Heyes watched his partner a little worriedly, as he unusually paced their hotel room like a trapped cougar, before stopping and dropping down onto the lone chair in the room with a heavy sigh.
The moon was full and bright shining through the window, highlighting the taut lines of Kid's face. Heyes was about to speak when Kid cleared his throat and met his gaze, his expression shadowed. "I gotta go somewhere Heyes. There ain't no need for you to come. I'll meet ya in a couple of weeks out in Boulder."
Heyes shook his head firmly, determined not to let his partner go anywhere on his own right now. "I'm coming too." Kid started to complain, but Heyes held up his hand and snapped. "And don't argue with me, Kid." Heyes knew it was a mistake to confront Kid when he was in this mood, but his own temper was also uneasy, which was making him less careful than was exactly sensible.
Heyes wasn't surprised when Kid stood up quickly with his arms folded and stepped towards him as he spoke, his voice tight and angry. "Damn it Heyes, I'm not a child! There's a body with my bullet in it and I'm trying to work out how to deal with that."
Heyes swallowed hard and took a deep breath, steadying his own anger, knowing this could easily escalate into a row, which would help neither of them. He kept his voice calm and conciliatory and said as evenly as he was capable of. "Ain't suggesting you are Kid; I just think we oughta try and get through this together. I know it wasn't my bullet, but I share the blame and we both know it."
Heyes saw with some relief that his words had made an impact, when the Kid's body relaxed, and he flopped back down on the chair. After a short pause he said more calmly, though with angry pain still leaking through. "I can't even say I'm sorry he's dead, Heyes, 'cos he was just gonna keep on killing, till he was stopped by either the noose or a bullet. But…" Kid shrugged a little helplessly, unable to finish the thought.
Heyes realised then, just who Kid was planning on visiting, his old mentor. He smiled slightly at the memory of the old man, who had done so much for his friend. "You think Archie is still alive, Kid?"
Kid looked at him in slight surprise before shaking his head in some amusement. "You a mind reader now, Heyes?"
Heyes smiled as some of the tension between them eased. "No, Kid, still just a genius."
Kid didn't respond directly except with a faint smile as he said. "I ain't sure, Heyes, but there's only one way to find out."
XXX
"You're about six months too late. Fever took him last winter. Took my Pa too and half the town."
Heyes standing behind his partner saw Kid's shoulder's slump at the woman's words. Heyes swallowed as he started to turn away and was unsurprised when he stopped, his hat still in his hand and said softly. "Ma'am, where is he buried? I'd sure like to pay my respects."
Heyes saw the woman's eyes widen slightly and her brow crease in surprise, but she answered easily enough. "Up yonder on the top of the hill." She waved up to the grassy meadow bordering the property. "You can't miss the marker." Her tone softened and her face relaxed and she smiled a little sadly. "Was him and Pa's favourite place to watch the sunset last few years."
"Thank-you Ma'am and I'm real sorry for your loss. I never knew your Pa, but your uncle was a fine man."
As they turned to walk away, the woman's voice stopped them. "Sorry son. What did you say your name was?"
"I didn't, Ma'am." When the Kid glanced over at him, Heyes nodded to signal he had no issue with him telling her his name. "Jed Curry, Ma'am. Leastwise that's how your Uncle knew me."
Her face broke into a genuine smile. "Oh, he used to talk about you a lot." She glanced over at Heyes her smile still welcoming. "You must be Heyes then! Do you want to come in for a bit, rest your legs some?"
The Kid shook his head. "No thank you Ma'am, we don't want to intrude. But if it ain't too much trouble could we leave our horses here while we pay our respects?"
XXX
As they walked up to where she'd indicated, the Kid turned to Heyes with a sad smile. "Guess it ain't a surprise. He weren't exactly young back then."
Heyes squeezed his friend's shoulder gently, but said nothing, knowing that his friend was hurting and not really sure what to say to make it better.
He hung back as Kid walked over to the grave marker, which was as the woman had said, easily found. Heyes not paying much attention to anything other than his friend started when he saw a figure appear behind the Kid.
XXX
Kid lost in thought, turned with a start and paled when he saw who'd come up behind him and stepped back in shock, his eyes flicking between the cross and the man now in front of him.
The man laughed as he said. "Don't worry son, I ain't no ghost!"
XXX
"So Jed, even after everything you learnt from me, you still ended up killing a man? I'm disappointed, figured I'd taught you better than that!"
"Now, Archie it weren't that simple!" Heyes stung by the man's tone, jumped to his partner's defence. "He was real fast and Kid didn't have no choice."
Archie turned to Kid, his expression disapproving. "Now, Jed, you and me both know there's always a choice."
"You know, Archie, if you're just gonna lecture me, you might've well have stayed dead."
Archie sighed heavily. "Still got a smart mouth I see." He paused then added sharply. "Kinda surprised that no one has rearranged your pretty face."
Kid stood pushing his chair back heavily as he said angrily. "Trust me folk have tried, including Heyes a time a two, but guess I'm just lucky." With that he left the house, the door slamming behind him.
Heyes stood angry as he snapped. "We thought you of all people would understand." There was a tense silence as Heyes started to stalk towards the door to find his partner, but then Archie sighed and shook his head. "Let me."
Heyes unsure started to shake his head, but Beckman smiled slightly and said gently. "I do understand, son, I just hoped it wouldn't have come to this, especially when no one died, or was even shot in a single one of them robberies you pulled." Heyes relaxed and decided it was likely safe to let the old man speak to his partner, a feeling only strengthened, when with his hand on the door, Archie turned, his expression sympathetic. "He keeping you both awake?"
Heyes nodded, "He ain't slept easy since..."
XXX
Archie spied Kid sitting under a tree staring at his gun, loosely held in his right hand. He looked up as Archie walked over and tensed as he came to a stop in front of him. "You've made your point, real clear. We'll be going just as soon as Heyes is ready." He looked towards the house as if surprised not to see his partner coming out of the door.
Archie lowered himself down, stifling a groan as his bones protested slightly. "I'm sorry, Jed. I guess I weren't exactly easy on you. But I meant what I said all them years ago, being good with a gun don't mean you gotta kill, and when you didn't never shoot anyone in those robberies all these years. I figured you understood it too."
Jed sighed and holstered his gun as he rubbed his eyes wearily. "I guess it's all right telling you, but me and Heyes is going straight. Made a deal with the Governor that if we stay away from thieving, we get amnestied."
Archie suppressed a snort as he said dryly. "And how's that going, son?"
Jed was startled in a bark of laughter. "'Bout as well as you're thinking."
"So how'd a man end up dead, if you ain't robbing any more?"
Jed shrugged and said softly. "Kinda happened cos we are going straight. He got real suspicious and guessed that we weren't exactly who we said we are. He cheated us, but more than that, he caused the death of a lovely old man and damn near killed me and Heyes." Jed took a shaky breath and met Archie's eyes before returning to stare at the grass. "I ain't sorry he's dead, but I just can't get him out of my head. I finally really get why you talked me out of going after that man who shot you." He paused and then added awkwardly, obviously embarrassed by the emotion he was expressing, but needing to talk. "I feel like I've somehow lost something important." His gaze still down he added wearily. "What do I have to do to move on, Archie? 'Cos I can't settle my mind and Bilson sure don't deserve this kinda hold on anyone." He trailed off then and finally looked up to meet Archie's eyes.
Archie's throat tightened as he saw clearly in the man facing him, the boy on the brink of manhood he'd said goodbye to all those years ago. He chose his next words carefully, the anger completely gone, replaced by a sympathetic pain and an eagerness to try and ease his former charge's pain. "There ain't no magic answer, Jed. You won't ever really get over it, but time and a determination that you ain't gonna let it happen again, will help some."
XXX
Heyes paced the small living room of Beckman's cabin, wondering when it'd be appropriate to go and see what was happening. He was about to give up his battle to stay out of whatever was happening outside,when the cabin door opened and Kid and Archie entered. Heyes looked intently at his partner ,relieved to see that he appeared the most relaxed he'd been since Matherville. Pulling his gaze away from his friend, he glanced over at Archie, who smiled slightly and nodded, clapping Kid gently on the shoulder before stepping away to head towards the kitchen.
Heyes walked over to his partner and asked carefully. "All right?"
"I will be, Heyes, I will be." That was enough for Heyes who smiled, and took what felt like his first clear breath in days as Kid added. "Archie has said if we want to stay on a few days, we're more than welcome. I think I might, Heyes, but you don't need to. I can meet you in Greeley if you want."
Heyes tried to get a feel of what his friend wanted, but couldn't tell from his tone and so shrugged. "If you ain't in a rush to go anywhere, I ain't neither, if that's all right with you?"
Kid smiled broadly and Heyes knew it'd been the answer that he'd been hoping for.
Before they could say anything else, Archie re entered from the kitchen carrying a tray of cups and looked at them, when neither spoke, he placed the tray down on the small dining table with a slight thud and turned back to them and said. "Well? You gonna tell me what you've decided or do I gotta guess?"
