HANNIBAL HEYES AND KID CURRY AWARDED AMNESTY
Two of the most notorious outlaws of recent years were awarded amnesty today in a formal ceremony in Cheyenne. It was hard for me to reconcile their fearsome reputations to the two slightly dazed, handsome, polite young men I met today. After the ceremony, I was able to grab a few words with them as they waited for the photographer to set up. They have been living under the less than notable aliases of Thaddeus Jones (Kid Curry) and Joshua Smith(Hannibal Heyes) for nearly three years, leading what sounds like a miserable existence, staying away from outlawing awaiting what had been promised them. I was surprised that on speaking to them, I found myself annoyed with the previous Governors' delaying tactics and was left with the very clear view that they more than deserve their amnesties. I can genuinely say that I wish them every success in their new lives.
Holed up in a better class of hotel room then they'd been used to in the last three years, the Kid was staring down at the street scowling. In the light of the gas lamps illuminating the street, he could see that reporters from across the west were still gathered, hoping to catch a final glimpse of the two men who had provided them with plenty copy in the last ten years. Kid hearing a slight noise from behind him, turned to see Heyes who had moved from lying prone on the bed furthest from the door, to sitting on the edge of the bed. He was staring at the amnesty papers issued only a few hours before, with no small amount of wonder in his face, and the Kid grinned as he patted his own, safely tucked into his pants pocket. He understood his partner's continued senses of disbelief that they were finally free only too well. The last few weeks from the moment Lom had told them of the Governor's decision, handing them both a letter, but informing them the formal papers wouldn't be issued until an official ceremony, had felt almost unreal, and today had been no different. The only thing that made any of it feel real to him was the solid presence of the papers, and the memory of being blinded by cameras as they accepted them. And the damn reporters on the street of course.
But the Kid striving for some sense of normality, simply took a deep breath and cleared his throat before saying. "I'm hungry Heyes."
His comment drew an amused snort from his partner just as he hoped it would, before Heyes blew out a breath before he said. "Hungry enough to brave that gaggle still down there?" He nodded towards the window and the Kid turned back to look out onto the street with a frown, before letting the curtain drop and facing his friend again. "Surely they gotta sleep sometime, Heyes."
When Heyes didn't reply straight away, the Kid sighed and stalked over to the second bed in the room, flopping down on it with some irritation, as Heyes finally answered.
"Well, even if they don't, we can try sneaking past them, and if we look casual enough, we might make it to the cafe over by the saloon before they spot us."
Kid shrugged as he cracked open his gun, and staring at the bullets in some disgruntlement said. "Now I'm thinking about it, I don't fancy tryin' Heyes, because I'm figuring the Governor wouldn't approve of me shooting at a bunch of reporters, just a few hours after he's told everyone just how reformed we are." He snapped the barrel of his weapon shut with a sigh, returning it to the holster before placing both over the bedhead, grumbling as he did so. "I ain't real keen on this insistence by the Governor that now its all official like, we gotta spend six weeks bein' shown off at every fancy ass party in town."
With that he lay down heavily, and looked over at his partner who snorted, and after carefully storing the precious papers under his pillow, rested back on the quilt of his own bed as he said reasonably. "You know what these politicians are like, always wanting something to keep 'em on the front page , and we do owe him Kid, you gotta admit that."
Kid humphed in acknowledgement of his partner's point, sat up again, and after stripping to his henley said. "We got anything to eat at all?"
Heyes laughed. "We got jerky, and I liberated a bottle of whisky from the Governor's reception as it sure looked lonely stood by the door all by itself."
The Kid walked over to the larger of their two carpet bags and started rooting round in it, and found the promised jerky at the bottom, turning back to his partner, he rolled his eyes when he produced the whisky from under the bed with a flourish and waved it at him.
After Heyes took a long drink he sighed appreciatively, before handing him the bottle, as he said. "Well. Kid, if that whisky is any indication, you'll be fed well at these parties the Governor is insisting on."
The Kid laughed through a mouthful of jerky, glad of his partner's ability to find the positive in almost any situation, and when he took a drink and the whisky slid down nice and easy, he was also grateful for his friend's taste in whisky and his quick thinking as well, but couldn't resist one last complaint. "Don't seem right that we gotta eat jerky and drink whisky, even if it is the good stuff stuck in a hotel room on the first real day of the rest of our lives."
Heyes sighed in agreement, and taking the offered strip of meat, began to chew with little enthusiasm.
Feeling less frustrated and more relaxed after a quarter bottle of whisky, but still hungry, the Kid was tempted to brave the street, but a knock on the door made them both start slightly and Kid retrieved his gun from the bedhead, as Heyes also grabbed his. Peering through the spy hole, Kid was surprised to see a pretty brunette holding a tray of sandwiches, and a pot of coffee. He opened the door cautiously and smiled at her as she said quickly. "I work in the cafe just across the street. I've been watching the fuss off and on all day. I thought you must be hungry, but probably don't want to face the newspaper men again. So I brought you this."
She handed the tray over, smiling brightly at them as the Kid thanked her with genuine gratitude and no small relief, before asking. "Do you want to come in?"
She looked down as a flush grew on her cheek, before adding softly, "No thank-you, Mr Curry, I should be heading home."
With that and another smile, she headed to the stairs leaving the two men looking after her as she disappeared down the carpeted stairs. The Kid exchanged a look with Heyes before digging into the sandwiches appreciatively as he said with his mouth full "Works at the cafe opposite, Heyes."
Heyes quickly took some of the sandwiches before Kid could eat them all, and before taking a bite said."Guess we know where we're going for breakfast tomorrow."
Next morning early enough that the street was empty, Heyes and the Kid walked quickly to the cafe and as they entered saw their benefactor behind the counter, she looked up and smiled at them, they sat down at one of the tables furthest from the door and she quickly came over a pad in hand. "What can I get you fellas?"
The Kid smiled at her as he said. "Well a name to start with, and then one of your breakfast specials."
Heyes nodded and added. "Make that two."
She laughed and looked between them, though her eyes lingered a little longer on the Kid as she said. "Ellie, Ellie Noble and two specials coming up."
The Kid watched her go and felt Heyes looking at him. "You got that look on your face, Kid. We've only just met her."
Kid shrugged. "She's a real pretty girl, Heyes, and she did us a good turn last night."
Heyes had to agree with that, and wondered what it was about her that was bothering him. In his own mind he was honest enough to admit that part of it, was that she obviously favoured his partner over him which was a bit of a blow to his ego.
X
Heyes laid on the bed, a book on his knee as he watched the Kid getting ready to take Ellie out to some play she wanted to see and said softly. "You really like her don't you Kid?"
The Kid turned to look at him, his face softening into a smile as he nodded. "I don't know her that well, Heyes, but I sure do like spending time with her."
Heyes looked down at the hand of solitaire spread out in front of him, his stomach tight, and asked a question, almost worried by what the Kid's answer would be. "You still wanting to come with me next week or you staying?"
The Kid met his gaze with a small almost sympathetic smile. "I'm still going with ya, Heyes. Figuring we need to get settled before I can court Ellie properly. Three months will hopefully be time enough, so I'll come back here then and see if she's interested."
A knot lodged in Heyes' stomach as he realised he wasn't really ready for this. He'd known of course that with amnesty they'd both want to pursue any chance of a more settled existence, because that need for a better, less dangerous way of living had been a big part of the reason for them to seek amnesty in the first place. He had however expected that future would happen somewhere down the line rather than right now. But unwilling to admit that he was worried, and hoping the Kid wouldn't notice anything in his voice and question him, replied, with a smile of his own. "Well I'm gonna play some poker tonight, you gonna want to join me for a drink after you've dropped Ellie home?"
The Kid cursed a little as he lost his battle to straighten his tie, and Heyes with a grin stood and after batting his partner's hands away finished tying it neatly and moved back as the Kid turned to look in the mirror again with a sigh of satisfaction. "Thanks Heyes, and yeah a drink sounds real good. I'll meet you 'bout 10pm."
X
"Well this trick and pony show don't get any less annoying Heyes, even if you were right 'bout the food. I sure am glad I'm seeing Ellie soon as we're done here."
Heyes was a little deflated at his partner's words, because with this gathering being in the afternoon, he'd been hoping to spend a little time with his partner. In the last three weeks, between the parties, he'd seen very little of him, and having little else but poker and reading to entertain him, he had missed his company. He was also eager to discuss their next steps, which he feared might still be altered with the Kid and Ellie's continued interest in each other. He had already resigned himself to another evening of poker on his own, when the Kid added a little awkwardly. "Why don't you come with me Heyes? Ellie won't mind in fact she suggested it last night."
Heyes opened his mouth to say no, not exactly keen on playing the third wheel, but when he saw the genuine invitation in his partner's smile,he instead changed his mind and nodded his agreement, quite touched by the gesture.
X
As they sat waiting for their breakfast three days later, Ellie came over to join them. Heyes thought she looked tired and a little nervous, so he wasn't surprised when the Kid asked gently. "Everything all right Ellie?"
She bit her lip, looked over at the door a little anxiously when it opened, before turning back to them and letting out a small sigh as she replied. "There's a man who thinks we should get something going between us. I've told him often enough I'm not interested, but he's really quite persistent and getting worse." She paused and added. "I even think he followed me home last night."
The Kid and Heyes had been tied up till the early hours of the morning due to the Governor insisting on a drink with them after the party, so Kid had been unable to walk her home as had become his custom, and his face darkened as he asked. "You want me to have a word with him?"
The Kid's hand had already twitched down to his gun as Ellie shook her head adamantly.
"Oh no, Jed, there's no need." She squeezed his shoulder and added. "But thank you."
Before the conversation could continue, their meals arrived and Ellie with a small smile walked away to take the order of the couple who had just entered, leaving the partners looking after her in some concern. Kid sighed and rubbed his face and said. "Hope she's gonna be all right when we leave."
Heyes bit down on a sigh as he recognised the signs of the Kid's protective instinct kicking in and said. "Well maybe you oughta have a word with this fella whatever she's saying and warn him off. Ain't gonna be many that will take on Kid Curry. Though you better make sure you get the right man as now we're meant to be respectable, we can't be threatening folk just cos we feel like it."
Kid looked him with a frown as he said. "We?"
"Well if I ain't there to keep an eye on things who knows what'll happen with that temper of yours."
The Kid glared at him, before chomping down on his breakfast with intent as Heyes took a mouthful of coffee.
That evening found them observing Ellie walking home from a safe distance claiming they had another party to attend that they couldn't get out of and saw a man slip out of the shadows looking round before following her. The Kid stepped out in front of him, gun drawn with Heyes just behind. "I don't think the lady is real interested in what your offering, so why don't you leave her be?"
The man looked between them a strange expression that Heyes couldn't quite read on his face, before he nodded and walked rapidly away and the Kid gave a snort of satisfaction as they watched him go.
Ellie was already at the stagecoach office when the Kid and Heyes arrived, and gave them a small smile as they entered. She came over to join them and said. "I'm not expecting anything, but seems like it's time to move on, and Colorado Springs seems as good a place to go as any."
They easily found positions at the largest saloon in town, and were soon settled into their new jobs, with Ellie getting work at the busiest cafe in town. She was as good as her word about having no expectation of a relationship and and it was Kid who approached her a month after they arrived to invite her out to a picnic.
X
Heyes was woken for the third morning in a row by his partner's painful retching and clambered reluctantly out of bed to see if he could help. As he entered the kitchen he was met by the sight of the Kid looking pale and ill, hunched over a bowl taking steadying breaths in an obvious attempt to get control of his stomach. Heyes looked at him in some sympathy, wondering at the cause of his partner's stomach problem, they'd eaten nothing different in the last few days, with Heyes having joined the Kid and Ellie for supper. As he sat down, the Kid shoved the bowl away and made a lurching run towards the door clutching his stomach. He returned about fifteen minutes later, looking even worse than he had on leaving their rooms. "You gonna be all right going into work today, Kid? I can explain to the boss you ain't feeling too good, he won't be too fussed as its quiet on Monday nights."
The Kid shook his head and took a deep breath before saying. "Can't afford to lose the pay, Heyes."
Heyes was a little puzzled as he didn't think they were doing too badly for money, but before he could say anything, the Kid gave another groan and clutched his stomach and once he'd stopped retching it was time for them to leave.
The pattern was repeated over several days and Heyes was becoming concerned, a worry that was shared by Ellie who commented on it as she cooked breakfast for them one Sunday. "I just hope Jed can keep this down, Heyes."
Three weeks later leaving the Kid asleep in bed, Heyes went into town to visit the druggist to ask if he had anything to help with stomach upsets as he had failed to persuade his partner to visit the doctor in town, despite trying several times. The vomiting, diarrhoea and persistent nausea were taking their toll on the Kid, though there were some days of respite, and he was looking ever more exhausted and despite his resistance had been forced to miss a couple of days work.
Heyes waited for the druggist to look up from his careful notation in a big ledger before speaking. The man favoured him with a smile as he finished and looked up. "Ahh Mr Heyes, I was hoping to see you, Jed or Miss Ellie. The arsenic she was wanting for your rat problem came in yesterday. Sorry for the delay, hope it's not been too trying, but I gotta be careful ordering too much, or the Sheriff starts fussing. And Ellie bought me out last week."
Heyes kept the surprise of his face because as far as he was aware they didn't have a rat problem, but maybe the boarding house Ellie was staying at did .He accepted the bottle of arsenic that the man handed him, dutifully signing the register placed in front of him.
"Was there anything else?"
Heyes' mind was running ahead to what he'd say to the landlady of where Ellie was staying regarding the rats, and started a little at the question, but nodded. "Looking for something to help ease stomach cramps."
"Ahh yes I have just the thing!"
The hatchet faced woman who owned the boarding house sniffed at him as she let him in as Heyes gave her his most innocent smile. "Mr Chapman was just telling me 'bout the rat problem you're having. I got some more arsenic to help."
The woman glared at him and sniffed louder. " I will have you know, that we pride ourselves here that this establishment ain't had a rat problem in over two years. So keep your nasty opinions to yourself- can do us a lot of damage saying things like that."
The slight puzzlement he'd felt started to develop into unease as his grip tightened on the bottle in his pocket, but not allowing it to show asked calmly. "Miss Noble in?"
"Yes she is, I know you're aware of where her room is, that partner of yours has sneaked in a few times, thinking I wouldn't notice. But he don't ever stay long enough for anything unseemly to happen so I've allowed it, but you tell him I'm watching them."
Heyes knocked firmly on Ellie's door and she answered it, looking a little flustered when she saw who it was, touching her hair nervously. Heyes taking in her frozen expression heard some rustling behind her. "Hope I've not come at a bad time, but I wanted to let you know, Kid ain't gonna make the picnic today as he's sick in bed." He paused then added. "Oh, and the druggist gave me this for you." He handed over the bottle of arsenic, noting the sight flush in her cheeks as she took it. "Though I'm kinda surprised you need it, as we don't have any problem with rats and the lady who let me in downstairs told me this place don't neither."
His hand dropped to his gun as he saw a flash of colour out of the corner of his eye and drew quickly. " If you're not wanting to have a few extra holes, I'd suggest you rethink what you're about to do."
Ellie glanced over her shoulder as the man they'd seen in Cheyenne stepped into full sight and Heyes realised with some shock that it'd been a set up from the start and keeping his gun aimed steadily asked angrily. "Who the hell are you? And what do you have against my partner?"
Ellie's face contorted into an unpleasant expression as she answered. "The name's Ellie, but it isn't Noble, its Bilson. That answer your question Mr Heyes?"
Heyes felt himself break out into a cold sweat and waved his gun in the man's direction as he said. "Just go."
The man hesitated until Ellie snapped at him. "Frank, get outta here, I'll handle this!"
With a final worried glance the man exited quickly out of the window and disappeared as Ellie turned back to Heyes an unpleasant smirk on her face as she said. "You really think your partner is gonna want to pursue this Heyes? Cos I sure don't."
Heyes wondered how he hadn't seen the coldness in her before, but only said. "Well we''l just have to see won't we Miss Bilson? Now get moving, before I forget I'm supposed to be reformed and shoot ya." at her questioning look he snapped. "Go on, towards the Sheriff's office, where we can get ya safely locked up."
X
