Heyes nudged his cousin hard, and he came awake with a start, as he said blearily. "Wassup?"
"You're terrible company, Kid, you got loads of sleep last night.. don't see why you gotta nap now, when I ain't got no one to talk to but you."
Kid yawned, as he looked out of the window and shook his head. "I did not, Heyes, I was waiting for ya to come back from sayin' goodbye to Susie...sure took ya long enough."
There was something in his tone that brought a bit of heat to Heyes' neck as he remembered just what saying 'goodbye' had involved, and he said defensively. "Told ya, not to wait up!"
"Well, I heard some noises from her room, sorta yelping and thudding, so I was kinda worried about ya..."
Given what they'd both heard at Valparaiso some nights, he knew his cousin was just trying to embarrass him, so Heyes simply glared and said. "Will ya just go back to sleep, Kid."
His cousin grinned. "Figured you'd say that." He closed his eyes again, and said in a muffled tone, that didn't hide his amusement. "Wake me up, when we're 'bout ready to stop and change horses."
Heyes huffed, then went back to staring out of the window, annoyed at his friend, before his face broke into a reminiscent smile as his mind drifted back to Susie, and what they'd done last night. It had been a wonderful farewell, and had left him no regrets. She'd told him quite positively that she had no expectations, other than the night and that she wouldn't be there to see him off in the morning. "Just something to take with ya to Denver, Heyes."
A slight flush came to his cheeks as he remembered how Jenny had eyed him in some amusement, on seeing him creeping back to his room, from where Susie sometimes slept when Jenny felt it was too late for her to head home. " I was just saying bye, Jenny, weren't nothing else to it."
She'd snorted and said dryly. "That was some goodbye, Heyes, I think they heard it three rooms down."
Heyes decided that with nothing else to do, sleeping was probably worth a try. So he closed his eyes still smiling , and as he drifted into sleep his last thought was that there was one thing that he'd learnt in Kansas City that he was grateful for, and figured that the next girl he met, probably would be too.
ASJ
"Hey, this ain't bad, Heyes, and cheaper than the dive we had in Kansas City." Kid bounced gently on the bed nearest the door.
Heyes shook his head in some amusement as he said drily. "You keep doing that, won't be long till that bed is as busted as the other one."
Kid humphed , but stopped his bouncing with a sigh, and instead lay down on the bed, arms behind his head. "When we were walking here I saw a help wanted poster on the livery. Don't pay as much as Marston, but better than the mines did. I'm gonna go ask 'bout it in the mornin'." He paused then added. "We got enough to buy supper, Heyes?"
"So long as you ain't anglin' for a steak dinner..."
Kid laughed, "You're the dreamer, Heyes...not me." Though he was attempting to keep his tone light, he knew by his cousin's face, he'd not hit the note he'd been aiming for, and shrugged a little in apology, before closing his eyes, intending to nap until it was time to eat. Despite napping on the coach, the long trip from Kansas City had tired him some and besides it'd pass the time. He heard his cousin sigh and open the paper he'd bought outside the stage office on their arrival here.
ASJ
Walking back from the cafe, the Kid had stepped into the nearest mercantile to their rooms, to buy some more gun oil and a fresh cleaning cloth, as Heyes stood outside, looking longingly at the fancy looking hat he could see in the window.
Kid, sat in a chair by the window, was carefully removing a few days dust and grease from his colt. While he carefully tended to his weapon, as he felt the welcome weight of the pocketknife in his pants, he could clearly hear his Pa's voice in his head. "You gotta take care of any weapon you own, same way as you do that pocket knife, son. A clean gun is an accurate one, and your life will most likely depend on that one day."
Their time with Jenny and Billy had reminded Kid of what it meant to be part of a family, and his thoughts had drifted to his folks more often because of that. Despite the bittersweet feeling, that remembering brought, he still hugged their memory to him, as he knew one day, time would make it harder for him to recall them so readily.
After a little while, the comfortable silence between him and his cousin was broken, when Heyes gave a satisfied "Ha!" He was lying on his bed reading the abandoned paper he'd brought back with him from the cafe. He'd pounced on it, when he'd realised it was a different publication from the one he'd been looking at before supper.
As Kid glanced over to him, curious as to what had caught his attention, Heyes tapped the paper with enthusiasm, then looked up at him with a grin. "Says here, that saloon down the street from that cafe we ate in, is wanting a dealer, blackjack and poker."
Kid let his gun rest on his left palm as he scoffed at his friend."You figuring the manager, is gonna wanna hire someone not quite fifteen, for that kinda job in a town like this? They'll be dozens queuing up for it!"
Heyes looked at him over the top of the newspaper. "You're forgetting who ya talking to, Kid...I'm sure I can persuade him."
Kid was half tempted to suggest they toss a coin for the chance of going for the job, but he knew he had to accept, however reluctantly, that Heyes was far likely to get hired on then he was. He was just gonna have to stick with going for the livery job. Sighing, he returned to cleaning his gun, as Heyes retrieved his notepad and pen from the side of the bed, and began to write, muttering to himself as he did so.
ASJ
Kid wiped his forehead wearily, and straightened up as he finished the mucking out the last of the empty stalls. As he leant against the wall rubbing his eyes and stretching his back, hearing it crack a little, he thought about Heyes dealing blackjack enviously. Somehow his cousin had convinced the sceptical manager that his youth would be an advantage for the saloon, because no one would expect him to be any good, and it'd bring them in more money, as folk would figure they'd easy win against him. He'd of course been proved right, and had been hired long term by the end of his first week. Some months on, he was still enjoying himself, and was learning a lot from the customers and the other dealers.
Jed had at first looked for another job than the livery, finding the heavy work of cleaning up after horses, not to his liking, but now three months down, he was resigned to it. In fact he was even finding feeding and tending to animals, a positive change from running through busy streets, and facing disapproval from rich folk. It was also much less hard work than the mine, and William, the livery owner, a grizzled old timer, grateful for a youthful pair of arms treated him well enough. The pay wasn't great, but he always made sure Jed was well fed and watered throughout the day.
As Jed turned, in preparation to begin pushing in the new straw, William entered, and nodded approvingly at the clean stall. "I think you deserve a bit of feeding, before ya start on that job, son." He waved a lump of cheese at Kid, and two hunks of bread. "Betty down at the cafe, gave me these for free, when she learnt they were for you. She don't impress easy either, so you should be honoured."
Though William often brought him something to eat at this time, the Kid was always grateful, as there had been too many days in Kansas City that they'd barely managed to eat once, never mind twice. So he nodded his thanks, grinned, and quickly wiped his hands on his pants, stuffing the bread in first, hardly chewing it before swallowing, as it had been a long time since breakfast.
William watched him in some amusement, and shook his head with a laugh as he said.
"Boy, I don't figure ya even tasted that. You sure have hollow legs, son."
Kid laughed, as it was something Heyes often complained about, but didn't comment, just continued to eat, starting on the lumps of cheese, now the bread was gone.
ASJ
"Hey, Kid, time you were up for work!"
Kid stirred reluctantly, as Heyes gave his bed a kick, and cracked open his eyes, feeling exhausted, with his stomach grumbling. "Gimme a minute, Heyes."
He was surprised his cousin was so awake, as he'd got back from the saloon late, but he was looking revoltingly cheerful, and Kid groaned at the bounce in his step as he added. ""If you want breakfast, you're gonna have to get moving."
Kid shook his head at the idea of breakfast, just the thought of food was making him feel sick. He was about to bury himself under the blankets, deciding an extra half hour of sleep might help, when his stomach cramped, and bile rose in his throat. He sat bolt upright, managing to stop himself being sick, and slowly dressed, trying to ignore Heyes, who was making comments about him being old before he reached 14, until he'd had enough and snapped. "It's all right for you, sat on your ass every night, bet it don't even feel like work!"
Heyes snorted softly and replied with a dimpled grin. "We gotta work with our talents, Kid, and yours is..."
"If you're gonna finish that sentence with anything that sounds like working with horse's asses, I wouldn't."
"Aww, Kid where's your sense of humour this morning?"
Kid just stared at him, and shook his head. "I'm gonna head to the livery early, so I don't get the urge to flatten ya...and no I ain't eating breakfast today..." Before Heyes could say anything, he turned and stomped out of the room, slamming the door in Heyes' face as he tried to follow.
Once on the street, his stomach cramped, and he had to make a bolt for the outhouse, only just making it before he was sick, and then had to sit down hurriedly as another part of his body made its unhappiness known.
He wasn't sure how long he was stuck there, hoping it wasn't so long that he was going to be late, but finally he stood shakily, feeling hollowed out. Just as he exited onto the street, there was a call of "Fire." The call was taken up and down the street, as people rushed past him with buckets of water, while several more men unfurled one of the new fangled hoses and dragged it up the street.
Acrid smoke was already filling the air, bringing up unpleasant, well buried memories back to Jed. His heart pounded in his ears, and another bolt of nausea threatened to engulf him. As he took in what was happening round him, he realised with horror that the activity was focussed round the livery, which was where everyone was heading. He looked down the street frantically, seeing his workplace already burning fiercely, and with a gasp, discomfort forgotten, he raced down towards it, yelling. "William." as he ran.
Smoke was pouring out of the building, and flames were almost engulfing the roof and walls. Jed as he approached, quickly felt his cheeks start to throb with the ferocity of the heat, and his eyes began to burn and water with the effects of the smoke, that was already flooding the street, making everything cloudy.
Ignoring the very clear signs of danger, Jed refused to back away, still determined to get in and help. A man in some kind of uniform, stood a few yards away from the door, tried to stop him, attempting to yank him back as he said. "Boy, there's nothing we can do. They are trained men dealing with it. You'll just get in the way, and die in there!"
Jed shook off his restraining arm hard, desperation lending him strength, and he flung himself closer to the building. He was about to burst through the doors, then someone barrelled into him, taking him to the ground, as a familiar voice hissed in his ear. "Don't you dare, Jedediah Curry, don't you even dare!"
"Not this time, Heyes..." The memory of that day, and the additional muscles that nearly two years of physical work had given him, allowed him to push his cousin off, and he scrambled to his feet. He was already pulling away, and he heard Heyes gasp behind him, but ignored him, determined to help. But when nausea and dizziness swept over him, and a sharp pain in his stomach doubled him over, Heyes took advantage, and tackled him to the ground. As he fell, his cousin covered his back with his body, holding him tightly, even as he struggled. Refusing to let go of him, Heyes hissed in a fierce, unnaturally thick tone. "I ain't losing you too, Kid, I just ain't."
Before they could do or say anything else, there was a loud crack of wood, and several horses came bursting through the heavy wooden doors, with men behind, urging them out, as the building began to collapse in on itself.
There was a deafening crack, and the ground shook around them. The world began to fade as memory flooded Kid. The acrid smell of smoke, and the panicked yelling around him, pushed him back almost two years. The heavy crack of timber collapsing, suddenly sounded like gunfire, and he was watching his home burn, as his family lay dead in front of him. He heard a whimper of pain, and he wasn't sure whether it came from him or Heyes. Then obviously close to tears, Heyes hissed frantically against his back. "I'm sorry, Kid, I'm sorry, don't hate me." Then he knew nothing more, as with his senses overwhelmed, everything went black.