The Kid and Heyes sat in the small office that Brubaker had rented in slightly nervous silence as he checked the copied documents against the originals and made appropriate marks and stamps. Finally he looked up at them and said. "Should I ask where you got these from?"
Curry glanced over at his partner who smiled innocently at the lawyer as he studied them seriously. "Honestly Mr Brubaker? I think its best all round if you don't."
Brubaker snorted then replied dryly. "That's what I thought." He looked down at some notes he'd taken. "Now Mr Curry as I am sure you understand you've got the absolute right to custody. There is really little Mr Matlock can do legally to prevent you reclaiming your daughter right now."
The Kid laughed bitterly which made Heyes look at him in some concern. "Well I can hardly burst in there with my gun drawn and demand he return her." He briefly entertained the idea which brought a slight smile to his face. Heyes' soft chuckle beside him told him that his partner had just done the same. They both quickly sobered and Curry added with a sigh. " And if we do it another way without having somethin' to break Matlock's hold I ain't rightly sure that I'd survive his idea of retaliation." The Kid trailed off, the memory of just how much Matlock's response had cost him both physically and emotionally still a little raw. He knew that if he died with a bullet in his back or in some other mysterious accident, no-one but Heyes and maybe Emily would care. The law certainly wouldn't look too deeply into his death. Likely assuming it'd been the result of some revenge attack by someone he'd crossed.
Heyes probably aware of what was going through his head, gave him a reassuring smile before turning to their lawyer his face serious. "What it comes down to is this Mr Brubaker. You know our pasts and till recently anyways, we ain't exactly kept to an honest path. Whatever we come up with, Matlock's sure to find some way to make sure Kid don't keep custody."
Brubaker nodded in solemn agreement. "With what I've read in these documents and from what Mr Curry has experienced there is little doubt that all your fears are well-grounded. I presume you have some plan in mind for these documents you've..." He paused then and with a wry smile groped for a word before adding. "Procured."
"We're gonna publish 'em and let folk know the truth of him." The Kid added firmly, eager that he get their position clear from the start.
Brubaker frowned. "I wouldn't usually recommend such a course. At present though with the facts as they are, I'm unable to suggest a viable alternative. I will however read up on the relevant legal statutes to see if there is something else we can add to our arsenal."
Before either of them could reply the clock against the wall struck ten. Curry with a start realised if he didn't get moving he'd miss out on the delivery job he'd been offered. With cash so tight and him reluctant to ask Heyes for any money, he didn't think he could really afford not to do the job.
With all that in mind he stood, not exactly happy to be leaving before they had a clear plan. But he trusted Heyes and was certain between him and Brubaker they'd come up with something that worked without him being there. "I oughta get goin'." He looked over at Heyes with a nod. "Should be back before it's dark."
Curry made it to the ranch in good time and was surprised to see not the ranch foreman waiting for him at the ranch drive, but rather a small weasley looking man in an expensive looking suit who sneered at him as he slid off his horse. Ignoring Curry's proffered hand he sniffed and looked the Kid up and down as if he were some particularly unpleasant smell. "I'm Mr Simmons, the lawyer for Running K. Billings is busy tending to a horse about to foal and Mr Ogilvy is away on some other business. Which unfortunately means I'm left having to inform you of the job. I made it clear that I thought hiring a notorious gunslinger and disreputable ex-outlaw to deliver such sensitive documents was foolhardy at best." He paused and added grimly. "But as you can see I was overruled."
The Kid really wished he didn't need the job so much or he'd happily refuse it and shove the documents somewhere not mentioned in polite company, but he held his tongue and gritted his teeth as the man added. "I suppose due to the speed required, it does make some sense to hire someone used to riding fast enough to keep ahead of the law."
"The job?"Curry bit out the words fighting the urge to say something he'd regret.
"Ahh yes, the papers are to be taken to Mr Barton over at Stars Rock Ranch. You're to wait for his signature then return the completed documents back here. Think you can manage that?"
Somehow that final condescension and the poorly concealed distaste was the last straw for the Kid. He let his right hand rest briefly on his gun before he crossed both arms across his chest and moved into a deliberately aggressive stance. He allowed just the hint of bite in his tone as he replied with a drawl. "Well Mr Simmons, as it don't involve shootin' or robbin' I ain't exactly sure. Though I s'pose I can always pretend there's a posse on my tail to help me figure it out."
The lawyer stiffened and his supercilious expression turned into a glare. Curry sighed internally, annoyed that he'd let the silly little man get to him. He really needed whatever money he was going to be offered and he should have been able to withstand the taunting. It was far less trying than what he'd been through lately, but it was too late to back down. He could almost see Heyes rolling his eyes at him.
Fortunately after a few moments of pointed silence, Simmons managed a pencil thin smile. "I guess I deserved that Mr Curry. Mr Ogilvy will pay you $50 with a $10 bonus, if the signed paperwork is back here before close of business." He handed over a small pouch of documents which the Kid carefully stowed in his jacket pocket. With a slight tip of his hat he remounted his horse and rode off before he could say anything else that might get him into trouble.
On arrival at his destination, Barton greeted him with an easy smile and strong handshake as he said. "You look like a man in need of a sit down and cold drink. Come into the kitchen and rest a bit while I read through these and make sure everything is in order before I sign."
Removing his hat and wiping his forehead the Kid followed Barton gratefully into the pleasantly cool interior, conscious of his stretched muscles and throbbing bruises. As he accepted a glass of lemonade and was waved to a seat he said by way of explanation at Barton's slightly amused expression when he winced slightly. "I'm a little out of practice." He sat with a grateful sigh and stretched his legs out in front as the man started to carefully read the documents.
He made it back to Running K well before close of business and handed Simmons the signed documents, which he took out of the pouch noting the appropriate signatures.
"I suppose you expect some thanks and appreciation."
Curry shook his head. "No, Mr Simmons, I don't expect miracles, but I sure would appreciate you paying me what was promised."
Simmons handed him the money with a reluctant smile as he too shook his head in reluctant admiration. "Nothing much phases you does it Mr Curry?"
The Kid tipped his hat, but didn't bother to answer, thinking as he rode off that he wished that what the man had said was as true as it once had been.
When he arrived back in town, he was more than ready for some decent food that neither he or Heyes had cooked and a cold beer not necessarily in that order. He ran into Emily coming out of the general store as he headed to see if his partner wanted to join him. She stopped him with a slightly anxious smile and he was suddenly worried that something was wrong with Lizzie, but she recognised the concern on his face and shook her head. "Lizzie's just fine, but I saw Heyes about half an hour ago coming out of the newspaper office. James is back tomorrow on the 9am stage. I think you should let me return those documents that you didn't take from his study before he gets home."
Curry opened his mouth to deny everything, but then something clicked in his head. "It was you I heard outside the door that night!" He was somehow relieved it hadn't just been nerves but also felt a huge sense of regret."I wish you hadn't got involved in this side of things, Emily."
She smiled gently at him. "I wish it hadn't come to this at all, but it has, so we've got do the best we can. Drop them off at the house this evening all right? 7.00pm, I'll make sure I answer the door myself. Lizzie should still be awake when you visit."
He arrived promptly at the suggested time with the documents carefully concealed in his jacket. Emily smiled at him as he handed her the sheaf of papers in the hallway. "Lizzie's in the main room. Go say hello while I put these away safely."
He spent an enjoyable half hour with his daughter before reluctantly deciding it was time to leave. As he stood at the door, hat in hand he tried to express how grateful he was, wishing he had Heyes' way with words. But she waved his efforts away with a slightly sad smile. "James didn't leave me any choice, Jed. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
The next morning the Kid was cleaning his gun and Heyes was reading the newspaper when they heard the noise of something coming through the letterbox. There was no smell of burning or anything else unpleasant as Curry cautiously made his way down the stairs. There was an official looking packet lying on the ground and the Kid knew it was Matlock's next move before he'd even seen it clearly.
At the bottom of the stairs he bent down to pick it up with as much eagerness as he would approach a bottle of nitro. He carefully opened the envelope and sighed as he read the enclosed documents. He looked up at Heyes who was stood halfway up the stairs watching him. "He's filed a request for full custody. On the grounds of my." He glanced down again at the words. "Moral deficiency." Curry snorted at that. "He oughta think about his own! We got two weeks Heyes, that's when the circuit judge arrives." Curry sighed as some of the confidence which had returned over the last couple of weeks, ebbed away as he dwelt on the fact that he had no house, no job and very few prospects. Making an effort not to think too much on the negative side, he dragged his eyes back up to his partner who had come to stand behind him and handed him the paper.
The Kid was a little surprised to see a gleam of something close to glee in Heyes' eyes when he eventually looked up from reading."I know it doesn't seem long, Kid, but this time if we play it right I think he's just made a big mistake." Curry opened his mouth to ask exactly how this was a good thing, at the same time as Heyes held up his hand with a grin. "Now before you start arguing hear me out."
