It was mid afternoon when the two men rode into the town of Shady Springs, both thankful that they didn't recognize the name of the lawman prominently displayed in front of the sheriffs' office. They reined up in front of the saloon thinking a cold beer before getting supplies was a good idea…maybe even a hand or two of poker to increase their dwindling funds after having a steak supper. Hannibal Heyes had dismounted, the Kid, still in the saddle was just shifting his weight to get down when they heard a familiar cry go up. Neither one of them had ever been to this town before, but it was just their luck that someone here recognized the Kid.
"Hey I know him…sheriff! Sheriff…it's Kid Curry…Sheriff!"
Cursing under his breath, Heyes quickly remounted, following his partner out of town at a gallop…a posse hot on their trail not fifteen minutes later. They rode all day and a full moon along with a cloudless sky had them riding all night since the posse didn't stop.
It took four long days for them to shake that posse and feel safe enough to start a fire cooking the rabbit the Kid had shot just before dark.
"They were a persistent bunch."
The Kid grunted a response as he continued to eat, and for the next several minutes both men were silent, thankful to be eating something other than the jerky they had been living on since the posse had started chasing them. The Kid got slowly to his feet after throwing the bone he had picked clean into the fire …"Get some sleep, I'll take first watch."
"All right, wake me in a couple hours."
XXX
The sun was barely over the horizon when they saddled their horses and continued heading in a westerly direction, hoping to find a town soon…a town where they wouldn't be recognized. They rode for most of the day seeing nothing…no towns, no farms, not even a deserted shack anywhere. The sun was dipping low when they decided to head to a nearby grove of trees and make camp for the night. The gunshot came out of nowhere kicking up dust in front of the Kid's horse, both men grabbing for their guns.
"Don't be touchin' them guns boys, me 'n' my partner got ya covered. Now, nice 'n' slow Curry take your gun out…left hand and toss it off to your left."
The Kid paused, looking over toward Heyes but before either of them could speak another shot hit the dirt in front of Heyes' mount.
"Don't make me shoot again or it won't be the ground I'll be hittin'."
The Kid moved slowly doing as he had been instructed.
"Now you do the same Heyes."
"Now look…"
"No you look, do as yer told…now…or Curry will pay the price."
With a sigh Heyes did as he was told. Then both men were ordered to dismount, keep their hands up and were told to move away from the horses.
"Keep 'em covered Virgil while I get 'em tied up."
Heyes frowned thoughtfully when a vaguely familiar man a few years older than they were stepped out from behind the trees. Within minutes he had both men's hands tied tightly behind their backs, laughing all the while as Heyes did his best to convince him that they weren't those notorious outlaws.
"You might as well save yer breath Heyes, I know exactly who you two are. Seen you rob the bank in Coppper Cliff four years ago…and I never forget a face."
And that's when it clicked in Heyes' mind…he remembered this man being in the bank when the Devil's Hole Gang had robbed it. He closed his eyes momentarily in defeat and watched as he went about starting a fire, putting coffee on and warming some beans. He offered nothing to his two captives.
"Where's your partner, aren't you going to let him eat?"
"Partner? I ain't got no partner," their captor grinned. "Sure had you fooled though didn't I."
Heyes had to admit he was being clever for a bounty hunter, even making sure the boys were kept apart…too far apart to even talk to one another without him hearing them. They spent a long night silently trying to free themselves...but to no avail. In the morning after being given a mouthful of water each they were helped up onto their horses and spent a long uncomfortable day being led toward the town of Sagebrush which they were told they'd reach tomorrow. For a second night they were kept a distance apart while their captor slept and the boys continued to work on their bindings. Halfway through the night the Kid's right hand slipped free of the rope and he quickly finished freeing himself before carefully making his way to his partner. Once both were loose, Heyes made his way to the horses while the Kid, holding his breath, made his way closer to the bounty hunter and retrieved their guns. As silently as they could they led the animals a short distance away before mounting and riding off.
They were both tired thirsty and hungry but knew they couldn't stop, he would soon be after them. They rode steadily until shortly after noon when bullets fired from in front of them started whizzing by their ears. Pulling their guns they started firing back as they ducked low on their animals. Hearing a cry of pain followed soon after by the sound of a galloping horse, they carefully moved forward, guns still drawn. They came to the spot where the shooter had been and saw the blood on the ground.
"Let's get outta here."
"Kid, you're bleeding."
The Kid looked down at his left arm seeing the slightest hint of blood. "It ain't nothin' worth worryin' about, let's go."
XXX
Two days after escaping from the bounty hunter they entered the tiny town of Tuckerville. Checking the name on the sheriff's office they looked sharply at each other…this sheriff knew them very well and just as they were wheeling their horses around to head back the way they came he walked out of his office and saw them.
"I don't believe this," the Kid cried as they spurred their animals out of town.
They managed to stay ahead of the posse the sheriff had rounded up for three days, but they were fading fast as were their horses when the Kid spotted the cave that was almost completely hidden by shrubbery. Leading the animals inside they moved back as far as they could, keeping a hand on the horses' noses to keep them quiet. Hearing the posse go by they remained where they were, barely daring to breathe until, almost an hour later, they finally heard the posse pass by again as they returned to town. Deciding to spend the night in the cave but not daring to start a fire, they huddled in their coats taking turns on watch while the other got a couple hours of much needed sleep. At sunup they left the relative safety of the cave heading out hoping to find a small town where they could rest.
They had been riding for several hours both men being somewhat quieter than usual, when the Kid finally spoke.
"What else do ya think's gonna go wrong Heyes?"
"Ah Kid think positive, we've had enough bad luck to last us…at least for a while."
Not five minutes later they both looked skyward when they heard the sound of distant thunder, seeing the dark clouds approaching.
"You have got to be kidding me," Heyes groaned.
The storm was upon them within minutes and with no shelter in sight they kept going…wind and rain battered them, leaving them soaking wet and shivering with cold. Lightning flashed all around them, the rain turning the ground into slippery footing for the horses which shied nervously every time there was a loud crash of thunder. Heyes took a quick glance over at his friend knowing he hated storms ever since the one that spawned the twister back home in Kansas when they had been caught out in the cornfield. The Kid swore he couldn't remember it, but Heyes would never forget it…even after all these years he could still hear the noise. He had been scared, sure they were going to die that day, but his five year old cousin had been terrified and in tears, his hands over his ears unable to move. Heyes had pulled him down and they had huddled together lying in the middle of that field until the storm had passed. Jed had still been crying hysterically when their fathers had found them.
The Kid didn't think this damn storm was ever going to end. His jaw was aching from gritting his teeth so hard and he knew that Heyes would be watching him. He shook his head, pouring more water down his back, he hated anyone knowing he was afraid…even Heyes.
It was sunset when the storm finally moved off and they decided to stop. There would be no fire tonight, everything was saturated and they had nothing to cook anyway…they didn't even have any coffee left. They spent a miserable night since even the things in their saddlebags were soaked, neither man getting more than a few minutes sleep to a time.
XXX
They set out at sunrise and not wanting to take any chances they were giving the town of Lander a wide berth. Heyes glanced over at his partner, seeing him slouching in the saddle with his eyes blinking wearily, knowing he didn't look a whole lot better. Both men were exhausted, the lack of sleep and meals of jerky and water taking a toll on them. But Heyes knew they had to stop, they were both bone weary as were their horses…and they were completely out of supplies. He sighed as he looked down at his wrists that were still red and sore from being bound tightly by the bounty hunter, but at least they were healing. He was jerked back to the present when he heard his partners' voice.
"Heyes we gotta stop and rest the horses at least, they're about ready to drop."
"I know Kid let's just go a bit farther, put a couple more miles between us and Lander."
The Kid nodded his head once in agreement, too tired to argue even if he wanted to. He was concerned about his friend…it wasn't in Heyes' nature to be quiet this long…and although he complained about his need to constantly be talking, he worried when he was silent. He knew they were both on the verge of collapse as were their horses and needed to stop…soon. He rubbed his right wrist which was still sore bearing the marks from being tightly bound by the bounty hunter. He had torn his wrists up pretty good getting loose, but it was the blood that had made it possible for him to slip free of the ropes and free his partner whose wrists had also been bleeding. His thoughts wandered in another direction and soon, his head bobbing, he began to dream of a nice soft bed…
"Hey Kid look."
The Kid shook himself out of his stupor and looked in the direction Heyes was pointing. There he saw a small cluster of buildings.
"What d'ya think?"
"Let's check it out, cos these animals ain't gonna go much further."
Riding slowly the two men passed the sign telling them they were entering the town of Sweetwater. They continued down the street, passing a couple of businesses…and seeing no sheriff's office or jail.
"Drink?" Heyes asked as they neared the saloon.
"Sleep," the Kid responded dully.
They reined up in front of the small hotel which was across the street from the town diner.
"Food?"
"Sleep first."
That itself told Heyes how tired his friend was…but then again so was he.
XXX
They left their horses tied to the rail in front of the towns' only hotel and wearily made their way inside. The Kid propped himself back against the wall while Heyes leaned his arms on the counter. A middle aged woman came around the corner, stopping in her tracks when she saw the two trail worn men.
"My goodness, you two look about dead on your feet."
"That's about how we feel ma'am. It's bin a rough couple weeks. Could we get a room with two beds if you have one available?"
"Sure do." She swung the register around. "Just sign here."
Heyes took the pen and signed before holding the pen out to his partner who pushed himself away from the wall to add his name to the register. Glancing down at the names she looked up at the two men with a gentle smile.
"Upstairs room 204 gentlemen. Now you two go on and get some rest, you look like you could use it. The diner closes in a couple hours, but you come see me when you're ready and I'll make sure you get something to eat."
"Appreciate that ma'am, but don't want to put you out none."
"Joshua you go on up, I'll take the horses to the livery."
"Both of you go on upstairs I'll get my husband Charles to take them over for you."
Heyes thought about her offer for just a moment. "That'd be real nice ma'am if you're sure it's no trouble."
"It's no trouble at all, now go on with you," she said waving her hand toward the stairs.
She shook her head as she watched them stumble their way up the stairs, before disappearing into the back to get her husband to tend to the horses.
XXX
They entered their room, the Kid going to the window leaning his hands against the frame, to look down into the darkening street.
"Y'all right Kid?" Heyes asked softly seeing the dejected slump of his friends' shoulders.
"I'm tired Heyes," he admitted after a short pause.
"I know…me too," his partner sighed, knowing it was more than just sleep he was talking about. Between posses, bounty hunters, lack of food and rest, this life was slowly killing them. He knew they needed a safe place where they could lay low and recover their strength. Maybe they'd have to discuss the possibility of Mexico or Canada again.
The Kid pushed himself away from the window, hanging his holster on the bedpost as usual. Sitting on the side of the bed he dropped his boots noisily to the floor as he tugged them off and flopped heavily down on the bed with a low moan. Heyes made sure the door was locked and a chair was propped under the door handle, before casting a concerned glance over at his partner. Shaking his head slightly, he removed his gunbelt before sitting on the side of his bed, removing his boots then slowly lying back with a deep sigh of contentment. Hearing the gentle snores coming from the other bed he smiled as, closing his eyes, his snores soon joined in with his cousins. Neither man heard the soft knock on their door a couple hours later.