All too quickly the years passed…Jed, with a lot of help, had organized a seventieth birthday celebration at the ranch for Heyes in the fall of 1924, making sure to have a photographer there taking lots of family pictures…as well as one of them with eight year old Gus Bailey, the great grandson of Will who had died several years ago.

They had sold off all the horses except for six, and with the livestock gone Jimmy and Ben went to work for Cody Hooper, a nearby neighbor, who paid them a small fee for the use of their pastureland for his stock to graze on. Every morning either Jimmy or Ben would ride to the ranch to check on them, usually with the excuse that they were going to town and did they need anything, but they knew better and appreciated it.

In 1930 they offered fourteen year old Gus Bailey the job of helping them not only with the horses, but often he would go to town for supplies or help them with something that needed to be done in the house.

Their families continued to visit twice a year, sometimes more if the weather permitted, and the two men watched proudly as their granddaughters began to grow into young women.

It was mid August 1939 when Heyes developed a cough.

"It's just a cold Kid," he insisted.

"I don't care I'm still sendin' Gus for the doctor."

"But…" Heyes began but started coughing.

"Save your breath Heyes, there's no point in you arguin'."

The doctor arrived and after examining the sick man, straightened, looking from one to the other.

"It's pneumonia I'm afraid," he announced.

They watched as Heyes's eyes closed in sleep and then Jed followed the doctor into the kitchen.

"If you can help him to sit up so he can take in some steam with peppermint oil, it might ease his breathing a bit…but his lungs never fully healed after the pneumonia he had years ago and at his age…I'm sorry Jed, but it doesn't look good." The doctor put his hand on Jed's shoulder. "If you need me for anything send Gus and I'll get here as quick as I can."

"Thanks doc. Guess I need to get a hold of the girls and let 'em know what's goin' on."

The doctor left and Jed returned to the bedroom, pausing as he stood looking down at the man who had been with him all his life. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath then returned to the kitchen to compose the wording for a telegram to Caroline.

Jed stayed by his cousin's bed side for two days and nights, trying to keep him comfortable, but he could see he was weakening. He was so tired, and after putting his sock feet carefully up on the bed, it didn't take long for his eyes to begin to drift shut, his head dropping to the back of the chair, his hand resting on his partner's arm. He didn't hear the door open a short time later.

Caroline entered quietly, William right behind her. She smiled sadly seeing her father and uncle both sleeping, realizing just how old they had become.

Jed woke feeling a gentle touch on his shoulder and a soft female voice in his ear.

"Uncle Jed."

His eyes opened slowly and he blinked sleepily at Caroline, moaning as he dropped his feet to the floor and sat up rubbing his neck.

"I'm gettin' too old to be sleepin' in chairs," he mumbled as he glanced at his friend seeing his eyes begin to flutter.

"Go with William and have something to eat… then get some sleep. I'll stay with pa."

"Go to bed Kid," Heyes croaked, waking in time to hear the last part.

"Still bossy ain't ya."

"Some…somebody's gotta…keep ya in line."

Jed smiled and shook his head, but followed William out of the room, seeing Emily, Thomas and the two grandchildren in the kitchen.

"We thought we'd give Caroline some time with him first. How is he pa?"

Jed just shook his head and sat down to eat the sandwich that had been made for him.

XXX

Heyes's health slowly deteriorated and after just a few days, he told everyone to go home.

"Go home Caroline…William promise…you'll look…after my girls," he wheezed.

"I will…I promise."

Caroline bent, giving him a kiss and laying her cheek on his…"love you pa."

"Love you too…darlin'," he said patting her back.

Then it was seventeen year old Rebecca's turn. "Love you grampa," she said after giving him a hug and kiss. He reached out his hand to cup her cheek…"love you," he said barely above a whisper.

William laid a hand on Heyes's arm and smiled. "It's been an honour to have you as my father-in-law."

"I still wish…I could've seen…your boss's face…when he found out," he grinned. "Now go home…all of you."

XXX

Jed had stayed in the kitchen with Emily, Thomas and Abigail after William and Rebecca went to join Caroline at Heyes' side. Emily kissed her father's cheek before hugging him tightly. "I love you pa." He stroked her hair and smiled at her. "And I love you darlin'…more than you can possibly know." She sniffed, turning away as she stepped back to let daughter say good bye.

"My little Abby," he teased with a grin, before wrapping his arms around her.

"Not so little any more grampa. I'll be nineteen this year you know," she said returning his hug and kissing his cheek before pulling her head back to look at him. He smiled at her before planting a light kiss on her forehead and letting her go. Thomas stepped forward shaking Jed's hand and was surprised to be pulled into a quick hug. "Look after my girls," Jed said close to his ear. "I will Jed…I will."

The bedroom door opened and the threesome came out, Caroline heading into the waiting arms of her uncle.

"Oh Uncle Jed," she sighed trying hard not to cry.

"I know darlin', but it'll be all right," he said stroking her back. "Now, you best be goin' or you'll miss your train and then I'll have to listen to your pa tellin' me it's my fault," he chuckled.

He walked with them to their waiting buggy and after more hugs and kisses he stood watching the buggy as it got smaller and smaller taking his family away, until he couldn't see it any more. Rubbing his chest and wincing at the sudden pain that had gradually been getting worse over the past week, he made his way back into the house to check on his cousin. It was a couple hours later when Heyes woke up.

"Hey Kid?"

"Yeah Heyes…you wantin' somethin'? Somethin' to drink or eat maybe?"

Heyes struggled to speak, only able to take short rattling breaths. "No…left the safe…unlocked…I put…my gun and…pocket watch…in there…alongside… the amnesty…papers and an…en...envelope full…of family…pictures…left it open…in case…you want…to put…anything in…there to be…handed...down to… our…first male…heirs," he finished.

"That's a good idea Heyes...think I'll do that right now."

Heyes watched barely able to keep his eyes open, as his partner looked at the Colt he held in his hand, twirling it one last time, before sliding it into the holster and placing it in the safe along with his pocket knife. Before shutting the door, he turned to look over his shoulder. "Anything else you want in here?" Seeing the small negative shake of his head, he closed the door and spun the dial.

As he got to his feet he heard a knock and making his way to the door let Gus in.

"I keep tellin' ya, there's no need to knock, just come in…I keep promisin' that I won't shoot ya," Jed teased with a grin.

Gus chuckled. "I was about to head home and thought I'd check to see if there was anything else you want me to do."

"Can't think of anything Gus."

"How's he doin'?"

"Want to see him? He's awake."

Gus nodded and followed Jed into the bedroom where he saw the frail man laying in the bed. He swallowed but kept a smile on his face as he spoke to him for a few minutes before making his way home, where he told his father that he didn't think Heyes was going to last much longer.

"He looked real bad pa…and I don't think Jed is feeling too good either."

"Before you go tomorrow you come get me and I'll go with you."

XXX

Jed was sitting in the chair beside the bed, his eyes closing tightly when he felt the pain building again. Heyes lay in the bed eyeing his friend and knowing something was wrong, weakly patted the bed beside him.

"C'mon…lay down…you look…like…hell."

Jed opened his eyes and gave him a small smile. "Ya don't look so good yourself," he said, but did as he was told. He eased himself down on top of the covers, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes again as the pain in his chest increased once more.

"It's..bin…quite a…ride Jed…I wouldn't…have…missed…it," he gasped.

"We spent a whole lot o' years together Heyes. Years filled with both good and bad. Shared a lot o' laughs and a few tears…but we were almost always there for each other. Sure we had our arguments, but even then we stuck it out except for that one time…but we got over it and joined up again."

"Bet…we…surprised…a lot of…folks…marryin'…havin'…kids…" his voice faded to a whisper.

"And even grandkids…and who would have thought that the notorious Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry would live as long as we have...I wouldn't have missed it either partner," he said gently patting his cousin's arm.

No more words were spoken. He listened to his cousin's breathing get steadily more labored and he sighed, grunting when his chest pain increased to the point that it was almost unbearable. Feeling his best friends' hand covering his he turned his head toward him…their eyes met.