Border Wars."
"Yes, Sir."
"Terrible time that was."
"Yes, Sir... I remember you always had a big jar of red licorice sticks."
Mr. Hubley walked down the counter until he came upon the red licorice container. He reached into the jar and withdrew one stick and handed it to Heyes.
"I always make a point of handing out the first stick for free," Mr. Hubley said and turned his attention to Kid. "Would you like one too?" he asked.
"No, but thank you, Sir," Kid replied.
Heyes smiled and took the licorice. "Yes, Sir, I remember that you always did that." He said and bit off a chunk of the licorice and began chewing. "I'd like a nickel's worth, please."
Mr. Hubley took a small paper bag back down the counter and counted out a nickel's worth of the licorice and put it in the paper bag.
"And a nickel's worth of peppermints too, please," Heyes added.
"Separate bag?" Mr. Hubley asked.
"Yes, Sir."
Mr. Hubley filled a nickel's worth of peppermints into a bag and brought both bags to Heyes who laid his dime on the counter and handed the bag of peppermints to Kid.
"Thank you Mr. Hubley and it was nice to see you again."
"You're welcome, son. Enjoy your candy, boys.
They walked out of the store and each reached into their bag for a piece of candy. "See, Kid, there were some good times, too.
"I'll just have to take your word for that, Heyes," Kid said and popped a peppermint into his mouth.
The next morning, Heyes and Kid rode to Derby and found the office of Preston Stokley, Attorney at Law. Mr. Stokley explained the location of the property and told Heyes that both of the adjacent neighbors had indicated that they were prepared to make offers. Heyes signed papers the lawyer had prepared that legally transferred the property to him.
"Well, Heyes, you're now a proud Kansas property owner," Kid smiled while shaking his head.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Stokley, I think my partner and I will ride out there and take at look at the land, you know, give us a better idea of what the land is suitable for, maybe get an idea of the value."
"Of course, Mr. Heyes."
"And of course, as you agreed in your telegram, none of the papers will be filed until my partner and I are well out of Kansas, again."
"Of course Mr. Heyes. As I explained, neither of you have been arrested or charged with anything in Kansas, thus, as your attorney, I am not obligated to acknowledge the fact that you are here."
"Okay, just wanted to be certain on that."
"Hope that property sells quick, Heyes," Kid grumbled after they left the lawyer's office.
"That would be nice," Heyes replied, ignoring Kid's proddy mood.
That afternoon, Heyes and Kid rode out to the property. Kid had been quiet during the ride, almost to the point of being sullen.
"It looks like good farmland, Heyes," Kid finally said when Heyes had pulled his sorrel to a stop and Kid had ridden up beside him.
"Any of this look familiar to you, Kid?" Heyes asked.
Kid shook his head. "Every bit of Kansas pretty much looks alike, Heyes. Just fields and flat lands. I prefer a little dimension in my environment.I need mountains for it to feel like home."
Heyes certainly understood Kid's attitude, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with.
"Come on, let's keep going," Heyes said and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth while nudging the sorrel with his boots.
When they came to the river, Heyes searched for a specific location, then stopped near the river's bank and dismounted. Kid followed suit and joined Heyes as they walked along the river's edge. They had been walking for about ten minutes when they came upon the exact spot Heyes had been looking for. The spot had a large boulder rising out of the middle of the river. One side of the boulder was angled and flat and the water that lapped around the boulder sparkled in the sun.
Kid suddenly stopped, staring at the boulder. Heyes took notice that Kid had stopped. He knew Kid had suddenly recognized the location, but Heyes didn't let on to Kid that he knew this. Instead Heyes just continued to slowly move on.
"Heyes," Kid whispered.
"Hmm?" Heyes said casually as he stopped and turned toward his partner.
"This is where we went fishing every Saturday," Kid said quietly.
Heyes pretended to study the landscape. "I think you're right, Kid."
"This is where we were... that day."
Heyes paused a moment. "You're right, Kid. This is it."
Kid stood mesmerized, memories flooding back to him. "We spent most of that afternoon sitting on that rock with our fishing poles."
"Uh-uh. Most every Saturday afternoon."
Kid bent his knees and stooped down low in the wild grass. He closed his eyes and listened to the babble of the water as it flowed along the banks. In his mind, Kid could feel the sun on his tanned skin on that Saturday afternoon so many years ago. He could hear his and Han's laughter. He could feel the tug of his fishing pole and could see his bobber bouncing in the water when a fish bit into the hook. He opened his eyes and looked at Heyes. Damp blue eyes met compassionate, stoic brown eyes. The corners of Kid's mouth curved upward, not into a smile, but rather into an expression of gratitude.
"The last day we were kids," he whispered.
"We spent a lot of good days here when we were kids. This place is a good memory from our childhood, Kid. Don't you think?"
Kid's eyes gazed out over the water, coming to rest on the large boulder once again. He nodded slowly and looked at his partner.
"Thanks," Kid whispered.
Heyes smiled. "You want to wade out to that rock?"
Kid shook his head. "No. That rock belongs to Han and Jed. Let them keep it," Kid replied.
"Knowing this is here, are you okay with my selling the property?" Heyes asked.
Kid picked up a piece of grass to chew and stood back up. "Yea Heyes. Maybe a couple of other boys will find this place one day."
Heyes smiled. "You want to head back, Kid?"
Kid walked over to a grassy, open spot near the river bank and sat down. Then he laid down and rested his hands behind his head. "In a bit," he replied.
Heyes uttered a sigh of relief. He knew he had taken a risk bringing Kid to this spot. He walked over and lay down beside his partner, assuming the same supine position. "That sun feels good," Heyes said lazily.
"Uh-uh," Kid replied and closed his eyes, relishing the warmth of a long forgotten, and newly recalled memory.
They lay there for nearly an hour, neither talking, but both reflecting, assimilating some good memories to ease the pain of the bad. When the sun ducked behind a wide stretch of billowy white clouds, they got up and returned to their horses and made their way back to Derby where arrived at the lawyer's office late in the afternoon.
"Well, what did you think?" Mr. Stokley asked as he ushered Heyes and Kid into his office and offered them each a seat.
"Tell me about the two families interested in buying the land," Heyes said.
"Well, both are farmers and natives to Derby," Mr. Stokley began.
"No," Heyes interrupted. "Tell me about the families, how many kids, you know, that sort of thing."
"Mr. Benson and his wife have a daughter and a set of eight year old twin boys. Mr. Wilson and his wife have three daughters and another child on the way."
"Who's offer is the highest?" Kid asked.
"Mr. Wilson's offer is four hundred dollars higher than Mr. Benson's offer."
"Who's better off financially?" Heyes asked.
"That I wouldn't know, Mr. Heyes."
"Them twin boys like to fish?" Kid asked.
Mr. Stokely look at Kid curiously. "Don't all boys like to fish. Mr. Curry?"
Kid looked at Heyes and smiled and gave a single nod of his head.
"I'm going to accept Mr. Benson's offer," Heyes said. "By the way, how much is his offer?" He asked.
"Four dollars an acre."
"Sold," Kid said.
Heyes laughed. "Kid's right. Sold," Heyes replied.
"I'll notify Mr. Benson and have the paperwork drawn up and ready to sign the day after tomorrow," Mr. Stokley said.
"We'll see you then, Mr. Stokley," Heyes said as he rose from his chair and extended his hand.
They rode slowly back to Wichita. For most of the ride conversation was sparse between them.
"Kid?" Heyes said as the outline of Wichita slowly rose before them.
"Yep?"
"I doubt if either one of us will ever be back here again."
"Probably not, Heyes."
"I think there's a couple of other things we should do before we leave for good... I think we could do them tomorrow."
"And what's that, Heyes?"
"I think we should visit some graves," Heyes said soberly. "You want to do that?"
Kid sighed wearily. "No," he said. "But being as this is the one and only time we'll ever be in Derby again, I think we owe it to them to visit."
Heyes nodded, but remained silent.
Kid looked off into the distance. "We'll go in the morning, Heyes."
Heyes had no trouble finding the family homestead. They knocked on the farmhouse door and Heyes explained their intentions and they were given permission to visit the graves. Heyes was surprised and pleased that somewhere along the line, someone had taken the time to place a wrought iron fence around the small area where he and Kid had buried Heyes parents and siblings.
Kid removed his hat, but stayed back a ways, giving Heyes the solitude to grieve, to say the things that thirteen year old Han had not been able to express, to feel the presence of those he had lost. Heyes stayed at the grave sites for the better part of an hour. When he was ready, he turned and began the walk back to the horses. He paused beside Kid for a moment without speaking. Words were not necessary. Then he proceeded further away from the graves. Kid turned toward the little cemetery. He offered a respectful nod of his head before turning to catch up with his partner.
From the Heyes homestead they both knew the way to the Curry farm, having both traveled the route on a daily basis as boys. The house and barn were gone, and tall, wild grass hid the foundations from view. But from the top of the hill, looking down to where the farm had been, both knew exactly where the home had stood, and from there, they knew where the graves had been dug and Kid's family had been buried.
Like the home and barn, the graves were covered with grass that blended in with the expansive field. The makeshift cross markers the boys had made from branches had long since eroded. Just as Kid had done, Heyes stayed back while Kid approached the hidden graves. Kid bent down on his knees and laid gloved palms on the ground he considered sacred. Everything he said to the people buried beneath him, he said in silence. With eyes wet and nose running, Kid wiped his face with his hands and pulled himself up off the ground. He turned and walked over to Heyes. He didn't look at Heyes. He didn't speak. But when Heyes laid his arm across Kid's shoulders, Kid uttered a heavy sigh. Then he gave Heyes a nod and together, they walked to the horses.
They next morning they once again arrived at the lawyer's office. Heyes signed all the necessary spots on the papers Mr. Stokley had drawn up. Half an hour later Mr. Benson arrived and he, Heyes, and Mr. Stokley signed the land transfer papers. Heyes left Mr. Stokley instructions to have the money sent to him in care of Sheriff Lom Trevers in Porterville, Wyoming.
"Mr. Benson," Heyes began as they were preparing to leave. "There's a spot on the river with a large boulder in the middle of the water."
"I know the spot," Mr. Benson said.
Heyes looked at Kid and winked. "Take the twins fishing there one day. It's a great spot for fishing, and talking"
"And just being kids," Kid added.
"I'll be sure to do that Mr. Heyes, Mr. Curry," Benson assured them.
Heyes and Curry left the law office and headed down the boardwalk for the saloon.
"Well, Kid, I guess we'll be starting back toward Wyoming in the morning."
"Yep," Kid replied.
"Who knows, maybe Lom will have some good news for us."
"I wouldn't bank on it," Kid replied. "You want to know something, Heyes,?"
"What's that, Kid?"
"I still don't want to ever come back here again...but I'm actually glad we came this time."
Heyes threw his arm around Kid's shoulders.
"Me too, Kid."