Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes sat astride the horses they had pulled to a standstill at the mouth of a long, narrow winding path meandering through a heavily forested mountain. Kid sat with one leg folded and resting between the horn of his saddle and the neck of his chestnut. A crudely painted wooden sign was nailed to the trunk of a tree and Kid sat scratching the back of his neck as Heyes read the wording aloud.
"The Hole. Fire one shot for each room you will be needing. One shot equals one room, Two shots equals two rooms. Three shots equals three rooms. Four shots equals four rooms. Five shots equals five rooms. If you have to empty your sixshooter, you might as well go on to the next town as we ain't got six rooms. If you're just stopping in for drinks, you don't need to waste no bullets."
Heyes paused when he had finished, then turned his head sharply to look at Kid. "We want one or two rooms?" he asked.
"Are you kidding? You really want to leave yourself defenseless and all alone? One room, Heyes. We just one one room."
Heyes nodded, agreeing with Kid's logic. He pulled his gun and fired a single shot.
They waited for several minutes for a return shot or a voice acknowledging their presence and granting permission to enter. When no indication came, they again gave each other a questionable glance.
"You think it's safe to go in?" Heyes asked.
Kid shook his head with some obvious disgust. "That was likely just to let em them how many rooms to make presentable," Kid surmised.
Kid moved his leg off the horse's back and slipped it into the stirrup. "You ready?"
Heyes shrugged. "As ready as I'll ever be."
They both gave their horses a slight kick to urge them forward and headed up the winding path. Heyes led, giving Kid the opportunity to watch his partner's back.
"This bringing back any memories, Kid?" Heyes asked.
Falling easily into the role of protector, Kid kept watchful eyes on the woods as they proceeded slowly along the path. "Well, I have to admit, I never thought I'd be coming back here again. Don't look like it's changed much, except for no one keeping watch."
Entering the encampment that had once been the home to the Devil's Hole Gang, they saw two horses tied to the post outside of what had been the bunkhouse. Knowing who the horses likely belonged to, they approached the post and dismounted, tethering their animals to the post.
Kid gave the compound a sweeping glance and concluded there was no one lying in wait. He arched his back and stretched, trying to work out the kinks from his saddle weary back. "I guess Kyle was telling the truth, Heyes."
Heyes smiled. He had never known Kyle to tell an intentional lie. "The sign on the door says office," he said.
"I can read," Kid replied.
"You ready?"
"After you."
They walked up to the bunkhouse door and Heyes turned the knob, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. Kid followed closely behind.
The bunkhouse was far different than it had been during the prime of their outlaw lives. The kitchen area was unchanged, but the spacious community area, as well as the sleeping area looked nothing like they remembered. Makeshift walls had been constructed to form a narrow hallway and four separate bedrooms. The community area was half the original size and now had a mahogany bar, behind which were shelves containing a dozen bottles of whiskey and a row of shot glasses. On top of the bar sat a wooden beer keg with a tap that was not completely closed and drops of beer fell slowly onto the counter and formed a widening puddle. Beer mugs were stored on a shelf directly behind the bar.
Heyes reached across the bar and pressed the tap closed, being careful not to let his sleeve touch the puddle. "Looks like they've been busy," he said, referring to the changes.
"Uh-uh," was Kid's only reply.
They both turned when the front door opened and in walked Kyle Murtry, his arms loaded down with stacks of sheets and blankets.
"Heyes, Kid, what are you doing here?" Kyle asked as he quickly unloaded the lines and blankets on the table.
"You said you and Wheat was fixing up the place," Kid said.
"Came to get a room for the night," Heyes explained.
Kyle walked behind the bar and pulled the hotel register from a shelf below the bar. He reached under the counter for a rag to wipe up the puddle of beer before setting the registry book on the counter. "Well, lets get you two checked in. How many rooms you want?"
"Just one," Heyes replied. "We fired one shot like the sign says."
"With two beds," Kid added.
Kyle turned the registration book around and offered them a pen. "Need your full names," he said. "That'll be two dollars."
"Two dollars! Why you charging so much?" Kid asked.
"Well, a dollar for the room, and a dollar for the free breakfast in the morning," Kyle explained.
"Breakfast ain't free if we gotta pay for it, Kyle," Kid snarled.
Heyes shook his head and laid a hand on Kid's shoulder. "Don't try to argue with him, Kid."
After they signed their names, Kyle reached under the counter for a room key. "Room 206," he told them.
Heyes started to grab the key, but Kid extended his hand across Heyes chest to stop him.
"Kyle, how many floors does this bunkhouse hotel got?"
"Just one."
"But our key is room 206?" Kid asked with emphasis on the number two.
Kyle smiled. "That's cause your room is in the second building."
"The second building?" Kid asked.
Kyle nodded. "Me and Wheat live in the leader's cabin. We're in rooms 101 and 102."
How many rooms you got in here?" Kid asked.
"Four."
"But again, our room is room 206."
"That's right. Our rooms is number 101 and 102. The four rooms over here are rooms 203, 204, 205, and 206."
"It does make sense in an obscure sort of way, Kid," Heyes conceded.
"You got four rooms over here, and you're giving us the last one, so shouldn't our room be 204?" Kid asked.
Kyle gave his wad of tobacco a couple of contemplative chews. "You want room 204, Kid?"
"No, Kyle," Kid said with obvious exasperation in his voice. He let his arm drop to his side as he sighed heavily. "Lead the way, Heyes," he added, shaking his head.
"Oh, by the way, Kyle" Heyes said, stopping in his tracks to turn his attention back to Kyle. "What time is supper?"
"Supper?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah, we're both famished."
"That means hungry, Kyle," Kid snarled, his patience growing very thin.
"But, we only serve the guests a free breakfast," Kyle said hesitantly.
"Only one meal?" they asked in unison.
Kyle brightened. "Wheat an me is having rabbit stew. Why don't you stop over at the leader's cabin later and eat with us?"
Heyes smiled. "That'll be fine, Kyle."
They headed down the short hall and found that each door had only a single digit number painted on it.
"Six must mean 206," Kid said sarcastically "206 actually means 106, which actually means just plain six, even though there's only four rooms."
"That seems to be their standard logic," Heyes replied.
Heyes unlocked the door and both were surprised by how neat the sparsely furnished room actually looked. There were two rather small beds and a dresser with an empty pitcher empty wash basin. One small window looked out to the back of the compound and the woods just beyond the clearing. But a strange, stale odor hung in the air.
Kid sat down and bounced to judge the comfort of the mattress. Something felt odd and he stood and lifted the linens to examine the mattress.
"Heyes, they sewed two old bunk mattresses together."
"That accounts for the musty smell," Heyes replied.
"Musty? Smells more like very old regurgitated alcohol to me," Kid added as he walked over and opened the window to freshen the air in the room.
"Well, they are probably working on a pretty tight budget," Heyes said in their defense.
"I suppose," Kid replied. "Why don't we go put our horses in the barn and get some fresh air.?"
Heyes grinned. "Suppose they'll charge us for the barn space, too?"
"They might hafta because I just might be sleeping out there, Heyes," Kid replied, walking out of the room with Heyes quick on his heels.
Leading their horses by the reins as they headed into the barn, the first thing they noticed inside the barn were several large, muddy puddles. They sidestepped them as best they could, led each horse into a relatively dry stall, then began removing the saddles and blankets.
"Looks like the roof is in need of some repair," Heyes remarked.
"Likely not a priority on a budget."
"Yeah," Heyes replied as he slung his saddle over the top board of the stall. Suddenly he stopped, rested a hand on his saddle, and turned to look at Kid. "You know, Kid, maybe we could help them along a bit," he suggested with the twinkle of an idea in his eyes.
"Heyes, you're forgetting. I got a baby coming. I don't got money to throw around right now. And, if the babies keep coming, I likely won't have no spare money ever again."
"Well, we told Deidre we'd be gone a week. Maybe we can help the boys spruce up the place. Using a hammer to mend a roof ain't gonna cost you nothing, except maybe a sore thumb."
Kid stopped and rested both arms on the back of his horse. "Heyes, are you getting sentimental about this place?"
Heyes shrugged and tried to appear nonchalant about it. "Maybe, just a little."
"You're just gonna get yourself all worked up and frustrated. You seen the kind of logical decisions Kyle and Wheat have been making. You and Wheat's gonna get into a battle for leadership over the changes that need to be made. You mark my words."
"I think you were just as anxious to come and see the place as I was," Heyes reminded him.
"I was Heyes, and now I've seen it. I'm ready to go home. I know you, Heyes. You're gonna want to get all involved."
"I'll just feel them both out a little at supper tonight. I won't make no promises. I'll just see if they are at all receptive to any ideas I might have."
"Even when I said I wanted to come, I knew it wasn't gonna be a good idea."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Heyes, hey Kid," Wheat said in greeting as he held the screen door open for them to come into the cabin. "I hear you got yourself married, Kid!"
Kid smiled politely and nodded. "Yeah, don't know what I was thinking, Wheat," Kid joked.
Wheat's expression instantly turned to one of great concern. "That bad is it?"
Kid laughed. "No, Wheat. I was joking. She's wonderful, and we're expecting a baby near Christmas time."
"Oh," Wheat sighed with relief. "A baby, uh? I can't picture you a father. A baby in one hand, a six gun in the other," he said with a chuckle.
"He'll be a great father, Wheat," Heyes added. "Just look how good he is with horses. Can't be that much different with a kid."
"I suppose you're right. You boys go on and have a seat and I'll go pour us all a whiskey."
"Heyes, you remember a bullet hole in the wall?" Kid asked, pointing to a spot just left of the fireplace.
"Oh, that ain't old," Kyle explained and he walked into the sitting area, wiping his hands on a stained white apron that hung from his neck and tied behind his back. "I done that a couple of weeks ago."
"Yeah, he was cleaning his gun but forgot to unload it. That bullet missed me by this much," Wheat exclaimed, holding his thumb and first finger just a millimeter apart."
"You weren't even in the cabin," Kyle corrected and Wheat shot him an irritated smirk as he doled out the glasses of whiskey.
"I like what the two of you are doing with the place," Heyes said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Yeah, well, it's gonna take us some time to get things in tip top shape. This place ain't been in use for over seven years you gotta remember," Wheat replied.
"Yeah, likely gonna take some money to get it in tip top shape," Kid added.
Wheat and Kyle looked at each other skeptically, and the exchange did not go unnoticed by Heyes and Kid.
Wheat cleared his voice nervously. "So, a... how much you think it'll take?"
"Barn roof is in bad need of repair. The bunkhouse is set up pretty well, but I think I'd expand the tavern area, maybe even close it off from the bedrooms," Heyes said. "I'd say at least a couple of thousand dollars, maybe even three or four thousand, to do it up right."
"We ain't got that kind of money, Heyes," Kyle said innocently.
Heyes shrugged. "Maybe look for a couple of investors. Give em say ten percent of the profits in return."
"But if we put three or four thousand dollars into fixing up this place, it'll be years before we see any profits," Kyle replied.
"Then likely look for an investor or two that ain't in no rush for his returns," Heyes suggested.
"Where are we gonna find someone like that?" Wheat said. "A person invests in something, they want a quick return."
"Just saying, it might be a good idea to put some feelers out," Heyes said, trying to plant a seed of ingenuity.
"If you folks is ready, I think the stew is hot," Kyle said and everyone got up and followed him to the table.
"You know, once you get the place fixed up, maybe have a grand opening, with the overnight guests by invitation only, but an evening of festivities open to the public," Heyes suggested.
"Who would be the invited guests?" Kyle asked, but Heyes noted Wheat was the one listening quite attentively.
"Maybe a couple of famous dime novelists who have written about the Devil's Hole Gang, a newspaper reporter..."
"I know one who would love to do that kind of a story," Kid quipped, thinking of Mr. Thorton from the train a few months ago.
"Maybe the Governor himself," Heyes suggested.
"Governor was only interested in the two of you," Wheat grumbled.
"Okay, scratch the Governor. Maybe the president of the Union Pacific Railroad. He was willing to pay some pretty handsome prices for all of us."
Wheat smiled and nodded his head. He liked that idea. "Wouldn't that be something, the president of the railroad investing in the Devil's Hole Gang...Of course he'd never do it."
"But that newspaper reporter would give you a lot of free publicity," Kid said confidently.
"We'd still need to find someone to invest in this place with us, Wheat," Kyle reminded them, then broke into a wide smile. Hey, Heyes..."
Heyes smiled confidently, expecting to be invited to invest in the project.
"What about that friend of yours down in Red Rock? He had a wallet full of money when me and the boys rode down there to help you and the Kid."
"What are you talking about?" Wheat demanded, knowing nothing about that incident.
"You was up in Montana, Wheat. Kid and Heyes was playing matchmaker for some fat old rancher by the name of... McCreedy!"
"McCreedy won't invest in this," Kid said. "That old buzzard can squeeze a dollar till the eagle screams," Kid replied.
Kyle looked very disappointed. "We ain't got no wealthy friends," he confessed.
"What about Heyes?" Kid suggested "He just sold his business. I bet he's got a little spare money," Kid suggested.
Both Wheat and Kyle raised their eyes to look at Heyes hopefully.
"Well I... I suppose I could invest two or three thousand dollars."
"What about you, Kid? You want in?" Kyle asked eagerly.
Kid shook his head. "Baby coming, Kyle. I ain't got anymore spare money than you do. I guess you'll have to count me out of this one boys."
"You be willing to offer a little man power for the few days we're here?" Heyes asked.
"You're thinking about the barn roof, ain't you?" Kid asked.
"Be a good start."
"Sure fellas, you can count me in on that," Kid replied. "Thumbs and all."
"Then we should make a list of all the things we are going to need for the repairs," Heyes said. "And maybe a second list of things we'll be needing to really bring some class to this place. Things like... curtains for the windows."
Wheat shook his head. "Nope, no fancy little curtains. Kyle and me want this place to have an outlaw hideout atmosphere."
"Wheat's right about the curtains, Heyes, but new mattresses for the beds would be good. You know, a tough outlaw appearance to the place but with some comforts of home," Kid added.
"I didn't see a buckboard in the barn," Heyes said.
"I think Preacher took that with him when he left," Kyle replied.
"Well, we'll see about renting one for the week from the livery, and maybe put a notice on the town notice board that we're looking to buy one" Heyes said. "Wheat, you got paper and a pencil around here?
0-0-0-0-0-0
The next morning the four men set out on the eighteen mile trip into Claymore, the nearest town from the hideout. The people of that town had always been very tolerant of the Devil's Hole gang for many reasons, the two most important ones being that they did not want to become victims of the outlaws and, the fact that the gang had always been very generous with the money they spent in the community.
Heyes and Kid were to go to the livery and the lumber company, while Wheat and Kyle had a list of supplies to get at the general store.
Over an hour after dropping the others off, Heyes and Kid drove up to the general store, the buckboard full of roofing supplies and lumber, and their horses tied to the back of the wagon. Heyes climbed down and headed into the store where Wheat and Kyle had their supplies piled high on the counter, but had no money with which to pay.
Heyes reached into his inside vest pocket and pulled out his wallet and Kyle nudged Wheat with his elbow at the sight of so much money. The owner rang up the items and Heyes paid him in cash.
"I'd like to open an account," Heyes told the owner as he counted out a thousand dollars. "I'd like four names on the account."
The owner was a little unsettled as he had never had a personal credit account of that much money, but he pulled his ledger from under the desk and opened it to a blank page. "What names would you like?"
"Wheat Carlson, Kyle Murtry, Jed Curry, and Hannibal Heyes."
The clerk's pen began to shake in his hands. "The outlaws?" he asked.
Wheat bristled but Heyes smiled very pleasantly. "Not anymore, sir. We are all business men now, just regular citizens like yourself. Our time has been served, our amnesties rendered, our warrants expired."
The clerk nodded nervously butcompleted the ledger and Heyes handed him the money.
"Let us know when the account gets down to about two hundred and we will replenish it," Heyes said.
Heyes picked up one of the bags and turned to Wheat and Kyle. "You want to get those?" he asked and headed for the door.
Wheat and Kyle picked up the remaining bags, but each gave the clerk and a rather uppity smirk as they left.
Heyes climbed onto the seat of the buckboard and waited for Wheat and Kyle to mount their horses.
"You order mattresses?" Kid asked.
Without responding, Heyes handed Kid the reins, then climbed back down off the buckboard. "Be right back," he said and ducked back into the store.
0-0-0-0-0-0
With three men working on the barn roof, and one staying on the ground in case the ladder were to fall, they were able to fix all the leaks in just two days. On Kid's last full day there, he and Kyle knocked out a section of the tavern's inside wall and constructed a wide door frame to which they attached batwing doors. Heyes and Wheat began construction on the frame of the small poker room they intended to add on adjacent to the newly constructed doorway.
"You know if this place catches on, you may have to add more guest rooms," Heyes said as he ladled some beef stew into his bowl at supper that night. "Maybe build up instead of out if you do that."
"And renumber the rooms so they make sense," Kid added.
"How soon you think we're gonna be ready for this grand opening?" Kyle asked.
"We still have to do something with the kitchen in the bunkhouse, so it's not out in plain view when everyone's eating, but that could be just some sort of partition, I suppose," Heyes replied. "And we've got to get that card room built. There will likely be one or two other things we think of. I'd say we might be ready sometime mid to late October."
"How about Halloween?" Kyle said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We could stage a robbery!"
Kid laughed out loud. "Now that's a novel plan. Invite folks up here on the pretense of a party, then steal everything they got. We could all become outlaws again and never have to leave the hideout!"
"I weren't talking about a real robbery, Kid. Just something to entertain the guests."
"I know, Kyle. It just struck me as funny."
"You gonna be able to come back for the grand opening?' Wheat asked Kid.
Kid shrugged. "Depends on how Deidre's getting along. I know that's still to early for her to be having the baby, but her ma says those last couple of months are pretty hard on a woman. But iffin she's doing alright, I'd like to be here for the party."
"Still planning on leaving in the morning?" Heyes asked.
Kid nodded. "I figure I can be back to Cheyenne by Sunday. As soon as you decide for sure on a date, let me know, and I'll contact that newspaper man, Thorton. I know he's just itching to get a story on the gang."
Heyes nodded. "I'll do some checking into how to get hold of them dime novelists, too. Wheat, you or Kyle come up with anybody else you want us to especially invite?"
"Maybe all the old gang," Kyle suggested.
"That's a good idea, Kyle. We'll leave that up to the two of you to track them down and invite them," Heyes replied.
"What about that sign at the end of the path, Heyes?" Kid asked. "It don't sound too inviting, and the instructions are pretty long," Kid added.
"We'll take a look at that, too. You're gonna want something that will draw people in," Heyes told Wheat. "Not frighten then away."
"You know, I was pretty skeptical of this whole idea when I first heard it, but now I think you boys may have hit on a right good idea," Kid told them, and both Wheat and Kyle beamed with pride.
"And with them writers coming, you're likely gonna get a lot of good publicity," Heyes added.
"Kyle and me just might end up as successful as the two of you," Wheat said boastfully.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Kid got an early start after breakfast. In some ways he hated to leave as the work was actually giving them a sense of accomplishment. But Kid was eager to return to Deidre and his role of expectant father.
Heyes, Wheat, and Kyle dove into their project with much enthusiasm, spending long hours on the various projects, and more money than Heyes had originally intended. But he had bought a ledger book and kept meticulous track of every penny spent.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Kid returned in late October, just two days before the grand opening, and was quite impressed with the improvements that had been made.
The sign at the edge of the road looked like it had been painted by a professional and simply read "Welcome to The Hole Tavern and Inn." Below this and in smaller letters, the sign read "former hideout of the Devil's Hole Gang."
The path leading to the compound was rustic and unchanged, but entering the compound, Kid saw the compound as he had never seen it before. The grounds were meticulously clean. The well had been replaced with a large fountain, providing cool, fresh, running water. Both the barn and the corral were stocked with well groomed riding horses. The bunkhouse sported a fresh coat of pain, and the small room they had started before Kid left, now ran the entire width of the cabin. he entire tavern had been relocated to that area, thus providing a larger dining area, a more secluded area from the rental rooms, an enclosed kitchen area, and an actual registration desk near the entrance.
"If this don't attract a steady clientele, I don't know what would," Kid told the three partners at the completion of the tour they had given him. "Did you change the leaders cabin any?"
"We thought about it, but decided something ought to stay the same," Wheat replied. "Oh, by the way, Kid, you and Heyes will have your old room and Kyle and me will share mine."
Kid smiled at the thought of sleeping in his old room. "Any of the other fellas gonna be here?" Kid asked.
"Preacher and Lobo are coming," Kyle explained. "We took some bunk beds up to the loft for them."
Kid gave Heyes a questionable glance, remembering how bad those bunk beds smelled, but Heyes just shrugged.
As they headed toward the leader's cabin, Wheat suggested they sit out on the porch, then he went inside to retrieve some glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
"Is that reporter fellow coming?" Heyes asked as they all found seats.
Kid nodded. "If fact he's planning on arriving tomorrow so he can get a gang interview done before we all get busy with other things."
"Speaking of other things, we're offering a three hour horseback ride each day, up into the back country, Kid. We're putting you in charge of that."
Kid nodded. "I can think of a few points of interests along that route," he replied.
"How's Deidre, Kid?" Heyes asked.
Kid grinned. "If she stands sideways and leans against a door frame, her belly almost touches the other side of the frame. I can barely get close enough to kiss her," he replied with some joking exaggeration."
"I bet she's adding pillows just to keep you away," Heyes replied.
Kid laughed. "Something her Ma likely taught her?"
Heyes smiled. "Yeah, shouldda taught her that a few months sooner."
Kid smiled but grew a little more serious. "I don't know how women do it, Heyes. Carrying a baby and keeping up with all the work she does... I wouldn't last a day."
"Yeah, I hear carrying a baby is hard on the back," Heyes replied. "You never have liked work that's hard on the back."
Kid nodded. "It is making me reconsider having a dozen kids, though."
"I'm sure your wife will be glad to hear that," Wheat said with a chortle.
Kyle listened to the conversation and laughed when the others laughed, but really wasn't comfortable with the conversation and was glad when they moved on to some other subject.
"Just think of all the times we sat out here like this, or sat around in the bunkhouse, planning our next robbery," Heyes reminisced.
"Well, I for one am glad them days is behind us," Wheat replied.
"Why's that, Wheat?" Kyle asked.
"You miss getting shot at, Kyle?"
Kyle shook his head.
"That's why," Wheat replied.
0-0-0-0-0-0
The next morning Kid emerged from the bedroom wearing a brand new and finely tailored, light blue suit that Deidre had helped him pick out after his old suit had been ruined during his midnight swim in the Mississippi River several months ago. Even the matching Derby hat was a proper and complimentary fit.
Kid tolerated the whistles, both from his partner, and from Wheat. The teasing even brought a smile to his face.
"Well, Heyes, you gotta admit it's an improvement," Kid said.
"Yes, Kid, I do. I just don't understand the formality this morning."
"I told you, that reporter from the Denver Chronicle is coming in today. I promised him we'd give him two hours to interview us. Preacher and Lobo are included if they get here in time."
"What time are you expecting him?" Wheat asked?"
"He said he'd be arriving around noon."
"Kid," Kyle said timidly. "I don't got no other clothes but these."
Kid smiled. "That's fine, Kyle. He don't expect a bunch of outlaws to be dressed to the nines, although I think Heyes ought to spruce up a bit. He was kind of excited about meeting you, too, Heyes."
"I don't know why we need some reporter from Denver. That's a long ways away for giving this place any publicity," Wheat grumbled.
"He use to work for the Cheyenne paper, Wheat. They'll be printing his article as well."
"After the interview, I'll change my clothes and then take him on a tour of the back country," Kid offered. "That'll get him outta everyone's hair for a while and he might like seeing the whole camp."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Thorton was only a hour late in arriving, and neither Preacher nor Lobo had yet arrived. Kid greeted Thorton cordially and ushered him into the leader's cabin where Heyes, Wheat, and Kyle were seated around the table. All stood and shook Thorton's hand while Kid provided the introductions.
"Would you like some coffee, Mr. Thorton?" Kid asked as Thorton pulled pads of paper and several sharpened pencils from his satchel.
"No, no thank you," Thorton said. "I'd just as soon get started here and now. And, of course, I want to thank you all for granting me this interview."
"The pleasure is all ours, Mr. Thorton," Heyes replied.
"Well let's begin by you telling me about the Devil's Hole Gang, who was it comprised of, what each person's special talent or role was, how successful the gang actually was, why you decided to disband, and finally, why you've decided to resurrect this compound."
Heyes sighed. "That's quite a mouthful, Mr. Thorton, but we'll do our best..."
0-0-0-0-0-0
"...And that's the whole story," Heyes said two and a half hours later.
"And now, Mr. Thorton, we'll show you to your room," Wheat said, anxious to get the interview officially over.
"Mr. Thorton, why don't we give you about an hour to rest or change outta those clothes," Kid added. "I'll meet you at the corral with two fresh horses and give you the full tour of all the land that comprises the Devil's Hole camp."
"Oh, that would be very nice. Thank you Mr. Curry."
"Name's Jed," Kid said casually.
"And by the time you get back, it'll be time for supper," Heyes added. "You like wild hen, Mr. Thorton."
"Yes, I do indeed."
"Well, that's a shame because I believe we're having rabbit stew...again," Heyes replied. "But Kyle here makes some of the best buttermilk biscuits I have ever tasted."
Thorton smiled. "I'll meet you by the corral in an hour," he told Kid.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
An hour later Kid now dressed in his everyday work clothes, emerged from the bedroom and headed toward the front door. He had not yet made it to the first step when Heyes came rushing out after him.
"You know, Kid, I was thinking maybe I should take Thorton on that ride."
Kid stopped, turned to Heyes, and smiled knowingly. "You just want to tell him a bunch of wild stories to add to his article that will lure folks in here!"
Heyes nodded his head. "Pretty much. It's good business sense."
Kid laughed. "Well, you're the one investing in this project, Heyes, so be my guest."
"Want to come along?"
"Nope," Kid replied and turned on his heals and returned to the cabin.
Heyes headed to the corral and waited for Thorton to arrive from the bunkhouse.
"Change of tour guide, Mr. Thorton," Heyes said cheerfully.
"I was hoping to get a few minutes alone with the leader of the Devil's Hole Gang," Thorton replied.
From the porch of the leader's cabin, Kid watched them mount up and ride off along the back path.
"Tell me Mr. Heyes, what brought you and Mr. Curry to the conclusion that the law abiding life was the road to take?" Thorton asked.
"I think that was decided for us, Mr. Thorton. Technology advances just made the whole effort too difficult."
"Sounds like a rather pat answer," Thorton replied.
"Maybe. But a truthful one. You see Mr. Thorton, there's really no glamor to being an outlaw. It's hard work, careful planning, and a whole lot of running."
"I've heard stories of a safe at the bottom of a lake?"
"Far as I know it's still there. Once the statute of limitations runs out on it, we might go back and try to dredge it up."
"So I take it you're not willing to share the location?"
Heyes laughed but shook his head. "Now that would just be downright foolish, Mr. Thorton. We went to a lot of trouble burrying that safe," Heyes lied. "When the time is right, that money will give us all a comfortable retirement."
"Always thinking ahead, Mr. Heyes?
Heyes smiled. "The mark of a good leader," he replied.
Returning to the camp three hours later, the sun beginning to drop in the western sky, the player piano inside the tavern was piping out lively tunes and intermittently eruptions of loud, bawdy laughter wafted across the compound. Heyes led the horses to the barn, then returned to the corral where Thorton was waiting.
"Shall we go see what all the noise is about?" Heyes asked with a smile.
Lobo and Preacher had arrived sometime during Heyes' absence and now all the gang had migrated into the tavern, imbibing on beer and whiskey and retelling stories of days gone by. Laughter was jovial and plentiful as they gang was obviously enjoying the private reunion.
"What's your pleasure, Mr. Thorton?" Heyes asked.
"Beer will be fine," he replied.
Heyes brought him a beer and started to guide him to a table.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Heyes, I prefer to sit off a ways, a slightly obscure location. Watching the 'gang' in a comfortable, relaxed setting might be very informative."
"Suit yourself," Heyes said with a shrug and walked over to join the others.
The evening rolled into night and the beer continued to flow freely as everyone caught up on each other's lives, commented on some memorable experiences, and enjoyed a camaraderie unlike any they had know before or since the Devil's Hole Gang was in it's prime.
But around two in the morning, Heyes began drawing the party to a close. There was cleanup work to be done in the tavern before the invited guests began arriving the following day. Slowly everyone began migrating off to their respective beds.
Kid stayed and helped Heyes clean up before they too, headed back to the leaders cabin.
"Kid, do you ever miss it?" Heyes asked as they readied themselves for bed.
"You want an honest answer, Heyes?"
"Yeah."
"No. I miss you and me being partners, but I don't miss outlawing at all."
"Yeah, I think the same way."
Kid looked taken aback. "You don't miss the thrill of crackin a safe or pickin a lock?"
"Well, maybe some aspects of it. But I don't miss the running, the hiding, the being chased, or the facing twenty years in prison."
Kid laughed. "Here I always thought those were the highlights," he said jokingly.
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"Did you invite that railroad president?" Kid asked the next morning as they dressed for the day.
"To be honest, I didn't think he'd get much of a welcome from the boys, so I decided against that idea."
"Who all did you invite of these dime novel writers?"
"Well, all the really famous writers politely declined. Horatio Alger, Upton Sinclair, and Jack London all said they were sorry but they couldn't fit us into their busy schedules."
"Them's all famous writers, Heyes. They don't waste their time with these penny-ante stories."
"You'd be surprised, Kid. Everyone of them writes dime novels too, though they all use pen names."
"So that's it. They don't want to be publicly connected to cheap novels packed full of lies and exaggerations, so they just use an alias like we did...I'm surprised that Mark Twain fella ain't coming."
Heyes smiled. "He's one of the few who never resorted to a dime novel to put food on his table."
"So, who is coming?"
"The one's that accepted the invitations are Thomas Charbough, Albert W. Aiken, Edward L. Wheeleer, and Joseph W. Badger Jr."
"Never heard of any of em."
"That surprises me what with as many dime novels as you use to read."
"Never paid no attention to who wrote em, I guess. Hey, you think any of them will know any of us on sight?" Kid asked with a smile.
"Being as there was never any known pictures of us, I doubt it."
"Heyes, we could play a trick on em..."
"I don't think that's the best way to gain a respectable business reputation, Kid."
Kid frowned. "Yeah, I suppose, Kid replied, then changed the subject. "Heyes, I think after these guests leave tomorrow, I'm gonna start back home myself."
"Would you mind some company?"
"What about the public grand opening?"
"I think Wheat and Kyle can handle that. They've surprised me with how good a job they've done so far."
"You mean you ain't staying up here to help run things?"
"Heck no. That was never part of my plan. I want to get my own business started up in Cheyenne."
Kid smiled. "So, we might not be official partners, but we'll be there for each other," Kid summarized.
"Haven't we always been?"
Kid nodded. "Yeah, we have, Heyes."
"And I'm going to be an uncle in December. I don't want to miss that!"
"Well, let's go see what last minute things we need to do so we can get this party rolling as soon as the guests arrive."
"And maybe get them on their way right after breakfast tomorrow?"
Kid grinned. "That's my plan, Heyes."
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The guests must have worked out some travel plans, as they all arrived together by private coach shortly after noon that day. After getting them all registered, and staging an impromptu meet and greet with the gang members, Kid took them all out on a three hour horseback ride through the back sections of Devil's Hole, pointing out such points of interest as the target range, the obscure back escape route, an ancient Indian cave that few have ever dared to enter, the fishing hole for some quiet relaxation, and a very small cemetery where three deceased members of the gang were laid to rest.
When they returned to the camp, Wheat and Kyle were waiting at the corral for the guests and ushered them into the bunkhouse for a pre-dinner drink, while Kid took the horses to the barn to brush them down and give them food and water.
Dinner was high brow as far as outlaw standards, with both steak and roast beef on the menu, along with mashed and scalloped potatoes, fresh green beans, canned tomatoes, a staple among both cowboys and outlaws, coffee, and peach cobbler for dessert. Kyle and Wheat had spent much of the day toiling in the kitchen and both were proud as peacocks with the results.
After dinner, everyone was invited into the tavern for an evening of poker, conversation, and a staged fast draw between Kid and Lobo, both having only blanks in their guns. Kid gave his own gun shop business a plug after easily outdrawing Lobo.
As the evening drew to a close, all the guests remarked about what a wonderful experience they had, and all promised to promote The Hole at every opportunity. Mr. Thorton told them he had already completed his article and he expected it to appear both in the Denver Chronicle and the Cheyenne Tribune sometime next week.
The next morning, a hearty breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon and ham, and piping hot coffee was served, and at eleven, the private stage arrived to take the dime novel writers back to wherever it was they were going. Mr. Thorton made his exit shortly there after.
"Well, Wheat, Kyle, I think we got the publicity we was after," Heyes told them after the guests had all left.
"Yeah, I think w can make a fine go of it, Heyes," Wheat replied.
"You and Kyle can make a fine go of it. I'm a silent partner in all this. I'll be beading back to Cheyenne with Kid just as soon as we're packed."
"You think me and Wheat can handle all this, Heyes?" Kyle asked with some trepidation.
"I don't see why not. The two of you have been doing most of the work as it is. I think you'll be fine. I did leave you a five hundred dollar credit at the general store and the saloon, just to get you on your feet."
"Well, that's right generous of you Heyes. Thanks," Wheat said with a smile.
"Both of those tabs are for supplies, not for your own personal enjoyment," Heyes cautioned.
An hour later Kid and Heyes were packed and saddled and saying their goodbyes to all the gang that had come to lend a hand.
"The gang's been disbanded for what, seven years?" Heyes asked, and all heads nodded.
"Tell you what, why don't we plan on a ten year reunion right here. It would be a shame if we started losing track of each other."
Kyle smiled broadly. "Well, I think that's a fine idea, Heyes."
"Then it's a plan, boys. Kid and me will see you in another three years."
"Maybe we could include our families next time, Heyes. Make it a family event, open to just the gang and the people they want to bring," Kid suggested.
All the gang members agreed this too was a good idea.
"Okay, three years from today, we all meet right here. Agreed?"
"Agreed," came the general consensus.
Heyes smiled and looked at Kid. "This just might be my best idea yet," he said and they both turned their horses, gave the gang a final wave, and headed down the path toward home.
"You know Kid, the statute of limitations runs out on the safe at the bottom of that lake in just about three years."
Kid grinned. "So we can just turn this reunion you're planning into one be scavenger hunt," Kid said with a hearty laugh.
Heyes shrugged. "It ain't that far from here. We could do it..."
"Well I guess it's true, Heyes. You can take the man out of the outlaw, but you can't take the outlaw outta the man."
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Author's note: All the dime novel writers mentioned in the story, including those writers more famous for greater literary works, were in fact real dime novel writers of the 1800s.
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