"We gotta make a trip to Lexington, Heyes. I want to send a telegraph to Sheriff Baxter and ask him to hire someone to make sure we're all ready at home for Athena."

Peering over his partner's shoulder watching him write, Heyes laughed. "You shoulda just written him a letter, Kid. This is gonna cost ya a small fortune and what do you mean by saying money don't matter? We can't exactly rob a bank when we run outta cash no more."

The Kid unmoved said firmly. "We're headin' out in the mornin' Heyes, I need to know before we leave that Baxter got my message so I'm doing it this way. I ain't expecting it to come outta your pocket Heyes so stop fussin'."

Heyes laughed and said. "You're worse than a mama cat with one kitten, bet if you could you'd be letting her sleep in the bunkhouse with ya tonight. Now while you're fretting here I'll be in the saloon." Before his partner could reply beyond a splutter he quickly exited the telegraph office. He of course shared most of his friend's concern over wanting everything to be perfect when they got back to Bardstown, but he figured that the Kid didn't need to know that.

ASJ

Heyes was pulled out of a sound sleep by a vivid and painful dream, which had begun with them caught by a posse mounted on fire breathing winged horses, the chase had ended with the Kid lying bleeding on the ground, and him face down next to him his hands tight behind his back. He had woken when at the sound of a jail cell slamming shut behind him he was plunged alone into silent darkness, unsure of whether his partner had survived.

Heyes caught between reality and the shadows of the dream glanced rapidly round the room, trying to orientate himself to the here and now, as he struggled to catch his breath, his chest tight and his heart pounding like thunder in his ears. Eventually his chest eased and his breathing and heart slowed to their normal rate as his mind and body accepted he was safe. But he was still left with a lingering anxiety which kept him from stilling his mind enough to fall back to sleep, despite the early hour. So with some reluctance and a deep sigh, he rolled out of bed and dressed slowly. Just before leaving the room he grabbed the book he'd fallen asleep reading. It would no doubt be a couple of hours till his partner was awake, which meant now was the perfect time for him to relax and read.

However when he passed the Kid's room on his way to the kitchen area he was surprised to see that the door was open, the bed neatly made and his friend's gun spotlessly clean lying on the table by the window, with used cleaning materials neatly set by it. The Kid had obviously been awake for quite a while if he'd already finished his shooting, and Heyes wondered if he'd been disturbed by some kind of nightmare himself.

With the anxiety left over from his dream still at the forefront of his mind, Heyes found himself beginning to fret a little when there was no sign of his partner anywhere in the house, a feeling not helped when he noticed that the coffee pot on the stove had long gone cold. But then it came to him in a flash that the only place his partner would be was in the stable with Athena. His partner was their mare's favourite person and with it being a mutual admiration, if shooting and cleaning his gun hadn't cleared his mind of whatever worry had woken him then he'd have gone to spend some time with her.

It amused him no end that the Kid usually less than keen on any work hard on the back, never insisted on a coin toss to decide whose turn it was to clean out her stall, usually taking the lion's share of the chore himself. Heyes figured that was probably what he was doing right now. He'd worked hard to get the mare to accept him and though it had taken some time, several nips and a lot of effort he was now the mare's second favourite human. But he still didn't come close to the Kid's place in her heart and had admitted if only to himself that was where he was going to stay, so he decided to let the two of them have their time now that his concern was relieved,and besides he was looking forward to reading undisturbed for a change.

Happily Heyes emptied the coffee pot and started to refill it with fresh grounds, before placing it on the stove. After it had finished brewing, he sat at the kitchen table with a full cup by his left hand. The final wisps of anxiety left over from his dream dissipated as he became quickly engrossed in his book. Several chapters and more than a few drinks of coffee later, he decided it was time to hunt down his partner to persuade him to go into town for breakfast as he was hungry for something that neither of them had cooked this morning.

Heyes smiled as he noted the straw filled wheeled cart outside the stable with a used shovel up against the wall, the sight of them confirming he'd been right about what his partner had been doing. His smile widened when as he entered the freshly cleaned stall he saw his partner sweaty and dusty from his mucking out, gently brushing Athena with a soft look on his face. Heyes amused that the Kid hadn't heard him enter and was completely oblivious to the fact he was no longer alone with the mare, was about to announce his arrival with a teasing comment when he heard his partner speaking to her softly and decided to stay quiet, hoping to learn what had woken his partner so early without having to push.

"It's been eighteen months since me and Heyes got our amnesty and a year since Emily-Rose died." His rubbing must have got heavier, because the horse nickered a little in protest, and the Kid stopped immediately as he said softly. "Sorry, girl" He took a few moments to compose himself then began gently stroking her with the brush again as he resumed talking."Even now, I'm still half expectin' whichever guy is in charge this year to up and change his mind, and we'll have to start runnin' again. It ain't always the first thing on my mind, and it's always worse when some kinda official looking letter arrives, or when I recognise Lom's writing on an envelope, because then I'm almost sure we're gonna have to get outta town real quick like, cos the law's comin' to arrest us." He paused in his talking but didn't pause in his brushing and Heyes heard him take a shaky breath just before continuing speaking softly. "Leastwise comin' to arrest me anyways because the Governor has finally decided that killin' children ain't exactly what an amnestied outlaw oughta be doing, so he's figuring that I'm not as reformed as I oughta be and should be in prison. And even with Heyes on my side we wouldn't be able to argue too hard, as that little girl sure died 'cos of me." He laughed then added wryly."I'm only tellin' you this, 'cos its better for me than talking to a body that won't just keep tellin' me to stop worryin'."

Heyes swallowed hard at what he'd just heard. He'd known of course that the Kid would always carry the burden of Emily-Rose's death, but he hadn't realised until now, just how sharp the guilt still was. It wouldn't have helped of course that just yesterday they'd received an official looking letter from some newspaper editor asking for an interview. Now that Heyes was aware of his partner's feelings he could make better sense of the Kid's occasional odd reserve and intermittent tension on some days. With a deep breath and another glance over at his partner who was still unaware that he wasn't alone with Athena, Heyes quietly turned and walked out. He took a moment to compose himself, quickly smoothing the concern out of his face, before he re-entered the stable loudly and cleared his throat, bringing the Kid's attention to him. He walked over to pet the mare and addressed her seriously "Is this man bothering you Miss?"

The Kid snorted at him and replied with some amusement."You're just green 'cos she likes me better. Me and Athena got an understanding."

Heyes grinned then took a breath, suddenly unsure. He wasn't very clear on how best to address his partner's worrying. He quickly dismissed subtly as an option and decided he had to take the direct approach. "You know Kid, Tom Baxter, Sheriff Carlton, Lom, and even Mrs Hanley if we asked her, would all be more than happy to argue on our behalf if any ass hat Governor decided to change his mind 'bout us...you."

The Kid shifted uncomfortably, a flush appearing on his cheeks and he stepped away from the horse. "You heard?"

Heyes shrugged and said gently. "I'm sorry, Kid, don't mean to embarrass ya or nothing, but maybe its better I do know. You oughta share stuff like that with your partner, seeing as you bein' proddy affects me too."

The Kid shook his head slightly, though Heyes didn't think it was a denial, more like a way of clearing it. "But you'd only tell me I'm worryin' over nothing and that'd just rile me."

"Look why don't we take a couple of weeks and drop in on Lom? Maybe he can do a better job than me of convincing you that any of the politicians out of Cheyenne would already have changed their minds if they was gonna 'cos of Emily-Rose."

The Kid smiled weakly as he said. "Most of the time I don't fret for more than a few minutes, because I know I ain't being sensible, but some days when I wake up, it don't matter what I do, I just can't shake the worry. I can see ya looking at me funny on them mornings, but I don't tell you what's botherin' me cos there ain't no formula to fix it, but with you being you,you'd have to try anyway, so we'd end up arguin' which would end up with me feelin' even more frustrated." He paused then added with a stronger and less weary smile. "And you know Heyes I don't really wanna be in Porterville when we could be here continuing to get our business up and running." He turned back to the horse and his smiled broadened. "And besides this little lady would miss us if we left her while she's carrying our future." He paused and looked back over as he said. "I ain't saying I don't 'preciate the offer, but lets just pretend we ain't never had this conversation all right?"

Heyes had no intention of forgetting it, and knew his partner knew that too, but he was willing to pretend, which was likely what the Kid expected so he nodded as he said. "Sure Kid." He paused then added with a grin. "Now I came here to drag ya away from your girlfriend there so you can buy me breakfast."

"Shouldn't you be the one paying Heyes? I know how much you won on Saturday!"

Heyes watched the Kid give Athena a final lingering pat, and hang up the grooming brush, before replying. "Well seeing as I'm saving you from having to cook, I figure it oughta be on you. But we can flip for it if you like."

"Works for me Heyes, so long as its one of my coins anyways."

With that the Kid turned and quickly left the stable. Heyes turned to the horse and stroked her mane gently saying softly. "Thanks Athena I owe you some extra oats." He petted her for a couple more minutes, enjoying the silky warmth of her coat, then headed out himself, jogging to catch up with his partner who was waiting for him at the crest of the rise that lead back to their cabin with a smile on his face. "You been flirting with my girl again, Heyes?"

"Well she's a smart lady, she'll realise she's got it wrong soon enough."

"She sure is smart Heyes, which is why I'm her favourite." He paused and added more seriously. "I'm gonna be fine, Heyes, I'm just having one of them mornings." The Kid managed a smile that though small reached his eyes and believing him Heyes clapped his friend on the back and together they continued walking to their cabin as the sun high in the sky indicated it was going to be another beautiful day.

ASJ

Using the light from the many lamps they'd placed in the carefully prepared foaling stall, Heyes peered down at his pocket watch while he paced, and let out a nervous huff of breath as he turned to his equally nervous and restless partner. "It's about time, Kid."

The Kid started to move towards Athena, but Heyes rested his left hand on his friend's arm as the man they'd hired to advise them said softy "Remember Jed mares ain't keen on being disturbed while they're foaling. I know it ain't easy, but all we can do is watch and wait, and step in to help out if it looks like she's struggling." The Kid nodded and though his body was poised as if to run, he made no further move to where the mare lay. Heyes and the Kid watched in awed silence as the foal emerged, while Josiah gave a soft chuckle as he said. "It don't never get old!

As Josiah did what he was paid for with gentle efficient kindness, ensuring both mother and baby were going to be fine, Heyes glanced over at his friend with a relieved smile that the Kid returned now that they were reassured that both mare and foal were doing well.

Once he'd finished making sure the animals were reacting to each other as they should, Josiah stepped away and left them to bond. He turned to the partners and asked them with a smile. "You got a name ready for her?"

After another glance over at the two animals the Kid then answered with the name they'd agreed on if the foal was a filly. "Rhiannon."

Heyes smiled at the memory of an excited Louise Baxter waving a book at them as she'd insisted that they couldn't call a female foal anything else, before he added his own endorsement. "It's a name a friend of ours suggested. And the way she explained it, didn't seem like we could come up with anything better."

Josiah smiled and nodded, his own gaze lingering on the foal as he said. "Sure is a pretty name, suits her too as she's a beauty just like her Ma."

ASJ

Three days later, Heyes watched Athena nursing her foal with a smile on his face totally taken by the sight. He started when the Kid came to join him not having heard him approach and nodded when he said. "Sure is something to see ain't it Heyes? I've already wrote Mrs Hanley."

Heyes replied absently still looking into the stall. "We can mail the letter when we go into town tomorrow."

Then they both lapsed into a comfortable silence as they watched Athena gently lick her foal as she suckled and Heyes sighed softly feeling totally content, and smiled as he heard the Kid do the same.

Story Notes

Thank you Kim for the advice on all things horsey. Hope I didn't mangle the information too much.

Rhiannon is a figure from Welsh mythology: Prominent in the first example of Welsh prose the 'Mabinogi,' she was an Otherworld Queen, renowned for her beauty, intelligence and equine mastery.