Heyes woke to sunlight streaming through the window the next morning. Squinting, he raised an arm to block the blinding light as he sat up on the side of the bed. Rubbing his face he tried to get his bearings before pulling out his watch, grunting in surprise when he saw how late it was. After pulling on his boots, he went to the window, glancing down onto the street grimacing when he ran a hand across his face. He needed a shave…badly, but they had both lost weight the past few weeks and his stomach was rumbling. He spied the diner across the street and deciding the shave could wait a little while longer, turned to look over at his sleeping partner.
"Kid…hey Kid," Heyes called to his friend as he neared the bed.
The Kid sighed softly, and as he started to roll onto his side, Heyes reached down to give his arm a gently shake.
"Kid."
Before his eyes were even open the Kid was automatically reaching for his gun…the gun that Heyes, knowing what would happen, had removed from the holster.
"Wha..? Posse?" he asked his voice shaky and hoarse with sleep as he sat up blinking fuzzily at his partner.
Heyes returned the gun to its rightful place grinning down at the man who had swung his legs over the side of the bed rubbing his eyes and trying to get his brain functioning after being roused from such a deep sleep.
"No, no posse…but we slept all night…figured since I'm hungry you'd be starvin'."
The Kid ran his hands through his hair before getting to his feet and taking the gunbelt Heyes was holding out to him, cussing under his breath when it took several attempts to buckle it on and secure it to his thigh.
"Are ya awake?" Heyes chuckled at his friends' clumsiness.
"Almost."
Heyes put a hand on his cousins' shoulder. "C'mon let's go, we both need to eat."
They made their way down the stairs and were greeted by the woman who had checked them in the previous day.
"Well good morning…you boys look a bit more rested than when you came in."
"Feel a bit better too ma'am. Just gonna grab some breakfast and then get ourselves a bath, clean up some."
"The name's Margaret, but call me Maggie, ma'am makes me feel old. Diner's across the street…I made a couple of sandwiches for you last night, I knocked but when you didn't answer I figured you must have been asleep."
"Think we needed sleep more than food last night, but I'm sure we'll make up for it today," Heyes grinned impishly as he glanced at his friend.
"I'm sure you will," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let me know when you'll be wantin' your baths ready."
XXX
By late afternoon they had eaten their fill, gotten cleaned up and toured the entire town…which didn't take long since it only consisted of a half dozen houses, one of which was labeled as the school, a church, bank, mercantile, diner, livery, the hotel and of course a saloon. They entered the Red Dog Saloon and leaned against the bar drinking their beer passing the time of day with Will Bailey, the bartender/owner, who turned out to be the older brother of Maggie from the hotel.
"Get any poker games in here Will?"
"Get a couple low stakes games on the weekends… you fellas plannin' on stickin' around for a while?"
"We're thinkin' about it."
"Gonna have to find some work if we do," the Kid added.
"If I hear of anything I'll let ya know."
"'Preciate it Will."
They moved to a table and sat talking quietly as they nursed their beers.
"How much money ya got Thaddeus?"
"Six dollars and seventeen cents…you?"
"Four dollars even," he sighed.
"Even if there is poker this is a real small town, I doubt we'd win much money."
Heyes grunted his agreement…both of them needed a week or two of rest and with no town lawman, Sweetwater seemed to be the perfect place, but they needed to make some money. They had spent a couple hours at the table when, sensing movement, they looked up to see a middle-aged man approaching their table.
"Howdy boys…names Hank Miller. Will tells me you two might be interested in a job."
They got to their feet shaking the hand that had been extended.
"Joshua Smith and my friend is Thaddeus Jones," he said with a smile.
"Sit down Mr. Miller. You needin' some work done?"
"I own a ranch a couple miles outta town. I raise horses…worked too many cattle drives to want anything to do with raising the beasts. I had two good men but Earl got himself married last month and moved to Nevada and Billy says he's getting too old. My girls have been doing their best to help but I'm getting desperate boys."
"What's it pay?" Heyes asked.
"Thirty dollars a month and found."
"Thirty dollars each?" the Kid asked making Heyes hide a grin behind his hand…he could always count on his cousin.
"Each," Hank smiled.
The two younger men looked across the table at each other in silent conversation before reaching out to shake hands with the rancher.
XXX
They arrived at the ranch two days later and there they were introduced to Hank's two daughters…Sophie and Sarah who were both in their early twenties. Heyes and the Kid smiled at the two very pretty girls, tipping their hats politely, grinning at each other when the girls hurried back to the house giggling.
"Those two are a handful," Hank admitted shaking his head. "Lost their ma five years ago and guess I've let 'em get away with a lot since then."
"I reckon that's understandable Mr. Miller…"
"Hank…please call me Hank."
"All right Hank…where d'ya want us to start?"
XXX
Time passed quickly and even though it was hard work at times, they found themselves enjoying it. Hank was a good man to work for and he spent nearly every day working right along with them. It was the end of the second week that found them sitting outside the bunkhouse after supper having a cigar and a glass of whiskey, their chairs tipped back, feet propped up on the railing. Heyes glanced at his partner taking note of the look of contentment.
"Two weeks is about up Thaddeus."
The Kid sighed. "Yeah I know..."
Heyes waited a couple of minutes, looking toward the main house before speaking again. "Hank's real nice, the work's not too hard and the folks in town even seem to like us…"
"It's bin nice sleepin' in real beds instead of on the ground and eatin' somethin' other than jerky, hard tack and rabbit," his friend added.
"Won't be long 'til winter's on us," Heyes added still not looking at his friend, but he heard the sigh. "Gotta admit Kid I kinda like it here."
The Kid dropped his feet to the ground and eyed his partner.
"Might be a good idea to stay 'til spring."
"You reckon it'd be safe for us to do that?" the Kid asked hopefully.
"Wyoming winters don't make travellin' too easy…I think we'll be safe enough here," Heyes said, finally turning to his cousin giving him a dimpled grin.
And so, the two weeks that they had planned to stay turned into several months. They worked hard on the ranch but managed to ride into town a couple evenings a week, when the weather permitted, to visit the saloon, playing low stakes poker, enjoying cold beer and the company of the townspeople as well as the comforts provided by the two working girls. They would see Hank's daughters from a distance, only being close enough to tip their hats and speak to them occasionally, both certain that Hank had told his girls to keep their distance. They found themselves quickly welcomed into the tiny community, and although they stayed alert, they found the stress from constantly being on the run from posses and bounty hunters easing.
Fall turned into winter…a brutally cold winter with a lot of snow which kept everyone close to home. Many of the ranchers lost a lot of livestock, be it cattle or horses…but the Miller ranch made out better than most…with the help of Hank and the two girls they had moved the horses into a sheltered valley where they would be safe until the snow finally melted.
XXX
The animals had been herded back to higher ground once it was considered safe to do so. It was a beautiful spring day that found the two men out checking the herd when the Kid saw someone running towards them waving frantically to get their attention.
"Heyes…it's Sophie," the Kid said urging his horse into a gallop to meet her, Heyes right on his heels.
Both men ground their horses to a halt and seeing her disheveled state quickly dismounted, Heyes reaching out to grab the breathless girls' shoulders."
"Sophie what is it?"
"Pa…Sarah…" she gasped.
"Sophie calm down…"
"Two men..barn… got pa and …Sarah…I… got away."
"You sure there's only two?" the Kid asked.
She nodded and they remounted, Heyes pulling the girl up behind him. Wrapping her arms tightly around him had her heart racing even more. It took only a few minutes for the ranch buildings to come into sight where they reined up and handing the reins to her they left on foot after ordering her sternly not to follow them.
They made it to the barn unnoticed, one on either side of the door with guns drawn, listening to the voices inside. Heyes picked up a rock the size of his hand and banged it against the wall of the barn before he and the Kid ducked around opposite corners. The voices stopped and they stood waiting patiently…one man cautiously stuck his head out and seeing nothing continued to the corner of the barn where he came face to face with Hannibal Heyes' Schofield. The Kid watched as Heyes spoke to the captive, waiting somewhat patiently until Heyes turned to him and held up one finger. Taking a deep breath the Kid holstered his gun and started whistling softly as he strolled casually into the barn, head down, seemingly not seeing the three people in there. The stranger started to turn his gun from Hank and Sarah stunned when it flew from his hand, staring at the still smoking gun in the hand of the Kid. Heyes then joined them, his gun keeping the first man covered, as stopping beside his cousin he eyed Hank and his daughter who were staring at his partner.
"You two all right?" he asked.
"Yes, thanks to you two…but Sophie…"
"She's all right Hank, we left her with our horses."
The Kid had said nothing… his eyes were scanning Sarah, seeing the bruise developing on her cheek and the torn sleeve of her dress. He stiffened, his cold eyes locking on the man standing in front of him who was still gripping the hand that had been holding his gun. Hank and Sarah got to their feet as the Kid spun his gun smoothly back into the holster, never looking away from the now terrified man who took a step back …the Kid's fist connected solidly. He stood shaking his hand as he angrily regarded the unconscious man sprawled in the straw. Sarah walked forward, putting her hand gently over his and turning his gaze to her, his look softened and smiling as she hugged him, he wrapped an arm around her, feeling her trembling.
"Well Hank, what d'we do with these two."
"The nearest law is in Lander," he said, seeing the two men exchange a sharp look.
"Let's get them tied up good and tight. I want you two to stay here and keep an eye on the girls while I take these fellas into town. I'll get Will's son Frank to ride into Lander with me." He saw them breathe a sigh of relief.
XXX
Life on the ranch settled down relatively quickly after that excitement. The girls began to take more of an interest in the two handsome ranch hands. Several times they had caught one or both of the girls watching them…and the men in turn had noticed them. The weather was warming up and it was after a full day of riding checking the herd that found the ex outlaws once again relaxing in front of the bunkhouse.
"Well Kid, guess we have a decision to make," Heyes said seriously.
"Yeah…guess we do."
"Kid…look at me."
'I know what you're gonna say Heyes…"
"I don't think you do…I need to ask you a question and I want an honest answer."
His cousin frowned at him sure that Heyes was going to say it was time to leave.
"How would you feel if we stayed?"
"What? You mean it?"
"Yeah Kid I mean it…I like it here, but only if you want to."
The broad smile on the Kids' face was all he needed for an answer.
XXX
It was July of 1885, almost two months after the trouble on the ranch and ten months after starting work at the ranch when a tall stranger rode into Sweetwater. He was looking for information and he knew the best place for that was the local saloon. So after tying his horse to the hitching rail he pushed his way through the swinging doors, stopping just inside to scan the room. Seeing no one familiar he continued to the bar.
"Howdy stranger, what can I getcha?" Will asked eying the badge.
"Beer… and maybe some information."
"What kind of information?" he asked setting the beer in front of the sheriff.
"I'm looking for Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones. Heard they were livin' around here."
"What d'ya want 'em for?" asked a voice behind him.
The sheriff was aware of the men that had come closer when he mentioned the names…and they weren't looking too friendly. He wondered if the two he was searching for had somehow upset these folks and moved on after having worn out their welcome.
"Any of you know where I might find 'em?" he asked, calmly taking a long drink of his beer.
"Guess that all depends on what you want 'em for."
"Afraid I'm not at liberty to tell you that."
"Well then sheriff, guess we ain't never heard of 'em."
He sighed knowing he wasn't going to get any information on the two outlaws in here. He finished his beer gently setting the glass on the bar before turning to face the handful of men watching him.
"I'll be stayin' at the hotel tonight if any of you happen to remember anything."
And with that he made his way outside, collected his horse and led it two doors down to the hotel, deciding to take it to the livery after checking in…unsure if they would rent him a room.