Heyes had paced around the room that was his prison for over an hour, gazing out the window every time he passed it, his frustration building. They'd laughed when they saw him eyeing the window, telling him it had been nailed shut. He continued his pacing beginning to lose hope when his eyes fell on the nail sticking out of the doorframe…and at a height that he was certain he could work with. Sighing, he fleetingly wondered why he couldn't have seen it sooner, but wasting no time he turned, feeling blindly for the tiny object that he hoped he could use to free his hands. He smiled when he managed to get to get into a position that enabled him to start rubbing the rope binding him against the nail. Listening for the sound of anyone approaching he gritted his teeth as he worked.

XXX

The smell of bacon and coffee woke the Kid before sunup Thursday morning. He blinked awake, sitting up and running a hand through his hair before briskly rubbing his face. He'd lain awake for quite some time last night thinking about the last time he'd seen Johnny Landown and worrying about Heyes. Tugging on his boots he got to his feet. Taking his gunbelt from the bedpost, he buckled it around his waist and secured it to his thigh. He straightened, taking a deep breath, his hands at his side. He stood quietly for almost thirty seconds…then suddenly the gun was in his hand. Satisfied that the .45 was positioned perfectly he put his hat on and headed to the kitchen.

XXX

Lom heard the Kid moving around so plated up the bacon and biscuits he'd cooked, putting it on the table before pouring two cups of coffee. He looked up when the gunfighter entered….and frowned.

"You get any sleep?"

The Kid sat at the table taking a gulp of coffee before answering.

"Some, I appreciate ya givin' up your bed Lom, but it wasn't necessary. How's Preacher?"

"He's hurtin' but he's gonna be all right."

"He say what happened?" the Kid asked as he piled bacon on two of the biscuits.

"They were heading back to Devil's Hole with a few supplies they were short on. Guess Johnny spotted them… had two other men with him and they were on him and Kyle before they knew what was happenin'. Told Kyle to hightail it back to the Hole while he held them off. When he told Johnny he didn't know where you fellas were they beat him up pretty good…seems Johnny knew you two would be heading for Porterville and when he saw Preacher he figured he'd use him to send you the message that he had Heyes."

"How'd they know that? And how did Preacher end up here?"

"Bill Wheeler brought him here when he found out you weren't in town. Judgin' from the knot on the back of his head I'm thinkin' he got hit with a rifle butt."

"Wheeler!"

"Preacher says him and another fella are riding with Landown. He still isn't sure if there's more men with him."

The Kid got to his feet pausing to swallow the last of his coffee. Pulling his gun he checked again to make sure it was fully loaded.

"I'm comin' with you…"

"No you ain't…you don't know those two, I do and they've got my partner."

"He's my friend too Kid."

The Kid shook his head…"No, you need to stay with Preacher."

"Kid…"

"Dammit Lom just trust me for once will ya," he snapped.

After a moment of silence, Lom shoulders drooped in surrender. "I've always trusted you Kid…well almost always," he added with a grin seeing the Kid's look. "Just be careful."

"Look after Preacher…he really is a good man…and a good friend."

"Yes he is…and I will."

Lom stood at the window as the Kid saddled his horse, watching as he disappeared in a cloud of dust. Shaking his head he turned to dish up breakfast for the wounded man in the other bedroom.

XXX

Heyes had been working the rope against the nail for several hours and his arms were killing him, but he was making progress. Hearing footsteps, he quickly moved to the far side of the room and sat on the bedroll. The door opened just as he sat.

"I dunno why he's botherin' to feed ya…yer gonna be dead tomorrow."

Heyes said nothing… he knew Bill Wheeler's reputation and had no desire to rile him. The plate of beans was tossed on the floor with a laugh.

"There's yer supper. Sure hope ya ain't expectin' me ta feed it to ya, cos I ain't."

Heyes dropped his head to look at the floor, biting his tongue to stop himself from saying anything. He didn't raise his head until the door slammed shut and he heard the bolt slide to lock him in. Glancing at the beans, half of which were spilled on the floor, he shook his head wondering if that was destined to be his last meal. He got stiffly to his feet making his way back to the door. He turned, leaning back against it, thinking of his partner and how, if he made it here, could be riding to his death…and he would be made to watch helplessly. He took a deep breath to compose himself, then located his nail again and went back to work. As the room descended into darkness his attention was drawn to the small patch of stars he could see through the window. He continued fraying the rope as his mind was taken back to a night lying by the creek with his young cousin as they looked at the stars. He could see the one he'd said reminded him of his ma's ladle. Shaking his head he concentrated once more on getting loose.

XXX

Lom Trevors thought Kid Curry was a stubborn man, but he was discovering that Preacher was almost just as bull headed. Despite Lom's protests he insisted he was going after the Kid to help and had gotten himself slowly and painfully out of bed making his way to sit at the kitchen table only three hours after the gunfighter had gone in search of his cousin.

"Preacher there's no way you can sit a horse…look at ya."

"Lom, ain't no way that boy can face those men alone."

"That man you call a boy has the reputation of having the fastest draw in the west."

"There's at least three of 'em, maybe more. I've seen him draw and I don't care how fast he is he can't outdraw all of 'em at the same time."

"Preacher…"

"You know I'm right."

The lawman stood with his hands on his hips staring down at the man barely managing to stay upright in the chair. He blew out a noisy breath.

"Fine. I'll go after him but only if you promise to stay here and take it easy."

Preacher started to smile but winced instead, pressing a hand against his sore ribs.

Lom strapped his gun on his hip, all the while muttering about bull headed outlaws and how he was gonna end up with gray hair before this was all over. Grabbing his rifle and saddlebags he turned to the man who was watching him in some amusement.

"Stay inside and don't be answering the door if anyone comes."

"I'll be praying for you Lom…watch yourself and bring those boys back with you."

Preacher sat at the table, waiting until he heard a horse galloping away. He looked around the room…"Wonder where Lom keeps the whiskey."

XXX

The Kid stopped at sunset to set up a camp. He sat close to the small fire drinking coffee and eating one of the biscuits he'd grabbed at Loms'. He chewed thoughtfully. Preacher had said Heyes had until sunset Friday, which was tomorrow, but he should be able to make it to the old Miller farm just after noon, hopefully giving him enough time to check the place out and come up with a plan. He just wished he knew for sure how many would be waiting for him.

"Heyes I sure could use your help right now with an idea or two," he said softly.

He sat drinking another cup of coffee before spreading his bedroll and lying back with his hands behind his head. He knew he wouldn't get much sleep, if any, but his horse was close and he was confident that the animal would alert him to anything or anyone approaching. Looking up at the stars he remembered those hot days and nights in his childhood when he and his cousin would sneak out of their bedroom windows, meeting down at the creek to swim. They would climb out of the water and lay on the bank to dry before heading home, looking up at these same stars and picking out shapes. He saw the one that Heyes had said looked kinda like the ladle that his ma used to dip water out of a bucket. He smiled at the memory and must have dozed off because he jolted awake when his horse snorted. He looked in the same direction as the animal and heard a twig snap. Slowly he got to his feet, gun in hand…and then he heard the voice.

"Damn it Ranger, that's the second time you almost knocked me over. We'll stop soon, I promise."

He stopped talking, raising his hands when he heard the click of a gun cocking close by.

"What are you doin' here Lom?" the Kid asked softly as he holstered the colt.

"Well I…dammit blame it on Preacher. He was determined to come after you. Only way I could keep him in the cabin was to promise to help you."

The Kid snorted a laugh able to picture exactly what had happened knowing Preacher as well as he did. "Coffee might still be warm, help yourself."

XXX

The rope snapped and Heyes was barely able to muffle the cry of pain as his wrists separated and he was able to move his arms for the first time in days. Taking the rope he returned to the bedroll and carefully began moving his arms and shoulders to get them limber again. It had taken him the all night to successfully use the nail to fray the rope. He had heard men starting to move around when he at last broke free and knew he'd have to be very careful to hide the fact that his hands were now loose if anyone came in. He'd be checking out that window real soon, but he was expecting his morning visit from Landown at any moment. Recognizing the footsteps nearing the door, he quickly wrapped the rope around his wrists behind his back and leaned against the wall.

"Didn't like your supper Heyes? Guess it don't matter none…it's Friday. Won't be long now."

"You're wasting your time. I told you he won't be here."

"Ya don't never stop do ya…well just think Heyes a few more hours and you won't be talkin' no more…whether he shows or not."

Heyes let out a relieved breath when he was left alone again. It was time to check out the window. He carried the blood soaked rope with him, just in case someone came in. He carefully tried to lift the window, but it wouldn't budge. He looked closely at every inch of the window seeing no nails, but he did see paint. He thought of breaking the glass, but that would alert his captors. He stood back, his hands on his hips…now what. A smile spread across his face and he bent to pull his lockpick out of his boot. Using it he was able to gradually scrape away the paint that had sealed the window.

The sun was getting high in the sky when he finally tried the window again. It resisted at first but with another tug it began to move. He stopped to listen…he could still hear voices…it was now or never. He managed to get the window up high enough for him to wriggle through. He ran for the cover of the nearby trees sure that he had escaped. He glanced back to the house yelping in surprise when his arm was grabbed, a hand quickly covering his mouth to keep him quiet as he was pulled further into the trees.