Kid woke with a start, pulled from out of sleep by a loud clattering on the roof, he almost immediately clambered out of bed, wincing as his bare feet hit the cold floor. Not pausing to dress, he was soon shivering outside in the frosty dawn, gun drawn, in just his sleepwear, swearing to himself, when as he looked up, he was greeted by the sight of his partner and son fiddling with a strange contraption positioned between them. He shouted up at them, demanding an explanation, but on getting no response, he fired his gun into the air, making them both jump and look down.

Heyes frowned and shouted over to him. "Kid! You oughta be careful, you might cause an avalanche with all this snow piled round here. Then where would we be?"

Kid ignored his partner, gritting his teeth in annoyance, and merely repeated loudly as he un-cocked his gun,and put it safely away in the holster he was holding in his left hand. "What in tarnation are you two doing?"

It was Tommy who answered, his face alight and his cheeks flushed, from a mixture of excitement and cold. "Pa! We're setting a reindeer trap. We ain't gonna hurt 'em, we just wanna make sure Santa has to stop, so we can talk to him on Christmas Eve."

"Get down here now! Both of you!" The Kid swallowed hard, desperate to have his son safely on the ground, and determined to have it out with his partner about what the hell he'd been thinking.

Heyes of course merely shrugged at him, before continuing to wrestle with the thing he was keeping upright between his knees, but Tom scrambling to obey, suddenly to Kid's horror, overbalanced and began to fall. Heyes finally letting go of the strange contraption he was fighting with, attempted to grab hold of him, but instead of that stopping him, it only meant that they both started to slide down towards the ground in disorganised tandem. They landed with a slight thump up to their neck in the large pile of snow that had been been swept in by a storm a few days ago, which neither Kid or Heyes had got round to clearing yet.

Kid advanced on them, his heart thudding in his ears, angrier at his partner then his son. He was about to launch into an angry tirade, when his son's voice stopped him in his tracks. "I just had to make sure Santa'd got my letter asking that he find Ma and bring her home. I was hoping she'd be with him on his sleigh, so we could surprise ya on Christmas morning."

Heyes turned nearly the same colour as the snow surrounding him and looked over at his friend, horror on his face and murmured softly as he shook his head. "I swear Kid, I didn't know that was why he wanted to do this!"

This first Christmas without Maggie, was always going to be hard, but it was turning out to be quite possibly even worse than Kid had feared. He ducked his head quickly to hide his his face and give himself time to control the sudden pain that he knew had crossed it, and said sharply still looking at his feet. "I'll bring a shovel... after I get dressed."

By the time Kid had rapidly pulled on his clothes and coat, and was marching over to their small storage shed, to retrieve the promised shovel, he had regained some control, and was desperately trying to think of a way to explain to his son, that life unfortunately didn't work the way he hoped it did. Tears couldn't be avoided of course, but they were surely better shed now, because that would hopefully avoid devastation on Christmas morning, when Maggie would be nowhere to be found.

He spied the shovel in the gloom of the shed, and grabbed hold of it, but on seeing Maggie's saddle, hanging abandoned next to it, he was suddenly swamped by too many memories, which left him unable to move, feeling bereft, angry and short of breath

He wasn't sure how long he'd stood there, before a noise behind him broke the paralysis and he pivoted round. He swallowed hard, but was unable to school the pain out of his expression, when his eyes met Heyes' worried brown ones. His partner was shivering, and water was dripping from just about everywhere, including his nose and hair. The Kid despite his bleak mood, still managed a weak smile at his dishevelled state, though the expression soon faded, as his mind quickly drifted back to the reality of what he had to break to his son.

Heyes with his teeth chattering slightly, said with guilt in his tone. "I managed to get us out pretty easy 'cos the snow was real soft. I handed Tom over to Mrs Greeley, because she's just arrived. I waited outside for you, but when you took longer than I expected to get back, I came to find you." He stopped, likely aware he was rambling, then added awkwardly. "You have to believe me Kid, I would've tried to explain things to him, if I'd known, but I had no clue that's what he was thinking. He's been so sad the last few days, and I know you was struggling too, so I just wanted to try and cheer him up some. I didn't mean no harm."

Kid shrugged, staring at the shovel in his hand, his anger at Heyes had already been replaced by a creeping sense of despair about how he was meant to deal with this, which was making him feel like he been the one who'd ended up in a heap of snow, instead of his friend. "I ain't sure I agree with how you figured on cheering him up, you coulda both got hurt, but what he was thinking ain't your fault. I probably should a seen it comin'." Not sure what else to add, he glanced back at Heyes and sighed, embarrassed at the naked pain he was sure Heyes could read in his face and said brusquely. "Time you was inside getting warm and dry too, 'cos we already got enough to deal with this year, without addin' to our problems by you getting' sick."

X

The Kid was staring blindly at the blazing fire in the hearth, his mind overflowing with a swirl of painful thoughts, when two small hands circled his wrist. He started slightly and looked down into his son's eyes, and his heart skipped as he saw they were reddened and damp with tears. "I'm sorry, Pa, I didn't mean to make you mad. I just thought Ma coming home would be the best present for us, 'cos I know you miss her as much as me."

The Kid gathered his son up into a tight hug, resting his lips on his son's dark hair, so much like his Ma's before he said softly. "Oh son, I do, but you gotta understand people ain't like toys or even puppies. Santa can't just deliver your Ma, cos we both want it so bad it hurts. Your Ma left 'cos she couldn't bear staying with me, maybe one day she'll be back, but it won't be this year and there's nothing I can do to change that, I'm sorry." Kid trailed off, wishing with all his heart that he could.

Tommy struggled out of his arms and pulled away from him, then poked him in the stomach hard, before running out of the living area, shouting over his shoulder as he did so. "You can't do nothing right,Pa!"

Kid watched him go, sank into the armchair nearest the fire and wiped his eyes hurriedly, not surprised to find his hand was damp when he pulled it away. Then after a few minutes of blank staring, suddenly needing to remember that there was something other than making his son cry that he was good at, he jumped to his feet and headed out to practice his shooting. He also, probably vainly, hoped that the easy rhythm of something so familiar, would help him clear his mind, so he could make some attempt to act like the parent his son needed.

X

Heyes carefully staying out of sight, had observed the conversation. He'd winced as Tom stormed off and his throat had tightened at his partner's emotional reaction and hurried exit. Once the front door had slammed shut behind the Kid, Heyes knew he had to help resolve the painful situation that his actions had unwittingly added to.

A few minutes later, he was knocking on Tom's bedroom door firmly, before pulling it open. He hovered just outside the room and his breath caught as his eyes fell on the youngster. He was hunched on his bed, his knees drawn up to his chin, with his arms wound tightly round them, staring at nothing. Though he looked very little like his father, the pose was a painfully familiar one to Heyes, having seen his partner adopt it many times throughout their lives when he had been very unhappy. He cleared his throat and asked softly. "May I come in?"

Tommy shrugged, then nodded as he said in a choked voice. "Pa send ya,'cos he don't want to deal with me no more?"

Heyes blinked and swallowed a sigh as he said. "Oh Tom, you're awful harsh on your Pa. He's doing his best and he don't understand why your Ma left any better than you do." Heyes joined the boy on the bed and drew his stiff body close and wasn't surprised when he sniffed, hung onto his back and started to cry.

"I miss her, Uncle Heyes, her being gone, hurts like nothin' I ever felt before! I hate it."

Heyes' throat felt clogged and he coughed to try and clear it as he said quietly. "I know Tom and your Pa feels just as badly about it as you do. You gotta try and help each other, 'cos your Pa needs you just as much as you need him, even more so, now that your Ma ain't here."

Pleading eyes met his, as Tom puled away to look at him. "You sure Uncle Heyes? Sometimes I'm sure he hates me and thinks it's my fault Ma didn't stay."

It wasn't the first time in the months since Maggie had left, that Tom had said something similar to him, especially after he and his father had butted heads, but no matter how many times Heyes heard them, the words still stung. "Oh Tom, believe me I'm sure. I've known your Pa all his life and I know he don't hate you, not even a little bit and he don't blame no one but himself for your Ma not being here. He's just hurting, the same as you, and he ain't sure how to make things better for either of you, which makes him real snarly. He's always been the same way, so it just means he needs both of our help to see clear."

Heyes had hoped that appealing to the boy's softer nature would work better than yelling at him, and he knew that he'd made the right decision when the boy looked up at him, his expression showing resolution far beyond his years. "Guess I oughta go find him."

"I think he'd appreciate that Tom." Heyes let the boy up, and watched him go, as he rubbed his face, cursing the woman who'd left such a mess behind her, as he had so many times in the last months, and likely would again in the years that followed.

X

The Kid shot what he reluctantly decided had to be his final target until later. He'd knew he could no longer put off talking to Tom, despite not finding any solution he was happy with. As he absently holstered his gun, he also reached into the deep reserves of calm that he'd built up through the years, as an essential skill to deal with the reality of facing down armed men and which he had also needed to keep their old gang under control. But even with everything he'd learnt from his chequered history, he still felt horribly ill-prepared to head back towards the house and face his son again.

He had taken a steadying breath, while telling himself not to be such a coward, and was preparing to start back, when he heard a noise behind him. He twisted round, expecting to see Heyes again, but his stomach flipped a little when he saw it was his son instead. He'd hoped to use the walk back to finally settle on an explanation that would satisfy his son, but it looked like nothing was going his way today.

Tom met his gaze, biting his lip, and as the Kid bent down to greet him, he felt his breath catch, when his son stretched up a hand to gently wipe his face. "You bin crying too Pa?"

Kid could only nod silently, as he put his hands under the boy's knees and brought him up with him in a tight hug as he straightened, before he said softly a little overcome. "Lets get back to the house, it's gonna snow again."

Tom's face was tight against his chest and his voice was muffled as he said. "If Ma ain't gonna be home for Christmas, does that mean Santa might bring me a puppy instead? I'd like Ma back better, but I'd settle for a puppy and maybe some candy." When he got no response, except a strangled chuckle, he unburied his face to look up at his father hopefully.

The Kid's laugh quickly threatened to turn into a sob, when he took note of his son's reddened tear streaked cheeks and still damp eyes, which clearly showed the pain he'd been trying so hard to hide since he'd come to find him. The Kid was amazingly touched by the boy's efforts, but also assailed by guilt, because the boy was far too young to feel the need to comfort his father. With that thought, he finally found the strength to conquer his own raging emotions, and it was with some relief, that he managed to answer his son calmly. "I think that's a real possibility Tommy." His mind drifted to the candy hidden in his bedroom drawer and the puppy waiting to be collected on Christmas Eve from the Fleshing Ranch, as he added. "Them's two of the things I wrote and asked Santa for."

Tom's grip tightened round his neck as he made his final peace offering. "Well, Pa, you can do some stuff right then." The Kid swallowed hard, not able to form a reply, and with his son still in his arms, started to walk back towards the house.

X

Christmas morning dawned cold and dry, though there was still snow piled on the ground in places. Tom ran excitedly outside, even before breakfast, with Heyes and Kid on his heels, and once on the porch, he stopped, gasping in joy when he saw what looked like tiny elf prints on the ground, that then lead up the frost covered walls, before disappearing up onto the still snowy roof.

Kid glanced back at Heyes, who grinned at him. " I thought of it just last night and snuck out while you and Tom were sleeping. I'm sure glad it didn't snow, or I'd have frozen my butt off for nothing." He took a breath, laughed softly, then finished in some satisfaction. "It was worth it though, and it's way better than my original reindeer trap idea. Because at least now, I don't have to explain why we didn't catch nothing, and the wood from that contraption, sure made some fine kindling."

The Kid walked off the porch, to better watch his son gleefully examine the carefully scattered prints, and at the sheer simple joy it brought for the boy, smiled and nodded, both impressed and grateful for his partner's efforts for his son.

Tom's attention was soon drawn to a set of unfamiliar boot prints heading to and from the barn, which Kid figured must also have been Heyes' work. He smiled as Tom laughed and clapped his hands happily, as he exclaimed. "Santa!", before following them to the door and flinging it open, where he was greeted by an excited pup jumping up at him, begging to be held.

"Pa, look Santa did bring us a puppy, just like you asked him to." Tom giggled helplessly as he fell backwards with the pup licking his face with great enthusiasm on top of him.

Heyes came up behind the Kid and rested his hand on his shoulder. "I know it ain't easy, Kid, but you're doing good, much more than his Ma was willing to do and coping miles better than many men would manage. I know it don't always feel like it, but he does love you, just the same as you love him." Heyes trailed off obviously a little embarrassed, but the Kid was too grateful to him for his words, to feel awkward over his partner's rare expression of open affectionate support.

Not moving his gaze from his son, he replied quietly. "I'll try and remember that Heyes, but I sure can't promise I won't forget from time to time."

Heyes laughed as he too continued to watch Tom and the pup romp in the snow, then added firmly. "Well seeing as I ain't going nowhere, Kid, I'll be here to remind you of it, till you're so tired of listening to me, you'll agree to whatever I'm saying, just for some peace."

Kid snorted and let his wry amusement show as he replied. "Well that's sure bin the story of my life thus far Heyes, so there ain't much point in expecting anything different even now." Though he didn't add, and 'I wouldn't have it any other way,' when his partner briefly tightened his hold on his shoulder, before releasing his grip, but not moving his hand, as he chuckled soft and warm, he knew that Heyes had heard it anyway.

While his life wasn't turning out exactly how he'd hoped, and he knew that there would be more trouble in the years to come, the Kid was also very aware, given their past, that there were certainly far more difficult futures that he could be facing, and he took a lot of comfort in that simple fact. He smiled then, grateful for the support so freely offered in the warmth of his friend's touch, and felt contentment steal over him, as together they watched Tom happily playing in the sparkling snow strewn grounds of their home.