SIX STRANGERS AT APACHE SPRINGS

(I had trouble finding a missing scene in this episode and put another feeler out on AS&J Facebook for ideas. People have been wonderful about offering suggestions. But then I realized the Chiricahua agreed to release Heyes and Curry, but kept their horses and gold. Now, it just stands to reason that they didn't walk back to Apache Springs in silence, so this is that missing conversation).

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As soon as the tethers were removed from their wrists, both men quickly moved their hands around in front of them and messaged the circulation back into their hands and arms. They had been escorted a good four miles away from the Indian camp. Their guns have miraculously been returned to them, but all bullets had been removed from their guns and gun belts, so they simply turned and watched the two Indians astride their newly obtained horses, retreat back toward their camp.

"Gonna be a long day, Kid," Heyes lamented as they continued on foot back toward town.

"And these boots weren't made for walking," Kid grumbled and sat down in the grass to remove his boots and walk through the field of wild grass in his stocking feet. He'd put them back on when the terrain became wooded or rocky.

"Heyes, them Indians were pretty cordial letting us go and all."

"Yes, they were."

"And I suspect that won't be the case again if we come back looking for more of Caroline's gold."

"I suspect you're right."

"And Grandma Curry always said you don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Grandma Curry was a wise old broad."

"So, we ain't gonna come back, are we?"

Heyes looked at Kid and shook his head.

"Might have been nice if them Indians had given us our canteens."

"I think there's a stream not too far ahead."

"Ouch!" Kid said, hopping on one foot.

"What did you step on?"

Kid stopped and sat down on the ground a second time. Removing his sock, Kid carefully examined the bottom of his foot and found a small thorn protruding from his heel. Pulling out the thorn, he slipped the sock back on his foot and put his boots back on. He stood up and took a couple of cautious steps.

"How long you think it'll take to get back to town?"

Heyes sighed. "At the rate you're moving, most of the day, I suspect."

"No need to get proddy, Heyes. I ain't enjoying this any more than you are."

They walked on for several miles in relative silence, stopping next when they reached the spring to quench their thirst.

"Well, we're better than half way back to town now," Heyes said as they started out once again.

"I think Mr. Fielding must be kind of good at his job, Heyes. He's got them Indians negotiating with him, and gained enough clout to convince the Indians to let us go,"

Heyes nodded. "Too bad Mrs. Fielding can't appreciate how skilled he is?"

"She can't?"

"They seem like a rather mismatched pair. I don't think she understands him at all."

"Wonder what drew them together, then."

Heyes shook his head. "I don't know. But if they don't find some common ground, they're in for a troubled marriage."

"Shame they couldn't figure that out before they tied the knot."

"Uh-uh."

"I think Sister Grace is sort of in that same boat."

"What do you mean? She ain't married.

"No, she ain't and I think she's about as pure and innocent as they come. But she don't seem to realize that she's just not suited for what's she's doing."

"I noticed you've been talking to her quite a bit, did you explain that to her?"

"Tried. Don't know as it really sunk in."

"Well there's a lot of different things she can do as a Missionary."

"She's hell bent on preaching the Gospel, Heyes."

"I'm not sure hell bent and Gospel should ever be in the same sentence, Kid."

"Well, you know what I mean."

"You kind of like her, don't you?"

"She's pretty in a kind of unusual sort of way. She's as kind as the day is long. But I don't think she really knows the first thing about... life... And I think she's a bit timid to discover the pleasures of life."

"Well, some people are slow bloomers. Her time will come, some day."

Kid suddenly smiled when a new thought popped into his head. "Heyes, all this time we've been talking..."

"Yeah?"

"Don't we sound like a couple of old hens, cackling over all the gossip in town?"

Heyes smiled. "We do, Kid."

"As soon as we get to town, we've got to buy a box of bullets."

"Talking men stuff now, are we?"

"Well, I don't particularly like being an old hen."

"Rather be an old rooster, would you?"

"Wouldn't you?"

Heyes laughed. "Look, Kid, there's the roof of the livery up ahead."

"Good, cause my feet hurt and I'm hungry."

"Well, at least you're back to manly normal, Kid."