THE DAY THEY HANGED HANNIBAL HEYES - Chapter Eight

Heyes knelt and laid a hand on Kid's shoulder as he heard his partner moan and start to stir.

"Lie still," he said, trying to reassure his partner with a gentle pat. He remained by Kid; all eyes were on the Sheriff, watching his every moment and trying to garner a bit of comfort hoping he knew what he was doing.

There was an old dust covered lamp hanging from a hook. After several attempts Pryor managed to get the lamp lit. He passed the lamp to a deputy and took the other lamp and moved cautiously but quickly through the tunnel. He was relieved to find it in relatively good condition. He smiled a quick smile, silently thanking his grandfather. If the old man paid to have something done, he expected it to be done correctly and to his satisfaction.

Pryor returned and frantically waved them to follow.

Heyes had spread the blanket out and gently rolled his partner onto it. Kid uttered a whimpering moan as Heyes and the deputies each took a corner and lifted.

By the time they reached the end of the tunnel, their shirts were stained with sweat. Perspiration ran down faces, leaving clean trails in the dust and dirt. When they reached the end of the tunnel, Pryor had already grabbed the old hatchet that was propped by the dust covered ladder and climbed it. His ears strained to hear sounds coming from above. He could hear shouting, but no gunfire.

He swung the hatchet and began quickly cutting away the boards.

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The men looked stunned as they watched the fire quickly start to consume the jail. This was never their intention. They quickly holstered their guns and started backing away from the fire. Townspeople had gathered, looking on in horror. No one had come out from the jail and now no one would. There was no way anyone could have survived. People were frantically carrying buckets of water and throwing them on the fire, but it didn't take long for them to realize it was futile and dropped them to the ground.

Merchants who had come out to keep the flames from spreading turned angry eyes on the men who had started the fire. With guns drawn, they disarmed the men responsible.

"YA KILLED THEM! YA KILLED ALL OF THEM! Ya ain't no better than them prisoners. In fact, you're worse cuz the blood on your hands is the blood of your neighbors and friends!"

Turner was indignant, as he protested loudly. "They should have given me them killers! You know what they did to my daughter and her family!"

"And now you've done the same in return! The whole lot of you should rot in hell!"

"Where we going to put them? We ain't got no jail."

"We'll find a spot even if we have to dig a hole or tie them to trees."

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As an exhausted Marshal Bliss reached Junction City at daybreak. He could smell the faint smoke miles from town. His heart sank, as he quickened his pace. The closer he rode, the stronger the smell grew.

Reaching the charred ashes, he threw himself off his winded horse and stared in horror at the still smothering remains of the jail.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"

Bliss was relieved to see Sheriff Pryor and several of the other deputies combing through the charred remains with some town folks.

He ran up to the men, who had stopped and set their shovels aside. Bliss grasped each man's hand and shook them in relief

"Heyes and Curry?"

"Safe." The Sheriff said as he nodded his head towards the hotel."Now the other prisoners…," his eyes darkened as his voice deepened with anger,"...ain't too happy with their accommodations. All crowded in a livery stall…didn't even bother cleaning it out. Seems fitting…shit living in shit. Emmett and Jake are watching 'em."

"I shouldn't have left." Bliss said, shaking his head. He met Pryor 's eyes giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry." Bliss' eyes took in the remains, shaking his head. "How?" he asked in wonder.

"Thank my dead grandfather," said the Sheriff. "I'll explain later. You find what you were looking for in Big Ben?"

The question brought a faint smile to the Marshal's lips. He nodded his head.

"Them boys had nothing to do with it. They knew that all along, and now we do too.."

"Hotel. Room 101. Here…" Pryor said digging in his pocket, "Give these to them. It's all we've found so far."

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Kid's eyes slowly fluttered open. Moving his head slightly, his bleary eyes wandered around the hotel room. He was relieved to see Heyes, standing perfectly still with one hand on the curtain as he looked out the window. Kid squeezed his eyes shut, trying to gather his thoughts. How had they ended up here? He was confused. They had been in jail, that he clearly remembered. There had been smoke…a choking smoke. A fire.

Kid watched as Heyes' head began to move as if following something or someone. He stepped back and let the curtain fall from his fingers. Heyes could feel eyes on him as he turned, his face registering surprise.

"Surprised you're awake." He paused to cough before he continued. "I thought I gave you enough laudanum to drop a horse." His voice was still low and raspy.

Kid nodded and wrinkled his nose as he sniffed the air. "And smell like one" he said, as the strong odor of sweat, and the faint coppery smell of blood, smoke and dirt assaulted his nostrils. He didn't care how much it hurt. He would give anything to find the strength to take a hot soothing bath.

"A little food and a hot bath…and not necessarily in that order."

Heyes looked dubious. "Food I can…"

"Real food. Something I can chew. I remember the jail…smoke…" Kid paused and found Heyes' eyes "Did you throw me down a hole?"

"Throw? I wouldn't call it throwing…although there was a bit of urgency. I thought I was being pretty damn gentle considering the circumstances."

Heyes looked towards the door and started towards it, when he heard muffled voices then one sharp knock on the door. The door handle slowly turned before Marshal Bliss stuck his head in and entered.

"You here to throw us back in jail?" Heyes asked as he returned to the edge of his bed and took a seat.

Kid opened his eyes at the comment and looked toward the bedpost for his absent gun.

"Heyes," Bliss said with a nod, "Curry." Giving Kid a nod as he took a seat on the lone chair. "Not here to arrest you."

Bliss looked dirty, and exhausted, "If I had known…" He shook his head sadly and took a moment to gather his thoughts. His face brightened as he patted his vest pocket, "I brought ya good news. I bet ya could use some. Saloon owner verified your story. As I see it you're free to go."

There was a flash of relief in Heyes' eyes that quickly evaporated into anger.

Heyes jumped to his feet and threw his hands up. "Where do you suggest we go? The Kid's in no shape to travel. Everything we owned." He coughed several times before continuing, "...was burnt, except for the clothes on our backs…and our amnesty papers that I managed to save."

Sheriff Bliss tried to keep the conversation calm. "I know you're angry and rightfully so…."

"Angry! We've been shot, hanged, nearly set on fire, and now you're telling me we are free to go?" Heyes exclaimed.

"Heyes, it ain't his fault," Kid said and winced as he pulled himself up. "He done his best to help us. Remember that."

Heyes looked at his partner and felt his temper begin to wane. "Kid's right. I'm sorry. If it weren't for you we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Bliss gave Heyes a weary but understanding nod. "Judge should be coming through in about three weeks. You can stay and plead your case…ask for damages…ask for justice for you and your partner. The men that did this will answer for what they did…I promise you that. Not only the crimes they did to you but also for what they did to this town and my fellow lawmen. That don't sit well with me at all. If you choose not to stay…I'd understand, but it would mean more to the Judge coming from you two."

"I think I speak for me and the Kid…" Heyes threw a quick glance at his partner. "I don't think either one of us is ready to place a hand on a Bible and let the world know who we really are even with our amnesty papers. It's too soon."

"If you two testified…it could turn into a hanging-."

Heyes quickly cut him off, "As far as hanging…I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Heyes knew they were both ready to leave this town…this state and never look back. He also knew there was only one place they could go…

Denver.

Clem.

They could both use some womanly fussing, and there was no one better at fussing over them than Clem.

They could sell the horses and tack. That would give them enough money for train tickets, clothes, and weapons.

"We need to sell the horses…"

Bliss stood up. "Let me handle that. Livery has been turned into a temporary jail. I'll get you a fair price, if you trust me…"

Heyes nodded.

Heyes heard Kid loudly clear his throat.

"Sheriff, we don't have a dime in our pockets. You think I could ask you to get my partner some food?" Heyes asked.

Bliss smiled as he stood up, adjusted his hat. "I'll send some over for the both of you, and some hot coffee, too. I'll be keeping the deputies at your door and window until you two are ready to leave…Oh, and I almost forgot..."

Bliss paused by the door and reached into his pocket and he drew out the two battered hat bands. "The Sheriff found these in the rubble." He passed them to Heyes. "Ain't much."

Heyes smiled as he looked at the two familiar hat bands. "Yes it is, and thanks."

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Kid waved Heyes away. "I can do it."

After several bites, Kid paused, setting his spoon down and raised a hand to his jaw. He found Heyes' eyes, as he cautiously manipulated his jaw, "I think…I think I remember…Did…but you hit me?" He asked incredulously.

Heyes' face screwed up as if he was trying to formulate a lie before he stopped and said, "Yep. Saved you from a bunch of pain."

Kid thought for a moment then nodded his head, "Thanks…just don't make it a habit," he said with a small smile as he picked up his spoon again.

Heyes took a seat on the edge of his bed and picked up his plate, "Nothing about this…" He paused and uttered a heavy sigh, "I just want to get…the hell out of New Mexico and never return. I'm…I'm sor-."

"Don't…" Kid said, cutting him off, "Heyes…don't. I wanna get away from here, too. And stop apologizing…you got nothin' to apologize for."

Heyes started to open his mouth to argue, but closed it and gave his partner a grateful look. "How soon do you think you'll be ready to leave?"

Kid fought the pain in his jaw and smiled. "Once I get that bath, I'm ready anytime you say the word."

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"You sure you want to try and do this?"

"I'm doing this as much for me as you, and for every passenger on that train. God I stink Heyes."

Heyes helped Kid to a sitting position. He hung his head down and with quick shallow breaths he wrapped his arm instinctively around his broken ribs. He held a hand up, telling Heyes to wait.

Kid raised his head. "Okay…I think I can do this." He reached a hand out to his partner.

"Ready?"

Kid nodded tentatively. His free hand grasped the edge of the tub and the towel about his waist separated as he slowly raised one leg over the edge and into the steaming water. "Don't let go," he urgently warned his partner. "This is the hard part."

Slowly and autiously, Kid moved his arm away from his ribs to grasp the near side of the tub. His breath quickened but he kept his eyes focused on the task. Letting his hands support as much weight as possible, Kid raised his other leg over the edge and into the water and Heyes quickly moved to the head of the tub, prepared to grab Kid's arms if he were to slip or fall.

Once he had successfully eased himself into the tub, Kid closed his eyes and leaned back with a satisfied smile on his face. "All I need now is a bar of soap, a wash cloth, and a fine cigar."

Kid felt his partner's arm brush past his shoulder and he opened his eyes to find Heyes' hand in front of him holding the soap and the cloth.

"I guess two outta three ain't bad," Kid joked as he took the items and dipped them into the water.

A moment later the hand appeared once more, this time with a long, dark cigar."

"Heyes! Where did you get that?" Kid asked while biting the tip, then slipping the cigar between his lips.

Heyes struck a match and held it while Kid brought the cigar to the flame and took several long puffs.

"Don't ask. If word got out, we could lose our amnesties," Heyes replied with a quick laugh. He picked up his new black hat off the bed that lay beside the neatly folded stack of new clothes, before returning to the chair beside his partner. He slowly turned it several times in his hands, studying it, before reaching into his pocket and drawing out his new knife.

Kid opened his eyes in time to see Heyes cut a hole in the crown.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Now that's better," he said to himself as he held it up and admired it, before addressing Kid, "Just giving it some much needed personality. Train is leaving in four days. Hopefully that won't give anyone else time to figure out a new way to try and kill us."

"Let's hope." Kid agreed.

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Author's Notes: I know I sound like a broken record…apologies for taking so long to post this chapter. That pesky "real life" likes to interfere with my fantasies.