All he could see was blood. Blood that had turned the white shirt crimson. Blood that covered his hands as he sat cross-legged on the ground cradling the head and torso of his blonde, blue eyed partner. Blood that continued to flow slowly but steadily from the wounds of two bullet entries and one exit. Blood that now stained Heyes' shirt and sleeves. The first bullet had entered Kid's back, below the right shoulder bone, passed through his lung, and exited his chest. The second bullet entered Kid's left side, taking a downward spiral and stopping three inches into his abdomen.
Heyes pressed his bandanna hard against the chest wound, but the bleeding showed no sign of slowing down. Mercilessly, Kid was not unconscious. His unfocused blue eyes were open. He gasped ragged breaths through clenched teeth. Spasms of white, blinding pain wracked his body. Kid's left hand pressed weak fingers against t Heyes' arm. His right arm hung motionless at his side, his fingers still intertwined with his gun, his index finger still resting on the trigger.
After the back wound, Heyes had seen Kid slump in his saddle. The second injury thrust his head and chest against his horse's mane. Heyes had quickly brought both their horses to a stop, leaped off his own horse, and quickly mounted up behind Kid so he could keep Kid in the saddle while he spurred the horse to as urgent a gallop as he could while keeping Kid secured in the saddle.
Luckily for Heyes and Curry, the bounty hunters had spotted them in the Wyoming mountains not far from Devil's Hole. Heyes didn't expect a warm welcome, but with Kid wounded so badly, Heyes had no other option than to seek the safety of the outlaw hideout.
He reached the first entry check point to Devil's Hole and fired the customary three shots. He knew he was alerting the bounty hunters to their location. He hoped he would gain safety before the bounty hunters caught up to them. Heyes brought the horse to a stop, knowing the lookout expected this to identify who was seeking entry. As soon as the horse stopped, Kid's weight shifted and he began to slide from the saddle. Heyes tightened his grip, slung his leg over the saddle, and the two men slid heavily from the horse to the ground.
Now it had been thirty minutes since he had reached the check point, thirty minutes since he had fired the three shots and identified himself and the Kid to the lookout and shouted that he needed a wagon to transport Kid, thirty minutes since he began cradling Kid in his arms.
Kid coughed uncontrollably and blood streamed out of his mouth. This made his breathing easier momentarily, but also more shallow. Still he remained conscious, but aware only of the pain. His eyes remained open but glazed. Heyes could now hear the approaching buckboard. He reached across Kid's chest with his left arm and grabbed his own right sleeve and tore it from his shirt. He wadded it in his hand and pressed it on top of the blood saturated bandanna covering the chest wound. Kid cried out in pain which threw him into another spasm of coughing.
"Hold on, Kid. Help's coming. We're going to get you into a nice soft bed and get you patched up," Heyes told him.
"Hey...Heyes?" Kid whispered through ragged shallow breaths.
"Sush. Don't try to talk, Kid. I'm right here. You're gonna be fine"
But Kid was now delirious. He didn't hear Heyes' comforting words, didn't know Heyes was there, holding him. Kid managed to suck in one deep breath. "Heyes!," he shouted just before falling into unconsciousness.
Heyes was grateful that Kid was unconscious and felt no pain as they loaded him onto the buckboard. He was grateful that Wheat was driving the buckboard. He was grateful that they had reached a safe haven, if only for a short while. He tied the reins of the horse to the back of the buckboard and climbed in and sat down next to Kid, resting Kid's head on his thigh.
"Take it easy Wheat, the Kid's hurt bad," Heyes instructed as he put his hand on Kid's right shoulder and arm to brace him as best he could for the rough ride. Wheat gave the reins a quick flick and the buckboard moved forward on it's slow trek to the outlaw's cabin.
When they reached the main cabin, several men including Kyle and Lobo appeared and helped unload Kid, carry him inside, and place him on Wheat's bed. Kid didn't stir. Heyes immediately started unbuttoning Kid's shirt.
"Help me get his cloths off," Heyes shouted and Wheat and Kyle set to work, freeing Kid of his shirt and Henley. Blood covered Kid's torso.
"I think he needs a doctor, Heyes," Kyle said, stating the obvious.
Heyes shot him an angry glare. "Gee, Kyle, ya think?"
"Get some soap and water in here," Wheat demanded to no one in particular. "And bandages."
Three men quickly left the room to retrieve the items.
Kid began coughing again and blood trickled again from his mouth and down the side of his neck.
"How many wounds?" Wheat asked.
"Three. There's a bullet in his right side. The chest is a through and through but I think the bullet went through his lung, only way I can explain that much bleeding." Heyes replied.
"Better tend to the chest wound first," Wheat said.
"I think we need to get him propped up a bit," Heyes said. "He could drown in all the blood."
"Kyle, get more pillows," Wheat instructed and Kyle hurried out of the room.
The others returned with the requested supplies.
Wheat raised Kid's shoulders and slid himself onto the bed behind Kid so as to raise his chest and ease his breathing a little. Heyes set to work cleaning the blood from Kid's body."
"When did this happen?" Wheat asked.
"Couple of hours ago,"
"Posse?"
"Bounty hunters,"
"They're worse than a posse. No scruples."
Heyes raised his eyes to look at Wheat. "You're learning some pretty big words, Wheat."
Wheat shrugged.
Kid had another coughing spell. The chest wound spurted fresh blood onto Kid's chest. Heyes quickly wiped it clean and put pressure on the wound until Kid stopped coughing.
"You know, Kyle is right. Kid should see a doctor." Wheat said.
"Know one that will come up here, do you?"
"I might."
Heyes stopped and looked at Wheat. "Really?" he asked anxiously.
Wheat nodded.
Kyle returned with half a dozen pillows.
"Kyle, go tell your sister to fetch Doc Humphrey," Wheat ordered.
Kyle stopped and looked at Wheat and then at Kid. He nodded and hurried out of the room.
"Kyle's sister lives about an hour from here. Doc Humphrey is a veterinarian but he's a friend of Kyle's sister and he's willing to come up here sometimes. He's good with people, too. He and Kyle will be back sometime tonight"
"Thank you, Wheat," Heyes said, grateful for any medical person.
"I always liked Kid." Wheat said.
Heyes smiled. "Okay, I got this wound dressed. Now lets take care of the back one. If we can get the bleeding controlled on the back wound, we'll leave that other one for the doctor. It's going to need surgery to get the bullet out."
Heyes moved the water and soap and bandages nearer to Wheat. Then he reached forward and wrapped his arms around Kid's shoulders, locking his fingers together he pulled Kid closer to him. Kid cried out but didn't have the strength to try to pull away.
"Work fast, Wheat," Heyes instructed and Wheat nodded his understanding.
With the chest wounds cleaned and bandaged, they placed four pillows behind Kid and eased him back down on the bed. Kid looked very pale from all the blood loss. His breathing was very shallow but was regular and quiet, no longer wet sounding. Heyes cleaned Kid's side wound and folded a thick bandage that he placed on the wound. With Wheat's help, they ran a long strip of cloth under Kid's back and tied the side bandage in place.
Heyes stood up and sighed heavily while studying his unconscious partner.
"How about some coffee?" Wheat asked.
Heyes looked at him. He smiled and nodded his head. Wheat picked up the supplies, Kid's blood soiled clothes, the pan of now red water, and headed into the next room. Heyes lit an oil lamp and turned the wick down low and left the door open so he could hear if Kid stirred.
"You want us to go after the bounty hunters?" Wheat asked asked as he poured them each some coffee.
Heyes shook his head. "I didn't get a good look at them. Besides, I don't want you fellas risking your own lives for Kid and me... Wheat, anybody gonna be upset that we're here?"
Wheat rolled his tongue around the inside of his cheek. "We got a couple of new, kind of cocky fellas that might want to challenge Kid if his was well, but I think Kid's reputation is enough for them to be respectful while he's down. That might change once Kid is feeling better. I'll let you know if it does."
"Once he's feeling better... I like your attitude, Wheat," Heyes said, his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Don't write the Kid off, Heyes. He's always been a fighter."
Heyes shook his head. "He's lost a awful lot of blood. He's gonna lose more when the doctor removes that bullet..."
"Well he seems to be resting alright now. You should probably get some sleep, too. It's probably going to be a long night. I'll have a mattress brought in. I know you're not going to want to sleep anywhere but in there while Kid's like he is"
"Heyes managed a thankful smile. "Thanks, Wheat."
Wheat had a couple of the men bring a bunk mattress in to lay on the floor in Kid's room. Heyes laid down and used a folded blanket as a pillow and covered himself with another blanket. He dozed but didn't sleep, listening for any changes in Kid's breathing.
Around midnight, Heyes got up and turned up the light of the oil lamp. He gently pulled the blanket down from Kid's chest to inspect the bandages. The chest bandage was pink tinged but not saturated. The side bandage was much more bloody. Heyes untied the securing bandage and removed the blood soaked one. He folded a clean bandage in quarters and placed it over the still seeping wound and then tied the securing strip in place. Kid moaned and his eyes fluttered open.
"Heyes?" Kid whispered.
Heyes stroked the hair back from Kid's forehead. He felt warm.
"Sush, Kid. Go back to sleep.."
"Safe?" Kid whispered again.
"Heyes smiled. "Yes, we're safe. There's a doctor on his way."
"You hurt?"
"No. Not a scratch. You watched my back real good, Kid. As always."
Kid winced and sucked in air. "Hurts,"
Wrinkles formed on Heyes forehead. "You took two bullets.:
"Am I going to live?"
"I think you're just stubborn enough to do that, Kid."
"I'm going to sleep, now."
"I'm right here if you need me." Heyes assured him.
"Heyes, everything alright?" Wheat asked from the adjoining room.
"I'm going to go out and pump some water. He's starting to run a fever.
"I'll go," Wheat said.
Heyes sighed. "Thanks, Wheat."
Wheat returned with a bucket of water and set it down by Kid's bed. Heyes dipped a bandage in the water, wrung it out, and placed it on Kid's forehead.
"It shouldn't be much longer till Kyle gets back. Try to get a little more sleep Heyes," Wheat said.
"Heyes nodded. I will."
Around three in the morning Kyle and Dr. Humphrey arrived. Wheat greeted the doctor at the door while Kyle took the horses to the barn. Wheat led the doctor into Kid's room. Heyes was standing at the foot of Kid's bed.
"No sense hiding the fact, Dr. Humphrey this is Hannibal Heyes and your patient is Kid Curry."
Heyes gave Wheat a surprised look as he shook the Doctor's hand. Wheat just shrugged.
"Kyle said he's been hurt pretty bad," Dr. Humphrey said as he pulled the blanket down to Kid's waist.
"The chest wound is a through and through. Bleeding is down considerably but I think it went through his lung," Heyes said. "The left side still has a bullet in him."
Dr. Humphrey pulled his stethoscope from his bag and listened to Kid's lungs.
"Has he been coughing up blood?" the doctor asked.
"He was, but not for the past several hours." Heyes said.
"I think the left lung has collapsed. That makes breathing more difficult. Right lung sounds fine at this point."
The doctor removed the bandage from Kid's chest. "This wound looks good. You fellas did a good job with this."
The doctor moved to the other side of the bed and untied the bandage strip and removed the bandage covering the wound. This bleeding is not going to stop until I get the bullet out. I'm going to need a lot more light in here. Wheat, I'm going to need a small table for my equipment, and boil some water so I can sterilize my scalpel."
"Is he going to make it?" Heyes asked.
"I'll be better able to answer that after the bullet is out and we put a couple of days behind us. Is Preacher here?"
"He's here," Wheat said
"I may need his help.," the doctor said . "Wheat, I might need you and Mr. Heyes as well. May have to hold him down. Has he been awake at all?"
"Briefly. He was pretty coherent," Heyes replied.
The doctor nodded. "That's a good sign. Once Preacher is here and the water's boiling , we'll get started."
After he started, it took the doctor over an hour to cut into Kid's abdomen and extract the bullet, cauterize and stitch the wound and finally bandage Kid's wound. Kid had offered surprisingly little resistance which caused Heyes to be even more concerned.
"That's all I can do for him right now," Dr. Humphrey said as he pulled the covers up to Kid's chin. "He's lost a very large amount of blood. That will slow his recovery. I'll stay for a couple of days to make sure wounds don't become infected and the lung is healing. Next time he is awake, we'll give him something for the pain."
Due to simple exhaustion, Kid slept or remained unconscious throughout the night and well into the next morning. Heyes stayed dutifully by his side. Near noon, Kid began to stir restlessly. Heyes summoned the doctor.
Dr. Humphrey felt Kid's forehead. "Fever beginning, most likely from the trauma of the wounds and the surgery rather than from infection. It's important to keep him quiet. Too much movement could open the wound, start the bleeding back up again. He can't afford to lose more blood.
"I'll get some cold water," Heyes said.
"I'm on it, Heyes. You stay with Kid," Wheat replied.
"Bring a glass, too," Dr. Humphrey added.
Kid moaned a high pitched sound as his head slowly rolled from side to side on the pillow. His breathing remained shallow and rapid, and came in spurts of quick gasps.
When Wheat appeared with the bucket of water and the glass, Heyes set to work placing cold, wet cloths on Kid's forehead and in his arm pits while Dr. Humphrey quickly dissolved pain and fever powders into the glass of water.
"We have to prop him up a bit," Dr. Humphrey explained. "Don't want him choking on this."
Heyes' face was filled with distraught, but he moved closer to the head of the bed, slipped an arm behind Kid's shoulders, and raised his upper body so Dr. Humphrey could administer the medication. Kid drank slowly as Dr. Humphrey patiently administered the powder-laced water. When he was satisfied with the amount Kid had consumed, he nodded to Heyes who then gently eased Kid back down on the pillows.
"Will give him half an hour for the medicine to start working before we try changing the bandages."
"Heyes, why don't you come out here and I'll get you some coffee and a sandwich."
Heyes felt exhausted but nodded to Wheat. He pulled himself slowly off the bed and followed Wheat into the next room and slumped down in a chair at the table.
"He made it through the night, Heyes. That's gotta be a good sign," Wheat said, placing a plate and cup in front of Heyes .
"Yea," Heyes sighed. He lifted the coffee to his mouth and drank, but didn't touch the sandwich.
"How many bounty hunters were there?" Wheat asked.
"Um, not sure. I think two."
"They likely know where you are. Think they'll wait it out?"
"Uh? Maybe."
"I might send some of the boys out looking for em... Let the hunters be the hunted. Might scare em off."
"Might get somebody killed, too. We don't want you fellas risking your lives for us, Wheat."
"Well if they're waiting, you ain't gonna be leaving. … Don't wanna sound cold, Heyes, but when Kid's able to travel, you two gotta go."
Heyes nodded. "I know, Wheat. I appreciate you letting us in. You didn't have to do that."
Wheat smiled. "Well, despite what they say, Heyes, there is some honor among thieves."
Heyes smiled weakly and stood up. "I gotta get back to Kid," he said and returned to the bedroom..
Wheat watched Heyes walk away. Then he left the cabin and walked over to the bunkhouse.
"How's the Kid doing, Wheat?" Kyle asked
"About the same," Wheat replied and glanced around at the dozen or so men milling about. "I think we need to scare them bounty hunters away. I'd like to send out two groups of four. Any volunteers?"
Those that knew Heyes and The Kid volunteered to help, as did a couple more familiar with their reputations and history with the Devil's Hole gang.
"I don't want anybody risking getting hurt, and neither do Heyes or The Kid," Wheat said. "So if the situation ain't what you want it to be, then get out quick... Prefer to just scare em off if possible."
"When do you want us to leave?" Kyle asked.
"Leave that up to you boys. But report back to me when you get back."
Heyes had finally fallen asleep on the mattress by the time Wheat returned to the cabin, giving Wheat a chance to talk to the doctor.
"Is Kid gonna make it?" Wheat asked.
"If we can keep him quiet and make sure the stomach wound doesn't open again or get infected, he'll likely pull through."
"How long a for he can ride?"
"Oh, at least a week. Maybe longer."
Wheat visibly winced. He didn't like having the former gang leader on the property. While Wheat was actually fond of Kid, and didn't see Kid as a threat for control like he did Heyes, he wasn't pleased to have the fastest gun in the west in his compound. Wheat knew a couple of the gang members really would be willing to test their skills against Kid Curry and, being The Kid had been shot in the right shoulder, it was unlikely the Kid would be able to stand up to his reputation, not while he was healing, and maybe never again.
The volunteers had decided to set out in the dark for a number of reasons. They new the area better than even bounty hunters or trackers were likely to know it. They knew the most likely areas the bounty hunters might make camp. They knew in the darkness they had an distinct advantage. They let Wheat know they planned to be back by dawn.
As is typical of fevers, Kid's began to rise as the night progressed. Doctors didn't know why this phenomenon occurred, science had not yet made those discoveries, but they knew it as a fact. By midnight, Kid had pushed away blankets and was tossing restlessly, some times muttering, sometimes calling out for his partner. Sometimes eyes open but unfocused, sometimes closed.
Heyes and Dr. Humphrey worked diligently to bring the fever down, applying cold cloths, removing unnecessary clothing, struggling to get Kid to swallow liquids laced with powders to reduce the fever or even just plain water. They worked hard to keep Kid from thrashing about as Dr. Humphrey feared that, given Kid's taught physique, there was not enough skin to stretch so far as to restitch the wound if the stitches were to break.
An hour before dawn the fever began to ebb and an exhausted patient struggled in his fight back to consciousness.
"Heyes?" Kid whispered once his body had settled back into the mattress.
Heyes smiled. "Bout time you woke up," Heyes replied.
"Thirsty," Kid panted even more shallow due to lying on his back, decreasing whatever expansion the collapsed lung could manage.
Heyes lifted Kid's head and gave him several slow, small sips of water until Kid indicated he'd had enough.
"You hurting?"
Kid shook his head. "Hard to breathe, though."
"Let's move him back to his left side. That allows the right lung to open as much as possible," Dr. Humphrey explained.
Kid moaned as they repositioned him and propped pillows behind his back to keep him on his left side. Heyes moved to the other side of the bed so Kid could still see him.
"We lose em?" Kid asked.
Heyes shrugged. "We have for now, anyway. We're safe here, Kid."
"Where are we?"
"Devil's Hole."
"Wheat okay with that?"
"A least until you can ride."
"Might be a while, then."
"Might. You hungry, Kid?"
"No, just...tired."
"Why don't you try to go back to sleep then. Sleeping's good for healing."
Kid closed his eyes and didn't try to answer. Within a couple of minutes his head dropped deeper into the pillow and Heyes knew he was asleep once again.
Heyes and the doctor joined Wheat in the main room where Wheat had coffee, eggs, and bacon prepared for them. They were sitting at the table having breakfast when gang members started returning, coming into the cabin to report to Wheat.
"Find em?" Wheat asked.
"No, but found their trail," Kyle said. "They're long gone."
"Thank you, boys," Heyes said. "Kid and me appreciate you taking that risk for us."
"Kid feeling any better?" Kyle asked.
Heyes shrugged. "Maybe a little. Got a ways to go yet, though."
Kyle nodded. "If it's okay with you, Wheat, I think me and the boys will go and try to get some sleep now."
"That's fine, Kyle, and thanks to all of you."
Heyes waited till they had all left before addressing Wheat.
"You seem to be handling being the leader well, Wheat."
Wheat shrugged, embarrassed by the compliment from his former leader. "Them's a good bunch of boys," he said.
Heyes smiled. "That always helps... I had a good bunch, too,"
"You miss it, Heyes?"
Heyes looked surprised by the question. "I miss cracking a safe now and again, but leading a gang... can't really say that I do. It's hard work to be a good leader... You must know that."
Wheat nodded his head, feeling much less threatened by Heyes' presence.
"How's that amnesty coming?"
Heyes sighed and shook his head. "That's hard work too, Wheat... Wonder sometimes if it's worth it."
"How come you and Kid didn't just leave the country and sit it out till the amnesty comes through?"
"We think about that from time to time... The trouble is, we're kind of fond of this country. Kind of fond of Wyoming."
"Fond enough to keep getting shot up like that?" Wheat asked, giving his head a nod toward Kid's room.
Heyes sighed heavily. "I suspect when Kid's feeling better, we'll have that conversation again."
"You know, if Kid's arm don't heal proper, he might not be able to watch your back like he always has in the past."
"I know. S'pect that'll be part of the conversation, too."
"Can't be easy, him having to look out for the both of you like he does."
"I do my part," Heyes protested.
"Apparently not as well as he does, Heyes."
Heyes couldn't argue that point so he just took his time taking a long drink of his coffee.
Kid woke again late in the afternoon, feeling a bit better and a lot hungry. Doctor Humphrey insisted Kid's first meal consist largely of fluids and just a little in the way of solid food. Wheat walked over to the bunkhouse to see what was being cooked up for supper and came back carrying a plate of potatoes with no gravy, two cups of coffee, and a cup of water. Kid drank all the fluids and was able to stomach about half the potatoes.
Dr. Humphrey commented that Kid's color was improving as well as his appetite. He felt Kid's forehead and found no fever. Heyes helped the doctor change the dressings and Kid was strong enough to sit up with just a little assistance from his partner. But his breathing remained shallow and he said his right chest and arm hurt more than the wound in his belly.
"Start flexing and stretching your right hand as much as you can," Dr. Humphrey instructed Kid. "It'll help keep the muscles from shrinking."
"Am I gonna have full use of my arm and hand it again," Kid asked.
"It'll take some time, son, but the wound wasn't in the arm so the arm and the hand should get back to normal. Move your shoulder around a bit, but don't over do it. If it starts paining you, stop. You'll gradually be able to do it more and more."
Kid nodded his understanding and began flexing and extending his right fingers. They felt stiff and moved slowly.
"Maybe tomorrow we can get you up in a chair for a spell. Just start getting you limbered up a bit. And I want you to start doing with your breathing like you're doing with your shoulder. Try breathing deeper, but stop if it hurts. We want to get that lung expanding, but we want those holes to heal, not get stretched open more."
"When can I start doing some target practice?" Kid asked.
"Don't go getting ahead of yourself, son. Let's get you standing on your own two feet before we go contemplating shooting a gun."
So for the next three days, Kid worked on all the things the doctor had suggested and strength and stamina returned to the point that Kid was able to get up and walk slowly about by himself, could take reasonably normal breaths, could move and maneuver his right arm and hand with relative ease. Dr. Humphrey determined Kid was well enough not to require his services any longer and decided to return home.
"What do I owe you?" Heyes asked.
Dr. Humphrey chuckled and gave Wheat a quick glance. "Not a thing, son. Devil's Hole keeps me on a sort of retainer."
"Uh," Heyes said, glancing at Wheat and admiring the idea. "Wish I'd thought of that," he told Wheat who felt a little embarrassed by the compliment.
Two days later Kid convinced Heyes that he was ready to try some target practice. Heyes had reluctantly agreed, but both Heyes and Wheat were concerned that a couple of the boys might try to challenge Kid. Neither expressed their concern to Kid, however. Instead, they both sat out on the porch on the pretense of offering Kid support and instruction, neither of which Kid particularly welcomed, but was willing to tolerate for the opportunity to practice his skills.
As expected, the two newest members of the gang heard the shooting and were eager to see the Kid in action. They approached the target site, but maintained a safe distance behind Kid. Heyes and Wheat watched them carefully.
Kid's aim was as good as it had ever been, but he felt his draw had slowed down a bit. They two young outlaws watched for a good twenty minutes, but when Kid took another pause to reload, they mustered up the courage to approach Kid and comment on his shooting.
"I thought you was the fastest gun in all the west. That's what your reputation says anyway."
Kid didn't look up. He'd spied them quite a while ago and had been keeping a close eye on them all along.
"I was," Kid said. "But I reckon you know it takes practice, and I ain't had that for a while."
"Bet I could beat you," the young smart alack said.
"Good possibility, right now," Kid replied. "But I ain't gonna find out."
"What if I was to call you out?"
Heyes gave Wheat a nervous glance, but Wheat waved him off.
Kid closed his gun chamber and holstered his gun. He slowly turned toward the young man and locked his very intimidating eyes with the challenger's. Kid held the stare for a full minute until the young man began to show signs of nervousness.
"I'd just say no," Kid said and waited for the young man to break under the pressure and look away. It worked.
Kid turned and walked up to the porch to join his partner and Wheat. Heyes was smiling ear to ear.
"You still got it, Kid. Why you could out stare a fella with two glass eyes."
Kid laughed. "Wouldn't go that far, Heyes."
"Wheat, how about one more day here, and then we'll head out," Heyes suggested.
Wheat watched the two young outlaws retreat to the bunkhouse. Then he nodded his head at Heyes and The Kid. "I think that would be fine, Heyes."
So, two days later, Heyes and Curry packed up their things, saddled their horses and made their way out of Devil's Hole. They rode leisurely westward, avoiding roads and well beaten paths. They took frequent breaks to get Kid out of the saddle and give him an opportunity to stretch and relax. They sat near a brook that afternoon, listening to the water flow and splash over rocks and basked in the warm sunshine.
"Kid, I know we've had this conversation before, but I think we should give it consideration again after all that's happened," Heyes said.
"What conversation is that, Heyes?"
"Maybe we should go to Mexico or Canada and just wait out the amnesty there. Butch and Sundance did it..."
"And rumor has it, they're both dead now, Heyes."
"True, but rumor also has it they went back to robbing banks in Bolivia."
Kid was quiet for a spell. "Heyes, I don't want to go to some other country."
"Even if it meant not getting chased by a posse, not getting shot by bounty hunters, Kid?"
"Well, I don't want to get shot anymore either, Heyes... but I like this country. I like Wyoming, Colorado. I like the mountains... It's home, Heyes...and I just don't want to not have a home again ," Kid said in a voice fraught with sadness.
Heyes smiled knowingly. "Me either, Kid."