Kid walked to his horse and mounting slowly he turned lifting his hand in farewell to the rancher he had just delivered the two mares to. He kneed his horse into a slow canter a small smile of satisfaction on his face still feeling the pride of receiving the payment from their ranch's first sale of horses that they had bred and raised themselves. Now he was heading home…home a word he hadn't used since childhood. They'd had a tough time coming up with a name they both agreed on, the name Heyes had inadvertently come up with during a mild argument…Freedom Ranch. He looked forward to getting back to the ranch confident he should be arriving there sometime tomorrow afternoon. He rode leisurely back the way he had come, his thoughts on the things that had happened the past few years. As he rode he found himself wondering what their families would think of them now that they had left their outlaw life behind and settled down on their own horse ranch.

A rabbit darted across in front of the horse and the Kid drew his gun firing quickly. His horse, not used to gunfire so close, shied sideways a few steps before the Kid got him settled down so that he could dismount to collect his supper.

Just before dark he set up camp, the rabbit sizzling and spitting over the fire as he thought back on the days when all they had to eat was jerky or beans...and that was if they were lucky. Shaking his head with a smile he felt thankful that they were in a safe place with people who knew who they were and were more than happy to have them settle near their town.

He checked his horse once more, patting it before crossing to stir up the campfire adding more wood to it before climbing into his bedroll with a shiver thinking winter was definitely going to be early this year. Both he and Heyes were finding themselves exhausted by the end of the day at the ranch and thinking of Wheat and Kyle he drifted off to sleep hoping they would decide to join them at least for the winter.

He groaned as he woke stretching to try and ease his tight muscles the next morning. Maybe Heyes was right, maybe he was starting to get a little soft….he didn't remember the ground being quite this hard during all those years of evading the law before the treasured amnesty. But after a couple cups of coffee and the two leftover biscuits from last nights' supper it didn't take long for him to clean up his campsite and be on his way.

He was feeling relaxed, the hours passing pleasantly as he made his way steadily toward the ranch, singing away softly to himself and smiling thinking of how Heyes would be complaining loudly if he could hear him.

He was so lost in memories that he was almost unseated when his horse stumbled and began limping. Kid reined up dismounted and bent to check its hoof, cussing softly when he saw the stone bruise. The ranch was still about a half a day away on horseback…now it was going to be a lot longer walking and he knew Heyes was gonna be worrying when he was late getting back. He patted the horse gently knowing he couldn't risk doing permanent damage to the animal by continuing to ride it. Sighing in resignation he began walking, the horse limping along beside him.

After two hours of walking, his feet were already beginning to hurt. Boots were meant for riding not walking so he decided to call an early stop and unsaddled the horse checking the hoof again, hoping he wouldn't see the start of any infection.

"I know how ya feel son, sore feet ain't any fun," he said patting the animal affectionately on the neck, before building his campfire and putting coffee on. He had hoped to be home by now, but instead of sitting down to a nice hot supper he was pulling a strip of jerky from his saddlebags since no game had crossed his path. He sat looking at it before rolling his eyes and sighing rather sadly as he took a bite. One bite was enough and he shoved the rest back in his saddlebags. He would make do with his coffee and hopefully be home by mid to late afternoon tomorrow.

He spent a restless night tossing and turning, unable to really sleep, finally giving up he got up before the sun rose and stirred the fire back to life heating the leftover coffee from the night before. By the time the sun was peeking over the horizon the Kid was on his way again.

"Pretty sure I'll be limpin' right alongside ya by the time we get home."

The sun was high in the sky and he figured it to be noon or shortly after. Anxious to get home he decided not to stop for anything to eat simply grabbing his canteen and taking a long drink. After hanging it back on the saddle he stooped checking the horses' hoof again, the unmistakable clicks of more than one gun making him freeze.

"That's right mister, just take it real easy. Throw your hardware behind ya…left hand."

He did as he was told tossing his gun after releasing the horses' hoof and straightening up. He slowly turned, eying the three unkempt men who slowly dismounted and made their way toward him, guns drawn. Kid was gritting his teeth angrily, silently cussing himself for not sensing the danger, thinking he really was getting old if these backwoods yahoos could sneak up on him.

"We'll just take whatever money ya got on ya," the man with the long greasy yellow hair sneared.

Kid hesitated as he thought about the money he had received just yesterday, having no desire to part with it. A second scruffy looking dark haired man with a beard approached him, rifle in hand and when Kid didn't make any move to give them any money, hit Kid solidly in the side of the head with the butt of the rifle. Kid fell to his hands and knees feeling the blood as it ran down the side of his face. He shook his head trying to clear it and felt his arms grabbed roughly as he was hauled back to his feet where he stood blinking as he tried to bring the bearded man standing in front of him into focus. He strained against the two men holding him but not being able to get loose, couldn't protect himself. The first punch to his stomach would have doubled him over if he wasn't being held up, the second he was sure cracked a rib or two, the third snapped his head to the side. The vicious beating continued until he sagged weakly, his head hanging, blood dripping not only from the side of his head but also from his nose and mouth as well as a gash by his right eye. When he was at last released he crumpled limply to the ground painfully gasping for breath barely conscious. Darkness threatened to claim him and he was helpless to stop them from rifling through his pockets.

"Look at this Jimmy,"one man laughed happily as he pulled the money from the Kids' pocket.

"Well, well…alright Frank, let's get outta here," he said with one last solid kick to the Kids' ribs.

The Kid was still trying to regain his breath as he lay on the ground, but hearing the sound of the horses as they started to move away he struggled weakly to pull himself to his feet, desperately trying to see which way they were heading so he could eventually go after them. He didn't hear the gunshots, but felt one bullet as it slammed into his upper left chest. The second shot tore through his side but he didn't feel it, he was unconscious before it hit him and he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.