Neither man heard the knock on the bunkhouse door the next morning or saw their boss enter. Hank choked back a snort of laughter as he took in the sight of the two men sound asleep, still fully clothed. Both men's holsters were hanging on the bedposts and Heyes had somehow managed to remove one boot before falling asleep, which was one more than his partner. Knowing what his girls had planned he roused his hired hands.

"C'mon boys…get up!" he said loudly.

A groan from Heyes was the only reaction he got. Shaking his head he gave Heyes' shoulder a shake, straightening up when a pair of bloodshot eyes slowly opened and regarded him blearily.

"Hank?" he said groggily…"What is it?" Thinking there was something wrong, Heyes pulled himself up to sit on the side of his bed, his thumping head making him wince.

"I figured I'd better tell you the girls have something planned for ya."

Heyes looked up at him with a confused frown…"Girls?"

Hank rolled his eyes…"My girls…Sarah and Sophie…you remember them?" he teased.

"Oh, yeah," Heyes grunted. "Wait...if I gotta be awake for this, so does the Kid." Heyes got to his feet and made his way to his partner who was still face down on his bed, his left hand trailing on the floor. Heyes gave him a none too gentle thump on the back. "Wake up." Startled, the Kid turned over and sat up too quickly, his head spinning and his stomach rolling. Seeing his friends' colour, Heyes backed away to a safe distance. Hank just stood watching, smiling in understanding…he could remember suffering mornings like this a time or two in his younger days.

"You're lookin' a little green there son."

The Kid looked over at him, Hank laughing out loud when he saw the Kid's pitiful attempt at a glare.

"Just thought I'd let you know the girls wanted to make you a big breakfast to celebrate your amnesties."

Both men groaned their faces turning ashen, Hank hurried to finish.

"I talked them out of it."

"Thanks Hank, cos I don't think our reaction would have bin quite what they were hopin' for."

"Yeah…so they're plannin' to have a picnic with you instead…in about three hours." Hank turned, opening the door before looking back at the two men. "They're all excited about this picnic…so please don't disappoint 'em." The door closed behind him leaving the partners to look at each other wearily.

"That's a real nice thing the girls are wantin' to do for us."

"Yeah…real nice," the Kid sighed. "But I'm guessin' that means we're not goin' back to sleep."

"No Kid we're not. Don't want to hurt their feelings by fallin' asleep and missin' it."

XXX

Several hours later the two men, who had pretty much recovered, were sitting on a quilt enjoying the food the girls had prepared for them and were relaxing as they chatted about nothing in particular. Sarah pulled out a covered dish after the boys wiped their hands, having eaten their fill of the delicious fried chicken.

"I made a pie," she said shyly. "I hope you like it."

"Kid does love pie," Heyes grinned.

Sarah sliced the pie and Sophie passed the plates around. The cousins took a mouthful chewing a couple times before looking at each other in surprise. Sarah seeing their reaction and thinking the worst, lowered her head.

Sophie put a comforting hand on her arm, turning angry eyes to the men. "Is there something wrong?" she snapped. She was startled to see the man she had known as Thaddeus look at her, his eyes glistening. He shook his head and took a calming breath.

"Sarah…" he said softly waiting until she looked up at him. "Blueberry's my favourite…and this one…well it..." he paused turning his head and looking off into the distance.

"This tastes just like… " Heyes started to explain.

The Kid set the plate down and got to his feet. "Excuse me for a minute," he mumbled as he walked down toward the stream, Heyes watching him for a moment before turning back to try to explain.

"Nobody's ever come anywhere close to his ma's blueberry pie before and if I didn't know better I'd swear she made this."

"Is she…"

"We both lost our folks when we were young. It's a long story and not one we talk about much…even with each other. But the taste of this pie brought back memories from our childhood and it's just a little overwhelming I guess…especially for him."

Sarah started to rise "I should go and apologize."

"No there's no need for you to apologize…but he might appreciate your company."

He watched as Sarah approached his cousin, seeing her speak to him for a minute before he reached out hugging her. Heyes smiled not realizing that Sophie had been watching him.

"You worry about him."

"We worry about each other…it's a fairly equal partnership."

"You've been together a long time?"

"We grew up together…we parted ways for a couple years then joined up again. We ran into each other after I was in the Devil's Hole gang…I convinced him into joining and the rest, as they say, is history," he grinned.

Sarah and the Kid returned, Heyes glanced at his friend who nodded at him, letting him know he was all right.

"So, what brought you two to Sweetwater in the first place?"

Heyes laughed as he eyed the man across from him. "Where to start…"

"Picked up a posse in Shady Springs first," the Kid began.

"That's right…it took what…three or four days to lose 'em. Then the bounty hunter caught us the day after we lost that posse."

"Yeah…a dang smart bounty hunter at that. Took us a couple days to get loose from him," the Kid said unconsciously rubbing his wrists.

"Ended up in Tuckerville not long after that needin' to get some supplies…and, just our luck, the sheriff walked out of his office."

"A sheriff that knew us, so no supplies…and another posse on our tail."

"Lost that one by hidin' out in a cave…then the storm," the Kid grimaced.

"By then we were beat…it was just by chance that we happened upon your town."

"But…what was it that convinced you to stay?"

"Small town with no lawman," Heyes grinned, the Kid nodding in agreement.

XXX

The summer passed with regular picnics, a couple of socials and even a barn raising at a neighboring farm. Hank watched his two daughters falling in love with the two ex outlaws, and even though he knew they were treating his girls respectfully, he hoped they wouldn't break their hearts.

They had finished the fall roundup with Hank making a healthy profit from the sale of fifty head of horses. Sarah and Sophie decided to take the buggy into town to do a bit of shopping leaving Hank alone. They girls hadn't been gone long when he heard a knock on the door, surprised to see Heyes and Jed standing there when he opened it.

"Come in fellas. The girls aren't here they've gone shopping in town."

"Yes sir, we know. We…ah...wanted to talk to you about them," Heyes started.

"Oh? Is something wrong?"

"No…no, nothing's wrong…"

"Geez, what happened to your silver tongue Heyes…Hank we'd like your permission to ask your daughters to marry us."

"Dammit Kid, I was gonna ask him."

"I was hopin' to ask Sarah this year sometime Heyes."

"Boys!" Hank said, both men looking at him expectantly, watching as he regarded them seriously.

"The girls would make my life hell if I said no…I've watched you with them and I have no doubt that you'll take good care of them…so yes you have my permission."

XXX

It was a couple of weeks later that found Lom Trevors sitting in his office one evening trying to catch up on the never ending paperwork that being a sheriff entailed. He looked up shocked to see Wheat Carlson and Kyle Murty enter quickly closing the door behind them.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" he demanded frowning when he saw Kyle's arm in a sling.

"Well we was wonderin' if you could do for us what ya done for Heyes and the Kid. See Kyle here got hisself shot up pretty bad a while ago, almost died…that's when I decided that it was time for us to become honest citizens."

Lom raised his eyebrows at the thought of these two being honest citizens, but turned his attention to the shorter man. "How did you come to be shot Kyle?"

"I weren't doin' nothin' wrong…me 'n' Wheat was headin' back to the Hole. Stopped by the river…you know the one I mean Lom…down by the…"

"Just get on with it Kyle," Lom growled.

"Sorry Lom… we was lettin' the horses get a drink after we done filled our canteens 'n' someone just started shootin' at us. Me 'n' Wheat we hightailed it outta there as quick as we could, but guess I got hit a couple times. Don't rightly 'member much else 'til I woke up in the Hole."

"You weren't headin' back from a robbery?" he asked Wheat who bristled.

"We ain't robbed in nigh on two months."

"All right, all right. I'll go to the governor and see what I can do."

Just then the door opened again, a man entering, hesitating when he saw the two strangers.

"Oh sorry Lom, didn't realize there was somebody else here. This telegram just came for you, thought I'd drop it off on my way home."

"Thanks Bill."

Bill left and Lom tore open the telegram and began to read it quietly.

'Lom, both getting married June 5 next year at Miller ranch stop will you stand up with us stop Joshua and Thaddeus.'

"Well I'll be damned." Lom said with a smile.

"Why're they still usin' an alias, they ain't wanted no more."

"Dammit Wheat, this is meant to be private!"

"Then ya shouldn't a let me see it," he huffed.

Kyle's head swiveled back and forth between the two men, trying to figure out what they were talking about.

"Wheat?"

"What is it Kyle?"

"Is that about Heyes and the Kid? They's all right ain't they?"

"Yeah Kyle…seems they're gettin' themselves married off is all."

Kyle's eyes widened, a broad smile revealing his tobacco stained teeth as he looked at Lom. "Can we go?" he asked eagerly, "I'd sure like to see 'em get hitched."

Lom couldn't take much more and sighed before answering. "I'll ask when I send an answer to their telegram tomorrow. Now you two get out of my office…come back next Friday and I'll let you know what the governor says."

"Don't forget t'ask 'bout the weddin' Lom."

"I won't Kyle…goodbye…and stay away from Devil's Hole," he added before the door closed behind the two men.

XXX

That winter was a busy one on the Miller ranch with not only all the regular work, but preparations for the upcoming wedding as well. Heyes and Jed had listened patiently when the girls excitedly discussed their ideas with them, finally telling them that whatever they wanted was fine with them as long as by the end of the day they were married. Invitations had been sent out to Clementine, who had promised to be there, as well as Silky and Soapy, who sent their congratulations but poor health would prevent them from coming. After a minor disagreement they had wired Lom saying Wheat and Kyle could come as long as they promised to behave.

As the snow slowly disappeared, the house and grounds began to transform as flowers were planted and decorations were arranged. Sophie and Sarah had finally selected a spot for the ceremony and had been overjoyed when their future husbands had declared it perfect.

Clementine had arrived at the ranch two days before the wedding after being picked up at the train station in Lander by Frank Bailey. She had been ecstatic to see her two friends and Sophie and Sarah had made her feel very welcome. They had shaken their heads and smiled as they watched the three girls chatter and giggle when they headed for the house.

The only thing that had almost derailed the wedding was the wire from Lom that Wheat had delivered early that morning saying he had to testify at a trial and couldn't get out of it. Despite a heartfelt argument from Heyes, he had been overruled, first by his cousin saying they had no other choice, then by the three girls telling them not to worry, they would get Wheat ready to stand in for Lom.

XXX

The sun was shining as guests began to arrive at the ranch and Heyes and Jed were getting ready in the bunkhouse. Jed straightened Heyes' tie as Heyes brushed nonexistent dust from his cousin's shoulders. They stood facing each other, not saying a word, they didn't need to. A knock at the door had them turning toward it as it slowly opened. Both men stared in disbelief at the man who stood in the doorway, a huge smile on his face.

"They sent me ta get ya…said it's time and they's all ready for ya."

Heyes was the first one to find his voice…"Kyle?"

"Yeah, them girls…there ain't no arguin' with 'em. Made me have a bath and put on these fancy clothes…told 'em I had a bath last month. Even made me spit out my chaw…said I couldn't have any more until all the weddin' stuff was done."

"Kyle I almost didn't recognize you."

Kyle grinned. "Wait 'til ya see Wheat."

The partners glanced at each other.

"Now c'mon, I sure don't want them gals gettin' mad at me again."

XXX

They made their way to the site of their wedding, smiling as they walked past their guests, which included most of the town. They caught sight of a smiling Clem who had been tapped to stand with the girls, but stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the man standing up front by the preacher.

"Who is that?" Jed whispered to his cousin without looking at him.

"Kid…I…I think its Wheat."

They were waved forward by the preacher so they continued on their way, eyeing the man that was standing in for Lom as their best man. Wheat was standing tall and proud in his suit…and clean shaven.

"Boys," he greeted them with a nod, grinning at the shocked look on their faces.

Before they could respond Sarah and Sophie were standing beside them and the ceremony began.