The two weary riders pulled their horses to a stop by
the river. It had been days since they had seen the posse but the riders were not
confident that they had managed to elude them. For a while, it had seemed that
every trick to cover a trail they used had been to no avail. A week of hard
riding had been filled with frustration an each time they thought they were in
the clear the tell tale plume of dust would show up from the posse that was in
pursuit. Both riders knew that if the posse came into view again they were
running out of options to escape them.
Hannibal Heyes and Kid
Curry dismounted from their dusty horses, horses that had run about as far as
they could.
Kid watched as his partner didn’t take his eyes off
the horizon and pulling both their canteens free filled them as the horses
drank. This done he pulled off his
bandanna and allowed his eyes to close as he ran the rag over the sweat and
grime at the back of his neck. He
wanted nothing more than to just close his eyes and not ever have to think
about ever opening them again.
It had all gone so horribly wrong. When they had received the telegram from
Sheriff Lom Trevors calling them back to Porterville with good news they had
both leapt at the hope it meant what the telegram hinted at.
Instead they had walked into a trap and found
themselves placed under arrest at the outskirts of town before they even had a
chance to see Lom.
Both outlaws had instantly recognized the man who
sprung the trap. Lee Pestle was a
bounty hunter who had crossed their paths before and held a bitter memory at
the outcome.
“Knew that amnesty ploy would bring you in. Well bad news fellas Governor said no, well
actually he said he couldn’t say yes to both of you,” the tall lanky man had
smirked through his missing teeth.
"You think they're still out there?"
Kid looked up from his thoughts to find his partner’s
dark, haunted eyes studying him.
“Yep, Lom ain’t a man to give up,” Kid said coldly at
the thought.
That had been the final blow. A cocky move on one of Pestle’s men had
given Kid access to a gun and their chance at freedom.
But what neither outlaw had expected was the man
leading the posse so diligently after them would be their old friend.
Heyes looked at Kid suddenly feeling guilty as well
as weary. The man’s words ringing in
his ears, ‘Couldn’t say yes to both of you.’
“He didn’t even try and warn us,” Kid said frustrated
and hurt as he tied on the canteens.
“Kid he’s just doing his job, he tried, its not his
fault the Governor said no.”
“Yea well maybe he could try a little less harder!”
Kid snapped. “And he sure as hell
didn’t waste any time tricking us in to showing up so he could collect the
reward. The only reason we aren’t on
our way to the Territorial Prison at this very moment Heyes is we got lucky.”
Heyes tried to keep his temper. He knew his partner was tired and hurt from
the betrayal, but they needed to think not react or they were going to end up
in that prison.
“Kid we gotta get us down to say Big Mac’s place,
he’ll hide us out till we can decide what to do.”
“I know what we’re gonna do,” Kid said ruthlessly
swinging up on his horse. “They don’t
want to give us a second chance, lead us on a string all this time, well fine,
then we’ll show them what a mistake they made, we’ll bleed the railroad dry and
then we’ll start on the banks.”
“No.”
Kid stopped and looked down at his cousin. God he looks tired, Kid thought, and beaten,
but were not.
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean I quit outlawing and I ain’t going back and
neither are you. You said it yourself,
only ends one way and we’ve been lucky.”
“Heyes weren’t you listening? They turned down the amnesty!”
“Kid we been letting a piece of paper tell us who we
are for too long.”
“Yea well you do need that piece of paper to tell the
law who you aren’t!”
“Doesn’t matter, we’ll find some place, start over.”
Kid stared at the dark hurting eyes and suddenly all
the weariness and anger just exploded.
“Don’t be an idiot!
You really think we have a chance!”
“Ain’t gonna know until I try,” Heyes said stubbornly
digging his heels in. “We got friend
Heyes, Silky, Soapy, Jenny, Mac, they’ll help us.’
“Lom was a friend too!” Kid yelled. “How long you
think anyone is gonna want to harbor men with the prices we have on our heads?”
“Maybe I just got a little more faith in people than
you do,” Heyes said angry now too.
“Oh well of course I mean why not, haven’t we seen
all our lives how people care and look after us. Remember the line to take us in when our folks died? Oh wait there wasn’t one was there?”
Heyes blinked at this bitter tirade truly
surprised. Of the two Heyes had always
been the cynical one. To see his
partner suddenly changed was chilling.
“Tree house,” Heyes said suddenly inspired.
Kid stared at him, “What?”
“We’ll make for the tree house!”
In the beginning of their career as outlaw leaders
they had quickly realized the gang and themselves were going to need what Heyes
called ‘line shacks’ stocked and hidden in the hills to help them out when
weather or a posse prevented them from returning immediately to the Hole.
One of these sanctuaries was known only to the two of
them and had been nicknamed the tree house because Kid said it reminded him of
the one they had built as kids half way between school and home for the same
purpose.
“Bit far,” Kid said hating to give up a good fight.
“Not really, back trail will be open and its so camouflaged
in those rocks and trees posse would ride right by it.”
Kid finally nodded, “All right maybe we need to rest
and eat before we do any more yelling.”
Heyes grinned relieved and swinging up on his horse
pushed it forward.
Hope, even a flicker, was something they had to hang
on to.
***********************************
“You
planning on wearing that floor into a trail or you wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
Heyes asked quietly as he set his bedroll down on the bunk and turned to face
his cousin.
Kid looked up from his pacing. The shack was small, but it held two beds
and enough supplies along with a natural spring to keep them safe for a
month. They had reached it relieved to
find it unmolested and after bedding down the horses in the cave they had
cleaned up and eaten sure they would be asleep within minutes.
Well Heyes had been, Kid had gloomily taken to
walking the floor and exasperated Heyes had finally had enough.
“We just lost the amnesty, what do you mean what is
wrong?” Kid said not meeting his eyes.
“No, something else is bothering you.”
“Oh maybe a good friend betraying us?”
“Nope that ain’t it either,” Heyes said leaning back
on his bunk and stubbornly forcing himself to stay awake.
“Heyes its nothing go to sleep.”
Heyes sighed, with a clearer head he might try
guessing, but to be honest he was exhausted and thinking of anything more than
20 hours sleep was beyond him.
“Well then lay down for crying out loud, I’d at least
like to sleep!” he barked.
Kid’s eyes met his for an instance and something
there was so young and sad he almost found the energy to try again.
But Kid had already climbed up on the top bunk and
Heyes knew for now the matter was closed.
*************************
Heyes awoke and for a moment didn’t know where he
was. Then the memory came flooding back
and he let out a sigh and fell back down against the pillow.
Amnesty. For
how many mornings had that thought gotten him out of bed and kept him
going? To be honest he had never really
thought much beyond that, it was just a magic word that gave them hope no
matter how dark things got.
And now what?
Without it their days were numbered.
Oh sure they had friends, but how long could they impose and risk
them? And he knew once Kid settled down
he would dismiss the idea of returning to outlawing. They were different men then they had been two years ago. They had through some strange evolution
become honest again. It had been
exciting to consider all they could do, would do as free man. Trouble was they would never be given the
peace to explore it.
Sliding out from his bunk stiffly he walked over to
the food supplies and wondered if they could risk a fire. Hot coffee sounded like salvation at that
moment. He looked over at Kid’s bunk
and decided to ask him what he thought.
“Kid?” he touched the bundled blanket only to frown
as it gave way. Pulling back the
blanket he stared and picked up the note.
“Heyes, without me you got a chance at that amnesty.
Tell Lom and the Governor I’m leaving the country and I won’t be no trouble to
them. Look after yourself. Jed”
It took a full moment to comprehend and then
crumpling the note in anger Heyes pulled his gun on the post free and cursing
grabbed his boots.
***********************************
Kid peered down into the valley narrowly portrayed
underneath him. The Posse was winding
through it, but seemed to have lost some of its enthusiasm and even now were stopped and talking to Lom. They had clearly lost the scent and would
easily bypass Heyes, but Kid was leaving nothing to fate. If his cousin was going to have a chance he
would need a good head start. Once at
Mac’s he could negotiate his own pardon without Kid’s reputation tainting him.
He had lain awake for a long time thinking about what
Pestle had said, “one of you”. He had
always known his reputation was not going to be something he would easily shake
and now it appeared it had ended his hope for a future for good.
“Ya know you may be fast with that gun, but you leave
a trail Harry could follow,” came a voice behind him and Kid turned gun leaping
into his hand to face his cousin leaning against the tree behind him.
“Where did you come from” Kid said amazed.
“Remember that other trail I was gonna show you out
of here through the cave?” Heyes smiled pushing back his hat.
Kid turned back to watching the posse.
“Makes no never mind, might as well head back. I’ll
lead them off and you can head on to Macs.”
Heyes stared in amazement at the stubborn line of his
cousin’s shoulders.
“And that’s it?
I just let you ride off?”
“Heyes I’m the reason we didn’t get the amnesty! You heard Pestle!”
“I heard him say only one of us got offered it and
you think if it was me that would make a difference?” Heyes said truly angry
now and pulling him to his feet. “Were
partners remember? Besides you crazy
stubborn idiot did it ever occur to you that maybe I’m the one who didn’t get
it? I mean I’m the genius! I’m the threat to society!”
“Heyes we both know my reputation.”
“Besides I don’t even think you are that fast,” Heyes
went on. “But if you try something
stupid like this again your gonna see how fast I am!”
“Heyes at least one of us should have a chance!”
“Fine, fine then lets find out who was offered it,
but tell me this if you’re the one, then what?”
Kid suddenly looked uncomfortable, “That would be
different.”
Heyes stared at him, “How the hell would that be
different!”
Kid shuffled, “I couldn’t leave you, your my partner,
wouldn’t be right.”
Heyes rolled his eyes and stared at the heavens, “Of
all the completely stupid… Listen to
yourself, did you just hear what you said?”
“Look I’m leaving you its different!”
“It is not!
What you think I would let you just ride off and get yourself
killed? Listen here partner if there is
any riding off being killed here done were gonna do it together. And if you argue with me I will warn you I
have not had coffee or hot food in a week and I am liable to flatten you.”
Kid stared at him suddenly looking very young and
lost.
“Heyes you shouldn’t lose everything because of me.”
“Kid for most of my life the only everything I’ve had
be it family, partner or friend is you.
What makes you think that your going wouldn’t be just that?”
“But what are we gonna do?” Kid’s shoulders sagged
miserably and for the first time Heyes realized how much the amnesty had meant
to him. He had never been comfortable
being an outlaw, wondering what their family would have thought and now there
was no way back. Heyes didn’t like to
think what that could do to a man.
“Kid there is a great big amazing world out there and
were gonna think of something, but before we do that were gonna get some coffee
and pay a visit on our old friend Lom Trevors.”
Kid looked at him surprised and in response Heyes
pointed down to the posse. They were
leaving, and rather enthusiastically.
But there looking like he was preparing to set up camp as plain as day
was Lom.
“Is he crazy?” Kid stared. “He must know were watching.”
“Yea that’s what’s making me wonder too,” Heyes said
interested.
“Think it’s a trap?”
“No, Lom’s not that stupid, he’s got no protection,
besides the way we’d come down he knows we’d be able to see the Posse turn
back. No, its like he’s waiting for
us.”
“What’s he doing now?” Kid squinted.
“Looks like he’s building a fire…” Heyes
frowned. “Stopping for breakfast?”
********************************
“Been expecting you boys,” Lom said quietly from
beside the fire where he was tending the bacon crackling next to a pan of
biscuits. “Finally decided the smell of
coffee might get your attention and it looks like I was right.”
“Hello
Lom,” Heyes said quietly taking the lawman’s gun.
“Coffee?”
“That’s
all you can say?” Heyes said disgusted as Kid stepped into the clearing and
nodded they were alone.
“Morning
Kid, no actually I have a lot to say and will if you two would ever let me.”
“What
makes you think we want to listen,” Kid said arms folded, eyes a dark stormy
blue that bore into him. Lom had never
had those eyes directed at him quite that way and in spite of himself an
involuntary shiver touched him. He
sometimes forgot he was dealing with legends.
“Because
I didn’t send that wire.”
The
two men froze a flicker of hope trying to ignite between them.
“How
would Pestle know about the Governor’s deal?” Heyes said trying to remain
unmoved.
“Because
he was tracking Hardin and had a bribe into the telegraph office at Cheyenne
and picked up word about the deal and I guess figured it was the perfect trap
to lure you in before it was too late.”
“Lom
your saying the offer is still open?” Kid said afraid of the answer.
“Nope,”
he said and though the two men remained poker faced, he could feel their
collapse, “I’m saying you got it.”
They
stared at him.
“What?”
Heyes asked as Kid stepped up beside him in amazement.
“I’m
saying the telegram Pestle interrupted was the news the governor wants to see
you both in Cheyenne. Let’s see today’s
the 26th, should be able to make it by 4th of July,
rather fitting, Independence Day.”
“We
got the amnesty?” Heyes said one more time for both of them.
“Heyes
would I have rode you to ground half way across the country if I wasn’t trying
to reach you and tell you that? You
both act like you think…wait a minute you two didn’t think I would lead you
into a trap and then tail you myself for the reward?”
“Oh
no, not us,” Heyes said quickly.
“Never,”
Kid said firmly and then added like a ten year old. “We really got it?”
“Yea
you really got it. I was just trying to
reach you before you did something stupid like knock over the Denver Mint to
annoy the Governor.”
“We
got!” Heyes said and suddenly the two men were hugging and pounding each other
on the back like school boys on the first day of summer vacation.
“Please
sit down and control yourselves. I’ve been riding for a week trying to catch up
with you. Honestly if I hadn’t of rid
with you both you would have lost me six times to Sunday, no wonder they never
caught you.”
“So
both of us got it,” Kid said accepting the cup of coffee.
“Of
course both of you got it, you think the Governor is crazy enough to give it to
one and not the other. What makes you
say that?”
“Oh
something Pestle said,” Heyes replied brushing it aside.
“Probably
trying to throw you off your guard. Man
should have known nothing would separate you two. In fact that was one thing
the Governor and I agreed on from day one, nothing splits up Heyes and Curry.”
Heyes
turned and gave his partner a look and Kid swallowed a smile.
“I’m
glad some people understand that,” Heyes said rolling his eyes.
Lom
looked at them both suspiciously and then sighed knowing he or anyone else for
that matter would ever be able to take on those two and win. Not as long as they were together.
“So
what do you plan to do first?” Lom said a little worried at what the answer
might be.
The
two ex-outlaws looked at each other and turned back with a grin,
“Breakfast!”