Heyes listened to the supposedly intelligent outlaw leader, lay out his badly planned idea on how to rob the payroll train coming through in two days, and his irritation grew stronger with every word he heard. His increasing irritation, paired with the frustration of having waited so long in Helena, pinning his hopes on a big payday, only to find himself disappointed, made him careless of consequences. He was eager to see if he could salvage the situation some, and had a list of ideas in his head, that would possibly save the operation from disaster.

Besides, there wasn't much he hated more than stupid, and as this planning behind a difficult robbery of a well protected payroll train, was so beyond inadequate, that he wasn't even sure what to call it, he needed to point that out for his own piece of mind.

So, as the man finished explaining his plan, and asked, with the air of a man not expecting any dissent. "Anyone got any problems with this?" Heyes stepped forward, pushing to the front of the small group of men listening, earning a couple of surprised glances.

Heyes shrugged, and glanced down dismissively at the map laid out on the table at the front, then said loudly. "This plan of yours just isn't going to work. You ain't considered everything you gotta." "He paused, then took a deep breath before continuing. " And then there's the fact that you're stopping the train in the wrong place anyway." He waved over at the map before adding. "There ain't no cover, and the site you've chosen is also far too near a town, so the posse they form outta there, will be on ya, before you can even think, never mind move. You don't even know how much dynamite you'll need to blow the bridge. This all means, you won't have a chance to get away!" Heyes stared again at the map, shaking his head in some dismay, before adding. "I figured you'd be better than this, given how long you bin robbing and the rep you got." He stopped talking, and stared at the man, hands on his hips, waiting for a response to what he considered well thought out objections.

It had been quite some time, since Jacob Flanders had been questioned with such arrogant boldness,and he never had been by someone so young, so he wasn't impressed, and with his anger rising easily, he asked darkly, hoping to make the idiot back down, which would allow him to regain the upper hand. "And who are you exactly to be making such a fuss over a plan, that's taken me weeks to prepare?"

Heyes' frustration was making him reckless, and he unwisely ignored the older man's tone, when in most circumstances he would have stepped down some, or at the very least moderated his approach, and gave him a broad grin, saying flippantly. "Oh, I ain't nobody, not like you, leastwise not yet anyways. But I'm smart enough to realise that however long you've taken on it, this plan of yours is dumb, and if anyone goes in on it with ya, they won't be seeing nothing but the inside of a jail cell. Mebbe, you as leader, might escape, but having most of your people arrested, don't exactly seem like a solid approach to recruitment."

"You know son, I bin doing this since you were still in diapers, so watch ya mouth!" Flanders felt his fists twitch at the young man's continued defiance. The only thing stopping him shooting him, was he didn't want too much trouble, so close to a job.

Heyes sighed, his annoyance peaking, because it was so obvious to him, that this job was doomed to fail, but he managed to say fairly evenly. "Look, Mr Flanders, if you stop fussing about my age, and take another look at your ideas, you'll see I'm right...fresh pair of eyes and all that."

Flanders looked at the men around him, and saw too many questions in their gaze, this little shit had made them wonder about him, which he couldn't have, as it could ruin him. So, through gritted teeth he asked fiercely, trying to regain the upper hand. "Look, boy, I know what I'm doing... tell me, exactly how many times you robbed?"

Heyes un-cowed, gave another grin and wink as he said cheerfully "It isn't the quantity that matters, its the quality...and I haven't been in on a job that's failed yet." Which was mostly true. Fletch being caught, and Plummer betraying them, had been bad, but the robberies themselves had been a success.

Flanders knew there was only one way he could handle this, and with little regret gave his second in command a nod, before turning back to the troublesome young man, and saying. "You need a lesson in manners boy..."

His tone and expression were unpleasant enough, that they finally penetrated Heyes' mood, and a cold chill started to creep its way up his back, as he realised he was in a bit of a fix. He looked round at the sea of unfriendly faces surrounding him, and the last of his anger bled away, leaving only concern for his safety: He had obviously gone too far, and he briefly shook his head, frustrated at himself, for his own lack of thought. He'd been so eager to have money to impress his cousin, and make him stay, when they met up again, that his disappointment at how bad an idea he was facing here, really had blinded him to the risk he'd was taking, pointing out the flaws of the plan in such a public manner.

As the angry murmuring around him grew, the danger his amateur's mistake had put him in, hit home hard, and he broke into a cold sweat. There were far too many men to draw against, so the only thing he could do was flee.

Eyes flickering towards the door, he started to back his way towards it, knowing he was fast. But he was too late, and collided instead with two solid bodies. He saw Flanders nod, and he was quickly immobilised, before being spun round to face two large angry looking men. A hefty punch to his stomach doubled him over, and through a rushing noise in his ears, he heard a laugh from behind him and then an amused. "That lesson I mentioned? Be my pleasure to be the one that teaches it."

Gasping heavily, Heyes still doubled over asked managed to ask "Look, can we talk 'bout this?"

Flanders came over to him and lifted his chin up, shaking his head firmly. "You questioned my authority, and my ability in front of these good folk, made them doubt me, and in this business that can be fatal, so no, son, we can't." He nodded to his men. "Do what's needed, but don't kill him..."

ASJ

Flander's men had dragged him out of the back room of the saloon, where Flanders had set up his recruiting office, down an alley, and were happily carrying out their leader's instructions, with great enthusiasm.

Heyes aching all over, and close to passing out, could do nothing but endure the continuing blows. The lesson, that he needed to be more careful putting his thoughts across to the clueless, or at the very least that he'd better make sure he had an escape plan in mind, had long been learnt. The part of him not wincing in pain, wished that he'd realised that before getting in so deep. He groaned in pain, sure that this assault was never going to stop, when he was shocked out of his dazed state, by a flurry of shots, and he was quickly kicked away, as the men scattered under the hail of bullets flying over their heads.

Heyes lay on the ground, trying to even out his breathing, and stay conscious, wondering how much worse this was going to get for him, and through the haze of agony, considered once more, that he should maybe have taken a different approach. But no, Flander's plan was doomed, and that meant that too many people would lose their freedom, same as Fletch had, and maybe some would even die, so what else had he been supposed to do, but tell the man the truth? Jacob Flanders obviously didn't deserve his reputation as competent, because if that plan was any indication, the man was an idiot, and there was nothing worse than an idiot who thought he was infallible, but he knew he had needed a better plan. If he survived this, he'd not repeat his mistake.

As he began to fade out, a heavily accented voice reached him. "I think the boy has had enough, no? You have, I believe made your point...but just in case you need, how do you say it... some convincing...I have brought some friends." That was the last thing Heyes heard, before he lost the battle to stay alert, and everything went black.

He woke to find himself in just his union suit, in a bed he didn't recognise, in a room he'd never seen before, and despite his pounding head and painful body, loudly protesting the movement, he sat up, panicked, not understanding what had happened for him to end up here, when the last thing he remembered was passing out in an alley. It wasn't a cell, which was one plus, but other than that, he wasn't sure whether it was good or bad that he was here.

A shadow fell over him, and the voice he recognised from the alley broke into his racing thoughts. "Now, son, there is no need to worry. You are in a safe place."

Heyes blinked rapidly, and as another wave of pain swept over him, he lay back down with a groan, wondering what price he would have to pay for this safety, and asked through clenched teeth. "Who are you, and why did you rescue me?"

"My name is Jim Santana...I am leader of an outfit, I think that is the term, who you may have heard of, The Devil's Hole Gang, and the why? Well Han-ee-bal." Jim laughed slightly, when Heyes startled at the use of his name. "You think, I would not have learned the name of the man I decided to rescue?"

Heyes thought the man was a long way from Wyoming, and wanted to ask why, but he couldn't find the right words, so instead merely nodded in acknowledgement of the gang's name. Though in no real position to argue with whatever the man wanted to call him, he couldn't resist fighting through his pain to say breathlessly. "I prefer Heyes..."

He immediately regretted his words, and despite his fuzzy brain, was still left to wonder where this sudden reckless streak was coming from. He wondered vaguely, if maybe not having to talk down his cousin from doing something impulsive, was affecting him somehow and sighed, biting down on his already painful tongue to stop himself from saying anything else. Impulsiveness had got him into this mess, so he seriously doubted that continuing with the same approach, would get him out of it. Another lesson to file away for the future.

Santana luckily, simply shook his head, at his words, and said calmly, the amusement in his expression, also clear in his tone ."That as may be...but as your rescuer I do not... and as I was saying... I have people who were in on the little discussion you had with Flanders, and they having been with me for some time, agreed with your opinion, though they were of course, not so careless of their safety, as to tell the man so. Despite your lack, of how shall we say, yes, despite your lack of subtlety, I believe you, and I can do business together." He paused then added sympathetically. "But enough for now, Han-ee-bal, sleep, then we will talk. You must be wondering why I am so far from Wyoming. I, of course go where the money is, but I will explain more when next you wake."

Heyes was fairly sure it was probably in his best interests, that they talk right now, but exhaustion from the pain of his beating, was quickly tugging him towards sleep, so he knew the questions spinning in his head would have to wait. That was the final thought he had before he tumbled into dreams.

ASJ

Heyes woke slowly sometime later, desperately thirsty, and was surprised to see a glass of water, and what looked like pain powders by his bed. Then memory returned and he was unsurprised to find that he wasn't alone. Santana glanced over at him as he stirred and gave him a smile. "Ahh, Han-ee-bel, welcome back to the land of the living." He glanced down at the pocket watch on his shirt and smiled, as he added. "My boys, will be here soon, they are quite eager to meet you..."

Heyes struggled to sit up, took a huge gulp out of the glass of water, ignoring the pain powders, he needed his head to be clear. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and perched on the edge of it, chin in his hands, as he asked. "Boys? The gang?"

Santana grinned at him. "Indeed, they are not a bad bunch...I believe you will fit in well."

Heyes looked round the room, not wanting to meet anyone in just his underwear. Santana following his gaze, winked. "Your clothes shall we say, were not salvageable, but while you were sleeping, I took the liberty of purchasing you some new ones."

Heyes a little worried, looked round for his money, unwilling to be in any more debt to the man. "What do I owe you?"

Santana waved his hand airily. "We can discuss that later..." He tossed Heyes a bundle of clothes, which Heyes caught awkwardly and after taking several steadying breaths, managed to stand. He was quickly dressed, and feeling more human, and wanting to put some distance between him and Santana, returned to sit on the bed, adopting a relaxed posture, despite the turmoil in his mind.

Jim nodded as if in approval, and appeared about to say something, when he was interrupted by a knock on the door. He stood and walked towards it, as he said. "Ahh they are here..."He checked his pocket watch, and added, amused. "Punctual for a change...they must indeed be interested in meeting you."

Heyes tensed, which set off his bruises throbbing again, but he plastered a grin on his face, eager to hide his nervousness and turned to meet the men who entered.

They were looking at him curiously, and he returned their gazes with his grin firmly in place. Jim waved over to Heyes, then back to his men. "Introduce yourselves, boys..."

Heyes quickly spoke, not wanting Jim to introduce him as Hannibal. "I'm Heyes, your boss here done me a favour." He recognised one of the men as being in the room during his and Flander's confrontation, and feeling a little embarrassed said quickly. "I'm not usually so careless!"

The man grinned at him, showing uneven teeth, but his voice was unthreatening. "Ahh, Flanders is an idiot...'bout time someone told him he was...though maybe next time you oughta have an exit strategy...name's Hank. The fella with the busted nose behind me is Boston..."

The third man who'd entered, walked towards Heyes, and offered his hand, which Heyes took, managing not to wince as the firmness of the grip aggravated the bruises there. "I'm Lobo...if the boss says you got po-te-en-ti-al. I figure he's right, as he don't make mistakes often..."

Heyes continued to smile at them, his grin becoming more genuine as his nervousness eased some, reassured by the men's rough charm.

Boston added his own endorsement. "Yep, the boss sure knows his men, so I guess if he says you're all right, you are."

Santana clapped his hands, drawing all their attention, to him as he said. "Now the introductions are over...we have a job to plan." He nodded over at Heyes. "With Flanders' plan so doomed to fail...the payroll will arrive safely in town...which is where we come in, yes?"

Heyes was impressed, by the boldness of the idea. Though of course it was all in the execution. "So into the chaos, we just swoop in and grab the loot?"

"That is the plan, Han-ee-bal." He then waved his men, and Heyes over as he produced a sheaf of paper from behind him with a flourish.

Heyes was impressed with the plan, Santana had come up with, and was even happier when he looked over at him, and said with obviously genuine interest. "You any ideas on how to improve?"

Heyes looked down at the neatly written plan, and careful this time to pitch his ideas as suggestions said evenly. "Maybe leaving a bit more time between the sheriff's rounds and breaking in...just to make sure he's further enough away, so as not to see the light." He gently tapped the end of page one. "Might be worth having another man on the door, just in case..."

Heyes less calm then he appeared, hoped Jim would not take offence, and hardly aware he was doing so, held his breath, until the man clapped him hard on the back, making him wince. "Good, good, Han-ee-bal, I will do as you suggest..." Santana made a few notes on the paper, then turned back to Heyes, his expression intent. "Now, there is one thing you must understand if you decide to take my offer, though I am happy to listen to my men, you will raise any issues you have with any plan, with me, in private...and the final say is mine..there is no room for more than one leader. This I insist on."

Heyes looked at Santana, then at the other three men, before letting his gaze rest on the detailed plan. He would one day, lead his own gang, that much he was sure of, but not today...so it was easy for him nod and say. "Not a problem, Sir."

Jim grinned at him. "Ahh Han-ee-bal, such formality is not necessary, my name is Jim..."

He stuck out his hand, and Heyes took it with a smile, and they shook, as the man said. "Welcome, to the devil's hole gang."