SWEEPING OUT SHADOWS

The repose of sleep refreshes only the body.

It rarely sets the soul at rest. The repose of the night does not belong to us.

It is not the possession of our being. Sleep opens within us an inn for phantoms.

In the morning we must sweep out the shadows.
-

Gaston Bachelard

DEVIL'S HOLE, WYOMING

AUGUST 1874

It was going to be a long night.

Jedediah Curry walked across the cold floor in his bare feet and refilled his coffee cup. In his haste to leave his bed he had left any thought of boots and comfort behind and now was too weary to retrieve them.

Taking a sip of the lukewarm coffee he winced at the taste and considered making a fresh pot. His partner's coffee was not drinkable when it was hot, but in this state it was borderline lethal.

On the thought of his partner he cast an uneasy glance towards the bedroom door of the small Leader's cabin.

Hannibal Heyes had only taken over as Leader of the Devil's Hole Gang a month earlier and had made the cabin that went along with the job his with much fanfare and pride. Heyes knew to run the gang looking the part was almost as important as getting the job done. He had promised his younger cousin he would move him in with him as soon as his first job as leader was done, but the robbery had come and gone and Kid was still living with the rest of the Gang in the bunkhouse.

Kid had not made an issue of it and had tried not to show he had been hurt by the snub merely taking over as second in command and being there when Heyes needed him. Before tonight he had been starting to wonder if Heyes did in fact need him. His partner had always been brilliant and had a way about him that made men want to follow him. He could do the job just as well without me, Kid had feared not liking the thought of having to strike out once more on his own.

Big Jim Santana as leader had put a strain on their friendship and Kid missed having his friend share his thoughts and ideas with him as he had their whole lives. But with Jim now away in prison Kid had hoped they might return to the easy friendship they had always shared and Kid had done his best to prove himself to Heyes on his first outing as leader. The job had been highly successful and even the men would agree a great deal of that had to do with Kid's ability to follow through on Heyes's orders and watch everyone's back.

But now the second job was looming in the morning, the first planned completely without Jim, and Kid felt Heyes's uneasiness even if he didn't show it.

Kid had long figured out that Heyes's imagination and cunning was behind Jim's sudden success as leader of the Devil's Hole Gang and knew his partner had nothing to worry about. But Heyes was worried and tonight had proven that when Preacher had woken Kid up an hour ago.

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

"Kid! Kid…don't shoot!" Preacher hissed terrified as Kid's gun came up into his face.

"Preacher what the…what time is it?"

"Just after midnight," the older outlaw said and Kid realized he was fully dressed and probably coming back in from watch.

"What is it?"

"It's Heyes, he's acting funny?"

"Heyes is always acting funny," Kid said sitting up and pulling on his trousers.

"Well this time he's doing it on the roof in his long johns!"

With a pained knowing look Kid was on his feet and out the door.

He was at it again.

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

"You mean he's asleep?"

"Yea," Kid said staring up at the roof of the Leader's cabin where his partner was happily smiling staring up at the stairs from a precarious edge near the chimney.

"Well don't that beat all. Don't you think we should wake him?"

"Yea, but better let me I know how. He's been doing it since…since we were kids."

"Of all the crazy…"

Kid turned sharply on the man his face dangerous. "He isn't crazy."

Preacher nodded taking the warning, "Never meant to imply that Kid, just meant the unusualness of it takes a man back."

Kid relaxed slightly. He liked Preacher and to a certain degree he even trusted him, probably more than he did any other member of the gang. But he had kept this secret of Heyes's from most of the world, not to mention the man himself, and he intended to make sure no one ever used it against him.

"He just gets a lot on his mind sometimes and keeps thinking even after he's asleep," Kid said using the explanation he had come up with to give himself peace.

Preacher nodded, "Makes sense, man's got a hell of a mind."

Kid let out the breath he was holding. "I'll take care of him, he listens to me. I'd be obliged if you didn't mention this to anyone, especially Heyes, what with the job tomorrow an all, might spook 'em."

Preacher looked into the blue eyes searching his for his answer. In the short time Preacher had known both men he had come to respect them and the bond that made them closer than brothers.

"Man who drinks as much as I do Kid, well he's liable to forget a great deal after awhile. Reckon by morning this will be clean out of my head," Preacher said simply.

Kid almost swallowed a smile; "I'm obliged."

And Preacher knew by the way he shook his hand that meant something he could count on.

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

Kid reached the top of the roof cursing and complaining while all the time wondering how Heyes had managed the climb without a ladder.

"Man is part mountain goat," Kid muttered and finally slipped down beside his older cousin who did not acknowledge his arrival.

He never did.

As usual his eyes were open and he was talking.

And as usual it was to Grandpa Curry.

It was at times like this Kid felt his most lonely and a little jealous. Heyes's imagination gave him the ability to see things other folks never could. But here asleep, unaware, Kid could see how clever and amazing that imagination was and found himself listening to Heyes's side of the conversation and half wishing he could join it.

"I knew you'd know what to do Grandpa," Heyes said his voice young and unfettered by time or events. "I wish we had Jed's soldiers. It's easier to show you." There was pause and then Heyes grinned. "Yea Jed is comin' with me. Couldn't do it without him, well I might, but it wouldn't be any fun."

Kid felt a smile forming at the admission and then waited as Heyes shifted uncomfortable and frowned. He had to choose his moment right to get him down or they might have problems.

"I know I shouldn't let him come. I know I'm suppose to look after him," Heyes said his voice sounding far away and lost. "I didn't make him stay here. I didn't make him join the gang….no that's not true. I wanted him to stay and he did for me. I let you down and Mama and Father."

"Han you didn't let them down," Kid said softly. "I'm here cause I want to. Now come on we gotta get you back to bed if your gonna get yourself famous like you keep going on about."

Heyes didn't react to the words, but the tone and stood up and with a carefree stride crossed the room and meandered down without a thought.

Groaning Kid scrambled to follow reaching his cousin as he moved to head over to the livery stable.

"Han we gotta get back to bed…please?"

His partner stopped reacting to the stress in his voice.

"Jed?"

"Yea its Jed, we gotta get back to bed before we get caught Han."

Heyes nodded and carefully Kid guided him back to the cabin and into his room.

"You got enough blanket Jed?" Heyes asked sleepily as he rolled over.

Kid exhaled, "Yea, I'm just fine Han, good night."

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

He had only ever told one person and that had only been because he had seen Heyes do it.

"You mean this happens a lot?" Soapy Saunders had asked one late evening at his home. They had only known the con man a short while and had been grateful for the few jobs he had thrown their way after leaving the Home for Waywards.

"Not often, just when he gets something bottled up. Sort of his way of working things out," Kid had said awkwardly. He had only been 15 at the time and not quite sure of this strange old man who Heyes had taken too so keenly. He had to know he could trust him with Heyes's secret. "He's not crazy," Kid had added angrily and defiantly only to have Soapy smile understanding.

"Of course he isn't Jed, a lot of famous brilliant men walked in their sleep."

"He don't just walk, he talks too, to our Grandpa mostly."

"Has he been doing this since he was a child?"

"Only started after the Raid…" Kid had let his voice trail off. It was an unwritten rule between him and Heyes that they didn't talk about the Raid, not with each other, not with anyone.

"I see, must have made things awkward for you at the Home."

Kid looked up sharply surprised the old man had understood.

"Yea, sometimes. Ya see Heyes don't know he does it and I don't want him to know cause then he'll fret more. He worries enough for us, he don't need thinking about that on top of it."

"Yes Heyes is a man who likes to be in control knowing such things would bother him tremendously wouldn't it? But do you think you can always be there to look after him when this happens?"

Kid had straightened insulted at the question. "I'm his partner, course I will."

Soapy and nodded impressed and never spoke of it again. But it had helped having someone else know and now he had Preacher. Still it would be better when he could move into the cabin. Heyes needed someone to talk to that he trusted at all hours and when he didn't get it then he found other ways.

Which was something Kid had found out the hard way.

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

"Kid!" KID!"

Kid jumped up with a groan to stare bleary eyed at his partner dressed, shaven and well rested standing before him frowning.

"What time is it?"

"5, we gotta leave in 15 minutes, what are you doing here?"

Kid looked up from the chair he had fallen asleep in blocking the cabin's only door.

"I guess I fell asleep waiting for you."

Heyes stared at him irritated and disappointed. "Are the men up? That is your job you know."

"I know, I'll make sure they are ready."

"How are you gonna do that?"

"By shooting them if necessary all right?" Kid said irritable now too. He hadn't had much sleep and Heyes superior attitude was a little hard to swallow after all he had been through.

Not waiting for his partner to make some smart reply he stumbled out the door passing two of the gang who didn't say a word. When your Kid Curry there were some advantages.

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

"I wish you had let me know you were gonna use the cellar under the general store Heyes, I could have checked it out for you," Kid said softly.

"It's my plan, I check things out," Heyes said stubbornly not wanting to admit he wished he had asked Kid's advice as well.

"Well what we gonna do now the thing is flooded that bunch is liable to drown trying to get in," Kid said wearily and grumpily.

"A little help wouldn't be amiss ya know!" Heyes snapped back.

Kid stared at him, "I've been offering that for a month Heyes but you didn't want it remember?"

The flash of anger hung between them and Kid finally sighed. This was getting them nowhere. The smartest thing to do would be go back and try another day. The plan was a good one there just hadn't been enough scouting ahead. But turning back would seriously endanger Heyes's status as leader. His partner needed him and Kid had no intention of letting him down.

"Go through the saloon," Kid said simply.

Heyes stared at him. "How do you expect us to get past a saloon full of people watching."

"Won't be watching you, they'll be watching me, give me 5 minutes."

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

He picked the woman carefully. She was a farmer's wife, 4 children and wearily helping her husband and brother load supplies while keeping the children from running under the wheels of wagons or passing horses. Not that either male was doing much. The husband had long since meandered off to the saloon to 'talk a deal' while her brother stood sullenly staring into the gunsmith window and wishing as he examined the guns for sale on the table out front.

She wasn't what some called pretty, but she had large expressive eyes, a warm smile when it rested on her children and from the way she took time to help an elderly women down the steps, a good heart. Definitely a woman worth fighting for he decided and it was time for her husband to remember that.

"Here ya go ma'am let me help you with that," he said taking the sack of flour she was struggling with and easily placing it in the wagon.

She stared at him startled and he winked at her and pointed out pretty lady's should not have to worry about such things. She blushed at his charm and stood awkwardly unsure what to do as he finished loading the wagon, not missing her brother running off to the saloon.

By the time he had rescued her youngest child and gotten the entire brood seated on the step with licorice she had relaxed accepting a licorice herself; and allowing him to rest an arm along side of her as she leaned against the wall looking up at him and laughing at the things he said to her.

She was blossoming under the attention, fussing with her hair and even laughing as he courted her with fine compliments on her children knowing she never would have stood for any about herself.

"What the hell you doing with my wife, mister?" came her husband's voice and Kid took a full beat before turning lazily to face him.

"This lady is your wife?" Kid said and the man swallowed. He was older than Kid, but suddenly when he met the outlaw's blue eyes he didn't feel it.

"She is."

"No I don't believe. The lady is too smart to be married to a fool."

"You calling me a fool?"

"Any man who let's a lady do his work is either a fool or not a man. Woman like this deserves a real man,"

"And that would be you?" the husband said trying to look taller. "What's your name mister?"

"Curry," and pulling off a glove slowly added, "Kid Curry."

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

Heyes paused long enough to catch this and watched as word spread emptying the saloon as most of the town hurried to watch the drama unfolding.

"Kid I underestimate you sometimes, your more of a con man than Silky," Heyes grinned and slipping into the saloon hurried his men down and up into the bank not yet open for business and busily counting in newly arrived deposits from the returning cattle rancher's sale.

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

"Kid Curry!" the brother said in an awed voice.

"I ain't armed mister," the husband said his voice quivering.

"Here you go John this here gun is loaded," his younger brother in law said eagerly trying to pass him a gun off the table.

"Shut up Jack!" the man hissed horrified at the idea.

"Boy's right. You should be armed if your gonna leave a woman this special alone," Kid said looking past the man to his partner getting on his horse and noting the nod as they rode off.

"Ma'am he ever treats you wrong you get word to me and I'll come for ya," Kid said turning and before she could make a move he had kissed properly and tipping his hat climbed aboard his horse.

"Do that to my sister will ya!" her brother said and raising the gun, aimed and fired.

Kid merely kicked his horse into a run and was gone.

"Damn fool!" someone said grabbing the boy's arm. "Your lucky you missed and luckier still he didn't come back to kill you for trying to shoot him in the back!"

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

"I heard a shot anything go wrong?" Heyes asked suspicious as Kid road up.

"Nope, how did the bank go?" Kid said poker faced.

"Like a charm!" Kyle said with a whoop.

"Heyes your plans are smooth as Kentucky whiskey!" Hank laughed.

Heyes beamed enjoying the moment and then frowning as something about his partner made him uneasy.

"Let's get back and see how well we did," he said suddenly feeling a need for urgency.

It was two hours before they were in sight of the entrance to Devil's Hole and only then did Kid permit himself to fall off his horse.

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

"Lucky shot, just grazed his side," Preacher said coming out of Heyes's room drying his hands.

"He awake?" Heyes asked his throat dry.

"No, asleep, didn't get much last night I reckon."

Heyes frowned at the man's look; "You got something to say Preacher spit it out."

"Buy me a drink and I will."

Intrigued Heyes pulled a bottle off the shelf and uncorked it pouring two large whiskeys.

"He was worried about you being left alone, only way I got him to sleep was I promised to keep an eye on you," Preacher said quietly.

Heyes frowned, "An eye on me?"

"You remember anything about last night?"

"Last night?"

"Kid found you on the roof, sleep walking he called it."

Heyes swallowed, "I did?"

"So you do know about it?"

Heyes squirmed uncomfortable. It was something he had suspected for years, but since Kid had never mentioned it he had been able to push it to the back of his mind.

"Yea, I had an inkling."

"Well your partner thinks he's keeping it from you, worried you'll fret on it. Guess he's been looking after you a while now."

Heyes sat back stunned, "He never said anything."

"Says you do it when you got to much thinking on your mind. Don't worry he got me to promise I would never tell, but let me give you a little advice son? You got a fine friend and brother there who is willing to listen. A smart man would talk whatever is bothering him out with him and then let you both get a good night's sleep."

Preacher rose and taking the bottle crossed to the door. "I told him I wouldn't worry about you tonight I don't think you'll sleep with him shot up."

"No I don't think I will either."

Pausing, the man looked around, "Ya know that wood we had left over from the bunkhouse would be just about enough to build an extra room on this place." And then he and the bottle were gone.

Heyes leaned forward and studied his drink and the man's words.

So he hadn't dreamt last night! How many other odd sleepy recollections then were true? How long had Kid been steering him safe while he had been unaware?

A noise made him turn and he groaned to see his cousin leaning in the doorway.

"What are you doing up?" Heyes growled.

"Can't sleep," Kid said eye lids heavy.

"Can't or won't?" Heyes said.

"I'm fine Heyes leave it. I'll get back to the bunkhouse…"

He pushed away from the frame and Heyes managed to catch him on the second step.

"Look you idiot your shot!" Heyes said disgusted with him and himself and helping him into a chair by the fire.

"Barely touched me."

"It wouldn't have touched you if I had sense to turn back when the original plan went wrong."

"How much did we get?"

"Kid you got shot."

"Heyes it was a good plan, just next time trust me enough to let me know what your planning so I can make sure your not gonna run into any 'unforeseen circumstances' as Preacher calls them."

"I do trust you."

Kid said nothing.

"Kid what would you think about us adding another room for you on here? So you'd have a space of your own. Ain't much room for two otherwise."

His cousin's face was unreadable in the light of the fire, "That what you want?"

"No," Heyes said honestly. "Which is why I haven't had you move your stuff over here."

Kid nodded and moved to get up, "I understand, guess I'll be moving on then once this heals up, shouldn't be more than a day or so…"

"Will you sit down and stop talking crazy!" Heyes yelled on his feet now. "It isn't that I don't want you here its just that if you move in then well its final isn't it? You’re my partner and I lead this gang, well your name is gonna be linked with mine."

"Don't wanna share the glory?" Kid asked bitterly.

"I don't wanna share the end," Heyes said suddenly looking young and scared. "Kid this life only goes one way, we both know that. I promised Grandpa I'd look after you, this ain't it."

"Heyes I been making my own choices for a long time. I stay because I want to not because I have to."

"How long have you been looking after me sleepwalking?"

Kid looked up sharply and the sudden movement made him wince, "Who…Preacher?"

"Yea, but don't shoot him he won't tell anyone else."

"I'm sorry Heyes he found you and told me…"

"How long?"

"First night at the Brumer's."

Heyes blinked, "You mean after the raid?"

"Yea, first night sleep we'd gotten, I don't know what woke me, but I saw you get up and followed. You walked all the way back to the farm. That's where Mr. Brumer found us."

"And you told him you had run away and I went after you," Heyes said startled. "Which was why they didn't want to keep you!"

"They didn't want to keep me Heyes cause I wasn't as smart and useful as you. I heard Mrs. Brumer tell the man from the home that. Course right after that you suddenly turned into an 'unholy terror' if I remember her words correctly."

Heyes shrugged, "She soon found out how much trouble I was that's why I got sent with you…it happened at the home didn't it?" He froze. "All those beatings you got for being out of bed…you were rescuing me weren't you?"

"I was hungry Heyes trying to scrounge food, I'm not that noble. Can we talk about something else? History always made my head hurt."

Heyes shook his head, "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Kid closed his eyes realizing Heyes was not going to let it rest, "Because you worry enough and besides you only do it when you ain't got someone to talk to. Like at the Home when they kept us apart or wouldn't let us talk together or the Brumer's with their children are seen and not heard or…" Kid's voice trailed off.

"Or when I shut myself off alone in this cabin and don't tell you what I'm planning. Jed you think that sleepwalking? You think I'm crazy?"

"Heyes I've thought you were crazy for a lot better reasons than that."

The grin made Heyes lose a battle with one of his own.

"Let's get you back to bed."

"All right, pass me my boots," Kid said trying to get up.

"My bed ain't that far."

"What about the bunk house?"

"How the hell am I suppose to talk to you all the way in the bunkhouse?" Heyes said rolling his eyes and tossing the younger man's arm around his shoulder.

"Yea I suppose that would be a bit hard," Kid said sleepily the last of his energy gone.

Heyes let the man sag against him and a moment later had him in the bed.

"You gonna be all right?" Kid asked his eyes barely open.

"Yea, all talked out," Heyes said softly watching his partner drift off "Figure I'll get some sleep."