The Kid came awake long before he was ready, disturbed by his own coughing. As awareness slowly returned, he realised that being curled on his side was making his chest ache. He carefully rolled onto his back, avoiding pulling his shackled arm to stare almost blindly at the ceiling. He sighed heavily as his mind reminded him that in a few hours he would be released from the infirmary. That thought brought him wide awake and banished the rest of the cobwebs in his brain, but instead left him with a thumping headache and a tight jaw.
After a couple of minutes of fighting slight panic, as the reality of a return to his dark, depressing cell and an end to his respite from the backbreaking mindless work settled in, he decided that trying to focus on the positives was the best way to face the day. He'd never found that easy, even in the best of circumstances, but it seemed the only way to avoid getting stressed and doing something he'd regret. Unsure of how to start, he decided to attempt to channel Heyes' ability to put a positive spin on most situations. Despite his frequent teasing over the issue, it was genuinely something that he had always been envious of. He closed his eyes, took a steadying breath and tried.
The letter from Heyes. He had absolute faith most of the time at least, that whatever Heyes had in mind, would succeed, even if it took a while to get there.
It might be weeks before he was released. Think positive, Kid, he reminded himself. He searched round for something and settled on the fact that only a short time ago he'd been facing years of imprisonment. Even he had to accept that a few weeks was a massive improvement on that prospect.
Someone might try and interfere with whatever Heyes had planned and derail the plan. Dammit, not helping. The Kid dug round again and smiled slightly as he conjured up a very clear image of the indignation he'd face from his partner, if he voiced that thought around him. "I'm real smart, Kid, you know that. No way I'm gonna let anyone who I don't trust in on the specifics." The Kid trusted Heyes well enough to believe that was true and easily pushed that concern away.
Now that his ordeal finally had an end in sight, all he had to do was stay out of trouble until the day he could walk free. The Kid had real difficulty putting a positive slant on that thought. Realistically, he knew the chances of him not finding trouble were fairly small. The best he could hope for, was to minimise the effects of whatever trouble he did find. Three years of going straight and months in prison must surely mean he could manage that.
Any further attempts to think things through, were derailed as the smell of cinnamon laced, creamy oatmeal assailed him. It'd be so long since he'd tasted anything close to real food that his mind went blank as his stomach grumbled. He was also fairly certain he was drooling embarrassingly. Doc Marks must have brought his breakfast with him.
"Good, you're awake. I thought you might like something decent to eat for a change."
The Kid so lost in a daydream about how something that smelt that good would taste, hadn't heard the doctor come up and the best he could come up with in reply to him, was a slightly baffled. "Huh?"
"I thought you'd like something decent to eat. My housekeeper makes wonderful oatmeal."
The smell coming from the proffered bowl, almost made the Kid moan in pleasure and he sat up quickly. He almost grabbed it out of the man's hands, barely noticing the tug of the shackle on his arm. He took an eager mouthful and a sigh of total bliss escaped him. He started to hurriedly shovel the food in. Despite the fact it had been freely given, a part of him was somehow afraid that it'd be taken away from him.
After he'd gulped down three large mouthfuls,with barely a breath between them, Marks gently laid a hand on his wrist to prevent him from taking another. " Easy now. You'll make yourself sick if you don't slow down. It's a good bit heavier than you've been used to recently. Besides it's early enough that there's no rush to finish."
The Kid sighed in some reluctance, the taste of real food difficult to resist after months of unsatisfying slop. As his stomach was definitely already beginning to protest, he recognised the sense of slowing down, to make sure he didn't waste the kind gift by being sick. He took a levelling breath and dug deep to summon some of the control and patience he'd always found so useful in a gunfight. After he'd nodded his agreement, Marks removed his hand with a reassuring smile. When the Kid carefully swallowed his next mouthful and took several breaths before starting another, the doctor's smile broadened as he said."Much better! Take your time to enjoy it." The Kid's stomach settled and as he slowed down, he found he enjoyed it even more, as he was able to savour it more.
When he'd swallowed the final mouthful of the creamy treat, the Kid was suddenly very conscious of just how pathetic and desperate he must have appeared. His cheeks warmed in embarrassment as he handed back the almost clean bowl and reluctantly looked up to meet the doctor's gaze. The Kid's discomfort quickly eased when all he saw in the doctor's expression, was very gentle amusement and a whole lot of understanding. The Kid smiled in gratitude, for both the thoughtful gesture and the complete lack of mockery and said softly. "Thanks, Doc, that was." He paused as he struggled to find the appropriate words, then added. "Just perfect."
"Well, it was my pleasure."
The Kid was reluctant to be left alone to think because he knew he'd only tie himself in knots. As the man started to turn away, he blurted out." Doc, I know it's a long shot, but is there anything I can do for you until they come for me?" When Marks didn't answer straight away, the Kid looked down at his knees. He should just be grateful for what the doc had already done, not expect more. He'd already treated him far better than he could have been expected to. The Kid mumbled softly not looking up. "I'm sorry, Sir, just ignore me. You've been more than kind." Maybe he would be able to fall back asleep, as he was still very tired.
He started to swing his legs back up onto the bed, careful not to aggravate his still achy chest, but Marks patted him gently on the shoulder, stopping him and he lifted his head back up, suddenly hopeful. "Don't fret son. It seems a perfectly reasonable request. Give me a minute." He looked round the infirmary for a few moments before turning back. "You can fold some bandages for me. Ain't real exciting, but it'll keep your hands and mind busy." He turned round and picked up a box and handed it to the Kid, who took it eagerly and was soon engaged in carefully sorting the tangled mass of fabric.
XXX
"It don't matter that the Doc said we gotta go easy on you. He's got no authority out here. So you ain't gonna get no special treatment just 'cos you're making out like you're still sick. You got released to work and we got a quota to meet. I ain't getting into trouble with the boss just 'cos one of you lot is slow, so you'd better hurry it up." The Kid straightened for no other reason than to try and ease his back, but obviously suspecting something else, the guard prodded him hard with his rifle as he said belligerently. "You have something to say to that sonny?"
Breathless from the ache in his chest and far too busy attempting not to fall into the ditch he'd just dug, the Kid had no energy or inclination to react beyond a silent shake of his head. After three hours of heavy, dirty digging, the sweet taste of breakfast was a distant memory. He'd have almost thought he'd dreamt it, but for the fact his stomach wasn't aching from hunger for a change. Luckily the guard's attention was soon drawn away from him by a minor scuffle between two other prisoners.
Just before he bowed his head to return to digging, a glint in the distance caught his eye. He carefully looked round before squinting in the direction of the flash of light and saw a figure waving at him, before it vanished back behind the hill it'd popped up from. Somehow even without being able to see who it was clearly, he knew it was Heyes. He quickly raised his hand in acknowledgement and then returned to his task before anyone noticed the exchange.
XXX
Heyes lying flat and hidden from prying eyes, continued to study his partner even after he'd returned to his digging. The strong eye glasses allowed him to see quite clearly, and what he saw held little comfort for him. The Kid appeared to have lost even more weight than the last time Heyes had seen him. His posture was awkward and full of exhaustion and pain. Heyes closed his eyes briefly and ground his teeth at the state his partner had been driven to. The whole point of the deal with the governor had been to keep them safe and give them a future. They'd been foolish in expecting that any politician would play fair and with the benefit of hindsight, he knew they should never have agreed to such a lousy deal. It would probably have been far safer for them to remain outlaws, despite what they'd believed at the time. He dragged his mind out of pointless recriminations and concentrated on the here an now.
As Heyes watched, a guard lifted his hand and shouted. Heyes couldn't quite make out the words, but as the Kid and his fellow prisoners all stopped digging and straightened slowly, he realised a break had been called. Heyes tracked his partner's slow pace in some worry.
The Kid joined the line up in front of one of the guards and accepted what to Heyes looked like a very meagre ration of water before picking up his spade again to head back towards the partially dug ditch.
Stiff from lying flat for so long Heyes painfully stretched before he stood. After a few hesitant moments, he mounted his horse. He would have liked to have stayed observing the Kid all day. But what he was seeing was making him angry, and unsuited to just standing by and feeling helpless, he was close to throwing caution to the wind and stomping down to the hill, to do what he wasn't exactly sure. But he realised any attempt to do anything for the Kid in this situation was both pointless and far too dangerous for them both. So with a final heavy, resigned sigh, he reluctantly turned away. As he rode slowly down the hill and back into town, his thoughts remained on his partner and he fervently hoped that Soapy would succeed in getting the information they desperately needed, sooner rather than later.
XXX
The Kid fell asleep into his thin stew and as he startled awake split most of the contents of the bowl onto his uniform. One of the guards witnessed him ineffectively trying to wipe himself clean and came over to him. "Ain't no extra. So now you've split that, you'll just have to wait till morning."
The Kid was honestly far too tired to be hungry, and nodded wearily, not really that concerned about having to wait. He was embarrassingly grateful when the guard did nothing else and simply walked away.
As he lay in the dank darkness of his cell, he thought about Heyes being nearby and smiled briefly, before wondering worriedly if that meant something had gone wrong with his plan. He had no way of knowing and luckily for his state of mind, despite some fruitless circular thinking, his exhaustion eventually allowed him to sleep. He was brought abruptly awake by a loud keening scream from the cell next to him. The noise sent shivers down his spine and had him up off his bunk in seconds. There was a heavy thudding of two sets footsteps and a jingling of keys as two guards ran in to see what was happening.
"Shut up, Morris! Just shut it." One of the guards who'd responded to the noise yelled in frustration and the Kid not recognising the name, realised he had a new neighbour. He must have arrived while the Kid was in the infirmary.
The disturbing sound continued, unsettling the whole block. The Kid could hear other prisoners banging their cell bars with some yelling. "Just shut him up. We're trying to sleep here.
"Ain't like it's different for any one of us. Just shut up!"
The Kid's sharp ears, despite the loudness of the screaming, detected some scuffling and thumping from the cell. The noises continued for several minutes, before there was a heavy thud that shook the Kid's cell wall. The abrupt silence that followed was soon broken by a sound of dragging, accompanied by the jangling sound of keys and a low laugh. "Well, at least he's quiet now." There was a general shuffling around the block, as with silence restored, the prisoners returned to their bunks.
The Kid however didn't move from his position. He craned to peer into the corridor as he heard a door lock. One of the guards just walked away without acknowledgement, but the other turned to look at him, his face stern. The Kid opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but before the words were fully formed, the man rapped his billy club hard on the Kid's fingers, which were curled tightly round the bars. He swallowed a yelp at the sharp pain and stepped back a little as the man said. "You better not have anything to say, or you'll get a taste of the same. I think it'd be best for your health that you just go back to sleep because the show's over." With that he turned away and followed his fellow guard. The Kid listened until both guards footsteps had faded away, before moving to stand in the middle of his cell. He was annoyed with himself for not saying a word and so very angry at what he'd just heard that he had some difficulty in resisting punching the walls in frustration.
He paced the floor, until his legs started to wobble and he was forced to lie back down on his bunk so he wouldn't fall. He didn't sleep for the rest of the night, listening in vain for the sound of any movement next door as his ears echoed with the screaming and the ominous thud that ended it. Both sounds mingled uneasily with the still painful memory of listening helplessly to Jake's last painful weeks.
The Kid was dressed and sitting on his bunk when the bell rang to rouse the prisoners. He was already stood by it, when his cell door was flung open. It wasn't either of the guards from last night although The Kid knew it hardly made much difference.
As the man peered into the cell, seeing the neatly made bunk and Kid stood in the required position, his face showed some amusement. "Well, ain't we eager this morning. Guess you ain't slept too well with that trouble last night " He paused and his expression turned cruel. "Well seeing as I've been told you were real interested in what was happening, we got a special job for you today. Clean up detail. I wouldn't eat too much at breakfast if I were you."
The Kid almost protested, having a sinking feeling at just what that meant. But he knew that he'd end up having to do whatever he was expected to, regardless. The only choices he had, were to stand his ground and earn a punishment, or to do what he was told straight away to stay out of trouble. He was exhausted enough, that it simply felt easier to comply.
An hour later with a couple of impassive guards watching him, the Kid knelt on the floor of the neighbouring cell, scrubbing the wall clean of blood and something else he didn't like to think about. There was a strong smell of urine and he was studiously ignoring the blanket covered form lying on the floor by the bunk.
XXX
"Will there be any reply, Sir?" The telegrapher was looking at Heyes who shook his head, his eyes still on the telegram he was holding.
"No reply, but I do want to send a telegraph to Sheriff Lom Trevors in Porterville, Wyoming."
Heyes hurriedly wrote, surprisingly despite the speed, more neatly than usual on the sheet he was handed 'Arrange meeting with mutual friend on 26th.' He handed it over to the man and said. "I'll come back tomorrow to check for a reply."