I DO NOT OWN BILLY THE KID OR HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS. SHOUTOUT TO PHOWARD FOR GIVING A SHIT ABOUT THIS STORY.
Pikeville, Kentucky. August 31, 1881.
The 20 something once known as Billy the Kid tried his best to breath as he was being covered by pounds of sheepskins. By this point, he was over the hiding and sneaking that he'd been doing for over a month now. He prayed that Pikeville, Kentucky wasn't too far away at this point. It hadn't been his 1st choice of sanctuary, but beggars can't be choosers.
After Billy had witnessed the murders of his partner and the Silva family, he had spent 3 bitter days making his way through the barren landscape; with nothing but a half empty canteen of water to sustain him. He had stumble through the dirt and the heat, allowing himself only a single sip of the water every couple of hours. In the day time, the heat cooked his insides, at night, the nocturnal predators, like snakes and coyotes came sniffing. Billy used his 4 shots and spent sleepless nights throwing stones, waving sticks, and hollering until his voice gave out.
On the 4th morning, Billy stumbled upon a group of cowboys leading a herd of cattle through the desert. They gave the Kid what food and water they had and after giving them the false name of Billy Anglim and a sob story about losing his ma to a injun attack, the cowboys took Billy with them to their ranch in Texas. He spent a few days helping out at the ranch as repayment before being gifted a horse and moving on.
Billy eventually rouse out of Texas and into the Indian territory. The Kid found himself in Talequah, capital of the Cherokee sector. He managed to earn some money breaking a horse for the principal chief: Dennis Bushyhead, for a couple weeks. The Chief liked Billy enough, but most of the Cherokee loathed him for being a white man. Chief Bushyhead paid "Billy Barr" a hundred and twenty seven dollars before he left. After about 2 weeks of hard riding, Billy found himself in Arkansas.
When he landed in the state capital of Little Rock, Billy Coughlin, as he gave his name, eventually intention of settling down and retiring from the outlaw business. The only problem was that news had reached from New Mexico about the "death" of Billy the Kid. According to the paper, Sheriff Pat Garrett had collected the five hundred dollar bounty on the Kid and there had been a closed casket funeral that almost no one attended. Billy figured it was appropriate, since all of his family was dead and gone; he didn't have no one to come pay respects at his grave marker. They even printed his picture and that made the Kid nervous.
It would only be a matter of time before people noticed the likeness and than the rumors would start. If the wrong people thought he was still alive, they'd come for him. Billy checked out of the boarding house he'd been rooming at and left the state that same day. He made his way up through Tennessee doing odd jobs for money. It was when he crossed the border into Kentucky that his luck ran out.
Billy had won himself a nice pot in a round of poker, but this led to accusations of being a card shark and he ended up getting his ass locked by a pack of assholes. They stole his money and his horse. His gun would have been next if Billy hadn't gotten to it first and gut shot one of them. After this, Billy began to hitch hike his way up through Kentucky. This is what led him to find a tanner riding along her road.
"I got 2 dollars for a ride." Billy offered to the man.
"I'm only going as far as Pikeville." The man said gruffly as he took the cash and motioned for Billy to get in. So Billy had spent the last 3 days riding in the tanner's wagon, hiding himself underneath the skins he was carrying. After falling asleep a couple times, he was woken up by the tanner dragging him out of the wagon.
"I want you out my wagon, I know a troublemaker when I see one." The tanner said as Billy looked around the small village that he now found himself in.
"You said you were going to take me to Pikeville." Billy reminded the Tanner incredulously.
"This is Pikeville, now out with you!" The Tanner snapped as Billy reluctantly got out as the Tanner left him in the dust. The Kid slowly began strolling about the village, looking around at the buildings and the people. It didn't look like they were well connected; which gave Billy comfort, as maybe they ain't heard of him this far from New Mexico. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his growling stomach. Billy knew that if he was going to fill his belly and rest his weary head, he was going to have to find himself a job. He sure as well wasn't gonna rustle cattle or rob stores.
Billy eventually saw a man with jet black hair putting up a sign in the town square. The Kid made his way over to it and saw that it was advertisement; looking for a farm hand to help pick and handle tobacco. The black haired man saw Billy walking up and shot him a grin.
"You seen the ad, my family's looking for an extra hand in the 'bacco fields." He explained. "Me and my brothers and sisters can't do 'em all by ourselves."
"I like tobacco." Billy said with a grin of his own
"Then you should come talk to my poppy, see if he'll take you on, Mr..." the man offered as he stuck out his hand for a shake.
"Billy. Duff. Bully Duff."
"Nice to meet ya, I'm Calvin McCoy."
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