Clear blue skies and a gentle breeze greeted them as they the barge ported in the tiny hamlet of Disaster that took it's name from the last of the Falls they had passed through the day before.
As planned, there were six horses waiting for them at the livery and the men who brought the horses had also been hired to stay with the wagon that night. This enabled Heyes, Curry, Warner, and Avery to get rooms at the hotel, eat a hearty meal, and tend to personal matters or simply enjoy the meager amenities the town had to offer before starting out on the final leg of the journey the following morning.
The first thing Heyes and Curry did when the reached the dozen or so buildings that constituted the small town, was to visit the livery to purchase their own horses and gear. Both saw not only the value but the necessity of riding separately from the wagon, both for scouting and for greater mobility than the wagon provided. If they were to be robbed, the two former outlaws wanted to be sure they had any and every opportunity to distance themselves from the wagon and plan offensively rather than defensively. Neither bothered to consult Mr. Warner on the matter as neither saw the matter as negotiable.
After negotiating the price for the horses and gear, and paying extra for the early morning pick up, they made their way to the hotel, ordered two hot baths and soaked in something far less than luxury before meeting Warner and Avery for supper in the cafe.
"Thaddeus and I bought horses this afternoon, Mr. Warner. We'll be needing them when the job is done and not all being huddled in the buckboard will provide us all with a little better defense against a robbery attempt," Heyes explained, leaving no room for debate on the matter.
"That sounds like a good move Caleb," Avery commented.
"You say you've traveled this route before," Heyes began. "How many times have there been any robbery attempts Mr. Warner?"
"We've taken this rout at least a dozen times, and have only had two robberies. One successful, one not."
"What stopped the one attempt?" Heyes asked.
"The two men we hired that time were former Texas Rangers. Very skillful men."
"With guns you mean?" Kid asked.
"Ingenuity actually. They took it upon themselves to hire four of their friends to drive a decoy wagon, which was well stocked with guns and ammunition."
"If it worked so well, why haven't you done that?" Heyes asked.
"The people I represent pay the expenses for the transporting of this cargo. I have tried numerous times to convince them of the obvious benefits, but apparently they are more willing to risk losing it all, than they are of adding to the security."
Heyes nodded and smiled. "So they have this merchandise well insured and don't lose a penny whether it gets there or not."
"That's right."
"Or whether any of us gets killed or not," Kid added, giving Heyes a very angry but concerned look.
"I'm afraid so."
"Might of been nice to know this up front, Mr. Warner," Heyes said. "Might of changed our minds about taking this job."
"I'm sorry. I'm just not at liberty to divulge every detail."
Heyes uttered a knowing chuckle. "Well, Mr. Warner, Thaddeus and me ain't necessarily at liberty to divulge every detail ourselves."
Heyes gave Kid a cautionary glance. "We'll see that you get to Denver, with or without the merchandise. But we'll be riding and spotting our own way. You might not be seeing too much of us along the way, but you can rest assured we'll be there. We're just gonna make sure we all get there safe."
"Or die trying," Kid added.
"And as soon as we get to Denver, we get our pay and we're done with the matter," Heyes said.
"Of course, I understand."
"Good. Now I think Thaddeus and I have had our fill of supper. We'll meet you at the dock in the morning."
Heyes stood and Kid followed suit. Both dropped coins on the table to pay for their meal before leaving the cafe and heading to the saloon for a beer.
"How do you want to do this, Kid?" Heyes asked as they sat at a table working on their second beer.
"One well ahead, one well behind. Both staying off road. "S'pect I should ride lead. You keep the buckboard within view. Two rapid fires for trouble if you can manage it."
"Well, given their track record, the odds are less than twenty percent that we'll run into any trouble, Kid."
"Trying to stay positive, are you?"
Heyes smiled. "Aren't you?"
"Nope, rather stay cautious."
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Heyes and Kid arrived at the port before the first light of the day and found Warner and Avery waiting there. The six horse team was already hitched to the wagon, and after loading the supplies needed for the few day's travel, Warner and Avery climbed into the seat and Avery took the reins.
"I expect us to get as far as Yampa Mountain Pass by mid to late afternoon. We'll make camp at the base," Warner said.
"How far is it?" Kid asked.
"I'd say about fifty miles."
"I'll be scouting a mile or two ahead of the wagon, but I'll pull back and wait a couple of time of times during the day. Joshua will be maybe as much as a mile behind. If the wagon does get stopped by bandits, don't neither of you try to be heroes."
"Oh, you can count on us for that, Mr. Jones," Avery assured him.
Kid gaffed his horse and they started out just as the first glimpses of daylight were hovering near the horizon. Within minutes both Heyes and Kid were out of sight, although the wagon was seldom out of sight from Heyes.
The day passed without incident and without encountering another person, but Heyes was beginning to worry when over an hour had passed since they stopped and still there was no Kid to be seen.
Mr. Warner did not let that stop him from using one of the horses to ride into a nearby town to telegraph the Sheriff in Denver.
By the time Warner returned, Kid had still not appeared. In fact, it was not until Heyes, Warner, and Avery had settled around the fire for supper that Kid made his first appearance.
"Where have you been?" Warner asked as Kid tended to his horse and then joined the others for supper.
"You ever traveled through Yampa Pass, Mr. Warner?" Kid asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"No, but using the Pass will save us over a hundred miles."
"And likely lose us a couple of days. I ventured a ways into it and it's narrow and very steep. Even a six horse hitch will have a rough time of it. You break an axle or a couple of spokes and you could lose your entire cargo over the edge, it's that steep. You're also a sitting duck if you was to get robbed cause there ain't enough room to turn the wagon around," Kid explained and sat down on a rock near Heyes.
"But going around will take us nearly two extra days," Warner replied.
"More than likely," Kid agreed.
Warner looked at Avery, then shook his head. "No, no, we can't spare the time. We'll just have to take it slow and be very careful."
Kid sighed and shook his head.
"Mr. Warner, If Thaddeus is telling you that's a dangerous pass, well, it's a dangerous pass. Thaddeus has worked as a scout along the Oregon Trail," Heyes lied. "He knows what he's talking about."
"I'm sure he does, Joshua. But I'm afraid I have to take the risk."
Kid just looked at Heyes and rolled his eyes.
As soon as it was getting dark they all rolled out their bedrolls. Heyes and Kid stoked the fire, then set out their bedding on the opposite side of the from from Warner and Avery as they wanted some private conversation.
"I think tomorrow we both ride lead, Heyes," Kid said in a low, quiet voice. If that wagon were to slide on that steep grade, there just ain't enough room for any quick maneuvering out of the way. If Warner loses his wagon, it's gonna be his fault, not ours."
"You're wishing we hadn't taken this job, ain't you Kid?"
Kid smiled. "I gotta admit I am, Heyes, but hell, that's just water over the damn, now."
"We can always walk away from the money," Heyes reminded him.
"If Warner loses that wagon in the Pass, we likely won't be seeing that money anyway. So Heyes, I'm gonna keep that option open."
Heyes chuckled. "Are we going to get in and out of that Pass in a day?"
"Distance wise, I'd say yes. Being as steep as it is, I'd guess likely a seven percent grade, we'll just have to see how well the horses can pull the wagon. Warner's going to be riding the brake hard all the way down the other side. The whole day is going to be dangerous."
"Then I guess we'd best get a good night's sleep."
"And down a lot of coffee in the morning, Heyes. We gotta stay mighty alert."
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They waited until the sun was up before entering the Yampa Pass where, almost immediately the inclines rose sharply and the horses slowed their pace to counterbalance weight and movement. Both Heyes and Kid gave frequent glances behind them to be sure Mr. Avery was managing the team effectively.
"Mr. Warner, you should keep a foot ready on the break. Them horses ain't gonna be able to stop a backslide once it gets some momentum," Heyes shouted to Warner.
Warner did as instructed and it soon became evident that the use of the brake was both frequent and necessary.
"I'm gonna go on up ahead, Heyes. That quarter mile spot where the pass widens is the only place anyone might try to stop us goin up, and even that is unlikely. When the wagon starts moving though, I'll ride behind for that quarter of a mile, then join back up with you."
With that said, Kid gave his horse a gentle spur and headed off ahead of Heyes and the wagon. The area that widened also offered a panoramic port-side view the surrounding, mountainous terrain and Kid dismounted and crawled to a port-side ledge and studied the area carefully. He had no idea what might lay ahead, but he saw no indication of any living soul within eyesight of the area he searched. Kid returned to his horse, mounted, and waited for Heyes and the wagon to arrive.
"How much further to the top?" Mr. Avery asked.
"We're only about a third of the way up so far," Kid replied. "It' gets steeper as we go so keep a close watch on those horses and on that brake."
Kid waited for the wagon to pass, then rode at a safe distance behind for the quarter mile of widened pass. Then he moved ahead of the wagon and, after letting Heyes know what he was doing, Kid moved further ahead of the wagon to scout the pass all the way to the summit. There he again waited for Heyes and the wagon to arrive.
"It's every bit as steep going down. Joshua will ride a safe distance behind the wagon now. I'll stay far enough ahead to know if it's safe. You're going to be riding that brake, Mr. Warner and don't be afraid to put some muscle into it. That wagon could overrun the horses if you don't. If the wagon gets away from you, jump to the starboard side, both of you. You jump port side and you'll be free-fallen a thousand feet down the mountain."
Traveling the pass down the other side of the mountain was slow and arduous and took far longer than Warner had anticipated. In fact, the sun was already setting before they reached the bottom and were able to make camp for the night.
"Tomorrow we'll make our way back to the road. Traveling should be much easier than today. Thank you both for all the work you did ensuring a safe passage through that pass," Warner said as they sat around the campfire picking at yet another plateful of beans. "And we'll be in Denver the day after tomorrow."
"I wouldn't try that route again, Mr. Warner," Heyes cautioned him. In fact, you might consider using a private train next time. You'd only need an engine and a box car and get to Denver in half the time, and likely half the expense and almost none of the danger."
"I'll make that suggestion to the owners of the diamonds, Mr. Smith. But in the end, I have to comply with the means of transportation that they chose."
"They must pay you awful well to take this kind of risk so often," Kid said. "I know I won't be doing it again."
"Well, the worst of it should be over," Mr. Avery added.
"Or just beginning, Mr. Avery. Plenty of places along the road for bandits to lay in wait. Travel itself might be easier on the road again, but the dangers ain't any less."
"Are you just trying to frighten us, Mr. Jones?"
"I got no call to do that, Mr. Avery. I just want to be sure you both know we ain't outta the woods yet."
Clear skies and plenty of sunshine made the full day's travel a pleasant diversion from the previous day. Kid and Heyes rode lead together across several miles of flat valley ground, but as the road began winding through foothills leading to final range of Rocky Mountains that loosely bordered Denver, Kid spurred his horse a couple of miles ahead of Heyes and the buckboard, keeping a very close eye on the thick foliage on either side of the winding road.
Just as Kid rounded a bend in the road, he heard a voice call out.
"Hold it right there!"
Kid pulled his horse to a stop and scanned the trees from the direction the voice had come, but saw no one and no movement.
"Toss the gun, friend, and put your hands in the air."
"What's this about?" Kid asked as he followed the instructions.
Once Kid's gun was on the ground, tossed to the far side of the road, the two men on horseback emerged from the woods. Kid studied them carefully. Both men were blonde, their hair of a similar color to Kid's. The slightly taller one also sported a mustache. The slightly shorter of the two had blue eyes as intense as Kid's blue eyes. His hair was shorter than the other man's and his face less hardened. He looked to be several years older than his companion. This was the man who now spoke.
"Off your horse, nice and gentle like. Then walk yourself over this way."
Kid slowly dismounted, giving the road behind him a quick glance. The wagon was not yet in sight. He dropped the reins from his hand and slowly walked up the embankment.
"I'm not carrying anything valuable," Kid said as he headed into the woods.
The older man smiled. "Maybe not you, but maybe that buckboard you're scouting for. I think we'll all just wait for that wagon to arrive."
The older man turned to his partner. "Why don't you get him tied, Kid."
Curry noted the name with a bit of surprise and quickly surmised who he was now dealing with.
The younger man gave his partner a single nod and climbed off his horse while the older one kept a steady gun pointed at Curry. Pulling leather thongs from his saddle bags, the younger man took several steps down the embankment, coming face to face at Kid who studied the man closely. The other man broke into an amused smile.
"Recognize us, don't ya?" he said to Kid.
Kid said nothing and slowly turned his back to the other, then moved his hands behind his back.
"That wagon's got nothing but rocks in it," Kid explained. "Crates and crates full of rocks."
"You hear that, Butch? We're holding up a wagon full of rocks," the Sundance Kid said to his partner with a grin.
"What kind of rocks?" Butch asked.
Kid shrugged. "For paving roads is what I was told."
Butch shook his head. "Set him down by that tree while we wait," he told his partner.
Sundance led Kid to a nearby tree and Kid sighed and sat down on the ground. Sundance then crouched down beside Kid and began rummaging through Kid's pockets.
"You a lawman?" Sundance asked.
Kid shook his head. "You ain't gonna find anything of any value," he told the man frisking his pockets.
Sundance stood up. "He's right. Pocket's are empty."
Butch perked up and looked down the road when he heard the faint sound of hooves approaching. He motioned to his partner who returned to his horse and quickly mounted.
"A sound outta you and it'll be your last," Sundance warned Kid.
Heyes rounded the bend and came to a sudden stop when he spied Kid's riderless horse standing in the road. Heyes' hand fell to his gun and his fingers wrapped around the grip.
"Kid?" Heyes called.
Both Butch and Sundance immediately glared questioningly at Curry.
"Who are you?" Butch demanded in low whisper.
Kid smiled nervously and shrugged. "Jed...Curry," he replied.
Butch and Sundance looked at each other and laughed.
"Outlaws robbing outlaws," Sundance said. He turned back to Kid and nodded toward the road. "That Heyes?"
Kid didn't respond
"Heyes! Throw you're gun down and get off your horse," Sundance called out to him.
"Kid, you alright?" Heyes shouted after tossing his gun and slowly dismounting.
Kid looked at Butch who gave him a nod.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Kid shouted.
Heyes walked around his horse and gave him a gentle, casual push, causing the horse to take a few steps into the road. Then he raised his hands into the air.
The gentle shove of the horse was enough to urge him into the center of the road where he was visible to the buckboard before it rounded the bend. Warner and Avery brought the buckboard to a quick halt a quarter of a mile before reaching the bend.
"Now, mosey up here into the woods," Butch called to Heyes.
Just beyond the edge of the woods, Heyes was greeted by Sundance, a smile on his face, tethers in his hand.
"Turn around Hannibal Heyes," Sundance said.
Heyes sighed heavily and turned around. Once his wrists were tied behind him, Butch led Kid down the embankment to join their respective partners.
"What's the cargo you boys are hauling?" Butch asked Heyes.
"Rocks."
"That's what your partner said. What kind of rocks?"
"Limestone," Heyes replied without hesitation.
"Limestone?"
"That's right. It was shipped to Grand Junction and we was hired to move it to Denver. You don't find limestone in the west," Heyes explained, not knowing if he was being factual or not and taking the risk the others didn't know either.
"What's it used for?"
"Paving roads," Heyes said, giving Kid a quick glance and receiving a very subtle nod in return.
Butch smiled. "Well. I hear tell there's something other than... limestone...in that wagon. So why don't we just go have ourselves a look."
Heyes nodded agreeably and Sundance shoved Kid forward, next to Heyes. "You two walk in front," instructed.
Heyes gave Kid another glance as they turned and began walking in the direction of the wagon. When they were withing a couple of hundred feet, they stopped.
"Mr. Warner," Heyes called to him. "Drop your guns or we'll all get killed."
Warner and Avery could see that Joshua and Thaddeus were bound and being held at gunpoint so they cautiously dropped their weapons to the ground. Butch and Sundance then moved Kid and Heyes forward toward the wagon.
"I told them we just got a wagon full of limestone," Heyes called to Warner.
"Shut up," Sundance ordered Heyes.
"He's right," Mr. Warner called to the robbers. "Just crates of limestone."
"What's it used for?" Butch called, trying to trip Warner into a story other than that Heyes had explained.
"I deliver the rocks, I don't decide on their use, gentlemen."
Butch looked at Sundance, uncertain if this was the cache they had hoped for. "Well, let's just take a look-see, shall we?" Butch said and pointed his gun at Warner and Avery as they climbed down out of the wagon.
Sundance then gave Kid a shove and everyone walked to the back of the wagon.
"Go ahead, get the tarp off and open the crates," Butch told Avery.
When the first crate had been opened, Butch and Sundance leaned in for a closer, very confused look.
"Them is just rocks!" Sundance exclaimed. "They're just damn rocks, Butch!"
"Open the rest of em!" Butch demanded.
"Just glass and rocks," Sundance lamented.
"That's what makes it limestone. Once it's all ground up into a fine powder, mixed with tree gum and water, maybe a few other things, it becomes very good road lay," Heyes said with a knowing smile.
"Come on, Butch, let's get outta here," Sundance said.
Butch nodded and turned to Heyes and Curry. "You two are coming with us."
"What! Why?" Kid exclaimed.
Butch smiled at Kid. "Cause I said so. Let's go."
Sundance picked up the guns that lay on the ground and followed Butch, Kid and Heyes down the road to the spot where their horses stood.
"Turn around and we'll untie you," Butch told them.
"You two really Heyes and Curry?' Butch asked.
"You two really Butch and Sundance?" Kid replied.
Butch smiled."Them amnesty rumors true?" Butch asked.
"Ain't amnestied yet," Heyes said. "But we're working on it."
"I guess Colorado don't appreciate the cunning talents of an outlaw like Wyoming does," Butch said with a laugh. "Pleasure meeting the both of you."
"Yeah, you too," Kid said with some skepticism.
"Hope that amnesty thing works out for you," Sundance said.
"I hear South America is a nice place, Butch, being as amnesty ain't an option," Heyes suggested.
"Pity we couldn't have all found a joint project. Between the four of us, we could have made history," Butch replied.
Heyes and Curry gathered their guns and climbed on their horses.
"Any chance of any more trouble from here to Denver?" Heyes asked.
Butch shook his head. "Nope. Hole in the Wall gang controls all this area. You all have a nice trip."
Heyes and Curry tipped their hats, then pulled on their reins and headed back to the buckboard.
"They was a couple of likable fellows, Heyes," Kid said as they road down the road.
"Did you notice, Kid? You and Butch could pass for brothers."
"Brothers? We didn't look alike, Heyes."
"Damn sure did, Kid."
"Heyes," Kid said with a frown. "I am much, much more handsome than that fella."
Heyes laughed. "Maybe, Kid."