It was very late when their train arrived in Porterville, but Heyes and the Kid eager to speak to Trevors, still walked over to the sheriff's office. They were unsurprised to see a lamp still burning, with the shadow of their old acquaintance clear against the window, despite the late hour. Lom was nothing if not committed to his job.

But then the same thought struck them both and they were suddenly unsure of their welcome after so long out of contact.

Heyes stepped back from the window and met the Kid's slightly concerned expression, that his no doubt matched. "Kid, you think he's got a lock on that back door yet?"

The Kid shrugged a little, his face creasing in thought as he said."I ain't real sure, Heyes, maybe we just oughta wait until the mornin'"

But before they could make a decision, the door opened, and they came face to face with Miss Porter who blushed a little before saying. "Ahh Mr Smith, Mr Jones, its been a while. Lom, um Sheriff Trevors is free if you're wanting to see him." She paused then straightening her hair with a small smile added. "Sheriff Trevors and I had some urgent business that couldn't wait."

The Kid snorted softly before saying politely. "Ain't no concern of ours, Ma'am."

Heyes nodded his agreement though he knew the grin on his face belied his equally respectful. "No concern at all Miss, we're just passing through."

Miss Porter glanced between them then cleared her throat and said quietly."Well, goodnight gentlemen."

With that she hurriedly walked across the street as Heyes and the Kid watched her. Heyes broke the amused silence. "Lom and Miss Porter huh? Well I wouldn't have bet on that."

With an exchange of looks they silently decided they'd go in the front door and take the bull, or in this case, the sheriff by the horns.

"Susan you forget your shawl again?"

The Kid mouthed Susan as Heyes grinned in reply, and together they stepped into the light. Lom looked over at them, and when he recognised who it was, his face, shifted from an amused smile into a frown, but as he went for his gun, the Kid shook his head with a wink as Heyes said. "Now, c'mon Lom, there ain't no need for that. Got any coffee going?"

Lom stared at them. "That's all you have to say, after more than a year of not hearing a thing. Coffee? That the best you got, Heyes?"

It was Kid who replied. "Aww Lom, we just got busy. This goin' straight thing means we're mostly broke. Telegrams cost money ya know."

Heyes nodded in agreement and added. "'Specially when your partner uses so many words."

"Heyes." The Kid's tone was irritated, and Heyes thought for one awful minute that maybe he'd gone too far, and that the peace between them was perhaps more fragile then he'd believed, though he let none of it show on his face. He let out a relieved breath when after a slightly tense pause, the Kid merely snorted and waved his left hand at him airily. "Least what I write is readable."

Lom obviously sensing something looked at them a little curiously, before standing and waving at the coffee pot in the corner. "Sus...Miss Porter made a fresh pot just before she left. Oughta be good and hot still."

ASJ

"Well I haven't heard of any trains or banks being robbed by Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry, so even if you ain't been in contact I guess you been sticking to the deal."

Heyes and the Kid exchanged a glance and Heyes cleared his throat. "Yeah we have, and that's why we're here. We wanna know if the Governor is up to keeping his side." Heyes glanced over at the Kid, who nodded his agreement to whatever Heyes would say, so he added quietly. "We can't go on living this way, Lom. We gotta know one way or another."

Lom looked a little surprised, no doubt at both the open plea and honesty in Heyes' tone and after a sip of coffee cleared his throat. "I've not spoken to Governor Moonlight since just before Thanksgiving, so I'm overdue a visit." He pause and added. "I'll leave tomorrow, if I can trust you boys to stay outta trouble while I'm gone of course."

Heyes snorted. "Oh believe me, Lom, we've had a whole lotta practice stayin' outta trouble. Ain't that right Kid?"

"Sure is." He paused then added. "You ain't gonna make me turn in my gun are you?"

Lom snorted and shook his head in some wry amusement. "Not this time, Kid, I don't see the need." He paused then added firmly. "Don't do anything to make me regret it."

ASJ

Heyes and the Kid saw Lom off on the train early the next morning, watching it chuff slowly out of sight before turning away as the Kid said. "What if he don't give Lom a straight yes or no, Heyes? I thought we were going with him to Cheyenne."

"That's our plan B, Kid. If he don't give us a proper answer, he's gonna get another visit that won't be so polite. Now, lets go eat."

The Kid laughed and clapped Heyes on the shoulder as he grinned. "I like the way ya think, Heyes."

ASJ

Back into their hotel room, Heyes glanced over at his partner who was reclining on the bed, hands behind his head and asked. "What will we do if he says yes?" If Moonlight said maybe, there'd be the trip to Cheyenne, and if he said no, it'd mean a long trip South with a pit stop at Yuma. A yes, would bring the least certain outcome, because that answer could bring with it changes that he wasn't quite ready to face so soon after finding his partner again.

The Kid turned to him, his face reflective as he said. "I dunno, I haven't let myself think 'bout it, much beyond a trip to the convent and using my own name again. Figure after Yuma, we go visit Clem, then onto Soapy's and just take it from there. We oughta get ourselves a stake in 'Frisco. Soapy will know of the games that will score us enough so we can buy some land and have somewhere of our own."

Heyes was happy that his friend's plans were for both of them, but unwilling to admit to the relief that swept over him at the words, only said dryly. "I thought you said you hadn't been thinking 'bout it, Kid? Seems like that's an awful lot of not thinking."

The Kid's reply sounded a little embarrassed as he said. "Well, it was a long trip from Yuma, Heyes."

"Well, I think that's a good lot of not thinking, Kid, so maybe I oughta start practising my fast draw some."

The Kid looked at him, then his face broke into a broad smile as he said. "Ha, now that I'd like to see! But there ain't no need, Heyes, thinking will give ya something to do while I'm charming the ladies."

Heyes laughed, then joined his friend on the bed with a wink, book in hand as he said. "If there's any left that need charming after they meet me, you do that, Kid. 'Cos then maybe someone else can cook for us."

"Well my stomach would thank 'em, Heyes, believe me. I got kinda spoilt with having drinkable coffee down in Yuma."

Heyes sensing an opening cleared his throat. "While you were sleeping on the train, I needed some coins out of your jacket pocket..."

He trailed off not quite sure how to finish now he'd started, but the Kid smiled a little wistfully at him as he said. "You know it wasn't just a convent, Heyes, but an orphanage too. I got to know a few of the children real well, and that picture was a leaving gift. Be real good to see them kids again. There was one boy who so reminded me of us when we were his age." He paused then added with a grin. "Well seeing he could talk up a storm and didn't ever hush for much more than five minutes, more you than me. But he's a great kid, they all are." He paused then added. "If Valpo had been like that place, I don't think we'd have run away. " He stopped again then said firmly. "No,we would've, 'cos there was no way I'd have been happy stayin' anywhere without you, especially at that age." He laughed and added so quietly that Heyes almost didn't hear him. "Ain't much different now, bein' honest."

Heyes smiled back at his partner, warmth spreading through him, although as he knew Kid had realised he'd heard him, he was expecting a smart remark to be added on, and was surprised when none came, so only said softly. "I got some whisky in my bag, I think we oughta toast to our future, whatever it ends up being."

ASJ

To: J Smith and T Jones, Porterville.

From: Lom Trevors, Cheyenne.

Back on afternoon train Wednesday. Have some of the good stuff ready. Bearing great news from our mutual friend.

The Kid stared at Heyes, who was reading and waving the telegram enthusiastically as he entered, not quite believing what he'd heard. "He wouldn't lie to us 'bout this would he Heyes?"

"I can't see it, Kid, not unless he's planning on needing a doctor."

ASJ

Trevors spied them hovering impatiently on the platform, his train having been delayed by an hour, and his face broke into a wide smile. After a glance at each other, they strode over him as Heyes said. "Well?"

Lom grinned at them obviously savouring the moment, and then said calmly. "Patience boys, you been waiting close on three years, so a few more minutes ain't nothing surely." He looked a little surprised at how tense they seemed, his eyebrows going up as the Kid said tightly. "I ain't in the mood for this, Lom."

Trevors sighed and said with some impatience. "You got some stuff to sign. We'll do that over at my office. Then you owe me several drinks as all I bin doin' is talking the last two days, and my throat's still as dry as a desert,and after that, well its up to you what you do."

The Kid glanced over at Heyes, then back over to Lom, his voice cracking slightly as he said."We got it? We really got it?"

Lom's brow creased in a bit of confusion at the question, but only said mildly. "Didn't you boys read my telegram?"

Heyes slapped Trevors on the back as he said. "Oh, we read it all right, Lom, we just weren't sure that it meant what we hoped it meant, isn't that right Kid?" He looked over at his partner who was now looking stunned, and grinned as he said. "C'mon Kid, thank Lom, then we got stuff to sign."

ASJ

As the Kid and Heyes approached the heavy gates up to the orphanage, Heyes heard the Kid sigh heavily, and felt him start to slow. He turned to look, a little surprised at his reluctance, considering his partner's eagerness to get here, a feeling that only grew when he saw the tightness to his jaw. "What's the matter, Kid, your feet hurting or something? Cos it can't be that you're nervous of a bunch of nuns and a few children! What's the worst they can do? Besides you wanted to come here, I almost thought you were gonna draw on me, to hurry me on when we were going for the train."

The Kid came to a full stop, his right hand twitching to his gun before he folded his arms and glared. "You ain't funny, Heyes, not even a little bit."

Heyes realised that the Kid was really worried, and quickly changed tack, turning to face him, as he gently rested his right hand on his partner's left shoulder. "I thought you said most of nuns knew who you were anyway. They'll just be real happy knowing you aren't wanted anymore. And we got lots of stuff for them, that we bought good and legal with honest money." Heyes nodded over at the bags Kid was carrying as well as the ones he'd placed on the ground when they'd stopped, then he realised what the problem was, and said gently. "I'm sure Billy and the others won't hold you being Kid Curry against you."

"I lied to 'em for months, Heyes..."

Before they could say anything further, they caught sight of three small figures running quickly towards the gate, one a little behind the others, with another two larger ones, moving at a much more sedate pace several steps behind. Across the wide field between them, in the quiet air, a voice clearly carried over to them. "Its them, I told ya, didn't I tell ya? Even before Mr Marks said they were in town, I knew they'd come visit. Wait till I tell the other boys I'm friends with Kid Curry!"

Another voice broke in just as excitedly. "Kid Curry is one thing, but I wanna meet Hannibal Heyes! I bet he can show me how to win them boys good at poker, when the teachers aren't looking, and then I can buy all the candy I want and he's real smart too."

"Children slow up there now." An older slightly breathless voice slowed the figures down, and as they moved more slowly towards them, Heyes turned to grin at the Kid, who was smiling widely. Soon he found himself with a handful of over excited child and swung him round laughing as the nuns looked on in tolerant amusement. When Billy finally let the Kid put him down and was calmed down enough to just bounce on his heels, the Kid turned to his partner, and waved over to the two nuns. "This is my partner Hannibal Heyes, and Heyes these ladies are Sisters' Valeria and Magdalena, that's Billy." He added unnecessarily, nodding at the boy in front of him, and over there is Jimmy, he indicated the slightly older boy, standing just in front of Valeria, grinning over at Heyes as if all his Christmas days had come at once. Neither of them could see the third child clearly, as she was hiding behind Magdalena's legs, though Heyes could clearly see a pair of bright green eyes watching them curiously.

Heyes recognising Valeria from his brief visit , smiled at her widely, and she met his grin with a slight glare on her face."I'm still not sure about you young man, especially now I know who you really are! I knew there was something about you when you came looking for Thaddeus." She turned to the man in question and said firmly, I refuse to call you Kid, son, it seems far too much of a conceit if you ask me, and not a good fit for you at all. You can't hide your good heart from me, boy."

Heyes feeling a little hard done by that the old Nun seemed to dislike him on principle, yet held no such ire for his partner, humphed a little, though he watched in some amusement as colour rose a little in his partner's cheeks at her comments.

Magdalena smiled at them both before turning to the older woman and saying firmly, "Oh Valeria do stop it. Come in boys, please. We heard you were coming from John this morning." She turned to look at the bags that sat on the ground between the two men. "They for us?"

Heyes noting that Kid's attention was back on the small dark haired lad who was now hugging his leg and chattering about someone called Michael, and how he'd be green on Monday, answered for them both. "Clothes, food, books, and toys for the children." He stared over at Valeria and said firmly. "All bought and paid for with honest money, you can look at the receipts if you like, and Sheriff Lom Trevors over in Porterville will vouch for us."

Valeria's face broke in a smile, and she laughed, saying "You'll do Mr Heyes, you'll do." With that she stood aside, indicated they should follow her and strode away, with Magdalena following, as the two boys stayed back to walk with the partners. Billy still talking about everything,hardly taking breath as the Kid listened. Jimmy walking beside Heyes not saying much, but still obviously excited to be there.

As they walked down the hill towards the large stone building, surrounded by bright flowers and well tended grass, where Heyes assumed the children lived, his attention split between Jimmy and his partner and Billy, Heyes felt a small hand slip into his, and he looked down into the face of a pretty red haired girl, to whom the pair of bright green eyes belonged. She smiled at him shyly as she asked. "What kinda books Mr Heyes? I love reading." She paused and added quietly." I'm Jenny."

Heyes grinned down at her as he said. "Well, Jenny, we brought lots of books sweetheart, I'm sure you'll find more than one you'll like. There might even be a dolly in there for you too."

ASJ

The Mother Superior eyed them sternly and they shuffled uncomfortably, as her piercing glare seemed to peer inside them with some disapproval, but then her face softened as she looked over at the Kid. "Now, I am sure your parents didn't baptise you, Kid."

"No, Ma'am, they named me Jedediah. Though I was usually known as Jed."

"Ahh, Jedediah is a good Godly name, I see no need to shorten it." She then turned to Heyes and said. "And young man I quite refuse to call you Heyes, so Hannibal it will be." She paused then continued more gently. "The gifts were most thoughtful boys, the children will treasure the toys and books. The food and money will help us take in more that need our protection from the world, and allow us, in the time that God wills that they must stay here, to ensure they will not go hungry."

ASJ

Clem met them at the door to her small house her eyes gleaming, laughing as she was swept into a hug first by the Kid then Heyes. Once she'd got her breath back, she straightened her hair and glared at them " I wondered when you'd get here! I've been expecting you for at least three weeks, ever since I read about your amnesty! It isn't polite keeping a girl waiting you know boys."

The Kid grinned at her as Heyes said. "Even less polite keeping a Nun waiting." As she opened her month, he shook his head at her as Kid said. "Hope you got some food in Clem. We're starving! We'll tell you all about it inside, well Heyes will anyway, as I'll be too busy eating to talk."

Once they were settled round Clem's table, she dug into her apron and brought out a large envelope which Heyes eyed with interest, and he said. "If that's the picture, ya can keep it."

"With us being in all the papers, and not being wanted, it don't matter no more." The Kid chimed in with his mouth full of stew.

Her face slipped in a frown as she said. "Don't you want something as a reminder of the times we've spent together."

"Oh believe me, Clem, we won't ever forget those times!" Clem eyed Heyes a little uncertainly not quite sure what to make of his tone.

But then he plucked the envelope out of her hands and looked at the picture, a smile breaking out on his face as he said. "Well, we'll be seeing more of you now we ain't wanted so we won't need too much reminding."

Clem's face dropped a little as she said. "I didn't want to say anything in January, but I've met someone. We're moving to New York next month. Paul's a banker, and his Uncle has got him a real good job in some-place called Wall Street."

Heyes wasn't quite sure how to respond, and the Kid stopped eating, his expression reflecting the same uncertainty. It seemed that life was changing for them all. But then Heyes realised with Clem settled, it was one less worry for them and his face broke into a genuine smile. "Well good luck, Clementine. This Paul better treat ya right."

The Kid nodded, enthusiastically. "Or you write and tell us, and we'll come for ya and make sure he regrets his behaviour."

"Oh I don't see there will be any need for that, but if you want to come visit with us, Paul said he's up for that." She paused before continuing with a small laugh. "He's read all those dime novels about you."

Heyes glanced over at the Kid and said mildly. "Well maybe we will, Clem, when we're settled. Might be interesting to go East for a bit."

ASJ

The Kid and Heyes surveyed their new purchase in slightly awed silence as the fact they were the honest to goodness owners of a piece of decent land sank in, and they both realised that suddenly they had roots and a place to call home again. Something they'd not had since the long ago, only half remembered blissful days of their early childhood. The Kid feeling a little emotional cleared his throat unsure of what to say. Heyes however had no such problem and reached out to sling an arm round his shoulders and said with some satisfaction. "Well we done it, Kid, got us a chance of a better life, and some good dirt to start it from."

The Kid swallowed hard and turned to grin at his friend as happiness swept over him. "We done good Heyes, real good. It sure feels fine, mighty fine to own something that don't move or shoot, and ain't gonna be stolen from us neither."

"I think we deserve a drink, Kid, its thirsty work spending so much of our honestly earnt cash!"

"You're buying Heyes, I bought the last set, and I paid for the horse's feed yesterday, not to mention I bought us breakfast this morning, while you was jawing with that lawyer guy."

"You know, Kid, it ain't real polite keeping a check list of stuff like that in ya head."

"Heyes, someone's gotta."

"Well, you owe me twenty dollars, and I don't go on 'bout that."

"Yes ya do, Heyes, that's why you insisted on me paying or everything this week."

"Tell ya what, Kid, we'll flip for it. We'll even use your coin."

"You feelin' all right Heyes?"

"What's that supposed to mean, Kid?" Heyes sounded slightly put out which made the Kid grin as he dug into his pocket for a dime and handed it to his partner who took it and said. "Call!" as he tossed the coin into the air with a flourish and a small smile.

The Kid watched as it spun several times, the metal gleaming as it caught the sun and said. "Tails." shaking his head in resigned amusement when it came up heads, as Heyes chuckled.

It was an old argument between them, that was as comfortable as their partnership, and the Kid felt no real ire at the outcome and only said with a grin. "All right Heyes, I'll even stretch to dinner, it'll give us a rest from burnt offerings and bad coffee for supper."

"You sure have gotten picky about your food Kid."

"It ain't being picky, Heyes, its 'bout having some respect for my stomach. You oughta try it sometimes."

They bickered gently all the way to town, and the Kid didn't think he could remember a time when he'd ever been this happy, and the softness in his partner's expression told much the same tale. Ahh, thought the Kid as they walked into the cafe together, life was good indeed.