Author’s Note: The following is a re-working of the Third Season Episode ‘High Lonesome Country’ written by John Thomas James AKA Roy Huggins. It was written for Roger Davis’s Heyes and here I have re-written it with Peter Duel as Heyes. This is not done to criticize Mr. Davis, but to explore how the third season might have played out if Peter had filmed these episodes.

I really should have an advantage by now playing with him, Kid Curry thought feeling somewhere between amused and annoyed.

The poker game had been going on for several hours; the players an average assortment of cowboys and townsmen along with his partner whom sat beside him.

They had both done well, with no one a big loser making for an amiable game and a pleasant evening among strangers.

At the moment Heyes was in a showdown with a Rancher named Archer over a fairly large pot. Kid had folded early and now could devote his entire attention to watching his partner and trying to second guess if he was bluffing. Growing up together had given him some insight into knowing when his partner was attempting to pull one over or flat out lie for that matter, but in poker he still had the edge. Heyes was a master of the game and he only gave away what he wanted to. And while Kid knew his partner would share any winnings he made in the game, it was always nice every now and then to be able to share his.

Archer grinned broadly as he looked at the two pairs Heyes had laid down, his bluff called.

"Ain't that pretty!" the man laughed placing a full house of twos and threes on the table. "Smallest full house they make!"

"Looks awful big to me," Heyes sighed tossing down his cards.

"Looka there!" one of the cowboys named Clyde objected showing his hand. "I had me three jacks. You got to be the luckiest card player in Montana, Mr. Archer.

Archer chuckled and pulled in the pot.

"It's the luck of the righteous, boys. Comes with clean living!"

Clyde sighs and picked up the few chips he had left. "Come on boys we got to be riding."

One of the cowboys rose to his feet, but a second sat their reluctant. "Aw let's play a few more hands Clyde, I wanna get some of my money back. Between these two strangers and Mr. Archer I'm broke!"

"The cook will throw out our supper if we're late…now come on!"

The two men got up complaining and followed Clyde to the bar to cash in their chips.

"Guess that's game, boys," Archer said leaning back. "It ain't real poker, four handed."

"No, guess it ain't," Heyes agreed.

The fourth man, a townsman, nodded and rose leaving the three of them to stack their chips.

"Don't recall seeing you fellas around here before, what ranch you work at?"

"Well, not any, right at the moment were what you call unemployed," Kid said simply.

They had just left a job that had paid well and would tied them over for at least a month, especially if the poker players in this town were all such easy going losers.

"But you are cowhands, aren't you?"

The two men exchanged the subtlest of glances. It was beginning to sound as if Archer was offering them a job, which they really didn't want. Outlawing had left them accustomed to short spells of inactivity and they enjoyed them.

Once when someone had dared to accuse them of laziness Heyes had set them straight explaining when he and Kid did anything they did it so full out and perfect that great men needed rest between great deeds or they would burn out.

Kid had never been sure if Heyes had been serious, but if it got them out of the backbreaking work that usually accompanied honesty he was more than willing to go along with his cousin's point of view.

"No actually were not cowhands," Heyes smiled and most men would have let it drop especially as he then stood and made to leave.

"That a fact? Do you mind if I ask what you do for a living? I'm not always this nosy, but I got a reason for asking."

Kid, not as fast to rise to his feet, was caught and stopped searching for an answer. Torn between just being rude and telling him it was none of his business and raising suspicions or feeding the man something harmless. It is clear he had some kind of work in mind for them and choosing the high road Kid grasped at the most far from the truth occupation he could think of.

"Well we don't mind telling," Kid smiled getting to his feet to beat a hasty retreat. "You might not believe this, but were trappers."

Archer stared at them astonished, "Trappers! By golly I can't believe it!"

Heyes took a step back hearing all this and frowned as he stole a glance at his friend. Trappers?

"Yea, that's right, that's what we are," Heyes nodded backing up his partner, but making a point to mention his opinion of Kid's choice of occupations later. "Trappers and hunters, been at it for years!" He couldn't help but embellish.

"Doggone I just can't believe it!" Archer said with a grin. "You know why I came into town, boys?"

The two younger men exchanged glances.

"Not looking for trappers?" Heyes said with a weak smile.

"Yes sir! Came in here two days ago, looking for someone to trap out my ranch! Haven't been able to find a soul! Then I sit down to play a game of poker before going home and here I'm playing with a couple of trappers who've been doing it for years! Darned if that doesn't call for a drink! Hey Charlie! Bring us over some whiskey!"

"Can I talk to my partner for a moment?" Kid said letting Heyes pull him away.

"You want to tell him we don't want the job or should I?" Kid said.

"I'll tell him," Heyes exhaled. "You'll probably sign us up for the winter."

Together they turned to go back to the rancher and stopped as they saw the sheriff speaking with him, but watching them.

"Wonderful," Kid said under his breath.

"All set," Heyes smiled coming back and innocently meeting the sheriff's curious eyes. "Sheriff."

"Boys," the older lawman said. "Phil here tells me he just hired you to do some trapping."

"Sheriff worries about strangers," Archer smiled pouring them all a drink. "Powerful amount of outlaws hide out in these parts."

"Yea, but they don't take hard dangerous jobs like trapping," Sheriff admitted accepting the drink and relaxing. "If you boys had tried to pass yourselves off as cowhands I might have been suspicious, but nobody makes up a job like that!" he laughed tilting the glass back.

Kid and Heyes both managed a small laugh with him and swallowed the drink hard.

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

"Did we have to spend every cent we had on these traps?" Kid grumbled looking back at the wagon Heyes was driving with him along side. Behind it their horses were being pulled along as Archer led on horseback.

"We? I'm not the one who decided we were trappers," Heyes said rolling his eyes and slapping the reins to keep the horse moving.

"Well why didn't we just tell him we'd meet him up at his place and skip town?" Kid grumbled.

"Because that sheriff was far too interested in how we made a living," Heyes sighed and then added with a superior air. "I was going to tell him we were coal miners."

Kid turned to stare at him, "If you had, he'd have turned out to own a coal mine."

Heyes swallowed a grin and Kid catching it and managed one himself.

"Well maybe it will work out all right. After all we need some money with winter coming and from what he says were going to make enough trapping out his ranch to pay for all that equipment and have a little left over! Then we can take the traps back and sell them for good money!" Kid reasoned.

He is was cheerfully optimistic by the time he finished that Heyes waited a full beat before bringing him back to reality.

"Unless of course a bear eats us, or a mountain lion or a wolf or…"

Kid was saved from further cynicism by their arrival into a clearing where a ranch house was grouped next to a series of smaller buildings and a barn.

A dark haired woman in her late twenties stood on the porch to the house waving a welcome.

"That's my wife Helen!" Archer said with great pride.

Archer waved back and rode on ahead and neither Kid or Heyes noticed as they approached that Helen has stopped waving and was staring at Curry as if she knew him from somewhere.

Suddenly her memory returned to a courtroom and a trial. Belle Jordan! And the final witness being sworn in.

"My name is Jedediah Curry."

She gasped and swallowed as Archer reached her unaware of her fright.

"Jake come take care of this wagon!" Archer yells and then gave her a kiss. "Honey, you'll never believe it, how lucky I got. I found someone to trap out the place! This here is Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones…my wife Helen, boys.

The two ex-outlaws touched their hats in response to the introduction.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Helen said her manner cool, but she managed not to show any recognition.

"We'll be having supper in a few minutes. Why don't you wash up down at the bunkhouse, then come up and eat with Helen and me," Archer smiled.

"Thank you sir, we'd like that very much," Heyes smiled. "Ma'am."

Archer watched them walk across the compound and frowned as his wife hurried into the house.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? That wasn't like you at all, the way you said hello to those two."

Helen wrung her hands and faced him, "Where did you find them, Phil?"

"In a poker game at the Blue Belle Saloon, why?"

"I recognized one of them. He's a wanted outlaw."

"What?"

"I'm sure of it Phil, one of those men is Kid Curry."

"Which one?" Phil said sinking into a chair in shock.

"The fair one."

"How do you know?" Phil asked suddenly grasping for straws. "You've never seen Kid Curry."

"Yes I have. Remember when I got back from visiting mother? I told you about that woman who was being tried in Buckton for helping two fugitives escape? Belle Jordan?"

"That's right! You told me Kid Curry came in and testified!"

"This is the same man. He had a mustache then, but there isn't any question, it's him."

Standing Archer moved to the window thinking hard.

"Well, ain't this a situation. What the devil do I do now? You know if he's Curry the other must be Hannibal Heyes. So, how do I handle this?"

"Why don't you just arrest them?"

"Honey you recall me telling you what happened when Joe Sanger and Frank Blaine and Mike Whelen tried to arrest Nate Armstrong? The three of them professional lawmen, trying to arrest one man while he's asleep in bed and Joe Sanger almost got killed? And the other two were driven off."

"What does this have to do with this?"

"Plenty. You don't arrest people like Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes just by walking up and putting a gun on them. They don't throw up their hands, they fight! They got nothing to lose, they're going to be hanged anyway."

Helen sat down a little disappointed in his response, "No they're not, they are not wanted for murder. They'll just have to go to prison."

"Sure for the rest of their lives. You get four men and put a gun on them and they'll roll and pull their guns and we'll have us one whale of a shoot out. No, you don't just arrest men like Nate Armstrong or Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes. I got to think about this.

Withdrawing into himself she stood and moved towards the kitchen suddenly sorry that she even mentioned she had recognized the man.

"Helen isn't there a price on their heads? A big price."

"Yes, I believe there is."

"I'm not sure, but I think its ten thousand dollars apiece."

"That's right. I remember everyone one in town talking about that."

"Yea, that's what I thought!"

"Phil, Phil what are you thinking of doing?"

"I'm not going to do anything right now. I'm going to let them go on up in the hills and start trapping. I need time to think this out.

Nodding she hurried into the kitchen desperate to be distracted.

"Oh Helen? Don't say anything to the hands about this. If there is twenty thousand dollars reward on those two, I don't want to be splitting it with eight ranch hands."

She nodded and as he turned away she glanced over at a cupboard drawer and walking over pulled it open and stared at the pistol she had hidden there. Comforted at its presence she shut the drawer, but not before slipping the weapon into her apron pocket.

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

The two ex-outlaws set out before dawn and several hours later pulled the wagon to a halt and climbing down began to study the terrain.

"Look at this," Kid called his partner over and kicked a cow bone over with his foot. "Bet its part of any old wolf kill. Archer said he had quite a few wolves on the place."

Heyes sighed, "Uh huh. He also said he had quite a few coyotes, mountain lion and grizzly bear, take your pick."

"I think I'd prefer running into that cougar he told us about…the smart old boy he's gonna give us the fifty dollar bonus for."

"Kid if its all the same to you," Heyes said quietly as they walked back to the wagon to unload the traps. "I hope we don't run into that smart old boy. I've had more than my share of mountain lions…and trapping!"

Kid looked up and suddenly understood, "Geez Heyes I hadn't thought of that, it did almost get you that time, tell you what this time we'll only follow new tracks, not old ones."

Heyes looked up sharply at his partner's grin.

"Yea well you'd feel a lot different if one of those animals jumped on you!"

"All right Heyes I'll make you a deal. I'll be in charge of the mountain lions and you can have the grizzly bears, fair?"

Heyes for once had no answer to this, but instead snatched a trap and a sledgehammer and took out his frustration pounding the stake that would hold the trap into the ground.

With only one hammer Kid stood there watching and finally spoke, "You know I almost hate to bring this up, but did you notice the way Mrs. Archer was looking at me at supper last night?"

Heyes looks up, clearly he did, "I thought she was a little strange is all."

"How do you mean?"

"Preferring you to me," Heyes sighed clearly sorry for the woman and swallowing a smile as he went back to pounding the stake.

"Then the world is full of strange women Heyes," he countered back and then stopped serious again. "No Mrs. Archer wasn't looking at me that way. She looked, well scared. I've been trying to figure out why."

Heyes considered this, "Maybe its just we've been on the dodge so long were starting to see things in shadows," he stood up the trap anchored and baited, just needing for the jaws to be set to spring shut when triggered. "There it is, all yours," he smiled just a little too pleasantly stepping back. "Go ahead and set it."

"What's the matter it too strong for you?" Kid said giving him a shake of the head and crouching down applied himself to spreading the jaws of the trap against the resistance of the springs. It was a delicate job and as the trap was new not an easy one.

"I hear one of these traps, when its brand new, can snap shut so hard it will take a man's finger's right off," Heyes interjected innocently.

Kid groaned as he tried to ignore his partner and finish the job, "That's what I like about you Heyes, you're always there with a word of comfort." Suddenly there is a click and the trap is set.

"I ever tell you about the time I was attacked by a pack of wolves?" Heyes said pleasantly as they head for the next location.

"Oh its wolves now? It was coyotes last time, time before that wild dogs," Kid grinned.

Heyes glares at him, "Okay if you don't want to hear it…"

"No Heyes you go ahead and tell it," Kid laughed. "I like the ones you have to 'improve' on. It’s the ones you tell exactly as they happened that I hate."

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

He looked like a bear riding a horse, Archer thought stepping out onto his porch his rifle in his hand as the stranger slowly pulled his horse to a stop and looked down at the rancher.

He had to be at least six foot eight close to 300 pounds and Archer did not miss how heavily armed he was taking in the old Sharps buffalo gun and the Winchester rifle in readiness.

"Howdy stranger light and give your horse a rest have a little bite with us," Archer said as his wife appeared at the door.

"Would your name be Archer?" the man asked dismounting.

"That it is."

"Mine is Billings."

"Luke Billings?'

"That's right. Friend of yours at the Bar X ranch told me you were looking for a hunter."

Phil's shoulder's dropped disappointed, "Well, you're exactly the man I was looking for, but since I was up there at the Bar X, I've gone and hired a couple of men to do the job."

"Guess I had me a long ride for nothing," Billings said and spits to show his annoyance.

Turning he moved to mount up when Archer suddenly looks up sharply.

"Now hold on. You've got to come in and at least have a glass of something to cut the dust my wife and I won't have it any other way."

Billings looked at him not thrilled at the idea of social pleasantries, but the whiskey does sound good and finally he nods and follows them in.

"What can I bring you Mr. Billings?" Helen said trying to keep her voice light as the huge man takes up her entire sofa. "Would you like a lemonade?"

"You got any whiskey?"

"Well yes…" she said a bit taken back.

"Fine, you bring me that lemonade, but put some whiskey in it first."

She nodded and hurried from the room clearly terrified of the man. Billings lets a small smile escape. He enjoyed the effect he had on people.

Archer meanwhile has found a box of cigars and offered him one.

"Tell me," he said slyly lighting the cigar for the hunter. "Are you anywhere near as good as your reputation says you are?"

"Reputation at what?" Billings answered suspicious.

"Hunting."

Billings nodded, "Yeah, I'm probably better than my reputation."

"I may have a very interesting proposition to make to you, interesting and profitable."

Helen appeared at the door and the two men looked up. Quietly she handed Billings the lemonade and prepared to sit back down.

"Thanks honey just slide the door shut on your way out," Archer said with meaning. She looked at him surprised and he added with a smile, "You now how you hate getting cigar smoke through out the whole house."

She nodded, clearly confused and a little worried, but leaves them alone.

"Now my proposition is worth ten thousand dollars and it may not take any longer than a week of your time," Archer said dragging a chair over.

"Ten thousand in a week?" Billings said definitely interested, but doubtful. "That's more than they pay the Governor of this territory in a year."

"I know. The thing is it could also be dangerous, but maybe not for a man like you."

"It’s a hunting job is it?" Billing said eyes studying him.

"Yes."

"At that price its got to be men I'd be hunting, huh?" Billings said shrewdly. It is clear the idea does not bother him.

"That's right. And before I go on, I want your word on one thing. Either you take the job as I lay it out, or you forget the whole thing. Give me your word on that."

"Go ahead."

"All right. It's the two trappers I hired. I found out afterward that they are Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry. There's a ten thousand dollar reward on each of them," Archer explained excitedly.

"Dear or alive?" Billings questioned casually.

"That's right dead or alive."

"What part of your place are they trapping?" Billings asked poker faced.

"The northwest section, up in the foothills there," Archer pointed out the window.

It is all Billings needed to hear. Getting up he picked up his coat and finishing his lemonade made for the door still puffing his cigar.

"Thanks for the drink Mr. Archer."

"Billings? What about my proposition?" Archer said following him out confused.

"Mr. Archer I don't hire out to hunt men," he answered mounting his horse. "You say they're up there in those hills, huh?"

Archer gasped suddenly understanding.

"See you around Mr. Archer!" Billings laughed and kicking his horse rode out.

"I heard every word!" Helen said in the doorway her face in shock.

"Well they are wanted dead or alive…" Archer attempted to defend himself.

"Maybe they are, but they aren't killers…either one of them! I can't quite believe what I heard, I don't want to believe it!" crying she ran into the house slamming the door.

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

Kid stood up taking both his and Heyes's plates as he did. Supper had been uneventful, but after the long day they had worked through neither man was complaining.

Heyes looked up from the fire as Kid cleaned the plates.

"Horses are kind of spooky tonight," he said casually touching his rifle to make sure it was where he had left it.

"Yea they are," Kid said just as calmly, but his gun is now unhooked. Something is wrong and they both know it.

"I think something out there has worked up an appetite," Heyes continued on as the horses moved restless and whinny.

"Maybe it's that fifty dollar cougar," Kid smiled, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

"Or a grizzly," Heyes said as if he would prefer that. "Kid have you ever faced a one thousand pound grizzly bear?"

Kid looked off into the darkness, "The closest I ever came to a one thousand pound grizzly bear was One Leg Harrison, you remember him?"

Heyes joined him in looking into the darkness, "I remember they called him One Leg Harrison cause that was the number of legs he had," Heyes answered dryly.

"Uh huh, on account of the other one was bit clean off by a one thousand pound grizzly bear. Heyes," Kid exhaled. "Would you like to give up trapping?"

"I think I would," Heyes nodded. "But we have an investment to protect."

Suddenly the horses reared into the air. Leaping for their rifles the two men head into the darkness to protect them, concentrating on the towering rocks that line the campsite and the area.

Moving swiftly Kid sprung up onto the boulders his rifle ready, suddenly he turned as the sound of large cat screaming its intentions breaks the night.

Throwing his rifle onto his shoulder he spots the animal and fires. There is another cry of anger and pain and then the creature is gone.

"Kid?" Heyes yelled up from the horses.

"I'm all right," Kid assured him and continues climbing. Reaching the point he saw the animal he struck a match and looked round. A few drops of blood remain.

"Heyes I hit it!" Kid yelled down excited. "There's blood up here."

Kid turned to find Heyes was right beside him, "Well we can't trail it in the dark, best wait till daylight."

Kid nodded, "Oughta be easy to track it down tomorrow."

Heyes stared at his excitement, "I can hardly wait," he muttered to himself and then added. "They say there is only one thing more dangerous than a grizzly, and that's a wounded cougar."

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

Unable to sleep both men are up at daybreak and move out on foot following the trail.

Leading Heyes stopped to examine a patch of loose dirt the animal had crossed and softly said, "Dragging its left front foot," getting up and he shook his head in mock disappointment. "I don't know Kid, you used to be able to shoot."

Kid serious nodded in agreement, "Yea I know, I never was any good with a Winchester," he said disgusted with him self.

Heyes stopped and broke into a grin. "Yea I mean it was only pitch black, cat hidden in the rocks, unknown territory, yea I'd be ashamed too if all I did was actually hit a cat no one has ever got near to."

The animal came from out of nowhere catching Kid and dropping him hard to the ground where Curry is suddenly in a life and death struggle.

Heyes instantly pulled his rifle up to his shoulder pleading with Kid to hang on while he gets a clean shot. And then he fired.

Dropping the gun Heyes drew his revolver as he ran up and pushed the massive and clearly dead animal off his stunned partner.

"Kid? Are you hurt?" he yelled pulling him up worriedly and exhales when Kid nods he's all right.

"Heyes I take back every joke I ever made about that cat and you, thank you," Kid said leaning forward dazed.

"Whole life flash before your eyes?" Heyes grinned just as relieved.

"Actually," Kid said finding his grin as well. "It was the floor plan of that saloon and dance hall in Dodge!"

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

"You know we could just skin it and bring it back," Heyes pointed out as the two men begin the walk back to the wagon.

"Nope, I want it weighed and measured proper. That way when you start telling this story I'll have the facts."

"Won't make any difference, I saved your life no matter how big it was," Heyes pointed out clearly warming to this idea and the story he will get out of it.

Kid looked at him, "The same way you tell the story about how I saved yours from the one that jumped you? As I remember it the last time you told it to that little saloon girl I only fired my rifle to cheer you on as you wrestled it to its death."

"That's how I remember it," Heyes said nodding.

Kid shook his head laughing and it saved his life. The movement meant the bullet just missed his head causing his hat to fly off. Diving for cover they just avoided the second shot that followed.

"I thought I could shoot," Kid whistled softly pulling his hat over.

"He missed you, didn't he," Heyes said not as easily impressed.

"Yea, but just barely. Well now we know why Mrs. Archer looked at me that way."

"You think she's that good a shot," Heyes grinned weakly.

Kid grimaced, "I'm having a hard time imagining Mr. Archer being that good a shot."

"The shot could have been an accident?" Heyes tried.

"It was no accident. Somebody out there knows who we are and I don't think its Archer. That shot came from too far off. He must've hired somebody, somebody awful good," Kid said checking his gun and peering cautiously over the log they had sought refuge behind.

The hillside was a good three hundred yards off unfortunately covered with brush and trees it gave little hope of them spotting their attacker.

"It's only one man. Otherwise there'd have been more than one shot," Kid decided.

Heyes nodded, he had been thinking the same thing, "Yeah. Think we ought to split up and try our chances that way? I would prefer to at least make him work at killing us," Heyes said clearly annoyed replacing his gun ready.

"That's our best chance. Let's work our way separately back to the wagon with a little luck we can be there by dark. Then we'll get the devil out of here," Kid said firmly.

"Yea I was thinking a career in trapping just wasn't us either," Heyes agreed starting to rise.

"Keep your head down," Kid said gruffly.

Heyes grinned back, "Just try not to get jumped by any mountain lions."

And easing backward from the log they kept low until they reached a small gully. Silently they dropped into it and headed off in opposite directions.

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

Heyes paused at the edge of a small clearing. Crouching down he studied it knowing he had no choice but to cross it and not liking it one bit. It was unnerving being hunted with no clue as to whom and he forced himself to think clearly and weigh all his options.

Pausing allowed him to get annoyed and angry at his situation and using the adrenaline rush he suddenly darted out of the trees at a dead run.

The shot caught him just as he reached the other side.

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

Kid heard the shot and his gun leapt into his hand. "Damn it Heyes you better have kept your head down," he growled and took off running in its direction.

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

Billings stood satisfied with his shot and unhurriedly stood up in the rocks looking down on the clearing and the unmoving body of Heyes.

"Stop right there," Kid says his voice low, dark and dangerous. For the moment he is controlling his reaction to seeing his cousin laying face down, it was the only thing keeping Billings alive still. "Drop the Winchester, now the handgun," Kid ordered from the rock above him.

Billings does as he is told impressed with how the man had managed to come up behind him. It hasn't happened often and never with a human quarry.

Kid leapt down behind him and removed the rest of his weapons. "Now lets see whether my friend is alive or dead. Start running," Kid added coldly. "And you might want to pray as you do."

Billings is no where near as agile as Kid and stumbled as Kid drives him down to the clearing. But Kid is merciless and fired a couple of shots at his heel that only miss because Kid wants them to. And Billings knows it.

Reaching Heyes, Kid keeps his gun on the man and kneels down quickly.

"Heyes?" he says hoarsely. He has had this moment too many times before and is terrified his luck has run out. Carefully he rolls his partner over.

Heyes stirs, opens his eyes to see Billings and then finds Kid.

"I did keep my head down, he hit me in the back," Heyes said swallowing and biting his lip at the pain. "I think it is in the shoulder blade," he added trying to act as if he isn't bothered by it at all.

"I'm gonna have to get it out and stop the bleeding," Kid said and looked up at Billings who smiled smugly knowing Kid can't watch him and help his partner.

Kid glanced around thinking quick and then had it.

"Sit down," he ordered the big man pushing him over to a spot a few feet off. Billings does as he is told, but he is confused.

Suddenly before he can realized what has happened Kid had pulled one of their staked traps over and placed Billing's foot in it. Only Curry's pressure on the catch keeps it from snapping shut on his ankle.

"What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy?" the man reacts with his first sign of fear; he knows what the trap can do.

Kid's answer is to slam a tree twig into the catch. Pulling his hand back he waits to see if the twig will hold it open. It does, but it is tenuous.

"Now as long as you don't move and breathe real careful that is probably gonna hold," Kid told him.

"You son of…"

"Mister you just shot my partner, be grateful I'm giving you that much," Kid growled back. "And keep in mind if he dies I'm gonna bury you right next to him," he added in harsh whisper. And turning he hurried back to Heyes.

"Kid, I…" Heyes said trying to sit up and be of some use.

"Just lay their Heyes and let me get on with," Kid told him just as firmly pulling off his coat and placing it under his head.

Heyes lay back down relieved steeling himself for what was coming. "Know something Kid," he had to add as his eyes closed. "There is something more dangerous than a wounded cougar or a grizzly, my partner in an ornery mood." He smiled weakly and to Kid's relief sunk into unconsciousness.

Kid meanwhile had gotten Heyes's shirt open at the back. "He was back in the brush when he shot. Bullet must have clipped some twigs and flattened out. Went off target a couple of inches too. Didn't even bust the bone," Kid said shaking his head relieved.

"You two must live right," Billings felt compelled to comment.

"Keep talking Billings I'm kinda looking forward to hearing the trap snap," Kid said starting a fire and pulling out his knife.

The two men's eyes meet for a moment and Billings swallowed. He had a hundred pounds and several inches on the outlaw, but the look in Curry's eye chilled him more than a grizzly ever had.

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

"If you free me I could carry him back to your camp," Billings tried an hour later.

"Yea and toss him down the first ravine we pass," Kid says shaking his head disgusted with the trapper. Turning back to his partner, who is conscious, the bullet out, the bleeding stopped he studied him. "You sure you wanna try this now?"

"I'm fine," Heyes growled. Sitting up he hid any trace of how much the move hurts. "Its gonna be dark soon, I wanna be back by the wagon."

"All right give me your arm."

"Will you stop fussing?" Heyes said refusing to take it and standing on his own. "I am not an invalid!" He takes a step and nearly keeling forward, Kid catches him easily.

"No but you are stubborn," Kid sighed and supporting his friend they begin to move out of the clearing.

"Hey! What about me! You can't just leave me here!" Billings shouted.

"If you keep yelling I just might. Now keep quiet and with a little luck nothing will eat you before I get back," Kid told him.

Heyes grinned, "I never knew you cared so much Kid!"

Kid rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath, "Man shot my best hat, I loved that hat."

Heyes stared at him not believing him for a moment, "Oh good I'm glad you are mad about something important."

"Heyes, shut up and walk."

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

Two hours later Kid reappeared back in the clearing with Billings in tow. It had obviously not been a happy trip and Heyes watched interested as his cousin pushed the bigger man down next to a large rock.

"Put your hands behind your back," Kid told his captive and glanced over at his partner who has just woken up beside the fire and looking fairly good considering what he had been through. "Heyes can you hold a gun?"

"Sure, easy," Heyes answered eager to be of some use.

Kid replaced his gun as his partner pulled out his own and turned it on Billings with a wicked smile.

"What's your name?" Kid asked going over to the wagon and pulling out some rope.

Billings merely glared at him.

"Why did you come after us like that?" Heyes continued.

Billings again said nothing.

"Mister we got a lot of questions, and we'd better start getting some answers. You going to come up with them?" Kid shouted.

"I might, when I know what you're gonna do with me, and it its agreeable, I might give you some answers," Billings said smoothly.

Kid glared at the man. It has been a long day between cougars leaping on him and his partner being shot and what little patience he had was slowly draining away and as if to warn the man of this he tightened the rope with considerable force causing Billings to wince slightly.

"I'm not at all sure we want to bargain with you, friend," Heyes smiled, but his eyes were dark and serious. "So don't overplay your hand. It's not that strong."

"That's my terms take it or leave it!"

Curry and Heyes looked at each other and Heyes slightly shrugged.

"All right," Kid said stepping back and surveying his handiwork. "What we plan to do is leave you right here. Alive and tied up."

"That's not good enough!" Billings roared. "I'm a hunter, not an escape artist. If you want information from me, I can give it to you, but I want more than just being left out here, I want help."

"When we leave you here, we'll stop by the Archer ranch on our way out and tell Archer you're here," Heyes offered.

"I dunno if I like that either. I'll tell you what you do, tell Mrs. Archer. Then I'll cooperate."

Kid and Heyes exchange another glance; the man had just revealed enough to give them a clue at the truth.

"All right Mrs. Archer then," Heyes smiled. "She against Archer hiring you to shoot us in cold blood?"

The man stared at Heyes, his respect for these men rising with each moment. "Name's Luke Billings. Archer told me you were up here. He tried to make a deal with me to split the rewards on you. I decided there wasn't any reason to split with him. If I was gonna do all the work, I might as well get all the money."

Heyes looked at Kid, "You were right she did recognize you."

"She sure did if your Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes," Billings said assigning the names to the wrong outlaws.

"Well, you're close anyway," Kid said.

"You can see why I want you to tell Mrs. Archer. After me cutting her husband out of the deal, I'm not sure he'd be much help. Oh, there is one more thing I want from you."

Kid looked at him like he was completely crazy and Heyes laughed amused at the man's chutzpah.

"Yeah?" Kid said.

"Put me in the wagon. I'll be safer from the varmints in there."

"Oh yea cause that is really bothering me," Kid said dug in stubborn.

"Put him in the wagon," Heyes said. "I can ride."

Kid looked at him, "You sure about that?"

"Kid as bad as I wanna leave this place behind I could walk out!" Heyes assured him.

Understanding Kid nodded and pulled Billings over to the wagon. Permitting the man to hop in it, Kid then grabbed a second length of rope and tied his feet.

"You sure hold a grudge for a partner mister," Billings credited him.

"Oh it wasn't me that got him all riled up," Heyes smiled. "He really liked that hat."

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

Phil Archer stepped out onto his porch and lit his pipe frustrated. Helen still wasn't talking to him and it had been two days since Billings left. The thought of all that money going to the trapper ate at him until he wanted to smash his fist through something.

Suddenly from beside him the sound of a gun clicking back startled him.

"Just take it easy Mr. Archer," Heyes said quietly coming up beside him. "Nothing is going to happen to you. Let's go inside we have a message for Mrs. Archer."

"We?" Archer said his voice quivering.

"Yea he didn't get either of us," Kid said joining them.

Together the three men enter the cabin as Mrs. Archer looked up from her needlepoint and gasped.

"Sit down Mr. Archer, right over there," Kid told the rancher coldly and then seeing the fear in the woman's eyes softened slightly. "It's all right ma'am we aren't going to hurt you."

"You're hurt!" the woman suddenly whispered as Heyes gingerly slipped down onto a chair the last of his energy and strength gone.

"Your paid killer almost did his job," Heyes told Archer. "Shot me in the left shoulder, a hundred yards away and only two inches off target. Hired the best there," he turned his attention back to Helen. "We left him out there in the hills, tied up. He wanted us to tell you ma'am so he would be sure somebody would come after him."

"What…what are you going to do to me?" Archer said terrified.

"We figured you didn't tell any of your ranch hands about us. Right?" Kid asked.

"No, no I didn't," the man stuttered.

Heyes eased back into the chair exhausted, "See Kid greed does have its upside sometimes."

"Fine," Kid nodded at Archer. "Then what we are all going to do is get some rest here tonight. All four of us right here in this room. In the morning you and I Mr. Archer will go out and saddle four horses while my friend stays here with Mrs. Archer. Then we are all going to ride to within a mile or so of the nearest railroad, and then we will let you go back and take care of Billings, because that's the deal we made with him. Any questions?"

"Mr. Heyes?" Helen says nervously, but determined.

"Yes ma'am?" Heyes said eyes closed now.

"Are you in any pain?"

Heyes opened his eyes touched she is concerned.

"Some, but not bad," he assured her.

"I have some clean bandages and there is some hot food in the kitchen," she offered Kid almost defiantly.

"Thank you ma'am, appreciate that," Kid said relieved to have some help.

"Helen!" Archer said with a glare at her concern.

Ignoring him she got up and moved to the kitchen, the tension between the couple not lost on either of them.

"I can see why Billings wanted Mrs. Archer to know," Kid said softly.

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

Breakfast the following morning was a silent affair with both outlaws eagerly eating all that was offered by Mrs. Archer and praising her cooking skills to the chagrin of her husband.

Horses saddled the unusual group mounted up and began the trek into the wilderness no one happy about the circumstances.

Kid slumped forward wearily in his saddle. He had let Heyes get most of the sleep they had managed last night and the tedious boring ride was making it hard not to drift off.

Feeling himself starting to doze off he sat up sharply shaking his head blinking.

The shot came a split second later taking off his saddle horn where he just been leaning up against.

Turning the horses towards the only cover, a massive group of rocks to the left of them, the group spurred their horses into a gallop.

Reaching the shelter all four slid off the animals and dived for safety even as another shot chipped off a piece of the rock.

"He's in those trees over there," Heyes said squinting.

"Nobody could shoot that far!" Archer argued. "It's five hundred yards! There isn't a rifle made that will carry that far!"

"Yea there is," Kid sighed. "And old Sharpie buffalo gun. They'll shoot five hundred yards. Heyes you know what I think?"

"Yeah, our old friend Billings got himself out of those ropes."

"Mr. Archer?" Kid asked.

"Yeah?"

"Did Billings have a Sharpie with him?"

"Seems like he did have two rifles, one was a Winchester and the other I didn't recognize. It was a big one though." Archer replied.

Kid nodded, resigned, "It's Billings out there, and he's got a Sharpie. That first shot, he had his range figured a little too short, hit about a foot low and got my saddle horn instead of me."

Heyes cautiously peered up over his rock and found the horses grazing thirty feet away. Suddenly a shot screamed down and chipped the rock just as he ducked down. Mrs. Archer let out a scream as they all realized it would have hit Heyes if he hadn't have ducked when he did.

"Well he's got the range now," Heyes said a little breathless.

Kid at that moment stood up and shading his eyes studied the trees towards the side of them.

"Get down! He'll kill you!" Helen screamed.

Kid merely continued his surveillance for another second or two and then dropped back down.

"No ma'am. The Sharpie is a single shot rifle. Takes an expert at least five seconds to reload. I wasn't in any danger," Kid explained.

Heyes meanwhile has been studying the angle of the sun and doing some thinking.

"We have a problem," he whispers softly to his partner.

"I know. If he decides to ride around to those trees we'd never know about it till he took a nice clean shot at us."

"I know. I've been trying to figure how long it will take him to get around there. Probably twenty minutes or so," Heyes nodded.

"And he's got a good ten hours of daylight to do whatever he wants," Kid groaned.

"What are you saying?" Archer asked listening to them.

"That we are in a lot of trouble Mr. Archer," Kid replied. "We're trying to think of something we can do about it."

"I've been thinking too," Archer said. "It's probably just you two he wants for the reward. I think if I made a run for my horse, he'd let me make it."

Heyes stared at the man incredulously; "I doubt it."

"Well, somebody has to go for help, otherwise he'll just move around to that section of trees over there and pick up off. He's probably headed around there right now," Archer argued.

"I don't think there is a chance he would let you get on a horse and ride out of here," Kid told him honestly.

Archer looked over at his wife, "Look I'm responsible for everything that is happening here, and my wife is in danger. I'm going for help. No Helen, I have got to. It is the only chance we've got."

Heyes frowned not having a better answer, but not wishing the man to die foolishly, "Maybe somebody heard those shots, a Sharpes can be heard for several miles."

"There is no one around to hear it. But you can help me, maybe we can keep Billings guessing long enough for me to get away," Arched suggested.

Kid laughed grimly, "He is not the type to confuse very easily. He only thinks of one thing at a time…slowly."

"If I start running for my horse," Archer went on doggedly. "And you two start shooting at me, that might give him a completely different idea. It might keep him guessing long enough for me to get on my horse and get started."

Heyes shook his head; "There is only one thing wrong with that. He knows who we are and he is not going to believe Kid Curry would miss you because he doesn't miss."

The matter of fact way his partner complimented him made Kid swallow a smile, but Archer was determined.

"All right. Come close. Make it look good. Whether you help me or not I'm going to try for my horse. And don't get any wrong ideas, I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for myself and my wife. I think it's our only chance of coming out of this alive," Archer said.

Heyes and Curry looked at each other. This was a bad plan and they both knew it, but the man was giving them no choice.

"All right," Kid finally sighed. "If that's how it's going to be pull your hat up a little."

"My hat?" Archer said confused.

"Uh huh," Kid said checking his gun. "I'm going to shoot it right off your head. That's the only thing I can think of to make him believe we're trying to hit you."

"But why do I have to pull it up? Your partner just said…"

"My partner has a little too much faith in me sometimes," Kid growled. "Ready?"

"Don't worry I'll be back with plenty of help in a couple of hours," Archer said turning to his wife.

"All right. I won't worry," she answered eyes full of tears.

Archer moves into position to sprint to the horses as Heyes and Kid waited ready.

Suddenly he leapt from the rocks and dashed across the open ground as fast as he could.

Both men fired a shot after him and then Kid took careful aim and fired. Archer's hat flew off his head.

The men continued to shoot and Archer is almost to the horses when suddenly a shot cracks across the landscape and Archer goes down hard.

Before Kid or Heyes can react Helen is up on her feet running to him.

Heyes dived to catch her, but she is too fast.

The five seconds are all she needed and reaching him she dropped beside him crying.

"Get back behind those rocks! He will shoot you too!" Archer cried his teeth gritted in pain.

"Not till I know how badly you are hurt!"

"I think my hip is broken, I can't move my right leg. Now go on get out of here!"

She looked at him not sure what to do and suddenly eyed the horse that has just moved between her and Billings's line of fire.

"Helen! Move!" Archer ordered.

Diving for the horse she is aboard it before Billings can react. Spurring it forward she lays low and takes off at a gallop

Swearing Billings aims his gun, but he was not ready for this move and the shot he gets off misses her.

"She made it!" Heyes cheered relieved. "She'll be out of range by the time he reloads!"

"I wonder how Archer is," Kid asked unable to see the rancher with the other horses blocking him now.

"Well she was talking to him," Heyes pointed out optimistically.

"Yea, I doubt she would have left him otherwise," Kid agreed and then peered off in the direction of Billings. "So let's worry about our friend Billings. He hasn't changed position yet. Think he's smart enough to?'

"We can't afford to think he isn't. She'll be back in two hours with help and he knows it."

"I was afraid you were gonna say that," Kid said resting his head back against the rock behind him. "So what we have to do is give him twenty minutes to move to a new position, then find out if he did, right?"

"That's right. One of us is going to have to run out there and get shot at. That way we'll at least be doing something other than sitting here like sitting sage hens," Heyes said frustrated and shifting to get more comfortable.

"One of us?" Kid said looked at the man.

Heyes ignored him and looked at his watch, "It's been two minutes since his last shot. Let's give him another fifteen to be on the safe side, then one of us plays decoy."

"One of us Heyes? You don't think your going with that bullet hole in you?"

"I'm faster than you, always have been," Heyes replied indignant.

"Heyes you are only faster than me when you are scared," Kid told him calmly.

"Well good, cause trust me I'm plenty scared!" Heyes argued back.

They spent the next fifteen minutes in silence; finally Heyes looked up from his watch.

"It's time Kid, one of us better move now or we'll be finding out the hard way where Billings is," Heyes said. "How you wanna decide this?"

Kid just stared at him unable to believe his partner thought he would let him try something like this with a fresh bullet wound in him.

"How about the youngest goes," Kid said dryly.

"Yea, but being older I have more experience," Heyes countered.

"Alphabetical order?" Kid tried again.

"If you are referring to Joshua and Thaddeus…"

"Heyes who won all those foot races when we were kids?" Curry asked patiently.

"I let you win cause you were little," Heyes confessed. "All right only fair partner thing to do is flip a coin." And before Kid can answer Heyes has tossed it and clapped a hand over it. "Call it."

"Tails," Kid says reluctantly.

Heyes reveals the coin and stares. "I can't believe it you never win!"

Kid rolls eyes, "Yea I do Heyes, I always win all the fun jobs." And reaching over he began pulling off his boots.

"What are you doing?" Heyes stared.

"What does it look like I'm doing, I'm taking off my boots. They are no good for walking let alone running. I want to be able to run fast."

Heyes nodded, "I see your point. But you always said you wanted to die with your boots on."

Kid stared at him incredulously and then suddenly understands. Heyes is delaying him on purpose.

"I'll be right back," and taking a deep breath Kid jumped up and started running.

Holding his breath Heyes watched as his partner zig zagged to the nearest horse, then confusingly hit the ground in the opposite direction, rolled and began running back to the rocks.

It is enough for Billings to anticipate incorrectly and a bullet skips at his heels, but misses him. A second bounces off the rock as he dives back to where his partner is hiding.

"Where did the shot come from?" Kid panted falling back out of breath.

"The same place, he hasn't moved an inch," Heyes tells him.

Kid looked up disgusted, "You mean I did all that for nothing?"

"No now we know where he is," Heyes assured him.

"Yeah and in another twenty minutes we'll have to do that all over again, cause now he probably will move!"

"Yea I know," Heyes moves to pull off his boots.

"What are you doing?" Kid asked

"You were right about the boots."

"Heyes you are wounded."

"It is my turn," Heyes said back with gritted teeth trying to get his boot off, but having trouble cause his shoulder is aching horribly.

"All right let's flip again," Kid said arms folded stubbornly.

Heyes can only stare at him, "We just flipped its my turn!"

"Nope now we gotta flip to see who goes this time!"

Heyes cannot believe his partner. "Kid did you see me run when we first got shot at? I beat YOU to these rocks!"

"That's because I was covering you Heyes," Kid yelled back.

"It's my turn and I'm going! I don't need you moddle coddling me!"

Exasperated Kid leaned back and put his hat over his eyes. "Just tell me when its twenty minutes."

The sound of his partner moving stirred Kid fifteen minutes later.

"Heyes!" he yelled, but it was too late, his cousin had bolted the rocks and was heading for the horses. Cursing him a blue streak, Kid watched in fear as the wounded man raced towards the horses in the same zig zag strategy Kid had used.

But the injury was slowing him down and Kid held his breath as he just dodged a bullet as he skidded and turned to run back. A second later he had jumped the rocks and lay panting next to his partner.

"Heyes are you out of your mind!" Kid yelled.

"My turn," Heyes said stubbornly, but it is clear the jaunt had taken every ounce of his reserves.

"That wasn't 20 minutes," Kid pointed out taking a look at his wound.

"I know, I thought I'd keep him off guard," Heyes said with a pleased smile.

"Well, now you are bleeding again," Kid said disgusted with him.

"He still hasn't moved has he?" Heyes asked.

"Nope, he still hasn't," Kid said grimly.

It took nearly the full twenty minutes for Kid to stop the bleeding and then resigned he looked out.

"Guess it's my turn again," Kid said preparing to move.

"Maybe we should both go and confuse him," Heyes said forcing himself to sit up.

"Heyes you are the stubbornness man I have ever known."

"Funny I was thinking that about you," Heyes grinned back, but Kid was gone.

This time Curry moved to the side of the rocks making his intentions less clear or obvious and it paid off. He arrived back in the rocks with the two shots barely coming close.

"Kid I figured it out!" Heyes said as his partner lay back too tired to talk for the moment. "If it only takes two hours to the ranch and back, we'll only have to do this once more before help gets here. So you are done."

Kid looks heavenward.

"Listen Kid if he gets me I want you to turn my body in for the reward," Heyes suddenly says earnestly. "Don't let him get it."

His partner turned and stared at him, "What?"

"Well I was just thinking if…"

"And just how would I do that Heyes, I mean presuming I'm cold blooded enough to turn my own cousin in for blood money. Who gets the rewards on me while I'm getting the reward on you? You know you’re a little crazy sometimes. I think that bullet bounced off your head first."

"You could figure it out," Heyes said confidently.

"With you dead Heyes no I couldn't so let's just forget…"

He stopped as six rapid pistol shots echo from the distance, one after another. The two men look at each other.

"I got a feeling if you made the next run now Heyes nothing would happen," Kid said with cautious hope.

"Yea I get the same feeling."

They wait a beat longer and finally Kid stands and looks off. Nothing happened. Offering Heyes an arm up they both slowly move out from the cover of the rocks.

"Let's see how Archer is," Heyes said still watching the distance.

The two men jog over to the wounded rancher who looked up at them relieved.

"How bad is it?" Kid asks as Heyes grabs a canteen and gives him a drink.

"My hip is broke, but I'm all right. What were those shots I just heard? Pistol shots, while it almost sounded like…"

They both stare as Helen Archer came out of the trees on horseback towards them.

"I guess Mrs. Archer decided you couldn't wait two hours," Heyes said impressed.

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

"So were agreed, we forget who you are and you forget what my wife did, you forget about what happened to Billings," Archer said as the three men stood around the wagon re-filled with their equipment. In the distance a fresh grave had been filled in.

"Woman just protecting the man she loved, he'd have killed us all," Kid said agreeing.

"I just don't want an inquiry and the whole town knowing, well she's a lady and she saw what happened to that Belle Jordan even after she was cleared…"

"You don't have to explain anything Mr. Archer we understand," Heyes said shaking his hand.

"Where will you go from here?" Archer asked still uncomfortable.

"Far," Kid says dryly. "Real far."

Heyes grinned, "Actually were gonna sell those traps back and catch the next train east."

"Good luck with Tilton, he's a tough businessman," Archer said as they climbed aboard the wagon and began to move off.

"Why did you tell him east?" Kid asked curious.

"Kid, this is gonna sound harsh, but I don't trust a man who's wife is that good a shot!"

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

"Sure you paid $320 for these traps, but they were new! They are used traps!" the storekeeper said aghast as Kid stood arguing with him the next morning in his store.

"They're only six days old! And some of them we didn't use at all!" Kid yelled clearly enraged now.

"Son I sure would like to help you out, but I got to take the position that once they leave the premise, they're used."

"Well they aren't used much! How about 75% of what we paid you?" Kid says scowling.

"For used traps! I can't pay that kind of money for used merchandise! Most I could go is 25%"

Kid is about to explode and Heyes puts a calming hand on his arm. "It's all right Thaddeus. Tell me Mr. Tilton is this your mark on these traps?"

The older man squints down at the mark in the metal, a small T.

"Sure is, I make the finest traps in these parts!"

"Oh good I just want to make sure people know who to come to when they are injured by them," Heyes said. "Ready Thaddeus?"

"What do you mean injured by them?" the man said looking up concerned.

"Well my friend and I, since we can't sell these back, are going to take them with us, but I'm not sure how long we will hang on to them, them being so heavy and all and I reckon we'll just drop them along the trail."

"Well that's the craziest thing I ever heard! Anyone's horse could step in them or their cattle or…"

"Yea that would be terrible and with all those new fangled lawyers in Cheyenne, people would could easily hire them to get some kind of compensation for such carelessness," Heyes smiled pleasantly.

"Yea, but I didn't put them on the trail!"

"Yea, but our names aren't on them, yours are!" Kid smiled happily.

The man looked at them astounded by such craftiness; he is almost more impressed than angry. "50%"

"90 and we don't tell anyone how we got it," Heyes said shrewdly.

The man gasps, but knows they are serious. "80 and you two are in the wrong profession, highway robbery is what you got the real calling for!"

"We'll give that some consideration," Heyes smiled taking the money.

"What about the cat you caught, you just leaving that?"

"No we thought we'd let you have it for…" Heyes thinks. "$164."

"Now why would I want a dead cougar? Say is that the one Archer has a bounty on? People been hunting that cat for years!"

"Exactly," Heyes said spinning his web effortlessly. "And you can put his skin in your window and tell everyone he was caught with one of YOUR traps!"

The man likes this.

"You'd be a legend," Kid tells him.

"Well I guess $164 might be worth it for the business it would bring in, trappers like that kind of thing."

"Bragging rights alone," Heyes said using his ace. "Why we'd let you tell people you caught him."

The man stands a little taller, "Truly?"

"Were on the next train, you'll never see us again," Kid promised him.

The man quickly counts out the money and staggers into his store dragging the animal.

"164 Heyes?" Kid asked as they walk away suddenly feeling better about life.

"$100 for the cat and…"

Kid suddenly does the math and laughs, "And the remaining 64 he owed us for the traps!" He slaps Heyes on the back and the older man winces. "Oh sorry."

"Just promise me next time Kid anyone asks what we do for a living you say something less dangerous, like say bank robbing?"