THE BOUNTY HUNTER

( This, in my opinion, is the most poignant episode of the series. Who would have ever thought that die hard fans of these two outlaws could actually feel empathy, and actually root for a bounty hunter? But Lou Gossett, Pete Duel, and Ben Murphy all give superb performances in a well written story of injustice, prejudice, and honor. This story makes us take pause and face the ugly side of humanity)

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"Heyes, do you think Joe meant it, that he would really have turned us in?" Kid asked, standing over the stone laden grave where he and Heyes had buried Joe Sims.

"Sho' would," Heyes replied with a rueful smile.

"Well, I guess we'd better get going if we're going to talk to the sheriff, Heyes. Big Butte is still a half day's ride from here."

Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry, or rather Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones, walked into the Sheriff's Office in Big Butte just as the sun was beginning to set. They had rehearsed their story throughout the afternoon so as to be able to provide as much truth about Joe Sims' murder, and as little information about themselves as possible, but both men were nervous. It would be hard to keep Curry and Heyes out of this story.

"Sheriff, we're here to report a murder," Heyes said, shutting the door behind him.

"You see it happen?"

"Closest thing to that. We heard the shots, saw the man fall from his horse, saw the gun still smoldering in the other fella's hand."

"Have a seat, gentlemen."

Sheriff Osterman was a large, rotund man in the late years of middle age. His hair, what was left of it, was salt and pepper gray, and he wore spectacles. He sat down heavily in his chair behind his desk and reached into a side drawer for the needed paperwork.

"Let's start with you two telling me your names," the Sheriff said.

"I'm Joshua Smith."

"And I'm Thaddeus Jones."

"Where you boys from?"

"Oh, no where in particular, Sheriff. If you need to reach us ever, you can do so through Sheriff Lom Trevers in Porterville."

"Trevers, uh? I've met him a couple of times. So, tell me what happened."

Heyes looked nervously at his partner. "Well, we had been traveling with a man by the name of Joe Sims..."

"Joe Sims... I've heard that name. What's he do for a living?"

"I believe he's a... he was a bounty hunter, Sheriff," Kid replied.

"Was? So was he the fella that was murdered?"

"Yes, Sir," Heyes said.

"So what was you two doing traveling with a bounty hunter?"

"We a...We just met up on the trail, Sheriff," Kid explained.

"He must not have been after anybody if he was willing to take up with a coupe of strangers."

"No, no he weren't chasing nobody," Heyes said.

"Not when we was with him," Kid added.

"So, you're traveling with this Joe Sims. Then what happened?"

"Well, about a half a day's ride south of here, we met some men on the trail. A man by the name of Max, he didn't give a last name, but he seemed to be the owner of a nearby ranch. He came riding up with several of his ranch hands. He stopped the three of us and asked Joe what he was doing this far north..."

"So, he knew this Joe fella?"

"No, no, I don't think so," Heyes replied.

"So what was it about Joe Sims that got this Max fella's dander up?"

"Well... Well... That's a puzzle to us, Sheriff. Must have just been something about Joe he didn't like."

"You might say he even.…. hated Joe," Kid said.

"Didn't know Joe, but he hated him?"

"That sounds about right, Sheriff." Heyes replied.

"You boys aren't making things real clear, here, but go on with your story. Maybe things will fall into place as you tell it."

"Well, this Max, he tells a couple of his hands to move Thaddeus and me on down the road. The he tells Joe to start moving in the other direction."

"South," Kid added.

"Uh-uh. Go on."

"Well, we start heading north on the trail and we heard a shot. We both turned around and saw Joe grappling to stay on his horse. This Max fella fires again and this time Joe falls off his horse."

"And then what?"

Then Max and his ranch hands start off down the road the way they was headed. Thaddeus and me rode over to Joe. He was still alive, but just barely. Just spoke a couple of words to us just before he died."

"What were them words he spoke to you?"

"Sho' would."

"Sho' would?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now why would he say a thing like that?"

"I surely don't know," Heyes replied. "You gotta remember, we didn't really know Joe Sims... We just met him on the trail."

"This Max, he a big fella?"

"Yeah,"

"Dresses good?"

"Yeah, I'd say he was dressed good."

"Quick tempered?"

"Certainly seemed to be," Kid said.

"I think I know who you're talking about. He owns a big ranch about fifty miles from here. You fellas willing to stick around a few days while I ride down there to talk to him?"

"Sure, Sheriff," Heyes said.

"Absolutely," Kid added.

'When I get back, I may have to ask you fellas some more questions."

"Sure, anything you say, Sheriff."

"Alright, you can go for now, unless of course you got anything to add to your statement?"

No, I think that about sums it up."

"Alright, I'll ride down there tomorrow and be back the day after. You'll be staying at the hotel?"

"Yeah," Heyes said quickly and got up from his chair. Kid quickly followed.

"Remember, don't be leaving town,"

"Oh no, we won't, Sheriff. Good night."

Heyes and Kid left the Sheriff's office quickly and crossed the street to the saloon.

"How soon are we leaving town, Heyes?" Kid asked.

"Right after the Sheriff leaves in the morning, Kid. He's heading south, so we'll be heading north."

"You think anything will come of this, Heyes?"

"I don't know. I hope so. Joe deserves justice."

"Yeah, but we know all about how the law and justice works, Heyes."

"Well, maybe for Joe it'll be different."