DEAD/ALIVE - Chapter Fifteen
"Right there!" Heyes said standing in his stirrups pointing towards the opposite bank of the creek. "Honestly Kid, you don't see that?"
Kid shook his head no. Heyes sat down heavily in his saddle. He looked at Kid with an exasperated look that changed to concern.
"I'm getting worried about you?"
"Me? Why?"
"Ain't you noticed your eyesight ain't what it used to be."
"My eyesight is fine."
"No it ain't. If you can't see that beaver."
Kid snorted, "That ain't a beaver, it's a rock."
Heyes started shaking his head. " You know what your problem is…"
"No Heyes, but I'm sure you'll tell me whether I want to hear it or not."
"You ain't getting any…"
Kid cut him off, "Heyes...enough"
"But you know that can have an adverse effect on a man. Heard tell it can make ya go blind."
Kid snorted, "Where did you hear that? Or is it one you made up?"
"Nope," Heyes answered with confidence "A known medical fact."
"I ain't heard any doctor ever say that."
"No you never heard a doctor say that cuz they figured everyone knew that."
Kid held up his hand.
"Don't start it, Heyes. There is nothing wrong with my man parts. Never had a complaint...I always leave them with a smile."
"Well me too."
"Now Heyes," Kid said, cocking his head and rubbing a hand across his chin, "I distinctly remember a little gal in Leadville saying you were a 'racehorse'."
"Yeah...a racehorse. You know, high class-."
"I'm pretty sure that's not what she meant. More like a little too quick." Kid ignored the indignation on Heyes' face. "Heyes I have listened to you ramble on for years...endless miles...but this tops it."
"Kid, I'm only thinking of your well-being." Heyes' eyes trying to persuade his partner that he was being sincere.
"Here's to my well-being Heyes" as Kid's gun leapt to his hand and fired across the creek. The sound of a bullet ricocheting off a rock sounded loudly. He twirled his gun and slid it into his holster giving Heyes a triumphant look.
"Beaver." Kid snorted.
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Kid smiled as they continued on. "Beaver." Kid said laughing.
"Shut up Kid." Heyes said, looking away. There was nothing worse than a gloating Kid.
"So I guess you got two choices Heyes...according to your medical theory…" Kid said putting emphasis on the word theory, "Glasses or more whoring."
"Shut up Kid."
"Heyes when did you become such a sore loser?" Kid said laughing as he spurred his horse into a gallop.
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Kid wrapped his other hand around his cup and stared into the black liquid as they sat around the nightly campfire.
"Heyes, I've been thinking…,"He said as he raised his head to look at his partner.
"Thinking…" A smile started to curl the corners of Heyes' mouth.
"Hear me out." Kid said quickly. "Don't ya think it's kind of odd that when we was going for our amnesty we couldn't turn around without someone recognizing us? Before if we were in a room with four people at least three people would know who we was and the fourth had a pretty good idea. Now since giving up our law-abiding ways we ain't been recognized once."
"I noticed that," Heyes said. "Maybe folks heard the same lie we heard...being we got it." Heyes shrugged his shoulders, "Ain't going to argue if people want to keep believing it. But I ain't letting my guard down."
"Don't worry Heyes, me neither," Kid said, patting his gun.
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"You know Heyes I've been thinking…"
"Two nights in a row…"Heyes stopped when he saw Kid's serious expression. "Sorry," he quickly apologized.
"Do you not want me to be with Joanie?"
"Kid, what in the hell are you talking about?" Heyes said as he set his half empty coffee cup down. "Why would you say something like that? Ain't we riding half ways 'cross the country so you can…."
"Why you keep pushing me towards whores?"
"Didn't realize I was pushing...just doing what we always did."
"Well things change...maybe one of these trips to California...maybe I'll decide to stay." Kid looked Heyes in the eyes, "Is that what you are afraid of?"
Heyes snorted as if that were the most ridiculous question ever asked, "Of course…" He opened his mouth to finish his thought before he slowly closed his mouth and dropped his head. When he raised it, there was confusion on his face, then the realization that maybe Kid was right.
"Maybe you are right, " Heyes said slowly, but quickly added. "It was never my intent. You know how I feel about Joanie."
"I know, " Kid reassured his partner. "Guess it's kind of my fault being I'm not much of a talker and if I told you how much I think of her...well you'd get sick of hearing about her."
"Kid if you ever need to talk, you just talk. Can't keep that bottled up inside…"
"Make me go blind." Kid said with a big smile.
"Guess I'm the blind one." Heyes said returning Kid's smile.
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DENVER, COLORADO
Clementine Hale cautiously opened the door as she responded to the knock and poked her head out. Strong hands immediately grabbed her and lifted her off her feet. She was so startled, her scream stuck in her throat. She tried to muster up another when she saw familiar blue eyes staring back with a mischievous grin on the man's face.
Kid.
When he loosened his grip and set her down, she balled up fists and hit him repeatedly on his chest.
"Jed Curry, you ever do that...You scared the wits out of me!" She tried to work her face to convey anger, but her eyes twinkled. She blew at an errant piece of hair, then pushed it away from her face with a quick hand
"Where's-"
She felt someone tapping on her shoulder, quickly turned and jumped into Heyes' arms. They smothered each other in kisses until Kid tapped on Clem's shoulder. She purposely ignored him, refusing to turn around to face him.
"Come on Clem," Kid said, mustering up his best whine.
"I...don't...know." She said spacing her words in between kisses. "Seems...silly... to...reward...you...for...scaring...me...half...to...death."
"Now Clem…," Kid said using his best hurt voice.
"Well you know I could never be mad at you boys for too long." Clem said as she released Heyes and turned to face Kid. "But we'd better take this inside or the neighbors are going to think I've taken up a new profession."
Clem slipped her arm through each man's and led them into the house.
Both Heyes and Kid tossed their hats on the table and laid their saddlebags over a chair.
Clem watched them with her hands on her hips and a big smile on her face.
"So what brings my two favorite…" Her eyes narrowed, "It's not about the picture...", she asked suspiciously.
Both men shook their heads in unison.
"Clem can't we just come for a visit?" Heyes asked innocently.
"No!" Clem said quickly as she started to pace around the room. "Just you remember who you are talking to. You might have told yourself it's just a visit but I know how your mind works. It's never that simple. Never. So…" She stopped to face them.
"Clem honestly it's just a visit. If you wanted to frame that picture and display it on your mantle I...we...couldn't care less. Even drive the nail for you to hang it." Heyes said, looking at Kid to confirm what he was saying. Kid nodded his head in agreement.
"So it is true?" Clem said as her eyes brightened and a big smile crossed her face. "You did get your amnesty-"
"Not exactly," Heyes said, cutting her off.
"What does that mean?"
"We did...then we didn't."
Clem cocked her head with a perplexed look on her face.
"I can't explain politicians and their way of thinking."
"So you were wanted...weren't wanted and now you are?"
"I guess," Heyes said "Until they change their mind again."
"Well if you are wanted...Why don't you think the picture isn't important?"
Clem walked up to Heyes and peered into his face, then checked Kid's. She returned to Heyes and looked up into his eyes.
"I don't believe you." She finally said with conviction. "I think it's a trick. Pretend that the picture doesn't mean anything to you-."
"It's the truth Clem," Kid said, pulling a chair away from the table. "Do you think we could discuss this over some food?"
"So you come into my house to tell me lies and then expect me to cook for you?" She asked Kid incredulously, her eyes wide
"Well cook...yeah. Lies...no, cuz we ain't lying." Kid said.
Heyes had taken a seat beside his partner. "We're not Clem," Heyes said seriously. "Honestly just a visit before we head for California. Need to be there before Christmas."
"What's in California?" Clem said, taking a seat across from them.
Kid tore his attention away from the kitchen, and smiled as he looked at Heyes.
Heyes smiled, "Kid has someone he needs to get back to"
Someone? Her interest was piqued.
"Someone?" Clem asked, cocking her head.
"A special someone," said Heyes, nodding his head, noticing that Kid's cheeks had started to redden.
"Should I be jealous?"
"I'm jealous," Heyes said with a laugh.
"So it is serious…" A slow smile came to Clem's face. "Of all the women…Tell me about her. Her name...where you met...how you met…" She leaned across the table, her eyes wide and eager for more information.
"Clem if I told you the whole story before I eat, I'd starve to death," Kid said as he looked longingly towards the kitchen. "Food first, please."
"You'd better listen to him, Clem. You know Kid don't take his food eatin' lightly."
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Clem quickly set her fork down and pushed her plate away. Suddenly she felt sick to her stomach. Tears glistened in her eyes. She studied Kid's face first before she reached a trembling hand out and gently pushed some curls back and touched the scar on his head. Her eyes were filled with pain.
"Clem, it's okay." Kid said softly.
"I could have lost you two" Clem said in a hoarse whisper, as tears spilled down her face.
"Oh Sweetheart" Heyes said as he leaned close and wrapped an arm around her as she collapsed into him. "We're still here."
Clem looked up and sniffed loudly.
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Clem nestled into the pillows as Kid laid his head on her left shoulder and Heyes on the right. Her arms were wound tightly around each outlaw's arms. Clem turned her head from left to right. A broad smile across her face.
"This is nice...even if I still think you have ulterior motives." She sighed, "I do miss you boys when you are not around. I guess when we do get together it makes it that much more special…" Her voice trailed off, as she realized both men were fast asleep. She pushed herself deeper in the pillows and reluctantly closed her eyes.
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"She's gone," Heyes said to Kid as exited the bedroom. Kid was only wearing the bottoms of his long johns. He was bare chested and barefoot. He stretched, then rubbed his hand quickly through his hair as he took a seat opposite his partner. Heyes pushed the short handwritten note to Kid, poured a second cup of coffee and handed it to Kid.
"Don't say where. Couldn't have gone too far. Says she'll be back shortly."
"So how long you figure we should stay? If we want to make California before the weather turns…"
"Well…," Heyes stroked his chin before he answered. "Need to confirm with Soapy whether he still wants company with a telegram. Wouldn't be a bad idea to try and add to our money while we can. Never know what we are going to run into the further west we go.."
"You ain't talking about work…" Kid said making a face.
Heyes laughed, "The only work I was thinking about was telling the dealer how many cards I need and reaching across that table to get my winnings."
"Sounds like a good plan."
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