THE ENCOUNTER
"Damn," Kid Curry exclaimed as he stood hunched over with the rear right foot of his horse in his hands.
"What is it?" Heyes asked.
"Trying to throw a shoe. Ain't off yet, but it will be soon. I can't ride him, Heyes," Kid replied, setting the hoof back down on the ground.
"Well, climb up. We'll stop in Redding to get it replaced."
Kid mounted up behind his partner and reached for the reins of his chestnut.
"Ready," he said wrapping the reins through gloved fingers.
"I'll take it slow and try to keep him on soft ground."
"How far is Redding?" Jed asked.
"Hmm, maybe six or seven miles."
"How much money we got?"
"Enough for a new shoe, and then some."
"Hotel, bath, dinner, and poker?" Kid asked and Heyes smiled.
"Yeah, enough for all that, Kid."
"Good, cause I'm tired, hungry, and dirty."
"You're always at least two out of three of those things, Kid."
Kid laughed. "I'm always all three of those things, Heyes."
They rode slowly and Kid kept a careful eye on the chestnut's leg. By late afternoon, they arrived in Redding, a small community nestled in the foothills of the Sierras, and went directly to the livery.
"Chestnut needs a new right rear shoe. They both need a good brushing and a bag of oats," Kid told the livery owner.
"How soon you need em?" the livery owner asked.
"Day or two. Maybe sometime tomorrow?"
"I'll get that shoe fixed in the morning and have em ready by noon."
Heyes and the Kid unloaded their saddlebags, bedrolls, and rifles. Saddlebags were slung over shoulders while the bedrolls and rifles were tucked under arms and they walked down the street to the hotel.
"One room, two beds, one bath," Heyes told the hotel clerk.
"Facing the street," Kid added.
"When would you like the bath delivered?"
"Before supper," Kid replied.
After being handed the hotel key, they made their way up the stairs to their room and both dropped their gear on their beds. Kid walked over to take a gander out the window.
"Looks quiet enough," he told his partner who had stretched himself out on his bed covers and intertwined his fingers behind his head.
Kid set his gun on the table and pulled his gun oil and cloths from his saddlebags. He sat down at the table and emptied the bullets from the chamber before setting to work with the meticulous task of cleaning his gun.
The knock on the door told Kid the bath had arrived. Heyes, who had fallen into a light sleep, grunted at the unwelcome noise. Once the bath was placed and the tub filled, Kid ushered the hotel staff out of the room and locked the door.
"Go back to sleep, Heyes. I'll wake you when I'm done," Kid said as he began shedding his clothes.
Kid stepped into the tub and eased himself into the hot, steaming water. He lathered and scrubbed for a good ten minutes before leaning back to simply enjoy the soaking. He wished he had a cigar, but settled on just closing his eyes and enjoying the now tepid water.
"Heyes, your turn," Kid said as he climbed out of the tub and wrapped a towel about his waist.
"Any hot water left?" Heyes mumbled, still not opening his eyes.
"Nope,"
Heyes smiled. "Think I'll pass, Kid. Wake me when it's time for supper."
"Kay," Kid replied and poured water into the washing bowl to shave.
Once shaved and dressed in relatively clean clothes, Kid walked over and nudged his sleeping partner.
"Heyes, time to eat."
Heyes groaned but opened his eyes and looked up at his partner towering over him.
"What's that smell?" Heyes asked.
"Soap. You might want to try some, Heyes."
Heyes smiled and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stretched his arms high into the air and yawned. He glanced over at the tub with the thin soapy film floating on the top of the water. "Maybe tomorrow," he replied.
They headed down stairs, stopping at the desk to tell them the tub was ready to be emptied and removed before walking out onto the boardwalk to look up and down both sides of the street in search of a cafe. The back of Heyes' hand nudged Kid in the chest to get his attention before Heyes pointed half way down the street to the cafe. Kid nodded and the two headed across the street for supper.
Heyes sat with his back to the door as Kid always insisted on keeping an eye on who was coming or going. Even as they ate, Kid maintained a watchful eye.
"Oh-oh," Kid said, his fork stopping mid way to his mouth.
Heyes glanced up at Kid. "What uh-oh?" Heyes asked.
"Joe Briggs."
"Who?... They guy you danced for?"
"Uh-uh."
"He see us?"
"Not yet."
"Sitting down yet?"
Kid didn't immediately reply as he waited to see where Brigs would light.
"Is now," Kid replied.
"Facing us?"
"Nope."
Think we'd better go?"
"Yep."
As the waitress passed by, Heyes smiled. "Excuse me, is there a back door?" he asked.
The waitress eyed both of them, then gave her head a nod toward the back. "Through the kitchen. If anybody asks, tell them Clair said it was alright."
"Thank you, Clair," Heyes said with a smile. Both men dug into their pockets to leave payment and a nice tip on the table. Then they made a hurried exit through the back door and back to the hotel.
"My horse won't be ready till tomorrow morning," Kid grumbled once they were back in the hotel room and Kid was stationed at the window, gazing down toward the cafe."
"I suppose we could stay here in the room till then," Heyes replied with a disappointed tone in his voice.
"You think his being here has anything to do with us?" Kid asked.
'"We didn't even know we were going to be here, Kid. Only stopped because of that horse shoe, so I doubt it."
Kid continued to watch out the window. The slight shift of Kid's stance told Heyes that Briggs had emerged from the cafe.
"Looks like he's headed to the sheriff's office," Kid announced, and with that Heyes joined Kid at the window to watch what Briggs was doing.
Briggs stopped in the middle of the street when two men approached him. The three stood and talked for a couple of minutes. One of the men pointed toward the saloon. Briggs touched that man's shoulder, said something to him, them moved on toward the Sheriff's office while the other two men walked over to the saloon.
"What do you suppose that's about?" Kid asked.
"Don't know... Might be worth trying to find out, though."
"You're not going over to the saloon are you?"
"Kid, Briggs thinks we're Smith and Jones. Even if he sees us, he don't know who we are."
"Maybe not, but he knows I bested him. Might not take too kindly to running in to me again."
"Well, suit yourself. Stay here if you want to. I'm going to the saloon."
"Heyes, you can skip one night of poker. Won't kill you. But running in to Briggs just might."
Heyes sighed heavily. He knew Kid was right. But curiosity was also getting the better of him.
"Look, he's coming out now," Kid said. "Heading to the saloon."
"We could go have a talk with the Sheriff," Heyes suggested.
"You're just full of bright ideas, ain't you, Heyes? Best thing to do is just stay put and get out of town in the morning," Kid replied, still watching out the window.
"All I'm saying, Kid..."
"Heyes," Kid said and motioned Heyes back to the window. "He's leaving. Him and them two other fellas."
Heyes peered over Kid's shoulder and they watched Briggs and his two companions ride out of town."
"So now it's safe to go have a beer," Heyes said, walking to the bed to pick up his hat.
Kid let the curtain fall back into place. "I guess so," he replied.
0-0-0-0
"Two beers," Heyes told the bartender as he and Kid walked up to the bar.
"Do you know, was that Joe Briggs I just saw leaving?" Heyes asked the bartender when he delivered the drinks.
"You a friend of his?" the bartender asked.
Heyes shook his head. "Noooo. Met him once a couple of years ago, though."
"Well, any friend of Joe Briggs ain't welcome in my saloon."
"Why's that?" Kid asked.
"That man's nothing but a gun for hire... Trouble is what he is."
"He making trouble in this town?" Heyes asked.
The bartender eyed Heyes carefully. "How do I know you ain't working for Briggs?"
Heyes looked indignant. "You have my word."
"Uh-uh," the bartender replied, still scrutinizing Heyes. "Briggs is working for William Tafferty. He's some kind of business tycoon and he's trying to buy up all the businesses in town."
"Why?" Kid asked.
"I suspect it has something to do with the rumors of the railroad coming through here. Briggs tries to muscle those folks that don't want to sell."
"Was Briggs doing that to you just now?"
"He tried, but I ain't selling."
"What about the Sheriff? Can't he do anything about it?" Kid asked.
The bartender scoffed. "Tafferty owns the Sheriff. Paid him off right handsome, I heard."
"He threaten you?"
"Look, I got a bar to run. I can't stay yakking about this all night."
"Okay," Heyes said. "Two more beers and we won't take up any more of your time."
0-0-0-0-0-
"Heyes, we ain't getting involved," Kid said when they had returned to their hotel room for the night.
"Have I even suggested that, Kid?"
Kid removed his gun belt and slung it over the bedpost, before taking off his shirt and pants as he prepared for bed.
"No, but I know you Heyes, and even though you don't know one person in this town, you think it's your responsibility to save the entire town from the likes of Briggs."
"You remember how you felt, Kid when Briggs was making you do that jig? Now he's trying to make a whole town do a jig. I think we can accomplish two goals here. We can put the screws to Briggs for trying to make the whole town do a jig, AND, we can put the screws to the Union Pacific Railroad."
Heyes, the Union Pacific Railroad was pretty damn good to us during those outlaws days. You might recall we got a sizable amount of money from those railroad hold-ups."
"But, the Union Pacific is one of those groups that put the ten thousand dollar bounty on us."
Kid knew Heyes was using his silver tongue talents on him, but he couldn't dispute what his partner was saying. Thus, he had no argument.
"So, not that I'm saying yes to you, Heyes, but what do you have in mind?"
"Kid, if you have an ordinary pencil, can you break it if you want to?"
"Sure, just snap it in half."
"But what if you're holding a dozen pencils in your hand? Can you break all twelve of them together?"
Kid shook his head.
"Well, the same holds true with all these businesses. Individually, Briggs can muscle them into to breaking and Tafferty can just pick up all the pieces. But if those business all band together, well neither Briggs not Tafferty can break that up. I say we help these business owners build up a stronghold so they can stand up against Briggs and Tafferty."
"And how do you go about doing that?"
"We've got to talk to all the business owners."
"We gotta talk to them?"
"Well. I have to talk to them. You... You might have to do another kind of persuading."
"You're pretty quick to be loaning out my services, Heyes...Pretty quick to be putting me at some risk."
"Yeah, you're right, and I don't want you at risk, Kid. Let me sleep on it. We'll figure out a plan in the morning."
0-0-0-0-
"So what did you come up with?" Kid asked as they ate breakfast in the hotel dining room.
"Well, first we talk to the bartender about quietly pulling together a meeting with as many of the business owners as possible. If we can get enough of them to agree to stand united, then with their help, we'll come up with a sort of contract."
"What sort of contract?"
"A contract whereby they declare how that stand united, like all of em agreeing not to sell their business without the consent of the others in the the group."
"And what happens if one of them that joined decides to sell out anyway?"
"Well, the contract will stipulate some sort of consequence... like owing the group ten percent of whatever they sell their business for. That might not be how they choose to guarantee loyalty, but something along those lines."
"So what's to stop Briggs from bullying owners to give in?"
"That's where you and I will come in. The contract will stipulate that any discussions of sales requires you and me to be present."
"Which puts me and Briggs face to face."
Heyes nodded. "Yes it does, but it also puts me present. For all Briggs knows, I'm every bit as fast as you are with a gun."
"He'll learn otherwise real quick if he calls me out, Heyes."
"But, he'll be a lot slower to call you out knowing that I'm right there with you. Besides, I think my silver tongue can keep that from happening, and if not, you know I'll be right there to back you up."
"Still think you're being a little reckless with me, Heyes."
"Well, let's talk to the bartender, get a meeting set up for tonight maybe, and we'll go from there. I don't want to be putting you at risk, Kid, so we'll figure out how to avoid that."
Kid sat silently for a minute, thinking the plan through. "Sure hope you know what you're doing, Heyes."
The saloon opened at noon and Kid and Heyes were right there when the doors opened.
"Two beers and a little conversation?" Heyes asked the bartender.
Two beers were placed on the bar in front of Kid and Heyes. "What are you wanting to talk about?"
Heyes smiled at the bartender. "Well, first off, let me introduce myself and my partner. I'm Joshua Smith, and my partner is Thaddeus Jones."
"I'm Travis McFarland," the bartender replied.
"Nice to meet you, Travis... Now Thaddeus and I have been giving a lot of thought to this dilemma you and the other business owners are in... and we may have come up with a solution for you."
"What kind of solution?"
"A way to unify the business, to make everyone stronger as a group than each one is individually."
"How are you going to do that?"
"By first calling a meeting of all the business owners, say for tonight maybe. That would give Thaddeus and me an opportunity to present our idea, and give all of you a chance to discuss it among yourselves all at one time."
"Well, I like what I'm hearing. I tell you what, I'll see about putting a meeting together tonight. Stop back in around suppertime and I'll let you know if and when they'll be a meeting."
"Can't," Kid said.
The bartender looked at Kid questioningly.
"What Thaddeus means is that it is imperative that Briggs not see us until just the right moment."
"He does come in to town late most afternoons, but he's usually gone again by six, so stop in here after six."
"Okay, we'll see you then."
0-0-0-0-
McFarland managed to set up a meeting at the Methodist Church for seven-thirty that same evening. Heyes was both surprised and pleased when twenty of the twenty six business owners showed up for the meeting. Heyes carefully explained the importance of unity, using the pencil analogy to make his point. He also explained the importance of creating a contract binding those business who signed up to specific rules and penalties. A lengthy discussion followed and by nine-thirty the group was ready to vote on whether to move forward, The vote was one hundred percent unanimous in favor of creating such an organized union. They decided to meet again the next night to establish a contract.
Once the contract was created and signed by the twenty business owners, Heyes went on to explain the next step.
"If Briggs or Tafferty approach you, then you explain that under the terms of the union contract, you are not authorized to speak about a possible sale unless in the presence of of me, Joshua Smith, the arbitrator. Then tell either or both of them when you would be able to meet. Let me know the details and Mr. Jones and I'll be right there to put a quick stop to the discussion."
"Briggs won't take kindly to being put off. He can be pretty threatening," the mercantile owner said.
"We can take care of that, right quick," Kid replied.
"How do we get hold of you two?"
"We're staying at the hotel, but if you tell Travis, he can let us know. We'll check in with him regularly. "
In less than a day's time, the first business owner notified Travis that a meeting with Briggs was to take place at her Millinery Shop at five-thirty that afternoon. Miss Arloe, a pretty young woman in her late twenties, was relieved when Heyes and Curry showed up at her shop at quarter to five, just before closing.
"If you're willing, Miss Arloe, I'll do the talking," Heyes explained. Thaddeus will be in the back room, behind that curtain. He'll step out here if the situation becomes heated. Obviously, being the owner, you're free to be out here or in the back room if you'd be more comfortable letting me and Thaddeus handle the situation.
"I'm quite uncomfortable around Mr. Briggs. If you don't mind, Mr. Smith, I would prefer to stay in the back."
"That's fine, Ma'am. I'll call you if you're needed and Mr. Jones will escort you out here."
Miss Arloe smiled at Heyes. "Thank you."
Briggs arrived promptly at five-thirty. Heyes was purposely stooping behind the counter when Briggs walked in as he wanted to enjoy seeing Briggs react to him.
"Mr. Tafferty's last offer is a take-it-or-leave it deal," Briggs said when he entered the store.
Heyes stood up slowly. "And would you remind me just what that offer is?" Heyes said looking Briggs squarely in the eyes.
Creases formed on Briggs' forehead as he tried to place the familiar face.
"Smith, isn't it?" Briggs asked.
Heyes smiled. "Yes it is, Mr. Briggs."
Briggs smiled. "Never will forget that little jig your partner done."
"As a matter of fact, Thaddeus found he enjoyed dancing. He's quite good at it now. By the way, how is your arm?"
The smiled faded from Briggs' face.
"Where's Miss Arloe? She's the one I talk with."
Heyes shook his head. "No, I'm the one you talk with. In fact I represent nearly all the privately owned businesses. You can tell Mr. Tafferty that the businesses stand united and will not be negotiating any sales now or in the future."
"You're representing the businesses? Well, ain't that nice. As I recall, you seemed to have more sense than your partner, so I'm going to give you a piece of advice. Stay out of this, Smith, or I promise you you're going to get hurt."
"A threat, Briggs? You may have the local Sheriff under your control, but you have no control over any of the Federal Marshalls here in Wyoming. I'm quite certain any of the Federal Marshals would be quite interested in your blackmail tactics. Now, you take the message back to Tafferty just like I told you."
"Well, that's some mighty big talk. You got something to back it up?"
"He's got some one to back it up, Briggs," Kid said, emerging from the back room. Kid stopped near the curtain to the back room and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know what happened the last time you tried to push me too far. Best not to try that again."
Briggs nodded slowly. "Alright...for now...But there's others, you know...Want to make this a fair fight."
Kid's cold blue eyes stayed directly focused on Briggs and Briggs tried in vain to match the steel confidence and determination in Kid's eyes.
"I'll be back," Briggs said, finally looking away and walking out the door.
"Well, there you have it, Joshua, another showdown in the making."
Heyes shook his head. "Nope, not unless he's forced into it. I could see fear in his eyes. He knows he can't beat you."
"We'll see," Kid replied.
Miss Arloe emerged from behind the curtain. "Well, you can see how forceful he is. I'm afraid he is quite dangerous."
"Yes Ma'am," Kid replied."And he ain't stupid, either."
"And a bit more articulate than some folks," Heyes said, giving Kid a wink and a grin.
Kid just shook his head in disgust at his partner. "Ma'am, I don't think he'll be bothering you again, but we'll keep a close eye on you just the same."
"Thank you Mr. Jones."
"Would you like me to walk you home, Ma'am?" Kid asked.
Miss Arloe smiled but declined the offer.
"Then we'll be going now," Heyes said and he and Kid left for the saloon.
At the saloon, Kid and Heyes found a table and motioned to the bartender for a couple of beers. When Travis brought the beers, he lingered at the table.
"So, how did it go?"
"Told Briggs to give Tafferty a message that all the business owners stand together and won't be selling," Heyes reported.
"Briggs didn't give you no trouble?"
Heyes shook his head.
"You know, maybe you should let the sheriff in on what you fellas are doing. Tafferty paid him off, but he might be pleased the town's getting saved. Might be willing to join forces with you."
"What kind of man is he?" Kid asked.
"Been sheriff for ten, maybe twelve years. Always good until now. Maybe he just didn't have no choice."
Heyes and Kid exchanged looks.
"Might not hurt, Thaddeus."
"Joshua, you're just one bright idea rolling off another, ain't you?"
"You know I'm right."
Kid took the last gulp of his beer. "Yeah, I know."
"What's the Sheriff's name?" Heyes asked Travis.
"Warren Dickerson."
"Thanks," Heyes replied and again looked at Kid who sighed heavily, but stood up. "Let's go get it over with. "
So the two men walked across the street to the Sheriff's office. Heyes paused at the door, his hand on the knob. He looked at Kid and took a deep breath. "You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Kid replied.
Heyes turned the knob, opened the door, and strode in confidently. Kid followed.
"Sheriff Dickerson?" Heyes said, extending his hand to the man seated behind his desk.
"That's right," Dickerson replied, standing up and shaking Heyes' hand while Kid carefully scanned the wanted posters on the wall, his eyes settling on the two of any interest to him.
"Sheriff, I'm Joshua Smith and this is Thaddeus Jones," Heyes said and Kid gave the Sheriff a respectful nod.
"Heard some talk around town about the two of you," Dickerson replied. "You think you can put an end to this takeover of our town?"
Heyes smiled. "You mind if we sit down?"
The sheriff motioned to two nearby chairs that Heyes and Kid quickly grabbed and moved to positions in front of the Sheriff's desk. Dickerson then sat back down in his own chair.
"Sheriff, we've encountered Briggs before. It seems he hires himself out as a..."
"Professional bully," Kid said, completing Heyes' sentence.
"That pretty well sums it up. He'll push a person right up against the wall, till there ain't no place to go. Then he'll start twisting the knot. If a person don't stand up to him, well, he'll keep pushing till he gets a stranglehold on em."
"I know that to be a fact," Kid added.
"A town is only as strong as the people in it, and Thaddeus and I have discovered you have a pretty strong town, Sheriff. Most of the business folks here have joined together to fight Briggs and Tafferty. I think if we can get Briggs out of the picture, Tafferty will give up on the idea of owning the entire town."
"You sure about that?"
"No," Heyes said honestly. "But I think it stands to reason. As a business tycoon, he's not going to waste time and money on something that just ain't going to bloom for him. He'll likely move on to another town along the railroad route."
"So you're saying all we have to do is get Briggs and his men out of the picture?"
"More or less. Once that's done, you'll likely have to have a talk with Tafferty.
"So how do you propose we get Briggs out of the picture?"
"He'll be bringing his men in to town today or tomorrow for a show of force.," Kid said.
"And the town should be ready with an equal, no stronger, show of force," Heyes replied.
"And you've got most of the business owners banded together?" the Sheriff asked.
"Twenty of em."
"Well, between you, me and them, we could have twenty plus people standing in the street ready for them when they ride in" the Sheriff suggested.
So, equipped with a plan, Heyes, Kid, and the Sheriff visited all the business owners and explained to them what they had in mind. That afternoon Heyes sat on the porch of the hotel, and Kid sat on a bench across the street near the saloon, while Sheriff Dickerson moved to the center of the street when Briggs and his four men were seen approaching town on horseback. Briggs and his men stopped just a few feet in front of the Sheriff.
"What's this, Sheriff, you develop a sense of responsibility?"
"I'm telling you and your men to turn around an ride right back out of town."
Briggs smiled "Since when did you start running this town, Sheriff?"
Briggs saw Heyes and Kid both stand and begin walking toward him, coming to a stop on each side of the Sheriff.
"I believe he told you to turn around and leave," Kid said, his eyes boring into Briggs.
"Words of advice from the dancing boy?" Briggs asked
"Once again Briggs, you're pushing people too far. Now that didn't turn out to well for you the last time as I recall."
Behind them twenty people stepped out into the street and approached the Sheriff, coming to a stop a few feet behind Heyes, Kid, and the Sheriff.
"I'm not telling you again, Briggs. You and your men turn your horses around and get out of this town. You come back and I'll arrest you. That goes for your men here, too," Sheriff Dickerson said.
Briggs could plainly see he had no choice. So he pulled on the reins and turned his horse and headed out of town. His men followed quickly behind.
Once they were out of sight, the townsfolk began cheering and congratulating the Sheriff, patting him on the back and offering many praises.
"Well, think we'll be moving on in the morning, Sheriff," Heyes said above the noise of the crowd. "Think you can handle Tafferty on your own?"
"I think so, and if not, I can always call in a Federal Marshall."
"A round of beer on the house for everyone," the bartender shouted and everyone except Miss Arloe headed toward the saloon. Kid saw her standing alone and paused and returned to her.
"Would you like to celebrate with a lemonade at the hotel," Kid asked.
Miss Arloe smiled and touched Kid's arm. "No, thank you Mr. Jones. You go ahead and join the others. I'll be fine."
"You sure Ma'am?"
"I'm sure. I do thank you, and Mr. Smith... Two strangers in town, no reason to put your own lives at risk, but you did all the same. Thank you for that."
Kid smiled. "Maybe someday Mr. Smith and I will return to this town. If we do, I expect to share a lemonade at the hotel with you... Ma'am."
"It's a deal, Mr. Jones.