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Deputy Griggs tipped his hat to the women passing him on the boardwalk in front of the jail. It was the need to turn his head to the women that three familiar men caught his eye near the end of the street. He folded his arms across his chest and watched the action down his street. The Curry's had left Paulson's office and turned beyond the livery. Several minutes passed when Paulson's door opened, the lawyer emerged holding a briefcase under his arm, patted it as if forgetting something and returned inside. Griggs saw the three Midwest bulls saunter down the side street. Every instinct told Griggs trouble loomed. He moved off the front wall of the jail and began trotting down the street.
Sheriff Nash, returning from his rounds, saw his deputy making haste down the street. He turned back and headed down the ally.
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He was grabbed from behind the same time he saw Heyes throw back his head and crumble to the ground. He felt the pain of hard fists on his face and his stomach and the end of the ax handle on his back ribs. He heard himself grunt from the breath knocked out of him as he fell face first onto the hard ground, seeing his prone cousin unmoving just feet away. Hulking bodies stood over him, their boots stepping menacingly close. He figured he'd recognize them, if he could just turn over. A swift kick in his ribs did the trick. He focused his one open eye on the three Midwest bulls looming over him.
"Hi, fellas. Might early for the court date, aren't ya?" Another kick in his ribs and a cry of pain.
"We're gonna return the favor you done us at the rail camp, sweet face."
"Aw, that's alright, fellas, no need."
"We thought, you goin' before the judge and all, might go easy if he had cause to feel sympathy for a worthless drifter. So we're here to help on that account."
"Only we'll make sure the judge'll have the utmost sympathy for the likes o' you." They crouched over him. "That way, you'll get off scot-free."
"Really fellas, no nee..." A hard fist in his ribs. "Ooof!" His right arm was tightly grasped at the wrist and raised up.
"First, us two is gonna break both your arms..." A huge, nob-knuckled finger touched the inside of Curry's elbow. "...right here."
"Then, yer trousers is gunna fall down and that's how the town'll find yeh. Flat out in the middle o' their street. Half naked and cain't even draw up yer own trousers."
"Now, what judge could turn a blind eye to such a pathetic young man, maimed fer the rest of his long, hard, miserable life?" All three smiled menacingly down at him.
Curry found the strength to kick at his attackers and move to rise, but six heavy hands held him down. His right arm was stretched across the knee of one of the bulls as a huge mitt held his wrist.
"HOLD IT! DON'T MOVE OR I'LL SHOOT."
Deputy Griggs came into view over the heads of the bulls. "You harm that man and I will shoot." He stepped around the crouching men to Curry's head. "Release him." Not a movement.
"NOW."
"Don't make my deputy waste words, fellas. Do as he says." Sheriff Nash held his gun on the group from Curry's left.
Six heavy hands let go their captive.
"Now, step back. Hands above your heads. Move. Nice and easy." The sheriff gestured with his pistol toward the street.
"Him?" Nash nodded toward Heyes, lying face down and unmoving on the ground.
Griggs stepped to his side, crouched down, and feeling Heyes breathing, nodded to the sheriff. He pivoted to Curry.
"We'll come back when these three are nice and settled in a cell." The two lawmen herded their prisoners to the street.
Curry let out a rasping breath and laid back, moaning. He fought the pain to turn onto his side and getting up on hands and knees, crawled to Heyes. Grimacing with pain, he pulled Heyes at the shoulder and managed to turn him onto his back.
"Hey." He patted the cheeks, speaking worriedly. "Hey, cousin. Can you hear me? Wake up, now. C'mon!"
Muffled words and groans. Suddenly, Heyes jerked upward, brown eyes wide open, panic on his face.
"JEDDIE!"
"Right here, Hannie."
"I CAN'T READ WHAT AIN'T THERE!"
"Huh?"
Heyes stared at Curry leaning over him. "You... you're out." He laid back and closed his eyes. Oh, thank you... He could almost remember who to thank, but for what?
What's going on... a dream? The last thing I remember... Jeddie said... He opened his eyes to his cousin.
"Don't what?"
Blue eyes smiled and he clutched Heyes's shirt. Curry knew his cousin was alright. "Don't empty your weapon until I reload mine." He searched the brown eyes. "Basic defensive tactic. Make sure there's always one loaded, just in case."
"Oh." Brown eyes stared. "Good rule to remember." He turned his head from side to side. "Friends of yours?"
"Came to return a favor I done 'em at the railroad camp. Griggs an' Nash cut 'em short."
"Ah. I'd like to return the favor they done me."
"You'll have to stand first."
"OW-w-w!" Heyes held the back of his head. "God, that mule sure can kick." He gave another try and this time, stood on shaky legs. He held a hand down to his cousin.
Curry cried out in pain on trying to rise, his arms held tightly around his chest. Heyes bent over him feeling his sides and Curry flinched on his touch.
"You got some broken ribs, there, kid. We're goin' straight to the doctor's." He pulled his cousin by the upper arms until he stood, bending to his right.
"Let's just get back to our room, Heyes. I'll be alright."
"Not up for discussion, little cousin."
'Little cousin'. Still thinks he's smarter just 'cause he's two years older! "Ouch" He might be right. Still...
"You missed two."
"C'mon."
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Heyes had been examined by Doctor Gant after Curry and released with a small bottle of laudanum for pain at bedtime. The doctor stressed that natural healing is best and the most sure, but if pain prevents sleep, a drop or two in a glass of water is all that is necessary, for either of them.
"You're a lucky young man the soft part of your back took much of the blunt force from that handle. As it is, bruising on your back between the spine and scapula and a contusion on the back of your head is the extent. Liniment will help with the back muscle pain. Your nephew, now..."
The doctor turned to tend to Curry lying on the examination table. Heyes thought he looked so young and vulnerable, with his good eye open wide and his face bruised, in obvious pain, his head inclined to keep his big cousin in view.
Probably the first time he's been on a doctor table since he got called off the firing range that day in Fort Lyon. Seems a long time ago...
He walked to the opposite side of the table and put a hand on Curry's forearm.
A knock on the exam room door. "Mister Curry?" Sheriff Nash poked his head around the opened door and seeing Jeddie on the table, chose his Curry to speak with. "Eoin, a word with you." Heyes squeeze Curry's arm and left the room.
"Ah, good to see you up and about, Eoin! You're not badly injured?"
"A lump on the head and bruise on the back. Came out better than my nephew. I'd really like to be with him now, Sheriff..."
"Oh, sure, sure, Eoin. I got the whole story from my deputy. Those three bulls were going to break Jeddie's arms and leave him on the street exposed. Luckily, Deputy Griggs was alerted and arrived in time to stop them." He shook his head. "They'll be in my jail. If you and your nephew will come by and swear out a complaint, they'll go before the judge next month. Ought to help Jeddie's case, too." He looked down reaching into his vest pocket and removed a pair of mangled spectacles with broken lenses. "Found these in the alley."
"Ah, the loser of us three. Thanks, Sheriff. I'll let Jeddie know what you said."
Heyes asked questions as Doctor Gant summarized Curry's injuries. Three broken ribs in back were the worst of his beating, lungs were untouched. The bruising and black eye will heal quickest. The ribs will take weeks. Heyes helped the doctor raise Curry to a sitting position and assisted in wrapping his ribs. Liniment for the bruising and laudanum only if absolutely necessary were prescribed. The doctor gave a week's worth of gauze and padding to re-wrap Curry's ribs.
"Let's get back to the room and take it easy rest of the day, huh? We both could use it." Heyes held a hand to assist Curry off the table.
"Not just yet, Uncle Eoin. We haven't had anything since breakfast." He held his stomach and this time, Heyes smiled at the position. Jeddie was going to be alright.
After a painful lunch experience where Curry tried to chew with a bruised jaw and Heyes tried not moving his head while eating, they walked to Paulson's office. His secretary, Miss Dorothy, was shocked at their appearance and offered each a chair before knocking on Paulson's office door. He emerged and also appeared to be shocked by the injuries to his client and his uncle who had left his office only hours before. Curry's bill was handed to him by Paulson.
"I added an estimate of the time involved in your court date next month. It's a low estimate but we won't quibble over it. Payment isn't due until after court. And Jedediah, I am sorry for the way this turned out."
Curry shook Paulson's hand. "Not many can go up against the railroad and win."
Heyes looked at his cousin in surprise. Gotta remember his fine sense of hearing!
"If you want to swear out a complaint against the bulls, it probably won't hurt your chances with the judge. But I can't say that for certain. The decision is yours."
Heyes nodded to Paulson. "Thanks for standing up for my nephew."
Outside the law office, Heyes brought up the sheriff's visit. "He's got 'em in jail and we can swear out a complaint. You heard what Paulson said. So, what do you think?"
Curry grimaced as he looked up the street. "Aw, don't really want any more to do with 'em, Heyes. They're movin' on with the tracks, be out of my territory if Mister Dennehy gives me my job back. Think I'll take my chances with the judge. Sheriff and deputy ought to stand for me so I'm sure my name will be cleared. I'd like to forget about it. You?"
Heyes smiled and patted him on the back. Both feeling the pain of their beating, they headed to their hotel room to rest the afternoon away.
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The quiet room was darkening when Heyes returned that evening. Curry slept on his left side on the bed spread, his right arm supported by two pillows, a woolen blanket pulled up to his nose, just as he was when Heyes had left a half hour before. Heyes walked softly to the chair by the window and sat, his legs outstretched, elbow on the small table, a hand over his mouth. He watched his cousin sleeping.
Dirty bastards! Goin' to maim him for life! Break his arms! Shame him in public! The dirty bastards!
Who am I tryin' to fool? This falls on me.
Wanted to keep him safe, thought he was safe bein' on his own in the world... on the right side of the law...
And look at him! Beat up and in pain, and why? Because he's fast and dead-on with a pistol.
No, not layin' this on him. It's the jealousy of other men puts him in danger.
I hate leavin' him on his own...
If I could make it in his world, I would. I'm just so much more suited to my world now, and I can afford to give him things I never could before. If I brought him into my world...
"Mind your little cousin, boy-o."
Alright, Da, alright. ~sigh~ Yes, I can still afford to take care of him if he ain't with me in Devil's Hole. But Da, look at him! That don't happen in Devil's Hole! At least with Santana leading. We watch out for each other. Jeddie's out there all alone! But if he was with me in Devil's Hole...
"You want to control circumstances to keep him safe."
Ain't flippin' a coin on this one, Hildy, not with his life in the balance!
But you're right. Under Santana or any other leader, I ain't in charge. I can't control circumstances, damn it.
Can't keep him safer in Devil's Hole any more than he is now on his own.
And he'd get the wide reputation in the outlaw world, full of men bent on provin' their superiority with a pistol. He'd be a far bigger target with me than he is now.
Just no way around it. He's better off like we been doin'. He to the world and me to Devil's Hole. We do all what we can for each other.
Heyes lit the table lamp keeping the wick low and looked at his pocket watch. "Kid?" He walked to the bed, lightly squeezed Curry's shoulder and spoke softly.
"Hey, Jeddie? Wake up."
A moan, and the angelic face peeked out from the edge of the blanket. "You need somethin', Hannie? Laudanum? Think it's..." Another squeeze on his shoulder.
"We're leavin'. Got us a berth on the nine-twenty-four to Cheyenne. We'll be at Jenny's by breakfast."
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They stepped off the train on a breezy, chilly, and drizzly morning, stiff and sore from the rattling ride that prevented sound sleep despite the berth. Gathering their carpet bags and saddle bags, they headed around the depot toward the street.
"Boys!" Jenny waved from her covered cabriolet. "Boys! I'm here!" She stepped down from the buggy and hurried toward them, stopping short on seeing the stiff and sore Heyes holding up for the bruised Curry who leaned painfully to his right. "Oh, boys, you're injured! Come to Jenny, my sweeties!" She threw her arms around both in a single hug. "Let's get out of this wind and rain!"
She hurried them to the cabriolet and climbed in first. "Now you, Jeddie. And Hannibal, you take the lines. But please, tie down the side panel before we all freeze in place!" She covered the three laps with thick woolens, turned toward Curry and pulled his head onto her shoulder, placing her gloved hand over his face and ear. He slid down to lay his head easier on her shoulder. Heyes clucked to the horse. They started on an easy walk.
Sitting between them, the strong, elder cousin taking charge and the soft Jenny, perfume wafting gently from her clothing, her large hat protecting his face, hearing their muffled voices around him, feeling enveloped by the arm of his cousin over him as he leaned forward with the lines, warm and safe from the wind and rain, Curry felt a security he hadn't since he was a little boy at home. He closed his eyes and decided to let them take care of him for the duration of the ride.
"Run into a tree?"
"Just a few old friends."
"You boys in any trouble? The law on your tail?" Her arms and hands held him tighter.
"Nope. Nothing to worry about, Jenny. We just need a breather for a few weeks."
Her gloved hand stroked his cheek as the cabriolet continued, horse hooves splosh - sploshing in the mud.
"A few flakes coming down. Cold winter's not far off." She sighed.
"Billy home? Hear from Hildy?"
"Young man's got to sow his oats. He writes me. That old card sharp? Once he pulls up stakes, he never looks back down the line."
The buggy made a brief stop at the bakery run by Harry's wife, Ida, where Heyes stepped inside for Jenny's order. The cabriolet jumped as Heyes returned and the horse started again on the easy walk, but all too soon, Curry felt the familiar turn into the back yard of Blacky's. The cab pulled to a stop. Heyes spoke softly.
"Here we are, little cousin."
Curry lifted his head to see the back door of Jenny's. She patted his cheek and threw off the woolen, then stepped down. He shivered. Climbing down, he winced to stifle a moan, then reached for his bags in the back seat. Heyes smiled at him from the other side.
Jenny stopped Heyes from tending to horse and buggy. "Now, you come inside too, Hannibal. I have a boy to take care of that. Quickly now, boys." She opened the back door and called, "Jasper!"
A boy of about fourteen years came running through the opened door and sped past the group in a blur, taking the horse and cabriolet into the stable.
Harry was working on breakfast as they entered Jenny's warm kitchen and it wasn't long before a full plate was placed in front of each at the table. They devoured their meals despite the pain and sat back, rubbing their full bellies.
Jenny, seated at the table end, reached back for the coffee pot on the stove and refilled their cups.
"Thanks, Jenny." Heyes breathed in the warm air from the cup.
She held Curry's chin in her fingers and turned his bruised and swollen face to hers. "Anything else hurting?"
"He's got three broke ribs in back and bruises on his torso." Heyes reported from across the table.
"You?"
"Bump on the noggin and a bruised shoulder. Doctor gave us all the things we need to take care of it. We just need time."
"Well, you got that here, sweetie, and more." She squeezed Heyes's hand on the table, then pulled Curry's head down and kissed his forehead. Heyes smiled. It was the first time Curry didn't blush.
"You boys tired? Your room's ready. Heat's on."
"Thanks, so much, Jenny. Think I'll go up now." Curry stood to leave but wobbled as his legs straightened.
"Oh, God! Feels like I'm back on that paddle wheeler again!" He clutched the edge of the table leaning over it. "Mark twain!"
Jenny held his wrist and let out a laugh, turning to Heyes.
"After a night of rattling, I can use some sleep, too." Heyes stood grinning at his cousin and put an arm around his shoulder.
"C'mon."
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It was good for the Boys to spend the evening enjoying poker and the conversation of men. They started at the bar, heads close together, peering over the other's shoulder, searching the busy room for anyone who might recognize Heyes. Jenny refilled their beer mugs.
"No one new in here, boys. And Hannibal, you've got three sets of eyes looking out for you." She pointed to herself, Harry, and Curry. "Go enjoy yourselves!"
Heyes smirked at his cousin with the heavily swollen eye. "Well, two and a half, anyway."
Curry gave him the squinty-eyed glare, no less intimidating for having just the one eye to squint. He succeeded only in increasing the dimple depth on his cousin's cheeks.
Heyes chuckled as he turned to the room, leaning against the bar and into Curry, who he soon nudged. "Table's opened up."
They set themselves down with a group of ranch hands from south of town they were familiar with in past visits to Blacky's. Heyes relaxed into his chair, dimples thanking the less-than-equal competition as he pulled the winnings toward him with annoying regularity. With the exception of Curry who blind-sided him a few times, sparkling blue eyes and toothy grin rubbing it in as he'd scoop up the pot.
The competition gave up on Curry's last win, his bold bluff perfectly executed with his stone-solid poker face, leaving just the two friends at the table.
Heyes leaned to the side with elbow on his chair arm, studying the baby faced winner happily organizing his greenbacks and assorted coins.
"You know, I think you're growin' dimples, kid."
That brought on a bout of laughter from Curry who threw back his head and grabbed hold of Heyes's shoulder as he shook, his face lit up like a boy's on Christmas morn. God, Heyes loved his cousin's cheery face and laughter, so like his da!
"Only you'd come up with that one, Heyes!" Curry wheezed, his arms holding his ribs and he almost doubled over with pain as much as with laughter.
"Whoa, now, easy. Don't break another one." Curry made an effort to calm himself, grimacing as he hung his head over the table. Heyes felt through Curry's shirt for the wrapping beneath. "It's loosened up, kid. Best change it."
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The saloon was quieting down for the night as Heyes sat on the sofa in the parlor, a glass of cordial on the side table, newspaper spread over his lap, ankle set across his left knee, a small fire crackling in the marble-front fireplace across the room. Curry walked in.
He was dressed in night clothes that Jenny gifted the boys with their last Christmas together, pajamas, leather slippers, robe. He'd soaked in the hot tub after Heyes removed the wrappings on his rib cage. Unable to reach above his ears from the pain of broken ribs, Heyes washed his hair. Liniment was applied to the bruises, his ribs were re-wrapped, then Heyes helped him dress. He wanted to shave, so Heyes went downstairs to the parlor.
"How the ribs doin'?"
"Feels better after the hot bath and wrapping."
"Pour yourself a glass." Heyes gestured toward Jenny's well-appointed side bar. Curry shook his head and continued walking toward his cousin, turning to sit next to him, a moan escaping. Heyes lowered his leg to make room and once Curry was seated, crossed his leg again.
A shy smile lit Curry's face as he sat with head bowed, his lower lip sucked in.
"That was nice today."
Heyes inclined his head to see Curry's face. "The buggy ride?" Curry nodded shyly.
He squeezed Curry's knee and gave it a few pats. "A man's spirit needs a little lovin' from a good woman every now and then." He returned to the newspaper.
"What ya been readin'?" Curry picked up the left half of the newspaper, inclining his head to read.
"Oh, stories about farmers and ranchers, bankers and railroads, who's important in town this year." He reached for his glass. "Sip?"
Curry took the glass and sipped, then handed it back. "Mm. She always has the best."
Heyes sipped. "Jenny said Bill Cody was in town this summer."
Curry shook his head. "Wish I'da known that. Would've found some way to get here."
"Same here." Heyes flipped the page.
"Hey, turn back." Curry pointed. "Boston won the pennant! If that ain't somethin'!"
"Says Wright even got in the game."
"Been playin' since before the war. Hey, any good shows in town? We should take Jenny!"
"You got a good idea there, cousin. Let's see what McDaniels' Theater has going..."
They sat in fraternal affection, sharing the pages of news both small and global. The mantle clock ticked out it's rhythm, lulling senses already dulled with cognac, until eyes closed and heads tilted forward.
"Don't know which is the more handsome." Jenny stood with hands on her hips before the sofa. The saloon locked up for the night, she was grateful the Boys were home. She slipped the newspaper from beneath their arms, folded it and set it aside on the sofa seat.
"Up you go, boys." She tousled each head and stepped back. "Bedtime!"
Sleepy eyes opened and two groggy young men stood before her.
"G'night, Jenny." Her left cheek was kissed by Heyes.
"G'night, Jenny." Curry kissed her right cheek.
She listened to the footsteps until their door was shut, then finished off the glass of cognac.
"What would I do without you boys?" And she wiped away a grateful tear.
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