The winter passed slowly at Freedom Ranch with Wheat and Kyle settling in while the Kid slowly recovered from his injuries. All of them noticed that Heyes had been quieter than usual since the Kid had been hurt, and although it had taken a couple of months, he had healed completely. Heyes however seemed to be having a harder time getting over it and was driving his partner crazy with his worrying.

Kid knew he had to do something after the incident that had occurred a couple days ago. Heyes had been holding a green horse while the Kid mounted, but before he could settle on its back the animal had jerked away from Heyes and he'd taken a rather bad fall. Oh he hadn't really been injured, just had the wind knocked out of him and gotten a few bumps and bruises, but Heyes had frozen at the sight of his partner laying on the ground. It had been Wheat who had ducked under the fence snagging the Kid to pull him safely away from the horses' hooves. Heyes had finally run over to his partner who was standing outside the corral bent double with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. He had been almost in a panic as he grabbed his partners' shoulders apologizing over and over. The Kid had responded by breathlessly waving a hand at him with Wheat assuring Heyes that he was fine just winded but Heyes knew it wouldn't have happened if he'd not let go of the horse. Since then, despite Kids' continued reassurances that he was fine, Heyes became even quieter and although he'd enjoyed the peace and quiet for a time, it was now becoming worrisome. His efforts to draw out his friend weren't working and Kid was almost at his wits end when a thought suddenly occurred to him causing him to smile. He tracked down Wheat and Kyle cornering them in the barn as they cleaned stalls.

"Hey Wheat?"

"Whatcha needin' Kid?"

"Got a favour to ask of ya."

Wheat cast a suspicious look at the Kid before approaching him.

"Yeah?"

"Can you watch the ranch for a couple days?"

"S'pose so, where ya off to?"

"Heyes and me are gonna be gone fishin'. He's bin so quiet the past few months and now he's feelin' so damn guilty since I took that little spill, I tell ya Wheat he's drivin' me crazy with his hoverin'. Figure a couple days down by the river just the two of us might help."

"He has bin uncommon quiet o' late," Wheat mumbled. "Sure Kid, me and Kyle can watch the place for ya."

"Now all I gotta do is convince him…" the Kid muttered under his breath as he left the barn.

The Kid wandered around the yard and house, finally finding his cousin sitting on a tree stump in the back yard. He stopped, taking note of his friends' bowed shoulders before walking over to him.

"Here you are, I bin lookin' all over for ya."

"Hey Kid, ya all right?" Heyes asked looking up at him.

The Kid sighed deeply before answering…"Heyes how many times do I gotta tell ya I'm fine."

He squatted down putting a hand on one of Heyes' knees as he braced himself for a possible argument.

"I got an idea."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Heyes I want you to pack your saddlebags for a couple days away."

"Where am I goin'?"

"Where we're goin'. The weather's beautiful and I already talked to Wheat, him and Kyle can watch things here for a couple days. We're gonna be gone fishin'."

Heyes raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his eyes still lacking their usual spark.

"Well, what d'ya think."

"If that's what you wanna do Kid, that's what we'll do," Heyes responded with a shrug.

"Well go get some stuff up together, we'll leave in an hour," Kid said getting to his feet shaking his head hopelessly as he made his way to the house. He quickly packed his saddlebags before heading down to the corral and saddling Buck and Clay. They didn't ride these animals much anymore, but he thought they just might help him in his mission.

He had just finished tightening the final cinch when Heyes arrived.

"Thought the boys would like a bit of a ride too, they don't get ridden much anymore."

"No they don't Kid. Might be kinda nice at that."

"Let's go. Wheat we'll be back in a couple days."

They mounted up riding side by side neither saying much, just enjoying the day and becoming lost in memories of days gone by.

It didn't take long to get to the river as it ran through the back of their ranch. They dismounted, stripped the saddles from their horses and stood looking out at the river.

"Sure is hot Heyes," the Kid said with a small smile.

"You go right ahead Kid, I'll sit here," Heyes responded as he took a seat on a log by the rivers' edge.

Kid frowned at his cousin before stripping off his clothes and jumping into the river, surfacing with a howl.

"Dang, that's cold."

"I'm sure it is Kid, it's only the end of April."

The Kid appeared to be paying no attention to Heyes until he saw him turn his head to look back at the horses. He grinned and took full advantage, splashing water on him. Heyes gasped in surprise jumping to his feet when he was hit with several splashes of cold water and glared at his friend.

"What the hell are you doin'?" he demanded.

Kid laughed and splashed more water at him. Since he was now soaked Heyes peeled his clothes off and entered the river albeit a little more gingerly than the Kid had. He hadn't kept an eye on his cousin and looked around frantically when he couldn't see him. He was completely unprepared to have his legs grabbed and be pulled under. Spluttering as he surfaced he scowled at his partner and within a couple of minutes anyone who saw them would wonder at the two grown men acting like a couple of schoolchildren as they splashed around in the river laughing happily.

Sometime later they dragged themselves out of the water still laughing as they dried themselves off before getting dressed and starting a fire.

"Figure we can catch some fish for supper, but I brung some sandwiches and apples for our lunch."

They sat in companionable silence as they devoured their food. Once they had finished eating Kid took a deep breath, turning to his friend knowing it was time.

"Heyes we need to talk," Kid started and seeing Heyes immediately start to stiffen, he quickly continued. "Partner ya gotta let it go, that fall didn't hurt me…well nothin' but my pride."

"But it was my fault…"

"Did ya do it on purpose?"

"Course not," he responded looking at him sharply.

"Well? Heyes it was an accident… accidents happen."

"Kid…last fall when I seen you layin' there not breathin' …I was sure you were gone…it was the worst feelin' in the world." Heyes closed his eyes before continuing…" Then when you fell from that horse because I couldn't hold him I seen you layin' on the ground..."

Kid reached over putting his hand on Heyes' shoulder silencing him.

"I can't even imagine, but Heyes ya gotta let it go; ya gotta let me live partner. Ya can't put me up on a shelf to keep me safe…I can't live like that and you know it."

"I know Kid, it's just…hard," he responded softly as he hung his head.

"Look at me… I want my partner back...my chatty sometimes irritatin' partner. I need him back."

They sat looking at each other for a full minute and, as always, the looks they shared said more than words ever could. Heyes got to his feet, the Kid looking up at him hopefully.

"I'll do my best Kid. Now if we're gonna catch enough fish to fill your stomach we're better get to it."

xxxxx

They sat relaxing and talking while they sat comfortably by the fire sharing a few shots of the whiskey that Kid had brought. They spent hours talking about everything… and nothing, just enjoying being together and getting their friendship back to normal. The stress of the past few months faded away as they talked and laughed late into the night. When the talk finally slowed the Kid looked over at his partner.

"Heyes, we needed this."

"Yeah Kid we did."

"And I reckon we need to do this more regular."

Heyes smiled at his friend his eyes with that familiar twinkle that had been missing for so long.

"When did you get so smart Kid?"

Kid just snorted a laugh in response.

xxxxx

Wheat and Kyle were working by the corral late the next afternoon and stopped to watch the two men that were laughing and talking as they rode into the yard.

"Well Kyle, looks like things might be back to normal."

"Good cos I don't like it when Heyes is quiet, kinda makes me nervous."

"Yeah me too, usually means he's thinkin' up somethin' I ain't gonna like."