The Homestead
Kid Curry and his partner Hannibal Heyes stood on the cabin porch of their newly purchased ranch, each smoking a cigar as they watched the sun setting off to west and listened to Jessie's soft, melodic voice as she sang and rocked the two week old baby to sleep inside the cabin.
"Don't get much better than this, Heyes," Kid said reflectively.
"Only thing missing is a fine shot of whiskey," Heyes replied.
Kid smiled and reached down for the bottle and two shot glasses he had earlier placed behind the chair.
"Well then I guess we'd better just make it perfect," Kid said and handed Heyes the glasses, then pulled the cork from the bottle and poured them each a drink.
Heyes smiled. "Hard to believe this is all ours, Kid," Heyes said and took a sip from his glass. "To think we started out as outlaws and are ending up as fine, respectable businessmen."
"What's hard to believe is we don't owe the bank a red cent on the property. S'pect that will change when we start buying fencing and cattle in the spring. But for now, it's a good feeling."
"But waiting till spring gives us time to get the room added on to this place and the cabin built for me. I'd like to be out of the loft before winter."
Kid smiled. "Grown particular, Heyes? You don't like sleeping with the horses breathing down your neck anymore,?" Kid asked and took a long draw on his cigar.
"Until horses learn to use a privy, I think I prefer my own space," Heyes replied.
"Well, the lumber should be arriving soon and we'll get your well dug this week."
"How's Jessie adjusting to everything?"
Kid smiled. "She is just amazing, Heyes. She's already memorized every inch of the cabin, gets around just fine in there without my help. Only thing that worries me is when that baby starts crawling and leaving toys laying around the floor..."
"That's quite a few months away yet," Heyes interrupted. "You'll have somebody hired to help her by then."
The cabin door opened and Jessie stepped outside.
"Over here, darlin," Kid said and wrapped his arm about her shoulders when she reached him.
"Little Tac asleep?" Kid asked.
Jessie signed. "We've four hours of peace and quiet," she said with a smile.
"Heyes and me was just saying we think we'll get his cabin built before we add that room on to this place."
Jessie nodded. "No hurry. Baby won't be moving outta our room anytime soon."
"Well, if you two don't mind, I think I'll turn in for the night. I'll ride in to town tomorrow Kid, to see if they got a delivery date on that lumber yet," Heyes said and polished off the remaining whiskey in his glass.
Kid nodded. "Good night, Heyes."
Kid drew Jessie a little closer and she wrapped her arm behind his back and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Feels nice out here tonight," she said quietly.
Kid snubbed his cigar out on the bottom of his boot and tossed the stub into the yard. "You want to sit on the swing a while?"
"Uh-uh," she replied and smiled.
"Once that lumber comes, I'm going to be off working a lot during the day. Maybe we should start looking for someone to come in and help you with things."
"Reverend Hastings would be a good place to start. He might know someone in the congregation."
"I could ask Heyes to talk to him tomorrow when he's in town."
Jessie nodded and her hand reached up to rest on Kid's shirted chest.
"I miss being with you," she said softly.
Kid smiled with closed lips. "A might too soon, I think,"
"I know," she sighed as her hand patted his chest. "Just saying."
"I miss you, too."
Jessie closed her eyes, giving in a bit to her fatigue. "I could sit like this all night, just holding you in my arms. I could sit like this forever," she said and gave his arm gentle squeeze.
"I think the most we got is four hours darlin."
Jessie laughed. "Four quiet, blissful hours."
"Little Tac proving to be too much of a handful?"
"No... Sometimes."
"I could do more around here for you Jess. Just say the word."
"You're doing more than I ever could have hoped for. Tac's a handful, but I think we've managed to develop a pretty good routine."
Kid reached over and held her chin between his thumb and a finger, then tilted her head upwards and leaned down and kissed her. "The pair of you make a fine family, Jess. Couldn't want for anything more."
Jessie smiled and again patted his chest. "Love you, too Jed."
They sat out on the swing for nearly an hour, enjoying the quiet of the evening and the comfort of each other's arms.
"S'pect we'd better be heading inside. Tac's gonna be bawling and squalling before we know it. I'll get the supper dishes washed and you can take it easy a bit longer."
When Kid had finished the dishes, he headed into the bedroom to get ready for bed. There he saw Jessie lying in her nightgown, nestled up with baby, feeding him his last meal of the day. Kid walked over to the other side of the bed so he was facing them both and sat down gently on the bed. His hand reached out and stroked the baby's head while he watched Jessie breastfeed.
What's that feel like?" he asked.
Jessie adjusted Tac's head slightly, then looked up at Kid. "Like nothing I've ever experienced before. At first it hurt, but I think we've both adjusted some now. "It feels like... life...Giving and sharing life. I don't know how else to explain it."
"It looks like just how you described it, giving and sharing of life itself. And you're right there giving him the two most important things in every person's life, nourishment and love. And you do both without a thought for yourself. It don't matter how tired or hungry you might be. The only thing that matters is giving that baby what he must be what they mean by a mother's love."
"I don't know how you come by it so naturally, Jed."
Kid smiled at her. "Come by what?"
"Well Heyes might have a silver tongue, but you've got a silver heart. You describe things, not just how you see them, but how you ...feel them...and that's how I understand the things you describe, I understand how they feel, more than how they might look. You know what I'm saying?"
Kid didn't answer. He just smiled as he continued to watch the bonding between the mother and her child.
When they were done, Kid picked up the cloth and slung it over his shoulder. Then he picked up Tac and held him close, gently patting the baby's back until he burped the air from his belly. Kid then laid him in the cradle next to the bed and carefully wrapped him in the blankets. As Kid walked to the other side of the room to shed his pants and shirt, Jessie meticulously adjusted the baby's blankets. Kid took off his boots, snuffed the lamp, then pulled the covers back and climbed into bed.
"Four more hours of bliss," he said and rolled to his side and rested his hand on her shoulder. Jessie turned and snuggled in close next to Kid's body. She loved the scent of him and she slid her hand up under his Henley and rested her open palm on his chest as they both drifted off to sleep.
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"Lumber should be here day after tomorrow," Heyes told Kid and Jessie at supper the following night. If we can get it up to the building site we might even be able to get started this weekend."
"Gonna get the well dug first, Heyes. Shouldn't have to dig too deep with that stream nearby."
"Did you talk to Reverend Hasting?" Jessie asked.
"Sure did. He said there's quite a few women in the church who do that kind of work. Said he'd talk to them after church on Sunday."
"Sounds like everything is falling in into place," Jessie added.
"One thing I've learned in life darlin, you don't count you chickens before they hatch," Kid replied.
Heyes smiled. "He's always been the pessimist type," he told Jessie.
Two days later Heyes helped Jessie into the seat of the buckboard and Kid then handed the baby up to her. Then Kid climbed into the driver's seat and Heyes climbed into the back of the buckboard and they headed into town to pick up the lumber and some supplies. Every woman they encountered had to ogle and touch the baby and Kid was impressed how Jessie took it all in stride, knowing how nervous it made her to have strangers so close to the child. Kid stayed close to minimize as much of the mother hen attention as he could.
Once the wagon was loaded, they made a stop at the Sheriff's Office and when Lom heard they would soon be starting on the building of Heyes' cabin, he promised to come by and help as often as he could.
"Jed, do you think we ought to stop to see Reverend Hastings?" Jessie asked, eager to have some daily help arranged.
"He said he was going to talk to them ladies on Sunday. He likely don't have much to tell us just yet, but if it means that much to you..."
"No, you're right," she replied.
"Tell you what, if he don't stop by our place tomorrow, then we'll make a trip in to see him on Monday morning."
Jessie's face brightened. "Alright. I'm holding you to that, though."
When they got back to the cabin, Heyes dropped Kid, Jessie, the baby and the supplies off in front of the house. Then Heyes drove the lumber laden wagon into the barn but left the horses hitched to the wagon.
Jessie disappeared into the bedroom with Tac to feed him and Kid put the grocery items in the cupboards and put together a simple and quick lunch.
"Anything you want me to do, Kid?" Heyes asked when he walked in to the cabin.
"There's a stack of chopped Poplar along the side of the house. Would you bring a half a dozen logs in to set by the fireplace.
"What do you want to burn Poplar for? The smoke from that is black as coal.
"That's why I want it. When we're up at your place, I want Jessie to be able to signal us if she needs us."
"Good idea. That smoke can be seen for miles," Heyes replied and headed back outside.
"Jessie, I think Heyes and me will take that lumber up to his place and unload it. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. It's a nice day if you and Tac want to come along," Kid said over lunch.
"I think Tac's going to be sleeping quite a while after this morning's outing and I might just join him. If you're only going to be gone a couple of hours, we'll be fine."
"We put a half a dozen Poplar logs on the left side of the fireplace. Those things burn a black smoke. If Heyes and me are ever both away from here, and you need something, you put a couple of those logs on the fire. We'll see the smoke and come running."
"The logs on the left. Alright."
After lunch Kid and Heyes drove the wagon up to the building site and unloaded the lumber. By the time they were finished, both men were sweaty and tired. Both leaned against the stacks of lumber, panting.
"You think to bring shovels?" Kid asked.
Heyes nodded. "In the wagon."
"Think we should get started on the well? Could probably get at least an hour's worth of work done."
"We could, or we could drive the wagon down to the stream and stockpile rocks to line the well when we're done."
"That's probably the better of ideas."
When they were finally ready to head home for the night, they had gathered and unloaded a large stack of rocks suitable to line the well once it was done.
"I think I'll take one of the horses and ride around the place, Kid. Might as well make sure there aren't any more rustlers hanging around."
Kid nodded. "We'll hold supper for you."
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Heyes and Kid spent the weekend digging and then lining the well. The water level was not far from the surface so they didn't have to dig more that twenty feet into the ground. By Sunday afternoon, the well was dug, lined, and filled with water and the pump was installed, primed, and functional.
Returning home, they arrived in time to see Reverend Hasting's carriage heading back to Porterville. Heyes offered to take the care of the wagon so Kid could go in and see what the Reverend had told Jessie.
"Becky Sommers is willing to come out here six days a week from eight in the morning till five in the evening. She'll help with the cleaning and the cooking and of course, she'll help tend to the baby."
"Do I know Becky Sommers?" Kid asked, unable to place the name.
"She's Henry and Irene Sommers oldest daughter. She's nineteen and engaged to a young man from Cheyenne. She's not going to be married till next summer, so we'll have to find a replacement then, but she'll do fine for now."
"Did you settle on a wage?"
Jessie hesitated. "Fifteen dollars a month," she said, fully expecting an objection from Kid.
"She gonna be busting broncs for us too?" he asked.
"Jed, helping with the house and the baby is a lot of work. The work doesn't have to be dangerous or back breaking to be valuable."
"Alright Jess. You think she's worth fifteen dollars a month, then that's what we'll pay her. You know more about what the job entails than I do."
"She's willing to start tomorrow, so you and Heyes can get started on the cabin."
"Just getting that cabin built is worth fifteen dollars a month to me, Jessie."
A look of concern crossed Jessie's face. "Is Heyes getting on your nerves?" she asked.
Kid smiled. "No, nothing like that. Lived side by side with Heyes too long for that to ever happen. I just know he'll feel better when he's got his own place and ain't so dependent up us."
"She's taking Sundays off and I expect you and Heyes to do the same. I want at least one day a week with my husband not coming home dead tired and smelling like dirt and grime."
"Speaking of dirt and grime, I thought I'd haul that big half barrel in here tonight from the barn and we can both get a bath."
Jessie smiled. "I'm staking bath time for right after Tac falls asleep so I can just sit and soak for an hour."
"Anything you want, darlin," Kid said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before heading toward the bedroom.
"Where are you going."
"Just want to peek in on the boy."
"You wake him Jed, and he's your responsibility till he falls asleep again."
"That might prove to be a while. Don't think I got the equipment to feed him."
After supper Kid started to work heating water, then brought the half barrel into the cabin, gave it a quick cleaning, and filled the barrel with water. When Jessie was ready, he helped her into the barrel and handed her a scrub cloth and a bar of soap.
"I'll be out on the porch having a cigar. You holler when you're about done and I'll come in and wash your back for you. Then when I've got the water changed out and hot, I'll take a bath and you can go out and have a cigar."
"If I did that, you'd be up half the night cleaning the floor after I got sick. But I'm game if you are," she replied.
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Six days a week for the next four months Heyes, Kid, and sometimes Lom worked steadily and diligently on the two room cabin and by late summer, they were putting the final touches on the roof.
It was a sweltering hot Saturday and well before noon and all three men had discarded their shirts. At noon they began descending the ladder for a short lunch break, each eager to quench their thirsts with the cool well water.
Lom was the first to descend the ladder, followed by Heyes. Kid was last, but when he started to slide his foot to the top rung, he stopped suddenly, staring off in the direction of his house.
"Heyes, look over there," Kid said with great alarm in his voice.
Heyes looked in the direction Kid was pointing. "That's not black smoke," he said with great concern.
"That's a fire," Kid shouted and raced down the ladder and jumped onto Lom's horse, He slammed his heels into the sides of the horse as he raced toward his own home.
Heyes and Lom jumped into the wagon and tore off after Kid.
Even before he reached the house, Kid could see flames shooting high in the air, great clouds of smoke billowing through the roof. Reaching the yard, Kid jumped from the still moving horse and raced toward the house.
"Jessie! Jessie!" Kid screamed as he raised a bent am up toward his eyes and tried desperately to find a way through the flames to reach the interior. "Jessie!, Jessie" he screamed desperately.
Suddenly forceful hands were on both of Kid's shoulders, pulling him away from the inferno. Kid fought wildly to free himself and gain entry to the house.
"Jessie!
Still the hands held tight and, unable to free himself, Kid's body slumped, and he fell to his knees, crying uncontrollably.
"We're here, Jed," Jessie's voice called from the barn.
Kid didn't hear her through his sobs, but Heyes and Lom did. Heyes dropped to his knees beside Kid and wrapped his arms about Kid's shoulders.
"Kid, Jessie is fine. She's in the barn."
Kid's breath caught, and for a moment he knelt, frozen in place. Then slowly his head turned to look at Heyes.
Heyes smiled and nodded his head vigorously. "She's in the barn, Kid.'
Kid jerked his head in the direction of the barn and saw Jessie, Tac safely in her arms, and Becky standing in the barn entrance.
Kid wiped his nose with the back of his hand, sniffled, and tried to stand. Heyes reached down to help pull Kid to his feet and he first staggered, then ran to the barn and threw his arms around Jessie and the baby and kissed Jessie repeatedly.
"I thought...I thought..." Kid said, still gasping thought tears.
"We're fine, Jed."
Kid turned and looked at the house now engulfed in flames.
"What happened?"
Must have been sparks from the fireplace. I was in the bedroom with Tac. If Becky hadn't been here, Jed..." Jessie said, her own eyes filled with tears.
"But you're safe...We're safe," Kid gasped.
"Kid, you and Jessie and the baby can stay at my place," Lom said, putting a hand on Kid's shoulder.
"No," Heyes interrupted. "My place is finished enough. They can move in there. I'll stay with you, Lom... Okay, Kid? You and Jessie, and Tac move into my place...Till we can get your house rebuilt."
Kid nodded. And looked out across the yard. Only the shell of the house remained standing.
Kid continued to breathe in gasps. "Everything's gone...We got nothing."
"Jed, we've got each other, and we've got our son. We've had nothing before, Jed. We'll survive," Jessie told him.
Kid stood next to Jessie, one arm draped around her shoulders. Heyes moved next to Kid and laid his hand on Kid's shoulder.
"Jessie's right, Kid. We'll get through this."
Kid nodded though he barely heard the words of encouragement.
Lom took the buckboard to his place and came back with bedding, soap, some food staples, enough firewood to last a few days. By the time Lom returned and was ready to take Kid and his family to Heyes' cabin, only the charred and still smoldering frame of the house remained. Kid would have to wait until tomorrow to walk through the debris to see if anything was salvageable. Heyes stayed at Kid's place to tend to the livestock until Lom returned to take him to Lom's place.
Stepping into the cabin, Kid pulled a drawer from the kitchen and carried it and the bedding as he led Jessie into the bedroom. Jessie sat on the bed to feed Tac while Kid lined the drawer with a blanket. This would serve as Tac's bed. Then Kid returned to the main room and helped Lom carry the supplies into the house.
"You gonna be alright here, Kid".
"Kid nodded and reached out and put a hand on Lom's shoulder. "Thank you." Kid said, obviously still shaken.
"I better go get Heyes," Lom replied and again Kid nodded, then let his arm drop to his side.
Kid walked over to the stack of items and began putting things in some sort of semblance. Then he returned to the bedroom and made up the bed while Jessie rocked Tac to sleep. Once Tac was safely tucked in his bed, Kid and Jessie stripped down to their underclothing and slipped into the bed. Kid lay on his back staring at the dark ceiling.
Jessie rolled to her side and gently caressed Kid's chest until he reached up and grasped her hand, holding it tightly.
"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered, his voice trembling as he spoke
"But you didn't, Jed. The only thing we've lost is a house, some clothing, nothing that can't be replaced..
"No house...no cattle...just a worthless piece of land."
"It's not worthless. You'll have cattle come spring. Winter's far enough away that we can have a house build before the first snow falls... We've got each other and we've got Tac. That's all we need, Jed."
"My whole life, Jess...Nothing's ever come easy...nothing's ever lasted, nothing's ever felt permanent...Now this, just nothing all over again."
"Don't wallow in self pity, Jed Curry. Life's isn't easy for anybody. You think life has ever been easy for me, not being able to see? You know as well as I do, you play the cards life deals you. You didn't win this hand, Jed. But it doesn't mean you're out of the game."
"All our money, Jess...All the money I got from selling my cattle back in Montana... That was all in the house...There might be a hundred or two in gold and silver, but all the rest was paper...It was all in that house... I never put it in the bank, Jessie...It was all in that house."
Jessie closed her eyes, feeling the loss, knowing the impact it had on their future.
"Shhhhh Jed. Try to sleep... The Lord never gives a man more than he can bear, Jed. We'll sort things out in the morning."
Ever so slowly, Kid turned his head to look at Jessie. Then he shifted to his side and wrapped his arms around her. "Just hold me," he whispered.
"For all eternity," she said, pulling him close against her and feeling his tears on her breast.
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Heyes arrived early the next morning driving the buckboard. His intention was to take Kid back to the house to sort through the rubble, but Kid insisted he stay with Jessie and Tac and Kid went alone to the site.
He walked slowly through the ashes of what just yesterday morning had been their home and methodically gathered what might be salvageable, charred pots and pans and iron skillets, the headboard of their brass bed, knives and forks and spoons, Tac's drinking cup, the fireplace poker. Not one thing of any measurable value.
Walking through the area that had been their bedroom, Kid kicked at the ash, stirring the dust into the air about his boots. He stopped when he heard and felt the metal tin he had used to safeguard his money. As he picked it up, he heard the coins rattle inside. The lid had melted in spots and his fingers dug at the edges to pry open the lid.
Kid stopped and stared at the contents. They paper money was intact. The relief was so great it weakened him and he dropped to his knees, his chin quivering. "Sweet Jesus, thank you Lord," Kid whispered.
Clutching the tin, Kid walked to the barn and saddled the mustang. Then he led the animal to the back of the buckboard and tethered the animal securely before climbing into the wagon and returning to Heyes' cabin.
Kid walked into the cabin, his pants from ankles to knees were covered in soot.
"You alright, Kid?" Heyes asked from the kitchen table where he sat drinking coffee.
"Where's Jessie?"
"Bedroom."
Kid marched to the bedroom and barged in. Jessie was near the dresser getting dressed.
"Jessie...Darlin."
"What is it, Jed?"
"Look," Kid said as he walked over to her and reached for her arms and pushed the tin into her hands.
"What is this?"
"Open it," Kid said with great excitement.
Jessie pried the tin open, the lid slipping from her fingers and falling to the floor.
"I don't understand."
"Put you hand in there. It's the money, Jessie. It's all there. Every last paper dollar," he exclaimed and wrapped her in his arms, lifted her from the floor, spun her around, then lowered her feet back to the floor and smothered her in kisses.
"You were right, Jess. The Lord don't give you more than you can bear."
"You were listening to me last night," she said with great joy.
"Every word, darlin. Just didn't share the same conviction."
"Jed, I want you to put that money in the bank, where we know it's safe."
Kid laughed. "Jess, you're forgetting who you're talking to," he said. "But it's the Porterville Bank. It ain't been robbed but once, and even then they didn't take nothing. So I'll do what you ask. In fact, I'll go this afternoon."
"Before you go to town, we're making a list of the things we need, including a store bought crib. Tac can't be sleeping in a cupboard drawer and I can't be waiting for you to get around to making a crib. You're going to be too busy building us a house."
"A fine house, Jess. I'll order the lumber when I'm in town. Heyes and me will get started on it right away. Ah, darlin, I love you."
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"You ever changed a diaper, Heyes?"
"What?" Heyes asked nervously.
"I'm putting you in charge of Tac for a couple of hours," Kid said flatly
"You're what?" Jessie asked "Jed, Heyes doesn't know how to take care of a baby!"
"He took care of me for years. I survived."
"You were much older than Tac. What if he needs changing, or gets hungry?" Jessie argued.
"Heyes, if he needs changing, wash him wherever he needs washing. If he's hungry, he's gonna start wailing something fierce. Just stick you little finger in his mouth. If that don't work, stuff something in your ears so you don't have to hear it."
"Jed Curry, that's how you'd take care of a baby!"
"If I was doing it all by myself, I likely would," Jed replied.
"Kid, she's right! I've never taken care of a baby."
"The only thing you got to know is that you don't let him play with nothing that will hurt him. Everything else we can take care of when we get back."
"Where are you two going?" Heyes asked.
"Shopping. I figure Jessie knows better than me what Tac needs, and she needs dresses and skirts and women's things. It's gonna save us time and money if you go to town with me, Jessie."
Heyes sighed. "He is probably right, Jessie. No telling what he'd bring home if he goes alone."
"We'll set ourselves a time limit and be back here in two hours."
"But..."
"No buts, Jess."
"Heyes, you think you'll be alright?" Jessie asked
Heyes smiled. "Tac and me will be just fine, Jessie. Don't worry about us. It's only two hours."
"Then it's settled. Let's go."
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"Mr. and Mrs. Curry, Sheriff Trevors told me what happened yesterday. I am so sorry," the Mercantile owner told them when they walked into the store. "A miracle no one was hurt."
"Thank you Mr. Jessup. It seems Jessie and me will be needing to replace a few things this morning.
"Of course, if I can be of any help?"
"I suspect you can be of a lot of help," Kid replied. "First thing on our list...Do you have any ready made baby cribs?"
"Yes, Of course, we have two styles. Follow me."
Jessup led them to a back corner of the store where two baby cribs stood. Kid led Jessie's hand to to one and then the other. "You know more about what he needs, Jess. You pick one," Kid said and then turned to the owner. "We're gonna be needing blankets and diapers and, well pretty much everything a baby needs. We lost everything."
"How old is the child now?"
"He's four months," Jessie called to him.
"I see. I'll gather all the things for you, Mr. Curry."
"A couple of baby rattles, too."
"Of course."
"Um, is your wife around by any chance?" Kid asked the store owner.
"Yes, she's in the back."
"I a...I don't know nothing about women's sizes and my wife will be needing a dress, couple of skirts, you know...women's things."
Mr. Jessup gave Kid an understanding smile. "Susan would be more than happy to help your wife." Jessup replied, then called to his wife and when she appeared, he explained the situation.
"Don't worry about a thing, Mr. Curry. I'll take care of her."
"Jess, I'm gonna go look for some pants and a couple of shirts," Kid told her. "Oh, and Mr. Jessup, we'll be needing all the food staples, coffee, flour, salt, sugar, all that sort of thing, too."
Kid leaned in to whisper in Jessup's ear. "A box of cigars and a little bag of peppermints, too."
Kid meandered the aisles while Mrs. Jessup and Jessie were busy deciding on clothes. He picked up a tin of gun oil and some rags as well.
"Have to order lumber and nails and such too."
"You're rebuilding?"
Kid nodded. "Hoping to have it done before winter. A little bigger than the one we just built for Heyes. I'm gonna need two bedrooms. Nothing fancy."
"Let's go back in my office and we'll decide on measurements and determine how much lumber you'll need.
Over an hour later Kid and Jessie stood at the counter waiting for the bill to be tallied.
"I want to do my part to help you folks," Mr. Jessup said. "I'm giving you a five percent discount on your bill."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Jessup. Thank you."
"You're wife is going to look lovely in these things," Mrs. Jessup said.
Kid smiled. "My wife looks lovely in anything, Mr. Jessup."
"Would you like these things loaded in your wagon?" Mr. Jessup asked.
"Appreciate that," Kid replied. "Would you leave that little bag bag we talked about on the seat of the wagon?"
"Of course."
Kid paid the bill which, even with the discount, came to nearly five hundred dollars.
"Will you be wanting a line of credit, Mr. Jones?"
Kid shook his head and pulled the wad of money from his pocket and carefully counted out the money.
"Would you happen to know of two or three men looking for work? I'd like to get the house built as quick as possible."
"I can line up some very reliable men for you, Mr. Curry."
"Probably want to get started the day after the lumber arrives."
"I'll see that they are ready," Jessup said and handed Kid the few dollars and cents he had coming in change.
"Come on, Jessie," Kid said, taking her arm. "Let's go take that walk to the bank."
"And stop at the Summer's place to tell Becky to start coming tomorrow," Jessie added.
The ride home was slow as the wagon was packed tight and full. Kid reached down for the bag of peppermints and handed it to Jessie.
"A few sweets for the sweet," he said with a smile.
Jessie pulled two peppermints from the bag and popped one her mouth and the other in Kid's.
"It'll take a couple of weeks for Heyes and me to clean up the old site. Barn and well are still there so I figure we should build right there again," Kid said, then sighed heavily.
"What's wrong?"
Kid shook his head. "Just how fast the money's dwindling. Spring herd won't be as big as I had hoped."
"Jed, I've got that money from when I was teaching..."
"We're not getting in to your money, Jessie. If something were to ever happen to me, that money would come in handy for you and Tac. No, Jess, that's a sort of nest egg for you and we're not touching it."
"Jed..."
"I said, no."
Jessie didn't push the matter any further, but she did turn her head away and grew very quiet."
When they arrived at the house, Heyes was sitting on the porch swing with Tac sleeping in his arms.
"He'll only sleep if I'm rocking," Heyes explained. "Minute I stop, he starts squawking."
Kid smiled. "Bring him into the bedroom and Jess will get him quiet and settled. Then you can help me unload the wagon."
Heyes looked at the heavily packed wagon. "Anything left in the store?"
Kid smiled. "Whatever's left will likely end up here another day."
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"We can start cleaning up the old place tomorrow," Kid told Heyes as they unloaded the wagon and carted things in to the house. "I got the lumber ordered and told Mr. Jessup to round up two or three men to help with the building of the new place."
"That should get it done a lot faster."
Kid nodded. "And add a couple of hundred dollars to the costs."
Heyes stopped working and grabbed Kid's arm so he would do the same.
"Kid, we're partners and we both know from experience that being partners requires some give and take. Now this new house might be yours just like this one is mine, but the property is ours, and the livestock we buy is ours. I've got some money saved up. It don't matter if one of us invests a bit more than the other from time to time. It all comes out in the wash."
Kid looked at Heyes gratefully, their eyes locking, and both secure in the knowledge and understanding that theirs was a unique partnership, bonded by blood, bonded by choice, and bonded by love.