The door behind Heyes rattled and he stepped back from his friend, quickly schooling the concern out of his face and made sure his expression was only showing simple interest. But he struggled to keep his gaze neutral and had to hide a flinch when he saw it was Clint Fowler, the often vicious enforcer of the gang, holding a bucket. The man's face split into a unpleasant smile as he nodded at the prone form. "We figured it's' bout time our sleepin' beauty was awake."

Heyes swallowed then asked confidently, hiding both his distaste and sudden fear for his friend. "Why you so sure he knows where the money is? He don't look more than 15, why would an outfit like Markham's trust him with the take?"

Fowler laughed unpleasantly. "Well Tweedy was sent to ask 'bout what happened down in Chrysler. Seems they can't find the money the gang stole, even though they thought they'd caught or killed all of 'em. But some saloon girl remembers a pretty curly haired lad, who was drinking with 'em. Sheriff says there's an extra horse that don't belong still tied up too. So Milt and the rest us think it makes sense that little bastard escaped with the cash." He nodded towards unconscious form and added. "Even if he ain't gonna tell us where it's hid, Milt figured it's gonna be fun tryin' to convince him."

Heyes said casually in an attempt to save his friend some pain as looking at him, it didn't look like he could take much more. "Beat him too hard and he won't be able to tell you nothing. You think of that when planning on kicking the information outta him?"

Fowler's face darkened then cleared. "You're real cocky for a young 'un, but guess you gotta point there, but we better run it past Milt first." He turned away and glanced down at Jed and laughed shortly. "It's still time he were awake."

Fowler pushed past Heyes and as he did so, Heyes was assailed by an unpleasant smell and realised that the bucket wasn't full of water as he'd thought.

Clint tossed the contents over Jed, bringing him awake, spluttering and coughing. Heyes stepped back out of his line of sight, unwilling for his friend to see him until he had a plan.

Jed looked up blearily, blinking rapidly as his eyes watered from the sting of the pungent liquid. His gaze was unfocussed at first then as full awareness returned, he still managed to glare at his tormentor, who laughed unconcerned, knowing he was in no danger. Fowler turned to Heyes and said. "Boy, go tell Milt he's conscious and ask him what he wants us to do now."

ASJ

Heyes knocked on the leader's cabin door and waited till he was called in, knowing entering uninvited only meant trouble. He stood more nervously than he liked at the entry as Fuller looked at him. "Clint says to tell ya he's awake."

"Well I am sure lookin' forward to getting myself reacquainted with the smart ass." He started to stand, but when Heyes hadn't moved, he folded his arms and looked across at him again. "You got somethin' else you wanna say? Spit it out boy as I got plans."

Heyes hesitated for a moment then said quickly. "Maybe it might be worth leavin' him alone for a bit. Thinking about what a mess he's in might loosen his tongue better than another beatin' straight off."

Fuller looked a bit suspicious for a moment and Heyes held his breath, but then to his relief the man shrugged. "Guess it might at that."

"I'll run and tell Clint what ya said."

"Tell him we''ll wait two hours, then we'll ask our guest again. I'll let you tell 'em both." The expression on Fuller's face promised that his way of asking would be painful enough that Heyes hoped he could come up with a plan that meant it could be avoided.

When Heyes got back to the storeroom he took a breath before entering, unsure of how his friend would react on seeing him again. He entered to find Fowler aiming his boot at Jed's side and cleared his throat quickly. "Milt says leave him be for a couple of hours, see if that helps his memory some." Clint sighed but pulled his foot back and with a glare exited the room calling over his shoulder. "You comin'?"

"Milt says I gotta tell him what he's facin' if he don't cooperate."

Fowler shrugged and shut the door leaving them alone. Heyes hurried over to kneel by his friend and saw his bloodshot eyes widen in some surprise as he gasped out. "Heyes."

"Ain't got time to explain, but they'll be back in two hours. Tell 'em you know where the money's hid, but that you gotta show 'em as you can't describe it proper."

Jed coughed then winced in pain as he said through gritted teeth. "How do I know I can trust ya, Heyes? You sure got yourself some real nice friends since we split."

Heyes shook his head and replied angrily. "Well least I ain't trussed up like a turkey on Thanksgiving."Jed blinked and turned his head away as Heyes took a steadying breath, he needed Kid to listen and listen fast. "Look, we can argue when you're safe. I know you gotta be hurtin' real bad and I ain't sure what they got planned, but it definitely won't be good for you."

"My life ain't worth much either way as them I was runnin' with will just think I took the money and hunt me down." Talking had taken it out of him and he trailed out as his breath gave out and as he looked up at Heyes, underneath the defiance and the pain, Heyes saw something else that gave him hope.

Heyes swallowed hard and gently patted Jed's hand as he said carefully. "I know you ain't got much reason to believe me, but I ain't never lied to you even when we was arguing. Seems like you're the only one who got outta that town, ain't no one gonna be huntin' for that cash."

Heyes hadn't thought Jed could have lost any more colour, but he went sheet white and for a minute when closed his eyes, Heyes was worried he'd passed out. But then he reopened them and with the ghost of a smile managed a careful nod.

Heyes feeling a wave of relief, gently patted the Kid's cheek, grateful that despite how they'd parted, his friend still had faith. He scrambled to his feet and left before he gave into the impulse to free Jed, knowing he had to hold on until the time was right or they'd both end up dead.