Heyes looked anxiously at his pocket watch, the Kid was late by nearly half an hour. He'd just about decided to leave to find the Kid and haul him bodily into town if necessary when the cafe door opened and Curry entered. He didn't see Heyes straight away, which allowed time for Heyes to study him without being glared at. Heyes thought he looked thin and tired, but then that was hardly unexpected. With Lily's cooking he'd gained weight and Heyes had been unable to resist teasing him over it- but he'd lost whatever he'd gained and more in the last two months. Before he could notice much else Curry saw him and with an apologetic smile came over to the table. "I'm sorry Heyes. I lost track. Sure hope we still got time to eat, I'm hungry."

Heyes couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm,while being aware of the irony of how those two words, a constant irritant to him through most of their lives, could at this point make him so happy. Curry took off his hat and laid it on the table and as he did so, Heyes caught sight of his hands. They were bruised, with nearly every finger wrapped with a cotton strip and there was a loosely tied bandage on his palm spotted with a small amount of blood.

Heyes hid his sudden worry, wondering if Curry's return of appetite was actually a sign of trouble. He could only think of a few people his partner would get into a fight with-Matlock or one of his cronies topping the list. He really hoped Curry hadn't got into something that would involve him needing bail money, although all things considered he wouldn't exactly blame him. But it would be a complication they could do without. He nervously looked round, half-expecting the Sheriff to enter. "You bin fighting, Kid?"

Curry who'd sat down by the time Heyes looked back at him, blinked at the words, his face showing a degree of puzzlement that threatened to turn into irritation. But then his expression cleared and he looked down at his hands. With a laugh he said. "Stop fretting Heyes. Only thing I been battling with is a roof. I beat it, finally. It's why I'm late."

Heyes breathed a quiet sigh of relief and caught the attention of the young woman serving. As they ate Heyes had to occasionally stop himself asking after Lily and Lizzie. It almost felt like every other time they'd eaten out together in the last year or so. But then he'd catch the weariness in Curry's face and his eyes would fall on the black armband and he'd curse himself for forgetting even briefly.

With a contented sigh, the Kid pushed away his not quite quarter full plate and met Heyes' gaze, daring him to comment. Heyes was just deciding how to respond when the same young pretty woman who'd served them, came to take their plates.

"Anything else gentlemen?"

The Kid shook his head, "No thanks Ma'am. That was mighty tasty." He smiled at her and her cheeks flushed. It was obvious to Heyes that for once Curry wasn't aware of the effect he was having.

Heyes caught a hint of disappointment on her face when the Kid made no more effort to engage her in conversation. Heyes knew precisely when she saw the mourning band on his arm as her face took on a look of sympathy. When she turned her attention to him Heyes smiled and winked at her which brought another attractive blush to her cheeks. She smiled at him as he said. "So" He squinted at the name badge pinned to her dress Miss Emily, what's the pie today?"

Her grin broadened as she started to tell him. The noise of the door opening caught both their attention though Curry didn't notice as he sipped his coffee. Heyes glanced over to see Matlock enter. The girl shot him a nervous look, either she'd figured out who who they were, or had simply noticed the sudden tension. He nodded at her to go, knowing this wouldn't be pretty. Whatever was in his expression made her quickly pick up the plates and retreat to the counter at the back.

Heyes swallowed hard as the man saw them and started to walk towards their table. Curry finally noticed something was up and turned to follow his gaze. His face hardened and his body stiffened as he realised who it was. He muttered something that Heyes didn't catch and turned to gaze at the brightly patterned table cloth. Heyes looking down at his hands saw that he'd interlinked them so tightly they were white.

Matlock came round to stand in the middle of the table and glared at them both before settling on Curry with a sneer curling his lip.

Heyes could see what it was costing Curry not to react, in the tightness of his neck and shoulders and the determined way in which still didn't look up. Heyes could feel his anger spiking too, but said as calmly as possible. "We're just finishing up here. All set to leave." He hated having to appear to give into the man, but could see no positives in forcing a confrontation.

Matlock looked at him and said coldly " Well it's good I caught you then. Meeting you here saves me a trip." With that he reached into his pocket and pulled out an official looking paper which he unfolded and slapped down in front of Curry who looked at it with the same expression he might've eyed a rattler about to strike. "As you can see, I bought your loan, which is two months in arrears. This document demands full payment, or the land and all that stands on it will be forfeit."

Heyes knew exactly what was going to happen and started to reach for his partner's arm to prevent it, but missed. In a sudden flash of movement Curry pushed back his chair and turned to face Matlock with his hands clenched. Heyes stood but was too late to stop the Kid's fist connecting with Matlock's mouth. The blow drew blood and as he looked about to swing again, Heyes pulled him back with a hissed, "Kid, he's not worth it!" After a brief struggle Curry relaxed into his grip before pulling away and stalking out of the cafe.

The loud bang of the door as it slammed, seemed to break the shocked customers out of their stunned silence and a number of loud conversations started up. Heyes looked over at Matlock and was surprised to find he was smiling as he wiped his mouth. "Doesn't take much for him to show his true colors. Now if only Lily was here to see that, she'd have known I was right all along. Lizzie is far better off with me. The further away that man is from my remaining family the better."

Heyes had to fight the urge to punch the smug expression off Matlock's face and instead said coldly. "I've come across some lowlifes in my time, but there's only been one I really hated. You've just made it two. Consider your cards marked Mr Matlock."

"Is that a threat Mr Heyes?"

"Only in so far as it's a statement of intent." He kept his voice level despite the rage that was coursing through him, but knew his tone was dark by the slight shadow of fear that crossed Matlock's face. Good he thought, let the man worry, he had cause to. He turned to pick up his hat and placed it on his head before turning back to add. "The last man we hated ended up dead. But I think that's too easy for you. "

Before Matlock could find his tongue, Heyes grabbed the Kid's abandoned hat and picked up the offending document. With a final tip of his hat to rest of the customers, who had been watching the confrontation eagerly but with feigned disinterest and a cold stare at Matlock, he walked calmly to the door and exited without looking back.

Once out on the street he looked up and down. When he didn't immediately see his partner he wondered if he should check the saloon. It also occurred to him that the Kid as angry as he'd been could easily have just walked heedlessly out of town. Hesitating for a moment, undecided as to where to look, he was relieved when he spotted a figure sat on the ground his back up against the wooden archway that signalled you were entering "Silver Springs."

He strode over to his partner and handed him his hat. Curry took it but seemed unable or unwilling to react further. Heyes removed his own hat and brushing a hand through his hair sat down next to him and said lightly. "Well least you haven't added too many bruises and that bandage means I don't need to wrap your hand."

Curry didn't respond to his levity and simply stared at the hat in his hands as if it might hold the answer to everything. He sighed and without looking at Heyes said softly. "When I married Lily and after Lizzie was born, I could suddenly see this whole bright future stretchin' out in front of me. Now with Lily gone, Lizzie out of reach and about to lose the house. I can't see much past tomorrow."

The absolute misery in his tone brought a burning to Heyes' eyes and he could find nothing helpful to say, so merely rested his hand gently on Curry's thigh as they sat in silence. The one thing clear in Heyes' mind was that James Matlock would pay.