The Kid stayed where he was, fighting the stubborn urge to follow Heyes to prove that he was more than able to move. The bed was comfortable on his battered body and being totally honest with himself, he really wasn't that sure if he was capable of standing safely. He wasn't in the mood to land flat on his back by the bed and give Heyes the opportunity to grumble loudly about stubborn idiots as he picked him up. The Kid could easily picture the expression on his face as he did so- the look that despite everything still made him feel and sometimes react like an angry eleven year old.
So he lay still with his eyes closed trying to see beyond the short-lived satisfaction that shooting Matlock would bring him. He knew that wasn't the answer, but the deep almost incredulous anger raging through him was making it difficult for him to see a clear alternative.
Eventually the continued murmur of voices from behind the door pulled his mind away from trying to think straight. Feeling restless, he decided that he was willing to face Heyes' exasperation as curiosity overwhelmed caution. He carefully sat up on the edge of the bed and was relieved to find he didn't immediately have to lie back down. After a few more minutes and several deep painful breaths he managed to stand. He rested his hand on the side table while he got his balance and then semi shuffled his way to the door.
As he made his entrance into the living area and leaned carefully against the door frame, hoping it'd be enough to stop him toppling over, his eyes fell on the visitor and his heart jumped a little as his bleak mood lightened. Heyes looked at him with a smile and rather than making any comment on him being up, simply helped him into a chair at the table. Curry allowed the fussing, but as Heyes stood away from him with an unspoken question about how he was feeling on his face, the Kid chose not to answer him.
Heyes subdued a sigh and continuing to look at him with an expression of mild irritation. merely said. "Mrs Hancock," At a subtle cough from behind him, he laughed and glanced back before returning to look at him as he added. "Sorry Ma'am, Emily, was saying Lizzie woke up a bit grizzly. So she thought bringing her out here might settle her mood." Curry might usually have made some mildly irritated response when Heyes amusement in his both voice and expression nudged him gently and said. "Seems it's not just your eyes and appetite she got, Kid." But the words barely registered as most of his attention remained directed at the pram stood near Mrs Hancock.
Emily lifted Lizzie out to take her over to her father. She was warmly wrapped and her eyes were open and as the Kid watched, she seemed to look at him with a smile. Though Kid knew it was likely it was just his imagination, his mood lifted a little further.
Once she was carefully settled on his lap and Mrs Hancock had returned to her seat, the Kid went stroke her face. As he did so, she grabbed his little finger and placed it firmly in her mouth before promptly biting down, with what he assumed were her new teeth. Curry laughed and pulled her closer with his free arm and rocked her gently with his knees. He winced as the pain in his ribs spiked at the movement and his arms and knees began to shake. He gently removed his finger from Lizzie's mouth and with a reluctant sigh looked over at Emily. "I think you'd better take her Ma'am. I'm afraid of droppin' her." Emily nodded sadly as she came over to take Lizzie from him before sitting back in the chair by the fire, rocking her gently.
Curry watched in silence for a moment, before a wave of pain made the room tilt around him as his vision blurred. Clinging to the chair and table he managed to breathe around it, which was enough to stop himself falling. Even as the immediate danger of passing out eased, dizziness was still making his head spin and his whole body was throbbing in time with the thudding in his head. Conscious of being watched he looked up into Heyes' worried gaze. "I don't want to nag ya, Kid, but I think you'd be better off lying down."
"He's right, Jed, you don't look so good."
Curry looking between the two concerned faces and his little girl, found his throat tight. He looked down, embarrassed at just how close to tears he suddenly was. He cursed Matlock to hell and back for making him feel so helpless. He struggled to his feet and waved Heyes away with a growl as he turned away to walk back towards the bedroom.
At the door he turned to face Mrs Hancock. "I'm sorry Ma'am. I know he's your brother and I get that he lost Lily too. But you gotta understand, the only thing standin' between him and my gun is my little girl." He didn't wait for an answer or even risk meeting her eyes, unsure how much longer he could hang onto his composure. He entered his bedroom and shut the door firmly behind him before lying carefully on the bed. As his eyes fell on the damaged frame lying next to him, he was no longer able to stop the tears, even as he tried desperately to fight them.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed when an almost tentative knock on the door brought him out of what he supposed was sleep. He quickly wiped his face, hoping the dried tears wouldn't be too obvious and slowly pushed himself up the bed. There was no further noise so he called out, "You might as well come in, Heyes." He was a little surprised to see Mrs Hancock holding a sleeping Lizzie at the door with Heyes behind her right shoulder.
"Look, Jed," She stopped her gaze slipping away as she obviously struggled to find the right words. "Heyes told me about the money and what you want to do with it. But I think you ought to keep it and hire a lawyer." She stopped again her eyes bright with tears. "As I told you yesterday, I think what James is doing is wrong- but this." She nodded in Curry's direction obviously struggling against her anger so as not to wake the baby in her arms. "This is unforgivable. Now before you start fussing over the position I'm in. My dear Samuel left me more than enough to live on comfortably. James likes to play the great provider, and is liable to forget that I don't need his money. Now I'm going to bring Lizzie over, so you and her can sleep, while I help your friend tidy up the mess my idiot brother's people made."
She quickly did as she said and the Kid settled on his side gently pulling Lizzie close. He barely heard the door click shut as he was already more than half-asleep.
