Chapter Ten

They stopped first at the O'Reilly home to inform Sean and the Widow McDaniel that the boy would be spending the weekend at the ranch. Sean was beside himself with excitement and ran up to his room to begin gathering his things.

"Hope you don't mind, ma'am," Heyes said politely to the widow.

"Och, no, laddie! Keepin' two houses an' I've work aplenty t'catch up on!"

"We'll be back shortly then."

The hitched their horses in front of the saloon and strolled into the mostly empty establishment. George, polishing glasses, glanced up at the newcomers and then looked nervously away - - Heyes' last shouted words to him still ringing in his ears.

Heyes' sharp eyes caught it and quickly reassured the man, "Ain't gonna hurt ya, George, just need a whiskey!"

"Sure, Mr. Smith, right away!" George scooped up two shot glasses and a bottle of his best whiskey and poured them each a drink. "Sheriff told me what happened up there at your place. I'm real sorry 'bout having a part in it! I'd never . . ."

Heyes cut him off. "I know, George, an' it's done now - - water under the bridge."

Sheriff Taylor strode into the saloon, caught the ex-outlaws' eyes and nodded towards a table. Heyes had George refill their glasses and he and Curry joined the lawman.

"How's Brigitte?" he asked without preamble.

"Doc Higgins is up there now tryin' t'get the bullet out," Heyes replied somberly. "He's optimistic."

"Well, she's a strong - - and stubborn - - girl so if anyone can pull through she can!" He paused. "I put in the reward claim and it should be here anytime. You boys got an account at the bank?"

Heyes nearly spit out a mouthful of whiskey and Curry chuckled.

"We ain't never been much for puttin' money in banks, sheriff!" the gunslinger said while Heyes composed himself.

"Right," the lawman nodded. "Well, you might want to consider it now. When the reward money arrives I could just put it in the bank for you. Plus it'll make future business dealings easier."

"You might have a point there, sheriff," Heyes replied. "We'll just mosey on over there while we're here today an' open an account."

"Excellent! I'd also like you to know that an order for replacement windows has been sent - - should be here in a month or so. Mr. Collins will hold them for you if snow has made the road impassable by then."

"That's mighty neighborly of you, sheriff." Heyes' surprise was plain on his face.

"It wasn't any trouble at all, Joshua! Mr. Collins still had the original order on file so he just re-sent it. Do you need a hand with boarding up the windows to keep the winter out?"

"No, we've got it taken care of, thanks. The house is a bit gloomier now, but we've spent winters in worse, haven't we, Thaddeus?"

"Got that right, Joshua," Curry agreed.

"That's good. Mr. Collins also has a block of pumice for you that will help remove the blood from the floor, or at least make it less noticeable until the floor can be replaced!"

"We've thrown a rug over the biggest stain, but we don't have enough to cover them all! That will be very helpful, thank you."

"We take care of our own here in Coldwater. Now I'd better get back to my office."

Heyes exchanged a bemused look with Curry after the sheriff had gone. "Guess we're really gonna be honest citizens now, Kid," he commented.

"Who'd have thought it, Heyes, us puttin' money into a bank!" Curry replied with a smile.

"Will wonders never cease? We'd better mosey on over to the bank then an' get it all set up."

"Lead the way."

The bank manager, Mr. Morris, welcomed them effusively. "Good morning, gentlemen! How may I be of assistance today?"

"We find ourselves in need of a bank account, Mr. Morris," Heyes replied.

"Certainly! Nothing easier!"

"Thing is we don't have any money to deposit now, but we're expecting a wire of $5000 sometime soon and need some place safe to put it. Is that a problem?"

"Not at all! I'll get the account paperwork done, everything set to go for when your deposit arrives," the banker assured them.

"Will it be any problem if it's Sheriff Taylor who deposits the money?"

"Certainly not! There are no restrictions on who puts money in only on who takes money out! Only those you allow on the account will have access to your account for withdrawal purposes."

"Who do we want to have access to our account, Thaddeus?" Heyes asked.

"Brigitte and Mary or we're likely to get our heads blowed off," Curry replied.

"Thanks to you, Thaddeus!" Heyes groused.

"Let it go, Joshua," Curry said with an eye roll.

"Fine. Sam should probably have access bein' our foreman an' all."

"Mick's our partner," Curry added.

"Well, that's everybody on the ranch! Somehow that don't seem right."

Mr. Morris interrupted. "What you may like to consider is a separate account for your ranch business expenses and separate personal accounts so as to not have all your eggs in one basket so to speak."

Heyes and Curry exchanged a glance. "Whatever you think's best, Joshua." Curry deferred to his partner.

Heyes thought a moment. "The money comin' in is for the ranch, for the repars we need to make, so let's just open the one for the ranch will all of us on it - - I don't see any of them robbing us. Once we start makin' a profit we can consider other accounts."

"Very good, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones."

The papers were prepared and signed and the two ex-bank robbers soon walked out of the bank as customers.

"I feel kinda dirty now, Kid," Heyes commented.

"Know what ya mean, Heyes, but I expect we'll get used to bein' lawful citizens sooner or later."

Their next stop was the general store where Mr. and Mrs. Collins greeted them warmly.

"How is Bridget?" Mrs. Collins asked with sincere concern in her voice. "We've all been so worried."

"Dr. Higgins is up there now removing the bullet as we speak. To be honest it's going to be touch and go." Heyes told her somberly.

"We'll be sure to send up a prayer for her," the shopkeeper assured him.

Unexpectedly moved, Heyes felt a lump form in his throat. He coughed lightly to cover it up and managed a 'thank you'.

Curry stepped in to allow his partner time to recover. "Sheriff Taylor said you had a block of pumice set aside for us?"

"Yes, indeed!" He reached under the counter and brought out a sizable block of the abrasive material. "It will take a little elbow grease, but it should minimize the blood stains until you have time to do repairs."

"Thank you, that will be very helpful." Curry replied.

"Is there anything else we can do for you today?"

"How 'bout a dollar's worth of candy."

Mr. Collins eyes widened slightly at the amount, but he simply asked, "Any kind in particular?"

"No, some of each would be fine."

With purchases tucked into saddlebags, they proceeded to the O'Reilly house where Sean waited impatiently on the steps, a horse with loaded saddlebags tied at the gate.

"Ready, Sean?" Curry asked unnecessarily as the boy was already running to the gate.

"Boy, am I!"

"Y'got your own horse now, eh?" Heyes said with a grin as the boy scrambled into the saddle of the way too big for him horse.

"Yes. Da got a new buggy horse so he gave Finn to me! I have to feed him and brush him every day."

"As well you should - - your life can depend on your horse!"

"Joshua's sure did last year if you recall," Curry put in.

"I sure do!"

"Do you also remember that talk we had about outlaws being bad people?" Curry asked.

"Uh huh, except for Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry!"

"Right, but they're the exception to the rule. Outlaws are likely to hurt either you, or people you love."

Sean nodded but looked confused.

Curry reined in his horse and turned his steely blue eyes on the boy. "What I'm tryin' t'say is this – a gang of outlaws – Potter's gang, y'ever heard of them?"

Sean shook his head.

"Well, they came up to the ranch lookin' for revenge on somebody an' there was a big shoot out an' - - well, Bridget was shot!"

The boy's eyes grew most and his lips trembled as this new sank in. "But Da said she was just sick!"

"He didn't wanna worry you."

"Is - - is she all right?" his voice shook.

"Doc Barty's up there right now fixin' her up. We come t'get you cuz she wants t'see you."

Sean's face paled and tears began to trickle down his cheeks. "She's dying! That's always what people do when they're dying!"

The ex-outlaws exchanged rueful glances realizing too late that being raised up as a doctor's son would make him more aware of certain things.

Heyes took over to Curry's relief. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Sean, she was hurt real bad! Doc Barty's tryin' t'remove a bullet that's real close to her heart an' it's a very risky operation, but he's a good doctor an' he has every confidence that she'll pull through just fine!" So much for not lying! "She shot two of them before they got her, though! She's as fast and good a shot as Kid Curry himself!" Heyes couldn't help a feeling of pride swell his heart as he told Sean this.

"Really?" The boy's eyes brightened a little at the new of his sister's heroism.

"Really. An' someone that tough is too tough t'let one little bullet keep 'em down! Ain't that right?"

"Sure is! Bridget's the toughest girl I know!" Sean said proudly.

"So let's get a move on then- - you'll want t'be there when she wakes up!"

The trio urged their horses into a ground eating gallop - - fear and hope goading them on.