Curry was pale with his skin tinged with blue before Heyes finally managed to persuade him to move. His own feet and hands were like ice blocks, but he'd at least taken the time to dress warmly- the Kid was only clad in thin pants and a lightweight shirt. Less than a week after Lily's death, he seemed either reluctant or unable to look after himself properly. Heyes thought he might have done better had he not been left with nothing to do but dwell. But he'd not been given the chance to find out.

Almost immediately after Lily had died, her father, James Matlock had insisted he, his sister and their friends would be more able to take care of Lily's body and tend to her daughter's needs than her husband. It'd been easy for him claim it was the best option with Curry still being so sick, but Heyes suspicious of his motives had tried to persuade the Kid's neighbours to help with the baby at least. He'd been very clear that he was more than willing to make sure everything was done right for Lily, but no one seemed to agree with him. Heyes knew people's reluctance to stand up to Matlock was due to how his wealth gave him so much influence in town, but he'd been more than ready to argue his point. He thought he'd likely even have shamed a couple of them into siding with him. But the Kid who'd obviously heard the discussion from the bedroom where he was sitting by the body of his wife had come out. He'd grasped Heyes gently by the shoulder and shook his head with a defeated shrug, his eyes pleading with him to let it drop. "Ain't no use Heyes, nothin' you say is gonna change enough of their minds to matter. I sure don't have the energy to argue with you or them."

Curry had looked so pale and exhausted, with grief etched in every inch of him, that Heyes had backed down, not wanting to make his pain any worse. His seemingly passive acceptance of what he knew was wrong, had bothered Heyes at the time and was still a concern. It was so unlike his partner. Heyes hoped it was just temporary, while he recovered his health, because Heyes needed him to be ready for the fight he was sure was coming.

The Kid hadn't even argued when Matlock had insisted he would make most of the arrangements. But yesterday, Heyes had gone into town himself and had managed to persuade the printer to his way of thinking about the wording on the memorial cards. He'd shown one to his partner, who'd managed the slightest upturn of lips. "Thanks, Heyes. If it'd been down to Matlock I doubt I'd have got a mention."

In Loving Memory of

Lily Rose Curry (nee Matlock)

Beloved Wife of Jed

Born: March 2 1864

Died: January 8 1890

Interred January 15 1890

The eternal God is your refuge

and His everlasting arms are under you.

The house, which had not long ago been so filled with light and laughter, was dark and quiet, the usual ticking of the clock absent- with its hands stilled at twelve minutes past ten. The curtains were closed and black cloth covered the mirrors. Heyes sighed at the public trappings of grief, angry that his friend was forced to experience them, with so little of the private solace that should have come too. As they stood together in the awful silence of room, the Kid's pain was almost a physical presence between them, which left Heyes struggling to know how to ease it. So instead he patted Curry on the arm and said gently. "I need something warm to drink, before my hands drop off. You want me to make you something too?" Kid gave him a distracted half nod, before sitting at the table to stare at the dark tablecloth as Heyes with a worried glance at him started to make the drinks.

XXX

On the day of the funeral Heyes who'd stayed with his friend the night before, just as he'd been doing most nights for the past week, woke early when dawn had hardly broken, to find that Curry had woken even earlier. Heyes in fact doubted that he'd even slept. A loud noise of shattering glass outside confirmed what Heyes had suspected. He hurriedly dressed and went out onto the porch to find Curry reloading. He sat down on the rocking chair to watch, the normalcy of it comforting somehow. After the Kid had finished smashing the remaining five bottles, as fast and accurate as ever, he twirled his gun back as if to return it to his holster but instead kept it in his hand and sat down on the front of the porch, with his left knee up and his chin resting on his open palm. His gun dangled loosely in his other hand. He half turned to greet Heyes a tiny smile on his lips. "You know, Lily used to sit right there and watch me too. I ain't never known anyone, other than you be so unimpressed and matter of fact about my fast gun."

"Well I never doubted she was smart, 'cept maybe when she agreed to marry you." Heyes wasn't sure if he'd caught Curry's mood right, but was rewarded by another brief but warm smile as Curry stood and headed back inside. Heyes hesitated briefly, taking a deep breath before following him and shutting the door firmly against the chill. Today was going to be hard and he hoped they'd get through it without incident.

He tried and failed to get the Kid to eat something, but was strangely relieved when his partner finally snapped. "Heyes, just stop fussing about my stomach and help me with this damn tie."

Preacher Albright, although a newcomer who had not really known her, spoke of Lily as if he did. He talked of her mischievous but kind and loving nature, he related fun anecdotes of her childhood and Heyes easily recognised the woman he'd known in those memories. He was pleased that the man had done his homework and searched out those who had loved her, although he had not approached her husband. Heyes suspected, no knew who was responsible for that omission. As the congregation bowed their heads to pray for her safe passage to heaven, he swore to himself that if he could find a way that did not damage his partner, that Matlock would not get away without some reckoning. Curry had not been asked,nor volunteered to give his own reading at the ceremony. As Heyes glanced over at him he was relieved to see that he did not appear to be unhappy at not speaking. He did tense when Matlock stood so Heyes patted his knee gently and felt him relax under the contact.

After the service and internment as they clustered in the church hall for the after service remembrance,most of the townsfolk congregated round Matlock and his sister offering their condolences and asking after Lizzie as if they were the chief mourners. Heyes was frustrated by the smug hypocrisy of it all.

Since her marriage Matlock and his sister had only seen Lily when she had made a trip into town. This meant they'd hardly spent any time with Lizzie before the grippe had taken her mother. Heyes for his part stuck to Curry's side as if pinned, while he plotted a way to ensure that his partner wasn't excluded from his daughter's life, while hopefully making James Matlock squirm. He glanced toward Curry who was standing by the door as if he was a sentry, the only sign that he wasn't made of stone was a compulsive clenching and unclenching of his hands. Heyes was surprised then, when Curry looked over at him and said in a harsh whisper. "I've got to get away from here, before I say or do something that'll just confirm to these folk that I'm every bit as bad as Matlock claims."