DEAD/ALIVE Chapter Twelve
"Ssh...Listen."
Startled, Heyes froze. He looked anxiously at Kid, remaining still as his ears strained to hear what his partner had heard. His free hand slowly inched towards his gun. After several moments Heyes whispered, "I don't hear nothing."
Kid smiled a broad smile, "Isn't it great?"
Heyes relaxed and laughed as his hand fell away from his holstered gun. "They'll be here shortly." He finished pulling his bandanna off and wrapped it around the metal handle of the coffee pot before refilling Kid's half empty cup and pouring himself a fresh one. He settled in next to Kid, and stretched his legs out. Their backs rested on a downed log as they clutched a cup of coffee, slowly sipping the hot liquid.
"I'll take peace and quiet wherever I can find it. Those two sure have made me appreciate the simpler things in life." Kid said.
"Can't say our lives have been so simple…And might be getting a lot more complicated soon"
The partner's faces grew serious.
"You still firm on your decision Kid? Cuz that's the direction we're headed. If you think we need to send Lom-."
"No," Kid said firmly, "Don't need to know. It won't change my opinion with what needs to be done. Has yours changed, Heyes?"
Heyes shook his head no. "But I don't have as much to lose as you." He said softly.
Joanie.
Kid's face took a pensive look. "I wonder how…" Kid said verbalizing what he wondered every day.
"With Soapy...You know how she's doing. He ain't going to let her go without anything she wants except…" He looked at Kid. "But I got an idea about that."
"An idea?"
"We head back to San Francisco for the winter. Easy money and Soapy is a generous employer. We made enough money to live pretty comfortable...and it would help ease your mind about Joanie."
"Good plan Heyes...I'll consider it...if we get out of Deadwood alive."
"If you have doubts…"
"No doubts. Just need to come up with a plan. If we were the murderous kind, it would make our planning a whole lot easier."
"Men like that don't scare. If you want to hurt them, it's what they hold more precious than life. Money...which brings power. We are going to take everything from him. Just need to work on the how. But we don't know what we're going to run into...might have to keep that option open."
"You've never killed a man, Heyes." Kid said quietly.
"Kid, I'm ready to do what's needed." His mind flashed to images of Kid's broken body laying on the bed in Jane's cabin. "No regrets," He said with conviction.
Kid had killed a man and knew better, there were always regrets.
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Kyle and Jane had finally caught up and eagerly ate their waiting meals. After eating, Jane laid her plate down beside her and eyed Heyes and Kid suspiciously. She had noticed the closer and closer they got to Deadwood, the quieter and more serious they had gotten.
"You two are as techy as a fucking teased snake. I think you two need some singing to cheer ya up." She took a long pull off her bottle and passed it to Kyle.
"Wet those fucking pipes up Monkey. You know how I hate singing alone. Pass it on to Joshua and Thaddeus. The more the fucking merrier."
Both Kid and Heyes were shaking their heads.
"We were kind of enjoying the peace and quiet…" Kid said.
"The hell! You two ain't been enjoying nothing. You've been getting more fucking sullen with each mile. I know what's fucking eating at you and you need to let it go for a while. So you all know 'Root Hog Or Die'?"
"Can't say we've heard that one," Heyes lied hoping it would change her mind about singing.
She leaned close, trying to look Heyes into his eyes. He turned away averting her stare.
"Why you fucking liar Joshua. Here Monkey, I'll start us out."
Jane began singing.
When I was young and pretty,
With a twinkle in my eye,
I met a travelin' man one day
And I guess he told me a lie
When we was a courting
He called me sugar pie
Now he calls me other names.
She paused and nodded to the two men.
"Here's your line boys...Don't fuck it up."
"It's root hog or die" Kid and Heyes' mumbled in a half hearted attempt at singing.
"That was fucking pathetic. You all sounded like a burro with a head cold. Come on Monkey show them how it's done."
Kyle dramatically cleared his throat and began singing with Jane.
Root, Hog or Die
Tell me the reason why
I met a travelin' man one day
And I guess he told me a lie
He asked me to get married
One cold day in July
But since the day we tied the knot
It's Root, Hog of Die
He promised that I'd get a 50/50 deal
But every time he buys a turnip
All I gets the heel
He always told me I'd always be the apple of his eye
But since I knocked his one eye out
It's Root, Hog or Die
My old man don't work at all
No he won't even try
If I don't work I'd starve to death
It's Root, Hog or Die
Now I ain't young and pretty
There's no twinkling in my eye
Cause since I met the travelin' man
It's Root, Hog or Die
Kid looked at Heyes who shook his head with a smile coming to his face as he reached for the bottle that Jane held out.
"If you can't beat them...I guess join them." He took a drink and passed it to Kid, who smiled and took the bottle from Heyes.
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They sat around the fire, each clutching a fresh cup of coffee except for Jane. She looked at them with disdain.
"Out drunk by a fucking woman. And you call yourselves men."
Heyes ignored her. "So what are your plans, Kyle? Our troubles in Deadwood don't concern you" said Heyes.
"I think I'm going to stay with Jane for awhile," Kyle said as he looked towards Jane.
Heyes raised a questioning eyebrow.
"You should have seen Monkey when I told him. He was as happy as a fucking pup with two tails. I told him he could stay...for awhile, but he better not think I'm going to be fucking nice or he is going to be sorely disappointed. Or thinking this is a permanent fucking arrangement with marital liberties. We ain't never going there." Jane looked Kyle straight in the eye. "Never."
Kyle quickly nodded without a word of protest.
"That's good, Kyle...but you be careful. That town is dangerous and unforgiving. You can't cross the wrong person without paying a price"
"I'll be with Jane. She'll keep me out of trouble." Kyle said confidently.
Kid snorted, "No disrespect Jane, but if you ain't noticed Kyle, she can't keep herself out of trouble."
"I'll disregard your fucking lack of confidence, Thaddeus….because you're...well you might be right."
"I'd better go check the horses while I still can." Kyle said standing on unsteady legs. Heyes stood and laid a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "I'm serious. You two be careful. Kid and my life would certainly not be as interesting if something were to happen to either one of you."
Kyle shuffled his feet with his head down. He looked up, his eyes were wet.
"Gosh Heyes, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Kyle threw himself at Heyes in an awkward hug that almost took Heyes' feet out from under him. Heyes' righted himself and patted Kyle clumsy on the back.
Jane looked at them with a disgusted look on her face.
"I swear I'm never seen so many men that wanted to fucking hug each other. Get it out of your system Monkey because if you fucking think your going to lay hands on me… Tell me Joshua, how did you and your gang get your fucking notorious reputations since you all seem busy hugging each other? Where did you find the time to rob fucking banks and trains?" She stood up, shaking her head as she walked away "I'll check the horses...wouldn't want to interrupt your fucking hugging."
DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA
It was dusk and with the fading light of day, the shadows in the alley kept them well hidden. They watched as a thong of seemingly endless customers filed in and out the doors of the Gem.
"You ready?" Heyes placed both hands on Kyle's shoulders and looked into his face.
"You have to do exactly what I tell you to do."
"Yeah you listen real fucking good Monkey." Jane said.
Kyle was enthusiastically nodding his head, "You can count on me Heyes."
"Do not talk to anyone. I just need you to get a quick look around and don't call attention to yourself. I need to know how many of Al's men are in there and where. Kyle...don't talk to anyone. No one." Heyes repeated.
Heyes slid back into the darkness of the alley with Jane and Kid as they watched Kyle enter the saloon with a group of cowboys.
Once in the saloon Kyle made his way towards the crowded bar. He waited until a space opened and he pushed to the bar. Johnny Burns was tending bar, trying frantically to keep up with the demands of thirsty rowdy customers. He impatiently nodded at Kyle,
"What can I get you?"
Kyle pointed at an open bottle of whiskey.
"Whiskey? You want a bottle or a shot? Mister...Just tell me…kinda busy here" Johnny said, exasperated. He suddenly stopped, "Sorry Mister…" Johnny looked apologetically at Kyle. "Didn't realize you was a mute. Here." He pushed a glass towards Kyle.
"THAT WILL BE TEN CENTS." Johnny said loudly.
Kyle opened his mouth to correct him, but he promised Heyes he wouldn't talk to anyone and promptly closed it, laid the money down and pushed away from the bar.
"Who the fuck you yelling at?" asked Al's right hand man Dan Dority as he reached behind the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey.
Johnny nodded his head in Kyle's direction.
"That poor fella there. He's a mute."
"So why the fuck are you yelling? Ain't like he's deaf ya dumb fuck." Dan walked away shaking his head.
It didn't take long for Kyle to figure out who Al was based on Heyes' description and all the "bowing and scraping" everyone was doing in his presence. But it did take a while for Kyle to figure out who Al's men were and who were just patrons. He downed his drink and headed back across the street to the alley to his waiting friends.
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Kyle had already entered thd Gem when they heard a familiar voice from behind them.
"Social call?"
They turned to find Doc glaring at them, making no attempt to hide his anger.
"I thought when you left town you would stay fucking gone. Appears I was wrong. By your undivided attention on the Gem I'm thinking you are not fully realizing the consequences of what you're about to do. You just don't fucking listen..Do you?" He said angrily "Should you need doctoring again, I'm letting you die...I'm telling you in advance…I'm letting you die."
"One hell of a fucking doctor you are." Jane said. "Fuck you Doc."
"I'm truly sorry you feel that way Doc, but we wouldn't have been put in the predicament if it weren't for a certain saloon owner and there are some things we can turn the other cheek, but this ain't one of them. The last few years we've been turning the other cheek more than either one of us liked." Kid met Heyes' eyes and nodded.
"Then I'm looking at two dead men," Doc said angrily as he pushed by them and headed in the opposite direction from the Gem.
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They had sent Jane and Kyle away hours ago. Although both had protested, Heyes had insisted it was their fight and their fight alone.
"Kid I think we're been overthinking this. Look at all those open windows... If we can get Al alone...I'm liking those odds a lot better."
Heyes had noticed a newly erected building with a broad colourful banner proclaiming it to be the new bank with its Grand Opening mere days away. Heyes had pointed it out to Kid earlier in the evening.
"Wonder what kind of safe Al has? You don't think it's a Brooker 404 do ya Heyes?"
Heyes thought for a moment "I don't think so. Judging by his watered down liquor, Al strikes me as a cheap son of a bitch. No way he is putting out that kind of money. I think he is too arrogant to think someone would steal from him."
"I guess we will find out soon enough."
They both rechecked their weapons and bullets in their gun belt.
"You once said this place was the evilest place you had ever seen." Heyes said.
"I did and it is." Kid said nodding his head.
"Well let's send part of this town back where it belongs." Heyes said as he holstered his gun.
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They waited in the darkness and well into the early morning hours before they quietly climbed to the second story balcony. Pinned against the building and in the shadows they stood still until Al's last visitor left and he turned the lamp low as readied for bed. Finally loud snoring told them it was time. The storm the day before had left the air hot and humid. Every window to his room was open, as the cloth curtains danced from the gentle breeze. Off in the distance the early morning sky occasionally lit up from lightning announcing another approaching storm.
Al woke to the cold barrel of Kid's gun pressed to his head. Heyes pressed a finger to his lips and shook his head. "Not a word."
Al struggled to an upright position. His eyes blazed with anger. Kid roughly grabbed him by the front of his long johns and dragged him to a chair, while Heyes kept his gun trained on him. Kid rummaged through the desk pulling out a gun and a knife in a leather sheath. He tucked the gun in his waistband, pocketed the knife. He pulled papers from the desk and handed them to Heyes. Al's dark eyes stared at them until they were almost black with rage.
"Do you know who the fuck I am?!" Al said through clenched teeth.
"The important question is, do you know the fuck we are?" said Heyes.
"Am I fucking suppose to know you?" Even with two guns pointed at him, there was no fear on the man's face. In fact he looked annoyed.
"No...We weren't important enough for you to get your hands dirty. Since you didn't bother to get acquainted with a proper introduction before you tried to kill us I thought we would introduce ourselves. You'll find we are the neighborly but not forgiving type. I want you to know exactly who is going to burn you to the ground
"I'm sure you didn't understand my fucking intention."
"I'm pretty sure we got the meaning."
"A short sighted observation."
"Now that's a matter of opinion. And since we're holding the guns, your opinion doesn't mean a damn."
"The safe is in the corner Heyes."
"Is it…?"
"Nope," Kid said with a smile.
Al raised an eyebrow. Safe? Heyes? "And I'm assuming you are the fucking illustrious Kid Curry?"
"I did promise introductions...rude of me. Yes, he is Kid Curry".
Kid touched the brim of his hat
"And I am Hannibal Heyes.
"My recollections don't include trying to separate two notorious outlaws from their fucking lives"
"Well you did. Shy of a year ago. Might remember a Smith and Jones. We don't normally go around using our real names for obvious reasons but for you we are going to make an exception."
"And we don't normally go around killing people neither but," Kid paused and gave Al a sinister grin. "Might be willing to make an exception there, too."
Smith and Jones? It sounded vaguely familiar. A year ago there had been a smallpox outbreak...smallpox...smallpox...E.B...hotel...The pieces had fallen into place except for the biggest piece which was that these two men should have been pig food. Heyes saw Al's face darken deeper with anger.
Heyes shook his head. Al appeared madder about the disobedience of his men than Kid and him ready to rob him blind and burn his saloon to the ground...or maybe even kill him.
"So I'm assuming you are looking for more than an apology?"
"Yeah...sorry ain't going to do it...but you can try."
"Sorry"
Heyes shook his head, "Nope didn't work for me. How about you, Kid?"
Kid shook his head no, "I didn't feel any sincerity."
Heyes turned his attention to the safe, which took mere minutes to open.
"You'd think with all that money you would have thought to buy a better safe."
"I'll make sure to put that at the top of my fucking list of things to do," Al said sarcastically.
Heyes began stacking the money and legal documents in front of the door until only two bundles of money remained. He tossed one to Kid, "For your pain and suffering... and mine." he said as he tucked a bundle inside his shirt. Heyes went to the windows and ripped the curtains down, and covered the stacks of money.
Kid cocked his gun and took a step closer to Al. He shook his head, "Hands on the table. Flat."
Heyes examined the walls. They were uncured rough cut lumber. Once the fire rapidly consumed the building and ignited the alcohol and fat from the fresh stored meat, there would be no stopping the inferno.
For a split second Kid's eyes flicked to Heyes giving Al time to flip his right hand over which concealed a derringer in his palm. Kid was on top of Al before he could get a shot off. He stuck him again and again across the face, then dragged him bloody back to the chair. He picked Al up and threw him angrily into it as Heyes held his gun on him.
"Hands flat on the table...face up," Kid snarled. He pulled the knife out and withdrew it from its sheath.
Al slowly placed his hands on the table. He was seething with rage.
"Light it Heyes."
Heyes struck the match on his pants and tossed it on the flammable pile, which instantly ignited.
Kid drove the knife into Al's left hand, pinning it to the table. Al's eyes widened in pain and let out a murderous howl. Moments later there was frantic shouting and heavy footsteps pounding up the stairs, but Heyes and Kid were already gone through the open window.
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Screams of fire and panic followed them as they dropped to the ground and raced to their waiting horses. They rode quickly out of town before stopping on a rise to see the fire light up the night sky. Throughout town, lamps were being lit as the town quickly came to life. Excited shouts could be heard from their vantage point and then a loud explosion as the fire ignited the cases of stored liquor. Heyes looked at Kid, who sat calmly on his horse watching the chaos play out below. There was a satisfied grin on his face. It took Heyes' a minute to catch his breath and calm his nerves. Kid met his eyes. "You okay?"
Heyes nodded his head. "When you knocked that derringer out of his hand-."
"See your life flash before your eyes?"
"Nope. But for a minute-."
"Believe me I wanted to Heyes. Took everything I had not to...but that would have been too easy."
They heard two riders coming quickly through the trees. They reholstered their guns when they saw it was. Jane and Kyle. They all watched silently for a moment, before Jane said almost in awe, "Damn near brings tears of joy to your eyes. About time someone made that cocksucker pay. And I'm proud it was my boys. Did you…?"
Heyes shook his head. "Thought did cross my mind and Thaddeus' too. Let's just say we left him a little impaired."
A slight smile touched Kid's lips.
"Glad you and Heyes got out in one piece." Kyle said slapping Kid on the back. He gave Heyes a nod and a big grin.
"Here, before we go..." Heyes said as he quickly pulled the bundle of money out from his shirt and handed it to Jane, while Kid handed his to Kyle. "This is for you two to live on. You have to promise me you won't be flashing it around and calling attention to yourselves or people will start wondering. No one can ever know. No one...you understand? Shouldn't be a problem with you finding a legal law abiding job neither Kyle...with all your expertise on blowing things up. You should be in high demand with all these miners."
"A legal law abiding job? Heyes I don't think I've had one my entire life. Does that mean I have to have an alias?"
"Nah…", Kid answered with a smile. "Ain't seen a wanted poster yet for a fella named Monkey."
Jane had been staring at the money, before she tried to hand it back to Heyes. "I don't want your fucking charity Joshua."
"It ain't charity and it ain't ours...It's Al's. So every time you spend a little of it...you can thank Al."
"Where you boys headed?" Kyle asked. There was a tinge of sadness in his voice.
"Anywhere but here. I've got some ideas but it's best you not know."
"You mean this might be the last time we see you and Kid?" Sadness filled his eyes. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. Jane had remained silent. She turned her face away from Kid and Heyes and pretended to watch the fire burning down below.
"Don't worry Kyle…," Heyes said in a reassuring tone. "I'm thinking our paths are destined to cross again. In fact, I'll take that bet."
They turned their horses to leave, but paused, "You take care." Heyes said as Kid nodded in agreement.
"Well if you are leaving, fucking leave already." Jane said.
"Yes Ma'am." Kid and Heyes said in unison as they spurred their horses into a gallop.
Behind them they heard Jane yell at the top of lungs, "I AIN'T MY FUCKING MOTHER"
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Author Notes: "Root Hog or Die" was a common catch phrase dating back to the early 1800's meaning "self-reliance". I found various lyrics for the song but the version I chose was by June Carter Cash.
There was a real Al Swearingen who owned the Gem. Interesting fact, the Gem burned to the ground not once, but three times.
As always, thanks to Kathy Knudson for her input, support and kick in the ass.
