It had been three days since they had left the Flat Head encampment where they had managed to trade a couple of shirts and the Kid's only spare pair of long johns for a couple of blankets and two hearty meals. They were headed southeast toward Cheyenne where they were supposed to meet up with Lom Trevers who had sent word of some new developments regarding their amnesty.
Their first night out after leaving the Flat Head village they had made camp in the foot hills of the Big Horn Mountains. Heyes managed to shoot a rabbit for supper. But the Kid said he was too tired to eat and simply made his bed and fell asleep well before the sun had set. The next morning, as they headed toward Cheyenne, Hayes noted how quiet the Kid had become, how pale he looked, and how much his shoulders were slumped. By early afternoon, Kid looked on the verge of collapse.
"You alright, Kid?" Hayes asked
"Uh?" Kid responded.
Heyes sighed heavily. "My underside is getting tired of sitting in this saddle, Why don't we stop and rest for a period, drink some water, enjoy the scenery?"
Kid didn't respond so Heyes pulled his horse ahead a little and led them both to a small patch of trees that would give them some shade. He dismounted and quickly moved to the left side of the Kid's horse, He was glad he did because Kid nearly fell out of the saddle as he dismounted and Heyes was able to catch him before he fell. Kid grabbed Heyes's shoulder and Hayes could feel the fever in Kid's hand. Hayes held tightly to his friend and led him to the clump of trees where he slowly lowered his friend to the ground, his back resting against a tree trunk.
"You're sick, Kid," Heyes announced. Kid raised heavy eyes toward him and nodded.
Heyes grabbed the Kid's canteen and tried to give him a drink, but Kid grasped the canteen with both his hands and held it as firmly as he could. "I can do it," he said slowly. Heyes released his grip but watched like a mother hen as the Kid slowly took a drink. The canteen then fell to the Kid's lap and Hayes snatched it up and corked it before any water spilled.
"We need to find a place to make camp," Heyes said.
"How much further to Cheyenne?" Kid asked.
"Half a day, maybe a little longer."
"I can do it." Kid whispered.
Heyes sighed. "No you can't." Hayes scanned the horizon while slowly rubbing the palm of his hand against his cheek and chin." "Maybe we can find a cabin between here and Cheyenne. I could get you settled, then ride into town and get you a doctor."
"I don't need a doctor," Kid protested.
"If I'm right, Kid, oh yes you do, and I might, too."
"Why?" kid asked
"I'm afraid it might be smallpox. We both know it's been in some of these Indian camps"
"I didn't see any sick Indians," Kid protested weakly
"Me either. But then again, we didn't visit every tepee, did we?"
The Kid was beginning to shiver. Hayes pulled his coat from his stowed gear and draped it over the Kid. "First I'm going to burn these blankets. Then I'm going to make a travois and we will get going again."
Kid didn't hear his friends out-loud thinking for he had drifted into unconsciousness.
Two hours later, Kid was jostled awake by the very bumpy ride of the travois. He moaned and a very attentive Hayes turned in his saddle to check on his friend. "I see a cabin a mile or so ahead of us, Kid. We'll stop there. There's still enough daylight that I can make it to town on a fresh horse. "
But again, having fallen asleep, Kid heard nothing his friend had told him.
Half an hour later Hayes pulled into the clearing of the house and stopped. If there were people inside, he didn't want to risk infecting them with smallpox. If the house was empty, they would make camp, he would get the Kid settled inside, and he would ride on the Cheyenne.
"Hello?" Heyes shouted as he dismounted and slowly approached the cabin. "Anybody home?"
The cabin door slowly opened and Heyes saw the barrel of a shotgun slowly emerge. "State your business," a woman's voice demanded.
"My name is Joshua Smith Ma'am. I mean you no harm. My friend here is very sick."
"What's wrong with him?" she asked as she emerged onto the porch, holding the riffle pointed directly at Heyes
"We won't come any closer Ma'am. I think it may be smallpox. We don't want you or your family infected, but he needs a doctor."
"Cheyenne is about 12 miles due south."
"He won't make it that far Ma'am. Be a lot faster if I could go on my own."
"What do you want from me?" she asked
Heyes smiled. "I'd like you to put the gun down. Beyond that, I'm not really sure. As I said, he can't make the trip, but we don't want to make anyone else sick, either."
The woman carefully eyed the Kid asleep in the travois. Slowly she lowered the riffle. "you can bring him inside," she said.
"Ma'am, I think it's smallpox. That's very contagious... and deadly."
She looked at Heyes and then the Kid. "Bring him inside," she ordered.
"Thank you, Ma'am. I mean that, Thank you."
Heyes moved around to the travois and hoisted the Kid into his arms. The woman held the door open as Heyes carried the Kid inside.
"Wait here. I've got a cot I can move over near the fire," she said as she disappeared into a small back room. A moment later she emerged dragging a cot with blankets piled on top and moved it across the room to the fireplace. "He's shivering. He needs the heat," she said.
Heyes laid the Kid on the cot and the woman quickly covered him with layers of blankets.
"I could use a fresh horse," Heyes said.
The woman nodded. "In the barn."
"Thank you Ma'am. I'll be back by daylight" Heyes approached the cot and knelt down beside it. He stroked the Kid's hair away from his face. "I don't know if you can hear me, Thaddeus, but I'll be back as soon as I can with a doctor." With that he stood, nodded to the woman, and rushed out of the house.
Cheyenne was a bustling town of nearly 3000 people, a gateway to the west of sorts. The sun had set by the time Heyes reached the town. He had two tasks there. First, he needed to leave word for Lom Trevers as to why he and the Kid were not there, and second, to track down a doctor.
Nathan K Boswell was the Sheriff of Cheyenne and Hayes was well aware of the man's reputation. He also knew that Boswell was most likely familiar with Lom Trevers and would be able to get a message to him when Lom arrived. What he was not sure of was whether Boswell studied wanted posters and would therefore be able to recognize him on sight. So, he decided to try a more round-about means of communication. His first stop would be a saloon located somewhere near the Sheriff's office and as luck would have it, he found one just a block away.
Heyes walked into the Gold Star Saloon, instinctively sizing up the place as he approached the bar. He ordered a beer and dropped his coin on the counter. Then, sipping the beer, he turned around to choose his go-between. He spied a saloon girl serving drinks and carefully maneuvering herself to unobtrusively distance herself from the cowboys wandering hands. When she approached the bar for her next tray of drinks, Heyes tried to start a conversation.
"Nice night."
"I guess," she replied.
"You know, I noticed you over there, side-stepping those fellas."
"Cowboys," she groaned.
"Yeah," Hayes chuckled. "How would you like to make an honest dollar?"
"Dollar?" she bemoaned.
Heyes smiled. "Okay, three dollars. It's all the money I have."
"Depends. What do you want?"
"In the morning, I want you to take a note over to the Sheriff. That's all."
"What's in the note?"
"Just a message for him. Nothing illegal. You can read it first if you like."
"Just take a message to the Sheriff?"
"Yep, that's it."
"Alright."
Heyes reached into his pocket and pulled out his last remaining money and handed it to the lady. "Don't suppose you have a piece of paper and a pencil?"
The bar tender put the last of the drinks on her tray. "Harry, give this man a piece of paper and a pencil," she said as she picked up the tray of drinks and delivered them to one of the tables. When she returned, Hayes handed her the folded note. "Don't forget. It's important," he said with a charming smile.
She couldn't help but return the smile. "I won't forget," she assured him.
Heyes started to walk away but stopped and turned back to the saloon girl, "oh, and where is the nearest doctor?" he asked.
"Two doors down. Dr. Fulton."
Heyes smiled and tipped his hat. "Thank you Ma'am," he said as he turned and walked out of the saloon.
The Kid spent the night drifting in and out of consciousness. A fine red rash had developed on his face and hands (and the woman surmised elsewhere as well). Dry heaves had developed that wracked his body but, because he had not eaten anything in days, vomiting was not a problem. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot and a fever raged despite the constant cold compresses she placed on his forehead. He spoke sometimes, making no sense to her and he called out asking for "Heyes" to help him several times. She wandered who Heyes was and decided she would ask Mr. Smith when he returned. She stayed at his bedside all night, not sleeping at all, holding his hand, wiping his brow, and trying to comfort him. She said the Lord's Prayer several times and a couple of times he would join in for a couple of words so she knew he could hear her and it reassured her about his character.
By morning, she was exhausted, and Kid was awake and at least momentarily, lucid.
"Thank you for helping me," he whispered weakly.
"Shush. Don't try to talk."
"Thirsty," he mumbled.
She poured a glass of water and, supporting his head with one hand, held the glass to his lips with the other hand. "Just take sips," she instructed.
He did and she laid his head back down on the pillow. "What's your name?" he asked
"Rebekah," she replied.
"Pretty," he whispered.
"What do I call you?"
"Kid...People call me Kid... Where's Heyes? "
"If that's the fella that brought you here, he went to town for the doctor. They should be back soon," She said. Kid nodded slowly and seemed satisfied with her answer.
Kid's breathing was labored and he struggled to stay conscious. "Is he right about me?" he asked.
She nodded slowly. "Most likely," she admitted. She looked beyond him, her eyes distant in thought.
Kid tried to swallow. The smallpox sores developing in his mouth made swallowing painful. "Why are you taking this risk?"
She took the cloth from his forehead, dipped it in the bowl of cool well water she had at her feet, wrung it out and very gently put it back on Kid's forehead. Then she looked right at him and he could see tears welling in her eyes. "There's no risk... Three years ago my husband, daughter, and I contracted smallpox. … Henry and Clair died... I survived... I've got immunity."
"I'm truly sorry, Rebekah," he whispered.
She could see that he was succumbing to his exhaustion. She reached down and pulled the blankets up to cover his shoulders. Kid closed his eyes and quickly drifted back to sleep.
Rebekah was sitting at the table sipping a cup of coffee when she heard the horses approaching. She stood and glanced over at the Kid who was fast asleep. Then she walked out on to the porch. When the horses reached the dirt front yard she called out. "That's far enough."
"Is this cowboy right?" Dr. Fulton shouted.
Rebekah nodded. "He's right. "
"Then all three of you are quarantined here."
Rebekah nodded but did not reply.
"I'll send someone out every few days with supplies. They'll leave them right here. They will pump your water if you leave buckets out," Dr. Fulton instructed.
Heyes was astonished. "You ain't coming in to take a look at him. He needs doctoring."
"Son, we've got vaccines we can give to keep people from ever getting the pox, but once someone's got smallpox there's not a thing we can do. Thirty percent of white folks die from smallpox; almost seventy percent of Indians. The army gives infected blankets to the Indians to eradicate whole tribes. That's likely what happened in your situation. I'm sorry, son, I can't go in there and risk taking smallpox back to Cheyenne. And I'm praying you didn't infect anyone while you were in town."
Hayes sighed. "I ain't sick so far, and we were exposed at the same time."
The Doctor nodded his understanding. "Don't touch him or anything he touches. Hard as it might seem, you let Rebekah do all the work, day and night. She knows what she's doing. Might be best for you to live in the barn. Stay away from the house. You can pick up the supplies when they are delivered and leave them on the porch but that's as close as you should get. If he dies, don't try to bury him, don't even touch him. He'd still be contagious even after he's dead. We'll have to burn the body."
Heyes was stunned as the reality of the situation sunk in.
"You hear me, son?" the Doctor asked.
Heyes slowly nodded and dismounted his horse. He looked at Rebekah with pleading eyes as he gripped the reins in his fist and slowly led the horse to the barn.
"What do you think, Rebekah?" Dr. Fulton asked
"I'll know better in a day or two. He's bad and it ain't hit him full blown yet."
"I'll check back then," he promised and turned his horse around and headed back toward town.
Rebekah wiped her hands on her skirt and gazed at the barn. She said a quick prayer to herself, then turned and went back into the house.
The Kid slept soundly for hours. During that time Rebekah boiled the glass he drank from and then set to work cooking some food for his friend and some broth for the Kid when woke.
She carried a plate of venison stew and a cup of hot coffee out to the barn. She stood in the doorway and saw Hayes looking out the back window, his elbow resting on the window sill, his chin resting in his palm.
"I brought you some food," she said.
Startled, Heyes spun around and Rebekah saw his hand instinctively grip the handle of his holstered gun. When he saw Rebekah he relaxed and smiled and walked across the barn toward her, stopping within arm's length. "Thank you Ma'am," he said as he reached for the plate of food and coffee.
"Leave the plate and cup here, just outside the barn door and I will pick them up later," she said.
"I will, Ma'am. Thank you."
She took a step toward the house, then paused and turned back to Heyes.
"Why the alias?" she asked
"Ma'am?" Heyes stalled
She studied him carefully before she responded. "He keeps calling out for Heyes. That must be you. As I recall you said your name was Smith."
Hayes shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth. "I don't know, Ma'am. Maybe he's delirious," Heyes said before swallowing. He took a cautious sip of the hot coffee. "This stew is delicious."
Rebekah was quiet for a minute, still studying Heyes carefully. "You must be pretty good with a gun. I saw how fast your hand reached for your gun when I offered you food."
Heyes smiled. "I think I'm just spooked, Ma'am... and worried about my friend Thaddeus. "
"He says they call him the Kid." she said
Heyes froze for a moment with a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. "Ah, yes Ma'am, I do indeed. You see he's three years younger than me. We grew up together. Been friends all our lives."
She nodded and he knew she was aware he was not giving her the full story.
"So what about you Ma'am...out here all alone?"
"Well, first, I would appreciate it if you would stop calling me Ma'am. My name is Rebekah Fulton. The doctor you brought was my father-in-law."
"Ah, small town," Heyes said nervously as he continued to eat the stew. "You said "was" your father-in-law?" Heyes asked.
"That's right. My husband, Henry was Dr. Fulton's only son. He... and my daughter died three years ago... of smallpox."
Heyes' chin dropped. "Oh, I am sorry, Rebekah... this whole situation must be... very hard for you."
Her lips tightened and her chin raised stoically. "I'll do my best not to let that happen to your friend, but I can't make any promises."
"I understand that... If you need my help... I'm not afraid...I mean...He means more to me than that."
Her head nodded slowly. "I can tell that... I won't hesitate to call on you if I need you."
Heyes took the last gulp of the coffee and held out the cup and plate to her.
"There's more stew and coffee if you want it," she offered and she took the plate and cup.
"Oh, no this is fine. I haven't had such good food in long time. Thank you."
"Good night," she said and walked back to the house. Hayes stood in the doorway and watched her. He felt assured the Kid was in good hands. He wished he felt as assured about the outcome.
Heyes fretted all day. He didn't dare approach the house and he hated not being able to at least look in on the Kid. Rebekah left a plate of food and a cup of coffee outside the barn for his supper, but she hurried back into the house so quickly, Heyes could only imagine the worst. It made him nervous and kept him awake all night.
Kid had a very fretful night with a raging fever. Rebekah spent an hour struggling to get his clothes off of him so she could wrap his body in cold wet sheets to try to break the fever. He tossed and turned and rambled deliriously. And she listened carefully to everything his said. She noted specific words such as posse and amnesty and the name Hayes that he repeated many times. She wondered if he was an outlaw; if they both were. She reminded herself how respectful they both were, how close they both were, and she convinced herself she needn't worry, at least not as long as the Kid was so ill.
Around three in the morning, the Kid began to settle again. Rebekah sat in a rocking chair beside him and for the first time since his arrival and she drifted off to sleep.
Long after sunrise, Rebekah awoke to a tapping on the door. "Go away. We're quarantined." she called out.
"It's Joshua Smith, Ma'am. I won't come in. I thought, maybe I could see Thaddeus through the window, if that's alright.
Rebekah glanced over at the Kid. He was quiet and still, and damp sheets clung to his body. "I'll be out in a minute Mr. Smith," she said and smoothed back her hair with the palm of her hand. Then she stood and quickly put the half full pot of day old coffee on the fire embers to warm. Then she pulled the curtains back from the window and walked out to the porch. Heyes stood on the steps and she nodded toward the window. He hurried over and she could see his disappointment as he peered inside.
"I takes time," she said.
Heyes held a fist against his lips and nodded his understanding.
Rebekah reached inside the still open door and retrieved a wooded bucket. "I could use some water from the well," she said.
Heyes pulled himself away from the window and picked up the bucket and carried it to the well. When he returned, she was sitting in one of the two rocking chairs on the porch. She motioned for him to sit in the other.
"You should remember that it can take a weeks or more to run it's course. By what you tell me, this is just day three, maybe four. If he makes it through the next three or four days, he'll be alright in the end," Rebekah explained.
Heyes did not reply so Rebekah continued. "He had a rough night. He talks a lot in his sleep."
Heyes stiffened ever so slightly. "I never noticed that."
"He talked about amnesty and bank robbing," Rebekah began, but Hayes quickly interrupted.
"Look, I don't know what that's about, Rebekah. But, I can assure you we are harmless. I can understand you being a woman and out here alone and all, but your reputation and your valuables are safe. We won't harm you in any way."
Rebekah looked at Heyes and smiled. "I don't doubt that for a minute Mr. Smith. I am a pretty good judge of character. And anyone trying to get an amnesty is going to toe a straight line... He calls you Heyes. I assume that is Hannibal. He calls himself Kid...as is Curry..., I've never housed outlaws before."
"And you are not housing outlaws now. He's always had a pretty vivid imagination. He worries about everything and anything. He's a Kansas boy at heart. Being out here in the west likely stirs his imagination about things he's never talked to me about. But don't go reading things into it."
"I have cared for delirious folks before, Every word uttered is buried in some truth. It might be some fear a person has, some regret, some life's dream. But it's honest. .. beyond simple curiosity, I don't care who the two of you are... Nothing more than simple curiosity.
"Doesn't curiosity kill the cat?" Heyes asked and felt immediate regret. Surely Rebekah's husband and daughter had periods of delirium during their illness and likely said some hardcore truths.
Rebekah stood and Hayes followed suite. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he said.
Rebekah smiled. "Sit down Mr. Smith. Enjoy the morning. I'll get you coffee and fix you some breakfast," she said and disappeared back into the house.
Kid slept late into the afternoon. When he did awaken, he saw Rebekah standing at the sink washing dishes. With effort he managed to lift himself up enough to prop his elbow on the cot. Hearing him stir, she turned and walked over to him to inspect his face and eyes. "Feeling any better?" she asked.
Panting from the exertion, Kid gave her a little nod.
"Your eyes don't look quite as bloodshot. That's a good sign. The rash is still bad, though."
Kid was suddenly aware of the stiff, dried sheets and his lack of clothing. "Where are my clothes," he asked with some alarm in his still weak voice.
"There, at the foot of the bed. Your fever was bad last night. I had to take off your clothes so I could get the wet sheets over you to bring the fever down."
Rebekah walked over to the sink and positioned her back to him. Slowly, and with great effort, Kid reached down for his shirt. He struggled but managed to slide one arm and then the other into the sleeves. He reached again for his pants and sat up on the edge of the bed to pull them on but couldn't muster the strength to stand to pull them up. He was thankful that she had left his underwear on, but he yanked the sheet toward him and covered his thighs and waist. "So, I have no secrets," he mumbled.
With her back still to him, Rebekah smiled. "Your secrets are safe," she assured him without a hint of the giggle she was suppressing. She poured a cup of the broth and walked over to him with the cup extended in her hand. He took the cup and raised it to his mouth, taking a small sip. The heat and salt stung the inside of his sore mouth.
"Where's my..." He stopped mid sentence, not knowing how to refer to Heyes.
"He's in the barn. He is not sick, so he's staying out of the house. He comes up to the porch for meals so you can see him in a little while. He's very worried about you."
Kid wondered if Heyes had been able to get in touch with Lom and why Lom wanted to speak to them. He wondered if the governor had decided they had earned their amnesty. The governor had originally told them if they stayed out of trouble a year, he would grant them amnesty. But that year had since stretched into three and next year was an election year. If the governor was ousted, their clean living might all have been for naught. He often worried about that, fearing a new governor might push him back into a life of crime. He assumed Hayes had the same worry, but they never spoke of it.
Kid set the cup of broth on the floor and grasping the rocking chair next to the bed, hoisted himself up just long enough to pull up his pants. Then he sat back down on the cot, exhausted from that little exertion.
Rebekah walked over and felt his forehead. He could smell lilacs and smiled ever so slightly.
"There's still some fever." She looked at his face and noticed the gentle smile. "What are you smiling at?" she asked.
"I can smile lilacs," he said softly.
"You like lilacs, Kid? She asked, feeling a little self conscious.
"I do now," Kid replied.
Rebekah smiled, took a step back, and then moved the rocking chair over near the window. "If you can sit in the chair over here I will open the window and you and your friend can have a private conversation at supper. I'll go out back and do some gardening now that it is starting to cool down a bit."
"You don't have to do that. Heyes and I don't have secrets," he lied.
"Oh, I think you probably do. Besides, whatever the two of you want to talk about, it's none of my business."
"We'll eat early tonight. I'll go tell Mr. Heyes," she said with emphasis on his name. Then she walked out of the cabin and Kid suddenly realized he had made a mistake calling him Heyes.
She saw Heyes pitching hay into the horse stalls. Then she noticed nearly a cord of newly chopped wood.
"You've been busy." she said and he stopped and leaned the pitch fork against the wall. "Just earning my keep, Ma'am," he said cheerfully;
"You're friend is awake. I doubt he'll be awake for very long, but I thought you might like to join him for dinner. I put a chair by the window and I'll open it so the two of you can talk.
Heyes smiled broadly. "Thank you, Ma'am," he said with real excitement in his voice.
"Well, come along then," she said and turned on her heels. Hayes scurried to catch up with her.
When Rebekah and Hayes returned, Kid was slumped in the rocking chair, exhausted from the few stumbling steps he taken.
Heyes sat down in the porch chair in front of the window. Rebekah went inside, open the window, then went to kitchen area to spoon out two plates of the stew she had reheated. Kid sat in the rocking chair, his eyes closed. When Rebekah handed a plate and fork through the window to Heyes, he looked at her questioningly and with concern all over his face. Rebekah put a plate with less food on Kid's lap. "Kid, your friend is here."
Kid's head turned slightly toward the widow. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled weakly. "Heyes," he whispered.
"I'll be out back if you need me," she told Heyes, and quickly disappeared from sight.
"How are you doing?" Heyes asked.
The Kid slowly shook his head. "Did you talk to Lom?" he asked with great effort.
Heyes frowned. "No, but I got word to him that we'd catch up to him in a couple of weeks?"
"Weeks?" Kid asked.
"Takes that long to get over smallpox, Kid."
"How long has it been?"
Wrinkles appeared on Heyes' forehead. "Not a week yet."
"Feels longer," Kid replied.
Heyes winced and was silent for a moment. "You should try this stew, Kid. Rebekah's a good cook."
But Kid didn't even try to lift the fork. His eyes closed and his head drooped. Hayes bit his lower lip as he debated his options. Then he stood, put the plate on the seat of his chair, and went inside to help Kid back to bed. Kid fell into the bed, asleep before Hayes could cover him with a blanket.
Heyes left the Kid sleeping quietly and walked around the house to the garden where Rebekah was weeding. She looked up at him and could see by his expression that his concerns about the Kid had not been quelled.
"I told you it takes time," she said as continued her weeding.
"Yeah," Heyes replied, lost in his own thoughts. He simply could not imagine life without his friend and he was terrified that such a scenario could easily become his reality. With a quick jerk of his head he shook off the thoughts, pulled a pocket knife from his pocket, and stooped down to dig a weed out by its roots.
"He means a lot to you," she said emphatically.
Heyes smiled. "Like a brother... Like two parts making a whole."
They weeded in silence for a time.
"He won't eat, barely drinks. That can't be good," Heyes mused.
"He'll do both when he's ready. Right now, sleep is the most important thing," she assured him. "Eating and drinking is actually painful at this stage. As the sores begin to heal, his appetite will pick up."
"I hope so."
"When Henry was sick, he begged for water, but he couldn't hold it down and it would throw him into wretched spasms. It weakened him severely. That's not happening with your friend."
Heyes looked at her as she continued digging. He remained silent. After a few minutes she stood and wiped her hands on her apron. "I had better go inside in case he wakes up again. Hayes stood but neither moved for a moment.
"Well, good night," Hayes said and slowly headed to the barn. She stood and watched him retreat.
"Good night Mr. Heyes," she said softly.
Hayes slept fitfully that night and was up before dawn. At daybreak he saw boxes of supplies near the road and he carried them to the porch. The house was still dark as both the Kid and Rebekah got a peaceful night's sleep and had not yet awakened. He sat on the porch chair by the window and watched the remainder of the sunrise.
When the front door finally opened, Hayes was surprised to see Kid standing in the doorway. Hayes leaped to his feet and rushed to his friend's side. "What are you doing, Kid," Heyes scolded.
Kid looked at He yes skeptically. "I'm going to the outhouse. Do you mind," Kid asked
"Let me help you, Kid," Hayes said as he swung Kid's arm around his shoulders.
"You're only helping me across the yard," Kid said emphatically.
Heyes laughed. "Of course, Kid. No need to worry about that."
Kid smiled his big boyish smile and the two men slowly made their was across the yard.
When Kid emerged from the outhouse, Heyes helped him up to the house. They could smell bacon cooking.
"You hungry yet, Kid?" Heyes asked.
"Not really. But it doesn't make me sick to my stomach, either." Kid replied.
Heyes smiled. "A sign you're on the mend, Kid."
As they walked into the house, Kid felt his strength beginning to ebb. Heyes sensed it too by the sudden added weight he felt on his shoulders. He walked Kid over to the cot and sat Kid down.
"Hungry?" Rebekah asked.
"Maybe just some coffee," Kid replied.
Rebekah shook her head. "Maybe just some broth. It's better for you right now."
"Yes Ma'am," Kid said with a bit of disappointment in his voice.
She poured him a mug of the steaming broth and handed the mug to Heyes who handed it to Kid.
"Some coffee Mr. Heyes?"
"Oh yes Ma'am," he said eagerly.
Heyes took his coffee and sat down at the table. Rebekah then handed him a plate of bacon and eggs. "You think its safe to be inside?" she asked him.
"Well, the way I see it, it's been pretty close to a week since we were exposed and I haven't gotten sick. So, yes Ma'am, I think it's safe to be inside.
After fixing herself a plate of food and a cup of coffee, Rebekah joined Heyes at the table. From his cot, Kid slowly drank the entire cup pf broth.
So, why don't you two tell me the truth about yourselves." she said nonchalantly.
"Ma'am?" they asked in unison.
Rebekah sighed, then sipped her coffee. "Your life stories cannot be any worse than anything I could imagine. "And," she began as she raised her eyes over the mug and looked directly at the Kid, " We have been together long enough to have very few secrets,"
Embarrassed, Kid looked down at his empty mug and was grateful that Heyes had his back to him.
She waited patiently while both men sat in silence.
"Yes, Kid, why don't you tell us about yourself," Heyes said without showing the slightest flinch.
Kid stiffened visibly. "Uh, well, I'm originally from Kansas. We both are. I've got no family living now... Just sort of fell into a life of drifting... Been through a few scrapes in life...but I'm a good, honest man."
Heyes suddenly choked on his coffee. Irritated, Kid glared at his partner's back.
Heyes quickly recovered. "That he is Ma'am. Most everyone that knows the Kid would describe him as good and honest." He took a sip of his coffee. "and sometimes not too bright," he mumbled just loud enough for the Kid to hear.
"That's true ma'am," Kid stuttered. "You see, Heyes here is the bright one of us. Yes, in fact it was his idea to go to the Indian camp and trade for some blankets," Kid replied and nodded triumphantly at the end of his comment.
Rebekah smiled at their banter. "So... are you Kid Curry?" she asked.
A worried expression came across the Kid's face. "Kid Curry, Ma'am? The outlaw?"
"Yes, the outlaw," she replied.
Kid didn't know what to say. Heyes turned around and looked at him, then turned back to Rebekah.
"I guess you're right. It's time to be honest. My friend here is in fact Kid Curry... And I am Hannibal Heyes. And we are both very sorry that you are caught in the middle of all this. We have robbed banks. We have robbed trains. But we have never killed anyone. You see, for the past couple of years the Kid and I have been trying to go straight and earn an amnesty. "
"The governor has promised us amnesty if we can stay out of trouble until he figures we deserve amnesty," Kid explained.
"Did he give you a time frame?" Rebekah asked
"At the start, he said a year." Heyes explained with disappointment in his voice.
"But it's been almost two years now." Kid added.
"That's why we here. You see the go-between us and the governor is a man named Lom Trevers. He's a US Marshall and a friend of ours. We were supposed to meet him in Cheyenne last week for an update about our amnesty. But the Kid here got sick, and the plans got side-tracked. Now here we are," Heyes explained.
"Well, I must confess, this is beyond my wildest imagination." Rebekah said. "More coffee, Mr. Heyes? More broth Mr. Curry?"
They both heaved a heavy sigh, knowing her questioning was likely not complete. "Yes, Ma'am." they replied.
She filled their cups and then her own and sat down again.
"Well, have you managed to stay out of trouble?"
Heyes could feel Kid's eyes staring nervously at the back of his head. He smiled. "Well, yes Ma'am, for the most part. No more trouble than any other person and nothing illegal," Heyes said.
Kid rolled his eyes as he set his cup on the floor and laid down on the cot, clasping his hands behind his head. "That's true. Nothing illegal," he said sleepily. He closed his eyes as the fatigue began to settle in. Within minutes he was again fast asleep.
Heyes glanced at Kid and then turned his attention back to Rebekah. "I think that little spurt of energy he had this morning is a good sign. You're certainly taking good care of him."
"He does seem a little better this morning... and it's not difficult to let someone sleep," she said softly.
"You likely know there's a reward out on both of us. You could come in to a nice little sum of money," Heyes said.
She shook her head. "But I won't."
"Twenty thousand dollars."
Her eyes widened. "You said you've never killed anyone so why is the reward so high?" she asked.
"Railroad owners and bankers have a lot of surplus money, and they don't like people trying to liberate that money from them... Now I'm a pretty good judge of people and I believe you when you say you won't turn us in. What puzzles me though, is why you won't turn us in."
Rebekah rested her gaze on the still sleeping Kid. "That first night he was very delirious and very talkative. He talked about a lot of things... Things I suspect are very private to him... I just don't see him as a criminal... I don't see you as one either."
Heyes was quiet for a while, reflecting on what the Kid might have revealed. "What kind of things?" he asked quietly.
Rebekah looked at Hayes and could see he likely already knew the answer." "Things I am quite certain he would normally never tell anyone... except perhaps you... And I will honor that privacy."
Heyes chewed his lip. He nodded his understanding and appreciation, and contemplated his next question. "Are you in love with him?" he asked
Rebekah didn't flinch, but neither did she respond.
"I've known the Kid since he was eight years old. I know what his life was like growing up. It made the transition into out-lawing pretty easy for him."
"After listening to his delirious chatter, I came to the same conclusion. There are some things you just can't fault a man for," she explained.
They were both quiet for some time. Finally Heyes pushed his chair back and stood up. "I'll bring those supplies in from the porch and some wood in for the fireplace."
"Thank you Mr. Heyes. I suspect the doctor will be coming by sometime today. If there is anything you need from town let me know and I'll tell him to send it with the next load of supplies."
"I'll do that Ma'am, he said as he headed out the door.
Late that afternoon Heyes and Kid sat in the rocking chairs on the porch while Rebekah walked down to the road to talk to the doctor. Heyes glanced at the Kid and saw a concerning look in the Kid's eyes.
"You love her?" Heyes asked
"What?"
"You heard me."
"She is pretty amazing," Kid confessed while avoiding a direct answer.
"She love you?"
Kid rolled his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "I don't know."
Heyes sighed a bit heavily. "Well that presents a whole new list of complications," he said.
"What do you mean?" Kid asked
"You want to marry her?"
Kid looked at Heyes and frowned. Then he looked back at Rebekah and the frown vanished. A melancholy smiled crossed his face as he reflected on a life with Rebekah. "I don't know her that well and besides, I'm just not the marrying kind," he said sadly.
A moment passed before Heyes spoke. "Me either," he replied.
Kid looked at Heyes, realizing they might both be in love with her. "What do we do now?" he asked.
Heyes slowly rubbed a finger back and forth across his lips. "I guess... find out how she feels."
Kid nodded his head. "I guess you're right." Then, with another realization, Kid shifted in his chair. "Heyes, why are you always right?" he asked, prodding his friend into lighter state of mind.
Heyes smiled. "It's a gift he, Kid."
"And a curse," Kid mumbled
Heyes nodded. "That too."
"He's getting stronger. Fever's been gone all day. Even the rash is starting to fade already," Rebekah explained to the doctor.
"Well, there's two varieties of smallpox. He must have been lucky enough to contract the lighter variety. I'm going to keep you all quarantined for another two or three days just to be certain, though."
Rebekah nodded her understanding.
"Are you still comfortable being out here alone with these two? After all, I still think of you as a daughter, Rebekah. I wouldn't want to leave you in a situation where you didn't feel safe."
Rebekah reached up and took his hand. "They have been perfect gentlemen. There is no need for concern," she assured him.
"Well, let's see, this is Thursday. I'll come by Sunday or Monday. If he's a hundred percent better, I'll give them their walking papers."
"I'll see you again then," she said.
The doctor turned his horse around and rode off. As Rebekah approached the house, Kid stood up and Heyes followed suite.
Well, what did he say?" Kid asked
Rebekah smiled. "A few more days," she replied.
Kid nodded and glanced at Heyes. His mouth was closed but he was smiling brightly. Kid, however, was surprised by his feeling of disappointment. He released a heavy breath. "I think I'll take a little walk," he said, taking cautious but strong steps toward the the porch steps and looking out across the yard. "Would you like to join me, Rebekah?" he asked.
She smiled. "That sounds lovely." She looked at Heyes who had returned to his seat. "Mr. Heyes?" she said, inviting him to join them.
"Oh, I think I'll sit this one out, Ma'am."
Heyes saw Kid's shoulders relax as he descended the steps and held a crooked arm out to Rebekah. She smiled and slid her hand under his arm. Heyes slouched in his chair and lazily pulled his hat over his eyes.
"You know Ma'am," Kid began as he slowly led her around to the side of the house where they were out of Heyes' view, "I think we have known each other long enough for you to stop calling me Mr. Jones," He began
"Or Mr. Curry?" she asked.
Kid smiled. "Or Curry, Ma'am"
"Then what should I call you?"
"I prefer Kid, but my Christian name is Jedadiah."
"That's a lovely name," she said. She repeated the name aloud, softly like a gently breeze. Kid liked the way it sounded coming from her.
"When you leave, where will you be going?" she asked.
"I expect we'll go and find Lom and find out what his amnesty news is," Kid explained. He stopped and took in full deep breaths of fresh air. She smiled, watching him.
"What are you smiling at?" he asked.
"You," was her simple answer.
Kid laughed. "Me?" He asked.
"You seem much too... gentle, too kind to be an outlaw," she said
Kid felt a little embarrassed. "Thank you," was all he said.
"And you are quite handsome."
Now he was very embarrassed and the rash kept her from seeing him blush.
"Rebekah, I've never met a woman like you before," he stuttered.
"What do you mean."
"Well, for one thing, you are very pretty."
"A lot of women are pretty."
"But they don't have all those other fine qualities all packaged into one, very beautiful woman."
As usual, Rebekah didn't mince words. "If you weren't still sick, Jedadiah, I would kiss you."
"You've got immunity, remember"
Slowly, gently, he leaned in to her and kissed her. Then he slowly pulled back ever so slightly and watched her open her eyes. She looked directly into his eyes. The second time he leaned in with more passion. He heard the little gasp that escaped her lips.
They held eyes for a long moment. "We'd better walk back," she said quietly. "I don't want you overdoing it."
"Overdoing it?" he asked coyly.
She smile. "I want you healthy." she replied
"Oh," he said with mocked innocence . He reached down and took her hand and they slowly returned to the porch.
"I'll get supper started," Rebekah said and disappeared into the house."
Kid sat down in the rocking chair beside Heyes. With his hat still covering his eyes, Heyes began to slowly rock his chair."
"Nice walk?" he asked
"Uh-uh," Kid replied.
"Productive walk" Heyes asked
"Uh-uh," Kid replied.
Heyes frowned a bit but Kid didn't see it.
"Which brings me back to a previous question," Heyes began. "You love her?"
"Uh-uh," came the reply
Heyes fell silent for a moment. "She love you?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could muster.
"Uh-uh," came the reply and Heyes winced.
"So where does that leave us, Kid?" He asked.
Kid turned and looked at Heyes who slid his hat back on his head, sat up straight, and look at his friend. "I wish I knew, Heyes," Kid sighed.
Supper was relatively silent with Rebekah and the Kid exchanging frequent, intimate glances. Heyes pretended not to notice, but he did notice the Kid's appetite was good.
"She's a good cook, isn't she, Kid," Heyes asked.
Kid looked at Rebekah and smiled. "A very good cook," he replied.
"It's good to see you finally eating, Thaddeus," Rebekah said.
"Thaddeus," Heyes mumbled to himself.
"What?" Kid asked and Heyes realized his voice had been a little too loud.
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that my mother was a good cook, too. Remember, Kid?"
"She was," Kid confirmed.
"Kid used to join us for supper, oh two or three times a week growing up, remember, Kid?"
"I do," Kid replied, wondering where Heyes was going with the conversation.
"You remember when she cooked that rabbit and you bit down hard on shotgun pellet she had missed when cleaning it. Cracked a tooth didn't it?"
Kid's mouth opened mid chew. "I remember that," he said.
By this time Heyes was laughing outright. "You never heard such screaming."
"Except when your pa decided to extract it," Kid grumbled.
"Oh, yeah... I'd forgotten that part," Heyes said.
"Well, I ain't" Kid said.
Rebekah sat quietly engaged, enjoying the conversation.
"So what was your first criminal act?" Rebekah asked.
Kid thought a moment. "Stealing apples from Mr. McCreedy's Mercantile."
"You know, Heyes began, "that should have been my first clue as to what kind of criminal you would become. You see, Rebekah, there was a nice big apple tree over in the school yard with plenty of apples free for the taking. But the Kid here chose to steal store apples," Heyes explained.
"I didn't know that. I never spent much time lingering in the school yard," Kid explained.
Heyes chuckled. "No you didn't. Most of your time was spent inside the school... standing in the corner."
Rebekah smiled. "No, I mean what was your first real job as an outlaw?"
"Oh, I'm not sure we ought to delve into our outlaw biography," Heyes said. "Let's just say we are both from Kansas and the only state we are wanted in is Wyoming. So, you can't say we were born criminals. No, the Kid and I were just a little wayward is all."
"Wayward?' Kid reflected. "Wish we could convince the Wyoming judicial system of that. I don't think being 'wayward' earns a twenty year prison sentence."
"Twenty years?" Rebekah asked with astonishment. "You mean you could go to prison for twenty years?"
Heyes gave Kid a cold, hard stare and Kid mentally kicked himself. "Only if we are caught, tried, and convicted," he explained without taking his eyes of Heyes
"And if the amnesty doesn't come through," Heyes added while holding the Kid's glare. "Which is why it is so important that we get in touch with Lom Trevers. Why it is so important that we be on our way as soon as possible."
Kid dropped his glare and sighed in defeat. Rebekah looked at him but Kid refused to look at her or Heyes. He slowly and almost imperceptibly nodded his head. Rebekah didn't notice, but Heyes did.
"Well," Rebekah began, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice, "it's only two more days and you can go find Mr. Trevers." She stood up and began clearing the table. When her back was to them, Kid looked at Heyes and shook his head, both knowing that Heyes had just wounded her miserably.
"I think I will go get some air and turn in for the night," Heyes said quietly as he walked out of the house.
Kid looked at Rebekah, her back still to him while busying herself at the sink. He got up and walker over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and felt her body stiffen. "He didn't mean to hurt you," Kid said gently. "Neither do I."
The Kid's hands fell from her shoulders are she turned around to face him. "I know you won't stay... I know you can't stay... But I want you to think about something tonight..."
"And what's that?" Kid asked
Rebekah looked deep into Kid's eyes. " Forty years from now, when you are old and tired, and you realize that the life you've lived may or may not be the life you wanted, I want you o think about what your life regrets will be. Will you be sure this is the right decision for you?"
Kid reached up and touched her cheek, gently wiping away a tear. "I already regret this decision. "I regret not having a life with you... I regret not making love with you... I regret not having children with you. … But I don't regret loving you."
She pressed her cheek into the palm of his hand. He cupped her chin and raised her head until their eyes met. Then he leaned in and kissed her and could feel her giving in to the kiss. Slowly their lips parted and she pulled back, bracing herself against the sink.
"I'd better go for a walk," he said, wanting to give her time to recover, to give them both time to recover. She bent her head down until she heard the screen door shut.
Kid walked across the yard to the barn and leaned against the frame of the open barn door.
Heyes walked over to join him.
"Well?" Heyes asked softly
Kid picked up a piece of straw and rolled it between his fingers. "She knows I'm leaving with you," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Kid" Heyes replied.
"Not as sorry as I am," Kid sighed.
"Is she alright?" Heyes asked.
"She will be."
"Are you alright?"
Kid chewed on the piece of straw and looked out across the open fields. "I've never felt like this, Heyes."
Heyes smiled. "You're in love."
"I've been in love before," Kid protested.
"No... You've been in lust, maybe. But not love. Now you know the difference"
"I don't like it... It hurts."
Heyes sighed and nodded his head. "Yes it does. Makes you feel like dying when you can't hold on to it... But in time, Kid, you'll come to know that it's the most important thing you will ever experience... It will bring you comfort on cold nights. It will remind you that you will never be completely alone in this world... because there will always be someone out there feeling the same way about you. "
"How do you know so much about everything, Heyes?"
Heyes smiled. "Experience, my friend... Experience."
When Kid returned to the house, Rebekah was already in her bedroom with the door closed. The house was dark and silent. He made his way to the cot and laid down. Exhausted, he couldn't sleep, and spent the night contemplating his old age, assuming he would ever reach an old age.
Just after dawn, Kid heard Rebekah moving about in her room. Very quietly he got up and slipped out the front door. He just wasn't ready to face her, not yet. He stood at the edge of the porch, leaning against the post, and watched the sun rise. The sky was a blaze of red and orange hues with wispy streaks of yellow strewn in. After a few minutes, Rebekah came out holding two cups of coffee. She handed him one and stood beside him.
"It's beautiful," she said
Kid nodded. "But it means rain, maybe even storms today."
They stood in silence for sometime. It was Rebekah who spoke first. "I already know what you will say," she began. "But I could go with you."
Kid continued to look at the sunrise, but he slipped his arm around her shoulders. "And I could stay... But we both know neither of those choices would be right," he said sadly.
"I know," she whispered.
They both saw Heyes slowly approaching the house and Kid let his arm fall to his side.
"Good morning," Heyes said "Beautiful sunrise, but probably means rain's coming."
"Or storms," Rebekah replied and Kid smiled. "There's coffee on the table, Mr. Heyes. I'll go fix some breakfast," Rebekah said and walked back into the house.
"Thank you Ma'am," Heyes called after her.
Heyes stood at the bottom of the steps. "You look like you didn't sleep."
"Not a wink," Kid confirmed.
"You alright, Kid?" Heyes asked.
"I'll live," Kid replied.
"She alright?" Heyes asked
Kid took his last gulp of coffee. "I think so." He handed Heyes his mug. "Mind filling this up?" he asked.
Heyes took the mug and smiled skeptically as he ascended the stairs. "Sure," he said and walked into the house.
Inside, Heyes poured two cups of coffee while Rebekah heated a frying pan for eggs. Heyes picked up both cups and turned toward the door.
"Will he come back?" Rebekah asked
Heyes stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Did he say he would?" Heyes asked but she did not respond.
Heyes set the cups down on the table and glanced out the screen door. Kid had not moved.
"Kid always says I'm the smart one.. I don't tell him he's wrong. You see, I'm the one who always comes up with a plan to get us out of any... sticky situations, so in that sense he's right. … But when it comes to love, compassion... Well, I can't hold a candle to the Kid. Don't ever tell him I said that either." Heyes picked up the two mugs of coffee again. "He'll be back, Ma'am. I have no doubt." With that said, Heyes returned to the porch with the coffee.
They ate breakfast and watched dark, rolling clouds move in from the west. When the rain did start, it fell steadily throughout the morning. It eased up around noon and Heyes ran out to the barn to check on the horses. When he came back, his clothes were soaking wet.
"I should probably stay out here for a while, Ma'am, till I've dried off a bit," he called through the screen door.
"My husband was about your build, Mr. Heyes. I'll get you some dry clothes," Rebekah said and hurried into her bedroom to retrieve the clothes.
Kid got up and walked over to the screen door. He looked his friend up and down and smiled at Heyes misfortune.
"You're glad it ain't you stripping naked right now" Heyes asked.
Kid laughed. "Well, I guess you've got a point there, Heyes."
Rebekah returned with the clothing and handed them to Heyes.
"Thank you Ma'am," he said with a grin and a devilish glance toward the Kid who frowned and shook his head.
"We'll wait inside for you," Rebekah said. "Just drape the wet things over the chairs to dry."
"Won't dry in this rain," Heyes replied.
"The rain will stop sometime, Mr. Heyes. It always does.
Late in the afternoon Kid stoked the fire and then sat down at the table with the others. A strong thunder storm raged outside with wind, lightening, and loud cracks of thunder.
"We could play poker," Heyes suggested
"Three people don't make a poker game," Kid reminded his friend. "Besides, we don't have any cards."
"I have cards," Rebekah said. "You could teach me how to play. "
"We have no money," Kid added.
"Wait," Rebekah said and went to the cupboard. She pulled a deck of cards from a drawer and then reached into the back of a shelf and retrieved a small paper bag. "I have hard candy. We could use that for money, she said as she opened the bag and dumped the colorful pieces of ribbon candy onto the table.
Both men grinned and Heyes began to divide up the candy among the three of them. "Broken pieces are worth fifty cents. Intact pieces are worth a dollar," he explained.
They spent an hour teaching Rebekah the fundamentals of poker and then the fun began, They played poker for hours, forgetting all about supper and occasionally eating a dollar. Nightfall was approaching and the rain had slowed to a steady, gentle pace when they finally quit.
"You catch on quickly," Heyes said to Rebekah as he looked at the rather large pile of candy in front of her.
"You two let me win. But it was fun," she said as she began putting the candy back into the paper bag.
Kid, leaned back in his chair. "Well, I guess it's my turn to check on the horses," he said slowly.
Heyes grinned at him. "Don't let me stop you," he replied
Kid gave him a smirk and slowly walked outside.
"I'll warm something up for supper," Rebekah said
"Oh, no Ma'am. Not for me. I think when Kid gets back, I'll turn in for the night."
"Then why did you send him out there. You could have checked."
Heyes smiled. "Just for my own amusement.
"You two are very close, aren't you?" she asked.
"Like brothers," Heyes replied.
She smiled. "You watch out for each other. That's good."
Heyes smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
"Now it's my turn to be soaking wet," Kid said as he stood just outside the screen door.
Rebekah stood up. "I've got more dry clothes," she said.
"Well, I think I'll head off to bed," Heyes said as Rebekah went into the bedroom for the clothes. "Good night, Ma'am," he called to her.
Heyes walked out onto the porch and put a hand on Kid's wet shoulder. "Good night, Kid. You're welcome," he said as he stepped off the porch and made his way to the barn.
"For what?" Kid called out to him.
Heyes just waved his hand to him and kept walking.
Rebekah returned with an armful of clothes. Come in, you can stand by the fire to change," she said.
"I don't want to drip water all over your floor. I can change out here," Kid replied.
"No," Rebekah protested. "The sun's down. It's cold out there. The fire will warm you. I'll turn my back."
Kid pulled his boots off and set them down on the porch. Then he tiptoed into the house and walked over to the fireplace. "Are you sure?" he asked and she nodded. Kid turned to face the fire and unbuttoned his wet shirt and pulled it off. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure her back was to him and then glanced at the pile of dry clothes to make sure they were within reach. Then he pulled off his pants. Turning to grab the pair of dry pants, Kid was startled to see Rebekah watching him. He started to say something, but stopped. She walked slowly across the room to him and stood within a couple of inches from him. She tilted her head up.
"One thing you won't have to regret when you are old," she said.
"Are you sure about this?" Kid whispered
"Very sure," she replied.
He leaned in and kissed her with a passion he had never felt before. When their lips parted, she slid her hand into his and slowly led him into her room.
"Good morning, Ma'am," Heyes said as he walked into the house the next morning. He noticed the cot had not been slept in and Kid was nowhere to be seen. "Sleep well?" he asked.
Rebekah set a cup of coffee on the table for Heyes and they both sat down. "Yes I did," she replied.
"Where's the Kid?" Heyes asked.
"Still sleeping." she said, "I heard your conversation with him on the porch last night,"
"Oh, well I'm... sorry you heard that, Ma'am. I wasn't implying any disrespect," Heyes explained.
She sat studying Heyes. "I get the feeling you are not entirely in favor of this relationship," she said.
"I'm not entirely opposed, either Ma'am?"
"Why are you torn?" she asked.
"Well, I know Kid is in love with you. I also think he will stay if you ask. … I just hope you won't ask." he said.
"Why?"
"We told you about our amnesty. But this presents a problem. You see, getting the amnesty is contingent upon us both earning the amnesty, and being a bit public about what were doing, at least public among other outlaws, sort of setting an example to them. If Kid stays, he's not holding up his end of the bargain. .. And the bargain depends on the both of us."
"So if Kid stays, you won't get your amnesty."
"That's right, Ma'am... and neither will the Kid. That reward money, and those twenty years in prison will continue to hang over our heads."
"Morning," Kid said groggily as he emerged from the bedroom wearing only his long johns.
Heyes rolled his eyes. "Aw, put some pants on Kid, will ya?"
Kid looked down, embarrassed and then grabbed his pants from the back of the chair by the fireplace and disappeared back into the bedroom.
Heyes looked at Rebekah. "Just... think about that." he pleaded.
Kid emerged again from the bedroom, this time wearing pants. He reached over and grabbed his shirt and slid his arms through the sleeves and buttoned the shirt as he approached the table. Rebekah got him coffee and fixed them all a plate of bacon and eggs.
"You missed a beautiful sunrise," Heyes said. It's going to be a nice day today."
"Rebekah!" the doctor shouted from the road. Rebekah hurried out to the porch
"How's your patient?"
"Just fine, doc," Kid shouted as he emerged from the house.
"No rash?" the doctor asked.
"No rash," Kid replied.
"No fever?"
"No fever,"
"The other one alright?"
"I'm fine, too," Heyes shouted from just inside the house.
"You agree with them, Rebekah?"
"Yes. They are both quite healthy."
"You can leave in the morning," the doctor shouted.
"Thank you, sir," Heyes and Curry shouted simultaneously.
"You need anything, Rebekah?"
"No, we're fine."
The doctor nodded and turned his horse around to return to town.
"You hear that, Kid. We can go find Lom tomorrow." Heyes said
Kid looked sadly at Rebekah. "Yeah, that's great," Kid said softly.
From the other side of the screen door, Heyes caught Rebekah's eye. His lips tightened and he tilted his head ever so slightly. Not seeing the exchanged, Kid stepped off the porch and walked slowly away. Rebekah continued to look at Heyes for a long moment before turning on her heals to catch up with the Kid.
"Do you want me to ask you to stay?" she asked
"What?" he asked absently.
She grasped his arm and stopped him. He turned to look at her. "If I did ask... would you?"
He looked at her. "Rebekah, I would do anything for you," he said.
She took a step back, still studying his face. "I think you would," she said. "Which is exactly why I won't ask."
He put his arm around her and they began to walk. "I don't want you to lose your amnesty, or Heyes' either.
"Our amnesty could come in a week... a month...a year... we just don't know. In the mean time, we can still be arrested and sent to prison for twenty years."
"I'll wait for you no matter how long it is."
"No. You won't. At least I hope you wont.… Forty years from now, I don't want you looking back at all the things in life you missed just because of me. When I get amnesty, I will head right back here... and we will do whatever fate has decided... If you're single, I will court you like you've never been courted... If you're married, I will know you married for all the right reasons I won't interfere with that... But let life lead you. Don't try to control it."
She was crying now and he gently wiped tears from her cheeks and smiled tenderly at her. "I suspect when we get back to the house, Heyes will have our bags packed and horses saddled."
"But Doc said... You're not staying tonight?"
Kid shook his head. "The sooner we get this amnesty, the sooner I'll be back."
Rebekah smiled. "I may have to start writing the governor myself," she laughed.
"You never know. It might just help," he teased.
They walked together for an hour. When they returned, Heyes was emerging from the barn with their saddled horses and packed saddle bags.. When they met up, they stopped and Heyes handed Kid the reins to his horse.
"Don't worry, Rebekah. He'll be come back. I don't think wild horses could keep him away." Heyes promised.
Rebekah nodded and watched them mount their horses. She walked over to Kid and took his hand. He leaned down and kissed her.
"Rebekah, I don't know how to thank you," Heyes said earnestly.
She took a few steps back from the horse and they both kicked their horses into a slow trot. Kid did not take his eyes off her as he slowly passed her.
"You made the right decision," Heyes told her earnestly.
"Or a very foolish one," she muttered as they rode away. She stood watching them until they were out of sight. Then she slowly walked back into the empty house
.