Kid Curry felt the initial searing pain of the bullet entering his upper back. In one jerking involuntary thrust his body arched and twisted, only to be violently thrust a second time in the opposite direction against the force of another bullet also entering his back just below his left shoulder. Kid slumped against the neck of his horse. Unable to grasp onto the horse's mane or even the saddle's horn, Kid slipped from the saddle, crashing to the ground.
Hannibal Heyes had been riding in the lead position. When he heard the shots, he had spurred his horse into a faster gallop and glanced behind him to spot Kid's location. He saw Kid's horse running wildly off point. Then he saw Kid crumpled on the ground. Heyes whipped his horse around and raced back to where Kid lay.
The force of the impact had forced the air out of Kid's lungs and, still conscious, Kid's only focus was to garner the strength to suck in air and fill his lungs. After a half dozen jagged gasps, his lungs had expanded enough to inhale a sufficient amount of air.
Kid Curry had experienced more than his share of gunshot wounds, some serious, some just minor grazes. He knew how to read the level of pain and determine the seriousness of the injury. He knew to lay low against the horse's mane to make himself less of a target for any additional flying bullets. He knew what emergency treatment was needed to slow the flow of blood and prevent the bullet from moving or shifting further into the body.
But these two shots were different. These shots, or more correctly, the first shot felt almost painless while at the same time debilitating.. This shot left him feeling numb. This shot robbed him of any defensive move. This shot felt... fatal.
Heyes leaped from his horse even before the hose had come to a complete stop. Kid had landed on his left side in the dirt, his back to Heyes as Heyes approached. Heyes fell to his knees next to Kid's back and, with gun in hand, Heyes scanned the landscape for a shooter. He saw no one, no movements in the distance. No posse approaching. No more shots had been fired. Just the two that had hit their mark.
"How bad are you hit?" Heyes asked Kid, although he could plainly see by the amount of blood covering the back of Kid's shirt that the wounds were serious.
Kid didn't respond.
Heyes untied his bandanna and pressed it tightly against the shoulder wound. The bleeding began to slow down. Heyes then untied Kid's bandanna and wadded it and pressed it against the other back wound. Kid did not so much as flinch. Heyes pulled off his belt and secured the bandanna in place.
Kid continued to focus solely on breathing. His eyes open but glazed.
"Kid?" Heyes prodded. "Kid, can you hear me?"
Kid coughed several times. A spray of blood flew from his mouth.
"You're going to be okay, Kid. I'll get you to a doctor."
"Heyes..." Kid said, his voice little more than a whisper.
"What is it?" Heyes asked.
"I can't move."
"What can't you move, Kid?"
Kid tried to focus on moving first a leg and then an arm. "Nothing... I can't move nothing."
Heyes struggled to suppress the panic that was rising in him. He had to get Kid to a doctor. If Kid couldn't move, Heyes knew he wouldn't be able to lift Kid on to a horse. If Kid couldn't hold and fire his gun, he couldn't leave him alone while he went for a doctor.
"Does it hurt?" Heyes asked, knowing it was a stupid question
"No," Kid whispered.
Heyes' eyes squeezed shut and he grimaced. This was not the answer he had wanted. He wanted to know Kid could feel something, even if it was pain.
"Okay," Heyes panted nervously. "I'm going to get you back to town. I'll find a way, Kid. I promise."
"Won't do no good, Heyes," Kid said and began coughing again, spewing another spray of blood from his mouth.
"I won't be far, Kid... I'm going to make a travois. I'll drag you to a doctor if I have to."
Kid tried to smile but was too weak. "Won't be the first time... Might be the last,"
"Don't talk like that, Kid. You're not going to die. You can't die," Heyes said. He stood up and walked away, searching for branches to make the carrier.
You're wrong, Heyes, Kid thought. Dying ain't difficult. It's staying alive that's hard.
It took Heyes the better part of two hours to gather and assemble the material for the travois.. Once completed he brought the travois to where Kid lay and pressed it against Kid's back. Then, as gently as he could, Heyes rolled Kid onto the travois. He was surprised to see Kid's glazed eyes still open.
"You doing okay?" Heyes asked.
"Yea," Kid lied.
Using his lasso, Heyes secured the travois to his stirrups. He put Kid's hat over his face to protect Kid from the sun. Kid's horse was nowhere to be found so Heyes mounted his horse and began the slow, arduous trek back to Sandy Point, the town they had left just hours before..
Kid closed his eyes. Still conscious, Kid was surprised to find he could feel the vibrations of the travois as he bounced slowly along behind Heyes' horse. It took nearly three hours to reach Sandy Point. Somewhere along the route, Kid had mercifully passed out.
Heyes pulled up to the doctor's office. He saw three men walking the boardwalk across the street. "I need help," he called to them and they all ran over to Heyes. "Help me carry him in," Heyes said as he untied the travois from the stirrups. Between the four of them, they carried the travois into the doctor's office.
Dr. Bixler had heard the commotion and held the door open for the men to carry Kid inside. "I have a bed in the back room. Take him in there, through that curtain," Dr. Bixler instructed. The men carried the travois into the next room and set it on the floor next to the bed. They then lifted Kid from the travois and placed him on the bed.
"Where's he hurt?" Dr. Bixler asked.
"Two gunshot wounds to the back," Heyes told him.
"Get him out of his clothes and then turn him onto his side. Be very gently. As little movement as possible," Dr. Bixler instructed. "What happened?"
"Ambush. Didn't see anyone. Just two shots fired, both hitting Thaddeus," Heyes explained.
Once Kid was naked and turned onto his right side, Dr. Bixler removed the makeshift dressings and examined the wounds.
"I'll need you fellas to stay to help hold him down while I remove the bullets," the doctor said.
"Might not be necessary, Doc.. He told me he can't feel anything," Heyes said.
"That's not a good sign, son," the doctor replied.
"I know. He said he can't move his arms or his legs."
"That low back bullet might have broken his back or severed the nerve. Either one of those and he'll likely never move on his own again .
Heyes closed his eyes. Please God, don't let him be paralyzed," Heyes prayed.
"Just do what you can for him, Doc."
It took the doctor nearly three hours to remove the bullets and dress the wounds. Even without anesthesia, Kid had not moved during the surgery which caused Dr. Bixler great concern.
"The wound near his shoulder was simple enough. I expect it to heal nicely. The bullet in the lower back didn't reach the spinal cord so, barring an injury from the fall elsewhere along the spine, the back is not broken. The bullet, as far as I could tell, did not sever the spinal nerve, although it did graze the nerve. That is likely what is causing the paralysis. Only time will tell if the paralysis is permanent. He is still gravely ill. He's lost a very large amount of blood. The first thing we worry about is shock, the next things are fever and infection. If we get over those three hurdles, there will be others, but at the moment, those others are of lesser importance. "I'm sorry, son. I wish the news could be better."
Heyes looked at Kid's ashen face. Kid's only movement was visible in the slow, shallow rise and fall of his chest beneath the blankets. Heyes bit his lower lip. He was drained, exhausted, and unnerved by the fact that Kid might well be dying right before him.
"I gave him pain medication. He'll sleep for several hours. You should too," Dr. Bixler said. Heyes shook his head slowly. "I'm not leaving him. If he doesn't make it, I won't let him die alone."
Dr. Bixler considered this. I'll bring a cot and some blankets in here for you. Is there anyone you'd like me to contact? A relative?"
Heyes made himself think. Would you send a telegram to Sheriff Lom Trevers in Porterville? Tell him what's going on. Ask him to come? I can pay for it."
"Of course I will, son. Anyone else?"
Heyes shook his head. "I'm his only family."
"I'll move the cot in here and then I'll go send the telegram."
Heyes nodded but didn't reply.
Late in the evening Kid's eyes fluttered open. Heyes perked right up and called for the doctor
"What happened?" Kid whispered.
"The usual. You got shot and fell off your horse. We really should start putting you in a harness every time you ride."
The attempt at humor escaped Kid. "Oh, okay," he whispered.
Dr. Bixler came into the room and examined Kid,. He checked Kid's pupils and found they would react to light. A good sign.
"Thaddeus, are you able to move anything? Fingers, toes, anything?" the doctor asked.
Kid tried to move fingers and toes without success. "Just my head," he said, turning to look at the doctor. "What does that mean?"
"Means you have to heal more before we know what kind of recovery you're going to make."
Kid nodded, accepting the doctor's explanation. "Thirsty," he whispered.
Heyes picked up a glass of water and raised Kid's head from the pillow.
"Just small sips," Dr. Bixler cautioned."Till we know how well he can swallow and what he can hold in his stomach. We don't want him throwing up and breaking any stitches."
Kid took half a dozen small sips and Heyes gently laid Kid's head back down on the pillow. He closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.
"So what do you think?" Heyes asked the doctor.
Dr. Bixler shook his head. "It's still much too early to know. The nerve has been injured. The surgery likely caused additional swelling around the nerve. It could be days before we see any movement, assuming there will be any movement."
Heyes took a deep breath and breathed out slowly.
"The thing that puzzles me the most," Dr. Bixler said, "is why someone would shoot him and then just leave. Why shoot someone just for the sake of shooting someone?"
"I wish I knew," Heyes replied. In fact, Heyes had pondered this same question. His only conclusion was that someone wanted them, or at least Kid, dead or to stay in Sandy Point. But who and why?"
The fever struck in the middle of the night. Heyes was awakened by Kid's moaning and thrashing of his head back and forth across the pillow. Beads of sweat covered his flushed face. But still no movement in Kid's arms or legs. Heyes woke the doctor who mixed powders with water and Heyes held Kid's head still while the doctor spooned the medicine into Kid's mouth. It took an hour before Kid settled back into a restful sleep. The fever persisted and Heyes put cool cloths on Kid's forehead. He stayed awake the rest of the night keeping a close vigil on his partner.
In the morning Heyes helped the doctor remove the bandages, clean and flush the wounds, and apply new bandages.
"Did you see his finger?" Heyes asked excitedly.
"What?" Dr. Bixler asked.
"I think his finger moved. I just saw it once."
"It could simply have been a reflex, not something he could control. Could have just been your imagination. We'll watch him carefully today to see if it happens again."
Heyes sat back down on his cot and rubbed a hand through his hair.
"Son, why don't you go get something to eat and maybe stop by the telegraph office. See if you got a reply to that telegram."
Heyes didn't feel the least bit hungry. But he knew he had to keep his strength up, so he followed the doctors instructions. He stopped first at the cafe and ate eggs and bacon and drank three cups of strong coffee. He paid his bill and walked out of the cafe.
"How's your friend?"
Heyes turned around and saw the Sheriff standing behind him. He smiled nervously.
"No better, no worse," Heyes replied.
"It's a shame that had to happen. Any ideas about it?"
"The two shots came from behind us so I'm guessing someone followed us out of town. Just two shots. Then they stopped. I looked around but didn't see anyone. Didn't see any dirt being kicked up from someone leaving on horseback. No sign at all."
"That's strange."
Heyes nodded. "Unless he left his horse off a ways and climbed to a ridge on foot, fired the shots, then ran back down to his horse that was out of sight."
"You've been a detective for long?"
Heyes smiled. "I've just had a lot of time on my hands, to give thought to any scenario I can think of."
"Well, if you come up with anything else that might be helpful, let us know. I'm taking a couple of deputies out there this afternoon to see if we can pick up any tracks. You want to come along?"
Heyes shook his head. "I have to stay with Thaddeus. I have to be there just in case."
"I understand, son. By the way, I'm Frank Tudley"
"Joshua Smith, Heyes replied.
"I"ll let you know if we find anything," Sheriff Tudley said.
Heyes went next to the telegraph office. Lom had sent a reply. Heyes put the telegram in his shirt pocket and returned to the doctor's office.
"I'm sorry to tell you son, but I think he's just having some involuntary muscle spasms, twitches. I don't think moving his finger was intentional."
Heyes nodded his understanding and sat down on the cot. He pulled the telegram from his pocket and read it.
I'll be in Sandy Point on Wednesday. Stop. Arriving by stage. Stop. Meeting with the governor tomorrow. Stop. Prayers for Kid. Stop. Lom.
Heyes felt a sense of relief that Lom had agreed to come. He didn't hold out a lot of hope about the meeting with the governor. Right now, amnesty seemed rather inconsequential to him anyway. He was thankful for the prayers. Heyes lay down on the cot and linked his fingers behind his head. He turned his head slightly to look at Kid and he said a silent prayer himself. Then he closed his eyes and replayed the shooting over and over in his head but came up with nothing.
Heyes thought about the night before they left Sandy Point. He and Kid had spent the evening in the saloon, drinking an occasional beer and playing poker. Kid had won a few dollars but nothing significant. Heyes had won more, but also not enough to anger other players. One man had lost his week's wages but mostly to another player. After the poker ended, Kid had gone upstairs with one of the girls and Heyes had returned to the hotel. He was still awake when Kid returned and Kid had not mentioned anything unusual or significant about his time with the saloon girl.
No, Heyes could think of nothing that caused any hostility toward either of them during their stay at Sandy Point and no one had given him any reason to suspect they had been recognized.
Eventually Heyes gave in to sleep.
"You wear that gun pretty low, mister."
Kid was paying the livery stable owner when he heard the words spoken to him. He looked up and saw a boy, eighteen or nineteen years old shoveling out one of the stalls. The boy was looking at Kid's gun closely.
"Oh, that's just where it's comfortable," Kid replied with a smile.
"And tied down," the boy said.
"So it won't hit me in the leg when I'm riding," Kid explained.
"That's enough questions, boy," the owner said.
"You a gunslinger?" the boy asked, ignoring the old man.
Kid laughed. "Me? no."
"You wanted?"
Kid was growing irritated by the questions. "No, son. I'm not wanted. Are you?"
A sly smiled spread across the boys face. "Not yet," he said.
Heyes shot up out of bed. The dream had felt so real. He thought about the day they arrived in Sandy Point and had dropped their horses off at the livery stable. The conversation he had dreamed had never really happened. But the boy and the old man in the dream were the ones who actually worked at the livery stable. And the boy cleaning the stalls had looked several times at both his and Kid's guns. The boy had not spoken to either of them. But when Kid smiled at him as they were leaving the stable, the boy did turn quickly away and did not acknowledge Kid's smile. But that was the only time they had seen the boy. He was not at the livery stable when they picked up their horses the morning they left Sandy Point.
Heyes had absolutely no proof. But he did now have suspicion. Could the boy have recognized them, or at least recognized Kid? Could the boy be seeking notoriety for shooting Kid Curry? If it was the boy who shot Kid, why would he not be trying to collect the reward?
A moan... and another moan.
Heyes got up and stood beside Kid's bed. Kid's eyes were open and staring at the ceiling.
"You okay, Kid?" Heyes eyed.
Kid's blue eyes slowly moved to look at Heyes. He tried to smile but it quickly vanished, replaced by yet another, more intense moan. His breathing picked up and soon became rapid. "It hurts ,"
"What hurt's Kid?"
"My arm. It feels...like...a ...knife."
"Doc!," Heyes shouted, "Doc!" he called again.
"What is it?" Dr. Bixler asked as he walked into the room.
"Thaddeus, he says his arm hurts, bad, like a knife going through it."
Kid let out a gut wrenching moan just as Dr. Bixler walked into the room
"What is it, Thaddeus," Dr. Bixler asked.'
"Oh, God, my arm..."
"Can't you give him something, Doc?" Heyes asked.
"Yes. Yes," Dr. Bixler said. "But it's important to know if there is movement. Thaddeus, can you move your fingers?"
DR. Bixler and Heyes watched as Kid balled his left hand into a tight fist. Kid cried out again. "Please," Kid begged.
Dr. Bixler reached for some powder and mixed it in a glass or water. Heyes helped keep Kid's head steady and Dr. Bixler spooned the medicine into Kid's mouth. Within ten minutes KId began to settle. Slowly the fist unfolded. The moaning ebbed. But Kid's eyes remained open and were now fixed on Heyes.
"I'm... scared," Kid said softly.
Heyes tried to give him a reassuring smile.. "I know... I am, too."
"All the times I've been shot... It's never felt like this before."
"How do you know that's not a good thing?"
Kid didn't have the strength to explain further. He closed his eyes and his head rolled slightly to the left as he fell asleep.
"As much as it pains you to see him like this, Joshua, the pain is actually a good sign. It indicates the nerves are beginning to work again."
With Kid comfortable and sleeping soundly, Heyes went to the cafe for supper. When he was done and walked out of the cafe, he spied the Sheriff and deputies returning to town. They had Kid's mare with them.
"Find anything?" Heyes asked as the men tethered the horses to the post."
"We just may have," the Sheriff said. "Come inside and we'll talk.
Heyes followed the Sheriff into the jail.
"Your friend's horse hadn't wandered very far ."
"If he can ever ride again, he'll appreciate your bringing her back. I'll take care of the mare," Heyes said.
"We did find some tracks up there, going into and out of an area with a low lying ridge and within riffle range of where your friend was injured. One of the horse shoes had a chunk broken off. Made for a unique print in the dirt."
"Well, provided the shooter hasn't changed the shoe, that clue might be very helpful.
"How's your friend doing? Is he going to live?"
"It's beginning to look that way, but Doc says he's not in the clear yet."
"So we're likely looking at attempted murder rather than murder," the Sheriff said.
Heyes didn't reply. Knowing that he and Kid were both wanted dead or alive, it was unlikely that either charge would ever be filed.
"So we're looking for a horse with a broken shoe. I'll keep an eye out," Heyes said and walked out of the Sheriff's office.
Heyes led Kid's mare to the livery stable. When he led the horse into the stable, he saw that only the old man was inside. The boy was nowhere to be seen.
My partner's horse turned up," Heyes explained. "I need to board her. Would like to brush her down, too."
The old man looked up. "Brushes are over there on that table," he said, pointing a finger in the right direction. Heyes picked up a brush and led the mare to an empty stall. He removed the saddle, blanket, harness and bit and started brushing the mare. Heyes looked into the adjacent stalls. He looked about the other stalls. His own horse was four stalls down. There were only two other horses and they were in stalls side-by-side to Kid's mare.
Heyes saw the old man pull several long strips of leather from the wall where they were hanging and carry them out of the barn for better light to examine the reins. Quickly Heyes entered one and then the other stalls to check the shoes of both the horses. Sure enough, the pinto's right rear leg had a damaged shoe. There was not a chunk missing from the shoe, it was merely hammer dented, but the dent was deep enough to leave a foot print with a space near the center of the right side of the shoe.
Heyes looked for the old man and saw him still outside. He dropped the brush on the table and walked out of the barn.
"You working alone today?" Heyes asked.
" The rest of the week. Sent the boy to Bitter Springs for an axle."
"Boy got a name?" Heyes asked.
"Walter Findley. You got a reason for asking?"
"No, just curious. When do you expect him back?"
"Two or three days."
"Who owns those other two horses?" Heyes asked.
"One's mine and one belongs to the boy."
Which one is which?" Heyes asked.
"Got a reason for asking?"
Heyes forced a casual smile. "No, just admiring the pinto. I've always been a little partial to pintos. Thought someone might be willing to sell him"
"Pinto belongs to the boy. You can ask him when he gets back.
"I just may do that. Kid's mare will need some oats and water. Otherwise, she's set for the night. Thank you," Heyes said and headed back to the doctor's office. He decided to reveal his discovery after Lom Trevers arrived the next day.
Kid was awake around midnight. Heyes gave him water with pain medicine mixed in and he ate a few bites of warmed up stew. Heyes watched Kid slowly flexing the fingers of his left hand as he ate.
"Heyes... I still can't move anything but my left arm."
"Doc says give it a few more days. The nerve's got to heal. Swelling 's got to go down."
"What if this is it?
"Then I'll just take you out and shoot you," Heyes said jokingly.
Kid slowly nodded, seriously considering the possibility.
Heyes grew concerned. "Kid, I honestly believe the doctor is right. The movement will come back. It just takes time. You, I mean we, have to be patient. But if it doesn't come back, I won't leave you. We'll manage."
"I'll never be able to shoot again."
"Shoot left handed."
"From a wheelchair?"
Heyes smiled. "Fastest wheelchair gun in the west."
"I meant it when I said this feels different. … It felt like death."
Heyes looked into Kid's eyes and saw a fear he had never seen before. It worried him."
"Kid, it felt different because the damage was different. That just means the healing is different, too... Give it some time... Don't give up... I mean it, don't give up."
"Anybody here know who we are?"
Heyes smiled. "No," he assured Kid.
"Then why would somebody do this?"
"I'm working on that, Kid... Lom is coming tomorrow afternoon on the stage... He said he was talking to the governor today."
"About this?"
Heyes shrugged. "He didn't say why. "
Kid nodded. The medicine was taking effect again.
"That's enough, Heyes," Kid said and closed his eyes, giving in once again to sleep.
The next afternoon, Heyes met Lom at the stage depot.
"How's Kid?" Lom asked as they crossed the street to the hotel.
"He's showing some improvement. Doc says he'll live, just doesn't know how much he'll be able to do yet. So far, he can only move his left arm."
Lom winced. "I always figured something violent would happen to Kid... Reputation alone sees to that."
"Problem is, whoever done this don't seem to know he's Kid Curry. No one has come in to identify him. Sheriff ain't arrested no one."
They entered the hotel and Lom registered, requesting a room near Heyes'. Heyes had not slept in his room at all, but continued to pay for it. They went upstairs to Lom's room so Lom could drop of his baggage.
"Sheriff got any ideas on who did this?" Lom asked.
Heyes nodded. "One of the horse's shoes had an unusual marking, a dent in the side of the shoe... I think I found the horse over at the livery stable. I haven't told the sheriff yet."
"Who does it belong to?"
"Young fella that works at the livery. He's out of town for a few days."
"I think I'd like to see that horse shoe," Lom said. "And I think we'd better let the Sheriff in on this. We might want to remove that shoe, but we'll need witnesses so we can prove the shoe came from that horse."
"Okay. Want supper first?" Heyes asked.
"Better. We might be a little busy at the livery this evening."
As they crossed the street to the cafe, Dr. Bixler came running out of his office toward them. "Come quick, while he's still awake," the doctor shouted to Heyes.
Heyes and Lom exchanged worried glances and ran to the the doctor's office and into the room where Kid lay.
"What is it," Heyes asked. "What's wrong?"
"See for yourself.
Heyes walked quickly to Kid's bedside. Kid's eyes were closed.
"Kid, you alright ?"
Blue eyes opened and Kid looked at Heyes. He raised his right arm up toward Heyes who instinctively grabbed Kid's right hand. Kid squeezed Heyes' hand. "You were right. Look, I can move this arm."
Heyes smiled and laughed and looked at Lom and then the doctor, and then back to Kid. "See, Kid, Doc's right. It's just taking some time.
The doctor pulled back the blankets at Kid's feet, exposing Kid's toes. Heyes looked at Kid's feet and saw ten toes wiggle.
Kid and Heyes locked eyes and smiled. "That's wonderful, Kid," Heyes exclaimed.
"Hey, Lom," Kid said when Lom stepped into his line of vision.
"Hello Kid. Glad to see such good progress."
"Yea. It's been a bit of a worry to me."
"That's an understatement if I ever heard one," Heyes laughed.
"Maybe now you won't have to shoot me," Kid joked and "Lom and the doctor gave Heyes very concerned looks."
"Wasn't going to shoot him," Heyes explained. "Just let him think that so he wouldn't worry."
Lom and the doctor looked very puzzled, but Heyes didn't bother to explain any further.
"You hungry, Kid?" Heyes asked.
"Yea," Kid replied.
"Lom and I will go over to the cafe and bring supper back here. You want supper, Doc? Our treat," Heyes asked.
"A blue plate special will be fine," the doctor replied.
Heyes and Lom left and returned half an hour later with the food. The doctor had propped Kid up to a sitting position in the bed and wheeled a small try over to him for his plate and coffee. Kid was able to feed himself with only a couple of misguided spills. The activity tired him and he fell back to sleep having eaten about half his meal.
Dr. Bixler noticed Lom's badge.
"Are you a Sheriff?" he asked.
"I'm here as a friend who just happens to be a Sheriff," Lom explained
"Speaking of Sheriff, we'd better head over to the sheriff's office," Heyes said.
"Sheriff Tudley, this is Sheriff Lom Trevers, a friend of mine." Heyes explained as he and Lom walked into the sheriff's office. The two sheriffs shook hands.
"Joshua tells me you found some tracks," Lom said.
"That's right, odd marking on one shoe."
"I think I found the horse," Heyes said.
"Where?" Tudley asked
"Livery stable. Belongs to the boy who works there."
"That would be Walter Findley. He's a bit odd but never been in no trouble," Tudley said
"His pinto is there now. Got a dent in a shoe."
"Is Walter there?"
"No. Out of town for a couple of days."
"Well, let's go have a look at the shoe."
Heyes, Lom, and Tudley went to the liver stable
"Ike," Tudley said to the old man. "We need to look at that pinto over there."
"Why?"
"Official business."
The old man nodded and the three men walked over to the stall. Heyes entered and reached down and lifted the horse's rear right leg. Tudley and Lom stooped down to examine the shoe.
"That looks right for the prints I saw," Tudley said as he and Lom stood up. Heyes dropped the horse's leg.
"Ike, we need a pair of pliers. This pinto will be in need of a new shoe."
The old man brought pliers over. Heyes took them and proceeded to remove the shoe.
"What you doing that for?" Ike asked.
"Evidence, Ike. When do you expect the boy back.?"
"Couple of days."
"Don't tell him about this, and let me know when he gets back."
The old man looked puzzled but nodded.
Lom returned to the hotel for the night and Heyes went back to the doctor's office to sleep on the cot. Kid was still fast asleep so Heyes kicked off his boots, stripped to his long johns and Henley, and crawled into his cot. He slept soundly for the first time in days.
When Heyes woke the next morning, Kid was awake with his right knee flexed, creating a large lump in the bedding. He was watching Heyes and smiling broadly. Heyes smiled and shook his head. "What did I tell you, Kid, it just takes time."
"Yea. I'm even starting to feel better, finally," Kid replied. "Think doc will let us move into the hotel? I think a hot bath sounds good."
"You are feeling better. How's the other leg?"
" I can move it a little, the same way this one started."
"Doc will probably want you to be able to stand before he lets you move to the hotel, but we'll ask. It would keep us closer to Lom." Might keep you better protected when that boys gets back, Heyes thought, but didn't say out loud.
Lom arrived around nine with breakfast for everyone. They sat around Kid's room like they had done the evening before. Kid's appetite was back in full swing and he ate everything without spilling a bite.
By early afternoon Kid was moving both legs equally well. But the healing of the nerve brought on pain in his legs similar to the pain he had felt in his arm. Kid tried hard not to let on, but the pain would sometimes shoot down one or both legs and if anyone was in the room, Kid would turn his head away, grit his teeth, arch his back, and hold his breath. Occasionally a moan would slip though his lips. As the pain subsided, the tension in his body would ease and he would slowly relax into the mattress. Much as he tried, these movements did not escape Dr. Bixler or Heyes and one or both would be at his side offering pain powder and water.
"Kid, the medicine will help," Heyes coaxed.
"The medicine will put me to sleep. I've been sleeping enough, Joshua," Kid would retort. "Besides, apparently the pain means healing and that's something I want to do as quick as possible.
"People in pain don't heal as fast as people who are comfortable," Dr. Bixler explained.
By late afternoon, Kid was feeling exhausted and muscle sore and agreed to a half dose of the medicine. That dose dulled the lightening bolts shooting through his legs enough to reduce Kid's reaction to occasional wincing and teeth gritting and allowed him to stay awake.
"I'll take a full dose tonight,." Kid said, "For a good night's sleep... So much for the thought of a warm bath."
Lom had spent much of the afternoon with Sheriff Tudley. The two had ridden out to the house where the boy lived alone. They checked the door but it was locked. Lom looked inside the window. He saw a gun rack mounted on the wall that held eight riffles. All along the four walls were mounted animal trophies, rabbits, squirrels, a mountain lion, and a horse head.
"Fella likes shooting things," Lom said and Sheriff Tudley peaked into the window to see what Lom was talking about.
"Unfortunately a bunch of dead animals don't prove he shot your friend," Tudley replied
"Nope, but a horse head mounted does seem a little..."
"Sick?"
"I was thinking deranged." Lom replied. "Let's check out the barn."
The barn had no animals. It had the usual bales of hey, rakes, pitchfork, ect. Several harnesses hung on one wall. A work bench had several knives, thread, needles. Beside the bench was a large pile of sawdust.
"Stuffing animals seems to be a hobby," Tudley said.
"This fella from around here?" Lom asked
"Yep. Lived here all his life. Always been a little... odd, but never been in any serious trouble. Keeps to himself mostly?"
"Any friends?"
"Everybody in town knows who he is but I don't know of anyone that would call him a friend, except make the livery owner. The boy don't attend any dances, never seen him in church."
"I just can't figure out why someone honed in on Thaddeus," Lom said. "But, no sense hanging around here. Let's head back to town."
"Kid, did you have any encounter with the livery boy when you arrived or when you left town?"
Kid thought for a moment. "No, I don't think so," he replied
"Kid, when we first got to town and dropped the horses off, I recall talking to the old man, just casual conversation. You and the boy walked the horses to the stalls... Did he ask you about you gun?"
"Might have. I don't recall."
Heyes smiled. "I had a dream the other night that he commented to you about the way you wear your gun. Might have just been a dream, but, think hard, Kid I'm thinking maybe I heard the two of you in the background when I was talking to the old man. Maybe that's what prompted the dream. Think hard, Kid."
Kid thought for some time. "Wait, he didn't ask about my gun but he did comment about my riffle... He asked me if I liked to hunt. I told him only when necessary, that I wasn't very good with a riffle."
Kid squinted, trying to recall the conversation.
"He asked me what I like to shoot. I told him I don't like to shoot nothin. Then you called over to me asking if I was ready to go." Kid shrugged. "That's it."
"I bet I did hear that. I bet that's why I had that dream," Heyes replied.
"It's not proof, boys," Lom replied.
"You think it was that boy that shot me?" Kid asked "Heyes, I know I had my riffle when we left town, when I got shot. But how about when they brought the mare back to town? Was my riffle still there?"
"I don't know. It didn't occur to me to look."
"My horse ran off and was gone a couple of days. He could have gone back and taken it. Maybe he shot me for my riffle."
"Anything special about the riffle?" Lom asked. "Any markings to identify it as your riffle."
Kid smiled. "It's got four letters carved into the end of the stock. J.C.T.J."
"Your two monograms." Heyes said
Kid nodded.
"Boy's got at least eight riffles at his house, maybe another on one him. I think Sheriff Tudley and I will pay the boy a visit at his house when he gets back."
"Hell, that ain't a fancy or expensive riffle. He didn't have to almost kill me for it," Kid grumbled.
Heyes headed over to the livery stable. Sure enough, Kid's riffle sheath was empty.
Next day Lom visited Tudley's office and told him about Kid's riffle.
Kid woke feeling much better. The pain in his legs was gone.
"I'm ready to move over to the hotel," Kid announced to Dr. Bixler. "I need a hot bath."
"Let's see how strong your legs are first. Let's see if you are able to stand."
"I need my pants before I try that," Kid said emphatically.
"That's true, Doc. He's not a pretty sight naked," Heyes teased.
"Hey!" Kid protested. "You ain't seen me naked since we were kids skinny dipping in the river!"
Heyes smiled. "That's true. I'm just repeating what a lot of ladies have told me," Heyes said laughing. Kid shot him an indignant look. Kid would have shot an insult back to Heyes but refrained being that the doctor was present.
Heyes walked over to a hook on the wall and retrieved Kid's clothes and tossed them on Kid's bed. "Now, get dressed and we'll see how well you can stand."
While still in bed, Kid shimmied into his pants and buttoned the fly. He squirmed into his Henly and slid into his blue shirt. Buttoning the shirt tired his fingers but he managed the fine motor skill aptly.
Kid swung the sheet off and slowly moved his legs over the side of the bed as he sat up. "I need my boots, Joshua.
Heyes retrieved the boots and pushed and pulled them onto Kid's feet.
"You ready, son?" Dr. Bixler asked.
Kid nodded and Dr. Bixler motioned to Heyes to hold on to Kid's right arm while the doctor slid his arm under Kid's injured left arm and rested his hand on Kid's back. Kid took a glance at both men to see that they were ready and then began easing himself closer and closer to the edge of the bed until his feet were on the floor.
"Here we go," Kid said nervously.
Kid teetered a bit and both men held on tight.
"Okay, let's try walking," Dr. Bixler said.
Kid nodded and moved his right leg forward, then brought his left leg up parallel to the right. He sighed and smiled at the success.
"Keep going, Kid." Heyes instructed.
Kid nodded. They took a dozen slow steps. Turning around was a bit more challenging as the toe of one boot caught on the heel of the other, but with both men holding on to him, Kid was able to correct without much difficulty.
"That's fine son," Dr. Bixler said. "Now, going back, put one foot in front of the other with each step."
Kid nodded and stared at his feet, concentrating on doing as the doctor had instructed. When they reached the bed, Kid was able to turn without tangling his feet. He sat down on the bed and smiled proudly.
"So, can I move to the hotel today?" he asked.
Dr. Bixler nodded. "I'll fix you up with a cane and don't try walking without the cane and one person holding on to you. Understand?"
Kid nodded. "Joshua, order a bath for me tonight, okay?"
"Sure, Kid." Heyes said smiling.
Late in the afternoon, Kid moved to the hotel. Lom and Heyes held on to him crossing the street, Going up the stairs to the room was a slow and precarious process. The moved tired Kid. When they reached the room, Kid was ready to collapse but insisted on sitting in a chair. He wanted that bath and was afraid if he laid down on the bed he would fall fast asleep.
Half an hour after he arrived in the room, the bathtub arrived and a half hour after that the tub was filled with steamy hot water. Kid insisted that only Heyes help him into the tub so Lom retreated to his own room for an hour.
"Uh, guess the ladies were wrong," Heyes teased after Kid was safely in the tub. Kid splashed water on Heyes and rolled his eyes.
Heyes stretched out on his bed and picked up the book he'd been reading. "Let me know when your ready to get out," he told Kid.
Kid lounged in the tub until the water had cooled. He used one of the towels to dry his hair and then told Heyes he was ready. Getting out of the tub proved to be more of a challenge than getting in as Kid had to raise a leg over the side of the tub and plant a wet foot on the floor. But Heyes held on tightly and they managed to get Kid on the bed with a towel draped over his lap.
"I'll get Lom and we'll go pick up supper while you get dressed... Think you can manage?"
Kid nodded. "I'll manage just fine."
They returned half an hour later and found Kid fully dressed. He had even managed his boots.
"Heyes, why don't you play some poker tonight?" Kid suggested. "I'll be fine. I know I'm going to go right to sleep."
"I can check in on Kid from time to time if you want to do that, Heyes," Lom added.
Heyes smiled. He had been at Kid's side throughout the ordeal and an evening of poker and beer was quite enticing. "Thanks, Kid," he said with a smile.
Ir was Sheriff who saw the boy arriving back in town with an axle loaded on the back of the buckboard he was driving. Tudley immediately went over to the hotel to inform Lom of the boy's return. The two men stopped at the saloon to tell Heyes.
"When he heads home, we'll follow him. Once he's in his house, we'll pay him a visit and check out his riffles," Tudley said
Since Findley did not know Lom, it was Trevers who walked down the street to an area about half a block from the livery stable. He walked behind the corner building and found a spot where he could watch for the boy to leave. It was nearly two hours before the boy came riding out of the stable on his horse and headed down the road toward his home.
Lom notified Heyes and Tudley and the three men saddled up and headed out to the boy's home. They arrived just as the boy was walking from the barn to his house. He stopped when he saw Tudley with two men approaching.
"What can I do for you, Sheriff?" the boy asked as the three men dismounted and tethered their horses to the post.
"Think we best go inside, son," Tudley replied.
The boy nodded and headed for the house. Tudley, Lom, and Heyes followed.
"What's this all about?" the boy asked nervously
"Need to take a look at your riffles, son."
"Why?"
"Got a man at the doctor's office reporting his riffle stolen. His horse had been kept at the livery stable."
"What's he doing at the doctor's office?" the boy asked.
"Seems he was shot up pretty bad a few days ago. Riffle went missing."
"What makes you think it's here?"
"I'm checking out all possibilities. Seems the riffle has some special engraving so it won't be hard to identify."
It was Heyes who saw the subtle change in the boy's eyes. Heyes slowly moved away from Lom and Tudley so if the boy were to pull a gun on them, he would not have all three of them in the sights of his one pointed gun.
Instead, the boy nodded his head toward the riffle rack. "Help yourself, Sheriff. You won't find no stolen gun there."
Tudley walked over to the riffle rack and one by one, examined each riffle. "It's not here," he said.
"Better check the rest of the house," Lom said.
You and Mr. Smith do that. I'll keep an eye on Walter" Tudley said.
Heyes checked the bedroom while Lom checked the pantry. Both returned empty handed.
"Not in the house," Heyes said.
"Think we'd better check the barn," Lom replied and again Heyes saw a flicker of a change in the boy's eyes."
"Let's go out to the barn, son," Tudley said.
"What makes you think I stole it?" the boy asked as they walked toward the barn.
"Found tracks. Seems your horse was wearing an unusual shoe. Got witnesses that can identify that shoe was on your horse. Got the shoe as evidence now," Tudley explained.
Tudley continued to guard the boy. Lom checked the lower level of the barn, turning over bales of hey, checking stalls and cupboards.
Heyes could feel the boy's eyes watching him as he climbed the ladder to the loft. Using his feet, Heyes kicked up loose hey covering the loft floor. Suddenly he heard the sound of metal scraping the floor beneath the hey. Heyes reached down and dug into the hey until he felt the riffle. He pulled it up through the hey. Heyes drew his own gun and when he approached the edge of the loft, he pointed the gun directly at the boy. All three men below heard Heyes' gun cock and looked up. Heyes held his gun, pointed at the boy, in his right hand. In his left, he raised the riffle into the air and smiled triumphantly.
"Found it!"
Tudley pulled his handcuffs from his back pocket and Lom moved to guard the barn door.
"Turn around, son,"Tudley said. "You're under arrest for theft and attempted murder."
Heyes climbed down the ladder and handed Tudley the riffle.
"Initials are there, just like Thaddeus said they would be," Heyes said.
Heyes turned to the boy. "Why would you try to kill someone just for their riffle? You could have just stolen it when his horse was at the livery."
"I wasn't trying to kill him. Honest. I was gonna take the riffle from the livery but you two left town before I got the chance.. I was just trying to separate him from his horse."
Heyes glared at the boy. "You almost killed him. You almost paralyzed him. All for a lousy riffle. You're lucky my friend didn't die or you would have been hung, just for a riffle... And if you weren't hung, you would have met your fate at the hands of my gun."
"Joshua, that's enough," Lom cautioned.
Heyes' right hand formed into a tight fist that he could not bring himself to release. He covered the fist with his left hand and stepped away, turning his back on the boy, he nodded to Lom to let him know he could restrain himself.
"Come on, son. You're going to jail," Tudley said and grasped the boy's upper arm."
"Put him on my horse," Lom said. "I'll ride double with Mr. Smith.
"Better get your riffle off your horse, first," Heyes said to Lom.
"I know my job, Mr. Smith," Lom replied.
When they reached town, Lom helped Tudley to get the boy off his horse and locked in a cell. Heyes went directly to the hotel to tell Kid what had happened.
"Heyes," Kid said after hearing the story.
"Yea?"
"I don't know as I ever told you but... my pa gave me that riffle. I had the engraving put on it years later, but... it's important to me. It's the only thing I got that belonged to him.. I gave it to Clem for safe keeping when we got shipped to Valpo."
"No, you never told me that before. All these years I thought Clem bought it for you. Always puzzled me why she would do that, especially since you shoot a riffle so poorly."
Kid smiled. "Thank you, Heyes, for getting my riffle back."
"You won't be seeing it until after the trial you know?"
Kid nodded.
"And you'll have to testify at that trial to identify the riffle as yours."
"I know."
"I'll likely have to testify too, about finding the horse shoe that matched the prints."
"Yep."
"How about we treat Lom to supper tonight? He's been a big help."
"I got a better idea," Kid said. "How about you treat Lom and me to supper tonight? I ain't got no money, Heyes."
Heyes laughed. "Sure, Kid. It's a deal."