The Kid was tossed off a bucking horse for the fifth time that morning. He fell heavily onto his right wrist, but managed to roll out of the way before he got kicked in the head. He landed with a slight thud against the hard corral fencing. Mocking laughter rang in ears as he lay on the dusty ground trying to catch his breath and ignore the throbbing in his wrist. With one eye shut while he attempted to control the pain both in his wrist and through the rest of his body, he watched as another prisoner was forced to take his place. He winced in sympathetic understanding when he too fell with a thump onto the dusty ground. An amused snort to his left from the other side of the fence brought his head up and away from the fallen man.
One of the guards assigned to their work detail was observing him with a slight smirk on his face. After a few moments he turned his head to nod towards the other side of the corral. The Kid followed his gaze and saw with some relief that the other inmate had managed to scramble away from the horse and was now sitting up. From what he could see he'd escaped severe injury, although a large bruise was already forming on his right cheek and he looked to be bleeding from an abrasion over his left eye.
The Kid's attention was pulled away from the man when the guard with laughter in his voice said. "Well it ain't no wonder Mr Simpson prefers using you inmates rather than his own ranch hands. It sure avoids worrying about his employees being injured and unable to work if they break something. Don't matter too much for you lot."
The Kid grimaced at yet another unwelcome reminder of his place in the world at the moment, but he simply concentrated on cradling his wrist to ease the pain as he felt the guard look down at him. "You ain't gonna be able to use that injury as an excuse for not getting back on a horse. It probably just needs some ice and remember you're set to be here till sundown." He punctuated his comment with an emphatic poke on the Kid's leg with his club as he nodded at his wrist, which was already beginning to swell and bruise.
Whatever the Kid might have said in reply was probably luckily lost as another guard came dashing up to them, breathless and slightly red in the face. "Jacob, get him up! Mr Clyde wants to see him back at the prison, it sounds real urgent."
"You heard him! Up!"
At the instruction, which was reinforced with a heavy prod from the man's booted foot, the Kid struggled to his feet a little unsteadily and managed to stand against the fence until he found his balance. "Oh hell, what now." The bleak thought swept through him as he was re shackled with little concern for his damaged wrist.
The Kid winced in pain as the cold metal pinched his skin and the movement jarred all his bruises. He started to turn slowly and carefully around, unwilling to risk aggravating his bruises by moving too quickly. But the guard impatiently tapped his club on his own leg, before raising it in preparation to shove him hard to provide an incentive for him to hurry up.
Both their movements were halted as the man who'd come running laid a hand on the other guard's shoulder to stop him, while emphatically shaking his head. "Boss says we have to go easy on him. So don't be adding any more bruises."
"That sure is a shame, Jack, but guess I don't got no choice." With a far more gentle push then the Kid had become used to, he was directed towards the dirt path leading out of the ranch. The Kid shuffled his way up the hill and dared to feel a small shaft of hope at what he'd heard.
XXX
"Now I ain't sure how or why, but the Governor of Wyoming has seen fit to award you a pardon. This arrived just about an hour ago, then your no good partner turned up with a copy. I wanted to have him tossed in one of our cells, but he's gone and got himself an amnesty. He must have managed to find something big on someone. I were real suspicious and telegraphed Cheyenne. It's all legit, so I ain't got no grounds to refuse to release you, which don't seem right. He's waiting outside on the street."
Clyde scowled as he reluctantly handed the Kid the official looking document he was holding. The Kid reached out for it and winced at the pain in his right wrist as he looked down in some disbelief at the paper in his hand. Clyde was still talking, but the Kid barely registered what was being said as he read the words that freed him from this hellhole. He dragged his gaze up and forced himself to look calmly into the man's face as he said what the Kid had only half believed he'd ever hear. "Release him."
Projecting an aura of confidence to cover the strange mix of euphoria and anxiety that was assailing him, the Kid presented his wrists to the guards for them to be unlocked.
One guard removed the restraints from his hands while the other bent to release his feet. After the shackles were removed the Kid shifted a little to adjust his weight, frustrated at being strangely unbalanced at their loss.
A bundle of clean and new looking clothes were thrust into his hands by one of the guards. "From that partner of yours. He was most insistent apparently." His tone was dry but not as angry as the warden's.
The Kid studied them for a moment in silence, before he quickly stripped down, discarding the uniform with some relief and letting it pool on the floor by his feet.
The clothes were a little loose, but nonetheless comfortable and very similar to his pre prison choices. His wrist was throbbing with the effort of dressing and he was suddenly weary. As he finished, he looked down at the hated uniform before he turned to face the warden. After clearing his throat, he took a deep breath and found the resolve to speak. In a voice softer than he would have liked, but still imbued with some anger said. "You better hope this is the last time we meet."
Clyde locked gazes with him and in a tone replete with both disgust and some menace said . "I do hope that isn't a threat Curry!" The Kid observed that there was some heavily disguised unease on the man's face and felt some satisfaction at the fact as he replied calmly. "No, Sir, not a threat."
The terse exchange hung briefly in the air between them as Clyde swallowed hard, before turning away to study his desk. The Kid stared at the top of his head for a few moments, then simply started to walk out, focusing hard on not shuffling as he did so.
As he reached the door a hand fell on his shoulder and he tensed, coming to a reluctant stop. "I think you oughta let the doc take a look at your wrist." It was the guard who had come running to the ranch and the words were said quietly with a nervous glance towards the desk where his boss and colleague were now deep in conversation.
The Kid started to shake his head, determined not to stay in this place a moment longer than he had to. Even when his wrist chose that moment to send a shooting pain up his arm he was reluctant. But he knew it would be an opportunity to say goodbye to the one person he owed a word of thanks to. Another shooting pain in his wrist decided it for him. Getting it seen here meant there would be one less thing for him and Heyes to worry about. So he gave in with a shrug. "Guess he can tell me what needs doin' with it."
"I'll run and tell your partner what's happening. He don't seem the patient type and he was real anxious to see you."
The Kid smiled a little at that and watched as the guard jogged towards the exit, before he started towards the infirmary.
XXX
Marks was sat at his desk writing in a large black leather ledger when the Kid walked in. He looked up at the footsteps and stood with a huge smile on his face as he took in the Kid's clothing and lack of shackles. "What Morley told me in some disgust when the mail arrived is true then. I didn't let him know, but I sure hoped he was right. You don't belong in here." He jumped to his feet and walked over ready to shake Kid's right hand before his eyes fell on his wrist and he stopped, raising his eyebrows."What happened?"
The Kid shrugged. "Annoyed a horse once too often out at the Simpson ranch." He paused and brought his wrist up slowly for the man to see the damage more clearly. "I don't think it's broke, but it sure hurts." After a brief silence while the doctor studied the damage, the Kid blurted out. "You know, Doc, I did commit them crimes I was arrested for. So most folk will figure I was sent where I belonged." He didn't know what prompted him to admit that and wished he'd just kept his mouth shut. It wasn't like he'd not had plenty practise doing just that lately. He expected the man's expression to turn to one of disapproval and for some reason the thought of disappointing him stung a little.
He was surprised when instead Marks chuckled before smiling broadly. "Well Mr Curry, I'm very aware of that. There's not many people, even out this far that haven't heard of you and your partner's exploits. But when I was out visiting my brother in Wyoming, just over two years ago I guess it must be, there were rumours that you were going straight and had struck some kinda deal with the authorities. So my figuring is that it isn't real fair you got imprisoned when you were already pretty much reformed anyway." He paused and then added with finality in his voice. "But that's enough of that. Come over to where's there's more light and let me have a closer look at your wrist."
The Kid was surprised at Mark's knowledge and wondered just how many people had heard talk of their promised amnesty. It now seemed even less fair that every damn governor had insisted that they keep it a secret. He doubted that it'd have made much difference, but still it didn't feel right to him.
Following the doctor to the examination table, he perched on the edge of it and let the man look at his wrist. After a painful couple of minutes of prodding and poking the doctor delivered his verdict. "You're right it isn't broken, but I'm going to splint it anyway, just to remind you to go easy with it for a week or so."
The Kid swallowed a sigh, knowing that Heyes would not be impressed on seeing a splint. But he simply shrugged and allowed Marks to attach one gently to his wrist with an almost silent hiss of pain. "Done! Now get outta here!"
The Kid laughed quietly and gave the man a sketchy salute with his uninjured arm, which earnt him a broad smile and walked out of the infirmary. A couple of minutes later he exited into dusty air a free man.
He hesitated just beyond the gates uncertain and more than a little anxious. He turned as his partner came to greet him."There you are! I was considering busting in to check that you hadn't got lost!" The attempt at humour didn't cover his over-bright eyes or the way he was practically bouncing in nervous excitement. The Kid looked at him, noting the changes the stress of the past year had wrought in him. He was thinner and his face had more lines and there were even some strands of grey glinting in his dark hair. The Kid still thought that he was quite possibly the best thing he'd ever set eyes on.
Despite it being over a year since he'd seen his partner in more than rare glimpses, the Kid still knew exactly when Heyes decided to give up the pretence of not caring and surrender to the impulse he'd been fighting and pull him into a tight hug. But even expecting him to do just that, the Kid couldn't help but freeze for a moment as both pain and something not far from panic spread through him at the tightness of the grip.
Just as Heyes tensed with a muttered apology, obviously about to step back, he pushed himself into reacting and slipped his arms round his friend's back to halt the retreat and firmly return the embrace. They stood almost stock still and oblivious to everything else around them. Heyes relaxed and sighed in relief against him as his own anxiety eased.
Overwhelmed by a raging torrent of feeling that he was completely incapable of expressing in words, the Kid's eyes burned in reaction to the fierce affection of the hug. He was sure that his throat was so tight that he couldn't have spoken even if his life had depended on it. A gentle rub on his back and a soothing murmur that was more breath than word told him clearly that Heyes was hearing everything that he couldn't say.
Eventually with obvious reluctance Heyes broke their hold and stood back, although he kept a firm hold on the Kid's forearms, carefully avoiding his splinted wrist. He studied him intently and the Kid noting the level of concern despite the fond smile on his partner's face, wondered uncomfortably just how bad he looked.
When he finally spoke, Heyes sounded calm enough, but his eyes were so full of emotion that the Kid's breath caught. "Aww, Kid, it's real good to see you."
XXX