It had been more than two weeks since sheriff Lom Trevors had managed to have a decent nights' sleep. Not since sickness had swept through the town of Porterville as well as several of the surrounding towns. He exited his office pausing on the boardwalk to rub a hand wearily across his face before stepping down to cross the street. It was late afternoon and he was heading to the diner since he hadn't had a chance to eat yet today…and he was hungry. He had two more towns that needed deliveries and no one left to make them. Both of his deputies were sick leaving him to spend twenty four hours a day watching over his town, trying to catch an hour or two of sleep on a cot in one of the cells whenever he could. The townspeople that weren't sick themselves were too old, away on cattle drives or taking care of sick family members. He stopped, his hand on the door of the diner, when he spied two men slowly riding down the street in his direction, a smile spreading across his face as he stepped back toward the street to greet them.

"Howdy boys, am I glad to see you," Lom said with a grin as Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry got closer.

Heyes heard the Kid groan softly knowing he was thinking the same thing he was…what did the governor want now.

"Howdy Lom," Heyes returned the greeting with just a hint of a smile.

"Need to talk to you two for a minute if ya don't mind."

The two men dismounted wrapping their reins loosely around the hitching rail.

"We can talk in here while I get somethin' to eat."

"We were heading for a beer Lom," Heyes said with a slight frown noticing how tired Lom looked.

"This won't take long."

"What does he want this time?" the Kid asked with a sigh as they followed the sheriff inside.

"Now boys, this time it's for me and it's a matter of life and death."

They sat at a table drinking coffee with Lom eating as he explained what was going on.

"There's been a lot of sickness spreadin' through the towns around here lately and it's caused a real shortage of medical supplies. The train from Cheyenne dropped off a bunch here for me to distribute to the towns that don't have rail service and I've got some fellas already out deliverin' but I need a couple more. I can't leave town, both my deputies are down with it. The towns of Harmony and Dry Gulch need these supplies…it'll take you just four days at most and it'd look real good to our mutual friend."

Heyes and the Kid exchanged looks, both sighing when they turned back to the sheriff.

"Fine Lom, we'll do it…but you do know we only stopped off in Porterville for a visit since we were in the area and to stock up on supplies," Heyes said softly seeing the relief on the sheriffs' face.

"I know and I appreciate you doin' this…lot of people have bin dyin' from this sickness. I'll have the stuff ready for ya first thing in the mornin'."

Heyes and the Kid glanced toward each other again after seeing Lom unsuccessfully try to smother a yawn.

"Why don't you finish your dinner Lom and get some sleep. We can keep an eye on the town for a few hours…promise we won't let anything get blown up," Heyes grinned making Lom choke on his coffee.

XXX

The next morning Lom carried two rather large bags of medical supplies from his office and handed them up to Heyes who took them. With a wink and a smile he told his partner to stay out of trouble as he kicked his horse into motion and headed out of town. Lom had to return to his office to retrieve the other two bags and handing them up to the gunman he placed a hand on the Kid's knee.

"Here ya are Kid…try and stay out of trouble, keep that gun holstered for a change."

The Kid frowned down at Lom the warmth in his eyes fading, but said nothing as he sharply reined his horse around, heading out of town in the opposite direction as his partner.

XXX

Hannibal Heyes walked out of the hotel, having arrived back in Porterville a few hours earlier after making the delivery to the doctor in Harmony, a days' ride away. The Kid, having lost yet another coin toss, had gone to deliver similar supplies to the doctor in Dry Gulch which was a two day ride. They hadn't liked the idea of separating but the two towns needed those supplies desperately so they had agreed, both men hoping that this favour for Lom would help in their quest for the ever elusive amnesty.

Now, having enjoyed a leisurely bath, he headed across the street planning on having a good supper before relieving some of the locals of their cash in a few friendly games of poker at the Bucking Horse Saloon. He didn't expect the Kid to arrive until Thursday, two days from now, so hopefully he would be able to increase their funds some by then. Entering the saloon, he scanned the nearly empty room and not seeing anything that caused him worry, made his way to the bar and ordered his beer. He was halfway through drinking it when he saw a cowboy leave the one and only table where a poker game was in progress. He walked over with a friendly smile on his face.

"Howdy fellas, mind if I sit in?" he asked of the older men.

"Long as ya got money Joshua, you're more than welcome."

The players were quite friendly knowing that he and his partner were friends of the sheriff and he was careful not to win too much from them. They continued to allow him to sit and play for the next couple of nights, but Friday night they noticed that he wasn't playing as well as he usually was.

"Sure ain't your night tonight Joshua, ya got somethin' botherin' ya son?"

"Huh? Oh sorry, just wonderin' why Thaddeus is overdue."

"He'll be along. Prob'ly found somethin' or someone more interestin'," one of the men chuckled.

Heyes smiled…"You're probably right, but think I'll call it a night if you fellas don't mind."

XXX

The next day Heyes was sitting in a chair in front of the hotel, chewing worriedly on his lower lip, his left foot crossed over his right leg as he looked down the street. He had indeed added a few dollars to their funds but now it was Saturday, four days since he had returned to town and he had expected his partner to arrive two days ago. He had checked at the telegraph office several times hoping for some word as to why he was delayed, but was always disappointed.

"What kinda trouble did ya get yourself into this time Kid?" he mumbled quietly as he pulled his watch out, sighing as he checked the time…again. It was just past noon and unable to sit waiting any longer, decided that he needed to go search for him. Returning to his room and packing up his saddlebags he threw them over his left shoulder before hurrying down the stairs. Seeing the desk clerk he veered toward him.

"I'm going out of town for a day or so. If my friend gets here before I get back just give him the key to my room."

"Not a problem Mr. Smith."

Heyes smiled and exited the hotel making it halfway to the livery before his attention was drawn to a horse and rider coming into view at the far end of the street. Heyes squinted, lifting a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. The horses' head was hanging low, the rider slouching wearily in the saddle, both covered in trail dust…but there was no mistaking who it was…his partner. The Kid approached, barely looking up when his horse stopped in front of Heyes who had continued to the livery. He waited a moment before sliding out of the saddle and leaning his head against the animals' neck.

"'Bout time you got here…you shoulda bin back two days ago," Heyes admonished.

"Heyes," he growled a warning.

" What happened, ya find a pretty girl that needed your attention?" Heyes teased with a grin.

"No...spent three days tryin' to outrun a posse," he snapped, turning to glare at his cousin.

The smile disappeared from his face as he looked sharply at his friend, checking for possible injury and sighing as he watched the Kid hand his reins to the stable boy.

"Give 'im a good brushin' down and a good feed, he's earned it," he said patting the horse on the rump as the boy led him into the stable.

Heyes clapped his friend on the shoulder raising a small cloud of dust. When the Kid turned to look at him, Heyes could see he was almost ready to drop. Exhaustion was apparent not only on his face but in the droop of his shoulders as well.

"I'm tired, hungry and in need of a bath."

"Well, I got us a nice room at the hotel, but how be I buy you a nice cold beer first."

"That sounds real good."

Walking slowly across the street to the saloon Heyes spied Lom coming out of his office to head in their direction. He nodded a greeting to the lawman before pushing through the saloon doors behind his friend. Being such a hot day it was unusual to see only a handful of men inside, but they knew it was due to the illness. The two men made their way to the bar and Heyes held up two fingers mouthing 'beer' to the bartender. Moments later, two foaming glasses were sliding their way down the bar to them. They picked the glasses up in unison, but before the Kid could take a drink he was intentionally jostled…and none too gently, beer spilling out of the glass and over his hand.

"Well look at this that done dragged itself in," he sneered looking the Kid up and down taking in his disheveled state.

The Kid put his glass back down on the bar, wiping his hand on his dusty shirt as he glanced at the man crowding his right side obviously having had a bit too much to drink.

"What the hell are you lookin' at?" the stranger demanded loudly.

Conversation stopped as the few customers looked to see what was going on. The Kid looked back at his beer glass and took a deep breath his shoulders drooping even lower, feeling Heyes lay a steadying hand lightly on his left arm.

"Mister I just got into town after finishin' a job. All I want is a cold beer to wash the dust outta my throat," he said trying to be conciliatory.

"I don't think I want your kind in here…"

"Mister you're not from Porterville, Mr. Jones here is a friend of…" the bartender began.

"Mister Jones! Well now don't that sound downright respectful…only problem is he don't look too respectful. You know how to use that hogleg …boy?"

The Kid sighed heavily, closing his eyes as he rubbed his forehead with his left hand, leaving his right arm resting on the bar deciding that he was far too drained to deal with this.

"Mister I don't want no trouble," he said softly, once again lifting his glass with his right hand in an attempt to ignore the man, but was stopped when the stranger grabbed his arm spilling beer over the Kids' hand again. Heyes saw the Kids' face begin to harden but then his eyes lowered almost in defeat and that was when he stepped in.

"Look, we just want to have a peaceful drink. There ain't any call for you to be so unreasonable. My friend's had a long hard ride making a delivery for the sheriff."

"Oh, for the sheriff…well that's different then, I didn't know it was for the sheriff," he said smiling as he turned, beginning to walk away from them.

Thinking the situation had been diffused Heyes started to turn to lean against the bar beside his cousin who turned his head giving him a smile of thanks. Heyes looked past his friend seeing the stranger turn back toward them and pull his gun, but before he could shout a warning the man had fired, Heyes' gun barely clearing the holster. The Kid seeing the alarmed look on his partner's face started to turn, his hand dropping instinctively to his gun, but not fast enough…the bullet slammed into him. The force knocked him into his partner taking them both to the floor as a second shot rang out hitting the shooter in the right shoulder. Heyes, gun still in hand, stared in stunned disbelief at his unconscious partner sprawled across his legs. He sat motionless unable to drag his eyes away from the sight of blood oozing from the Kid's shirt and the side of his head.

"Ben take him to the jail will ya? You know where the keys are, I'll be along shortly."

"Put your gun away," Lom ordered as he squatted beside the two men on the floor.

Heyes looked at his gun as if seeing it for the first time before holstering it.

"What the hell just happened?" Heyes asked barely above a whisper, eyes wide with shock as he looked at Lom.

"We'll figure that out later let's get him over to doc Millers. You two give us a hand," Lom said nodding at a couple of cowboys.

"Hit his head hard on the bartop when he went down Lom," the bartender said. "Wasn't his fault…he didn't have a chance, never even tried to go for his gun…"

"I'll be back to talk to you Joe and anyone else that saw what started this."

XXX

Despite his protests, Heyes had been kicked out of the room where Doc Miller was working on his friend and was now pacing worriedly in the outer office. Lom had gone back over to the saloon spending more than an hour getting detailed statements from everyone before returning. Entering the office he saw Heyes still pacing back and forth, occasionally raking his hands through his hair. Lom sat for several minutes trying to ignore the man as he continued to pace until he couldn't take it anymore.

"Dammit Heyes sit down, you're makin' me dizzy."

Heyes stopped dead in his tracks turning to the lawman, his eyes full of anguish.

"That's what Kid always says," he said softly. "I still don't understand what happened. Kid didn't do anything…didn't say anything to upset that fella."

"I heard…and I saw the hammer loop was still in place on his gun so I know he didn't try to draw. Don't worry he's in the clear…"

"In the clear? Lom, I just want to know that he's all right."

They both turned to look when the doctor emerged, a somber expression on his face as he eyed the two men.

"Doc?" Heyes asked nervously.

"Well I stitched his head up. That shouldn't cause him any serious problems other than maybe some dizziness, nausea and some blurred vision for a few days. It was tricky but I got the bullet out…he's a lucky young man…it was only half an inch from his heart and he's lost a lot of blood."

Hearing how close the bullet had come to killing his friend the colour drained from Heyes' face and the room started to tilt. Lom, seeing Heyes start to sway, reached out grabbing his arm and steered him to the nearby chair he had vacated when the doctor had appeared. Heyes leaned forward, his head hanging as he took a couple deep breaths, calming himself before glancing up at the doctor who was looking at him with mild concern.

"He's gonna be all right though…isn't he?" he asked almost nervously.

"With plenty of rest…yes. Damn good thing those medical supplies arrived when they did Lom."