Heyes flicked through the mail the postmaster had handed him. The first one was a letter from Lom, and most of the others looked singularly uninteresting. However the final one in the small pile did catch his attention. The envelope was of good quality and addressed to Mr H. Heyes and Mr J. Curry in neat copperplate, and as his eyes noted the sender, Heyes was even more intrigued: Why was Mrs Hanley writing them?

He stuffed most of the letters in his jacket pocket unopened, thinking they could keep, but kept the one from Mrs Hanley firmly in his hand. After nodding over at the postmaster, he exited onto the rapidly filling street. He hesitated for a moment, before walking over to the saloon. After ordering a beer, he sat down at one of the tables near the door and opened the envelope that had so intrigued him.

I've been slightly disappointed not to have heard from you again, because your last letter sounded so full of enthusiastic determination to follow your new dream. I hope that this lack of correspondence is only due to you having simply delayed your next steps, rather than a sign that you have given up on your wish to raise horses. From my observations of the two of you, I believe you would do well if you pursued your expressed ambition.

I am writing now, because I have a job that I believe will be of interest to you, but first I want to thank you once again for your invaluable help in both saving my life, and bringing the true murderer of my dear Ralph to justice. And though the news of your real identities did come as something of a surprise, the revelation has done nothing to alter my view that you are competent, good natured, decent men.

Which brings me neatly to my proposition. I have a horse who I wish to enter in the Derby and a few other races that I feel she would do well in. With an absence of male relatives, and having very few male friends, none of whom I feel confident would be able to protect us properly, I was at something of a loss as to who would be best to assist me. Then I thought of you, and how you did such a good job of escorting myself and Hyperia safely home,

I will of course pay an appropriate wage. I was thinking in the region of $600 each, plus expenses.

The Derby will be run on May 14, if you arrive here by the first of the month, I believe that will give us enough time to become comfortably reacquainted before our departure.

If you are still desiring to pursue your ambition, I will be more than happy to assist you in anyway I can.

I await your answer with anticipation.

Kind Regards

Sarah Hanley

Heyes re read the letter twice more, as he drank his beer, thinking that working for Mrs Hanley was worth real consideration. The money she was offering was more than fair and they had both enjoyed their time working for her in the aftermath of her husband's murder.

He and the Kid had made only limited progress in their plan to raise horses, even before the Kid had been shot. However as it now appeared they were well on their way to being fully accepted in Bardstown, and with the Kid recovering, Heyes fully intended that would change very soon. He still had the advert for the stud, and advice from people who were experienced and competent would be important if their attempt was to be successful. After checking that there was a stage route directly to the Hanley Ranch which would get them there in good time, buying some essentials, followed by lunch and a second visit to the saloon, he had decided that taking the job was their best option. All that was left for him to do, was to convince his partner to agree with him. So armed with the stage timetable, he set off for home, his mind already full of ideas of how to do just that.

ASJ

The Baxter women were still visiting when Heyes arrived back, but they stood to leave when they saw he had returned. After passing a few more pleasantries both Heyes and the Kid saw them out. Heyes didn't miss the lingering glance that the younger woman threw in the Kid's direction just before she followed her mother out.

The Kid flopped down onto the chair by the fire with a slightly relieved sigh, and Heyes noted he looked tired. "Those women sure can talk, especially Miss Louise. I ain't sayin' weren't good of them to visit, but guess I ain't used to company that can talk more than you."

Heyes briefly wondered whether he should leave the letter till the morning as he knew how grumpy the Kid could be when he was tired, but eager to get his friend's agreement, he pushed away the slight worry and handed him the letter. "We got some interesting mail, Kid. I think we oughta say yes."

He handed the envelope over and as the Kid looking a little puzzled opened it and began to read. Heyes put the goods he'd brought away as he waited for him to finish, feeling a little impatient at how long it was taking him.

When he finally got to the end, Heyes watched as he folded it up, mentally crossing his fingers. He gritted his teeth a little as the Kid looked over at him. "I don't think its a good idea, Heyes."

Heyes let out a heavy sigh, not attempting to hide either his disappointment or irritation at his partner's immediate resistance. "Aww, C'mon Kid. It's a brilliant opportunity. It'll be a nice easy job."

Kid looked down at the letter he was still holding then back up at Heyes and sighed, before asking. "How will we manage it?"

"What do you mean, Kid? I can't see there being a problem."

The Kid's face pulled into a frown as he waved the folded paper at his partner , his voice sounding puzzled, irritated, and maybe even a little hurt as he replied. " I can't even ride properly yet! It makes no sense that on one hand you keep telling me to take it easy, then the next minute you're suggesting somethin' like this."

Heyes hadn't really figured on much resistance from his partner, because he'd thought the Kid should trust him enough to come up with a plan good enough to make things easy. So feeling a little irritated, he brandished the stage timetable at his friend as he added."We can take a coach all the way there, I checked, and I'm sure Mrs Hanley will take her own carriage to the races. You can ride with her, while I keep an eye out, which won't put much pressure on your arm."

"I still say its a dumb idea, Heyes." The Kid's voice didn't increase in volume, but he sounded immovable which only aggravated Heyes more.

"You're wrong, Kid. Its one of the best offers we've had lately. You're just not listening to me, 'cos you're feeling tired and ornery." Frustration at his friend's stubbornness gave his words a snap that he knew would put his partner's back up and he wasn't surprised at his partner's reply.

"I am not bein' ornery, I'm just being realistic! Because one of us has to be!" The Kid' voice rose on the last few words and he glared at Heyes his chin up and his teeth obviously gritted.

Heyes hated that expression because it usually meant the Kid was determined not to budge, and his frustration at his friend's refusal to see things clearly grew, so he said louder than was necessary. "What is your problem, Kid? It'll be a breeze, and it'll give us some cash, an opportunity to learn, as well a nice comfortable way to see somewhere we ain't been before! Stop being so damn stubborn and think about it at least."

"No, Heyes! Maybe you could take her up on it. But there ain't no point me going along as I can't hit the broadside of a barn at the moment, let alone protect a classy lady and an expensive horse!"

"Of course you can, Kid. You're just being overly dramatic. Besides like I said, this time I'll do the guarding and you the chaperoning. I think even you can pretend to be civilised for a week or two." Heyes knew he was stepping on thin ice, but he just wanted his partner to listen as he knew he was right in pushing for them to do this.

The expression on the Kid's face darkened even further, and he took a few steps towards him, then turned on his heel and walked out the cabin slamming the door behind him. Heyes sighed as he thought to himself, well that went well and he wondered whether he should have waited till the morning.

But then with a shake of his head, he decided that perhaps it'd gone pretty well after all: He knew exactly what the problem was, and it hadn't ended up in a brawl. Heyes was fairly sure that the Kid hadn't thrown a punch because his arm was still weak and sore. But whatever the reason, Heyes would happily take the lack of bruises thank you.

After taking a few minutes to calm down,he too left the house and easily found his partner grumpily kicking stones against the fence. The Kid on hearing him turned and shrugged a little helplessly as he said. "Can't even fire at nothin' to stop wantin' to hit someone. It's taking so long to get over this, I'm just plain sick of it! It ain't right to feel this tired when I ain't done hardly nothing."

Heyes sighed more at himself this time, realising he really hadn't thought his approach through properly, but he'd been so sure that taking the job was the best decision for them both, he hadn't really considered any other outcome than his friend's agreement.

Taking a deep breath, he said in as conciliatory a tone as he was capable of. "Look we got two weeks 'til we gotta leave. The Doc says you can start practicing by the end of the week and I know it don't feel like it but you're doing good." He paused then added. "Just to make sure there won't be no misunderstandings, I'll write Mrs Hanley and tell her about your arm, give her a chance to change her mind. If she's happy, then I don't see there being a problem for any of us."

The Kid stopping his frustrated kicking, turned to him with a small shrug and even smiled slightly, giving Heyes some hope that he was considering it.. After a few moments the Kid blew out a breath and said quietly. "I still ain't sure, Heyes, but we could do with the money and it'll help speakin' to folk who know what they're talking about where raisin' horses is concerned."

At the Kid's change of mind, Heyes was relieved, wishing he'd tried it this way in the first place.

Heyes went back into town the following morning while the Kid was still asleep. He had decided to telegraph Mrs Hanley rather than writing, eager for an answer as soon as possible, before the Kid could start looking at things that might go wrong and get all stubborn again. He didn't think there'd be a problem as it wasn't like she'd known Thaddeus Jones was Kid Curry when she'd hired them the first time.

Kid's arm is hurt. He would be chaperone. Does this change things? If not we accept your offer.

He received a reply within the hour saying exactly what he'd hoped for.

Look forward to seeing you both on the 1st.

ASJ

Aware of the ache in his arm, but determined not to let it beat him today, the Kid fired carefully at the bottles he'd set up. He nodded in some satisfaction as he registered that he'd hit them all, not as accurately as he would have done before his injury of course, but his aim was an improvement on yesterday's effort, and as he stretched his arm out he was sure that the protesting throb in it seemed a bit less. He knew he might never be as fast as he had been, but he was starting to believe that with time he would still be skilled enough to protect himself and Heyes effectively if needed, which he figured would be something he could learn to live with.

Just as he finished putting up a new set of targets up,he heard footsteps behind him. Recognising them as Heyes he said without looking back. "Don't start Heyes, I'm practising, and its only two days earlier than the Doc wanted."

"And yesterday it was three days."

Heyes sounded irritated but the Kid was determined not to let himself be guilted into stopping, so replied firmly. "I'm not listening, Heyes. You persuaded me to go work for Mrs Hanley, so you gotta live with me practising sooner than you'd like."

As he turned back to the bottles on the fence, the Kid could hear Heyes muttering at him under his breath, but he was being quiet enough that he was easy enough to ignore. So with the skill of long practice, he did just that, and allowed himself a small smile when the bullets hit their targets solidly in the middle, just as he'd intended, and as he holstered his gun, he was also relieved to find that the pain in his arm was definitely much less sharp that even two days ago.

He turned to his partner, not bothering to hide his slightly smug expression, and Heyes huffed before saying with resignation in his tone, which told the Kid he'd won this battle. "All right maybe you are ready, but remember if this sets you back, you ain't got nothing to blame 'cept your stubbornness." He paused then added in a less annoyed tone. "You hungry? I figure if you're determined to shoot, you might as well come into town with me for breakfast. Then we can do a bit of shopping."

The Kid felt his stomach drop at the thought of going into town for the first time since he'd allowed Barley to shoot him.

Heyes and Doc Thompson, as well as the Sheriff and his family had all reassured him that many people in town knew exactly what had happened and were a little impressed by his sacrifice.

But many was not all, and while the Kid knew he'd done the right thing that day and was beginning to come to terms with the possible long term consequences of his decision, facing up to some folk whispering about how his reputation was obviously greatly exaggerated, given how he'd been outshot by a nobody, was a ridicule he wasn't sure he was up to dealing with, especially with his temper still more easily roused than usual.

With a quiet sigh he pulled his mind back to Heyes, who'd obviously sensed a problem, because he'd come over to tap him gently on the shoulder in order to get his attention.

As he met his partner's gaze, he tried to school his face into an expression of unconcern, but knew he'd not succeeded, when after looking at him with a searching gaze, Heyes said gently."You gotta face it sometime, Kid. And if we head off now, even taking it slow, we'll be early enough that the town is gonna be fairly quiet. Miss Lily is working today and she knows exactly what happened, and why you let yourself get shot up. If we're lucky we might even get a discount, seeing as she part owns the place."

Not for the first time the Kid wondered if Heyes could read his mind, and said with a small smile. "Why would she give you a discount Heyes? Weren't you that got yourself shot by some jackass."

"Well the way you glower at folk sometimes, I bet she'll figure I deserve one too for putting up with you being the gruff, silent type." The Kid bit down on a snort, because for all that he was quieter than Heyes, he was far from being as taciturn as his reputation had it, and his partner knew it.

But instead of acknowledging that fact, he only said with mild irritation. "I don't glower, Heyes, 'cept at you sometimes, when you're bein' annoyin' like now."

"Of course you do Kid, and at more than just me, its all a part of your charm, so I'm told." He paused and added with what the Kid thought might even be genuine puzzlement. "There ain't no accounting for taste. I mean Louise Baxter was sure lookin' like she wanted to eat ya when I got home that day she and her Ma dropped in. Maybe there'll be more strange women like that out and about in town when we get there."

All joking aside, the Kid knew Heyes was right, he couldn't hide forever, so with a shrug he said. "If you're offerin' to pay, it seems foolish to turn you down."

"That's the spirit, Kid, now start working on that glower, we could do with paying less."

The Kid shook his head in amusement, but as Heyes turned away and started to walk briskly back towards the house, he found himself smiling as a wave of affection and gratitude for his friend swept over him. Quickening his pace, he caught up with him, and laid a hand on his shoulder to slow him down, and as his friend turned , a question clear in his face, the Kid said quietly. "Thanks, Heyes."

Heyes just winked at him, before favoring him with one of his rare full dimpled grins and clapping him gently on his shoulder as he replied "C'mon Kid, seeing as I'm real hungry, you must be 'bout ready to chew my arm off."