Mary was busy preparing supper when her husband of almost thirty years came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. Her hands stilled as she leaned back against him with a smile. She sighed sadly, her smile disappearing when, glancing out the window her eyes fell on the slumped shoulders of the man sitting atop the small hill in the family cemetery.

"I feel so bad for him Joshua…especially today."

Joshua rested his chin on top of his wife's head as he too looked out the window.

"They were always so close Mary. I was only ten when ma died and pa was so completely devastated that he could barely drag himself out of bed in the mornings…I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't moved in with us to help. I grew up basically having two fathers," he said smiling at the distant memory. "Life was never dull with those two around," he chuckled. "Remember how teary eyed they both were the day we got married, not that either of them had ever admitted it."

"Then a year ago today, and without any warning…the heart attack."

They stood watching as the man reached out patting the ground beside him, before slowly struggling to his feet.

"A large part of him died that day too. He's been so lost since the funeral and he's lost so much weight," she sniffed quickly wiping away a tear. "You better go get him supper's going to be ready soon."

Joshua turned his wife, giving her a quick kiss before heading for the door.

XXX

He sat silently on the ground beside the tombstone, lost in the memories of the past for quite some time, and as his hand traced the name chiseled on the stone, he began talking softly to his friend, recounting the things they'd done as children, some of the trouble they'd gotten into and the resulting trips to the woodshed. "Do ya reckon our ma's ever figured out that we only ever got a talkin' to instead of the switch? Well except for that one time." He smiled remembering the taste of his ma's warm apple pie they'd taken from the windowsill. They'd really been in trouble then and that had been the only time he could remember them having their behinds warmed…but it had been worth it.

"That pie sure was good. I still say that's the best apple pie I've ever eaten." His smile faded as he continued… "Everything started changing not long after that didn't it. But we made it…ran away from that damn school they dumped us in after our folks were killed and never looked back. We took care of each other even though it was hard trying to find folks that would hire on boys as young as we were. Went hungry more than once. Then there was that stupid fight we got into when we were a bit older…both of us too stubborn and bull headed to give in. Those were the two worst years of my life not knowing where you were or if you were all right. I couldn't believe it when I walked into the saloon that day and saw you sittin' there playin' poker and drinkin' a beer, but I sure was glad to see you. The years we spent leading the Devil's Hole Gang together…they were a good bunch really. Hard to believe I'm the only one of the old gang that's left now."

He ran a hand across his eyes wiping the moisture from them, taking a ragged breath as he continued.

"All those years trying to get the amnesty that was promised us…and we got it, except it took five years instead of one. I don't think either of us would have survived long enough to get it if we'd separated like you wanted to. Gotta hand it to Lom though, he stuck with us, going to one governor after another on our behalf…and I know they were gettin' real tired of not only the endless telegrams he sent, but his showing up, usually unannounced, to keep at them. When it finally came through we'd bin on the run for so long that we didn't have any idea of what we wanted to do, so we just kept wandering until we came here to Cedar Ridge. It sure was somethin' runnin' into Frank Moore and him shaking our hands to congratulate us on our amnesties since he led one of the most persistent posses that ever chased us. But that was when he'd been sheriff in Poplar…yeah Frank was a fine man and became a good friend."

He paused again, running a hand through his now mostly gray hair, thinking of the man who had convinced the rest of the townspeople that it would be a good idea for Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry to settle in their town…telling them no outlaw would dare try to rob the bank when they found out who was in charge of security.

"Imagine that, the sheriff talking the manager into hiring us to work in his bank," he chuckled. "And then there was the church social. I knew right away you were gonna marry Susan Watkins when she showed up." He smiled still able to see the love struck look on his partner's face when he had first laid eyes on the beautiful red haired woman. "Yup it was love at first sight. What was it only four months before you two got married? You bought the ranch a year later when Susan told you she was expecting. You were both so happy. Me, I was content to live in that little house on the outskirts of town and I even managed to win at poker in the saloon once in a while. But then Maggie left me, saying that she'd been more in love with my reputation than with me. You and Susan helped me through those rough days and I don't know if I ever told ya how much I appreciated it…and you comin' to get me all those times to drag me out to the ranch for some of Susan's cooking. You sure were lucky partner because that woman was one hell of a good cook."

He sighed turning his head slightly to the left looking at the weathered tombstone that stood beside his friend's. A shadow swept across him and lifting his head he followed the path of the large hawk as it soared in the breeze. His lower lip trembled as the bird disappeared and he turned his attention once more to the grave beside him.

"When your son was born and she wanted to name him Joshua…well, we both had a good laugh over that didn't we. Then she got sick with the grippe that turned into pneumonia. You were in such a bad way when she passed that you were scarin' young Joshua, and to be honest you were scarin' me too, so I moved in. It took a long time, but you finally came back to us. I remember the day Joshua got married…it was really somethin' seeing that. It's too bad that they never had kids, but guess it wasn't meant to be. They seem happy though. Made me move in with them when you…when you left."

He raised his head shivering slightly as the temperature began to drop, realizing he had been out here all afternoon talking to his friend, remembering the good times and even a couple not so good. The sun was getting low on the horizon painting the sky with an orange glow bringing back a vivid memory of them racing across the Wyoming countryside, both of them laughing in abandon. He smiled sadly as he patted the grave beside him before getting stiffly to his feet. Placing his hand gently on top of the tombstone, a tear escaped to roll down his cheek.

"I miss you so damn much partner," he whispered brokenly.

Hearing the hesitant steps approaching him he ran a hand across his eyes and took a steadying breath just before a hand settled on his shoulder.

"Mary says to tell you suppers almost ready," Joshua said softly, pausing before asking worriedly…"Are you all right?"

He shook his head. "I miss your pa every day."

"I know…."

"There isn't a day goes by that I wish it'd been me that had gone first."

Joshua said nothing, just wrapped an arm around his shoulders steering him back to the house where they sat at the table, Joshua and Mary trying their best to include him in the conversation, but he remained quiet, speaking only when asked a direct question. He tried to eat knowing they were watching him, but mainly pushed the food around on his plate, finally shoving it away having eaten only a few mouthfuls.

"I'm sorry Mary, its real good. Guess I just don't have much of an appetite tonight."

"Maybe you'll feel like having something a little later," she said getting to her feet to clear the table.

"Yeah…maybe."

He pushed his chair back and stood, finding her at his side. She pulled him close giving him a hug which he returned before mumbling... "I'm real tired think I'll just go to bed."

"Of course… Sleep well," she said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

The husband and wife watched as he disappeared into his bedroom closing the door behind him, neither of them knowing what to do to help him.

XXX

He undressed slowly and climbed into bed feeling badly that he was causing them so much worry, but he was always so tired lately. As he stretched out on his back he turned his head to glance over at the two old hats that sat side by side on the table by the window. Yawning, he turned his eyes to the ceiling, putting his hands behind his head, his thoughts still on his missing friend. Sometimes it seemed he'd been gone forever but he remembered it like it had happened only yesterday. He'd been walking beside him and had reached out to steady him when his cousin had staggered, gasping in pain and grabbing his arm with a strength that still surprised him their eyes locking as he'd eased him to the floor as gently as he could. He had watched helplessly seeing the life fading from his eyes, his hand slowly loosening its grip to slide to the floor. And no matter how much he'd begged him to hang on, his partner left him that day. Since then not a single day went by that he hadn't thought of him, smiling at those times when he could imagine him aiming a smart ass comment at him when he'd done something even he himself considered stupid. He could still hear his laugh, could see the eyes that could be full of mischief or flashing angrily if somebody pissed him off. With his eyes getting heavier and heavier as weariness tugged at him, he again pictured the beautiful sunset he'd seen earlier, and as his eyes closed, he felt the horse galloping under him and heard the laughter of his best friend racing along beside him.

XXX

Joshua abruptly sat up in bed, jolted wide awake by what he wasn't quite sure. Mary stirred beside him.

"What is it?" she asked sleepily.

"It must have been a dream but I swear I heard my pa calling me," he said throwing the covers aside and swinging his legs out, pausing only long enough to pull on his pants and reach in the drawer removing the gun from the holster before heading out of the bedroom. He moved quietly through the house seeing nothing out of the ordinary. He tapped softly on the other bedroom door opening it a crack when there was no answer. He would never be able to explain why he felt the need to go in and check on him that night, but he moved to the side of the bed and seeing the peaceful smile on his face, knew even before he touched him. He started when he felt Mary's hand on his shoulder.

"He's gone Mary," he said, his voice cracking, his father's Colt hanging forgotten in his hand.