It had been a long day for sheriff Lom Trevors and he was looking forward to getting home to his cabin so he could put his feet up and have a well deserved drink or two. He rode slowly, tired and dusty from heading a posse, successfully bringing back the sixteen year old boy who had led them on quite a chase after robbing the mercantile at gunpoint and severely beating sixty year old owner Bill Baxter. Even his horse was hanging its head in weariness. What he didn't expect to see as he approached his home were the two horses tied to the corral fence. He quickly scanned the area, groaning when his eyes landed on the two men sitting on his porch wondering what the hell they wanted now. He guided his horse to the porch, stopping in front of the two men, leaning an arm on the saddle horn as he cast a critical eye over them.
"Howdy Heyes, Kid."
"Howdy Lom," Heyes gave him a small smile while the Kid gave a slight nod.
Lom could see Heyes was tired and had lost weight, but when his eyes turned to the Kid he frowned, thinking he'd never seen the fast draw look so worn down.
"What brings you boys here?" he asked swinging down from his horse.
"Was hopin' we could spend a couple days here, get rested up some."
"How long you been sitting here?"
"Rode in 'bout an hour ago."
"Hadn't heard from you in quite a while, was wonderin' what happened to ya."
"Long story Lom, why don't you let me put your horse up for ya, then we can talk."
"I'll do it," the Kid said as he got to his feet, pausing a few seconds with his hand on the porch rail as if to get his balance before stepping down and taking the reins from Lom.
"Thanks Kid…might as well unsaddle yours as well since you're gonna be stayin' for a bit."
The Kid gave a single nod and Lom watched as the gunfighter slowly walked toward the barn leading Lom's horse. He turned, casting a questioning look at Heyes who sighed and shook his head.
"I've had a long day Heyes let's go inside, I need a drink and you two look like you could do with somethin' to eat."
Heyes eyes followed his partner…"I'd be glad of the drink Lom, but think I'd prefer stayin' out here." Lom paused as he too cast a glance to the gunfighter who was starting to unsaddle the horses by the corral. Shaking his head he entered his cabin reappearing moments later with three glasses and a bottle of whiskey. He lowered himself into the chair the Kid had vacated and poured some of the amber liquid handing one glass to Heyes.
"Thanks Lom…rough day?"
"Long." He took a swallow and leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on the railing, both he and Heyes watching silently as the Kid finished unsaddling the horses giving each animal a good brushing before turning it into the corral. It wasn't until Curry closed the gate and rested his arms on the top rail of the fence, standing to stare out over the open fields that Heyes spoke, his eyes never leaving his partner.
"I'm real worried about him Lom," he said quietly.
"He's lost a lot of weight, but so have you. I'm guessin' you've had a rough few weeks."
Heyes snorted a sharp laugh. "Lom it's bin rough ever since we started trying for amnesty…but you're right, the past couple months have been hell…especially on him."
"He'll snap out of it once he gets rested up and gets some food in his belly."
"I'm not so sure."
Heyes briefly told Lom what had happened the past few months and then stopped talking as he watched his best friend, still leaning on the fence lower his head to rest his forehead on his arms, his whole body seeming to droop.
"He said something before we headed here that scared me."
The lawman turned his gaze from the man by the corral to the one sitting beside him.
"And what was that?"
Heyes lifted his glass, holding the whiskey in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. "Said he was startin' to think it would've been better if he'd stayed…" Heyes' voice caught and he looked away from both his cousin and Lom.
"Stayed where?"
"Home…" he said in a strangled voice barely above a whisper.
Lom frowned in confusion, but whatever it was had Heyes upset enough to run a hand over his eyes, coughing a bit to clear his throat and sniffing before continuing..."The day the raiders came and killed our families me and Jed were off fishin'. Told him if he'd stayed home I woulda too and we'd both be dead as well." He turned his head to watch the man by the corral again.
"Didn't know that's how your folks died."
"We ever mention where we're from?" he asked with a faraway look in his eyes.
"Remember you told me once you were from Kansas."
"Yeah… Lawrence," he said softly.
"Oh." Lom was well aware of the massacre that had taken place there led by Quantrill.
They saw the Kid finally straighten up and head back to the cabin where he accepted the glass of whiskey Lom handed him as he got to his feet. "Sit down Kid. I'm gonna get myself cleaned up some and get some supper thrown together for us.
XXX
Lom stopped as he neared the door after washing the dust off and throwing some stew on to heat, standing to the side so as not to be seen when he heard the two men on his porch talking in low voices.
"I hear what you're sayin', but I don't think I can do it no more."
"What d'ya mean? What can't you do?"
"I'm tired Heyes, all the runnin', always lookin' over my shoulder. Let's face it, the governor ain't never gonna give me amnesty and I'm holding you back from gettin' it."
"Now Kid…"
"Don't Heyes. I'm right and you know it. I'll stay for a couple days, let my horse rest up some, if it's all right with Lom, then I'm gonna leave…alone."
"What the hell are you talkin' about? If you leave I'm coming with ya." Heyes' voice rose as he sat forward in his chair.
"No…no you ain't Heyes. I don't want you comin' with me."
"But…"
"I've bin thinkin' about this since you talked me into comin' here…"
"Now Kid we have an agreement about that."
"Not this time cousin…my mind's made up."
"Where would you go?"
The gunfighter set his empty glass on the floor of the porch beside his chair and got to his feet, cocking his head to one side he smiled sadly down on his best friend. "That wouldn't be too smart of me to tell ya now would it, you'd just follow me…'sides don't rightly know where I'll end up. With that he headed toward the well to get cleaned up leaving his stunned partner behind. It was then that Lom stepped out, stopping beside Heyes putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him from getting up and going after him.
"I heard what he said and I'm thinking you just might be right to be worried Heyes. You stay here…let me go talk to him." He took a deep breath before adding… "I reckon I'll be on the train to Cheyenne first thing in the mornin'."
"Lom the way our luck's been lately I won't hold my breath…for you convincing the Kid not to give up on the amnesty or the governor to give in and give it to us."
Lom gave Heyes' shoulder a slight squeeze before striding to the well where the Kid stood with his shirt off washing himself with the icy water. Trevors grimaced seeing not only how much weight the man had lost as he neared, but also several bruises that appeared older but were still quite colourful.
"Ya know I could've heated some water in the cabin for you to wash up."
"I'm used to washin' in cold streams, this is fine," he said not looking up.
Knowing he had to word things carefully, Lom thought about what he wanted to say as the Kid shook the dust out of his shirt and started putting it back on.
"Kid, I want you both to stay here for a week… get rested up and put some meat back on your bones. Don't recall ever seein' the two of you so thin…and god knows Heyes was thin enough to begin with."
The Kid's eyes flicked to his partner who was helping himself to another shot of whiskey.
"Yeah think he 'bout made himself sick lookin' after me but… I don't know. We have…had…a rule…never stay in one place more than three days."
Lom knew the Kid was avoiding looking at him and he was having none of it. He reached out putting both hands on Curry's shoulder forcing the gunfighter to face him. The younger man slowly raised his head.
"I overheard what you and Heyes were sayin' on the porch…now hold on," Lom added sharply seeing the man's eyes harden. "I'm takin' the train to Cheyenne in the morning…"
"What the hell's the point Lom?" he asked bitterly. "The governor's never gonna give me that amnesty and he's not gonna give it to Heyes as long as we're travelling together."
"Dammit Kid, stop being so gall darn stubborn and let me finish will ya?" the lawman snapped giving the man a firm shake. The Kid looked at him with just a hint of amusement. Lom was one of only two men who could get away with treating him like this and not get flattened.
"Don't you remember what I told you when I first came back with the offer of amnesty? You both get it or neither of you do. Like it or not you're in this together and if you split up and one of you gets into trouble the amnesty is gone… for both of you. You'd best chew on that for a while before you decide to desert your partner. Now come on back and have something to eat and get some sleep…you both look like you need it. And talk to your partner because whatever you decide affects him too…maybe more than you know."
Lom saw the fleeting look of resignation and taking his hands from his shoulders, took hold of the Kid's left arm steering him back in the direction of the cabin. "I make a mean batch of stew, and better coffee than Heyes."
The Kid smiled "Just about anybody can make better coffee than Heyes."
"Just promise me you'll stay a week…seven days Kid…that's all I'm askin."
"Fine," he sighed. "One week."
XXX
Inside Lom's cabin the three men sat at the table with bowls of stew in front of them. Lom looked across at the Kid who was staring into the bowl as he slowly pushed food around not eating much. Lom straightened up.
"Somethin' wrong with my cookin'?"
Heyes glanced at his partner as Curry's head jerked up.
"Sorry Lom…just ain't hungry," he said putting his spoon down.
Lom's eyes widened as he looked at the gunfighter in disbelief. "Since when?"
The Kid pushed his chair back and got to his feet.
"Where are you goin'?"
"Finish eatin' Heyes, I'm goin' outside."
The two men were left staring after him, neither speaking until the door closed quietly. Heyes sat back in his chair and closed his eyes wearily.
"Didn't think I'd live to see the day that Kid Curry would walk away from food."
Heyes looked at the closed door. "He hasn't been eating much lately…sleepin' neither."
Lom blew out a breath realizing just how serious this situation had become for the two men. "I can't make any promises regarding the governor Heyes, but I will do my best."
"I know you will Lom, and I appreciate it."
Heyes pushed his half full bowl away and stood, heading for the door as well. Lom watched him go silently cursing the governors for not following through on any of their promises…and he had a feeling this would be it. If this governor decided to dangle the promise of amnesty on any longer, he was pretty sure the boys would walk away from it.
