As exhausted as he knew the two men had been last night, Lom was still not surprised to see his two guests up in time to see him off to town in order to catch the train to Cheyenne. Mounting his horse he looked at them standing side by side on his porch, neither one looking as if they'd gotten much sleep, but then neither had he.

"I hope to be back late tomorrow." He eyed the Kid…"Don't forget your promise."

Heyes shot a look at his partner seeing him frown before nodding at the lawman. Lom grinned, shouting over his shoulder as he turned his horse in the direction of Porterville…"Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone."

Heyes snorted a laugh. "Kid I get the distinct impression he don't trust us near his town when he's away."

"Yeah, wonder why."

Heyes laughed and threw an arm around his friend's shoulders, guiding him inside.

XXX

Lom sat on the train thinking about his upcoming visit with the governor, hoping the man would get the telegram he'd sent just before boarding the train. He knew this meeting would be make or break for the two men waiting back at his cabin. Curry had promised he'd stay for a week and Lom was confident the man would keep his word, but was concerned about what would happen when the week was up if this didn't pan out. He had thought of this meeting most of the night trying to figure out exactly what to say to the governor and he huffed out a breath as he once again went over what he had come up with last night. He had met with Moonlight several times since he'd taken office and had liked the man. He thought back to the sight of Heyes and Curry sitting on his porch when he'd arrived home yesterday and shook his head…they were as low as he'd ever seen them. He pulled his watch out…another hour and he'd be in Cheyenne.

XXX

While Lom was his way to Cheyenne, the two partners, after silently eating breakfast, sat out on the porch with their coffee. Heyes glanced over at his friend who was once again staring out over the open fields lost in thought.

"What did you promise?"

The gunfighter started, his head snapping around to look at his cousin. "Huh?"

"Lom said don't forget your promise…what did you promise?"

Curry sighed…"That I'd stay for a week."

"And what happens at the end of that week?"

The gunfighter shook his head and without answering, swallowed the last of his coffee before setting the cup down beside his chair and got to his feet.

"Guess that depends don't it? I'm gonna see to the horses."

"Dammit Kid," Heyes whispered in frustration as he watched him walk across the yard to feed their horses. He hoped Lom would come back with some good news for a change because if he didn't he wasn't sure what was going to happen.

XXX

It was mid afternoon when a rather nervous Lom Trevors stood on the steps of the building that housed the office of Governor Thomas Moonlight. Taking a deep breath he exhaled slowly, steeling himself for this meeting as he took the last few steps and pulled open the door thinking this could quite possibly be the last time he entered this office.

The secretary looked up from his desk when he heard footsteps approaching knowing the governor had no more meetings scheduled today, but smiled recognizing the man who had been here many times.

"Sheriff Trevors, what brings you here today?"

"Good afternoon William…I uh… sent a telegram first thing this morning requesting an emergency meeting with the governor today."

William's brow creased as he started moving papers around on his desk…"I came in a little later today sheriff and I don't recall seeing a telegram. Wait just one moment."

He got up heading to the heavy wooden door several feet down the hallway knocking before disappearing inside, leaving Lom twisting his hat in his hands. He came out a few moments later with a smile nodding at the sheriff.

"Governor Moonlight will see you now, just leave your gun with me."

Trevors handed William his gun who put it out of sight in one of his desk drawers. Walking the length of the hall, Lom stopped, taking one more deep breath knocking softly before entering the office of the governor of Wyoming. The man seated didn't look particularly happy to see him, but Lom smiled and held out his right hand. The governor looked at the hand for a moment before deciding to shake it.

"Sit down Trevors…now what is this emergency about…as if I couldn't guess."

"Well governor you're probably right, I've come to talk about Heyes and Curry."

The governor huffed in irritation and leaned back in his chair looking ready to end this meeting before it even started...Lom spoke quickly.

"I only ask that you listen to what I have to say today sir," Lom pleaded.

The governor stared at the lawman for several minutes trying to read the man. "Very well what sort of trouble have they gotten themselves into this time?"

"No trouble governor…well nothing more than usual." Lom sighed before continuing. "Sir I've known these men for a lot of years and they've kept in touch regularly since they were promised amnesty if they stayed law abidin' and they have. The past few months have been hard on them…real hard and, well to be honest sir I'm worried about them. I found them at my place when I got home from work yesterday and I haven't ever seen them looking so worn down."

He proceeded over the space of an hour to tell the governor of the things Heyes had told him that had happened to them over the past several weeks and the governor didn't interrupt just sat back in his chair and listened, watching the flicker of emotion that Lom wasn't able to completely hide.

"It's been almost three years and I think they've earned the amnesty. I'm really am worried about them sir…especially the Kid." Lom stopped talking and looked down at the desk thinking he'd done the best he could…he just didn't know if it was good enough.

"I have a few questions I'd like answered, just to satisfy my curiosity."

"I'll answer them the best I can."

"You have known these men for several years, even rode with them for a while," he watched Lom nod before continuing. "Do you know anything about them personally? What I want to know is this…what turned them to the outlaw way of life?"

Lom sighed wondering if it was his story to tell, but hoping it would help swing the governor in their favour he told what he knew.

"They don't talk about their lives before Devil's Hole much. I knew they came from Kansas, but just yesterday Heyes told me that they lived on farms just outside Lawrence…lost their families when Quantrill attacked. The boys had gone fishing and weren't home…that's the only thing that saved them from being killed as well. I remember them talking a long time ago about the Valparaiso Home for Waywards, that's where they ended up. Can't remember if it was Heyes or the Kid that said if you weren't wayward when you went in you were when you came out."

"How old were they?"

"You'd have to ask them that sir, but I'd guess Heyes woulda bin about eleven or so and the Kid is two years younger."

The governor leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. "What do you see these two men doing if they were to get amnesty?"

"That's a good question…Heyes could easily get work in a saloon dealing cards and knowin' him it wouldn't take him long to work his way up to managing the place," he grinned. "The Kid would most likely be able to find work doing security in some way… he's real good at readin' people, and yes he is as good with a gun as they say."

"But Curry has killed."

"Yes he has, but he's never been the one to start a gunfight and he has never drawn first. That gunfight with Danny Bilson that I wired this office about was witnessed by the town sheriff and he said in his statement that Bilson called Curry out and drew first."

Moonlight sat back clasping his hands across his stomach and looking thoughtful, his gaze never wandering from Lom's face. He was silent for so long that the lawman was having a hard time sitting still.

"Have they ever gone back to Devil's Hole?"

Loms' breath caught in his throat and he paused before answering knowing he couldn't lie.

"Yes sir they have, but it was because the Kid needed medical help…he'd been shot up pretty bad and they were closer to the Hole than a town."

The governor looked surprised. "They have a doctor there?"

Lom couldn't help but smile. "Not a real doctor no…but there are two men there that know how to look after wounded men. Hell…sorry sir…even Heyes and the Kid know how to take out a bullet and stitch a wound if it's not too serious."

"I see…but they never went back with the intention of joining the gang again?"

"No sir."

The governor pursed his lips as he continued to watch the sheriff.

"I've gotten reports from people that have stated that those two have been helpful in solving some crimes, even figuring out who robbed a bank when they were the ones blamed…I believe you sent that report," the governor's lips twitched as he tried to hide a smile."

"I'm sure I sent you several of those reports," Lom said grinning. "As well as a few to the governors before you."

"Yes you have been most…persistent."

The governor leaned forward again, his arms on his desk, his hands clasped as he made a decision.

"I seem to recall that you rode with them before you turned your back on the outlaw life and became a lawman."

"I did for a short time, yes."

"Tell me sheriff Trevors do you think they be willing to come here and meet with me?"

Lom looked sharply at him.

"I would of course give my personal guarantee they would not be arrested. I'll even put it in writing if you like," the governor said with a grin.

"Even if you don't like what they have to say?"

"Yes, even then. I'll give them both twenty four hours to get safely out of town after we finish our meeting, but I want to meet these men that you seem to have so much faith in."

"I'll talk to them, but it's something I need to do in person, not through a telegram."

The governor rose from his chair with a smile.

"Very well, let's go see William and see what we can get set up."

XXX

It was almost dark and Lom had been gone two full days when, hearing the sound of a galloping horse, Heyes looked up sharply getting up from his seat on the porch unhooking the loop from the hammer of his gun resting his hand on it.

"Kid!"

His partner, having heard the horse as well, stepped out on the porch at the same time Heyes called him, his gun already in his hand. They watched the cloud of dust get closer sighing in relief when they saw it was Lom.

"He's in an awful big hurry," Heyes mumbled.

Lom ground his horse to a halt jumping out of the saddle.

"Boys we gotta talk," he said seriously.

Both men eyed him warily neither saying a word. They had both holstered their guns when they saw who it was, but the Kid's hand dropped to rest on his again as he watched the man that used to ride with them.

"It ain't nothin' bad, now let's go inside, I could use somethin' to drink." Lom entered his cabin without waiting for them. The partners exchanged looks before following.