Family Reunion
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"Kid, how old are you now?" Heyes asked one evening as the two men sat on the porch of their small cabin in the mountains not far from Denver, Colorado.
Kid took a sip of his whiskey and watched the setting sun splash brilliant hues of pink and gold across the evening sky. "Well, you're forty-seven Heyes, so I guess that makes me forty-four."
Heyes took a puff of his cigar, then held the cigar in front of him as though studying it's structure. So we've had our amnesty for eight years now."
"Yep."
"Got a nice little ranch here..."
"Uh-uh."
"Finally comfortable financially."
"That too."
"Haven't had a vacation in what, five years?"
"You feeling a bit of wanderlust, Heyes?"
Heyes brought his whiskey glass close to his lips, but paused to speak before drinking. "Don't know as I'd call it that. I think it's more like tying up loose ends."
Kid's head turned slightly to look at his partner. "What kinda loose ends?"
"Family loose ends."
"Family? Heyes, we've had this conversation before and I told you, I got no such inclination to go perusing something that ain't nothing more than a pipe dream."
"It is more than a pipe dream, Kid. We know for a fact that the Chisholms are relatives. You and I ain't had blood relatives for almost forty years. We've got our amnesty. We're free to come and go. We're well enough off that they won't think we're just trying to grab some of their family fortune."
"Heyes, it's been ten years since we met Will Chisholm. He might not even be alive no more. Cooper Hawkins weren't no spring chicken when we met him. He likely is dead, or at least feeble minded by now. I still think we should just let sleeping dogs lie."
"I suppose," Heyes replied, then gulped the last of his drink and reached for the whiskey bottle next to his chair.
Heyes filled both their glasses and the two men fell silent for several minutes as nightfall began to close in.
"Heyes, I told you a long time ago that I don't need no more family than you."
"I know."
"Are you telling me that you do?"
"No, but one day one of us is gonna be left alone and, well it might be a comfort to the one that's left behind. You know, knowing that he's not all alone. Besides, one of us is going to be the last one to go. Might be nice to have family to leave our estate to."
Kid laughed at the use of the word estate. "Is that what you call this money draining property? I doubt we'll even be outta debt by the time the last of us leaves this earth."
Heyes realized he was getting nowhere with this conversation and decided to bring it to a halt. "It's getting dark, Kid. Maybe we ought to go inside," he said, picking up his glass and the nearly spent bottle of whiskey and heading toward the door.
"I'll be in in a minute," Kid told him. "After I finish my cigar."
Hearing the screen door shut, Kid leaned back in his chair, took a puff of the last of his cigar, and thought about Heyes' suggestion. Kid had long ago come to understand why the pursuance of family was not something he sought. Losing his own family so violently and at such a young age had emotionally closed that chapter in his life and he had always assumed the same was true for Heyes.
But Heyes was three years Kid's senior and while he too had been traumatized by the Border Wars massacre, perhaps the additional three years had better prepared him to rationalize, sort, and come to some deeper understanding. This may have fared well for him over the years but now, as they themselves were growing older, perhaps the need for some sort of connection had been simmering under the surface for years. While Kid had years ago closed the chapter for good, perhaps Heyes actually needed to open the book.
"So what do you have in mind about this family reunion?" Kid asked as he joined Heyes inside the cabin.
Heyes was crouched down, stoking the fire with his back to his partner, so Kid didn't see the smiled that crossed his face.
"I think we should make a trip to California," Heyes replied.
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Four days later, after making arrangements for the care of their horses, and dipping into their savings accounts to cover expenditures, Heyes and Curry bordered the train in Denver for the trip to Redding, California, a distance of eleven hundred miles, or roughly a day and a half journey by train.
"You know Heyes, it don't matter how a person travels, be it train, horse, or stage; they all leave your butt sore and weary,"
"Why don't we spend the night in Redding. That would give us the chance to clean up and get a good night's sleep before heading out to Will's place.
"Could spend a week in Redding, if you like," Kid replied.
"Kid, why are you so opposed to doing this?"
"I ain't opposed. Just ain't in favor of it neither."
"Why?"
Kid looked at Heyes with some surprise. "In case you've forgotten, Heyes, we lost our families forty years ago."
"Oh, I get it," Heyes replied. "You're afraid of losing family all over again."
"What? That's not it at all."
"The what is it?"
"I just don't see no point is stirring an empty pot. These folks have their lives and we got ours, and all we're gonna do is rile up a bunch of folks that I think might rile up pretty easy. Might be different is Mrs. Chisholm was still living cause she knows the facts, but none of the rest of em do. And here we come parading in, claiming to be long lost relatives, telling em the names we gave em ten years ago ain't really our names, that we use to be outlaws, and we got no proof on our side that what we're telling em is the truth. I just don't see nothing but trouble brewing."
Heyes had to admit that all of Kid's arguments were valid and he was likely right about how things would end up. Even if the Chisholms accepted their story, why would they be the least bit receptive to welcoming former outlaws into the family circle? But they had come this far, traveled over a thousand miles and, while the odds did not look good, there was an outside chance that this could have a happy ending. Still, his loyalties lay with Kid and he had Kid's opinion to consider.
"If you're adamant about it Kid, we can go visit Soapy instead, so the trip won't be a total waste."
Kid was silent for several minutes, knowing he too had a partner to consider. "I don't understand why you're putting so much stock in a pipe dream, Heyes. But I'll go along with you on the condition that, if there's trouble, we leave. We don't try to force some miraculous reunion between the Currys and the Chisholms."
"Deal," Heyes said with a smile.
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Late the next morning Heyes and Kid pulled their horses to at stop at the end of the lane leading to Will Chisholm's home. It was not at all as they had remembered. In fact, it was a new home altogether, a two story brick house with a large wraparound porch. The original cabin was some two hundred yards behind the new home. A white fence framed both the lane and the large yard where four children were playing a game of tag. The barn was also new, the old one having been razed. A large fenced area west of the barn served as a horse pasture. A new well had been built near the front of the house, while the old well now brought water directly into the house.
"He's certainly come a long way in ten years," Heyes said admiringly.
"Uh-uh," was Kid's only reply.
"You ready?"
Without giving Heyes a look, Kid nodded slowly and waited for Heyes to take the lead.
"Ma, someone's coming!" one of the children shouted as Kid and Heyes approached the gate and Heyes dismounted to open the latch. Once both horses and men were inside the yard, Heyes latched the gate and climbed back on his horse.
By this time Keewidinok was standing on the porch, smiling a greeting at the two men.
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones. Welcome," she said.
Both men dismounted and greeted her with smiles as well. "You remembered our names after all this time?" Heyes asked.
"Always remember persons who are friends. Please, come in," she said and motioned them to follow.
The house was as large inside as it appeared from the outside. The lower level was essentially one large room with an ample size kitchen and pantry at one end, and a massive river rock fireplace at the other. There were two large oak tables, one for eating, and one for working or reading. Two areas were sectioned off with hand made wool rugs of Indian design. A table sat in the middle of each of the rugs and several leather chairs helped decorate the spaces. Three large, candle burning chandeliers hung from the ceiling to effectively light the room.
"Come, sit," Keewidinok told them and motioned to the eating table. "I get coffee," she added and disappeared into the kitchen.
"I suppose Will's working today?" Heyes asked when Keewidinok returned with the coffee.
"Yes, in orchard."
Those all your children out there playing?" Kid asked
"Yes. Hadley, William, and twins Cooper and Annabelle."
Kid smiled again. "They look like a fine bunch of kids, Ma'am."
"When do you expect Will to be back?" Heyes asked.
"He'll be here for supper. Did you come for jobs?"
"Oh, no Ma'am. We were in the area and just thought we'd stop in a pay a visit."
"I'll be making lunch for children. If you're hungry..."
"Thank you no, Ma'am. We don't want to be an imposition," Kid said.
"Then stay for supper. You and Will can talk."
"That's kind of you, Ma'am. We appreciate that," Kid told her.
But Heyes could easily see that Kid was not at ease inside the Chisholm home, so after coffee he suggested that he and Kid wait outside. They watched the children playing in the yard and noticed the wary glances that Hadley and William shot in their direction.
When Keewidinok called the children in for lunch, Heyes and Kid took the opportunity to stroll around the property, admiring the horse stock grazing in the pasture, and taking the liberty to look through the barn. They even walked around the old cabin which now stood vacant.
They returned to the porch just as the children were heading back outside to play. The three boys all raced down the steps to resume their game of tag, but Annabelle, just six years old, walked out on the porch, her hand made Indian doll clutched in her arms as she sat down on the porch steps.
"That's a beautiful doll you've got there," Kid told the bronze tanned child. "Did you ma make that for you?"
The little girl turned to look at Kid but remained silent.
"She must be a very special doll," Kid told her. "You're taking such good care of her. Has she got a name?"
The little girl nodded.
"What's her name, darlin?' Kid asked.
"Witanok," the child replied.
"That's a very pretty name."
With that, the child got up and walked over to Kid to show him the doll. She held the doll out to him and Kid took it in his hands, admiring the detail and care Keewidinok had taken in making the doll. Kid gently handed the doll back to the child. "You must be very proud of her."
The little girl clutched the doll and nodded.
"She must love you very much," Kid said.
"Story."
"She likes stories, does she?' Kid asked.
Annabelle nodded.
"My partner here is a fine story teller," Kid replied. "Why don't you climb up into this empty chair, and I'll bet Mr. Heyes will tell you and Witanok a fine story."
Annabelle climbed into the empty chair between Kid and Heyes and Heyes proceeded to tell her the story of Hansel and Gretel.
By late afternoon, the boys had also warmed up to the strangers and when Will rode up to the house, Heyes and Curry were deep into a game of hide and seek with the children.
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From a distance, and with the concern of a father, Will Chisholm strained to see who the two men were that he saw playing in the yard with his children, and his gave his horse a hard kick to increase the pace of the horse's gait. But as he neared the house and was able to discern the identity, Will smiled, and the smile increased when the children raced to the gate to greet their father.
Hadley opened the latch and pulled back the gait to give his father entry. Once Will was inside, Hadley quickly latched the gait and raced up to the hitching post.
Heyes and Kid kept their distance as Will dismounted and was affronted with hugs and greetings from the children, but when he looked up, Heyes and Kid approached with smiles and greetings of their own.
"You here on business or pleasure?" Will asked after hands shakes and greetings were completed.
"Oh, maybe a little of both," Heyes replied.
"This time of year I don't have no jobs to be offering," Will explained as the three men approached the house. "Hadley, you and William take my horse to the barn and tend to him," Will added.
"You've acquired quite a brood," Heyes said with a laugh."
"We've been fortunate," Will replied, climbing the stairs to greet Keewidinok who was waiting on the porch.
Heyes and Kid stopped at the bottom of the stairs as Will wrapped his arms about his wife and gave her a quick but warm kiss of a greeting. "Kids been behaving?" he asked her.
Keewidinok nodded as she and Will walked arm in arm into the house.
"Well, don't just stand there, come on in," Will called back to the two men.
Once inside, Will gestured to one of the sitting areas. "Have a seat and I'll be with you in a minute," Will told them, then headed to the kitchen to wash his hands and pour them each a whiskey.
Keewidinok stayed in the kitchen to finish her preparations for supper and Will carried the three drinks to the area where Heyes and Kid were sitting. "By the time supper's done, it'll be dark. I can't put you up in the house, but you're welcome to use the cabin for the night," he told them as he handed out the drinks, then sat down in one of the chairs.
"Appreciate that," Heyes told him.
Will turned his attention to Kid. "When Keewidinok and me went home for Ma's funeral, Hawkins told me what you and he had done. I thank you Thaddeus. Digging the grave took a burden off Gideon and Bo. I appreciate that."
"Your Ma was a fine lady," Kid replied.
"I think is was about a month after you left that she died. That second trip was hard on Keewidinok and we ended up staying there for three weeks. Hadley ended up being born there."
"He looks to be a fine boy," Kid replied.
"So what is it that brings you here?"
"It's kind of a long story," Heyes told him. "Maybe best to wait till after supper, if you have the time then."
Will nodded. "Takes us a bit of time getting the kids all settled in for the night, but I'll come to the cabin after that."
"Will," Keewidinok called from the kitchen. "Tell children to wash up for supper."
Will got up and went to the door and shouted instructions out to the children, then returned to the chair he'd been occupying.
"Bonnie Sue and Lester have got a big brood now, too. They occupy the main house now. Mercy's married and lives in town. Married Fred Tucker who owns the General Store. They've got a two year old and a new born. I ain't seen the baby as yet, but we're planning a trip home soon. Bo and Gideon are still bachelors and they built a small cabin on that property so they're not always under foot at the main house."
"And Cooper Hawkins?" Kid asked.
Will smiled. "As cantankerous as ever, he is. Still lives in that shanty of a cabin he built when we all first arrived. He's gotta be pushing seventy-five or eighty by now. He's slowed down a bit, but gruff as ever. Now tell me about the two of you."
"Kid and me own a small horse ranch in Colorado. Not far from Denver," Heyes told him.
"Kid?"
"Me," Kid explained.
"Yeah, I've always called him Kid. We grew up together, cousins in fact."
"How big a spread you got?"
"Oh, not as big a some, but we've got room enough for a herd of about a hundred horses. Western saddle horses mostly," Kid told him.
"Will, supper's ready. Call the children in."
Will stood and Heyes and Kid followed suit. On their way across the room Will stopped at the door and found the children all waiting patiently on the porch. "Come on, time for supper," Will told them and the children darted into the house and quickly slid into chairs at the table.
"Anabell, you and Cooper scoot down to those empty chairs so Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones can sit up here near the head."
The twins quickly moved down to the empty seats near Keewidinok. Once everyone was seated, Will bowed his head and all the children quickly did the same.
"Lord, we thank you for this plentiful food, for the family and friends seated at this table, and the mercy and grace you bestow upon us all. Amen."
"Start handing your plates down this way and I'll get em all filled," Will told everyone. "Remember, ladies first."
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It was nearly two hours after dinner was completed that Will knocked on the cabin door with a pot of hot coffee and three tin cups in his hand.
"Those kids are so full of energy, it takes a while to get them all settled for the night," he explained as he placed the coffee pot and cups on the table and they all sat down. "Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Will noticed the apprehensive glances Heyes and Kid shared as he poured everyone some coffee. "Can't be all that serious, is it?" he asked.
"It's kind of a long story, Will," Kid said, but made no attempt to begin any sort of explanation.
"I guess we'd best start by explaining a few things about Thaddeus and me," Heyes said. "To begin with... our names ain't really Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones."
Will took a sip of coffee and took the information in stride. "So what are your names?" he asked.
"My real name is Hannibal Heyes and …."
"Mine's Jedediah Curry."
They both saw the slightest hesitation in Will's arm as he held the coffee cup half way to his mouth. "Curry, uh?" he asked, keeping his voice even as he spoke.
Kid nodded slowly. "Suppose you likely heard of us."
Will had not ever heard of them, and was a bit concerned as to why they would think he had.
"Can't say that I have. There a reason I should have?"
"We a... We use to be... outlaws," Heyes replied. "But we ain't no more. In fact the Governor of Wyoming granted us both amnesty a few years back.
"What kind of outlaws?" Will asked, still maintaining the appearance of a nonjudgmental attitude, but suddenly harboring some concerns about the welfare of his wife and children.
"We use to rob banks and trains," Kid explained. "But we never robbed from common folk and we never hurt no one," Kid said, hoping this would appease the concerns that he knew must be present despite Will's well maintained poker face.
"And just why were the two of you compelled to make a trip way out here to tell me that?" Will asked.
Again Will saw the trepidation in their glances at each other. Kid knew that Heyes was prepared to explain the reason but, having been the one to have had the conversation with Minerva all those years ago, Kid felt it was his obligation to open the can of worms.
"Ten years ago, when I went with you and Keewidinok to your homestead, your ma and me had a conversation," Kid began.
"I recall you telling me that was just to thank you for coming with us," Will interrupted.
"Because your ma made a promise to me not to speak of what she told me... We was still outlaws then, Will."
"And what was it she told you?" Will asked, no longer able to hide the sudden defensiveness he was feeling.
"She told me that... Heyes and me was related to the Chisholms. She said the proof's in that family Bible."
Will set his coffee cup down on the table and leaned forward in his chair, resting his forearms on the top of the table.
"I'm listening," he said, the muscles in his cheeks moving visibly.
"Your grandpa...Minerva's father was John Curry, and he had a brother, Thomas Curry, and Thomas Curry is my grandfather, Heyes, too," Kid explained.
Will was well familiar with both names. "Curry's a common name, so is John and Thomas," Will replied.
"Thomas Curry died in Pennsylvania back in fifty-nine. My Ma and Pa went to the funeral and took me with them. Minerva was there. She remembered me," Kid added.
"If all this is true, and I'm not saying it is, why are you two bringing it up now?"
"We couldn't bring it up ten years ago, Will. We was still wanted," Heyes explained. "We was working on that amnesty then. We'd giving up outlawing. But we couldn't risk telling a dozen or more people, a dozen or more strangers, who we really are," Heyes said.
It was obvious that Will was taken aback with all this information and Kid and Heyes grew silent for a few minutes, giving Will time to absorb it all.
"There's more," Kid finally said, breaking the silence. "You Ma told Cooper Hawkins the whole story. She wanted your family to know the whole story when me and Heyes were ready to tell it, so she told Hawkins as a back up to the Bible."
Will rubbed his hand roughly over his mouth and chin. "What's your motive for telling me now?" he asked. "Money? It's easy to see the Chisholms have done well in California."
"No Will," Kid said adamantly. "We don't want nothing from you, except..."
"Except what?" Will demanded, a bit of anger now in his voice.
"Will, me and Kid lost our families in the Border Wars back in the sixties. Our homes were burned to the ground. Nothing was left, including our family Bibles that would have John and Thomas Curry documented in them. We have no proof to offer you. We're all either one of us has in terms of family. That's all were here to consider, the possibility of finding and being a part of a family."
Will stood but stayed standing at the table. "I'll hafta give all this some thought," he told them. "We'll talk again at breakfast."
Will left the coffee pot and cups on the table and walked to the door. "Don't go sneaking off in the night. You've known all this for ten years but you just brought all this to me tonight. It's only right you...we, see this through."
"We'll be here in the morning, Will," Heyes promised.
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Will walked into the bedroom without so much as glancing at Keewidinok who was lying in the bed, her concerned eyes fixed on her husband. She made not a sound as she watched him yank off his boots and undress to his long johns and Henly. She remained silent as he pulled back the bedding and in one swift move, sat down, pulled his legs into the bed, lay down on the mattress, and pulled the covers up. He then reached over and turned down the oil lamp.
"Will?" she asked softly.
"They're claiming to be kin," he nearly snarled.
"Kin?"
"Relatives, family," he explained, his voice beginning to soften in response to his wife's gentle demeanor.
"How can that be, relatives?"
"It's a long story, Keewidinok, but they say Ma knew all about it, and Hawkins, too. They say they ain't looking for nothing more than some family ties."
"Like Keewidinok."
Will shifted in the bed so he was now looking at her. "What do you mean, like you?"
"When you found me. Everyone dead. You helped me look for family. Cousin."
A smile spread over Will's face as he recalled his first and only meeting with Keewidinok's cousin. "I thought he was your boyfriend. Made me jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Envious. You remember how angry I was finding him in your tepee. That was because I was jealous of him, thinking he was your boyfriend."
"You made me...family."
Will sighed heavily. "You're telling me not to be so bullheaded, ain't you? I don't know if I can stop that, Keewidinok. I mean ten years ago, they lied to us, or at least didn't tell us the truth about em. It just makes me wonder why they're coming forward now."
"Did you ask them?"
Will nodded. "This is where it gets complicated. They said ten years ago they were outlaws so they couldn't tell us. They said they got something called amnesty, so now they ain't outlaws no more. I don't even know if there is such a thing."
"If mother and Hawkins knew ten years ago, and Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones weren't relatives, wouldn't mother have told you?"
Will had to concede that point. "I suppose she would have. That's another thing, they aren't Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones. The said they just used them names so nobody would know who they really were. They said their real names are Hannibal Heyes and Jed Curry."
"Curry?"
"Yeah, I know. We got the Curry name in our family."
"Will, maybe you should go home, talk to Cooper Hawkins. Maybe take Curry and Heyes with you. Maybe this is family decision, not just your decision."
Will looked deep into Keewidinok's eyes and smiled. "No wonder you married me, Keewidinok. You're about the smartest woman I ever met."
Keewidinok smiled. "Will smart. You'll find your answer."
"I love you, darlin," Will said and leaned in and kissed her.
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"The way I see it," Will said at the breakfast table the next morning. "If you two had time to came all the way out here, you've got the time to ride over to the Sacramento Valley with me. We'll take a look at that family Bible and have a talk with Cooper Hawkins. If that convinces me that you're kin, we'll take a family vote."
"A family vote?" Heyes asked.
"We'll let majority rule as to whether or not you get accepted into the Chisholm family."
Kid was not comfortable with Will's attitude, but he kept quiet for the time being.
"If you're agreeable, we'll leave tomorrow morning."
Heyes looked at Kid and receiving no protest, he agreed. "But if you don't mind, I think Kid and me will return to Redding for the night. You can meet us there in the morning."
Will agreed, relieved that Heyes and Kid would not be staying a second night. Little did he know, Kid was equally relieved.
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"You're still not comfortable with this, are you?" Heyes asked Kid as they rode back to town.
"Seems awful high and mighty to me, taking a vote. Suppose they vote no? It ain't gonna change the fact that we're related. I just don't care for his attitude. Stubborn is what he is."
Heyes pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. "Pot calling the kettle black, I suppose."
"What's that's supposed to mean?" Kid snarled.
"Oh come on, Kid. Put yourself in Will's shoes. This is a shock and he hasn't seen the proof. Give him some time to come around to all this."
"Heyes, suppose the Chisholm family does all agree that we are blood kin. Then what? They live in California. We live in Colorado. So we exchanged Christmas cards every year? We can do that without all this rigmarole."
"We've come this far, Kid. Let's just ride it out and see where it ends up. Alright?"
"I ain't said no to you yet, but you just remember our agreement."
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Will met them in the hotel lobby late the next morning after having sent Gideon a telegram telling him that he and Smith and Jones would be arriving in two days.
"Travel should be faster this time being as we're not driving a wagon," Will told them.
"As long as the weather's good, the time it takes to get there don't much matter," Heyes replied.
Mounting their horses, the three men headed out of town. Conversation was sporadic but cordial and Will showed none of the uneasiness he had the night before.
"So, what exactly do I call each of you?" Will asked.
"Just plain Heyes for me."
"I answer to most anything, but Kid or Jed are the more common names folks use. Either will do," Kid replied.
"So, am I being too nosy asking what it was like?" Will asked.
"What? You mean outlawing?" Heyes asked.
Will nodded. "That and being on the run."
"Outlawing ain't something a man should aspire to," Heyes replied. "Kid and me sort of just fell into it. "We grew up in an orphanage and ran away when we was teenagers. Been on our own ever since. I remember Kid and me talking about it one time. You know, what it was that led us to a life of outlawing."
"What was your conclusion?"
"That after living through the Border Wars, stealing just didn't feel all that different."
"During part of our trip to California, a group of us split up from the main wagon train that Hawkins was leading. A few months later we learned the other train had been robbed, everybody killed. Poor Hawkins almost got the blame for that. A lot of lives lost."
"Our gang never killed no one," Kid told him.
"I ain't suggesting you did... Jed," Will replied, hesitating over what to call the man he viewed as somewhat sullen.
"Why did you split from the main train?" Heyes asked.
"An issue involving the Indians. My pa and the rest of the family didn't think the Indians were being treated fairly. We done what we could for the Indians, then split from the wagon train."
"And Hawkins was leading the main train?" Heyes asked. "How did you end up being such good friends?"
Will smiled. "I think I've told you my pa was a righteous man, a bit too righteous in some respects. But he was also one to admit when he was wrong. Hawkins proved him wrong. When Pa got wounded, Hawkins did his damnedest to get us to California before Pa died, and he succeeded. Pa got to see his promised land before he died."
"Mark of a good man," Heyes replied. "Doing what he feels is the right thing."
"Hawkins has proven to be a good man many times over the years. Our family was fortunate to come across him. Don't know if we would have made it to California without him."
Heyes hadn't noticed that Kid had fallen back a bit during this conversation, but when he did finally notice, he slowed his own horse a bit and Will then did the same.
"Thought we'd lost you there for a minute," Heyes gently chided.
"Thought you were covering everything well enough for the both of us, Heyes."
Heyes sighed. Kid's reticence was growing increasingly frustrating to him.
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Cooper Hawkins had just started splitting logs to add to the wood pile when he saw the three riders approaching the house. Gideon had told him of the telegram and Cooper, knowing Will's stubborn nature, smiled when he thought of what the past few days among these three men must have been like. He gave the ax a thrust into the long stump, them stood with his hands resting on his hips as he watched them ride up to the hitching post.
"Will, good to see you," Hawkins exclaimed as he approached the three men now climbing down off their horses. "And Jones. It's been a long time."
"Hawkins, good to see you, too. This is my partner, Hannibal Heyes," Kid explained. "And I'm going by my rightful name now. It's Jed Curry."
Hawkins extended his hand to Heyes. "Pleasure to meet you. I have to admit, I asked around about you after Jed here left the last time he was here. I don't know that impressive is the right word but certainly an interesting story."
"If you've been reading them dime novels, don't believe a word you've read," Heyes said with a laugh.
"Will!" Gideon called from his cabin porch. "Bo, Will's back," he then shouted into the cabin and soon both men were darting across the yard.
Will opened his arms to his two brothers. "Am I seeing a bit of gray in your hair, Gideon?" Will teased.
"Makes me look distinguished, don't you think?"
"About as much as mine does me," Will teased.
"I told Bonnie Sue you were coming. She's making a big supper for everyone."
Ah, that sounds fine," Will said and with his arms still around his brother's shoulders, started walking toward the house.
Heyes looked at Kid, then took a step toward the house. But Cooper Hawkins quickly placed an arm on his shoulder. "Why don't the two of you stay out here with me, give Will a chance to greet everyone, and give us a chance to talk. Come on, lets take the horses to the barn. Then we'll go inside. I happen to know there's a jug of good corn whiskey just waiting for us in the house."
"So what do I call the two of you now?" Hawkins asked as he tended to Will's horse.
"Folks call him Heyes, and you can call me Kid or Jed," Kid replied.
"I gotta admit, I was a bit surprised when Gideon said you was coming. The last time I saw you, I got the impression you were... a tad reluctant to broach the subject of family ties with the Chisholms," he said to Kid.
"Last time I was here, Heyes and me was still wanted. We ain't wanted no more."
"Got any other family?" Hawkins asked.
Kid shook his head. "Just each other."
"How did Will take the news?"
Kid almost smiled. "A might better than I expected. I'm guessing Keewidinok played a part in that."
Hawkins nodded and a slight grin crossed his face. "She's a good woman. She understands Will, knows how to talk to him when he gets a stubborn notion. I suspect we'll be having a family meeting, you two included. It'll feel like a trial without a judge. Just a big Chisholm jury. I know it's easier said than done, but don't let it bother you none. They're fair people. Good people. And if that Bible and me can convince them, they'll come to accept you. So, in the end, it's really up to the two of you."
Kid nodded, but it was Heyes that spoke. "Kid tells me you're a fair man, Hawkins. I'll be honest with you and tell you coming here was more my idea than Kid's. The two of us have been on our own, with no family, since we was boys. We've both gotten along just fine without family most of our lives."
"So you ain't sure you even want more family?" Hawkins asked Kid.
"I've never found it easy to trust people. Most everybody wants something and usually for nothing in return. Since Heyes and me got amnesty we've managed to live pretty quite lives. Bringing a dozen or more people into the circle just..." Kid's voice trailed off.
"This might sound a bit outta place but, are you as fast a gun as they say your are?"
"Don't know how fast they say I am, but I am fast. Why?"
"I'm guessing that plays a part in your reluctance. You likely learned early to be cautious of folks."
Kid nodded but offered no reply.
"Well, looks like we're done here in the barn. How about going inside for some of that whiskey?"
0-0-0-0-0
Bonnie Sue and Lester had updated and renovated the large house since the last time Kid had seen it, but when he and Heyes walked into the house with Cooper Hawkins, Kid saw none of that. What he and Heyes saw was a room full of eight adults, five children, and a baby, and all adult eyes had turned to them.
"For those of you who have not met these two, let me introduce you to Hannibal Heyes, and Jed Curry," Hawkins said, breaking the silence that had engulfed the room. "Now let me go around the room and introduce or reintroduce you to the Chisholm clan. "There's Bonnie Sue and her husband Lester, Gideon, Will, Bo, Mercy, and her husband, Frank. The young lady over there is Bonnie Sue and Lester's daughter daughter, Rebekah, and beside her are Minnie, Annabelle, and Thomas. That young fella next to Mercy is Hadley and the baby in her arms is Abigail. I think that takes care of everyone."
Both Kid and Heyes looked as each person as Hawkins introduced them. When he came to Mercy, she smiled warmly at Kid. He sensed an ally in the room and gave her an equally warm smile.
Hawkins then walked behind Kid and Heyes and headed to the kitchen, returning quickly with three shots of whiskey. He handed a glass to Kid and one to Heyes. "Here you go. Looks like you're gonna need it," he told them quietly.
"I'm setting the children up in the kitchen for supper," Bonnie Sue said. "Rebekah and Minnie will keep an eye on them. Mercy, would you help me bring the food to the table?"
"Sure," she replied and handed the baby over to Frank. As she passed by Kid and Heyes she stopped and rested a hand on Kid's arm. "I'm glad you're back," she told him before hurrying off to the kitchen.
"I don't know how you do it, Kid," Heyes whispered.
"What?"
"Find a woman even in hostile territory."
Kid couldn't help but smile. "Last time I saw her Heyes, she was ten years old."
"Come on over here with me and Bo and Gideon," Will called to them.
Cooper Hawkins leaned in close to Heyes' ear. "Guess you two are on you own now," he whispered.
"Come on, Kid. Let's show em what we got," Heyes said as he led the way across the room.
Gideon moved over next to Will so there were two empty seats together that Heyes and Kid soon filled.
"I was just telling Bo and Gideon how we first met," Will explained.
"What was it like being on the run?" Bo asked.
"Bo!" Will scolded. "Is knowing the answer to that really gonna help you decide the family situation?"
Bo shrunk back in his seat. "Sorry," he muttered.
"No Bo, that's a fair question I think," Heyes replied. "Being on the other side of the law is a place you never want to be. You can't stay in any one place for more than a day or two. You're always looking over your shoulder for a posse or bounty hunters. You can't use you real names. You can't fall in love or even get serious about a lady. You can't ever go home, cause that's the first place they'll be watching. You just...drift, and hope you're not ambushed in your sleep. That answer your question?"
Bo nodded but remained silent.
"Alright everyone, dinner's on the table," Bonnie Sue announced.
Mercy took the baby and laid him on the bed where she use to sleep as it enabled everyone at the table to keep a watchful eye on him. She carefully propped him with pillows before sitting down at the table.
Lester sat at the foot of the table and Will sat at the head. Hawkins took the side seat next to Will and Kid and Heyes took the next two seats. Bowls and plates were passed around the table and once everyone had food on his or her plate, Cooper tapped his glass with his knife to gain everyone's attention.
"I'm sure Will took care of telling everyone why we're all gathered here tonight," he said and watched everyone's head nod. "Good, now what you may not know is that when Minerva first laid eyes on Jed Curry, she knew right off that he was a blood relative. She knew that because the Chisholm family Bible has it documented clear as day. At that time, Jed wasn't ready to reveal to us who he really was and Minerva promised to keep that a secret from all the family. Fortunately in this instance, I ain't family and she told me the whole story. But now Jed and Heyes are free citizens, and they've come looking for family. That decision is up to all of you, so if you've got questions or comments, now's the time to voice em. When we're all done, we'll take a vote, not on whether they are blood relatives, cause we know that for a fact. What we'll vote on is whether, as a family, the Chisholms will accept them into the fold. Now go ahead and talk."
"I have to be honest," Will said. "I like both of these men. They helped me and Keewidinok when we were caught in the rain and the wagon was disabled. Most of you may not know, but Jed helped did Ma's grave when he was here the last time. They have both worked for me in the past. But, I have some concerns about the fact that they were outlaws."
"They ain't outlaws now," Mercy said.
"Will, at one time you saw me as a horse thief. You were ready to have me hung by the neck. But, even if you thought it was against your better judgment, you stopped the hanging, and eventually you accepted me into your family. Don't these two deserve the same treatment?" Lester asked.
"Lester's right, Will," Bonnie Sue said. "And horse thieving is a hanging offense while robbery ain't. It seems to me their crimes ain't as bad if they're not hanging offenses."
"Gideon?" Will asked.
"I worked with Heyes when you was building that add-on to your cabin, Will. I found him to be honest and a hard worker. I say we accept em."
"Will, when Jed was here the last time and Ma was dying, I was scared to death of being an orphan again," Mercy told him. "Jed explained to me how it would be different from the first time. He said this time we was all going to be orphans, but we was lucky cause we had each other. He said him and his partner were orphans, too. I say we accept em."
"Anybody else got something to say?" Will asked. How about you Heyes, or you, Jed?"
"Mercy's right," Heyes replied. "Kid and me were orphaned when we was just boys. We haven't known no kin since then. Kid told me about the family connection ten years ago, and he told me why he didn't think it was the proper time to broach the subject with all of you. But we ain't getting any younger and I guess me, even more than Kid, would take some comfort in knowing there will be somebody to...think about us once in a while after we're gone, or maybe even come visit us in Colorado. I just think family is important."
"Jed, you got anything to add?"
Kid nodded but remained silent for a long moment. When his did speak, his voice was soft and low. "I ain't one for making speeches, but I don't want none of you to...get the wrong impression. I didn't come here looking for family. Fact is, I got all the family I need and..." Kid's voice trailed off as he looked around the table at each of the Chisholms, his eyes finally settling on Heyes for the briefest of moments before he dropped his head and focused on the bits of food on his plate. "I like you folks," he said as he raised his eyes to Will and offered a slight grin. "I can see the stubborn Curry side in some of you, and I know your folks put a lot of stock in family ties but, it takes more than blood relations to make a family so..."
Kid stopped speaking and looked directly at his partner. "So if you'll excuse me," he said and pushed his chair back and stood. "I don't mean no disrespect but..."
Kid again gave Heyes a long look. "I ain't going far," he assured his partner, then walked to the door and headed outside.
Heyes pushed back his chair to go after his partner but Will stopped him. "No, I'll go. I think Jed and me has got some air to clear."
0-0-0-0-0
The sun was nearly gone and a nearly full moon cast a dim light against a gray sky, accentuating the shadows of the buildings and the forest that began at the top of the nearby hill. There, Will saw the silhouette of the lone man standing inside the gate of the family cemetery where Hadley and Minerva had been laid to rest. Will sighed heavily, then stepped off the porch and made his way up the hill. He stopped outside the gate, waiting for Kid to break the silence.
"I never got the chance to stand like this before my folks grave... don't even know exactly where they are," Kid said so quietly that Will had to strain to hear. "I know your ma way trying to be kind, telling me about the Curry link, but all that really done was...well it stirred up a lot of things. Now here it is ten years later and that dust still ain't settled."
Will opened the gate and came to stand beside Kid. "I was married before Keewidinok," Will said, his voice just as quiet and low as Kid's had been. "She died giving birth to my first born son. They're buried back in Virginia." Will paused and chewed absently on his lower lip. "I know I'll never see em again, never lay a flower on their graves, never stand over em and...tell em how much I love him... never be able to apologize for not being able to save em."
Kid's head slowly nodded as he stared silently at the two headstones.
"I think maybe that's a Curry trait you and me share, Jed. We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We harbor the burden of guilt for everything that should have been...different in our lives... and we think the answer to that is to close ourselves off and suffer the pain of those burdens."
They stood silently together as the last of the sunset faded into the darkness of night.
"But when I met Keewidinok, she showed me just how wrong I was. Gideon and me come across her in a cabin in the wilderness, the only survivor of a massacre. She spoke some broken English, a few words here and there, and I didn't speak no Ojibwa, but she taught me more about life, about living, about love and family than I ever knew was possible... I guess what I'm saying, Kid... is that the Chisholms, all of us, want you and Heyes to be a part of our family. Open the door of your heart just a little to us, and just sit back and let us do the rest. You won't be sorry."
Kid slowly turned to face Will and two stets of Curry blue eyes met and both spoke more than words could express as a smile slowly spread across Will's face and he opened his arms to Kid who impulsively fell into a warm embrace.
From the porch where Heyes had been standing with his arms folded across his chest, he watched in the now bright moonlight and smiled as he saw the two men walking slowly down the hill, Will's arm draped across Kid's shoulders.
"Everything alright?" Heyes asked when Will and Kid reached the porch.
"Yeah," Kid replied with a smile.
"Come on," Will told them. "Let's go inside and share a celebration drink of fine corn whiskey with our family."
"You saying we're all family, Will?" Heyes asked.
"I am, but I guess the final decision to that belongs to Kid here."
"Kid?" Heyes asked.
Kid smiled at his partner. "Come on, Heyes, we got family to get to know."
Author's note: This story is for those who requested a part II to Autumn Storm. I very much thank you for taking such an interest in the AS&J/Chisholms crossover story.