A Birthday Wish from the Boys

(Just a little tale for two AS&J fans with early April birthdays)

0-0-0-0-0-0

"Kate, I know you're busy getting us along the Truckee..." Heyes said when Kate paused and leaned back in her chair (a good indication that she had lost all sense of plot and dialogue).

"Safely along the Truckee," Kid added, hoping he might influence her thinking just a bit.

"Is there something you two boys wanted?' Kate asked with a bit of irritation.

"Well, it's my understanding that them two Rachel's both had birthdays this week and, well, we were thinking maybe you could help us say or do something nice for them."

"Cause they tend to like to hurt us almost as much as you do, and we thought maybe you could help us get on their good sides, you know?" Kid asked.

"Apparently you two just don't really understand the whole concept of Fan Fiction. Readers like to feel empathy for the two of you and the best way to enable that is to hurt or embarrass you."

Heyes bit the inside of his bottom lip and Kid crossed his arms across his chest as they exchanged sideways glasses. Both had come to loathe the words hurt and embarrass.

"So you're saying we should hurt or embarrass them to make them feel better, about getting old?" Kid asked.

"Older, Kid. Don't never tell a woman she's getting old," Heyes cautioned.

"No, I'm not saying that at all," Kate replied.

"Well, we learned from your birthday that it don't pay to mail them a card or send them a present..."

Kid snorted. "Nope, never try that again. That just lands you in cold water."

"And costs me a lot of money," Kate added.

"We was thinking maybe you could write something..." Heyes said.

"You know, do our talking for us like Lom did to the Governor," Kid added.

"As I recall, that didn't really fare too well for the two of you," Kate reminded them. "Heyes, you've got a silver tongue. Just say something to them, and Kid we know how good you are at essay writing, so just write them something."

"You really do have a mean streak in you, don't you Kate? You're always saying Kid has piano fingers, but you're the one with the keyboard fingers. We was hoping you'd help us here," Heyes protested.

Kate sighed heavily. She really wanted to focus her thoughts on the next chapter of her own story, but she knew how persistent these two outlaws could be.

"Alright Heyes, you dictate and I'll type it down for you."

"What about me?" Kid asked.

"You sit yourself down and write that essay and I'll transcribe it here for you. And do try to use good spelling and grammar, Kid."

"Getting a might proddy, ain't you?' Kid grumbled.

"Alright Kid. I have another idea for you. I know these two Rachels and they would be much more interested in you taking a hot bath than in anything you write.

Kid smiled. "I knew I could count on you. Bring on the water!"

Kid stepped back as a large copper tub filled with steaming hot water suddenly appeared. "Kid, give them a good show," Kate cautioned.

Kid smiled and slowly began to unbuckle his gun belt.

"Alright, Heyes. I've got Kid occupied for an hour," Kate said with one eye carefully focused on the dirty blond cowboy whose shirt and Henley now lay on a pile on the floor.

"Kate! Focus!." Heyes said sternly. "And not on Kid. You got your fingers limbered up and hovering over the keyboard?"

Kate sighed heavily. One of these days there will be an epic story of Kid taking a bath, she thought.

"To the two Rachel writers," Heyes began. "I've got a friend named Jenny Black, and she tells me that the two of you must be something she called Aries. Now I don't exactly know what that is, but Jenny says an Aries looks like a Ram. Well Kate has shown me pictures of the two of you and I am happy to say neither one of you looks like a Ram. Hell, you two don't even look like a ewe."

Heyes paused and glanced at Kate for some reassurance that he was getting his complimentary point across, but Kate's eyes were staring at the keyboard and her lips were pinched tightly together.

"Jenny said Aries people are creative, and that is obvious with the brilliant stories the two of you write. She also says Aries are honest and empathetic people. I don't know as I can comment on that one. I suppose you're as honest as the next fella... er, a Ma'am, and I suppose you just save your empathy for... well for real people I guess. And she says Aries people are generous. Well again, you share all them stories that I know take days, even weeks to write and giving The Kid and me all that time is pretty generous so I guess Jenny hit the nail on the head with that one."

Heyes turned and looked at Kate once again and this time she gave him an approving nod.

"I found this last thing that Jenny told me pretty amazing. She said Aries make good writers! Now I know she didn't have a clue that the two of you was writers which is why I found that comment pretty amazing. So, learning everything we've learned about the two of you, Kid and me just want to... Kid, you ready over there?"

Kid smiled. "Let me stand up for this, Heyes," Kid replied and hoisted himself to his feet while globs of bubbles slowly slid down the tanned, wet, torso of pure sinew.

"Happy Birthday Rachels!" they both exclaimed with wide smiles.

"That's it, Kate. I think we've said all we gotta say," Heyes told her.

"If you two don't mind," Kate replied. "I don't think I'll bring this story to a complete end. I think the image of the two of you just as you are will be a very...nice birthday gift. Although, one of the Rachels might like to see a little more skin on you, Heyes."

Heyes smiled and quickly unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall down to his wrists as Kid began move his arms in a circular motion to generate some body heat.

"That's fine Kate, but you better turn off that computer pretty quick," Kid told her.

"Why?' Kate asked.

"It's starting to get a little cold in here."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Author's note: Happy birthday Rachel C., and Happy Belated Birthday Rachel K!