"I think you're cheating, it ain't natural how much you're winning."
The Kid sighed as the very bad poker player seated to Heyes' left, stood angrily to confront him. This just wasn't fair, he'd been enjoying Bairstow and was still tired enough that another day of sleeping in a bed rather than out on hard ground, would have been very welcome. Maybe they'd be in luck, and this could be settled easily without causing them too much trouble.
Putting down his beer, the Kid pushed himself away from the bar to stand behind and to the right of his partner, his hand hovering round his gun, and realised as he got a better look at the man's face, that there was no way he would avoid having to draw. Before Heyes could even open his mouth and attempt to talk the man down, the yahoo went for his weapon.
There was a collective gasp from the other players and those now watching the drama unfold, when Kid's colt had already cleared leather and was aimed straight at the man, before the idiot's gun was even fully in his hand.
From amongst the watchers, the Kid heard a muttered. "I thought I recognised those guys, it's Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry!"
"You're right, I recognise them now too. They robbed a train I were a passenger on."
When a second voice chimed in to support the first, the Kid's heart sank. Here we go again.
Heyes with a glance back at him and a small shrug, quickly gathered his winnings and together they ran out of town and didn't stop until they were a few miles away and up in the mountains, where they could see whatever was coming at them.
They lay safely hidden, with aching feet and likely blistered heels, watching as the quickly formed, but fortunately disorganised and ineffective posse, headed back towards town. The Kid glanced over at Heyes with a smile when as the riders faded from view, he heard a distant train whistle.
Heyes grinned back at him and started to stand. "I think that train is going our way, Kid."
XXX
The Kid hanging precariously to the boxcar behind his partner, gasped, trying to breathe round the dust in his lungs, ignoring the ache in his arms, wincing as small stones flung up from the dusty ground stung his cheeks. With a sigh of relief, he managed to pull himself in after Heyes, who had finally managed to get enough purchase to swing inside. He landed awkwardly and stifled a groan when something twinged and clicked as he hit the filthy hay strewn floor. Damn he was getting too old for this.
The Kid shifted for the umpteenth time as the pain in his back and legs made it impossible to get comfortable awake, never mind settle enough to sleep. He stood carefully and hobbled to the other side of the car to try and relieve his discomfort disturbing Heyes who glared at him. "What is it with you, Kid? You ain't bin still for more than two minutes and I'm trying to sleep here!"
Kid turned to glare at him, the burning throb in his legs making his tone sharp. "I pulled my back all right?"
"Well, guess now you're close on thirty, it ain't just your draw that's slowing down."
The Kid expecting that exact comment or some variation of it, simply rolled his eyes and sat down carefully, putting his hat over his eyes as he said. "I ain't in the mood Heyes, if you've got nothing helpful to say, just go back to sleep and I'll try to groan quietly."
Fifteen minutes later the Kid shifted again, unable to get in a position that didn't aggravate the throb and stood, shuffling round as quietly as he could, but he still managed to wake his partner who opened his eyes and eyed him with an almost sympathetic expression on his face. "Hopefully in the next town, there won't be no trouble and you can rest up."
XXX
The train's first stop was Jubilee Springs and with a quick look round to check that they were unobserved, Heyes jumped down from the boxcar and then offered an arm to his friend. When the Kid accepted the help without a murmur, Heyes knew he must be in a lot of pain.
They were just walking slowly towards the hotel when he spotted the sheriff heading in their direction. Heyes squinted and then clicked his teeth quietly as he realised that he recognised him from another town. He really wished lawmen would stay in one place, it would make their life a lot easier. With a sigh, he yanked Kid out of sight behind the nearest building, eliciting a groan and causing his friend to stumble slightly and snap. "What did you do that for, Heyes? Ain't like I'm not in enough pain already."
"Well. You'd be in a lot more pain if we'd got ourselves arrested by the sheriff we just avoided."
Heyes watched his friend wince and saw the crease in his forehead deepen even further, as the words penetrated. "How'd you figure he knows us? I didn't recognise his name and we ain't never even been close to here before!"
"He was a deputy down in Graystone...I remember him getting a real good look at us while we was robbing their bank."
The Kid humphed and rubbed a weary arm across his forehead as he leant against the livery wall. "I sure wish lawmen would stay put, it don't seem fair that they keep moving!"
"I know what you mean, Kid, it makes it real hard to avoid 'em."
The Kid sighed. "Guess we oughta leave this town quick. I hope we got enough for a couple of horses, seeing as there ain't no train outta here till tomorrow, and I don't fancy hanging round..."
"You up to riding, Kid?"
Kid smiled tiredly and shrugged. "Like you told me, you worry about staying on your horse and I'll worry about staying on mine."
"There ain't no need to get proddy, Kid. I was just asking."
"Well, it ain't as if we got much choice one way or the other. Might be better than riding a stage, leastwise I got some control and it's easier to avoid getting robbed."
XXX
The Kid hung onto his saddle horn with a grim concentration, knowing it was the only thing keeping him from sliding off the horse, but he was determined not to give in to the pain, or admit he couldn't go any further. He wanted a soft bed, not hard ground to sleep on tonight. He was a long way behind his partner, having to stop frequently, unable to stand riding more than a few steps at a time. Heyes kept glancing behind him and finally brought his own mount to a halt, waiting with unconcealed impatience for Kid to catch up. "This is stupid, Kid. We ain't getting anywhere at this speed."
"Well, what do you want me to do about it?" The Kid almost shouted, before he paused and swallowed hard, as a shooting pain reminded him why raising his voice was a bad idea and said less loudly. "If it's bothering you that much ride on ahead and I'll catch ya up." Eventually, like tomorrow, he added silently.
Heyes blew out a heavy breath, obviously irritated and shook his head. "That ain't what I'm meaning. Why don't we call it quits for the day? I got some laudanum in my saddlebags, and we'll be good and safe out here, so it won't matter if you sleep heavy."
Kid sighed, considered arguing, then reluctantly nodded in agreement. The soft bed would have to wait. Heyes glanced at him and then rode off a short distance looking for a good place to camp. Kid took a deep breath and attempted to get off his horse, thinking walking might be easier. After a couple of tries, he realised the only way he was getting down was by embarrassing himself by hitting the ground with his face. As Heyes came back to him, obviously wondering why he hadn't followed, he said a little breathlessly. "I can't get off my horse, Heyes."
Heyes grumbled and dismounted, muttering under his breath about mulish partners, who ain't got no sense, but his hands were gentle as he eased Kid down and steadied him. "Now there's a real good spot just over there, so you stay put against that rock, before ya fall over and I'll get us set up."
Kid too sore and weary to pretend he was fit to do otherwise, leant against the rock Heyes had waved at and watched his friend pottering round. Once there was a fire blazing and the horses were settled, Heyes rifled in his saddlebags, before turning round to look at him, a bottle in hand. "I'm just gonna go shoot us something to eat." He tossed Kid the bottle, which he caught awkwardly and eyed in some suspicion. Heyes gave him a cheerful wave as he walked off to hunt them down some food, leaving Kid to glare at the bottle he was now holding. After a few minutes of hesitation, the Kid opened it, and took a hefty swallow.
By the time Heyes returned, holding what looked like two rabbits, he was already seated on the floor against the rock he'd been leaning on, feeling less uncomfortable and floating in a slight haze. He started a little when Heyes loomed over him, not sure how he'd not been aware of him walking over. "There's a hot spring down yonder, spills into a lovely pool of water Kid. I figure in the morning you should give it a try, might ease your back some."
Kid feeling mellow enough that he was agreeable to anything, nodded and as his eyes started to drift shut, Heyes chuckled and spoke softly. "Guess you ain't wanting supper."
The last things Kid felt and heard, before his awareness faded completely, were a blanket being thrown over him and a gentle. "Sleep well, Kid."
He woke to bright sun and a blinding headache, that was still better than the pain of the last two days. Heyes already up and preparing breakfast, looked over at him with a smile. "Don't know if you remember me telling you, but there's a hot spring down aways. I figure after we've eaten you can go take a dip in the pool it drains into."
XXX
With Heyes watching out for any company, Kid stripped down carefully, enjoying the early afternoon sun on his exposed skin. He slipped down into the wonderfully warm water and moaned in sheer pleasure as the throb in his back and legs eased. Eventually as he squinted at a now slightly restless Heyes, he stood up, splashing the water onto his skin as he realised that he could now move with much more ease. Calling over to his partner he said. "Ya know, Heyes you oughta take a dip. Can't see no one finding us out here."
Heyes hesitated, took a final glance around him, before he too stripped down and joined his partner in the warm pool sinking down, with a deep comfortable sigh.
The Kid feeling relaxed and content, playfully splashed him, laughing at Heyes' expression and poor attempts to return fire, before he too lay back down into the water. After a few more minutes, the Kid clambered out leaving Heyes to his relaxation. He dried himself and dressed slowly, taking a deep breath as he enjoyed the quiet around him and settled down to clean his gun.
