26th of June

DRENA HILLS

 

This is a story just for fun

(I knew the ending before it begun!)

It’s full of laughter and daring deeds

(It’s the kind of story I hope H&C like to read!)

So sit back...don’t leave too soon!

It’s Storyteller’s Day – the 26th of June!

 

 

 

            “Don’t move an inch,” Kid Curry’s voice said softly.  He had come up behind the stranger, who had been peering through the bushes into their camp sight, and clicked his gun to emphasize how serious the order was.  Beyond them Heyes looked up from the fire and smiled amiably into the darkness, reassured by the sound combined with his partner’s order.

 

            “Forgive me gentlemen I meant you no harm,” the man said slowly raising his hands, his voice full of laughter as if having a gun in his back some how amused him.

 

            “Then you shouldn’t go sneaking up on a body,” Kid said using his gun to nudge the man into the light from the fire.

 

            Heyes blinked surprised at the older man’s appearance.  “Uh Thaddeus,” Heyes said softly.  “Preacher.”

 

            Kid slowly lowered his gun on his partner’s nod.

 

            “Sorry, man can’t be too careful Reverend,” Kid said coming round to face the man and for the first time catching the clerical collar.  Holstering his gun, he offered his hand as they both took stock of each other.

 

            Minister was a good deal past 70, Kid guessed, but his eyes were sparkling with good humor and he did not seem at all put out by the incident.

 

            “Think nothing of it lad,” he smiled.  “The Lord moves in mysterious ways, would you possibly have enough coffee there to spare a cup?”

 

            They didn’t, but Heyes nodded and filled his own cup and passed it over to the man.

 

            “You run into trouble?” he asked.

 

            “No, no, just taking a stroll before going home.  You boys heading into Hidden Crick?”

 

            “Thinking about it,” Kid said.  “We’re looking for work.”

 

            “Well you are in luck, tomorrow is the 25th of June,” the man smiled.

 

            “That a hiring day?” Heyes asked confused.

 

            “No, but it is the day before the 26th,” the man said.  “My this is excellent coffee, put hair on your chest it will.”

 

            Heyes smiled proudly, Kid merely grunted and replied, “Take paint off a barn too if you’re a mind.”

 

            “What happens on the 26th?”  Heyes said ignoring his cousin.

 

            “Contest, happens every year.  Town forms teams to decide on who controls the water supply for the upcoming year.”

 

            “Sounds a bit frivolous way to decide something so important,” Heyes said frowning.

 

            “Yes well the man who owned the rights thought that was the only way to keep it from becoming too important so he made up the 26th of June.”

 

            “Why don’t he just control it?”  Kid asked confused.

 

            “Didn’t want go turning folks against him, in his line of work not a good thing making people uncomfortable coming to him.”

 

            “He a doctor or something?” Kid guessed.

 

            “Or something.”

 

            “You said didn’t, he not around?”

 

            “Yes, alas he passed on a month ago tonight, that’s where the problems come in.”

 

            Kid and Heyes looked at each other.

 

            “Problems?”  Heyes asked politely.

 

            “Well up to now the contest has been pretty fair and honorable, 38 years the rights have been passed around and the winner always did right by his neighbor because he knew the next year his neighbor might have the rights.”

 

            “But this time the contest is for the final rights,” Heyes guessed.

 

            “Ah you are a clever young man, yes indeed.”

 

            “And some people intend to take advantage of that?” Heyes continued.

 

            “Truly, rancher named Guilard.  Not too fond of farmers or townies for that matter.  Prefer the whole place go back to wide open range.”

 

            “Which he will make happen if gets control of water,” Kid sighed.

 

            “And let me guess him and his boys are making sure no body even thinks of going against them in this contest,” Heyes said quietly.

 

            “You’ve heard this story before,” the minister chuckled.

 

            “Different towns, different reason, but yes,” Heyes said.

 

            “So you see how easy it would be for you two to find work.  The town needs a couple of men like you to lead a team against Guilard.  Men like you could unite folks.”

 

            “Men like us?” Kid asked suspicious.

 

            “What kind of men would that be?” Heyes asked with a smile, but his eyes were wary.

 

            “Men that don’t give up a fight when the cause is worth fighting for.  I get the feeling you two have seen your share of bullies and don’t cotton to buckling under them.”

 

            “You from Hidden Creek?” Kid smiled at the compliment.

 

            “No, once, but not now, still tend to worry about them though.”

 

            “Wish we could help,” Heyes said not liking the way his partner was looking thoughtfully as he considered the tale.  “But were heading for Lost Wells.”

 

            “Well best of luck to you then,” the old preacher said rising agilely and offering a hand to show no hard feelings. “Thanks for the coffee and the ear to bend.”

 

            “Same to you,” Heyes said.

 

            “You got far to go…” Kid said and stopped.  “Where did he go?”

 

            “What do you mean where did he go?” Heyes said slightly irritable.  They were low on supplies and even lower on money and now there would be no coffee for morning to get them moving.

 

            “Sure does move fast for an old fella,” Kid said puzzled staring off into the darkness concerned for the man out alone.

 

            He looked back to where his cousin was punching his jacket into a pillow.  The man had taken their mind off their misfortune for a few minutes.   Looking down he realized he still had half a cup of coffee left.  It called to him, but without hesitating he walked back to the fire to pour it into the empty pot.  It would give them both a swallow in the morning and with nothing else for breakfast it would help.

 

            “Heyes…” he said startled lifting the lid.

 

            “What?” he partner grumbled from where he was trying to fall asleep.

 

            “I thought we were out of coffee?”

 

            “We are.”

 

            “Then why is this pot full?”

 

            Heyes sat up prepared to call his partner something suggesting mental deficiency when he was stopped by the contents of the pot.

 

            “That was empty, the old man took the last bit.”

 

            “Get some rest Heyes.”

 

            “Kid it was empty.”

 

            “Whatever you say Heyes.”

 

            And to his cousin’s frustration Kid Curry rolled over and drifted off to sleep.  It took Hannibal Heyes a great deal longer.

 

                                    *******************************

 

            Sometime after midnight a lone figure stood at the crossroads between the towns of Lost Wells and Hidden Creek and gazed up at the signpost.

 

            As he did a breeze came up ever so slightly and then seemed to increase in volume until slowly the top of the sign post began to turn until the two towns listed reversed position.

 

            As quickly as it had come the wind died down.

 

            The man smile.  Home was calling.

 

                                                **************************

 

            “I cannot believe we went the wrong way,” Heyes grumbled as they dismounted in front of the hotel that clearly proclaimed it an establishment of Hidden Creek.

 

            “Wind did pick up last night, must have blew the sign post around,” Kid said.  He was tired; neither of them had slept well.  He agreed that finding themselves in the town was not the greatest turn of events, but they were there and they might as well make the best of it.

 

            “It’s trouble I tell you.”

 

            “Yes Heyes.”

 

            “Least you could be is annoyed,” his partner said annoyed he was having to be annoyed all by himself.

 

            “Heyes I am too hungry and trail weary to be annoyed.  I am going to get a room and a bath and then something to eat.”

 

            “You better make it a good meal because you do all that you’ll have spent all we have for supplies.”

 

            “That’s why we are gonna find work Heyes.”

 

            “In this town?” Heyes said determined to pick a fight.”

 

            “You two brothers?”

 

            The two turned to see three children watching them interested from the hotel porch.

 

            Two boys no more than 10 and a smaller girl in braids half that age.  They all had red hair and freckles and wore the familiar homespun look of a farmer’s family.  But there was something more, accents; the question had been tinged with one, Swedish?

 

            “Nope, just cousins.” Kid grinned enjoying the look their comment had caused his partner to make.

 

            “Close enough for fightin’, I reckon,” the older boy said philosophically.

 

            “You two brothers?” Kid asked.

 

            “Yup,” younger boy said.  “You any good with that gun?”

 

            “Doesn’t need to be, he can jaw a man to death,” Heyes said rolling his eyes and walking past the group to enter the hotel.

 

            “Here.”

 

            The grimy little hand reached out to Heyes blocking his path.

 

            Heyes stared down startled as it opened to reveal a very sticky, obviously tightly gripped gumdrop the girl had been saving.

 

            “What’s this?” Heyes said suddenly embarrassed at being caught off guard by the gesture.

 

            “Red one, red ones best.”

 

            “Why you giving it to me?” Heyes said feeling 9 and not liking it one little bit.

 

            “Looked like you needed it,” she said and without fear she took his hand and placed it on his palm.

 

            “Red ones are best,” Kid said explained to his partner.

 

            Heyes gave him a dark look.  “Thank you?”

 

            “Shelly Tottenberry.  This is Rick and Sean.”

 

            “Thank you Shelly.  Coming cousin?” he said and the emphasis on cousin made Kid decide you should only push your partner so far.

 

            “Nice talking with you,” Kid smiled and winked at Shelly as he went by.

 

            “They ain’t Guilard’s men,” Rick said.

 

            “Nope,” his older brother said.  “But maybe they’re ours.”

 

 

                                                **********************

 

 

            They split up after food and a bath knowing they would not see either again until they found work

 

            Heyes had been quite eloquent in his lecture to Kid concerning getting involved in the town’s troubles.  He had calmly and sensibly pointed out each logical, rational reason for avoiding getting into something that just didn’t concern them.  Just earn enough money for supplies and get themselves gone, how hard could that be?

 

            “Had enough?” Heyes asked the man whose head he had just dunked in the water trough for the third time.

 

            The cowhand nodded choking and Heyes dropped him back in and wiped the water off his hands.

 

            “Thank you Mr. Smith,” Shelly said from beside him where she had stood through the whole confrontation. 

 

            “Anytime Shelly,” he said and then looking down noticed despite his interceding on her behalf a lone tear was falling down her right cheek.

 

            He bent down without thinking and caught it with one finger.

 

            “Hey, its okay now.”

 

            “No it’s not,” she said and flung her arms around his neck. “That man said he was gonna keep me until Papa said he wouldn’t join the contest.”

 

           

            “Well he isn’t going to do that now,” Heyes explained feeling more than slightly uncomfortable at being out in public with the child clinging to him.  It would be just his luck to have Kid come round the corner.

 

            “But Papa says we need help.  Rick and Sean said you could help us, but you might be spensive?  Are you spensive Mr. Smith?”

 

            Her eyes were as wide as saucers and reminded him of another little girl’s from a hundred years ago.  She had known he had liked red gum drops too.

 

            “Not when it’s a pretty girl,” Heyes sighed and was rewarded with a squeal and another hug. 

 

Kid was gonna kill him.

 

 

                                                ********************************

 

            Kid entered their hotel room two hours later and pulled off his gloves as he sized up his partner’s mood.  Heyes was staring out the window thoughtfully, which could be a good sign he was in a peaceful mood.  Kid really would have preferred to deliver the news he had with his partner in a fair mood to start with.

 

            “Found me a job” Kid said.

 

            Heyes looked up sharply, “Doing what?”

 

            “Helping with the contest, lot to do,” Kid said keeping his back to him as he pulled off his boots and hoping no further questions would be forthcoming.

 

            “Well I guess setting things up can’t cause no harm,” Heyes said relieved.

 

            Kid paused, “Ain’t exactly setting things up.”

 

            “Oh?”

 

            How could his partner get so much meaning into such a small word?  Kid did not even have to turn around to know what the expression on his face was.

 

            “Sort of helping a team.”

 

            “Helping?”

 

            Kid sighed and turned to face the music, “Leading it exactly.”

 

            Heyes just stared at him, his face unreadable.

 

            “Money that good?” he said finally.

 

            Kid paused again.

 

            “You are getting paid right?”

 

            “Not exactly.”

 

            “What does that mean?”

 

            “Team is made up of kids from the orphanage,” Kid said quickly trying to get it all out before his partner exploded.  “Lady who runs it is an old war nurse named Sadie Wilkes.  Seems everyone else has been scared out of trying and they lose the water they lose the orphanage and it’s the only home those 20 children got.  Look Heyes we ain’t got a chance against them cowhands that rancher has brought in so we won’t bother anyone.”

 

            “That all of it?” Heyes said.  His head was leaning back in the chair and his eyes were closed wearily.

 

            “Well I all ready told you they couldn’t afford to pay me.  So how did you do?” Kid asked cheerfully attempting to change the subject before his partner asked about how he had met the formidable Sadie Wilkes, while she had been attempting to sign up for the contest.  Heyes really didn’t need to know how she and the children had been bullied and intimidated by the men standing around the table or how impressed they had all been when Kid had been forced to draw his gun to ensure the group was registered fairly.

 

            Heyes opened one eye, his face unreadable.

 

            “Didn’t find anything?” Kid asked surprised.

 

            “Uh yea, actually I did get a job,” Heyes said with a cough that almost swallowed the words.  “Just for tomorrow.”

 

            “Great!  How much it pay?”

 

            Heyes thought back to the lanky, red headed farmer and the pride in his voice as he had offered him $2 to lead the Tottenberry team.  The entire family had beamed at him waiting for his awe and gratitude at the incredible amount that could be his.

 

            “$2.”

 

            “Well that’s a start, what you going to be doing?” Kid pressed.

 

            Heyes mumbled something.

 

            “What?”

 

            Heyes rolled his eyes and repeated it louder, but Kid still had to strain to hear it.

 

            “Leading a team.”

 

            “What!” Kid said jumping to his feet amazed.

 

            “It’s worse,” Heyes said putting his head in his hands.  “It’s the Tottenberry’s, all 26 of them and little Shelly leading the gang.  I tell ya Kid she’s got a way of looking at a man makes him start saying and doing things he never planned.”

 

            He sat there mournfully waiting for his cousin to deride him when suddenly Kid’s laughter made him look up surprised.

 

            “Were a pair aren’t we?”  Kid said flopping into a chair across from him and grinning at him.

 

            “Don’t look so amused, you ever think about what’s gonna happen tomorrow when my team wins?”  Heyes said morosely.

 

            “Your team!” Kid laughed.

 

            “Well they are being led by Hannibal Heyes.”

 

            “Sod busters?”

 

            “Was the gang much more?”

 

            “It ain’t a train Heyes, it’s a series of challenges,” Kid said not missing the slight flicker of hurt in his cousin’s eyes that he didn’t think he could do it.  “Besides you are forgetting about me.”

 

            Heyes grinned understanding, “You just said a bunch of orphans didn’t have a chance!”

 

            “I lied, I didn’t want to worry you.”

 

            “All right then,” Heyes said leaning forward and for the first time there was genuine interest in his expression.  “Guess we’ll see tomorrow.”

 

            “Wanna bet on it?” Kid said back.

 

            “Cooking and dishes?”

 

            “Saddling and unsaddling?”

 

            “Week?”

 

            “Week.”

 

            “Done.”

 

            The men shook hands and grinned. 

 

The contest was on.

 

                                                ***********************

           

            “Mr. Jones this is disgraceful, three teams!  Why there used to be twenty at the least,” Sadie Wilkes said, her drill sergeant voice cut with sadness.

 

            She was dressed as she had been yesterday; in men’s work clothes and despite her 50 years seemed ready to give as good as she got for their team.

 

            “Well my partner is the one we gotta beat,” Kid said grinning over at Heyes who stood out among the red haired Tottenberry’s who were looking up at him like he was sent from on high.

 

            “Well we’ll give you our best,” Sadie said not missing the affection in his look towards his cousin.  These were good boys to get involved in all this.  “Here is the list of events, the last two aren’t known until the end of the day, Henry always kept them a secret so no one could plan ahead.”

 

            “Smart man, except for this last contest, he should have known this would have happened,” Kid said studying the list.

 

            “Said he did, but he also said God would make arrangements.  Funny man Henry.”

 

            She stopped as Heyes walked up; Shelly firmly attached at the knee.

 

            “Sadie this is my partner Joshua Smith,” Kid introduced.

 

            “Ma’am,” Heyes said tipping his hat.

 

            “We’re gonna win,” Shelly announced.

 

            “Oh you are, are you?” Kid said bending down to meet her eye to eye.

 

            “Yup Mr. Smith says you’re the only problem we got.”

 

            “Did he now?”

 

            “Yup. Here.”

 

            And she pressed a green gumdrop in his hand.

 

            “No red?” he asked thanking her.

 

            “I get the red ones,” Heyes said.  “And stop enticing my best players away,” he said darkly.

 

            This exchange seemed to please Shelly who skipped back to her family, while Sadie turned to organize her group.

 

            “Get a look at them, not a child in the bunch,” Heyes said softly as the two men eyed up the Guilard group.

 

            Guilard turned out to be an old granite faced man with eyes like a snake and a vicious laugh that usually followed some cruel remark about those less fortunate than him.

 

            “Gunslingers for children’s games,” Kid said disgusted and Heyes looked at him amused as if to say what are we?

 

            “It’s different Heyes,” Kid said defensively.

 

            “I know,” his cousin said suddenly serious.  “Watch your back with that bunch.”

 

            “You too,” Kid said and added to dismiss both their embarrassment.  “I need you fit to do all them chores.”

 

                                                *****************************

 

            “But Bertie is the skinniest kid in the orphanage,” Rick said unable to comprehend Heyes’s admiration of Kid picking the scrawny child for the pie eating contest.  “He just got there, ain’t been there but a week”

 

            “Which means he still doesn’t trust he’s ever gonna have enough to eat again,” Heyes said thinking back his smile bittersweet.  “Contest isn’t about how much you can eat,” he said glancing at the hulking cowboy the other side had picked.  “But how fast.”

 

            Kid caught his eye and a look of understanding passed between them.

 

            “Don’t worry we’ll get them on the next one,” Heyes said conceding this game before it had begun.  Well done Kid, its gonna be a challenge beating you.

 

 

                                    *******************************

           

            “Ain’t never seen anything like it,” Sadie said in flat out awe as Heyes and his team collected their points for the ‘Fire Drill’. 

 

            Kid grinned chuckling at the strange contraption his partner had wheeled out consisting partly of a rain gutter, a pump and a water trough.  And he understood now all the notes and fussing Heyes had done all day yesterday preparing for the events he knew about.  So while the other two teams had scrambled to pass buckets his team had sprayed and slided water down onto the fire at leisure.

 

            “No ma’am, but with my partner you do come to expect the unexpected,” he said proudly.

 

 

                                                ***********************

           

            By noon the entire town was enthralled.  Instead of a quick and easy win the contest had turned into a flat out three way tie and hope began to dust across the faces of the farmers and town folk who had thought certain all was lost.

 

            With Kid and Heyes it had simply become a good natured game between the two of them, each appreciating the cunning and flat our deviousness of the other and being the first one to cheer when the other won.  Their good natured bantering had affected both teams and everyone was enjoying themselves though quick to defend their leader as best as Kid discovered when he pulled his oldest orphan off the Tottenberry’s oldest son.

 

            “He said Smith was smarter than you,” Eric said angrily wiping the blood from the corner of his lip as Kid pulled the two apart and dragged the boy off to the side.

 

            “Save it for the contest.”

 

            “But he said…”

 

            “I don’t care what he said,” Kid said firmly.

 

            “Besides he was wrong,” Heyes said from behind them holding the Tottenberry boy firmly in tow. 

 

            “But you are!” the boy said fiercely.

 

            “Nope, just think different that’s all.  I’ll tell ya something Micah there isn’t a man I would trust more to get me out of jam than Mr. Jones.  I appreciate your loyalty, but I suggest you watch him, that’s how I got to be so smart.”

 

            The two boys sighed and shook hands.

 

            “Nice speech,” Kid said as the two shuffled away.

 

            “I’m still gonna beat the tar out of you,” Heyes said swallowing a smile.

 

            “Keep talking Heyes, that’s what your good at….”

 

            And with a grin they went back to their sides.

 

                                                **************************

 

            “Now this horse race is through the orchard, back up around the church and down the main street,” the Mayor said in his best official voice, his mustache quivering with excitement.

 

            Kid and Heyes had seen the hardened rider Guilard had chosen and decided to ride themselves neither one liking the idea of putting a child up against the man’s seasoned edge or cocky glare.

 

            “Child would be lighter,” Heyes said watching Kid climb aboard the horse.

 

            “Yup,” Kid said.  “Notice you didn’t use one either.”

 

            “Just felt like a ride is all.”

 

            “Yea I don’t trust him neither, watch yourself Heyes,” Kid ordered.

 

            “You watch me, I’ll be ahead of you.”

 

            “Only cause I passed you and am going around again just for the fun of it,” Kid grinned.

 

            The starter gun fired and the three horses shot out across the start line.

 

            Heyes relaxed into the run letting his body become one with the horse, enjoying being able to take pleasure in the run without the usual reasons he had for doing it.

 

            He and Kid had raced a lot as children and been about even in the won/loss box.  Heyes’s family had the faster horse, but Kid just had a way with his older animal that seemed to coax more out of it than another rider might have.

 

            The pony’s today were equally matched and he looked over and grinned at the smile his cousin flashed him.  They were children again and nothing but the race mattered.

 

            Pulling ahead he managed to dodge past the two riders and bore down trying to increase his lead.  It was then the rope caught him chest high, yanking him back off his saddle and down hard onto the ground where he hit with a thud that left him conscious, but dazed.

 

            He heard his name and the sound of a horse galloping towards him, but all he could see was the sky above, feeling slightly disconnected from even the pain shooting through him.

 

            He felt someone land beside him and gingerly raise him up.

 

            “Heyes you all right?”

 

            “No,” he said sure of that.

 

            “Can you move?”

 

            “Do I have to?”

 

            “Here give me your arm,” Kid pulled him to his feet and the earth started to swim.  “Let’s get the Doc to check you out.”

 

            “So I lived?”

 

            “Just barely, that rope could have killed you.”

 

            “I thought it did.  Did I win?”

 

            “No, but trust me the other fella is gonna wish you had.”

 

 

                                                **************************

           

            “You got proof to back up that claim!” Guilard sneered blowing the smoke from his cigar in Kid’s face.

 

            “Who else would have done it?”

 

            “Maybe you to take him out,” Guilard laughed. 

 

            A crowd had gathered as news of what had happened rippled around the crowd.  Guilard’s ways were well known and the two strangers had quickly won the town over when word had gotten out they were doing it for nothing.

 

            “Why you,” Kid said diving for the man and having seven ranch hands pull him off.

 

            “Enough!” the sheriff yelled.  “Rules say anything goes, next challenge is arm wrestling.”

 

            Heyes stepped into the ring looking shaky, but alert.

 

            “What are you doing up?” Kid said going up to him flush with anger.  His partner was still pale and he could tell in pain.

 

            “You heard the man, arm wrestling.”

 

            “And you heard the doctor, you got bruised ribs and a concussion.”

 

            “See won’t affect my arm at all.”

 

            The largest of the cowhands strided up and laughed, “I’ll be happy to break that for you!”

 

            “He is not doing it,” the huge blacksmith said coming into the ring and wiping off his hands.  “I’m going to.”

 

            “You can’t join their team,” Guilard said angrily.

 

            “Tottenberry family right?  Well my great aunt Inga was a Tottenberry, so I reckon that qualifies me.  Why she used to call me Lars.”

 

            “Sheriff!?” Guilard snapped.

 

            “Rules say any member of a family no matter how distant,” Sheriff said obviously pleased to be able to side against Guilard

 

            “Now,” the blacksmith said holding up his massive hand, what was that about breaking arms?”

 

                                                **************************

 

            Kid looked at the scoreboard.  The ladies had evened things up for Heyes team with the sewing contest and the preserve tasting and now they were neck in neck with Guilard only two ahead of them.

 

            “Tug of war!”

 

            Kid sighed and looked at his scrawny team, even with him and Sadie as anchors it didn’t look good against the ranchers.

 

            “Mind if I anchor?”

 

            Kid turned on the voice to see a tall black muleskinner who had been watching in the shade and once or twice offered suggestions.

 

            “I wish you could.”

 

            “This team made up of orphans right?”

 

            “Right.”

 

            “Hezekiah Jackson,” the man said offering his hand.  “Orphan.”

 

            Kid grinned and took it, “Hezekiah welcome to the team.”

 

 

                                    *************************

 

            “Where did you get him?” Heyes grinned delighted as the mountain of a man anchored himself behind Kid.

 

            “Orphan,” Kid said innocently.

 

            “You sneaky….”

 

            “Yea tell it to great cousin Lars.”

 

                                                            *****************************

           

 

            The shot went off and the two sides began tugging.  Heyes and his team found themselves on the sidelines cheering with the rest of the town for Kid and the orphans.  Six men against the 20 small children and two men who were oddly holding their own.

 

            “Pull!” Kid yelled.

 

            “Dig in!” Heyes encouraged.  “Don’t let them slide you!”

 

            Kid had wisely placed the small girls at the front of the line, which was why when the snake was thrown at them, the first three in line squealed in horror and let go falling back into the other behind them.

 

            The effect was like a domino and caused the others to fall forward and the smaller ones to be dragged along.

 

            “STOP!”  Heyes yelled as the cries went up and dived to pull a small child out from the crush of bodies.

 

            “Looks like we won that one!” Guilard laughed.

 

            “He threw a snake at me!” one of the little girls was crying.

 

            “He did I saw it!”  said a voice in the crowd.

 

            “No rules,” Guilard laughed.  “If your team can be distracted, your team loses.  Now lets see that makes us three ahead once we take the Tottenberry’s.”

 

            Kid looked up from the sobbing child he was holding.  He was covered in mud and his face was cold as stone.  Around him the children sat just as dirty, defeated, checking their bruises and scrapes.

 

            “Kid…” Heyes said catching his arm as he passed the child off to Sadie.

 

            “Out of my way Heyes.”

 

            “Not this way.”

 

            “He’s not getting away with this Heyes, that old man was right I’ve been beat down by one too many bullies, no more.”

 

            “I’m not saying you let him, I’m saying we beat him…together.”

 

 

                                    ***********************************

 

 

            “What’s all this?” Guilard said staring amazed as one by one the two teams joined together on the other side of rope. 

 

            “I read the rules, basically there aren’t any, but it does say that if at any point two teams wish to work together as one team its permitted,” Heyes smiled.

 

            “That’s not fair!” Guilard growled.

 

            “Maybe not, but I think ole Henry was trying to tell us something,” the sheriff said stepping over and taking part of the rope.  “I think maybe he wanted us to see that the only way we gonna keep things fair for real is if we work together.  Wise old man Henry.”

 

            And then to Guilard’s amazement one by one the town moved over and took a piece of the rope.

 

            “Your not gonna get away with this,” he sputtered.

 

            “Mr. Smith would you do the honors?” Kid grinned.

 

            Heyes fired his gun.

 

            The cowhands met the mud before the echo died.

 

                                    ******************************

 

            “Smug now, but I’m still 1 ahead, you’ll have to win both the secret contests to beat me,” Guilard said the mud caked over him.

 

            “Wanna put a little bet on it,” Heyes said.  “Say a $100?”

 

            “You ain’t got it.”

 

            “Afraid to lose huh?” Heyes grinned.

 

            “All right I’ll take your bet and have your smart hide thrown in jail when you can’t pay me,” the man said clamping down on his cigar and marching away.

 

            “Bit chancy isn’t it? We don’t know what those last two challenges are,” Kid said softly.

 

            “You mean the ones in the white envelope in the safe in the general store?” Heyes asked innocently.

 

            Kid looked at him, eyes opening wide as realization sunk in, “Heyes you miserable cheat!  You broke in and opened that…”

 

            “Kid may I remind you we have gone straight?” Heyes said shocked.

 

            “Gather round folks here we have it!”  the Mayor called waving a white envelope.  “The last two challenges!”

 

            A gasp of anticipation when up as he ripped it open and Kid at stared his partner’s innocent expression.

 

            “The last two challenges are…a shooting contest and a storytelling contest!  So find your best gunman and you best silver tongued teller of tales and let the challenge begin.”

 

            “Heyes…” was all Kid could manage because he was laughing.  “I sure am glad I am on your side.”

 

 

                                                ***************************

 

            “Now the object is to see who can shoot their cans down the fastest.  One try, ready?” the Mayor said as Kid and Guilard’s man stood in front of the targeted fence surrounded by onlookers.

 

            The man Guilard had chosen was a professional and he looked at Kid skeptical and a bit cocky. 

 

            “Make that $500?” Heyes said quietly to Guilard.

 

            “Your on,” the man said eyes narrowing knowing who he had hired.

 

            “Go.”

 

            Only six shots sounded.  Mostly because Kid had drawn, dispensed with the cans and reholstered before the hired gun cleared leather.

 

            “How did he do that!”  one of the children whispered.

 

            “Who cares!”  another yelled and a cheer went up.

 

            “Did you have to be that fast,” Heyes hissed coming up to him as Kid calmly reloaded and pulled back on his glove.

 

            “I thought you wanted us to win?” Kid said indignant.

 

            “Win yes, get another dime novel legend about you started no!”

 

“Sheriff, I object this man is obviously a hired gun,” Guilard said flustered.

 

            “Maybe,” Sheriff said.  “But I don’t reckon yours could cope with too much scrutiny either.  Tell ya what Mr. Guilard as soon as I get all that paperwork on my desk cleared up I’ll check them both out, shouldn’t take me more than a week?” he said and walking past Kid gave him a wink.  He suddenly stopped as if something had just occurred to him.  “So you boys got anyone on your team with a silver tongue?”

 

                                                            ********************

 

            The bonfire was large and the entire town had circled around it as the last of the sunset melted down into the hills.

 

            Guilard had gone first, not trusting the winning point to anyone, but himself.  He told a good tale.  Kid had even liked it when Heyes had shared it with him from that book by that Scot Stevenson six months earlier.

 

            But as Heyes took his place on the tall stool and looked over the crowd an air of anticipation began to grow.  Heyes knew how to play a crowd, Heyes knew how to move them and drain them and lift them back up.  He was like a skilled lover seducing them with words and them going willingly at his bidding.

 

            Even before he spoke a word he gazed out giving them a smile that promised neither safety nor the outcome.  Kid smiled and let the children around him draw closer.  No one told a story like Heyes and as soon as Heyes hit his stride he would have every man, woman and child in the palm of his hand.

 

What he didn’t realize was it wouldn’t take more than the first line.

 

            “Boone Marker didn’t come home that night,” Heyes said his voice deep and wicked and causing the town as one to lean forward as he added softly.  “At least…not all of him…”

 

                                                *************************

                       

            “Heyes I gotta hand it to you, that was some story,” Kid said two days later as they led their horses out of the stable and finished tying on supplies. It had taken two days to both collect the money Guilard owed him and the town’s thanks.

 

            “Yea I kinda liked it myself, wasn’t sure how it was going to end until I got there.”

 

            Kid laughed, “Just like Grandpa Curry’s.”

 

            Heyes smiled at the compliment pleased the memory brought nothing sad to life, only  happy what had beens.

 

            “I think about half the town jumped out of their skin when you got to the last line,” Kid laughed.

 

            “Yea I noticed you did too.”

 

            “No I didn’t,” Kid said firmly.  “Just looked like it with all them children hanging on me.”

 

            “You used to jump pretty good when we were kids,” Heyes grinned.

 

            “Only thing that got me through those cold winter nights.”

 

            “Not much to it,” Heyes said embarrassed and wanting the subject changed.

 

            “Well it was inspiration changing those two challenges to things we could do well. I was afraid it was going to be embroidery and yodeling.”

 

            Heyes stopped short.  “I didn’t change them, that was what was in the envelope.”

 

            Kid turned and looked at him, “You mean we got that lucky?”

 

            “Or the town did…” Heyes stopped, something in a window had caught his eye.

 

            “Kid?”

 

            “Hmmm?”

 

            “That preacher, what did he say his name was?”

 

            “Didn’t,” Kid said following his friend’s startled gaze to the undertaker window where a large oil portrait was displayed framed in black crepe.  The sign below it said in loving memory of Reverend Henry Kinder, friend, Pastor and benefactor.

 

            They looked at each other.

 

            “Heyes he died a month ago it couldn’t have been him,” Kid said firmly brushing the idea aside and getting up on his horse.

 

            “Or,” Heyes said mounting up as well.

 

            “Or what?”

 

            “I got me a real good story for next time!”

 

            And with one more story behind them, they rode out.