Jed and Heyes disembarked stiffly from the stage, both totally unprepared for what they stepped down into. They moved to stand shoulder to shoulder as they looked round them, taking in the sights with nervy interest.

People swarmed passed them as the harsh smells of sweat, wood smoke, and too much horse dung made their eyes water. They were forced to step back several times to avoid overbalancing or having their feet being stood on, as they were often shoved out of the way by folk who had little concern for obstacles in their way.

Loud, harsh conversations filled the air, and behind them, there was the unpleasant squealing thud and scrape of metal on metal, accompanied by a disconcerting hum that seemed to be everywhere. More horses and carts than they'd ever seen, processed down the street, full of a variety of well-dressed men, all talking loudly.

With their senses already close to being overwhelmed, they were unable to repress a shudder at the sight of uniformed men, armed with bayoneted long guns in close formation marching towards them. Even the fact they wore union blue, rather than the grey of the men who had murdered their parents did little to calm them, and their hearts pounded a heavy drumbeat in their ears. As the men disappeared from view, the boys relaxed a little, their breath settling some, until there was a loud noise of something crashing from across the street. They jumped nervously at the sound, and exchanged another glance as it was followed by loud cursing, a heavy slap, the sound of a child's whimper, and a harsh yelled. "Jimmy, watch what ya doin' boy... I'll be telling ya Ma..."

Heyes cleared his throat, feeling Jed shift nervously next him, and looked over at him as his friend's eyes flicked from him back to the street, before he shook his head, then waved behind him. Heyes feeling much the same, allowed him to steer them both to the relative quiet of the ticket office.

Once inside, Heyes let out a relieved puff of breath, as he heard Jed do the same. Lawrence had only been relatively small, and even in Valparaiso when they'd lived in close quarters with many other boys, as the rule of children been seen and not heard was strictly and harshly enforced, they'd all learnt fairly quickly that being quiet was far less painful than the alternative. So nothing in their lives had prepared them for Kansas City.

Jed nudged him and said. "I don't like it here, Heyes."

Heyes squeezed his arm, and said with a confidence he didn't quite feel. "We'll get used to it."

Jed eyed him unconvinced, but nodded sharply. "Well, seeing as we ain't got enough money to move on anyways, guess we'll hafta." Heyes looked at him, feeling suddenly guilty that maybe leaving the home hadn't been such a good idea, but Jed watching him shook his head almost as he'd read his mind and added. "I woulda run away from that place weeks ago if it weren't for you, and probably ended up right back there in a day or two, so this ain't on you, Heyes. We got clean away and that's a good thing."

ASJ

"You arguing with me, kid? I can tell ya now, there's a string of boys waiting , all of them more than happy to be having this job. They wouldn't cause a fuss, and refiuse to do anything I wanted them to do, so you continue causing me this kinda trouble, I can easy let you go. That friend of yours is good with the books, so I might keep him on, if he asks me right, but kids like you are ten a penny in this town."

Jed refused to budge and simply shrugged. "You sack me, you'll lose him too. Besides I've done everything else you asked, but there's no way I'm going down there without a rope round me, and no one up top, as this job ain't worth my life."

Belson stared at him, his face tight. "I don't have anyone spare to mind you, if you ain't got the cojones to do what I'm asking." He paused then added loudly. "You know kid, you sure have a real high opinion of yourself, seems like I oughta take ya down a peg or two, if you get my meaning."

Heyes' attention was caught by the angry tone of their employer, and he looked up from studying the map of the mine and surrounding area, that Belson had told him to copy so the original could be returned to the owners, and sighed as he took in the confrontation. He folded the map carefully into his pocket, then jogged over to see what was going down. After a glance at his cousin, recognising from the flush on his cheek, as well as the set of his jaw, that he was angry, but torn, Heyes gave him a small pat, then turned to the man, saying with a polite smile. "Problem, Mr Belson?"

Belson glanced over at the young man, dropping the hand he had raised to slap the younger boy and said. "Your friend is refusing to work, so I was just telling him that I don't need him. He's refusing to go down, and check out the rock fall, unless he got support, and I can't spare no one else but him."

Heyes sighed, damn the man, no wonder Jed was refusing. It'd be a miracle if he got out of that place alive without a rope and someone holding it secure as he went down. But he hadn't got them anything else lined up yet, and they needed to eat, so he plastered a smile on his face, hoping his friend would understand what he was doing. "Sir, with respect, what ya asking ain't fair, and no one would do it, not even for twice what you're paying him."

The mining foreman glancing between the youngsters, sighed, and said reluctantly. "Guess ya got a point there, son. But I don't like being argued with, especially not when its a kid, who ain't even shaving yet."

Heyes shook his head at his cousin, whispering, trust me, smiling when even as he frowned, Jed's shoulder's relaxed, and he shrugged, obviously deciding to let him deal with it his way for now.

He turned back to the idiot and said evenly, "So, I'll be on the top side while he goes down, and I'll work an hour past my time, without you having to pay me, to catch up on the work I should've been doing today." He paused then added with a broad grin. "And you know you won't get no one better than me with numbers, unless you're willing to pay at least triple what ya giving me."

Knowing a decent deal when he heard one, Belson sighed, nodded. "I'll get some rope..."

Once the man was out of hearing distance, Jed turned to Heyes with a frown, "I was handling it, Heyes."

Heyes snorted and said. "Aww, c'mon Jed, you were handling us both outta a job, and I know this one sucks, but its all we've managed to get, and I need a bit more time to find us something better."

Jed glared as he said. "Ain't you who gotta go down into that mess" But then his face relaxed as he added. "You're looking for another job for us?"

"I sure am, Jed, we're made for better things than this, and I got one or two ideas, I just need a few more days, then I'm sure we'll be able to tell Ned Belson to stuff his job."

Jed gave him a wide grin. "Can I do the honours for both of us?"

"Yeah, I don't see why not, you always were the faster runner, and I think you've earnt it more than me."

Kid hoped that whatever Heyes came up with next,would be better then twelve to fourteen hours of shifting heavy dirt, and facing dusty darkness, the back breaking tedium only broken up, by him having to run round being a gopher, for anyone who wanted something got. He sure was tired of being called kid by just about everyone and he couldn't remember ever being this exhausted his whole life, and the frustrated helpless anger that he'd felt so often in Valparaiso hadn't eased much either in the weeks they'd been here. But he knew that Heyes, despite his attempt to appear cheerfully optimistic, carried some guilt over them being stuck in a place they both hated, so he did his best to hide that from his friend. He didn't think he was managing it fully, but at least it meant Heyes could pretend he hadn't noticed.

ASJ

"You want a bath, and something to eat, we got enough money between us to do that. I got some of the guys into a poker game over lunch. They figured I was too young to be any good." Heyes paused, then added with a small grin of satisfaction. "They were wrong."

Jed though dusty and hungry, found that all he wanted was to collapse and sleep, so shook his head as he said. "You go on, I ain't real hungry."

Heyes looked at him surprised, and then squeezed his shoulder gently. "We'll have a bath in the morning, seeing as we ain't got to work till Monday."

Jed took a deep breath staring up at the stairs leading to their dingy room, doubting he had the energy to climb them.

Heyes clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a gentle shove as he said. "You can do it, one step at a time and you'll be at the top in no time."

Jed glanced over at him as he muttered. "Easy for you to say."

But with Heyes behind him, steadying him, every time he wavered, he managed the stairs fairly quickly, and was surprised at how welcoming their usually unappealing rooms appeared to him, as they half stumbled in.

As he undressed, he glanced over at Heyes as he did the same, noting how his movements were also weary and slow, but when he became aware of being watched, he straightened and gave him a wide smile that looked real enough, making Jed smile back at him. Things could be worse, he supposed, at least he had company in his misery. Once he was undressed, Jed dropped face down onto the bed, not bothering to cover himself, already almost asleep as his head hit the pillow.

Heyes glancing over at him, shook his head, before coming over to the bed. He nudged him hard, and as he came more awake with some reluctance, manoeuvred him under the blanket, despite his grumbling. But feeling warmer and more comfortable, Jed did manage a word of thanks, and was soon deeply asleep, his covers pulled tightly to his chin.

Heyes watched him for a few moments, before going to his own bed, and settling down to read the newspaper he'd taken from Belson's office. He got to page seven and gave a humph of triumph as his eyes fell on an advert.

David Marston Esq.

Seeking two eager young bucks for

delivery jobs and general duties around

the office. No experience required.

Competitive wages offered to suitable applicants.

Anyone interested present themselves

at 226 East Carlton Street within office hours which are

8am to 7pm. Monday to Friday. 9am to 1pm Saturday

NO TIME WASTERS NEED APPLY.

ASJ

"I can see you have potential, Hannibal, but I'm not real sure about your friend. He looks far too young to be of much use to me. He's just a kid."

Jed bristled and he snapped. "I ain't no more than two years younger than him, so I don't see much difference in hiring him and taking me on too."

Marston steepled his fingers and pursed his lips as he gazed at him. "Two years you say? You believe you're worth me taking a chance, and hiring you both?"

Unconvinced, even as the boys nodded fervently, the lawyer sighed, torn. But it was hard to ignore their enthusiasm, which was infectious, and he knew that level of keenness would no doubt prove to be an asset for him. He also figured given that they were still fairly young, they'd not be so fussy, as to baulk at whatever money they were offered, meaning he wouldn't need to pay them as much as any older boys who might apply, so he decided they were worth a try, and nodded. "All right boys, you start next Monday. We'll see how things stand in two weeks, and if its working out, I'll make things a bit more permanent."

ASJ

Heyes and Jed walked briskly back towards their rooms, buoyed by the realisation they would soon be doing work that was a lot less hard on the back then mining. A sense of renewed optimism at their improved prospects was making Jed feel hopeful that things were at last going their way.

Once in their room, as they lay on their beds considering a nap, because neither had got much rest the night before, anxious anticipation leaving them too keyed up to sleep, Heyes turned to Jed with a considering look on his face. Jed shuffled a bit at the intensity of the expression, not sure what to expect, and waited for his cousin to tell him what was on his mind. "You know, maybe I oughta start calling you Kid. So you don''t get so riled when other folk do it. I thought you were trying to burn a hole in that lawyer's forehead, with that look you were giving him."

Jed sighed, and allowed irritation to enter his tone as he replied. "Ya know how sick I am of being called kid , so it won't be any easier hearing it from you." But even as he spoke, he realised that in fact the way Heyes said it, had made a difference to how he felt about the word. It hadn't sounded annoying at all, but he still wasn't quite convinced, so asked doubtfully." I dunno, Heyes, won't it make me sound dumb?"

"No, Kid, it won't. In fact the more I think on it, the more I figure Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry sound like a pair of folk with a great future ahead of them. Whatcha think Kid?"

Jed gave Heyes a small smile, surprised to find that he still felt no sting at his friend's use of the name, and he tried it out for himself. "Kid Curry." He was surprised at how much he liked the way it rolled off his tongue, and nodded with enthusiasm. "I think Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes sounds better, but yeah I see what you're meanin'. All right, Heyes, we'll give it a go."

ASJ

They enjoyed working for David Marston, he was a fair boss, and took time to explain things to them both, in a way that was easy to understand. But one morning, a month or so after their jobs had been made permanent, for as long as they wanted them, when they arrived for work, they saw him having a huge argument with two men both wearing ill fitting suits, and looking like they belonged in jail, rather than visiting a fancy lawyer's office.

Hesitating outside the office door, they stepped back quickly, when the door flung open, nearly hitting them in the face. As the two men stormed out, the man nearest the door, hurled over his shoulder. "This was your last chance, Marston, our boss is never happy with being turned down once, never mind three times like you done." This close, it was easy to see that the men were wearing tied down guns, and to notice that there was a lump in both their jacket pockets, the shape of which, was familiar to both of them , because a number of the older boys at the home had often carried something similar, and hadn't been afraid to use them, if threatened, brass knuckles.

But despite what seemed to the boys, a very real threat, Marston looked unintimidated, and merely replied evenly. "I can't agree to what he's asking. If I did, I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror, never mind sleep well at night."

The man in front laughed at that and said viciously. "Well maybe neither of them will be a problem for ya soon...if you know what I mean." Then they were gone, the door slamming heavily behind them.

Marston spying the boys, gave them a reassuring smile, and said. "Don't worry, lads, they're just some people who can't take no for an answer with any grace." At their unconvinced expressions, his smile broadened and he added firmly. "Now, enough of that. I've got some papers that need delivering across town. It'll take you most of the morning, so you better leave right away."

Kid spoke up, worry colouring his tone, as he didn't think the man was taking the danger seriously enough. "I dunno, Sir, that sounded like more than just an idle comment. I think they'll be back with more than just words."

Heyes nodded next to him, and said with more than a little anxiety in his tone. "He's right, I think you oughta report it to someone."

The lawyer eyed them in some irritation, before saying fiercely. "If you value your employment here, you'll not push this issue any further. I am dealing with it, clear? Now just take these papers, and deliver them to the address indicated."

He handed them a bundle of important looking documents, tied with a fancy looking ribbon, with a single sheet of paper laid on top. Heyes squinted at it, and recognised the address '95 Commerical Street, Fulton, Miller and Smith Esq', as being in the main business area of the city, and realised that it would take them several hours to get there and back.

ASJ

As they hurried across town, Kid said worriedly. "I think he's in trouble, Heyes, and he's been good to us. We should try and help him if we can."

"I know what ya saying Kid, but he wasn't listening, and I'd like to keep this job. Besides we don't really know anything, and doubt anyone would listen to us anyway."

Kid sighed loudly and replied with some irritation. "You're saying there's nothing we can do?"

Heyes nodded reluctantly, not liking it anymore than his friend, but seeing no way to help their employer. "'Cept deliver these papers like he wants us to, and to hope he's doing something to protect himself, that he don't want to tell us about." He paused and glanced at his pocket watch as he said. "And now we better hustle, so we can get back to the office before its dark."