DEAD/ALIVE - Chapter Thirty Seven

Once Kid heard the bedroom door close, he rolled back and stared at the ceiling.

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Heyes and Clem looked up quickly when the bedroom door finally opened and Kid emerged.

Clem started to get out of her chair, but paused to look at Heyes. Her worried expression asking his permission to go to Kid. Shaking off his warning look with a defiant shake of her head, she went to Kid and stood in front of him as if afraid to touch him.

Kid gave her a weak smile, and pulled her close. She instantly melted into his arms.

"My Clem" he said softly and kissed the top of her head.

"Always," she whispered before reluctantly breaking the embrace. "You hungry?"

He nodded.

She hurried over to the stove to start cooking. "Bacon? Eggs? Flapjacks?" She asked as she pulled the apron tight and knotted it behind her back. By his expression, she was asking too many questions, "You just eat whatever you want. Okay?"

Heyes' eyes followed Kid to the seat across from him. He poured a cup of coffee and pushed it to his partner.

"Stop staring Heyes. I'm fine." Kid said, before taking a small sip.

"You don't look fine."Heyes whispered. "You look like shit."

"Thanks," Kid said sarcastically.

They stopped when Clementine placed a plate of bread and jam on the table in front of them, then hurried to retrieve plates and utensils.

"I'm just saying…" Heyes added quickly.

"Well stop saying," Kid knew what Heyes was trying to do and he really wasn't in the mood to play one of Heyes' games. Of course he knew he wasn't "fine" and pushing him to let his feelings out wasn't going to help or be pretty.

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With their money running out, they would have to make a decision sooner rather than later about employment.

Clem had begged them to stay longer, but they politely refused, promising to be better about staying in touch. They initially thought getting away from people would help, but after a month of fruitless panning for gold Kid realized what a mistake it had been. It had allowed him too much time to think and the relationship between the two partners quickly became strained.

Hard labor.

Much to Heyes' objections, Kid decided he wanted to work so hard and be so exhausted he wouldn't have time to think. He picked a job working alongside the mostly Chinese workers who were helping lay a new line for the Denver Pacific Railroad. He told Heyes he didn't need to take the job with him.

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Kid felt sorry for Heyes working beside him, as he looked at his partner drenched in sweat.

Heyes had his blue bandana wrapped around his forehead trying to keep the sweat from running into his eyes and stinging them. He straightened and balled two fists into his lower back and groaned. Heyes ripped the bandana off, grabbed his canteen and drank long and deep, before pouring some over his head. He shook the excess water out of his hair, then slicked it back with one hand and replaced the wet bandana. With a sigh, he grabbed the shovel again.

He looked miserable.

At nights, instead of going into the railcars provided to the white workers, Kid would go outside and sleep in a tent provided for the Chinese workers. But hearing Chinese made him think of San Francisco, which made him think of Joanie which made him miserable. He tried to push her from his mind, but it was always futile.

As most nights, he gave up and wondered how she was and what she was doing.

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Heyes saw Kid's eyes quickly darken. It wasn't his intention to make his partner angry.

"Kid…I…" he said wearily.

Kid's expression immediately softened,

"Heyes," he placed a hand on his partner's shoulder. "I know you're trying to help, but stop trying to fix things you can't fix no matter how hard you try…I just need time."

"But it's been six months…," he stopped when he saw Kid's expression. "It's just hard to see you like this and not be able to help. I mean what kind of friend…"

"The best," Kid said with a small smile. "You're still here."

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They had been riding side by side. The spring day was beautiful and sunny with a light breeze keeping it from becoming too hot. Kid's eyes were half closed as his head bobbed with every rhythmic step of his horse.

Heyes said, "Kid, I didn't mean it."

"Mean what?" Kid mumbled from under his hat.

"What I said back there."

"What did you say?"

"You trying to get me to say it all over again?

"No." Kid said, straightening in his saddle.

"Well it sure sounds like you're trying to get me to say it again."

"Well I ain't." He had pushed his hat back and looked at his partner.

"Well I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want Heyes." Heyes could hear the anger starting to build.

"I will."

"You always do."

"You saying I'm stubborn?"

"You said it, I didn't!"

"So you're saying I'm stubborn?"

"I didn't say it…you did".

"So what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing! Not a damn thing!" Kid reined his horse to a stop.

"By saying that I know…" Heyes stopped his horse beside his partner.

"You don't know nothing!"

"You saying I'm dumb?"

"I didn't say it."

"You said I don't know nothing. Sure sounds like you are calling me dumb."

"Did I use the word dumb?!"

"No, but there are other ways of saying the same thing."

"You know Heyes…You make my head hurt…You," Kid stopped when he saw the twinkle in his partner's eyes and a smile starting to turn up the corners of his mouth.

"Damn you Heyes," Kid said with a laugh. "Damn you."

Heyes knew it was a small step, but he would take it. Everything seemed to be slowly getting back to normal…

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Heyes tried to finish buttoning the final buttons on his shirt, but the whore was making it difficult. He shook off her embrace as he got the last button done and threw his vest on as he hurried to the door.

"Lily," he said with a nod, as he slammed his hat onto his head and grabbed his other boot. He hopped on one foot as he tried to pull it on, making his way to the staircase.

Heyes quickly scanned the saloon crowd below but didn't see Kid. He had left him sitting at the corner table alone. He wasn't gone that long, the whore had only lit two candles…or was it three? Fourteen minutes or twenty one minutes he should still be there. He hurried up to the bartender.

"You remember that fella I was with? Blonde hair, blue–."

The man nodded.

"You see where he went?"

The man nodded again.

Heyes looked exasperated, "Well…Where?!"

"Upstairs."

"Upstairs where?"

"I don't know…I think Molly took him up to her room. I got drinks to serve Mister…not keep track of who is poking who. You need a drink?"

A relieved Heyes returned to the corner table with a bottle and fresh glasses and waited.

When Kid returned, Heyes met him with a big grin and slapped him enthusiastically on the back.

"Stop it Heyes," Kid growled before pulling the drink towards him with his head bowed.

Guilt and pleasure had been seesawing inside of him. "You happy now?"

Heyes looked confused, "Well…yeah…at least you ain't going to go blind."

Kid couldn't tell Heyes guilt had won out.

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Heyes selected a copy of the Californian from the papers he had found at the Kansas hotel and began reading them as he waited for Kid to finish eating. He casually read the first page then turned to the second, when an article caught his attention. He quickly straightened in his chair and raised the paper so he could get a better look. Heyes looked over the paper trying to see if Kid was watching him, but was relieved to find him focused on his food. Heyes slowly lowered the paper and quickly folded it, setting it on top of an empty chair under the tablecloth. As Heyes was reaching for his cup of coffee he noticed Kid staring at him.

"You going to show me what got you so excited in that paper?" Kid said, chewing his last bite of food. He set his fork down and resumed staring at Heyes.

"It's something you don't need to see."

"Let me be the judge."

"Kid…"Heyes said softly with concern, "Don't."

"Now I really need to see it."

Heyes closed his eyes and sighed, before grabbing the paper off the chair and sliding it to his partner.

"Second page. You can't miss it."

Kid wiped his hand on his napkin and pushed his plate away before reaching for the paper and spreading it on the table. When he opened the paper to the second page, he froze.

"I warned you."

It was an article about Soapy and his primary heir - J. S Saunders, his "adopted" daughter and family. Soapy had been in poor health and it appeared that his heirs would soon be inheriting his vast fortune. Accompanying the article was a picture of Joanie, who was obviously uncomfortable about having her picture taken. Her face was well hidden by a large hat and the angle of the picture, but both men knew it was her.

Kid focused his attention on her hands. Even though the black and white picture was grainy, Kid could still make out the emerald ring on her right hand. There was no ring on her left. Kid stared at the picture, while his finger moved unconsciously up and down the photo. He had a sad look on his face as he carefully reread the article and looked up to Heyes, searching for answers.

"Family? What family?" Kid asked. "Joanie ain't wearing a wedding ring…and Soapy had no relatives…Maybe it was referring to his employees?"

Heyes shrugged his shoulders.

Kid reached for the other old papers and began quickly looking through them.

"This paper is dated over three …almost four weeks ago." Heyes said, "I'm going to San Francisco. I…we…owe Soapy that. If you don't want to go…"

Kid shook his head sadly."We're too late, Heyes" He pushed the paper to Heyes. The headlines read: JEFFERSON RANDOLPH "SOAPY" SAUNDERS DEAD.

Both Heyes and Kid looked at each other with great sadness. They had lost one of their few true friends.

Heyes started reading the article softly aloud, when he got to the part where the writer had mentioned how Soapy had gotten the nickname, they both laughed a bittersweet laugh. Although Soapy was always impeccably dressed and groomed, both men knew it was not why, as the writer incorrectly stated, he was given the moniker.

Heyes watched as Kid withdrew his knife and carefully cut the picture of Joanie out of the paper. He folded it neatly and tucked it into the breast pocket of his blue shirt.

Kid saw the concern on his partner's face.

"Don't worry I'm fine Heyes."

There was that word again…"fine"...which generally meant exactly the opposite.

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Heyes was stretched out, resting against a log as he watched the night fire crackle and pop under the dark night sky. He was usually quiet tonight and seemed deep in thought.

Kid finally asked him, "What's on your mind Heyes?"

Heyes slowly straightened and took a seat on the log with his head down. He finally raised it and said in a serious tone, "Things are changing…have been for a long time."

"Yeah…one of the reasons we decided to go straight."

"It's not just the law-abiding part…I've been giving this a lot of thought. Might suit us to head for Mexico. Cheaper to live there. This part I think you'll like…we can live better down there...which means less work."

"But we don't talk Mexican. We've talked about this before…"

"But maybe we need to seriously think about it. We need to have a plan."

"A plan? A plan for what?"

"Us Kid. Us. We need to save our money and head south. South is good. The weather is warmer…See right there we can save…on clothes."

"Clothes?" Kid laughed. "When was the last time you bought clothes, Heyes? You won't even buy a new hat."

"Ain't nothing wrong with my hat. Doesn't have to be pretty to do what it's suppose to do."

"Would you at least think about it, Kid?"

Kid stared at Heyes, shrugged his shoulders, then finally nodded.

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Porterville Sheriff's Office

"Oh my God! Look what the Wyoming wind blew in! I wasn't sure if I'd ever see you boys again. Figured you were sore at me about the amnesty." Lom said, jumping out of his chair. With a relieved smile, he rushed over to shake both men's hands.

Heyes made a face, "Course not Lom."

Kid nodded his head in agreement.

"We thought we'd come to say bye. We've been talking about going to Mexico for a couple years now. We're thinking it's time to go."

Lom held up his hand, "You might want to reconsider boys." He hurried to the back where he brought out a box stuffed with papers. He set it down on the desk.

Both Heyes and Kid had puzzled looks on their faces.

"It's been what…about five years since I seen you two?"

Both shrugged, "Couldn't rightly say." Kid said. "Maybe more…"

"Well a whole lot has changed in those years…"

"We heard…like you retiring…"

"It's more than that...I think you boys need to take a seat."

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"First and foremost. It was official three years ago. You got your amnesty."

Both men sat in stunned silence.

"Didn't know how to reach you boys for the official signing figured the most important signature was the Governor's. Weren't much about it in the papers…Think the Governor wanted to keep it kind of quiet...Second important item…You two are rich."

Both snorted, "And just how do you figure Lom? Kid and I have enough…"

Lom was shaking his head, "Both you and Kid was left in a will…"

"But we ain't got no relatives," Kid protested.

"If he ain't a relative then he's a guardian angel. A fella by the name of…" Lom dug in the box and pulled out another official looking document and quickly read, "...a Jefferson Randolph Saunders."

"Soapy?!" Both Heyes and Kid said in unison, as they quickly straightened in their chairs.

"Boys…I'm talking about a lot of money…A LOT! At least in this territory it makes you one of the wealthiest…"

Heyes and Kid slumped back in their seats in disbelief.

"Didn't know where to find you boys so I put it in Miss Porter's father's bank where it's been drawing interest for a few years."

"A bank?! Folks rob banks!" Heyes said horrified.

Lom laughed, "It's in a new Brooker….I don't think even the great Hannibal Heyes could open this one."

"Here…" Lom said as he pushed a number on a piece of paper towards them.

"Caroline…" Lom's face reddened, "Umm..Miss Porter gives me a balance every month."

Heyes and Kid looked at each other speechless.

"There are…" Kid cleared his throat, "There are so many…zeros." He said in a stunned whisper.

Heyes could only nod weakly.

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"Boys I wish you would reconsider. I think keeping it in a bank…"

"No banks." Kid said vigorously, shaking his head.

"Maybe one day…but not today," Heyes added.

Heyes and Kid hefted the heavy saddlebags onto their horses. And with parting handshakes and a tip of their hats, they were gone.

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Heyes and Kid stopped several miles outside of Porterville. They looked at each other, then dismounted and opened their saddlebags to stare at the money.

"Heyes what do you think we should do with all this money?" Kid asked. "Do we go to Mexico or stay here?"

Heyes rubbed his chin, concentrating. "Hmmm…one of the most important decisions of our lives…so…" Heyes reached in his pocket and pulled out a coin. "Call it Kid. Heads… Mexico. Tails…the United States

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Author's Notes:

Brothel candles were candles that burned for precisely 7 minutes. The customer paid the fee, lit the candle, and when the candle burned out, his session was over.