Closing Excerpt from The Clementine Ingredient:

"You have the picture with you?' Heyes asked as they rode the stage from Santa Marta to Yuma.

"It's going right back into the safe deposit box in the bank in Denver," Clem replied."

"Just remember Clem, don't ever lose it," Kid warned...

0-0-0-0-0

The Case of the Missing Picture

Clementine Hale paced nervously waiting for the eastbound train from Cheyenne to arrive. When she had written to Kid and Heyes in care of Sheriff Lom Trevers of Porterville, she had conveniently omitted the reason for the urgent request that they come to Denver, telling them only that circumstances regarding their safety had arisen and she needed to see them both as soon as possible.

She had sent the letter over a month ago, but it took Lom that long to track down the two former outlaws and forward the letter to them. Both knew, or at least suspected that Clem's request somehow involved the only picture in existence of the two of them, so fearing the worst, they immediately set out for Denver.

Clem watched as the passengers disembarked the train and she chewed her lip nervously when it became obvious that neither Heyes nor Curry were onboard. This was the forth train in as many days that Clem had met and each passing day without the arrival of her two dearest friends just added to her growing anxiety.

Feeling disappointed and frustrated, Clem made her way to her carriage and climbed in. Unwrapping the reins from the brake, Clem skillfully backed the horses into the street, then pulled to the right and urged them down Main street, past the courthouse, the Denver Bank, and the Brown Palace Hotel as she headed to the edge of town and down the dirt road the led to her house.

Clem pulled the carriage up to the hitching post and climbed out, having decided she would change her clothes before taking the horse to the barn. "Maybe tomorrow," she said as she stroked the mare's nose, then ambled up the path to her front porch. She pulled the house key from her purse and unlocked the door.

"Heyes! Kid! How did you get in here?" Clem demanded when she walked inside and found them both sitting at her kitchen table.

"Heyes carries a lock pick in his pocket," Kid explained, then stood and held his arms out.

Clem jumped into Kid's arms and kissed him repeatedly.

"Alright now, my turn," Heyes said as he too got up from his chair and awaited a similar greeting.

"Now what is so urgent to summon us to Denver?' Kid asked.

"You got my letter?"

"Nope. Got a telegram from Lom saying he was forwarding an urgent letter from you. We figured that meant you were in some kind of trouble so we left for Denver before the letter arrived," Heyes explained.

Clem smiled. "I knew I could count on the two of want some coffee?" Are you hungry?" Clem asked nervously.

"Well yes to both, but we also want answers," Heyes replied.

"Let me fix you up something and then we'll talk. Bacon and eggs alright?" Clem asked.

"Clem, we can talk while you cook," Heyes prodded.

Clem pulled a frying pan from a shelf under the sink and set it on the stove. "I suppose you heard the Bank of Denver was robbed six weeks ago?"

"We read they got away with eighty thousand dollars in gold and silver from the vault," Kid said, exchanging a very wary glance with Heyes.

"What else did they get, Clem. Something only of value to the three of us?"

"They opened nearly half the lock boxes. I had several pieces of my mother's jewelry in that lock box."

"What else?" Kid asked.

"Clem, they got the picture, didn't they?" Heyes asked.

Clem turned away from the stove to face them. Again biting her lip, she nodded.

"Who robbed the bank, Clem?" Kid asked. "Please don't tell me it was..."

Clem nodded again. "The Wild Bunch," she said.

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Heyes said with a heavy sigh. "That's kind of outside their usual territory."

"They opened several lock boxes. Are you telling us they have our picture?" Kid asked.

"And my grandmother's jewelry," Clem replied.

"Well I guess you'll just hafta kiss all them things goodbye," Kid replied.

"Don't you want that picture back?' Clem asked.

"Of course we do, but we ain't gonna get it. No one, not even another outlaw, goes prancing into an outlaw gang's camp, Clem. And if they do, they don't live to tell about it," Kid replied.

"I suppose it could be worse," Heyes said. "I don't see the likes of Butch and Sundance doing anything with that picture. They certainly ain't gonna go turning it into some sheriff. They more than likely don't even know who the people in that picture are."

"Heyes, you know what Butch and Sundance look like?" Kid asked.

"Yeah," Heyes replied cautiously.

"Well if we know what they look like, they likely know what we look like. Besides, don't Hognose Griffin ride with them now?"

Heyes nodded. "I think he does at that."

"Well he knows exactly what you and me look like!"

Clem brought a pot of coffee to the table. "If you know someone already in the gang, then it shouldn't be too hard to get invited in."

"Wait a minute," Kid said. "Are you suggesting that Heyes and me go parading into the hideout of the Hole in the Wall Gang?"

"Well, they have my grandmother's jewelry..."

"Not to mention the one item Clem can use to blackmail us, Kid."

"You both know I would never do that!"

"Don't play innocent, we both know you've tried."

"You two think I would have you come all the way here just for that picture?"

"No Clem, you've made it clear that picture ain't your sole motive, but it is one of em."

Clem stood with her mouth agape, then turned abruptly and returned to her cooking.

"We're not even gonna consider this, are we?" Kid whispered to his partner. "I mean, it's the Wild Bunch, Heyes. We'd just be asking for trouble."

"Let's eat, then we'll think on it, Kid."

Kid cringed and scratch his head. "That's what I was afraid of."

After breakfast Kid and Heyes went outside for a brief discussion. When they returned, both wore poker faces, giving Clem no idea what they had decided.

"Clem, if you want those things back, it's gonna cost you handsomely," Heyes told her.

"Cost me? For my own things?"

"Handsomely," Kid replied. "The Wild Bunch ain't a charitable organization."

"They're unscrupulous," she said.

"No. They're outlaws. That just means their scruples are a little different than yours," Heyes explained. "You know the approximate value of that jewelry?"

"I get it appraised every ten years," she told them.

"Well, they don't have it in their hearts to just hand the items back over to us. You're going to hafta come up with the cash for us to barter with or I promise you, you'll never see those family heirlooms again."

"And you likely won't anyway," Kid muttered. "So don't go getting your hopes up."

"But you'll do it?" Clem asked

"What's the value of the jewelry?' Heyes asked.

"The four pieces together add up to somewhere between seven and eight thousand dollars."

"You give us ten thousand and we'll see if we can get your jewelry back. But if there is any money left over, Kid and me get it for our trouble."

"What about the picture?"

"I wouldn't go counting on getting that picture back," Kid said. "It's likely framed on Butch Cassidy's wall by now."

"When do you leave?" Clem asked.

"Just as soon as you get us the money to barter with," Heyes replied.

0-0-00-0-0

Three days later, Heyes and Kid entered Johnson County, Wyoming, a large, desolate area in the Bighorn Mountains. A few cattle ranches dotted the county, but only two towns, Buffalo and Kaycee were even large enough to be incorporated. The mountains were rugged and passes into and through the mountains were nearly nonexistent. This made the area ideal for hideouts for outlaw gangs, and the Hole in the Wall hideout for the gang known as The Wild Bunch was by far the most difficult to find and enter.

Riding the poorly defined trail of the Hole in the Wall Pass, both Heyes and the Kid kept sharp eyes out along the ridges for lookouts, members of The Wild Bunch gang eager to deny and prevent entry by strangers. The money Clem had managed to come up with had been divided between them and then subdivided with some going in their pockets, some in their boots. If they were able to barter for some of Clem's jewelry, they didn't want anyone in the Wild Bunch to see all their cash at once. The Wild Bunch were outlaws and, being former outlaws themselves, Kid and Heyes knew Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would think nothing of confiscating all their money if given the opportunity.

"Their hideout must be really deep into those ridges up there. We've been traveling more than half a day in these mountains and haven't seen a sign of any lookouts," Kid commented.

"That's likely why no one's ever been able to catch em, Kid. They've likely been watching us for hours."

"Uh-uh. I've been thinking the same thing. You really think that picture's worth all this trouble?"

"If we was just talking about the Wild Bunch gang, I'd say no. They got no reason to turn that picture over to the law. But if I remember correctly, Hognose carries a definite grudge against you."

"Me? You're the one that gave him the boot, Heyes. All I did was make it perfectly clear to him that you were serious. Even Hognose knows I was just doing my job. If he's holding a grudge, it's against you, not me."

"Well, I gave him the boot as you call it, because he had the audacity to try to add horse stealing to the gang's list of crimes, and I always made it clear to everyone that the Devil's Hole gang don't do no crimes that could get any of us hung. Prison is one thing, hanging is another."

"You suppose Butch and Sundance don't know about his horse stealing?"

"I would guess not. Butch has always struck me as a reputable leader, a man of some principle. Why I think there was a day when I might have even considered riding with that gang."

"Well, I sure as hell ain't gonna be the one to tell em they got a horse thief among em."

Heyes shook his head. "I think that's a very wise decision, Kid. Who they decide to let into their gang is their business, not ours."

"You think everything they say about them two is true, Heyes?"

"Like what?"

"Like they pulled off the biggest bank heist in history."

"I think that's likely true being as it's probably on record somewhere."

"Alright, how about like Butch tried to get into the amnesty program in Utah?"

"I think that one's a bit hard to believe, Kid. But, if Wyoming was willing to let us into the amnesty program, I suppose there is a remote possibility that Utah did the same for Butch."

"What about the rumor that the reason The Wild Bunch is able to evade the Pinkerton Detectives is because on of the gang members helped organize that agency?"

"Another one that's pretty hard to believe."

"So you don't think much that's said about them is true?"

Heyes smiled. "About as true as everything that's said about you and me. Reputations are a strange thing, Kid. They tend to be exaggerated beyond believability, yet a lot of folks believe them all the same."

"Well if we don't come across the Hole in the Wall camp soon, Heyes, we're gonna be in the valley on the other side of these mountains."

Kid had no more spoken these words than he and Heyes suddenly found themselves surrounded by half a dozen men on horses, and half a dozen guns pointed right at them. They brought their horses to a rapid halt and raised their hands in the air.

"Who are you?" Black Jack Ketchum demanded.

"I'm Hannibal Heyes and this is Kid Curry."

Ketchum eyed the two men suspiciously. "Sure you are, now drop your guns to the ground."

Heyes and Kid slowly and carefully pulled their guns from their holsters and dropped them onto the dirt. Ketchum motioned to Al Smith to retrieve the guns which he quickly did.

"They're telling the truth," another man said. "I used to ride with em."

"Hognose?" Kid asked.

"It's Flat Nose now. I figured after that little misunderstanding with you and Heyes, I'd best change my name just in case the law were to catch up with me."

Heyes gave Kid a sideways glance. "Yeah, changing your name like that was probably some smart thinking on your part," Heyes replied.

"If you're Heyes and Curry, what are you doing up here?" Ketchem demanded.

"Came to talk to Butch and Sundance about a private matter," Heyes replied.

"What kind of private matter?" Ketchem asked.

"The private kind," Kid replied.

"Don't get smart with me," Ketchem warned.

"I'll vouch for them," Flat Nose added.

"Flat Nose, if you're wrong, you'll answer to Butch."

Flat Nose nodded agreeably.

"Take their reins," Ketchem instructed two of the outlaws. "And their rifles."

Heyes and Kid were led slowly up through a long, winding path that ended at the Hole in the Wall compound, a large, flat, open area with buildings similar to those at Devil's Hole. Near the center of the compound stood a small cabin with a long, wide porch. Bringing their horses to a stop at the hitching post, Kid and Heyes were instructed to remain in their saddles.

Emerging from the cabin was a tall, slender man with short cropped hair and stark blue eyes that rivaled those of Heyes' partner. In fact, Heyes was struck by the facial similarities of Butch Cassidy and Kid Curry. Kid had a stockier build than the leader of the Wild Bunch, but their facial features were so similar, they could pass for brothers.

Kid's eyes were more focused on the second man who emerged from the cabin. Like Kid, this man moved quietly and stayed somewhat in the background, keeping a watchful eye on the two strangers. His hair was slightly longer than his partners, and lighter in color. He wore a mustache that was much darker than the hair on his head, and he wore his gun low about the hip and tied down just as Kid did. Kid watched the man's right hand that did not venture far from his holster.

Kid's own hand fell slowly but instinctively toward his empty holster while his left hand rested casually on the horn of his saddle.

"What do we have here?" Butch asked as he leaned against the post at the top of the steps.

"Says they're Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry," Ketchem called out to him. "Flat Nose says he knows em and can vouch for em."

Butch's eyes moved to Flat Nose, waiting for a confirmation.

"I rode with em for a time. They're who they say they are."

"In that case, we should offer them a bit of hospitality. Come in, gentlemen. I hope you understand that your guns will remain in our possession, for the time being at least," Butch said with a smile.

Ketchem gave Kid and Heyes a nod and both men slowly dismounted from their horses and approached the cabin.

"I'm Hannibal Heyes and this is my partner, Kid Curry," Heyes told Butch.

"I'm Butch," the man said with a smile, then gave his head a nod toward the man still standing in the background. "He's Sundance."

"A pleasure to meet you both," Heyes replied.

"You say you have some business with me?"

"Some private business, if you don't mind," Heyes replied.

"Come in gentlemen. You won't mind if Sundance joins us? Keeps the scales even if you know what I mean."

Keeps the scales dipping to your advantage being as you're the only ones with guns, Kid thought, but made no actual comment.

"Don't mind at all. Come on, Kid," Heyes said and followed Butch into the cabin while Sundance fell in line behind Heyes and Kid.

Inside, Butch gestured to the chairs around a small rectangular table. Heyes and Kid slipped into chairs, but Sundance moved to a spot behind the foot of the table that offered a good view of all the chairs. There he remained standing.

Butch brought a bottle of whiskey and four shot glass to the table and filled and handed out each glass before taking his seat at the head of the table. "Now, what is so important as to risk your lives coming up here?" he asked.

"Well, it's our understanding that the Wild Bunch robbed the Denver Bank a few weeks ago, and a friend of ours, a close personal, female friend of ours, lost a few small family heirlooms that she had in a safe deposit box. She was hoping that maybe Kid and me could negotiate their return."

Butch's amused smile at his partner did not go unnoticed by Heyes and Kid. "Is that something the Devil's Hole gang is accustomed to doing, returning items after a robbery?' Butch asked.

"No, but the Devil's Hole gang don't steal from common folk, neither," Kid replied, his blue eyes meeting Butch's and holding the gaze in what Heyes saw as a sort of unspoken contest.

"What Kid said is true but, every gang's got their own set of rules, I suppose," Heyes said, trying to support his partner while at the same time, easing the tension a bit.

"You say this lady is a special friend?" Butch asked, turning his gaze toward Heyes.

"Clementine Hale is to Kid and me what Etta Place is to you and Sundance. That's why we were willing to ride up here and do her bidding for her," Heyes explained.

"And just what are these heirlooms?" Sundance asked.

Kid reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a list of four items that Clem had carefully described. He handed the list to Sundance who looked at it carefully, then nodded to Butch that he knew what items the list entailed.

"And there's one other item," Heyes added. "It's a photograph of Miss Hale and the two of us."

Butch looked up at Sundance and smiled, realizing the real purpose of their visit.

"I always heard there were no pictures of the two of you," Sundance remarked.

"Well, no known pictures," Heyes explained.

"So that's what you're really here for," Butch said.

"I ain't gonna lie to you. That picture is important to Kid and me. You understand what a picture like that could mean if it was to fall into the wrong hands. But Miss Hale's jewelry is important to us as well."

"You come across a picture?' Butch asked his partner.

"Yep," Sundance replied.

Butch gave his head a nod and Sundance walked into a back bedroom, returning a few minutes later with the items in question. Heyes looked at Kid and smiled when he saw the picture in Sundance's hand.

"Now what do you suppose would be a fair price?' Butch asked with some amusement in his voice and both Heyes and Kid knew they were no closer to having the items in their possession than they had been when they arrived.

"I suppose you have a figure in mind?" Heyes asked.

Butch grinned. "More like a...competition," he replied. "Us and the boys went to a lot of trouble to obtain thee things. Seems only fair the two of you earn the right to buy em back from us."

Kid and Heyes exchanged very wary glances.

"Earn the right to buy em back?" Kid asked with some skepticism in his voice.

"What kind of competition?' Heyes asked.

"A sporting competition. I like the two of you. I like that you weren't afraid to come after something you feel belongs to you. That shows some courage. But, as outlaws yourselves, I'm sure you can understand our reluctance to just hand over something that we went to a lot of time and trouble to obtain."

"You saying if we win, you'll just give us that picture and Clem's jewelry free and clear?' Kid asked.

"Nope. What I said was if you win, we'll let you have those things for an agreed upon and fair price," Butch replied.

"And if we lose?" Heyes asked.

Butch drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, enjoying having the upper hand over two rival outlaws. "If you lose, the items stay in our possession, to do with as we please, which likely means they'll go to the highest bidder."

"You wouldn't..." Heyes replied.

"Don't be so certain, Mr. Heyes."

"So just what does this competition entail?' Kid asked.

Butch gave his some serious thought. "I tell you what, you boys certainly know your strong points, and we of curse know ours. I understand Curry has quite the reputation with a gun, but I know for a fact that Sundance is the best I've ever seen. We'll have three contest categories. Shooting will be one category. You and Kid chose another, and Sundance and I will chose the third. The winner of two out of three wins the competition.

"Kid and me will want to give this some thought," Heyes replied.

"Of course. You'll be our guests for a couple of days. Tonight you can talk it over and decide what event you wish to choose."

"The shooting is just between Kid and Sundance, so seems only right another category should be just between you and me," Heyes told Butch. "So the third should include all four of us."

Butch nodded. "Which of those two would you like to choose, the one between the two of us, or the one between the four of us?"

"I think...the one between the four of us."

"Done." Butch replied.

"And one more thing," Heyes said.

"What's that?"

"We don't announce what the next event is until the one in progress is done. That way we each get the advantage of surprise.

Butch smiled. "I can see how you got to be a leader, Heyes. You understand the element of surprise. Done. Now, the two of you will be our guests for dinner. After that, there's a spare room in the bunkhouse the two of you can share."

0-0-0-0-0-0

"This is just dumb!" Kid shouted as he paced the room he and Heyes had been given in the bunkhouse.

"Sush. Keep your voice down. You got any doubt that them boys in the next room ain't trying to hear every word we say?" Heyes reminded him.

"Heyes, I've heard stories and the Sundance Kid is a very skilled fast draw. Probably as good and as fast as me," Kid said, his voice still irate but now in a much more hushed tone.

"Kid, I've got full confidence in you. Why we both know when the stakes are high, you can out rattle a rattle snake."

"What?'

"You know what I mean. This is the bet opportunity we've ever had to finally getting our hands on that picture. That alone will be incentive enough for you to win the shooting contest."

"Alright, suppose I do win that contest, then what? Aside from opening a safe, what sort of competition can we choose that will guarantee us a victory? And don't say tracking because you ain't, and you never were the champeen tracker in all of Southern Utah and neither one of us is particularly good with a rifle."

Heyes nodded. "But I do like the idea of some sort of sporting event."

"Heyes, except for bronc busting and some roping and branding, have you ever actually played any sport in you life?"

"I suppose you could consider poker a sport..."

Kid stopped in his tracks, He actually rather liked the idea. "You suppose they are any good?"

"That's the only problem. I have no idea, and if we go out there and ask them fellas in the next room, they're gonna tell us they are very good, even if they ain't."

"So scratch that idea?"

Heyes sighed. "I suppose so, Kid."

"Heyes, we gotta come up with something by morning."

"I know. Think hard, Kid. Think about everything we've ever heard about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. There's got to be a flaw somewhere..."

It was four in the morning of a sleepless night that Heyes came up with the perfect event. "Kid, wake up. I've got it!" he whispered loudly as he gave his partner a hard nudge to the ribs.

"Got what?" Kid demanded as he reached instinctively for his still empty holster that hung on the bedpost.

"I've got the perfect contest"

Kid let his head fall back down on the pillow and sighed wearily. "Is that what you've been doing all night? Thinking?"

"I do my best thinking in the middle of the night, you know that."

"Uh-uh, and I do my best sleeping. You should try it, Heyes."

"Don't you want to know my idea?"

"I wanna, but I'd rather hear it in the morning," Kid replied and turned on his side, away from his partner.

"Alright, if that's the way you're gonna be," Heyes replied, trying to plant a seed of guilt.

But telling Kid his devious plan was thwarted by the sound of Kid once again snoring.

0-0-0-0-0

The next morning Heyes and Kid were invited, and escorted, to the leader's cabin for breakfast. The cabin was set up in much the same way as the Devil's Hole cabin was, but this cabin was a bit less plain. It had a large bearskin rug in the main room. Two large leather chairs framed a large river rock fireplace, and an expensively upholstered settee decorated the sitting area of the room. It was obvious to Heyes that Butch and Sundance enjoyed some of the finer things in life and were willing to spend at least some of their stolen money on life's little comforts.

"I trust you slept well?" Butch asked them.

"One of us did," Heyes replied.

Butch laughed. "I take it you came up with a contest challenge?"

Heyes nodded and sipped some coffee. "Did you?" he asked.

"We did," Butch replied. "The first contest can take place this afternoon. I'll have new targets nailed to the trees in the shooting range so it will be easy to determine a winner."

"I'll be needing my gun for a cleaning before that," Kid told them.

Butched walked across the room and pulled Kid's gun down from the mantle over the fireplace and brought it to the table when he set it down. "Looks like it's already been recently cleaned," he said.

"My gun's always been recently cleaned," Kid replied and reached to the center of the table, picked up his gun, holstered it, and secured the loop keeping it securely in place.

"I took the liberty of looking at your gun last evening," Sundance told Kid. "Nice balance, not the kind you can buy."

"Balance is important in a gun," Kid replied, deciding a discussion of the merits of gun features would be best delayed until after the contest.

"And what challenge did you come up with?" Butch asked Heyes.

"Oh no. We agreed to keep our ideas a secret. I will say that we'll save ours for the last contest, the deciding contest if there should happen to be a tie after the first two."

"Alright, Butch agreed. "We'll meet at the shooting range at noon. Flat Nose will show you where it's located. I'm sure all the men will want to watch this, to see if Kid Curry really is as good as people say."

"Learned a long time ago not to put much stock in what people say. The fact is no matter how fast a man is with a gun, there's always someone out there that's faster."

"Maybe that someone is Sundance," Butch replied, trying to chip away at Kid's confidence.

"I guess time will tell," Kid replied, giving Butch a confident and cold, hard look.

0-0-0-0-0-0

All the Wild Bunch gang had gathered to watch the shooting contest and Ketchum was even taking wagers on who would be the winner. Fearful of the potential wrath of the Sundance Kid, most were betting on him, but a couple of brave souls, Flat Nose being one, placed sizable wagers on Kid Curry.

Two bullseye targets had been nailed to two trees exactly exactly thirty yards from the line crudely painted in the grass, behind which both Kid and Sundance stood.

"We set up two sets of six bottles along those two logs," Butch said, pointing to the site just to the west of where Kid and Sundance stood. You can each take six practice shots to empty your guns. Then you'll each be given eighteen bullets to shoot at the bullseye targets. The man who gets the most shots nearest the bullseye, wins."

Sundance pulled his gun from his holster and checked the chamber. Then he moved to face the six bottles lined up on a log. He reholstered his gun, settled into a comfortable stance, then drew and fired off six shots in rapid succession. All six bottles fell.

"Your turn, Mr. Curry.

Kid too turned to face the bottles. But instead of assuming a stance, Kid pulled a single bullet from his gun belt, gave an intimidating glance at his competitor, then tossed the single bullet high into the air, drew his gun and fired, hitting the bullet before it began its descent. The bullet ignited in a quick flash of light and Kid reholstered his gun.

"I'm done," Kid announced and a murmur could be heard among the spectators.

Sundance maintained an unimpressed expression until Butch stood in front of him to hand him the eighteen bullets. Then his eyes widened for only an instant, but in that instant Kid saw that his shot had achieved its intended purpose. Kid didn't give Heyes so much as a glance, but Heyes knew Kid's confidence had just soared.

Each man loaded his gun and moved into position behind the painted line. Neither gave the other so much as a glance as each of them emptied their guns on the designated target, then reloaded and again took aim and fired. Kid was finished shooting a couple of seconds before Sundance, but when the eighteen rounds had been fired, both Kid and Sundance remained where they stood as Heyes and Butch walked up to the targets to inspect the holes.

Sundance watched as Butch turned toward the small crowd, his eyes settling on his partner as he shook his head.

"Sundance has thirteen shots within the bullseye. Curry had...seventeen. That was some very fine shooting," Butch admitted begrudgingly.

"That's the fastest I've ever seen," Sundance said, not hiding the admiration he had for Kid's skills.

"Well, we both know it won't last forecver. There's always somebody new coming along," Kid replied.

"So what's the next contest?" Heyes asked as the few winning bet makers gathered around Ketchem to collect their winnings, and Sundance offered Kid a congratulatory handshake.

"Horse race," Butch announced. "The four of us will ride the route this afternoon and you and I will race tomorrow."

0-0-0-0-0

That afternoon Butch and Sundance led Heyes and Kid along a five mile winding road with a single fork that took a wide swing back to the Hole in the Wall compound.

"I will say you have the ideal spot for your hideout," Heyes said as they followed the fork to return to the compound. "You can see the valley for miles and the Hole in the Wall Pass would be impossible to climb without being an open target. No way for a posse to forge through. Just too easy to pick em all off like targets at a shooting gallery."

Butch nodded. "Lucky for us the lawmen have more sense than to try to make their way up here. Likely that way with the Devil's Hole camp, too. Outsiders just ain't welcome."

With his back to Butch, Heyes gave Kid a sideways glance, and saw that Kid understood the insinuation as well as he did. Neither let on to Butch that they had noticed the insult.

"Look down there Kid, is that a crater lake I'm seeing?"

The lake was no more than half a mile wide and maybe three quarters of a mile long and several sections had a thick border of trees. The lake itself bore a rich blue color and the sunlight sparkled and danced across the surface.

"It appears to be," Kid replied, but his attention was focused on the horse Butch was riding. This riding competition was between Butch and Heyes and Kid knew Heyes' sorrel was not what one would ever call a racer. But he also knew Heyes was a very good rider and could draw every ounce of speed needed from that steed. The horse Butch had ridden was of a stockier build, but smaller by at least one hand. Still, while he knew the race would be close, Kid was confident that Heyes could pull off the win.

"That's Bass Lake," Butch told them. "Only water supply for travelers for fifty miles in any direction, which is another reason any posse is reluctant to venture up here."

Heyes smiled. "Reminds me of the old swimming hole we had when we was kids. We'd fish and go swimming every Saturday afternoon. Suppose that's true of most every boy who grew up on a farm or a ranch."

"Suppose you're right," Butch said. "We had one a couple miles from our homestead back in Utah when I was growing up."

"How about you, Sundance? You spend your Saturdays fishing and swimming as a boy?" Heyes asked.

"Never really took a shine to such sports," Sundance replied. "A little fishing, maybe," he added.

"Looks like a fine spot for a bath," Kid said to his partner, but noticed Heyes' attention was so focused on Sundance that Kid knew Heyes was actually studying the man and, though he didn't know just why, Kid could see by his partner's expression that the seeds of a plan were quickly sprouting.

"Yeah, when I was a boy, we had a twenty foot rope tied to a high branch of a tree that stretched out over the pond. We'd climb that tree and swing out as far as we could and let go and just free fall into the water. You remember that, Kid?"

"I remember touching the bottom of the pond once and kicking off as hard as I could to push myself up to the surface, all the while thinking I was gonna drown," Kid replied.

"That's why your pa made sure you could swim by the time you was four or five. Mine did too. They knew a boy couldn't keep away from just an inviting swimming hole."

Butch smiled. "We had a rope swing, too, and I know exactly what you're talking about, Kid."

As they moved past the view of the pond, the conversation died away, but Heyes noted just how quiet Sundance had been, and he easily surmised the reason.

0-0-0-0-0

The next morning Kid helped Heyes saddle his sorrel and Kid noticed the horse Butch had ridden the previous day was still in his stall. Still, it came as quite the surprise to both Kid and Heyes when Butch showed up at the starting point riding an American Quarter horse, no more than seven or eight years old, and of a lean though visibly muscular build.

"That's the horse you're riding?" Heyes asked, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

The horse was a rich golden brown with a jet black mane and tail, a white diamond on his forehead, and four perfectly matched black socks. In addition, he stood a full eighteen hands tall, almost towering over Heyes' sixteen and a quarter hands tall sorrel.

"This is Hellfire, my getaway horse," Butch replied.

Heyes gave Kid a worried look and Kid did his best to maintain an encouraging and confident look in response, but both knew the likelihood of Heyes winning the race had just been shattered like a pane of glass met with artillery fire.

"Hope your plan gives us an advantage like that, Heyes, cause we just lost this race before it's even started," Kid mumbled to his partner.

"We've got three men posted along the road to make sure we both stay honest," Butch said as he waited for Heyes to check his cinch and mount his horse.

"Don't worry, Kid, even if I lose this race, the contest I have in mind for the four of us is a sure fire win for us. We'll come out ahead in the end."

"Focus on the race, Heyes, and don't start counting your chickens before they hatch," Kid replied.

Sundance stood at the spot that was to begin the race. In his hand was a white pillowcase tied to a stick of wood.

"On you mark," Sundance shouted and Heyes and Butch brought their horses side by side and waited while Kid took a few steps back but stayed where he was, close to his partner.

"Get set..."

Sundance dropped the white flag and both men spurred their horses into a hard gallop and the men watching all cheered. Kid watched the two riders until they were out of sight, then walked up to Sundance and waited there beside him at the finish line.

"Don't think this one is much of a contest," Sundance said in a very matter of fact tone, devoid of any gloating.

"Afraid I hafta agree with you. That's a fine horse your partner is riding."

"Butch raised him from a colt. They understand each other," Sundance replied. "You know, that was some very fine shooting on your part yesterday. Where did you learn that shooting the bullet trick?"

"Saw it done at a trick show back in Kansas when I was a kid. Figured I could teach myself to do it. Lost a lot of good bullets in the process."

Sundance grinned. "I bet you did. Tell me, is there any truth to them rumors about you and Heyes trying to get an amnesty?"

Kid nodded. "Been at it for almost three years. We're doing our part to earn it, but the governor keeps coming up with excuses not to grant it. The waiting gets old pretty fast."

"Butch tried for that up in Utah but only stayed at it a couple of months. Missed the money too much I suppose."

Kid nodded. While he had no desire to return to the outlaw life, he did miss the large amounts of money that were occasionally in his possession.

"It's one thing running from a posse when you just robbed a bank or a train, but now they just show up outta the blue, bounty hunters, too. We still got bounties on our heads, and if we are caught, we still face twenty years in prison. Don't know as I'd agree to the deal today, knowing what I know now."

"How long you gotta do that?"

Kid shook his head. "Wyoming's been going through governors like corn cobs in an outhouse. No telling how long."

"Can't just ride out the time in Mexico or South America?"

"Suppose we could but Heyes and me don't speak South American, and we like the west."

Sundance nodded. "Butch and me always figured we'd head to South America if things ever got too hot here. Etta's been trying to teach us some Spanish. 'Esto es un atraco. Danos todo tu dinero,'" Sundance said proudly.

"What's that mean?' Kid asked.

"This is a holdup. Give us all your money."

Kid laughed. "Now that's some Spanish I wouldn't mind learning."

"What do the two of you have planned for the next contest?" Sundance asked.

Kid grinned. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. Heyes came up with something but when he tried to tell me, I fell asleep."

"I know the feeling. Every time Butch comes up with a plan he expects the whole world to stop and hear just how brilliant it is."

"I gotta admit, Heyes' plans usually are pretty brilliant."

"Oh sure they are. I heard them stories about the Devil's Hole gang dragging that safe up a mountain."

"You trying to tell me the Wild Bunch wouldda just walked away from fifty thousand dollars?" Kid asked, not admitting they were not successful in their attempts to open the safe, or that the safe ended up in the bottom on a pond.

"No, you're right. We likely would of done the same."

"Hey, here they come! Ketchem shouted and everyone turned their attention to the road where a cloud of dust billowed into the air.

Kid was surprised at just how well the sorrel was keeping pace as the two horses were nearly neck and neck, though it was obvious that the Quarter horse had some advantage. But the two horses were not even a full body length apart when first Butch, then Heyes crossed the finish line.

"Well, I guess we're on to the tie breaker," Sundance remarked as he walked away to congratulate his partner.

"Come on, Heyes, let's go get your horse cooled down," Kid said as he took the reins and walked the sorrel and his partner toward the barn.

0-0-0-0-0

"So Mr. Heyes, you've been keeping us in suspense long enough. What is the competition you have in mind?" Butch asked the next morning over a cup of coffee on the porch of the leader's cabin.

"A sort of relay," Heyes replied. "That lake we saw yesterday morning looked to be about a half a mile wide."

Sundance gave Butch a worried glance at the mention of the lake.

"I'm thinking a two team relay race. One man swims the width of the pond, the partner does the same to the opposite shore. First team to finish, wins."

"Oh no, Butch. I ain't swimming the width of that pond," Sundance immediately protested.

"It can't be more than a quarter of a mile," Kid argued. "You happen to know how deep it is?"

"It's shallow," Butch replied. "Not more than ten, maybe twenty feet at its deepest point."

"Butch, I ain't swimming it," Sundance stated adamantly.

Heyes shrugged. "I suppose you could forfeit. Of course that would mean Kid and me won."

"Suppose I was to swim both ways?' Butch asked.

"Then it wouldn't be a two person relay, would it?" Heyes replied.

"What if we was to substitute someone for Sundance?" Butch asked.

Heyes shook his head. "No, you're the one that came up with this competition idea. We're not going to go changing the rules this far into it."

"I ain't swimming that pond," Sundance again announced.

"Is there a reason why you're so adamant about this?" Butch asked his partner.

Sundance winced and gave his head a single, sharp nod."

"Well?" Butch asked.

"Because I got me an aversion to lake water," he replied, unwilling to share the true reason with strangers, or even his partner.

"Then get over it," Butch announced. "The relay will begin at two this afternoon."

0-0-0-0-0

"What do you suppose the problem is with Sundance, Heyes? Man's got a fear of lake water?" Kid asked quietly as he and Heyes rode several paces behind Butch and Sundance toward the pond they had seen the day before.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I know what the problem is, Kid. The Sundance Kid can't swim."

"He can't swim? How do you know that?"

"I don't know it for a fact, just an educated guess."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"The way he was looking at the lake yesterday, like it was some kind of a threat to him, plus the fact he said he didn't frequent the local swimming hole as a kid. What kind of kid doesn't like swimming?"

"The kind that don't know how," Kid whispered. "But being as that is just an educated guess on your part, you're taking a big risk choosing a swimming contest, Heyes."

"I got another educated guess," Heyes replied. "I'm guessing none of the gang members came along to watch this because Sundance don't want everyone discovering his little shortcoming."

"Just hope you're right about this one, Heyes."

Ahead of Kid and Heyes, and also out of earshot, Butch tried to discover just what Sundance's reservation was about this event. Sundance, on the other hand, was his typical reticent self, a man of few words and, like his Devil's Hole counterpart, a man easily driven to irritation by his partner.

"It ain't more than a half a mile swim," Butch reminded his partner. "And the water is shallow enough you can likely walk most of it. So why are you so against this little competition?"

"Ain't been in favor of this from the beginning, a bunch of grown men acting like ten year olds."

"I'm not buying that argument, Sundance. You like a little friendly compitition as much as the next fella. Besides, didn't hear you complaining with the first two races. Now what's your real reason?'

"Just think the leader of a gang should rise above such foolishness."

"Thats why you told the boys they couldn't come and watch? But you had no compunctions about them watching the other two events?"

Sundance winced. He didn't realize Butch was aware of his telling the others they could not come.

"Or is there another reason you didn't want the boys watching you dog paddle across the pond?"

Sundance gave a quick look behind him to be sure Heyes and Kid were far enough behind not to hear their conversation.

"Butch, I know as well as you do that you're gonna give them two what they came here for, so why are you dragging it out like this?"

"Like I said, it don't hurt for us to have a little fun, and they don't seem to mind too much."

"I lost the first contest. What are the boys gonna think if we drop this one, too?"

That prospect had not occurred to Butch and he realized suddenly that losing could well stir some negative connotations among the group.

"We can win and still concede the jewelry to em. Maybe even charge them a little extra cause they lost."

"I'm telling you Butch, they ain't gonna lose this one."

"You're adamant about not competing?"

"I am."

"Alright, it's just the four of us out here. Maybe we could negotiate some sort of respectable compromise."

Sundance looked at his partner and gave him a satisfied nod of his head.

Arriving at the edge of the small lake, the four men dismounted and tethered their horses to nearby bushes. Then the four men walked down to the shore, each looking out across the lake.

A gentle but cool breeze blew across the water causing tiny white capped waves and Heyes decided the chill in the air presented an ideal opportunity. "Didn't realize how cool it is today with that breeze coming in off that water," he said without aiming his comment to anyone in particular.

"You got a change of heart here?' Kid asked.

Heyes shook his head. "No, just thinking that muscles like to cramp up when they're cold and hafta do something strenuous like swimming the width of this pond as fast as we can."

Sundance gave his partner an encouraging glance.

"I m suppose we could consider another option," Butch said. "You have any suggestions, Heyes?"

"Well, there's nobody around to see what we decide and Kid is prone to getting sick when he's out in the cold like this..."

"I am?' Kid asked.

"You suggesting you and the Kid forfeit?" Butch asked.

"Oh no. Me and Kid don't give up just cause Kid might get the sniffles, but maybe a different bet instead."

"Like what?" Sundance asked.

Heyes shrugged, "Like...flip a coin?"

"Who's coin?' Kid automatically asked as he was well aware of his track record for such wagers with his partner.

Heyes reached into his pocket and pulled out a two bit coin. He dropped it in the open palm of his left hand and held it out for inspection.

Butch reached out and took the coin in his own hand to inspect it. When he was satisfied, he handed the coin to Sundance.

"Just one toss? Sundance asked and handed the coin to Kid.

"Best two outta three?" Heyes suggested.

Butch and Sundance looked at each other before both nodded their heads.

"Sounds fair," Butch replied. "But first, we settle on a a money amount. The deal was, if you two win, we'll let you buy those things back, remember?"

"We remember. Now what do you think is a fair price?" Heyes asked.

"I'm not an expert on jewelry, but if someone puts fancy pieces in a lock box, they must have some value. Let's say...two thousand dollars a piece, and only if you win the coin toss."

Heyes looked to Kid who nodded to indicate he thought the price was agreeable. He slipped one hand in his pocket and crossed his fingers, hoping Butch and Sundance had the same bad luck as he with Heyes' coin tosses.

"Done," Heyes replied, then took the coin and tossed it high into the air.

"Call it..."

0-0-0-0-0

"Here you go," Butch said as he handed the four pieces of jewelry to Heyes.

Heyes smiled and slipped the items into his saddle bags,

"And the picture?' Kid asked.

"I believe we agreed upon a price of eight thousand dollars for the jewelry, but I don't recall coming to an agreement about the picture." Butch reminded them.

"You're serious?" Heyes asked.

"If there is buck to be had, Heyes, then I'm determined to have it," Butch replied with a grin that told Heyes he was well aware he was holding the winning hand, and was determined to take the pot.

"Kid, how much money you got?" Heyes asked.

"Eight hundred."

"That's it," Heyes told Butch. "That's all we got left."

Then eight hundred it is," Butch replied and turned blue eyes toward Kid.

Kid sighed heavily, then sat down and pulled off his left boot. He pulled eight slightly damp one hundred dollar bills from the sole of his boot and held them out in offering.

Butch reached out to take them but Kid quickly pulled them back. "Not until we have the picture."

Butch nodded to Sundance who pulled the picture from his vest pocket and handed it to Heyes, who in turn, nodded to Kid who gave Butch the money.

"You drive a hard bargain," Heyes told Butch.

The next morning, Heyes and Kid started out on their trip back to Denver.

"Well them two weren't at all like I expected em to be," Kid said as they descended the Hole in the Wall Pass.

"What do you mean?"

"When you think of leaders of an outlaw gang, don't you think of real tough, no nonsense kind of men?"

"You mean like you and me?"

Kid nodded. "Yeah, ain't that what you think of?"

"I suppose. You don't think Butch and Sundance were leader material?"

"About as much as I think of Wheat as a leader. Heyes, we could outsmart them robbing a bank or a train. Why I bet we would have the money and be ten miles away before Butch even had the safe open."

Heyes smiled at the confidence his partner had in him. "Kid, how much money did we walk away with?"

"I still got twelve hundred in my right boot."

Again Heyes smiled. "Maybe you're right at that, Kid."

"Now we're keeping that money, right Heyes? I mean we ain't giving it back to Clem, right?"

"We're keeping it, as payment for returning her jewelry to her."

"And what about the picture?"

"I think we'll be making a stop on our way back to Denver."

0-0-0-0-0

It was well after midnight when Clem heard the coded knock on her door; two taps, then a pause, two taps then a pause, two taps then a pause, and finally one single tap.

Heyes and Kid waited on the porch while inside the cabin an oil lamp was lit, then the front door swung open and Clem jumped into Kid's arms in what had long ago become a very familiar pattern of greeting. After several kisses, Clem was passed into Heyes arms for another round of kisses before her feet settled on the wooden planks of the porch.

"Come in, come in! She exclaimed and took Kid by the arm to pull him inside the cabin with Heyes just two steps behind.

"Did you get it, I mean them?"

"You mean your family heirlooms? Yeah, we got them," Heyes said and pulled the four pieces of jewelry from his pocket and laid them on the table.

Clem gathered the jewelry in her hand, clenched her hand into a fist and kissed the fist. "Oh, I love you two!" she exclaimed. "Now what about the picture?"

"What about the picture?" Kid asked in response.

"The picture, did you get it? Where is it?" she asked, holding her free hand out, palm side up."

"Clem, you don't really expect to get that picture back, do you?" Kid asked.

"What do you mean? It's my picture."

"Was your picture," Heyes replied.

Clem's jaw dropped. "What do you mean? That picture belongs to me!"

"Oh, you'll get it back, Clem," Kid assured her. "Once our amnesty has come through."

"Where is it? Do you have it here?" she demanded to know.

"It's staying right where it is, Clem, in an outlaw camp," Kid replied.

"You left it there with the Wild Bunch?"

Kid looked at Heyes, both men very much enjoying Clem's growing frustration.

"Oh, not that outlaw camp," Heyes explained. "We chose one we knew we could trust."

"You took my picture to Devil's Hole?" she exclaimed.

"Where it is locked in a safe, protected by a band of outlaws," Kid added.

"That's my picture!" Clem exclaimed.

"And you'll get it back, Clem. All in due time."

Clem stared at them with her mouth open. "Why you two are nothing but crooks!"

"Which is exactly why the picture is staying right where it is," Heyes told her.

"Well," Clem replied as she brushed her hands together. "At least they didn't get the negative. That is kept in a very secure location."

"The WHAT?" Heyes and Kid replied.

"Heyes, haven't you always told me a person should always have a back up plan? Well, I take what you say to heart. I still have the negative," she said with a mischievous smile.

"Well that does it!" Kid announced. "That is the last time Heyes and me ever agree to having our picture taken with you, Clem!"

"Kid, I think we figured that out years ago," Heyes said calmly.

"Well it bears repeating."

"Now boys," Clem said, wrapping an arm about each of them. "Don't look so worried. You know I would never use that picture against you."

"You keep telling us that, Clem, and then you keep using it to blackmail us into helping you," Heyes reminded her.

"Well if you would just agree to help when I ask, I wouldn't hafta use the picture."

"You do realize, Clem, that when Kid and me do get our amnesty, we are never coming to your rescue again, don't you?"

Clem smiled. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to," she replied confidently. I'm sure one of these dime novel writers would love to have a source for a tell all book..."

"You wouldn't..." Heyes and Kid exclaimed simultaneously.