Wheat Carlson and Kyle Murtry slouched tiredly in their saddles as they rode side by side neither saying anything. They had received their amnesty almost a year ago with the help of sheriff Lom Trevors, having been talked into applying for it by their former gang leaders Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry but they were having a hard time finding somewhere to settle down. They worked odd jobs here and there, making just enough money to keep themselves fed and in supplies… most of the time. Now late fall was upon them and with it the promise of a long cold winter.

They had run into Heyes and Curry in the Rock Springs saloon one afternoon several days ago. They had stopped after Wheat decided they deserved one beer each…that being all they had the money for. They stood at the bar shoulders slumped, both looking exhausted and definitely down on their luck, neither of them realizing they were being watched by two men at a corner table.

"What we gonna do now Wheat?"

"I'm gonna drink this here beer before I think on it Kyle."

Both of them spun around, automatically reaching for their guns as someone firmly clapped them on the shoulder.

"Easy boys," the man said with a grin raising his hands shoulder height.

"Geez Kid, ya oughta know better than to do that," Wheat hissed at him.

"Howdy Kid."

"Kyle. C'mon over, me and Heyes got a table in the corner and we wanna talk to ya about somethin'."

Kyle grinned, but Wheat wasn't so sure. The Kid eyed him.

"I'll buy you boys a couple more beers," he said with a smile.

That's all it took to convince Wheat and they followed Kid to the table.

"Howdy Heyes."

Heyes couldn't help but smile at Kyles' greeting, he always sounded so happy to see them.

"Hey Kyle, sit down."

Kyle didn't need to be asked twice and sat before looking up at his partner.

"Ain't ya gonna sit Wheat?"

Heyes and Wheat eyed each other, Heyes finally smiling at his former gang member.

"Sit down Wheat," Kid said quietly, looking up at Wheat and motioning to the chair beside him.

"Reckon it won't hurt to have a beer with you boys."

Heyes rolled his eyes and the Kid ran a hand over his mouth trying to hide a smile.

"Heard you fellas had a spread in these parts."

"Got a hundred acres a couple miles outta town."

"Knowin' how much you like cattle Kid, it's gotta be horses. "

"Yeah Wheat, I seen the ass end of enough cattle to last me the rest o' my life," the Kid snorted.

They made small talk for a while before the Kid shot a meaningful glance across the table at his partner, seeing Heyes grit his teeth as he knew what was coming since they had already 'discussed' it when they had seen Wheat and Kyle enter the saloon.

"Wheat, we've told ya about our place and we can see you fellas might be havin' a bit of a hard time, and well we sure could use a couple hands. What with winter comin' on soon, we figured maybe you could help us out. You'd have plenty to eat and a warm place to stay and who knows if things work out ya might even consider stayin' on with us come spring."

Kyle looked expectantly at Wheat waiting to hear what he would say because he would faithfully go along with whatever his friend wanted. Wheat looked at the Kid in surprise he had not thought to hear something like this. He again looked at Heyes, but Heyes was looking down at his beer having promised the Kid he wouldn't say anything, his face expressionless.

"I dunno Kid, guess me and Kyle'll have a think on it."

The Kid stood up picking up his empty beer glass.

"Come on Wheat let's get another beer for everyone."

Wheat sighed knowing Kid wanted to talk to him in private but obediently followed him to the bar.

"Four more Dan," Kid ordered the beers before turning to Wheat.

"I ain't gonna lie to ya Wheat it'll be work and sometimes hard work, but havin' amnesty and a place to call home has done wonders for us. And don't get me wrong he still tends to get a bit bossy now and again but he ain't nowhere near as demandin' as he used to be. The folks in town are good people, know who we all are and have welcomed us. You and Kyle would be safe here and like I said you'd get regular meals and a bed sure beats sleepin' on the ground."

He patted Wheat on the shoulder before picking up two beers leaving the other two for Wheat to bring.

"Think about it," Kid said over his shoulder as he walked back to the table.

Wheat and Kyle had ridden out an hour later promising to think about the offer. At first Wheat didn't say much, Kyle knowing enough to leave him alone until he figured out what they were going to do. They rode for three days, bedding down close to their campfire at night…it was getting colder.

Wheat made the decision the morning he saw a heavy frost on their bedrolls and Kyle shivering when he got up to stir up their campfire. Wheat lay still watching his partner. Hearing him cough a couple times he remembered how worried he'd been when Kyle had gotten deathly ill last winter. Throwing off his bedroll and getting to his feet he walked to the fire now blazing.

"Kyle, we're gonna head back to Rock Springs today, think we'll take the Kid and Heyes up on that job…at least for the winter," he stated firmly.

Kyle grinned widely showing his tobacco stained teeth.

"We'll head out as soon as we have some o' that coffee ya got goin' there."

Once he had made up his mind, he was thankful that he'd been smart enough to keep them within a days' ride of Rock Springs. He frowned hearing Kyle cough on and off throughout the day as they rode and he was looking forward to both of them having a hot meal and a warm bed tonight.

They were perhaps an hours' ride from the ranch when two not too distant gunshots had them jerking their heads up and pulling their horses to a halt. Not hearing any other commotion they holstered their guns and urged their horses slowly forward keeping their eyes peeled for trouble and their hands not far from their weapons.

"Whatcha reckon that's all about?"

"I reckon t'ain't none o'our business Kyle."

They hadn't gone much farther when they saw three riders galloping in the opposite direction.

"Wheat?" Kyle mumbled nervously.

"C'mon Kyle."

They rode a few more minutes before coming upon a body lying face down, a limping horse not far from him.

They dismounted and cautiously approached the prone man, Wheat using the toe of his boot to flip him over. They both stood looking down seeing the blood soaked shirt their eyes widening in surprise as they recognized the badly beaten face.

"It's the Kid!" Kyle said in a shocked voice.

"Damn…" Wheat hissed as he quickly squatted down checking to see if he was still breathing.

"Is he…I mean he ain't..." Kyle was afraid to say it out loud.

"He's still alive…dunno for how much longer though. Got a couple bullet holes in 'im too."

"What we gonna do Wheat?"

Wheat could remember the Kid saving his life more than once during their time in the gang…hell he'd saved all their lives at one time or another and he sighed as he made a decision.

"You're gonna ride for Heyes, tell 'im to bring a doc along with 'im."

"But…" he began uncertainly.

"Kyle," Wheat growled a warning. "He's hurt bad, if we move 'im we'll prob'ly kill 'im…you wanna be the one to tell Heyes that? Now ride, hard as ya can. I'll stay with the Kid, try an' get this bleedin' stopped."