"Now, this don't seem right at all. Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry walking bold as brass into my jail, and I can't even arrest them. It sure was a dark day for the law when the idiots in Cheyenne decided you weren't gonna get those twenty year sentences you deserved."

Heyes sighed, his head thumping and his patience thin. "Look Sheriff whatever ya name is, we got two prisoners trussed up by the Derby stables. They ain't going nowhere, but we sure would like to see them safely locked up. They were planning on hurting Mrs Hanley's horse till we stopped them."

The man's face turned from disdain to disbelief as he said. "You sure 'bout that? Weren't it really just some falling out amongst thieves, with you two figuring Sarah Hanley might earn ya a better payday than whoever hired you in the first place?"

Before Heyes could reply to that, the door flung open and Mrs Hanley herself hurried in, her face concerned. She didn't spare a glance for the sheriff merely strode past him to look closely at him and the Kid. "I got your message. I can't thank the two of you enough for protecting Boadicea so well. She paused and added. "The course vet is going to check her over, but my own man has said she is unharmed, just spooked. Unlike you two, who look only slightly less battered then the two men we found outside her stall, tied up nice and tight."

The Kid with a smug grin over at the Sheriff said. "Just doin' what you hired us to do Ma'am."

Mrs Hanley suddenly sensing the tension in the room, turned to glare at the lawman as she said. "Sheriff, how did two men intent on hurting my horse get past the deputies you posted to the course? If it weren't for me hiring Mr Heyes and Mr Curry, I have no doubt my mare would have been seriously harmed."

The Sheriff's face dropped and he swallowed a couple of times before he managed a quiet reply. "I'm sorry Ma'am..I will be having serious words with them believe me."

"I should hope so, Sheriff. You may have cost me a great deal of money as Boadicea though unhurt is far too spooked to risk me racing her today." She paused then added coldly. "Now I would appreciate you removing those two men from my horse's vicinity as soon as possible, because they have caused me and my mare more than enough problems and the quicker they're safely locked away the happier I will be."

Heyes didn't bother to hide a smile as the Sheriff glanced over at him, his face pulled down into an unhappy frown. He'd enjoyed observing the well-deserved perfectly pitched put down that Mrs Hanley had just inflicted on the idiot and wasn't going to pretend otherwise.

Pulling his gaze away from Heyes, the Sheriff turned to Mrs Hanley as he replied sounding both deflated and embarrassed. " I can only apologise to you Ma'am and assure you that I will see to that myself and ensure that such a lapse will not happen again on my watch."

Mrs Hanley sniffed and then nodded. "Perhaps I will not insist on you being replaced if you handle this efficiently from now on. Now I must get on, so Good Day."

Without sparing the lawman another glance, Mrs Hanley strode towards door with Heyes and the Kid following her. Once they got to the door, the Kid couldn't resist giving the chastened lawman an ironic tip of his hat, an action that made Heyes grin and wink at the sheriff. Though he did notice with some slight concern that his partner had used his left arm to do so while keeping his right firmly against his body.

As they had exited onto the street, Heyes was assailed by a wave of dizziness that made him stumble slightly. He was grateful for his partner's firm steadying touch on his back, feeling some sympathy at the muffled groan that escaped him, assuming he'd used his right arm without thinking, but he didn't move away, very much afraid of falling flat on his face if he tried to.

Mrs Hanley a few steps ahead of them came to a stop, and turned to face them, her expression concerned. "You two need to see a doctor! Now don't argue with me."

"Wouldn't dream of it Ma'am." The Kid's voice was amused if a little strained, and he kept his hand quite firmly on Heyes' back, no doubt realising if he moved it Heyes would end up on his butt. Heyes knew it was definitely paining him to do so, because of the slight vibration he could feel that was betraying the tremor of weakness in his partner's overstressed muscles.

ASJ

"Your arm is bruised Mr Curry, but you don't seem to have added too much damage to what's already there. I'll leave you some pain powders, and you'll need to make sure you rest it for a few days." He looked over at the Kid's gun with a slight frown. "Mrs Hanley tells me that you practice every day, but I'd strongly suggest you don't for at least a few days. Cleaning it will be fine, but no more than that." The Doc laughed at a little at the frown on the Kid's face, not in the least bit intimidated as he said "Now don't look at me like that son, you know I'm right."

Heyes grinned over at his partner and said. "Don't go wasting Mrs Hanley's money by ignoring the doc!"

The Kid glared, but then gave a left shouldered shrug and nodded reluctantly. "Sure, Doc."

The Doctor nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Heyes with a small smile. "You must have a mighty hard head. You have a mild concussion but nothing a couple of days of taking it easy and sleeping plenty won't ease."

The Kid snorted. "You hear that Heyes? No staying up half the night reading and then waking me up 'cos you got some idea you just gotta share!"

ASJ

The Kid was still sleepless after more than two hours of trying despite his exhaustion, because the throb in his arm which had greatly subsided in the last few weeks had returned with some force, making it impossible for him to find a comfortable position. Finally giving up trying, he sat up with a slight moan, not quite sure what to do with himself. He glanced over at the other bed where Heyes lay apparently fast asleep, with some envy. Mrs Hanley had offered to pay for a second room for Heyes, but the Kid and Heyes had seen no need for that, and had politely declined.

He swung his legs over the side of his bed, surprised when Heyes spoke. "Will ya just take some of those pain powders the Doc left, because all your shuffling and sighing is keeping me awake, which sure isn't helping my head I can tell ya!"

The Kid hated the fogginess he was left with the next day after using anything other than willow bark. In the early days after the shooting he'd had to take something or the pain had been unbearable, but he'd stopped doing so as quickly as he could, which had been sooner than either Heyes or Doctor Hamilton had been happy with. But conscious of the Doctor's advice to Heyes about sleep, the Kid gave in reluctantly, taking the medicine with a put upon sigh and a mumbled. "Bleugh." which made his friend snort. "You sound 'bout twelve years old, Kid."

"Oh shut up Heyes and go to sleep." The Kid snapped, more irritated than he should be, because he suspected his partner was right.

"Happy to now you're being sensible. Night, Kid." Heyes' smug tone made him grit his teeth, but before he had time to form a suitable retort, Heyes' breathing had evened out into sleep.

The Kid lay back down, the pain in his arm already easing, making him sigh in relief as he found a comfortable position. Acceptance that a slight sluggish feeling come morning was a small price to pay for a good night's rest for the both of them was his last clear thought before sleep claimed him too.

ASJ

"Maybe we ought to to head back to Lexington. George might try something again and I'm not keen on risking you or Boadicea again."

Two days later Heyes and the Kid were sat eating breakfast with Mrs Hanley. At her words, they exchanged a glance and both shook their head as Heyes said. "Seems a shame to let him win again. You already missed out on the Derby." He paused and the added. "I'm thinking he won't try anything else anyway, once he can buy his way out of, but doing it twice makes that a bit harder, as the law starts thinking you're becoming a nuisance, especially with what you said to the Sheriff."

"And trust us Ma'am we know more than a little bit about how that works." The Kid chimed in and Mrs Hanley laughed slightly and nodded.

"Very well, we'll head out to the next race after breakfast and we should be there in good time for Boadicea to rest up so she can do her best."

ASJ

The Kid came back to the owner's paddock where Heyes was studying the people milling round, and said. "Think Oldroyd is here? I'd sure like a word or two with him if he is."

Heyes smiled at the vehemence in his friend's tone and said mildly. "I don't see anyone matching how Mrs Hanley described him, Kid, but its still early. I'd be surprised if he isn't here. It's a pretty good race to be winning, so I doubt he'll miss the opportunity."

The Kid snorted. "Ahh, I seen the competition Heyes, ain't no one gonna beat Beauty." He looked round and added. "Where's Mrs Hanley?"

"With the course vet, he's doing his final check on the horses."

ASJ

"Go on girl, you can do it! Go on!"

"Fly Beauty, fly! Show 'em what you're made of girl!"

Heyes and the Kid with Mrs Hanley between them watched the horses belt past them as they entered the homestretch, the thundering of hooves loud in their ears, making the ground vibrate under their feet as the enthusiastic hollering of the crowd echoed round them. The sound of more restrained cheering from the other owners beside them, only added to the charged atmosphere and they both felt something not unlike the exhilaration of shaking a persistent posse, but with none of the fear.

When Boadicea passed the finish line more than a nose in front of her nearest rival, while Mrs Hanley simply clapped her hands, Kid and Heyes both let out a huge cheer, that drew disapproving glances from the finely dressed men around them, though they were too wrapped up in the pleasure of the win to notice anything else.

The Kid in his excitement then gave another whoop of pleasure and swept Mrs Hanley up into a hug, spinning her gently as he lifted her off her feet, before quickly placing her feet back on the ground and letting her go with a sheepish. "Sorry Ma'am."

She simply laughed her cheeks slightly flushed. "No need to apologise, I quite understand. Ralph was always very enthusiastic when our horses won too." She smiled in soft remembrance and her flush darkened a little leaving the Kid in no doubt about what that enthusiasm had likely led to.

The moment passed and she turned to look at Heyes, who had dug out their betting slips from his pocket, and was waving them with fervour, a look of triumph on his face as he bounced slightly on the balls of his feet. "We made three hundred dollars a piece, Kid!" He turned to look at Mrs Hanley with a wide grin on his face. "Ma'am your lady has sure made our day."

Mrs Hanley's smile only widened and she looked between them, her pleasure obvious as she said. "Well I am glad you had the confidence to place your own money on her."

The Kid smiled as he replied. "We know horses Ma'am, and Boadicea is a fine lady with a wonderful turn of speed."

Heyes nodded his agreement. "We'd have been foolish to bet on any other outcome then her winning."

Their attention was then drawn by an awkwardly cleared throat, and they turned to be faced by a portly, jowly looking older man with a pair of impressive sideburns and a weak chin. Feeling Mrs Hanley tense, the Kid and Heyes moved slightly in front of her taking protective flanking stances, while their hands went to their guns. Heyes quickly realised who it likely was and said calmly. "You must be Mr Oldroyd. Can't say it's a pleasure."