HANNIBAL THE CANNIBAL - Chapter Four
Heyes released his hand off Kid's arm and unconsciously backed several steps towards the bedroom door, blocking it as he watched his cousin finish packing. His mind was racing as he desperately tried to formulate something…anything…to make his partner stop and rethink what he was about to do. His thoughts were so jumbled with emotions, he felt what little control slipping away as he frantically tried to grasp something to say to make him reconsider. When Kid slipped into his Sherpa and threw his packed saddlebags over his shoulder, he turned and waited for Heyes to move away from the door and allow him to pass.
Emotion overcame Heyes' as his face darkened with anger. Kid didn't say a word, but waited for his partner to step aside. He raised his head and met his partner's eyes. Heyes' didn't see anger towards him, but a determination he had learned long ago was Kid's way of saying he was done and there was no amount of talking that would dissuade him.
Heyes relented, as he stepped aside, "Fine. Go, if you have to…but I ain't."
"I know," Kid said, nodding before he brushed by his partner. "Tell Soapy thanks," and he was gone.
Heyes' stared at the open door, then slowly made his way to the edge of the bed and sank down. He listened for a long moment and buried his head in his hands.
"Dammit Kid."
He heard muffled talking, then the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hallway. He could feel a presence standing in the doorway. He could tell by the steps it wasn't Kid.
"Heyes...," Soapy asked with concern. "Are you..."
Heyes quickly raised his hand, stopping him from continuing, before pushing off the bed to his feet, as he hurried to the window. He held back the curtains and watched Kid secure his saddlebags, untie his horse from the hitching post, stepped into his stirrup and threw a leg over his horse without looking back
"Stubborn son of a bitch," Heyes growled.
"You're not going…" Soapy cautiously started to ask.
"No!" Heyes snapped, as he dramatically yanked the curtains closed. He momentarily paused, as the image of Kid riding off froze in his mind. Would that be the last image of his friend? His cousin?
"I need a drink," Heyes said quickly as he headed out of the bedroom.
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Soapy watched as Heyes' hand opened and closed on the glass, then stopped and gripped the glass so tightly he feared it would shatter. Heyes' looked deep into his drink as if a comforting answer could be found in the amber liquid.
Heyes' jaw clenched before he threw the back the alcohol and quickly reached for the bottle to refill his empty glass
Soapy's few questions went unanswered and he wasn't even sure his friend had heard them, so he remained silent and watched. He knew Heyes was trying to drink himself into a numbness…no matter how temporary.
Soapy knew the answer that Heyes was searching for, but didn't offer to help him realize what he was destined to do.
Fearful Heyes was becoming too intoxicated to think and act, Soapy spoke up.
"It must be difficult to walk such a fine line," Soapy mused as he turned his glass slowly in his hand.
"What fine line?" Heyes snapped, his head jerking up.
Soapy raised his head to meet Heyes' blazing eyes.
"We all have an innate sense of self preservation and I suppose it has to do with his chosen profession, but the Kid walks a far more precarious line than most."
"Soapy, what are you trying to say?" Heyes' tone was laced with frustration
With sage old eyes and a weary smile, Soapy looked knowingly at his friend. "Kid isn't limited to self-preservation. Knowing those people will surely die without intervention, without his intervention or so he believes, he has no choice but to go."
"Foolishly risking his own life in the process." Heyes stated.
Soapy raised his arms with hands open and shrugged. "Foolish…may be seen through other's eyes…but ours is not to question…"
"I got every right to question…" Heyes interrupted, but then his voice trailed off as he set his unfinished drink down a little too hard. Heyes tightly squeezed his eyes shut and balled his hands into fists, rubbing his temples.
With a heavy sigh, he dropped his hands and opened his eyes before asking Soapy, "Ya think I can get some coffee?"
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Heyes hurried down the stairs, his hat in one hand, his saddlebags over his shoulder. At the front door stood Soapy with an envelope in his hand.
"Take this," Soapy said, pushing the envelope into Heyes' hand. He held onto it for a brief moment before letting go. "You'll let me know when you get back?"
"Wish I shared your confidence, " Heyes said with a strained smile. "Thanks," he said and slipped the envelope into his coat pocket. "For everything."
"I'll get in touch with Mr. Reed and let him know you and Thaddeus will be joining his party and whoever he's convinced to join him at Sutter's Fort. I'm sure your assistance will be very reassuring."
"Depending on the outcome, I suspect."
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Kid uttered a sigh of relief as he reached the edge of town and the long, flat, open valley that extended for miles south eastward toward Sutter's Fort, then on to the Sierra Mountains. Time was of the essence
Kid had no time for thought as he pushed his horse, but during the rest periods when the horse naturally chose a slow, comfortable pace, Kid's thoughts always returned to the small boy with the frightened eyes and fearsome father and hoped that the boy and his mother were still alive among the stranded survivors. He had intentionally pushed Heyes from his mind and his open disapproval, committing himself fully to what he felt in his heart was right.
Kid rode until dark knowing every minute of daylight counted in his attempt to beat the dismal odds. Too exhausted to eat, he tended to his horse, then built a fire and brewed some coffee. As he sat on the ground with his back against a log and a cup of coffee in his hand, the snap of a nearby twig didn't so much as cause a raise of his eyes in the direction of the sound.
Kid smiled a half smile
"If you're planning on joining me Heyes, you might wanna make it sooner rather than later," Kid said while studying the contents of his cup.
Heyes emerged slowly from the trees as Kid reached into his saddlebag for a spare cup that he tossed to his partner.
"How did you know it was me?" Heyes asked as he settled himself down near the warmth of the campfire.
"You've got the silver tongue and quick mind of a genius, but your hunting and tracking skills leave a lot to be desired. I knew." Kid stopped and gave Heyes a quick thankful smile.
"About this morning," Heyes said hesitantly and saw blue eyes raise to meet his.
"Yeah, me too," Kid replied.
Heyes raised the coffee cup close to his mouth. "Glad we could clear the air," he replied before taking a timid sip of the hot liquid.
"You don't hafta do this you know," Kid assured his partner. "It's my decision…it don't need to be yours too."
Kid realized his mistake when Heyes' body drew up straight with anger.
His head snapped around, "Do you honestly think I had a choice?! That I would let you ride into this by yourself?!"
Kid looked apologetically at Heyes. He didn't want to get into another argument with his partner.
"Are you prepared for what we might…No," Heyes said, correcting himself. "What we will be riding into?" Heyes asked.
Kid's silence spoke volumes.
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