Hannibal Heyes was struggling. He had been trying to work out a plan for their next bank robbery for several days and nights and he was getting frustrated. Hank and the Kid had arrived back in Devil's Hole two days ago after a tiring four day trip gathering the information about the bank in Ruby Flats that Heyes required. He straightened up crumpling up yet another paper and tossing it aside, scowling at his inability to get it to work out in a way he was happy with. Running his hand across his eyes, he took a deep breath bending to peer at the papers scattered across the table once more. His partner hadn't been able to get much sleep himself since arriving back at the hideout with Heyes constantly asking him questions, even going to his room and waking him to get information on something else he'd thought of. He had tried more than once to get him to go to bed and get some sleep but Heyes had either ignored him or mumbled something unintelligible. He stood leaning against the counter by the window his arms crossed. Glancing out the window and realizing it would be dawn soon he sighed as he ran a hand across his forehead deciding to give it one more try.
"Heyes, you need to get some sleep…and so do I."
"So go to bed," Heyes snapped.
The Kid raised an eyebrow shaking his head as he went to his bedroom and closed the door, leaving his partner mumbling and raking a hand through his hair. He quickly drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake a short time later by a loud curse. He sat up quickly reaching for the gun that was hanging from the bedpost. Hearing papers being torn followed by more colourful cursing, his shoulders slumped and he groaned. "Dammit Heyes," he mumbled putting the gun back in the holster. Throwing the covers back, he swung his legs out of bed and pulled his pants and boots on. Rubbing his tired eyes he continued to cuss his partner under his breath. Snatching up his shirt he shoved his arms into the sleeves before grabbing his gunbelt and heading to his bedroom door.
Heyes, hearing the door open, looked up seeing his disheveled cousin buttoning his shirt and yawning, his gunbelt draped over his shoulder.
"Thought you were tired," he said with a puzzled frown.
"Yeah, I am," he groused.
"Then what're doin' up?"
The Kid took a deep breath. "Kinda hard ta sleep with you makin' so much racket."
"I was workin' you know that."
"And I was tryin' ta get some sleep," he snapped irritably as he finished strapping on his gunbelt.
Heyes shrugged and picked up a paper, his brow wrinkling as he read it. Shaking his head he put it down to pick up another, scanning it as the Kid banged things around getting coffee started. Heyes lifted his head giving him a sharp look.
"Think you can make a little more noise Kid? I'm tryin' to work here."
He turned his attention back to the many papers on the table not seeing his partner stiffen as he turned slowly from the stove after purposely setting the coffeepot down harder than need be. "What I think Heyes is that you should take a break and get some sleep."
"Good thing I'm the one that does all the thinkin' around here then isn't it?" He muttered, placing both hands on the table, leaning forward to peer more closely at the papers.
Curry's eyes narrowed…"All the thinkin'? What're ya tryin' to say Heyes…that the rest of us are stupid?"
"Well…no I didn't say that exactly…" he sighed in frustration not even looking at the other man. "You just keep practicin' your shootin', that's what you're good at and I'll keep doin' the thinkin'," he said waving a hand dismissively at his patner.
The Kid's hurt at that comment was quickly replaced with something else. Heyes jumped when his friend's palm loudly hit the table only an inch from his left hand. He quickly yanked his hand away and turning, lifted startled eyes to his cousin, sucking in a sharp breath he saw his cousin's angry face. He backed up, the table stopping him from taking more than a couple steps away from the gunfighter, wondering what the hell he'd done to piss off his partner…he didn't have to wonder for long.
"You know for someone who thinks he's so damn smart you're a real idiot sometimes."
"What did I do?" he asked his hand on his chest having no idea what he'd done or said.
"You really got no clue what you said do you?"
Heyes frowned trying to recall what he'd said, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head after a moment. That only caused the Kid to look even angrier…if that was possible. He slowly advanced toward his partner, whose eyes widened when the Kid took a final step that brought him only inches from Heyes' face, poking him hard in the chest.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" He dropped his hand as he continued. "Practice my shootin'?" He shook his head. "Guess I know my place now…I'm just the fast gun." His anger was still apparent even though his voice faded as he spoke the last few words. For a moment he stood staring at his cousin who remained silent, then suddenly turned heading for the door. He reached out to open the door when Heyes finally found his voice.
"Where are you going?"
"To shoot somethin' and you'd best stop talkin' or it might be you," the Kid replied without turning.
Heyes flinched, his ears ringing as the door slammed closed so hard he wondered how it had stayed attached to the frame.
XXX
Kyle and Hank were walking by the leaders' cabin and hearing the raised voice of the Kid, came to a stop wondering what was going on. The gunfighter usually only had to turn his cold glare on folks to have them backing away. He didn't yell in anger very often but when he did people usually scattered. Both men's eyes widened at the sight of unmistakable anger on his flushed face as he stormed out of the cabin, saying nothing as he stomped past them, merely exchanging a look knowing where he was heading.
"Sure hope he's got plenty o' targets else Heyes could be in trouble."
Hank snorted as he glanced at the closed door…"you might be right Kyle…c'mon we'd best tell the others to stay out of the Kid's way for a while."
XXX
Almost three hours passed before the door to the leaders' cabin opened and Heyes, in the middle of pouring himself some coffee, glanced over swallowing a bit nervously when he saw his partner enter.
"Coffee?"
"No."
"Hungry?"
"Ate with the boys."
Heyes took a deep breath as he set the pot back on the stove, knowing his cousin wasn't going to make this easy.
"You were practicin' a bit longer than usual this mornin'."
"Well, seems that's all I'm good for," he snapped.
His shoulders drooped and raising his hands shoulder height, palms out in surrender, he stood in front of his cousin, who stared coldly back at him.
"Kid I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean it like that."
"Do I?" He paused then blew out a breath. "I'm figurin' it might be best if I rode outta here."
Heyes' eyes widened in surprise, he had not expected this. "What? No! We're partners Kid, I don't wanna do this without you."
Curry lowered his eyes to the floor, saying nothing as his friend watched him worriedly before waving a hand toward the table.
"Look, I even cleared the table off…decided against robbing the bank in Ruby Flats, it's too risky …c'mon Kid. You were right we're both tired and in need of some sleep."
The Kid's eyes flicked to the table before turning his back on his cousin and walking to the window.
"I'll see Heyes."
"Hey I got an idea why don't we go to town tomorrow. We can leave first thing in the mornin', spend the night there…play some poker, have a few drinks, maybe spend some time with a saloon girl or two," he said hopefully.
The Kid, still staring out the window, was silent for so long that Heyes didn't think he was going to answer but he finally nodded his head in agreement, still not looking at his partner. "I reckon we should take a couple of the boys too, get some supplies while we're there."
"Good Idea…Wheat and Kyle maybe."
"And Hank."
"And Hank." Heyes relaxed and grinned, the fear that his partner was going to ride out slowly fading.
"Heyes?" The Kid finally turned from the window raising his eyes to look coolly at his cousin.
"Yeah Kid?"
"I still ain't made up my mind."
The smile dropped from his face, the fear surfacing again as he anxiously watched his partner sit at the table and begin to break down his Colt.
XXX
The rest of the day passed slowly with the Kid spending most of it outside and Heyes deciding the best thing he could do was to give his partner space. The men of the Devil's Hole Gang watched their leaders going out of their way to avoid each other throughout the day, keeping their distance from both of them after hearing what Hank and Kyle had witnessed, wondering what the hell had happened between the partners. They'd witnessed disagreements between the two men before, but not like this. Wheat in particular was curious as to what might have sparked the cold shoulder the gunfighter was giving his partner thinking maybe he'd get his chance to lead the gang after all.
XXX
Heyes stood at the stove stirring a pot of venison stew, thinking this had been one of the longest days he could ever remember. He was wondering if his partner would be eating in the bunkhouse again when the door opened. He looked up and smiled when the Kid walked in.
"You're just in time, supper's ready."
The Kid shook his head wearily and sighed, but sat down with his elbows on the table, dropping his head into his hands. A bowl slid across the table to him as Heyes sat down.
"Eat up Kid, it's pretty good if I say so myself."
He watched his partner, feeling guilty seeing the exhaustion that was apparent on his face. The tension was still there but he tried his best to engage his cousin in conversation while they ate, getting only one word answers or a shrug of his shoulders in response.
"Want some more?" Heyes asked as his cousin pushed his bowl aside.
A single shake of a head was the only answer he got and a moment later the Kid wordlessly got to his feet and headed for his bedroom.
"G'night Kid." Heyes sighed when he got no reply, watching the man silently disappear into his room, the door closing behind him.
XXX
The Kid removed his gunbelt hanging it on the bedpost before sitting wearily on the bed not knowing if he even had the energy to take his clothes off. Grunting, he tugged his boots off dropping them noisily to the floor. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt letting it fall to the floor on top of his boots deciding that was good enough. He moaned softly as he lay down on his back, his eyes closing. He didn't think he'd ever felt this tired. He sighed, gritting his teeth once again hearing the words his cousin had said to him early this morning. He knew what Heyes was like when formulating a plan, but everything today irritated him and he knew it was because he was so tired…tired? No he was exhausted. With his partner being tired as well…well it was like holding a match too close to a stick of Kyle's dynamite. His mind wandered back to the Home for Waywards and the times Heyes had stepped in and taken punishments that had been meant for him. Then they'd run away together and he remembered that it had been Heyes that came up with ways to get money, clothes or even food when he had no bullets left to shoot something. Then as they got older they had the biggest fight they'd ever had…and it was all over Heyes being so damn bossy and not willing to listen. He'd flattened him and ridden away without looking back and had spent two miserable years on his own. His reputation as a fast gun had grown quickly and he had to constantly be looking over his shoulder. Then he'd unexpectedly run into Heyes in a saloon not far from Devil's Hole and it hadn't taken much to convince him to join the gang. He had to admit he didn't much care for being shot at by posses, but it sure was nice having someone watch his back, a safe place to lay his head, and plenty of food to eat. He drifted off to sleep smiling as he dreamt of the days he'd spent fishing with his older cousin, the same cousin that always seemed to come up with ideas that often tended to get the two of them into some sort of trouble with their parents.
XXX
Rubbing his eyes Heyes yawned widely as he gathered the dishes, quickly washing them before deciding to go to bed himself hoping that with the dawn things with his best friend would be back to normal. He undressed and climbed into bed and lay on his back with a weary sigh. He lifted a hand rubbing his forehead, he was getting a headache. He thought of what had happened between himself and the Kid earlier. His friend had always accused him of being bossy, even when they were children and Heyes knew he could be as stubborn as his partner at times and with both of them being as tired as they were, well it sure hadn't helped any. Thinking back to the evening when Hank and Curry had ridden back in he'd seen they had both looked worn out from their long trip but he'd wanted to know everything about the bank, the law, and the town in general. He needed all that information to devise a plan that would not only guarantee success, but get them all back safely. The Kid should know when he's working out the logistics of a robbery he didn't sleep much and needed to bounce ideas off his partner. He sighed again, realizing that maybe he'd been a bit unreasonable. His eyes grew heavier as he thought about the two years they'd spent apart. He had not only missed his friend, he'd worried about him when he'd read stories in the newspapers about the growing reputation the gunman known as Kid Curry was getting. He yawned, hoping that come morning he could convince the best friend he'd ever had to stay. As he drifted off to sleep he smiled dreaming of the childhood he'd spent getting into trouble with a boy named Jed.