Heyes with his heart thumping loud in his ears followed his partner, with Emily close on his heels, as he ran down the main street. Just outside the house, Heyes grabbed the Kid by the shoulders before wrapping one arm round his chest and pulling him slightly off balance, effectively halting his progress. "Kid listen to me! We gotta be smart here! We go bursting in without a proper plan, who knows what'll happen!" Still keeping a tight grip on Curry, who was straining against his hold, he glanced over at Emily who was just behind them. "There some kind of backdoor?"

Emily her eyes wide nodded. "Tradesmen entrance. It's locked though."

"Heyes!" The Kid sounded frantic but thankfully he'd stopped pulling away. Heyes knew had he continued to struggle he'd have easily managed to free himself. It was obvious to Heyes that the only reason he'd stopped to listen at all, was due to the instinctive trust they had in each other. Heyes also understood very clearly that even that trust would only hold him back for so long. His harsh breathing and tightly bunched muscles showed just how much effort it was taking for him not to run into the house. Desperate to keep his partner from heading heedlessly into danger, Heyes kept his voice far calmer than he was actually feeling, conveying all the confidence and assurance he could muster. Which fortunately for them both,was a lot. "Kid, I've got a plan. First, I'm going to pick that back door lock, Emily will show me where it is, while you make sure Matlock don't come out the front." His preference would have been not to leave the Kid, as he wasn't entirely certain that he wouldn't just run into trouble regardless.

Heyes quickly bent down to peer at the lock. The gathering dusk still gave him enough light to see as much as he needed to and he made short work of opening it. He quickly turned to Emily who had been hovering a little nervously, but thankfully quietly just behind him. "You go and let Kid into the house. Make sure you stay with him! I'm going to sneak in this way and try to find your brother before Kid does."

Emily looked at him her eyes wide as she obviously realised the implication of what he was saying. "You think Jed would hurt or even kill James?"

"We both know Kid's no murderer Emily, but I sure don't want to risk a confrontation without least one of us two being there. Where's the best place to look?"

"Study or his bedroom." She laughed slightly. "You know where the study is. Bedroom is just up the hall on the right."

Heyes slipped into the house as Emily quickly headed round to the front door. As he hid in the shadows of the hall hesitating over which way to go, he saw Matlock walk out of the room that Emily had indicated was his bedroom and turn right. He was obviously heading towards the study. Heyes watched as he went out of sight, then heard the slightest snick of the front door opening and closing as Emily and the Kid entered the house. He waited for them to join him and whispered fiercely. "Study!"

Quietly they made their way to the study and Matlock didn't see or hear them enter, too intent on taking out a large amount of money from the safe. Heyes' eyes widened at the amount of it. The Kid took up a position by the back wall, hidden in shadow, as Emily stayed just outside the room. Heyes deliberately kicked the door, the sudden noise loud in the quiet house. Matlock jerked and looked up a gun already in his hand. His eyes locked with Heyes and he seemed ready to fire, when into the tense silence there came a loud click. "I wouldn't if I were you. I wouldn't need much excuse to use this."

Matlock pulled his gaze over to the Kid, lowering his gun as he said with a sneer. "Doesn't take much for you to show your true colors now does it? I hope your daughter turns out to be less of a criminal than you are or I will have to find painful ways to correct her."

Heyes knew exactly what was going to happen, but simply wasn't close to enough to prevent it. In one swift almost graceful movement, the Kid holstered his gun and flung himself on Matlock, punching him heedlessly and thudding Matlock's head repeatedly into the luckily carpeted floor.

Heyes yanked his partner off the bloodied form, gripping him tightly. The Kid was struggling so hard against his hold, that Heyes was very much afraid he wouldn't be able to keep him restrained for very long. Desperate to get through to him he hissed loudly in his ear. "Kid." There was no respite from the pulling away so Heyes tried again." Enough! Enough! C'mon Jed,he's done."

Heyes' use of his childhood name seemed to have had some effect, but still for a single terrifying moment, Heyes thought the Kid was going to draw, before he suddenly slumped against him as calm returned to his eyes. "Emily!"

They turned to look, but she was no longer at the door. The sound of rapid footsteps broke loudly into the house. The Sheriff with one of his two deputies their guns out, with Emily breathless behind them entered the room.

Matlock looking up from his position on the floor, coughed, spitting blood, his front teeth cracked and said. "Ahh good! Arrest these men. They broke into my home, endangering my sister and granddaughter. That man damn near killed me." He pointed over at the Kid his gaze triumphant as Curry groaned and shook his head. Heyes patted him awkwardly, not really sure what to say. He understood exactly why his partner had snapped, but trying to explain that to the law would likely challenge even his silver-tongue.

The Sheriff looked between the three of them his face grim as he said. "All I see is a Father trying to prevent his daughter being kidnapped. Mrs Hancock explained the situation and..." He trailed off and looked as the second deputy came up behind them. "And here is the evidence." The third man was carrying a travelling baby basket and three hurriedly packed bags, one of which was full of baby clothes.

Heyes found little sympathy for Matlock as he went suddenly pale and glanced over at Emily, his face a picture of betrayed anger as she said. "These men saved your life this afternoon, but you just couldn't back down. I don't like or even recognise the man you've become. And if Lily were here, neither would she."

The Sheriff hauled the suddenly silent Matlock to his feet and handcuffed him, before he and his deputies hustled him out of the room. Two days later he left town early in the morning on a private stage coach, with only Heyes and Curry to see him go. Emily had chosen not to bother.

As the stage disappeared out of town, Heyes turned to his partner. "Kid, you sure you're fine with no charges being pressed. Think if you'd insisted the Sheriff would've tried."

"I really just want to get on with me and Lizzie's life, Heyes. Him being gone and no more fussin' seems the best way to do that."

With that he started to walk away to the just opened restaurant for breakfast and Heyes followed, wondering a little at his partner's mood. He appeared surprisingly troubled for someone who'd just got exactly what they wanted. As they sat together waiting for their food, Heyes looked over at his friend who seemed miles away. "You all right, Kid? You're awful quiet."

The Kid looked up from his blank study of the tablecloth and shrugged. As he met Heyes' gaze, his eyes were slightly troubled."You know as well as me Heyes, if you hadn't stopped me, I probably woulda killed him. Mebbe that means Matlock was right about me."

Heyes wasn't surprised at his words. For all that Kid had a temper and a reckless streak a mile wide, there was nothing basically violent about his nature. Him attacking Matlock had obviously worried him just as much as it had worried Heyes at the time. But he'd had two days to think and knew exactly what to say to ease his partner's concerns. The words also had the virtue of being the simple truth. "Kid, like you told Spencer all those years ago, most men aren't saints. And while we ain't nowhere near perfect, there's a lot worse folk. Least we were honest crooks and now we aren't even crooks any more. You're a decent man Kid and Matlock would have realised that if he hadn't been such a jerk." Jerk being the mildest term Heyes could come up with.

The Kid's gaze darkened then cleared as he considered what Heyes had said. He took a breath, briefly touched the armband he still wore before smiling slightly and saying."Thanks. I think you probably got a point."

Heyes glad to see that his partner was willing to accept the truth of his words, patted his arm affectionately as the waitress came over with their food.

XXX

At the end of a particularly busy night, Heyes sat at the desk in the upstairs office tallying up the takings, as the Kid dozed in one of the chairs set against the wall with his feet up on the window bottom.

Heyes looked up and the Kid stirred as the door flung open and Emory entered practically humming with excitement, a rare sight in their boss.

He was carrying a sheaf of papers which he waved at them with a grin. "Now, listen up boys, I've got somethin' real important to tell you. I've been talking to the Doc and he tells me with my chest, I oughta not risk another winter out here. Seein' as I've been coughin' up a storm, even when it ain't bin damp, I figure he's right. So's I decided, the end of next month, I'm heading back to Californi.'"

Heyes glanced over at his partner, who was now sat up straight, fully awake and alert with a worried expression on his face. Both of them were aware that that there was a real possibility that any new owner or manager would object to having two notorious ex-outlaws on staff. Heyes didn't relish having to look for a new position. He enjoyed working at the saloon, it paid well, was varied enough that he was rarely bored and certainly wasn't hard on back, but he knew having a steady job was even more important to the Kid. The lack of one would negatively impact his chances of gaining full custody of his daughter. The calendar in the Kid's bedroom, with each day carefully crossed off, was a very visual reminder, as if they really needed one, that it was under two months before Aitken was due to make his final ruling.

Blakelock looked at them, before turning to the cabinet by the back wall where he kept the good liquor. He poured three glasses of what looked to Heyes like particularly expensive brandy. Heyes couldn't quite work out if this was a good or bad sign. Emory handed the Kid a drink before giving the second to Heyes at the same time as he handed Heyes the paper he'd put in his top pocket as he'd poured them drinks. Heyes was very glad he was sitting down when he read what they contained.

"Kid, get over here!" Heyes watched, his mind whirling slightly as the Kid stood quickly, almost tipping the chair in his haste to get up.

Contract of Sale

On the understanding that he is to receive ten percent (10%) of all annual profits from the business for as long as he lives, Emory Blakelock hasagreed to the transfer of ownership of all his business interests in Silver Springs excepting the newspaper to Mr Hannibal Heyes and Mr Jedidiah Curry.

If the above financial condition is not met, full ownership will legally revert back to Mr E Blakelock. However the expectation is that there will be no default and he has further agreed that on his death full ownership will transfer to the above mentioned Mr H Heyes and Mr J Curry.

Emory Blakelock: E. L Blakelock

Hannibal Heyes:

Jedidiah Curry:

Heyes looked up as he finished and saw his partner was just as dazed as he felt. The Kid cleared his throat, obviously a bit overcome as Heyes asked a little breathlessly "You sure about this Emory? It's an incredibly generous thing you're doing."

"Ain't never been surer, now will you just hurry up and sign? I got stuff I need to be doin'. We can work out the details tomorrow."

He handed them both a pen, before taking a sip of his drink that he'd picked up as they were reading, obviously considering the matter closed. With another astonished glance at each other and the paper on the desk, they quickly bent to sign the contract. After they'd signed they both took a large swallow out of their own glasses, which left them coughing slightly in reaction while Emory smiled at them in some amusement.

2 Months Later

Kid Curry glanced a little nervously at Emily who was looking very calm as they stood in front of Judge Aitken. He was pretty sure everything would be fine, but he was loathe to take anything for granted with how his luck sometimes ran. Maybe Aitken would consider that owning a saloon was not respectable enough to allow him full custody. He'd fretted about this to Heyes who had just looked at him shaking his head. "You worry too much."

Curry forcibly turned his attention from his worrying and looked at the judge who had finished reading and was looking at them benevolently. He smiled at them broadly as he said. "Well this all looks very impressive. I can see absolutely no reason why Mr Curry should not be awarded full custody of his daughter at this time. "

The Kid had intended to impress Aitken with his composure, but instead found himself whooping loudly. He spun on his heel and caught Emily in a tight hug, lifting her feet slightly off the ground as he swung her round. He finally let her go and turned back to the judge as Aitken cleared his throat. "A little decorum, please Mr Curry." But the amusement in his expression belied the words and left the Kid feeling less embarrassed then he might've been.

Jed barely heard the rest of what was said his mind whirling in relief and joy. Aitken finished speaking and shook his hand as he wished him luck.

The Kid felt a sudden presence beside him and turned towards it as he felt Emily look at him questioningly. He felt the briefest touch on his shoulder and could have sworn that out of the corner of his eye he saw the shadowy form of Lily smiling warmly at him. He blinked and the figure was gone as if it'd never been there at all. As they exited onto the street where Heyes stood waiting for them, he was convinced it'd simply been his imagination and decided not to mention anything to either Heyes or Emily. However the memory of her presence lingered for the rest of the day.