A thick covering of ominous dark gray clouds rolled across the northern Sierra Mountains, releasing a deluge of pelting, heavy rain accompanied by jagged streaks of spidery horizontal lightening. Kid Curry tugged the collar of his sheepskin jacket, pulling it snugly about his neck. He was headed south from Squaw Valley down to the Truckee River, his chestnut mare growing increasingly skiddish with each fearsome crack of thunder.
With his right arm Kid reached down and patted the mare's neck and spoke to her soothingly. Holding a loose rein, he let the mare choose her own stride down the mud-slick slope of the ravine they descended.
Lake Bigler lay to the east, a mile below Kid's current elevation. Kid didn't know the name of the large glacial lake but was impressed by the blue color and the clarity of the water evident even from that distance and through the haze of the unrelenting rain..
When he reached the Truckee River, he found the river swollen and overflowing its banks. He guided the mare west again, detouring toward Donner Pass until he found a spot where the river narrowed a bit and the current slowed. He led the horse to the water and stopped, giving the animal time to accustom herself to the prospect of carrying Kid across the river.
When the mare entered the water, Kid pulled his legs up higher along the sides of the horse in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to keep his boots dry. Soon the horse was swimming across the river and Kid gave her full authority to determine the fastest, safest route.
Reaching the other side, Kid spurred the horse up the bank. From there they headed southeast. The rain continued but the lightening and thunder had moved eastward and continued to do so until the low rolls of thunder faded completely.
The plan was to meet his partner, Hannibal Heyes in Virginia City sometime in the first week of July. They had split up nearly a month ago, each taking a short term but well paying job in different states. Kid estimated he had another two full days of riding before reaching Virginia City. He wondered if Heyes would already be there when he arrived. He smiled at the thought of a warm bath, dry clothes, a steak dinner,and a soft bed, all in that order.
Looking ahead Kid could see the sky was clearing. He leaned his body to the left and tilted his head, letting a stream of cold rain fall from the brim of his hat, missing both him and the mare as it splashed to the ground.
Unexpectedly a bolt of lightening hit the ground with a thunderous crack less than a quarter mile ahead. The mare reared and Kid dug his legs in hard against the mare's sides. The instant the horse's front legs returned to the ground Kid pulled back hard on the reins, bringing the mare to a complete stop. Kid pushed his hat back from his face for a better view of the immediate landscape and then led the mare down a small embankment, seeking the lowest level of ground he could find. Keeping a tight rein, he moved the horse forward slowly toward the blue sky and white clouds that were returning after the storm.
As the afternoon grew long, Kid began watching for a suitable place to make camp for the night. The sky was again becoming overcast and Kid wanted to find a spot that would provide some shelter from any possible night rain. He could still see Lake Bigler as it stretched a full twelve miles in length and decided the south east edge of the lake would be a good spot to camp and maybe catch a couple of fish for supper. Kid turned the mare in the direction of the lake and descended almost a mile down the mountain side. As he neared the lake, Kid was pleased to find that, like many mountain storms, the one he had ridden through had been an isolated rain and had not reached the southern shore of the lake. He was pleased to find he would have no trouble locating dry wood and tinder for a fire and would be able to dry his still wet clothing and make hot coffee and supper.
Once he found a suitable spot, Kid tethered the horse in a grassy area and unsaddled the tired mare. He built a fire and and cut a few strands of hair from the horse's tail, carefully braiding them into a fine string suitable for a fishing line. He opened one of three remaining cans of beans and dumped the contents into an iron skillet he had retrieved from his saddle bags. With a knife, Kid cut a small strip of tin from the lid of the can and shaped it into a hook and attached the other end to the braided hairs. Then he headed down to the lake to try his hand at fishing, cutting a suitable branch for a makeshift pole, digging into the dirt for a couple of worms, securing the braided line and hook to the pole. He removed his boots and socks and waded a few feet into the cold water of the lake and sat down on one of many large rocks that protruded out of the water. He baited the hook and cast the line into the water and waited for a fish to discover a wiggly meal. A half hour later, Kid carried three fish to the shore, pulled on his socks and boots, and headed back to camp,
Kid scaled the fish and tossed them into the frying pan with the beans. He stripped off his wet coat and outer clothes as well as his long johns and Henley and laid them out near the fire to dry. He pulled dry clothing from his saddle bag and redressed. Then he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down by the fire to warm himself and tend to his supper.
When nightfall was upon him, Kid laid out his bedroll and settled in, his belly full for the first time that day. Within minutes Kid was sound asleep.
Hannibal Heyes sat at one of the three active poker tables at the Bucket Of Blood Saloon in Virginia City. He had arrived by stage the day before and the first thing he had done after checking into the hotel was to check out the Sheriff situation. Discovering he had never heard of Sheriff Roy Coffee, Heyes relaxed and settled in to a fairly competitive poker game that lasted until the saloon closed at two in the morning. Heyes returned to the hotel with seventy dollars profit. He pulled off his boots and outer clothing and crawled into the soft feather bed and quickly fell into a deep, comfortable sleep.
Heyes woke the next morning and glanced at the empty bed across the room. Kid had not arrived during the night, but Heyes was not concerned as they had only agreed to meet sometime during the week rather than on a specific day. Heyes dressed and headed downstairs to the hotel dining room for a hot breakfast and coffee.
Kid woke up cold. He had slept well but had not tended the fire that had now dwindled to hot embers. He put the coffee pot that held the remains of last night's coffee into the embers to heat. He was hungry but decided it was not prudent to open another can of beans as that would dwindle his rations to only one remaining can. He poured himself a cup of coffee and watch the sun rise over the eastern edge of the lake. By seven his things were packed into his saddle bags, the mare was saddled, and the fire doused. Kid mounted the mare and headed in the direction of Virginia City.
The day turned out to be warm and sunny and travel was relatively easy. While Kid would be glad to see Heyes after a month's absence, he enjoyed the solitude of the ride. The mare had fallen into a gentle gait that rocked Kid gently in the saddle and enabled him to take in the splendor of the Sierra Mountains. By late afternoon Kid had led the mare through an easy mountain pass and could see a road five or six miles ahead. Riding on a road tomorrow into Virginia City would be easy, so Kid decided to make camp a bit early, allowing himself some time to hunt a rabbit for supper.
After finding a suitable camp site, tending to the mare, and building a fire, Kid set out on foot for supper. It didn't take long to find and shoot a rabbit, but the cache was thirty feet below where kid stood, at the base of a rocky cliff. Kid descended slowly, carefully securing his footing before taking a step. He had descended about ten feet when the heel of his boot slipped, sending him tumbling downward, his back taking the brunt of the jagged rock. Kid landed on his butt at the base of the rock. The dead rabbit within arm's reach. Kid sat for a minute assessing for injuries. He slowly twisted his torso to the left and then to the right, and finally arched his back. He felt the back of his head for any lumps or bleeding. Confident he had not sustained any significant injuries, Kid reached over and grabbed the rabbit in his fist. Then he slowly got up and studied the rock for a safe ascent. Finding a suitable means, Kid climbed the rock and returned to camp to skin the rabbit.
The next morning Kid woke with a muscle stiff back. He stretched slowly to loosen the muscles and decided to skip breakfast to get an early start, hoping to arrive in Virginia City by mid afternoon. He found saddling the mare to be a bit of a challenge due to the protesting back muscles and felt a ping in the small of his back when he slipped his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself into the saddle. He thought once again of a hot bath, knowing that soaking in the steamy water would soothe the sore back muscles.
Kid arrived in Virginia City mid afternoon. He dropped his horse at the livery stable, retrieved his saddle bags and headed to the hotel where he obtained a key for the room Heyes had rented and ordered a hot bath. He went upstairs, dropped his saddle bags on the bed, pulled off his boots, and lay down on the bed to wait for the bath to arrive and be prepared.
"About time you get here."
Despite recognizing the voice, Kid was startled awake from a peaceful sleep. Instinctively his right hand slid to the butt of his holstered gun. Upon seeing Heyes, Kid quickly moved his hand away from the gun.
"Good to see you, too," Kid said as he sat up and slung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Heyes smiled and sat down on his own bed. "So Kid, how much money you got?"
"Two hundred and thirty seven," Kid replied without having to count money still in his saddle bags. "How about you?"
Heyes smiled. "Poker has been good to me. Three hundred and forty four dollars," Heyes said proudly.
"Well that should keep us in a state of retirement for at least a month."
"Kid, when was the last time you had a bath?" Heyes asked, waving a hand through the air.
"About a week and there's one on it's way."
With that there was a knock at the door. Again Kid's hand instinctively fell to a close proximity to his gun. Heyes got up and answered the door. The tub had arrived.
"None too soon," Heyes said as two hotel porters carried the tub into the room.
Kid shot Heyes an exasperated look.
"The water will be up shortly, sir," one of the men said as they left the room.
"Who's the Sheriff here?" Kid asked.
"Man by the name of Roy Coffee."
Kid shook his head. "Never heard of him."
Heyes smiled. "Me either. He's an older fellow, comes across a bit on the grumpy side but not nosy. Seems nice enough."
Another knock on the door. The water was beginning to arrive.
"How long you think you'll be," Heyes asked Kid.
"At least an hour," Kid replied, still feeling the tight muscles in his back.
"Might want to clean up your face, too. That's the scruffiest looking beard I've ever seen on you."
Kid nodded wearily. "When I'm done, I need something to eat," Kid said.
"I'll be at the saloon. Meet me there after you've had supper."
"Maybe. I'm really just wanting to sleep in a nice warm bed."
"You feeling alright?" Heyes asked.
"I'm fine. Just tired. Remember I haven't slept in a bed in a month."
Heyes nodded. "Yea, cattle drives can be a bitch."
Heyes headed back to the saloon. As soon as the tub was filled with steaming water, Kid stripped off his clothing and eased himself slowly into the tub, relishing the feel of the hot water on his tired muscles. He reached for the bar of soap, then scooted himself down and submerged his head. When he came up for air, he lathered the soap bar in his hands and ran his hands vigorously through his wet hair.
Fifteen minutes later the tub water had become lukewarm. Kid climbed out of the tub and dried himself off. He dressed in clean clothes and walked over to the dresser to examine the month long hair growth on his face. He picked up the shaving cup and ran the brush in circles to build a good lather. He smeared the lather on his face and picked up the straight razor. Then he set to work carefully liberating the hair from his face.
After Kid had eaten a steak dinner complete with baked potato, green beans, and topped off with apple pie and coffee, he decided a beer was a bit more enticing than bed. He walked over to the saloon and up to the bar. When the beer arrived, Kid turned his back to the bar and looked around the room, spotting Heyes at a poker table with a stack of chips in front of him. Kid smiled but was not compelled to join the game. He ordered and drank a second beer before heading back to the hotel.
In his absence, the hotel staff had emptied and removed the tub. Kid checked his saddle bags to be sure his money was still safe. It was. He removed his clothes and Henley, leaving his long johns on. He laid the clothes over a chair, draped his gun belt over the bedpost, and sank into the bed. He uttered a long, contented sigh as his head fell onto the soft down pillow. Within minutes Kid was sound asleep.
Kid woke around nine the next morning, He glanced over at Heyes who was still softly snoring. Kid quietly got up and dressed and decided to go downstairs for breakfast. He ate a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs and coffee in the hotel dining room. Not wanting to wake Heyes, Kid walked outside after breakfast and crossed the street to the mercantile. He bought gun cleaner and a couple of cigars for later. Then he walked back to the hotel and sat down in one of the rocking chairs on the porch and rested his feet on the porch rail. The sun felt warm on his face. He leaned his head back and tipped his hat forward, shielding his eyes. He was content to wait for Heyes all morning in that spot. i
"Morning son,"
Kid pushed his hat back just enough to look out from under it and see the Sheriff's badge pinned to Roy Coffee's shirt. Kid pushed his hat back further and dropped his feet to the floor. He looked up nervously and gave the sheriff a warm smile.
"Morning, Sheriff."
"You look a sight better than you did when you rode into town yesterday."
Kid hadn't seen the Sheriff when he rode in yesterday, but apparently the sheriff had seen him.. Kid nodded nervously. " Ah, yes sir," he agreed.
"You and your friend planning on being in town long?"
"Haven't really given it much thought yet," Kid replied.
"Can't help but notice how you wear your gun, low and tied down," Coffee said.
"Well I... learned to shoot as a pretty small boy. That's where it felt comfortable... I guess I just never outgrew that."
"Young boy uh? I guess you must be pretty good with it then?"
Kid laughed nervously. "I can hit a tin can pretty accurately. I can usually shoot a rabbit when I'm hungry. Never had much other cause for use of it."
Sheriff Coffee nodded. "I see. Well, I think you'll find this is a nice friendly town. Not much use for a gun here."
"No sir, I suppose not,"
"Though I have to admit, a lot of men still wear them."
"I hadn't really noticed."
"I don't believe I caught your name?"
"Jones...Thaddeus Jones."
"Well, Thaddeus, I'm Roy Coffee. You ever in need of a sheriff, you come see me."
"Yes, sir. I'll do that."
Sheriff Coffee stood up and Kid followed suit. Coffee extended his hand and Kid shook it with a soft grip."
"Nice to meet you, Thaddeus."
"You, too, Sheriff."
Kid remained standing until Sheriff Coffee was well down the boardwalk. He sighed heavily as he watched the Sheriff walk away. Then he went back up to the room.
Kid tried the door handle and found the door was locked so he knew Heyes was awake. He knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Thaddeus,"
Heyes unlocked and opened the door and Kid hurried in and went directly to the window. Standing to the side of the window, he peered out at the street.
"What's got you all nervous?" Heyes asked.
"Just had a nice little conversation with the sheriff on the front porch," Kid explained.
"And?" Heyes asked.
"And he was quite curious about how I wear my gun...You think he recognized me?"
Heyes shook his head. "He would have just arrested you on the spot."
Kid realized Heyes was right but it didn't appease his jitters.
"Heyes, I think we should leave this town," Kid said.
"Kid, this is Saturday. Every cowboy within fifty miles will be in town tonight., drunk, rowdy, and eager to spend their wages. You hide out in the room if you're so nervous. I'm playing poker."
Heyes managed to calm Kid down enough over the course of the day that Kid agreed to accompany Heyes to the saloon that evening. They spied a couple of vacant seats at a poker table and Heyes asked if they could join the game.
"I'm Joshua Smith, and this is my friend Thaddeus Jones."
"I'm Paul Hotchkins, this is Tom Smithers, Hank Mathews, Dave Forsythe, and Joe Cartwright."
Kid smiled and nodded to the group.
"Well it's nice to make your acquaintance," Heyes said, smiling.
They played poker and nursed beers for the better part of four hours. Kid managed to pretty much break even. Heyes and Cartwright were the most consistent winners with Heyes taking a moderate lead. But in the fifth hour, Heyes' lead grew considerably and Smithers was down to his last ten dollars. Heyes won the next hand which included Smithers last ten dollars.
Heyes smiled as he scooped the money from the center of the table. But Smithers was angry about losing a weeks wages in a matter of a few hours.
"I don't know how you're doing it, mister, but I think you're cheating," Smithers said.
Heyes took a quick glance at Kid and saw Kid's right hand drop below the table.
Heyes gave Smithers a friendly smile. "Anybody else think I'm cheating?" Heyes asked.
No one agreed with Smithers
"Come on, Tom," Cartwright said. "It's getting late. Let's head back to the Ponderosa. You've been with us a long time. I'm sure Pa can give you a small advance on next week's pay so you won't be broke all week."
"It ain't the money. It's the principal, Joe." Smithers said as he stood up from the table.
"Well now," Kid began as he slowly rose from the table and locked steely blue eyes with Smither's eyes. "I think everyone else is in agreement that my friend was not cheating."
Smithers saw the complete confidence in Kid's eyes. He saw Kid's right arm hanging casually at his side.
"You don't want to take this any further Mr. Smithers," Kid said matter-of-factly as he calmly stared into Smither's eyes.
Smither's gun had not yet cleared the holster before Smithers was staring into the barrel of Kid's gun.
"Come on Tom. If you still want a job, you're leaving with me now," Cartwright said.
Kid slowly turned and watched the two men leaving. He spied Roy Coffee near the bar, having witnessed the event.
"You taking him home now, Joe?" Coffee asked.
Joe nodded.
"Tom, I don't want to see you in town again until you've simmered down. You understand me?" Roy asked and Tom nodded sheepishly.
Coffee walked over to the poker table as Kid sat back down in his chair.
"Thaddeus, isn't yet?"
"That's right, Sheriff," Kid said, giving Heyes a nervous look. Heyes smiled back at Kid equally nervously.
"I want to see you in my office, now," Coffee said and turned and walked out of the saloon.
Kid sighed and stood up. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen," he said.
"I'll come with you, Thaddeus," Heyes said and quickly stuffed his winnings in his pockets.
Heyes and Curry walked into the sheriff's office. Coffee was seated behind his desk. Kid quickly scanned the wanted posters hanging on the wall behind the sheriff and saw the two posters he expected to see.
"Sit down, boys," Coffee said
They each sat in a chair in front of the desk.
"Are you a gunslinger, son?"
"Me? No, sheriff," Kid said, trying to sound convincing.
"Hired gun? Bounty Hunter?"
Both Heyes and Curry shook their heads.
"We're really quite peaceable men, Sheriff," Heyes said.
"You outlaws?"
Heyes and Curry looked at each other and managed a sort of giggle.
"Do we look like outlaws?" Heyes asked.
"Not typical ones. But there's always an exception," Roy said.
"No sheriff, we're not outlaws," Kid said.
"What do you do for a living?"
"As little as possible," Heyes said trying to lighten the mood. "We travel around mostly, taking odd jobs here and there, you know, cattle herding and such."
Sheriff Coffee pondered this for a moment. "Mr. Jones, that's the fastest draw I have ever seen. A man doesn't build a skill like that unless he has a reason."
Kid shook his head innocently. "No reason. Just started practicing when I was a Ki...child."
"I admire the restraint you showed there. You could have easily killed Tom, and he called you out so it would have been considered a fair fight, but you didn't even fire the gun."
Kid nodded his head. "Thank you, Sheriff."
"I'll remind you of what I said this morning. This is a peaceable town. I want to keep it that way."
"We do too, sheriff," Heyes and Curry replied in unison.
"Alright. So long as we understand each other, you can go now."
Heyes and Curry stood up quickly, thanked the sheriff again, and made a hasty exit from the jail. They went directly to their hotel room.
"What did I tell you, Heyes? We've got to leave town."
Heyes nodded agreeably. "We'll leave for Carson City in the morning."
"Good."
The next morning they rose at dawn, dressed, and began packing their saddle bags. When they were finished, they went downstairs, paid their bill, and headed to the livery stable where they picked up their horses and gear, saddled the animals, and headed out of town.
Sheriff Coffee opened the side desk drawer and returned the stack of wanted posters he had spent the night sifting through. He wasn't sure if it was things they had said, or simply the way they had said them, but something about his conversation with Smith and Jones the night before kept gnawing at him. The way Jones handled a gun also triggered his sheriff instincts.
But he had found no posters that described Smith or Jones. Roy moved from his desk to the pot belly stove and poured himself a cup of coffee from the coffee pot warming on the stove. He walked back to his desk and standing next to his chair, he raised the cup for a sip of the hot brew. Holding the cup midway to his mouth, the sheriff froze. He straightened his shoulders and slowly turned to the wanted posters hanging on the wall behind his desk. He set the coffee mug on his desk and ran outside to quickly put together a posse.
In retrospect, Heyes would not be able to identify why he spurred his horse into a gallop just outside of town. Kid followed suit. They rode hard for over an hour before slowing the horses to a more gentle pace.
"What was that about?" Kid asked, bringing his horse up beside Heyes.
"I don't know, Kid. I just have a bad feeling"
"Well let's get off the road then. Maybe swing around and go in the other direction."
"Heyes shook his head. "We'll get off the road, but I think that sheriff is smart. He'd figure it out quick if we swung around."
"Well let's not waste any time. Let's get to higher ground as fast as we can."
"I'm with you, Kid."
They pulled their horses off the road and spurred them back into a gallop, heading for the eastern mountains
Once in the higher elevations, they searched for a good lookout point. When they found one, they brought their horses to a stop, tethered them to a bush, and dropped to their stomachs and crawled to the rocky ledge, carefully scanning the land below. Kid spotted a cloud of dust about two hours ride in the distance. They got up, mounted their horses and moved as quickly as they safely could through a pass that descended to lower land on the other side of the mountain.
We have to give the horses a rest and some water," Heyes said, bringing his horse to a stop and dismounting. Kid pulled his mare up beside Heyes' horse and dismounted. He pulled his canteen off the saddle horn and removed his hat and filled it with water. He carried the hat first to one horse and then the other.
"How far behind us do you think they are?" Heyes asked.
"I counted eight men. It will take them longer to get through the pass than it did us so we maybe gained another hour."
"How far to Utah?"
"I don't know."
"Think Montana is closer?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay, then it's on to Utah. You ready?"
"Yep."
"They reached the next mountain range in late afternoon and began the ascent, reaching the rocky higher elevations before dusk.
"Think we should go on?" Heyes asked.
"We won't reach the valley before dark. It's probably too risky."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Find shelter. But Heyes.."
"What?"
"You're the one that's supposed to come up with the ideas."
Heyes smiled. "Next time, Kid."
The next morning Curry and Heyes woke before dawn to a steady cold drizzle. They knew the damp ground would provide the posse with easier tracks to follow so, at the first signs of light, Kid scoured the the path they had followed and, seeing no sign of the posse, the boys set out cautiously down the mountain..
What they did not know is that the posse had climbed over half the mountain in the dark last night on foot, leading their horses up through the pass and was now less than an hour behind them. And they did not know that the posse had started out that morning the same time the boys had.
Descending the mountain in the drizzling rain was a slow, cautious process. When they reached the bottom they kicked their horses into a gallop across the valley toward Utah.
"Sheriff! There they are!" Dave Forsythe shouted from a ledge half way down the mountain.
Eight riffles began firing.
"They're close, Kid," Heyes shouted as his whipped the horse's shoulder with his reins. Kid spurred his horse and passed Heyes.
Heyes saw Kid lurch forward, his shoulders slumped and as his body fell toward the horse's neck. He jerked again to his left and fell from the still galloping horse. The left side of his body and head slammed hard on the ground.
Heyes pulled his horse to a stop and jumped off. He ran back to where Kid lay unconscious. He glanced behind him and saw no one approaching. He bent down on his knees to examine Kid's wounds. Heyes first checked for a pulse. It was weak but regular. He rolled Kid to his back. Already the left side of Kid's shirt was blood soaked from a shoulder and back wound. A large lump was bleeding from Kid's left temple.
Heyes looked back again. The posse had reached the valley. It was a matter of minutes before they would reach the boys. Heyes simply did not have enough time to pick Kid up and lay him over the saddle, and even if he had been able to do so, they would not have been able to move quickly.
"I'm sorry, Kid," Heyes said as he reached for Kid's gun and then his own and tossed them both several feet away. He stayed kneeling beside Kid until the posse arrived. Then he stood up and raised his hands into the air.
With seven guns pointed at Him, Heyes stood motionless as the Sheriff dismounted to examine the fallen fugitive.
"He's hurt bad, Sheriff," Heyes said. "He needs a doctor. He'll never make it back to Virginia City like this."
Roy Coffee stood up and looked at Heyes. "You're right son, " he said as he approached Heyes. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back.
Heyes did as he was told and the sheriff place handcuffs on Heyes' wrists.
"Ted, you and Henry take this fellow back into St George to the jail and bring the doctor and a wagon and blankets back here with you."
"You said he's wanted dead or alive, sheriff. What does it matter if we bring him in dead."
"If we don't try to save him, then we just murdered him. The law might say otherwise, but my conscience don't. These boys did not try to fire back at us. Now do as I say."
"St George?" Heyes said
The sheriff looked at Heyes. "Yes, son. You're in Utah now."
Heyes' eyes closed and he sighed heavily. There would be an extradition, and with Kid hurt, no chance for escape.
The two escorts dismounted and helped Heyes get on his horse. Then they mounted and Henry took hold of Heyes' reins. Henry was in the lead, followed by Heyes, and then Ted who kept his Colt pointed at Heyes' head.
"The rest of you help me get the bleeding slowed down and blankets on this boy to keep him warm.
The remainder of the posse dismounted to assist the sheriff.
Heyes turned in his saddle and watched Kid until he was out of sight.
By mid afternoon Heyes and the two escorts arrived at the St. George jail. Tom led Heyes into the jail while Henry went to find the doctor.
"This here is Hannibal Heyes," Tom told the St George sheriff. His partner, Kid Curry is about two hours southwest of here. He's wounded bad, so I don't know what shape he'll be in when he arrives."
"You a bounty hunter"" Sheriff Colton asked Ted.
""No, part of a posse out of Virginia City. They others, including Sheriff Coffee are back with Curry, except for Henry Burton who rode in here with us and is getting the doctor now."
Sheriff Colton looked surprised. "But Curry's wanted dead or alive."
"Sheriff Coffee wants a doctor to look at him before we bring him in."
Colton shrugged. He walked over and frisked Heyes and had him empty his pockets on the desk, and then led him into a cell. "Go stand against the far wall, Heyes, with your face to the wall."
Heyes did as instructed. Colton motioned for Ted to go into the cell and unlock the handcuffs, while the sheriff held his gun directed at Heyes. Ted did as instructed and when he left the cell, Colton shut the door and locked it.
"You can turn around now, Heyes."
"Sheriff, could you send a telegram for me?"
"Depends. Who to?"
"Sheriff Lom Trevers in Porterville, Wyoming."
Colton passed a piece of paper and a pencil through the bars. Heyes thanked him and sat down on the cot to write the telegram.
Henry walked into the office. "Doc's outside with a wagon," he told Ted.
Sheriff Coffee set to work on Kid. When he tied a tourniquet above the left shoulder wound, the bleeding slowed considerably. "Frank, come over here and hold this dressing down tight on the the back wound," Coffee said as he turned Kid to onto his right side. Kid did not utter a sound.
Coffee examined the head injury. The hematoma was large and still bleeding. Coffee poured some water from his canteen onto a bandage and wiped blood from Curry's face and left eyelid. Kid's breathing was shallow but regular. Coffee tied a pressure bandage around Kid's forehead. Kid's face was white and his skin felt cold despite the blankets. The drizzling rain continued to fall and dripped across Kid's face.
"Couple of you men get a fire going. We have to keep him as warm as we can." Coffee instructed.
It was late afternoon when Ted, Henry, and the doctor arrived.. The doctor quickly climbed off the wagon, grabbed his medical bag, and hurried over to Kid.
"Has he been conscious at all?" Doctor Boyd asked.
Sheriff Coffee shook his head. "No even so much as a moan. Can he make it to St George?" Coffee asked after a few minutes.
The doctor leaned back on his knees. "He'd have a better chance if the bullets were out and he had a night's rest. But the back wound is too deep to do that here and he needs to be in out of this rain. No, we'll have to load him into the wagon and travel slowly. "I'll ride in the back of the wagon with him."
"Put a couple of blankets on the wagon bed," Coffee told his men. "Then we'll load him up and get him covered."
The ride to St George was slow and bumpy. Dr. Boyd had pulled a tarp over Kid's upper upper body to keep the rain off Kid. He checked the bandages frequently and applied new ones when needed. Two hours into the ride the rain stopped and Dr. Boyd pulled the tarp back so he could keep a closer eye on Kid. The head wound had bled through the bandages again and Dr. Boyd removed the blood stained bandage and cleaned the injury. Kid moaned and Dr. Boyd smiled, relieved that the depth of unconsciousness seemed to be ebbing.
It was well after midnight when the wagon pulled up to the doctor's office/house. Sheriff Colton had assigned two deputies to the doctor's office to guard Kid. It took four men to carry Kid into the house and lay him on a bed.
"Sheriff Colton got rooms for you at the hotel," one of the deputies told the Virginia City men. "He says you'll all be heading out in the morning."
"Thanks," they all said and headed for the hotel.
"You two are going to have to help me," Dr. Boyd told the St George deputies. "I have to get these bullets out tonight."
As the sun was slowly beginning to appear over the horizon, Dr. Boyd was just finishing applying bandages to Kid's surgical wounds. Kid was very pale and his skin remained cold to the touch. During the surgery, Dr. Boyd had seen five bullet wound scars on Kid's torso and two more on Kid's left thigh. He was familiar with the stories about the Devil's Hole gang and the fact that Kid Curry had never shot anyone during any of their many holdups. He wondered if this young man would survive long enough for two more scars to form.
Sheriff Coffee and Sheriff Colton walked into the doctor's office.
"Is he going to make it?" Sheriff Coffee asked.
The doctor sighed and slowly shook his head. "Only time will tell us that. He's strong, but he's been through a lot. He's lost a lot of blood. I just don't know at this point.
"How soon can we move him to the jail?" Sheriff Colton asked.
"I don't know at this point, but not yet. At least not until he regains consciousness. Once that happens, I can treat him there as well as I can here."
"His partner has been pacing like a caged animal all night. What can I tell him?" Colton asked.
"That he made it through surgery. Beyond that I don't know yet."
"How's Kid?" Heyes asked anxiously when the Sheriff returned to the jail.
"He got through surgery last night. That's all Doc would say so far."
Heyes sat down on the cot, feeling a little relief.
"Sheriff, can I see him? You can handcuff me, chain me, whatever you need to do to feel safe. I won't run?"
"I'm sorry son. I can't do that. I will tell you that as soon as Curry regains consciousness, he'll be brought over here. You'll see him then.
Dejected, Heyes nodded his understanding. "Did you send that telegram" he asked.
"I did. What's your connection to Trevers?"
"He's been a sort of … mentor to me and the Kid."
"So those amnesty rumors are true?"
Heyes sighed. "They're true. Lom's been the go-between with Kid and me and the governor."
"So what did you two do in Virginia City that get Sheriff Coffee on your trail?"
"Long story, but we didn't rob nothing and we didn't shoot or hurt anyone."
"So, you're really worried about The Kid, ain't you?"
Heyes nodded. "We're cousins. We've been together and on our own since we were boys."
"Families kick you out, did they"
"No Sheriff, nothing like that."
The Sheriff studied Heyes.. "You want coffee, son?"
Heyes nodded. "Thanks."
The sheriff poured them each a cup of coffee and handed Heyes his cup through the bars of the cell.
"I'll check on The Kid this afternoon. I'll keep you posted on him."
Heyes looked the sheriff in the eyes. "Thank you."
It started with an occasional moan that rapidly developed into restless delirium. Kid's head thrashed about on the pillow. Repeatedly Kid called out his partner's name, pleaded for help, wrestled with demons that sounded to Dr. Boyd like they involved death and murder.
Dr. Boyd sat at Kid's bedside, struggling to Keep Kid's head still enough to spoon feeding sips of water mixed with medicine to reduce Kid's high fever. Kid's thrashing became so severe the back wound began bleeding again. DR. Boyd assigned a deputy to hold Kid in place as he mixed pain killer with water and again struggled to get it into Kid's mouth. It took half an hour to get the medicine into Kid and another half an hour before Kid settled down again so the doctor could change the bandage. Dr. Boyd relieved the deputy and sat down in the chair beside Kid's bed. The doctor had only managed a couple of hours of broken sleep since this ordeal began. He scooted down in the chair and closed his eyes.
"Got a reply to your telegram," Sheriff Colton said when he returned to the jail mid afternoon.
"What's it say?" Heyes asked anxiously.
"Trevors will be here day after tomorrow to take you to Porterville.
"What about Kid."
"That will depend on how's he's doing by then. Right now he can't make it across the street, let alone across the state. Doc says he's been calling out for you."
"So he's conscious?"
Colton shook his head. "Delirious, son."
Heyes sat down heavily and sighed.
Kid moaned. Something about the sound of the moan had changed and Dr. Boyd opened his eyes and sat up straight in the chair. He looked at Kid. Kid's eyes were open but unfocused.
"Can you hear me, Mr. Curry" Dr. Boyd asked.
Kid's eyes moved slowly in the direction of Dr. Boyd's voice, but did not focus or find their way to the doctor. Kid moaned again. His right hand moved a few inches toward his torso but stopped, unable to garner enough strength to move any further. Kid winced and gasped. His breathing became more jagged, more shallow."
Dr. Boyd reached for the water and pain medicine and mixed the two together quickly. He spoon fed the mixture into Kid's mouth. Kid didn't resist and over a period of several minutes, drank the entire cup of the mixture. Within a few minutes his eyes closed and his breathing became more even and regular. Dr. Boyd felt Kid's forehead. It was still quite feverish. He put a fresh cool cloth against Kid's head. Kid didn't stir.
Around suppertime Dr. Boyd walked wearily into the Sheriff's office.
"Well?" Sheriff Colton asked.
Dr. Boyd shook his head. "Not yet. We'll see how he's doing tomorrow."
"This one's being extradited day after tomorrow. If the other one's well enough it would be nice to get them both on their way," Colton told the doctor.
"We'll see... I wondered if I might have a work with Mr. Heyes," Dr. Boyd asked.
Heyes got up from the cot and walked to the cell bars.
"What about?"
"Mostly his friend," Dr. Boyd said wearily.
"Gotta frisk you first."
Dr. Boyd nodded and raised his arms. The sheriff frisked him and then nodded. Dr. Boyd approached the cell.
"How's Kid doing?" Heyes asked anxiously.
"He's fighting. That's a good sign. He still has a fever and...
"And what?" Heyes asked with great concern.
"He seems to have a lot of demons."
Heyes lowered his head and looked at the floor.
"That's what I've come to ask you about... I don't know how to settle him when he becomes delirious."
"What's he rambling on about?" Heyes asked.
"Murders mostly."
Heyes glanced at the Sheriff and saw that he was listening intently.
"Kid's family was murdered during the border wars. Mine, too. Kid and me were the ones that found them."
"How terrible. How old was he."
Heyes shrugged. "Ten. We got shipped to an orphanage, but it turned out to be a child labor camp. We ran away. Been on our own ever since"
"That explains a lot about the both of you, doesn't it?" Dr. Boyd said gently
"Will that help you?" Heyes asked.
The doctor smiled compassionately. "I hope so," he said
"Doc... Sheriff says I can't see him...Let him know I'm close by, will you."
"I will Mr. Heyes. I promise."
I hope you can move him over here before I leave."
Dr. Boyd sighed. "That I can't promise. I'm sorry."
Heyes nodded his understanding.
"You done, Doc?" the sheriff asked
Dr. Boyd reached out and placed his hand on Heyes' hand. "Yes, Sheriff," he said over his shoulder. He pulled his hand away and walked slowly out of the office.
Kid had a restless, fitful night. The pain medication seemed to be working but his fever continued to rage and Kid would break into a sweat one minute and be shivering with chills the next. He tossed about to the point that Dr. Boyd was afraid some of the back stitches might break. He cried out for Heyes several times and each time Dr. Boyd spoke in a soft manner, assuring Kid that Heyes was nearby and well. When it was time, Dr. Boyd gave Kid more of the fever medicine and then soaked a sheet in cool well water, wrung it out, removed Kid's blankets, and covered Kid with the cool, wet sheet. This helped to settle him down significantly. Dr. Boyd managed to get about three hours of broken sleep during the night.
When Dr. Boyd awoke the next morning, he sat up and looked over at Kid. Dr. Boyd was pleasantly surprised to see that Kid's eyes were open and focused directly on him.
"How are you feeling this morning Mr. Curry?"
"How did I get here?" Kid whispered
"We brought you in a wagon. It was very touch and go for a while."
Dr. Boyd stood and reached over to feel Kid's forehead.
"The fever's down. Not completely gone, but down."
"Where's..." Kid wasn't sure what to call his partner
"Mr. Heyes? He's in the jail across the street. He's worried about you. He'll be glad to know you're awake ."
"Can I see him?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid.
"Was he hurt?"
"No, no he's fine... Mr. Curry, may I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Last night you did a lot of talking and tossing about..."
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologize. It's quite common with injuries such as yours... You spoke several times about an amnesty. What did you mean?"
"No one is supposed to know," Kid said quietly.
"Know what?"
"Heyes and me are working on an amnesty with the governor."
"The governor of Wyoming?"
Kid nodded. "Wyoming is the only place we're wanted."
"How long have you been working on it?"
"Almost three years. We haven't done any outlawing in almost three years."
"What are the terms of the amnesty?"
"We stay out of trouble and eventually the governor has promised to give us amnesty."
"And this arrest... negates all that?"
"Yea. We're still wanted until the governor decides to give us amnesty."
"How long will your sentence be?"
"Twenty years."
"I see. This applies to both you and Mr. Heyes?"
Kid nodded. "You can't tell anyone about it," he said and winced as a pain shot through the back wound.
"Are you alright?"
Kid nodded.
"I can give you something for the pain."
"I'd rather stay awake for now."
"Alright. Are you hungry?"
"Maybe a little."
"I'll fix you some eggs and coffee."
Dr. Boyd went to the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast. He could not get his mind off the amnesty, how long they had both been working to achieve the amnesty, and the length of the prison sentence they both now faced. He decided to have another chat with Mr. Heyes after Kid had eaten his breakfast.
"Sheriff, I wonder if I might have a word with Mr. Heyes again," Dr. Boyd said as he entered the Sheriff's office.
"You too seem to be having quite the budding friendship," Sheriff Colten replied.
Dr. Boyd frowned. "I just want to update him on his friend and gain a bit more history on my patient."
"Why don't you update me, first. Then you can talk to Heyes."
Heyes stood with fingers of both hands wrapped around two vertical bars of his cell, watching and listening to the conversation. Dr. Boyd looked first at Heyes, then walked over to the Sheriff's desk.
"Mr. Curry had a difficult night with a high fever."
"You're saying he's not ready to come to me yet?"
"That's right."
"I'll send two deputies over to your office to relieve the fellows that are there now."
Dr. Boyd nodded. "Now may I speak to Mr. Heyes."
"Be my guest. But you know the procedure."
Dr. Boyd raised his arms while the sheriff frisked him. Then he approached Heyes' cell.
"He had a bad night?" Heyes asked with great concern
"He did," Dr. Boyd said loud enough for the sheriff to hear. "He's doing better now," he whispered.
Heyes half smiled and nodded to the doctor.
"Mr. Heyes...he told me abut the amnesty."
Heyes glanced at the sheriff and could see him straining to listen to the conversation.
"That's very confidential," Heyes whispered. "Do you think you'll be able to get the fever down?" he asked in a voice the sheriff could hear.
"In time," Dr. Boyd replied. "Is there anyone you'd like me to contact?"
Heyes shook his head. "Lom Trevers, the sheriff of Porterville is coming tomorrow to take me back there with him. If Kid's well enough to travel, he'll go too. Lom is a descent man. I'm sure he will talk to the governor"
"Mr. Curry is not likely to be well enough to travel that far tomorrow."
"Well, Lom might be able to wait a day or two. I'll ask when he gets here."
"Does Sheriff Trevers know the governor?"
Heyes nodded. "He's our go-between with the governor," Heyes whispered.
Dr. Boyd glanced at Sheriff Colton who was now working on the extradition papers.
"The governor is actually a close friend of mine. Would you like me to put in a good word?" Dr. Boyd whispered.
Heyes smiled. "Very much so. Thank you."
"I'll stop back in this evening, " Dr. Boyd said to both the sheriff and to Heyes.
"You do that, Doc." Colton replied.
Dr. Boyd stopped at the telegraph office on his way back to his own office and sent a brief telegraph to the governor and asked that any reply be discrete.
Kid was asleep when Dr. Boyd returned. He decided to take advantage of that and assigned one of the deputies to watch Kid while he took a nap, he instructed the deputy to waken him if Kid awakened or had any distress.
Kid was still asleep three hours later when Dr. Boyd emerged from his bed.
"This was delivered for you," the deputy said, handing Dr. Boyd a telegram. He opened it and read the following.
Will give the matter serious consideration. Stop. Write me with details. Stop
DR. Boyd took a piece of stationary and ink and quill in with him to Kid's bedside and began writing a letter to the governor.
Lom Trevers arrived late in the afternoon the following day. His first stop was the doctor's office. Kid was awake, sitting up in bed, and eating some beef stew. He smiled when Dr. Boyd entered the room with Sheriff Trevers.
Kid smiled when he saw Lom. "Hello Lom," he said.
"I just can't seem to leave you or Heyes alone for a minute without one or both of you getting into some kind of trouble," Lom joked
"Kid smiled and tried to shrug but his shoulder protested and he winced instead.
"So how are you feeling, Kid?"
"Better."
"You able to travel tomorrow?"
Kid looked at Dr. Boyd.
"I'll make that decision in the morning," Dr. Boyd said. "But I think you are well enough to be moved to the jail this evening. I'll continue to see you there as often as need be."
Kid smiled brightly. "Never thought I'd be glad to go to jail...Oh, no offense, doctor. It's just that I'd like to see Heyes."
"And I know he is eager to see you."
"Lom, have you spoken to the governor?" Kid asked.
"He is aware of the situation, Kid. He knows you will both be returned to Porterville."
"Speaking of the governor, Sheriff Trevers," the doctor said as he pulled a sealed envelope from the pocket inside his vest. "I wonder if you might see that the governor gets this."
Lom took the envelope and slipped it into his saddlebags.
"What's that?" Kid asked.
"The governor is a friend of mine Mr. Curry. This is an argument in favor of granting that amnesty."
"Do you think it will help?" Kid asked Lom.
"Well it certainly can't hurt, Kid," Lom replied.
"I'm going to go over to the Sheriff's office now. Why don't you and Kid give me about an hour so we can get all the paperwork completed for the extradition."
"If Mr. Curry is not able to travel tomorrow, who would be taking him back at a later time?" Dr. Boyd asked.
"That would be up to the governor but most likely someone from here would have to do that. Why? Is there a problem with the sheriff or any of the deputies?"
"No. I was just curious"
Lom went to the sheriff's office and introduced himself to Sheriff Colton. Then he laid his gun on the table and walked over to Heyes' cell without bothering to ask permission. Sheriff Colton did not protest.
"Good to see you Lom. Have you seen Kid?"
Lom nodded. "He's doing better. I think he'll be spending the night here."
"In jail?" Heyes asked with a smile on his face.
"In jail." Lom replied.
Back at the doctor's office, Dr. Boyd gave Kid some pain medication and fever medication, checked the bandages, and helped kid get dressed, a more complicated task than initially expected. Kid was quite weak and wobbly on his feet and both a deputy and the doctor had to support him to the jail while the second deputy followed behind with his gun aimed at Kid.
"I don't see the point of the gun, deputy," Dr. Boyd said. "He would collapse to the ground if we let go of him."
"Just following orders, Doc."
They walked into the jail and Sheriff Colten instructed them to put Kid in the cell adjacent to Heyes. The eased him to the cot and helped him to lie down. Kid was exhausted from expenditure of energy crossing the street and immediately closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
"You alright, Kid?" Heyes asked.
"Yep. Just tired."
Heyes smiled. "Nice to have you back," Heyes said
Kidd nodded but had no energy to reply.
"I'll see him again in the morning and decide if he is able to travel," Dr. Boyd told Sheriff Colton before turning his attention to Sheriff Trevers.
"Do you plan to travel on horseback?" Dr. Boyd asked.
"No, we'll go back by train. There's one that leaves at two tomorrow afternoon," Lom replied.
Dr. Boyd nodded. "Alright, I'll see you all in the morning."
Trevers and Dr. Boyd left the sheriff's office and Dr. Boyd walked Lom to the hotel
"I'm very hesitant to allow Mr. Curry to travel all the way to Porterville so soon after being injured, but I am also concerned about his return to Wyoming at a later date."
"The Kid can handle a lot more than you may think," Lom replied.
"I have come to realize that over the past couple of days. They are both good men and from what they have told me, they have been working very hard to get their amnesty. I hate to see them lose it like this."
"They've known the risks from the beginning. The governor is well aware of their efforts. I seriously doubt they'll have to serve twenty years."
Mr. Trevers, would you mind if I accompanied you all to Porterville tomorrow? I'm afraid if I don't, I won't be to let Mr. Curry go... I think it is important the he and Mr. Heyes not be separated. I believe they are quite dependent upon each other right now."
"As long as you don't try to interfere with the extradition in any way."
"Oh, I wouldn't think of that. But I would like to speak with the governor directly."
Trevers stopped and turned to look at the doctor. "Why are you so interested in what happens to Curry and Heyes?"
"Because knowing how their lives have been, I think they are both good men... with just a little bad in them. A little bad that they have both managed to overcome. I admire that. I respect that."
"Doc, I think they would appreciate it if your would accompany us back to Porterville."
Kid rolled over in his sleep and let out a yelp that woke both him and Heyes. Heyes immediately pressed himself against the bars that separated the two cells.
"You alright, Kid?"
"Yea. Just a twinge."
"Sounded like more than a twinge."
"Well, it wasn't," Kid lied.
Heyes glanced over at the deputy who sat in a chair with his feet propped up on the desk. The noise had not awakened him.
"Heyes, you think the Doc will let me go with you tomorrow?"
"Not if you keep yelping like that."
"He's trying to help us, you know," Kid whispered.
"Yea. Between him and Lom, I think we have a couple of good people on our side."
"You think the governor will let us go?"
Heyes smiled at Kid's optimism.
"I don't know about that, Kid. He worries a lot about re-election. Letting us go may not be a good political move for him."
"Heyes..."
"Yea?"
"I'm sorry I got us into this."
"Kid, you didn't get us into this. If you hadn't intervened with that cowboy in the poker game, he might have shot me. You were just doing what you do best, watching my back."
"Should we try to make a break for it on the train tomorrow."
Heyes smiled. "In your condition, Kid, I don't think jumping off a moving train would be a wise idea... No, I think we go to Porterville and hope the governor is in a good mood."
"Doc's a friend of the governor, you know?"
"Kid, I think your doctor friend is a port in the storm for us... Now if you're sure you're okay, go back to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Good night, Heyes."
"Good night, Kid."
Around noon the next day, Lom and Dr. Boyd arrived at the Sheriff's office. The doctor went through the usual frisking and Sheriff Colton let him in to Kid's cell for a final examination.
"Sheriff," Dr. Boyd said when the deputy let him out of the cell. "I don't think Mr. Curry will be very comfortable, but I think he can travel to Porterville by train today. I'm going to go with them. I'll be back in a few days."
"That alright with you, Trevers?"
Lom nodded.
"Alright, let's get the prisoners ready, then."
Sheriff Colton pulled his gun from its holster and walked over to Kid's cell. He unlocked the cell and the doctor and Lom went in and helped Kid off the cot. He wobbled a bit when he stood up but with sheer determination, and help from the doctor, he stayed standing while Lom secured a handcuff to Kid's left wrist. Colton kept his gun pointed at Kid as the three men walked out of the cell and over to Heyes's cell. "
"Back against the wall, Heyes," Colton ordered and Heyes complied. The sheriff unlocked the cell door and the three men entered. Heyes held out his right arm and Lom locked the handcuff on his wrist.
"You three have a seat on the cot now," Lom instructed . When they were seated, Lom walked out of the cell and shut the door. Colton locked the cell.
The two sheriffs went over to Colton's desk. Lom looked at the clock and wrote the time on the paper and he and Colton then each signed the paper.
"They're in my custody now," Lom said. "Unlock the cell."
"You ain't holding your gun on them?" Colton asked.
Lom smiled. "In the Kid's condition, you really think they're going to make a break for it, or that I won't be able to stop them if they do?"
"Just saying..."
"Well like I said. They're in my custody now, so it's my decision."
Heyes slid his right hand to Kid's waistband to help support Kid. Lom snapped the other end of Heyes handcuffs onto Kid's left wrist. Kid suppressed a wince as his injured left arm was drawn behind him while Heyes held onto to Kid's pants. Heyes moved his grip so as not to pull Kid's arm so far back. It didn't help.
Doctor Boyd supported Kid's right side and the four men walked out of the sheriff's office and down the boardwalk to the train station. By the time they arrived, Kid was panting.. Doctor Boyd helped Kid and Heyes to sit down on a bench while Lom went inside to purchase the tickets.
Getting on the train was no easy task. Heyes climbed the first step backwards and slid his left arm under Kid's right. Lom stood directly behind Kid and took a firm grip on Kid's waistband. As Heyes gently pulled, Lom less gently lifted and pushed. They repeated the process for the next two steps. Heyes saw Kid's face was pale from the exertion.
"You're still in pretty bad shape, aren't you?"
Kid panted. "I'm fine, Heyes. Just get me inside," Kid growled.
Heyes led them to the first face to face seats that were near the door. He and Kid sat down on one side. Lom and Dr. Boyd sat down on the other so the four men were facing each other. Kid, still panting, rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes. Heyes looked at Dr. Boyd with great concern.
"It's going to be a long ride, Mr. Curry. Perhaps some pain medicine would serve you well?"
Kid shook his head. "No," Kid panted. "I want to know what's going on."
Ten minutes later the train pulled out of the station on it's six hour trip to Porterville. The rhythm of the train quickly lulled Kid to sleep.
Lom smiled as he looked at Kid. "I thought he wanted to keep track of what's going on,"
Heyes looked at Kid and saw the irony. He chuckled. "Well, sleep is better for him right now," Heyes said.
Heyes looked at Doctor Boyd and grew more serious. "Thank you for saving Kid's life," Heyes said. "I don't know what I'd do without him."
"Or he you," Doctor Boyd replied.
Heyes sighed, "Yea," he replied. "Kid and I were talking last night... You've been a port in a storm for him... for me, too, knowing he was safe and being well cared for."
"The two of you are very close, aren't you?"
"We're cousins," Heyes explained.
"More like brothers."
"Yea, I guess so."
"You look after him very well."
"It's a two way street," Heyes replied. "Kid watches my back very closely."
Lom nodded. "Kid's very good with a gun," Lom said.
"Has he ever killed anyone" Doctor Boyd asked.
Heyes smiled nervously. "Why do you ask that?"
"Curiosity. I've always heard that the two of you never killed anyone when you were robbing banks and trains and that you never took anything from the passengers, that you only robbed safes. Is that true?
Heyes nodded.
"Why?"
Heyes smiled. "Cause that's where the money was. It never made sense to steal people's hard earned money or possessions. But banks and train companies have more money than they know what to do with."
"We robbing a safe, Heyes?" Kid mumble, still half asleep. "Cause that won't go over well with the governor?"
Heyes laughed. "No, Kid. We're not robbing a safe. Go back to sleep."
"Okay, but wake me if you change your mind, so I can keep an eye out."
They three men smiled.
"See, always watching my back," Heyes chuckled.
"Lom, what's going to happen when we get to Porterville?" Heyes asked.
"You're going to jail. I'll probably put Kid and the doctor up in the hotel with a guard."
"Then what?"
"I'll contact the governor, try to arrange a meeting."
"Will you let him know that I am with you? Tell him that I'm asking that he come to Porterville rather than us going to Cheyenne,"
Lom nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope Dr. Boyd had given him. He handed it back to the doctor. "I guess I won't be needing this. You two are good friends aren't you?"
Doctor Boyd nodded. "We grew up together. I was best man at his wedding."
"Does he owe you any favors?" Heyes asked
"What do you mean?" Doctor Boyd asked.
Heyes shrugged. "I was hoping he owed you a couple of favors."
Doctor Boyd smiled. "Perhaps Mr. Heyes. We'll see."
When they arrived in Porterville, Lom and Heyes again worked carefully in unison to get Kid safely off the train. Two deputies met them at the station and escorted Heyes to the jail. Lom and Doctor Boyd got Kid to the hotel where another deputy was waiting. They got Kid settled into a room and Lom promised to return with supper for them. Then Lom went directly to the telegraph office and sent a lengthy telegram to the governor. Lom spent the next two hours checking on Heyes, buying food at the cafe and dropping supper off for Heyes, and finally returning to the telegraph office before delivering supper to Kid and the doctor.
"The governor will be here tomorrow afternoon," Lom said when he returned to the hotel room. "You really do have some clout with the governor, don't you?" Lom said to Doctor Boyd.
"Like I said, we've been friends a long time." Doctor Boyd replied.
"Kid's asleep again?"
"I'm going to wake him after you leave. He needs to eat as much as he needs to sleep," Doctor Boyd assured the sheriff.
"Alright. I'll see you both in the morning." Lom replied and left for the sheriff's office.
The next afternoon, Doctor Boyd met the governor at the train station and walked with the governor to the sheriff's office
"So tell me, Henry, why are you so anxious to see Heyes and Curry released?"
"Mr. Curry was seriously injured a few days ago."
"I'm aware of that. They were running from the Virginia City posse."
"That's right, but only because they had been recognized, not because of any crime committed."
"I'm aware of that as well."
"This amnesty is very important to them both. They have no intention of returning to a life of crime."
"So you are vouching for them. I see."
"More than that. I'm willing to be responsible for them."
"How so?"
"If they return to a life of crime... you can take my medical license."
"You are that sure?"
"I am."
"Well, let's see what Lom Trevers and the two outlaws have to say."
They reached the Sheriff's office. Lom was sitting at his desk. Heyes and Curry were sitting in chairs next to Lom. Two empty chairs had been placed in front of Lom's desk. When the governor entered the jail, Lom and Heyes stood up. Kid had a bit of difficulty standing and Heyes helped him up.
"Governor," Lom said, extending his hand and shaking the governor's hand.
The governor turned to Heyes and Curry. "You must be Hannibal Heyes," the governor said, extending his hand which Heyes shook.
"Yes sir, pleased to meet you."
"And you must be the notorious Kid Curry."
Kid smiled nervously at the use of the word notorious. "I'm Jedadiah Curry, yes sir," Kid replied.
"Please, sit down Mr. Curry. I understand you are injured."
Kid looked at Heyes who motioned for him to sit down. "Thank you, governor," Kid said nervously and eased himself into the chair.
Then the governor took a seat and everyone followed suit.
"So, why was there a posse after you two?"
"Kid, I mean Jed was recognized by Sheriff Coffee. We thought it best to leave town. They came after us," Heyes explained.
"You hadn't done anything to raise suspicion?" the governor asked.
Heyes and Kid exchanged glances.
"Well, governor, I drew on a man accusing Han of cheating at cards. But I didn't shoot him. I just outdrew him."
"I've heard about your fast draw Mr. Curry. Very impressive I might add. We're you cheating Mr. Heyes?"
"Oh no sir. I don't need to cheat at cards."
"No, he's very good at poker," Kid added.
"Dr. Boyd tells me you two are quite dedicated to achieving an amnesty.
Both Heyes and Curry nodded vigorously. "Very," they said in unison.
"Sheriff Trevers, You know these two better than Henry or me. Do you think they are sincere about this amnesty?"
"Oh, very much so, governor."
The governor turned back to Curry and Heyes. "As you both know, the timing of this amnesty must be considered carefully. I have no intention of giving up a political career for a couple of known outlaws... And the timing is just not right at this point. I'm sorry, but I can't grant an amnesty now."
Both Heyes and Curry were visibly dejected
"So your sending us to prison for twenty years?" Kid asked quietly.
"I didn't say that, son."
Heyes looked up at the governor. "Then what are you saying, governor?"
"Dr. Boyd seems to have great confidence in you both. He's willing to risk his medical license for you."
Heyes and Curry gave Doctor Boyd an astonished look."
"Lom, I think you and I should go have a beer in the saloon. I'm sure Doctor Boyd and these two boys could find something to do while we're gone." I believe there's a train going west within the hour. I'd hate for anyone to miss it," the governor said.
Heyes shot out of his chair, a huge smile across his face. "Thank you, governor. You won't regret this," Heyes said. Kid got up more slowly but offered a similar thank you. Lom and the governor got up and walked out of the office.
Heyes turned to Doctor Boyd. "You offered your medical license for us? Why?"
Doctor Boyd smiled. "Because I have faith in the two of you. I'm confident that you'll watch out for each other, keep each other on the straight and narrow."
"How can we repay you?" Kid asked
Doctor Boyd smiled. "By getting than amnesty. I want to hear from you both when you do that."
"I guess Heyes was right," Kid said. "You really are a port in the storm for us."
Doctor Boyd smiled. "Let's go. We have a train to catch.