Heyes and Lom were almost halfway to Cheyenne when the Kid finally surfaced from his drug induced sleep. His head was pounding, he was thirsty and as he looked around the room he was surprised to see he was alone. Grunting as he sat up, he winced putting a hand gently to the bandage on his chest. The door opened and the doctor came in, a big smile on his face when he saw his patient sitting up.

"Well, finally awake I see," he chuckled.

"What time is it?" the Kid asked groggily.

"It's almost five o'clock. Miss Mary from the diner said she'd bring some supper over for you. She should be here any time now."

"Where's H…Joshua?"

"He has a job that's taken him out of town for a few days. He stopped in here to tell you, but I'd already given you some laudanum, so it's not unexpected that you don't remember seeing him."

Once again he found himself thinking of the things that Lom had said and as he glanced toward the door, he saw his saddlebags still on the table.

"Did Joshua say how long he'd be outta town?"

"He left early this morning and said he'd be gone two or three days."

There was a light tapping on the door and the doctor let a young girl in. She was carrying a tray and smiled shyly at the wounded man in the bed, his chest bare except for the white bandage wrapped around him. The Kid smiled his thanks making her blush as she turned to leave.

"Eat up Thaddeus. Maybe tomorrow I'll let you get out of bed and sit in the chair."

"That sounds good doc," he smiled as he began to eat, his eyes flicking to the saddlebags again.

XXX

The next morning, while the Kid was eating breakfast after the doc had checked his chest wound and announced that it was looking good, Lom and Heyes were standing outside the office of Governor Francis Warren. Heyes had bluntly refused to put on his suit and so both men were wearing their normal western wear as they waited to be admitted to the governors' inner office.

"You'll need to leave the guns here gentlemen," the male secretary stated firmly.

Guns were deposited on the desk, the secretary locking them safely away before escorting them to the large wooden door at the end of the room. He knocked gently and they heard a voice telling them to come in.

A distinguished looking man looked up at them as they entered…Lom removed his hat…Heyes didn't.

"Sheriff Trevors. I received your wire yesterday and don't have a lot of time…so what's on your mind?" he motioned for them to sit as he eyed Heyes.

"Well sir, this is Hannibal Heyes and he's the one that asked me to arrange this meeting with you. Heyes, Governor Francis Warren."

The governor and the wanted man eyed each other silently for a few moments.

"So, this is the famous Hannibal Heyes…where is your partner Mr. Heyes?"

"My partner is recovering from a serious gunshot wound that we weren't sure he was going to survive…he doesn't know I'm here," Heyes responded.

"A gunfight I suppose."

Heyes eyes glittered dangerously and the governor realized that this was an angry man.

"No sir, he'd just gotten back from delivering some of those medical supplies you sent. I witnessed the shooting, he was having a beer in the saloon and was in no way responsible for what happened," Lom cut in.

"He was exhausted after trying to evade a posse that chased him for three days after he successfully delivered those supplies," Heyes began, pushing his hat back a bit.

"Well…" the governor began, but Heyes cut him off, speaking firmly but without raising his voice.

"Some time ago we were told that if we stayed straight for a year that you'd give us an amnesty. We've done that and more. Every time you or Lom asked us to do something, we done it and all we asked was for you to live up to your promise of that amnesty. Now it's been over two years and we still don't have it." Heyes got to his feet, putting his hands on his hips before continuing. "Me and the Kid have been shot up, beat up, chased relentlessly by lawmen and bounty hunters and gone hungry because we didn't have any money and couldn't find lawful work." Warren sat back further in his chair as Heyes put his hands on the governor's desk leaning forward as he continued to glare at him. "We were safer when we were outlawin'…at least we had money and food and a safe place to sleep." Heyes stopped to take a deep breath. "Now I've made a decision…"

"Heyes," Lom said softly as his head snapped around to look at him wondering what the hell he was going to do.

"I've decided that I'll give you a month governor…one month to decide whether or not you're going to give us that amnesty." Heyes straightened up not breaking eye contact with Governor Warren as he watched him think about what he'd just said to him.

"Is that a threat Mr. Heyes?" Warren demanded, frowning.

Heyes smiled. Turning and walking to the door he stopped as he opened it and looked back over his shoulder.

"A threat governor? No not a threat…just think of it as…a possibility," and with that he disappeared.

Lom looked at the man sitting stunned on the other side of the desk as he stared at the now closed door.

"Governor, I've told you many times how hard those two boys are trying. Heyes is right, they've done everything we've asked of them and it's time. Either give them the amnesty or tell them no, but don't keep them hangin' on like this."

"Do you think they'd go back to their outlaw ways?"

"No I really don't think they would…but on the off chance they did, I know Heyes and he'd make sure that everyone knew it was because of a broken promise from this office."

"I could order you to arrest them…"

"Yes sir, you could."

Both men sat quietly for a few moments, Lom watching the governor, unsure of what he was going to order him to do.

"Get out of here…I'll wire you my decision by the fourteenth…that's one month from today."

XXX

Lom exited the building and saw Heyes leaning against the fence his arms crossed. He looked up when he saw the sheriff approaching.

"Well, did he order you to arrest me?"

Lom just shook his head and huffed out a breath.

"You coulda warned me."

"You would have tried to talk me out of it. But until he makes his decision only you, me and the governor will know about what was said in there," he grinned. "C'mon let's get back and see how the Kid's doin'."

"You're gonna tell the Kid aren't ya?" Lom asked.

"Naw, I don't want him frettin' over this while he's healin', after all it's only four weeks."

XXX

Back in Porterville, an hour after the doctor left to attend to his housebound patients, the Kid had slowly managed to not only get himself dressed, but had made his way to the livery where the hostler had readied his horse for him. He stood shaking his head as he watched the Kid painfully pull himself up into the saddle and head away from town. He had no destination in mind, but wanted to be gone before Heyes returned. He knew he would be upset but it was for the best…Heyes would finally get amnesty and as for himself…well he'd do his best to disappear. Unfortunately he hadn't realized how much staying in the saddle would take out of him and as the afternoon wore on the clouds gathered and a light rain fell. "Of course," he thought, not daring to dismount because he wasn't sure he'd be able to get back on. The rain lasted just long enough to thoroughly soak him to the skin and when the clouds finally dissipated the sun was low on the horizon. The Kid was slouched wearily in the saddle and his head was beginning to drop to his chest when he heard someone calling to him.

"Howdy Kid."

He raised his head trying to bring the two men approaching him into focus.

"Preacher he ain't lookin' so good."

"I can see that Kyle…Kid?"

"P…Preacher?"

"Yeah Kid, it's just me and Kyle…where's Heyes?"

"Dunno…I left. He's better off without me."

"Reckon you'd best let me take a look at ya…there's quite a bit o' blood on your shirt."

The Kid looked down at his blood covered shirt.

"Got shot..."

"C'mon Kid we'll set up camp for the night in that spot over yonder, then I can check you out, " Preacher said with a nod in the direction of a grove of trees.

Within half an hour Preacher had removed his now slightly feverish friends' shirt, checked the wound and redressed it while Kyle got a fire going and put coffee on. Preacher sat back on his heels taking in the Kid's flushed face as he lay back on the bedroll that had been laid out for him.

"Guess I'd best be trackin' Heyes down."

The Kid reached out grabbing Preachers' arm. "No Preacher. You gotta promise you won't tell him where I am."

"All right Kid I won't tell him…if you're sure that's what you want."

The Kid nodded putting his head back down, his eyes sliding closed. Preacher waited patiently until he was sure the man was asleep before turning to Kyle and speaking quietly.

"Go to Porterville and tell Lom. He'll know where Heyes is."

"But you promised…"

"I promised I wouldn't tell him…didn't say nothin' about you."

"That's downright sneaky…I like it," Kyle said with an admiring grin before jumping on his horse and heading to Porterville, leaving Preacher to look after the sick man.

XXX

The sun was coming up and as he began to wake the Kid became aware of a familiar presence beside him. Opening his eyes he saw his partner hunched forward with eyes closed, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. When the Kid shifted uncomfortably, Heyes' eyes snapped open meeting his partners' gaze. He saw a myriad of emotions flit across Heyes' face…fear, sadness, concern, disappointment and finally anger.

"Just what the hell is goin' on with you?"

"I needed to get away, clear my head."

"Well that shouldn't take too long cos right now there sure doesn't seem to be much in there."

"I don't wanna be the cause of you not gettin' amnesty…" he trailed off looking away.

Heyes sighed silently cursing Lom.

"Look at me," Heyes ordered, continuing once he was sure he had his partners' attention again. "You really think I'd want the amnesty if you weren't gettin' it too? Put yourself in my place…how would you feel if I ran out on you…left without a word?"

"Well I heard Lom…"

"Yeah me and Lom already had ourselves a little chat about that. Dammit Kid, that bullet almost killed you. I got back to town and I think I scared the doc half to death when I found out you were gone. Dan at the livery told me which way you went so I could come after you and then I come across Kyle."

"I thought it'd be best if I disappeared," he said softly as he looked away again…he really didn't feel well.

"Well ya thought wrong…I'm just glad Preacher and Kyle found ya when they did or who knows what might've happened to ya." Heyes paused as worry overrode his anger. His partner was looking worse now than he had when he'd left for his meeting with the governor. "I gotta get you back to town so the doc can take a look at ya. Think you can ride or do you want me to double up with ya?"

"I can ride…if you'll help me up."

XXX

Heyes had been watching his partner gradually fade as the miles fell behind them and was thankful when they rode into Porterville just before noon. Not saying a word as they made their way down the street, the Kid seemed unaware when they stopped in front of the sheriff's office. Lom came out to lean on the hitching rail while Heyes rested an arm on his saddle horn giving his cousin a hard look.

"Now, you got a choice…stay put in the hotel room after the doc sees ya…or I'll have Lom put ya in a cell."

The Kid's raised his head slowly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to decide if his partner was serious.

"You wouldn't…"

Heyes raised an eyebrow…"Wanna bet?"

They glared at each other for a minute before the Kid gave in and sighed. "Hotel," he mumbled.

"Thought that's what you'd say."

XXX

The two men spent several days in Porterville until the Kid finally recovered enough to sit his horse. Lom had tried more than once to talk to the younger man and apologize, but had been waved off being told that everything he had said was true. Then they had ridden out of town, wandering aimlessly, making enough money playing poker in the occasional town to keep them in supplies and able to afford a hotel room once in a while. The Kid still tired easily and Heyes had caught him several times rubbing his chest gently when he thought he wouldn't be seen. He also hadn't yet regained his appetite so hadn't gained back any of the weight he'd lost when he had been laid up in Porterville. The days passed, far too slowly for Heyes, and he began to worry about what the governor might do…he also knew he had to tell his partner what he'd done. The Kid knew that his cousin had something on his mind, seeming to get more and more uneasy as the days passed, but decided to say nothing…yet.

XXX

It was the tenth of August when they rode into the town of Pridebrook.

"You get us a room and I'll send Lom a telegram letting him know where we are…see if he has any news."

"Yeah…don't hold your breath."

Heyes sent his telegram and stood waiting, hoping there would be a quick answer. He wasn't disappointed, and having read it several times, wasn't sure what it meant…but did know that the time had come to fill his partner in on his visit to Cheyenne. Telegram in hand he went to the hotel, hearing the click of the colt in his friends' hand as he opened the door to their room.

"You got a reply from Lom already?" he asked dropping the gun back into the holster hanging on the bedpost.

"Yeah…but we gotta talk before you read this," Heyes sighed.

Hearing the serious tone the Kid swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up, looking at him questioningly as he started telling him about the meeting he'd had with the governor, the curious expression being replaced with disbelief as the story unfolded. Heyes held the telegram out to him when he finished talking, his partner taking it but instead of reading it he continued to stare at him.

"I oughta flatten you Heyes. What the hell were you thinkin'…I swear you and your plans are gonna be the death of me one day."

"Well, you gonna read it or not?" Heyes huffed. "I'm not sure what to make of it."

He finally looked at the paper in his hand and read it aloud…"Meeting with mutual friend at two on fourteenth of August in Porterville stop don't be late stop Lom." He sat, silently rereading it two more times trying to decide if it was good news or bad. He looked up seeing Heyes standing with his hands on his hips staring at him.

"Guess we're headin' back to Porterville," he said calmly.

"You sure Kid…I mean I'm not sure if it's good news or not."

"Only one way to find out Heyes…I could go in first…"

"No Kid, we do this together. If we get arrested, I'll figure a way to get us out…like you always say there's only one thing we're better at than breakin' into banks…"

"That's breakin' outta jail," the Kid finished with a grin. "All right, I say we have a bath, a steak supper and a few drinks over a game of poker."

Heyes slapped his friend on the back hoping to see him finally eat a decent meal and start putting some weight back on.

"Now that's what I call a good idea."

XXX

The morning of the fourteenth found the two men pulling their horses to a stop in front of the sheriff's office in Porterville. Dismounting they stood for a moment in front of the door exchanging a slightly uneasy look before both men took a deep breath and entered.

"Howdy Heyes, Kid," he greeted them.

"Lom?"

"Governor will be here around two. He's detouring through Porterville on his way to Laramie."

Both men stiffened slightly knowing the Wyoming Territorial Prison was near Laramie.

"Do you know what he decided?"

"No Heyes, he didn't tell me." Lom glanced questioningly over at the Kid.

"I told him about that meeting when I got your wire."

"Why don't you fellas go get yourselves cleaned up and relax for a couple hours."

"Relax?" Heyes snorted a laugh.

"Ain't sure how much relaxin' we'll be doin' Lom," Kid added rolling his eyes.

XXX

The hours passed slowly for the two men. Sitting in the saloon Heyes snuck a look at his partner who was still not completely recovered and now with the stress of this upcoming meeting...it had him a little concerned about his friend. They had just exited the saloon when they saw the private coach stop in front of the sheriff's office. Glancing at each other they tried to steel themselves for whatever was about to happen, before making their way over to see what fate had in store for them.

Walking into Lom's office they saw not only him, but a well dressed man that Heyes recognized as Governor Warren along with another gentleman. The three men turned when they entered.

"Mr. Heyes, we meet again. And this must be your partner Kid Curry," Warren said as he eyed the Kid, thinking his boyish features made him look closer to twenty and he certainly didn't look like the feared gunman he heard so many stories about. He was further surprised when the young man spoke.

"Jed Curry sir," the Kid responded softly and respectfully.

'Maybe Trevors' had been telling the truth after all when he'd told me that most of the things I'd heard about the gunfighter were either exaggerations or lies,' Warren thought before turning his gaze to Heyes again.

"I don't take kindly to veiled threats and ultimatums Mr. Heyes…but…after listening to the things both you and sheriff Trevors said that day and giving it much thought…I've come to a decision."

He stood waiting for a minute watching the two men before reaching out to his assistant accepting two thick envelopes handing one to Heyes the other to the Kid. Your amnesties…granted…but with one condition."

Both men looked at him, their shoulders drooping, the governor waiting another long moment before voicing the condition.

"If I hear of either of you, being convicted of robbing so much as a mercantile in the future these amnesties will be nullified and I personally will see that you spend the rest of your lives in the territorial prison…do I make myself clear?"

"Thank you and you have our word governor…this going straight has kinda grown on us," Heyes smiled nudging his friend who was again staring at the envelope in his hand. He jerked his head up and looked at the governor who was shocked to see the level of gratitude in the outlaws'…er…ex outlaws' glistening eyes. He couldn't help but smile as he reached out to shake the hand the gunman held out to him.

"Thank you sir, we won't disappoint you."

"Make sure you don't."

He turned, extending his hand to Heyes who smiled as he shook hands with the politician.

"All right Blake let's go, we don't want to be late for our next appointment."

The governor stopped at the open door, turning to look back at Heyes, a teasing grin on his face.

"Mr. Heyes you missed your calling…you would have been a very useful member to have on my staff…or perhaps even a worthy opponent." He chuckled seeing the look of surprise on the ex outlaws' face, the chuckle blossoming into a laugh as the door closed behind him.