"Good morning Mr. Heyes, thank you for coming," the tall distinguished older man smiled from the large desk he was seated behind.

Heyes’s eyes did a subtle check to make sure they were alone. He was not comfortable with this meeting, but he gave no outward sign of it, merely smiling tightly and taking the chair offered.

"Governor," he responded and the man noted he took the seat not directly in front of him, but the one that let him see both the door and windows.

"I realize asking you to meet me here in my study in the middle of the night might seem a bit…untrusting, but being seen with you, before a decision is made could damage my political reputation."

"Oh I agree," Heyes smiled crossing a leg and placing his hat on it, "I feel the same way about my reputation."

The man bit back a smile. Trevors had warned him about this one, but oddly there was an air of honesty about him that made him relax more than he might with a political equal.

"You know why you are here?"

"Lom said it had to do with the amnesty," Heyes said.

"Yes I wanted to speak to both you and your partner separately, get to know you before I made a decision."

"Understandable."

"I had asked for Mr. Curry first," the Governor said interested in why Heyes had arrived instead.

"I won the coin toss," Heyes said casually.

The Governor looked up surprised, "Is that how you decide all your decisions?"

Heyes shrugged slightly, "The important ones."

The Governor leaned back and studied him; "I would hazard a guess you usually win these tosses?"

"My luck is pretty good yes."

"Your luck or your coin?"

Heyes’s face darkened for a moment and then the mask was back in place.

"That sounds a little like your saying I would cheat my partner Governor."

"Well you are a criminal and a con man if the report I have on you is anything to go by."

"A man doesn’t cheat his partner."

"So you are telling me you never rigged a toss to win?"

Heyes met the man’s eyes, "I’m saying I never cheat my partner."

"And rigging the toss isn’t the same thing?"

"No sir," Heyes said simply. "Sometimes life doesn’t play fair, can’t help a man for evenin’ the odds some."

"Your partner must be a very simple man not to have suspected all these years."

Heyes eyes flashed and the anger there made the Governor realize he had just seen his first glance of the Hannibal Heyes the legend spoke of.

"My partner…sir, is the smartest man I ever met."

"And yet he lets you cheat him?"

"No sir, he lets me be worthy of his trust."

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

As children they had grown up seeing their fathers decide matters between the two families using a flip of the coin. So naturally when a choice arose between them it had been the solution they had gravitated too. Each one feeling it was the only fair way to decide.

Until that summer’s day, what had he been 10? With Jed a mere 8? He had won the two-headed coin in a game of marbles with an older boy visiting relatives in Lawrence. From the moment he had possessed the coin he had been captivated by the possibilities. A chance to win every time! Every toss! It defied imagination!

So eager had he been to try out the trick he had practically ran all the way to the Curry farm.

Jed had been finishing his chores and Heyes had seen his chance.

"Jed tell ya what, I’ll toss you to see who does your and my chores all next week."

Jed’s eyes had opened wide at such a bet. He hated chores as much as his cousin did, but paused considering the wager. No chores for a week was heady stuff and he had a 50-50 chance.

"Sure Han!"

"Okay your tails, I’m heads," Heyes said tossing and deftly catching the coin to show the heads up to the younger boy.

Jed’s face fell, but he looked up resigned, "Guess you won."

Heyes almost hugged himself with how clever he had been. "Don’t worry Jed only a week!"

Jed had nodded, but without much enthusiasm.

He had spent the week mostly alone. With Jed having two sets of chores to finish he often didn’t get done until late afternoon and then was usually too weary to want to fish or play.

Heyes had told himself that he was teaching Jed a good lesson about not letting people trick you, but to be honest he didn’t want to give up the secret of his good fortune just yet.

The coin had made the rounds of his friends and family resulting in extra pie, homework finished for him and a new fishing pole. It was a powerful feeling knowing you could never lose. If only it wasn’t so lonely.

"Jed ain’t you done yet?"

The small blond haired boy looked out from the stall he was sweeping.

"Nope, still got your weeding to do," came the weary voice.

Heyes sighed, "Well do it later."

"Can’t. You might get in trouble. Wouldn’t be right you getting in trouble for something I should be doing."

Heyes shuffled uncomfortable not liking how guilty he suddenly felt. Jed could do that to him sometimes without even realizing it.

"Look what if I help you finish and then we can go down to the creek."

Jed looked up hopeful; "You’d do that?"

"Sure," Heyes said feeling magnanimous.

"Han you’re the best friend in the world."

Heyes beamed back, see he was a good friend. He hadn’t needed to that and he decided he felt better.

It was the next day, the last day of the bet that it all unraveled. If he were honest he would have admitted he was relieved the wager was almost done with. It wasn’t anywhere near as much fun as he had thought having the trick all to himself and he couldn’t wait to tell Jed about the coin so they could plot how to use it against the world.

It would be nice having someone in on it, someone like Jed.

He had paused on whether to tell his cousin he had tricked him, but decided he really didn’t need to know about that.

Feeling better than he had all week he hurried back to his farm, why he would even help Jed finish up his chores, couldn’t ask for fairer than that.

He reached the gate and paused surprised. His aunt and uncle’s wagon was out front and so was the surrey the Doctor used.

A gnawing sense of fear gripped him and he ran to the door only to be held back by this father.

"Not now son."

"What is it? What’s wrong?" he had said his voice dry.

"It’s Jed, he’s been hurt, now you wait on the porch till the doctor finishes."

Stumbling back out he slipped down on to the nearest step not allowing himself to think.

A moment later he heard someone and looked up to see his Grandfather taking a seat beside him.

"How’s Jed?" Heyes asked eyes filled with worry.

"Not good boy, fell, he’s unconscious at the moment."

"How did he?" Heyes said afraid of the answer. Somehow he knew this was his fault and it terrified him.

"Seems he was trying to put the milk urns away, guess he wanted to help you with your chores," his grandfather said quietly. "But you remember how we said you couldn’t do that job until you were bigger? Well only way Jed could do it was to climb up the ladder carrying that urn and well that thing is as big as him. Looks like he slipped and the whole shelf came down on him."

Han slowly felt the tears slide down his face.

"Can I see him?"

"Let the doctor finish son."

"Grandpa I gotta see him!" Heyes begged.

The old man paused seeming to think about it, "All right, I’ll speak to his mother, wait here."

It seemed an eternity until the door re-opened and Heyes was ushered into the room.

He had never seen his house so quiet and realized the only sound was his aunt crying with his mother.

Swallowing he walked past the doctor who stepped out side with his father and uncle and grandpa and quickly he climbed the ladder to the loft.

Jed was in the bed he always used when he spent the night.

He looked so little lying there, his eyes closed, his forehead bruised and purple.

"Jed, its me Hannibal," he said clearing his throat and kneeling down next to him so he could hear him. "Jed I’m real sorry you got hurt, it’s all my fault. I cheated you Jed, I cheated ya!"

He was crying fiercely now, but didn’t seem to notice.

"You get better Jed and then you can whoop me hard or I’ll do your chores for…a month, anything, just don’t lay there no more Jed, your scaring me. Don’t be mad I cheated ya and die to get me back Jed, please? You’re the best partner I ever had."

"You didn’t cheat me Han."

He looked up startled at the set of wide blue eyes staring at him with no malice or hatred, only that odd hero worship kind of trust he had come to expect there.

"Jed! You’re not dead!"

"Feel like it, is my Pa mad?"

"No they’re all worried."

"Reckon that’s good cause I sure couldn’t manage a spanking right now," Jed said his eyes drowsy.

"I won’t let them spank you, it’s my fault. I cheated you Jed, that coin we tossed with? It was two headed."

"I know."

Han stared at him wide eyed, "You knew?"

"Well not till the next day, I heard from Tom you had won it off his cousin."

"Then why did you do my chores? Why didn’t you flatten me?"

"You tricked me fair and square Han, figured you wanted to teach me how easy a body can be tricked if he ain’t careful."

"Jed it weren’t like that I…"

"I’m tired Han, I’m gonna sleep some now."

Heyes stared at his younger cousin as his eyes closed.

He wasn’t mad, he wasn’t mad and he had known. He had trusted that Han wouldn’t trick him on purpose to get something his way, he trusted him.

Heyes ran all the way to the river without stopping and as he reached it he tossed the coin as far as he could and only felt a sense of relief as he heard the sound of it hitting the water.

He walked back to find his Grandfather walking out to meet him.

"Jed’s gonna be fine Hannibal."

"Yes sir."

"Lose your lucky coin?"

The boy looked up frightened he had been caught.

"Sir?"

"Seen you winning all week, must be one lucky coin."

Han shuffled and looked at his feet.

"Winning is fine boy, but not at the cost of friend’s trust though is it?"

He shook his head and smiling the old man hugged him.

"Besides lad I’m handing down my luck to you, won’t need any special coins. But promise me you’ll use it to look after your cousin eh?"

"Yes sir," Heyes promised and he never forgot.

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

"And you never used a two headed coin again?" the Governor asked fascinated.

Heyes smiled, "I didn’t say that. Actually there is a slight of hand trick a friend of mine taught me. I usually don’t have a problem making the coin come up the way I want it to."

"And do you use this against your partner?"

"I use everything to look after my partner Governor."

"I’m beginning to bet you do Mr. Heyes."

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

"Thank you for coming Mr. Curry."

The Governor watched the fair-haired man slip into a chair and unwind unconcerned. He seemed totally at ease, well everything except his eyes. His eyes were impossible to stare at for long without looking away.

"Thank you for seeing us Governor," Kid said calmly.

"I’d like to just spend some time getting to know you like I did you partner. Did he mention anything of what we talked about?"

"No sir, just said you were up to something."

The Governor smiled, "Your partner is a very clever man Mr. Curry."

"Yes sir."

"Must have been hard living in his shadow all your life."

Kid didn’t flinch, "Not sure what you mean sir."

"Well he does tend to overpower people, want things his way."

"Don’t we all sir."

"I learned a little about his famous luck with a coin, I hear from Sheriff Trevors you’ve been at the brunt of many a toss."

"Sir?"

"I hear you usually lose."

"Then you heard wrong sir."

The Governor stared at him, "But he usually wins the toss, isn’t that correct?"

"Yes sir, but I don’t lose."

"I don’t understand."

"Governor," Kid said with a sigh of patience. "Want to know the kinds of things my cousin has ‘won’ from me over the years? Top bunk at the home, the one next to the broken windowpane that let all the cold air in. He also won that new winter coat forcing me to take his. The new winter coat with no lining. He’s won not having to take up dynamite so he could face our gang alone when they were plenty sore with us. He’s won the right to ride into town and get the supplies and whiskey and a bed when he knew there was a sheriff that knew us there. Shall I go on?"

"You mean he’s used his ‘luck’ to look after you?"

"I mean sir my partner would never cheat me."

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

"Gentlemen thank you both for coming," the Governor said two days later as they stood once more in the dark office along side Lom Trevors.

"You got more questions?" Kid asked his eyes untrusting.

"No, Mr. Curry I do not. I had hoped by talking with you both to make a decision concerning which one of you to choose, but I find I am at a loss."

"What do you mean choose?" Heyes said sharply.

"Gentlemen giving you both amnesty would finish my career. But I am fair man and I cannot in good conscience just deny you after all the hard work you have done to achieve it. Therefore I am offering one of you the chance to leave this office today with a signed paper stating your full pardon, however, only one of you."

The two men said nothing.

"And how do you propose to decide which of us since your questions didn’t sort it out," Heyes said and Lom closed his eyes at the fury in Heyes’s tone.

"I can think of only one fair way, you yourself suggested it, a flip of the coin."

The two men stared at each other and the Governor held up a coin.

"My offer is only good for the next minute gentlemen, one of you goes free, the other must take his chances on the run."

Heyes met Kid’s eyes and silently they argued. Kid was ready to walk out the door and tell the Governor what he could do with this offer, but Heyes shook his head.

"All right you got a deal," Heyes said moving to take the coin, but he wasn’t fast enough, Kid reached it first.

"Not this time Heyes, this time I toss," Kid said simply.

Heyes stared at him, "What you don’t trust me?" he said with a forced laugh.

"I do, that’s why I’m tossing the coin," Kid said simply. "I call tails" And without a pause tossed it into the air and caught it.

Everyone froze and stared at his hand covering it.

"Wait a minute this is all going too fast," Heyes said not liking the feeling of being out of control.

"Heads, you win Heyes, congratulations," Kid said taking his hand off of the coin.

"Oh no," Heyes said truly angry now. "If you think I’m gonna take that amnesty and just leave you to…"

"Heyes you won fair and square."

"The hell I did, let me see that coin," Heyes said grabbing it and checking it suspiciously.

"Looks like you were right Lom," the Governor smiled.

The two ex-outlaws looked up from their argument.

"What’s he talking about?" Kid asked suspiciously.

"Governor didn’t believe it when I said you both would give up your chance at amnesty for the other, had to prove it to him."

"I didn’t give it up, lost fair and square," Kid said his face innocent.

"Like Hell you did," Heyes said suspiciously. "Why didn’t you let me toss that coin?"

"Because he didn’t trust you Mr. Heyes," the Governor smiled. "He didn’t trust you to not make sure he won. Gentlemen you can learn a lot about a man by what he will give up for another. Come see me in the morning and we’ll discuss how we can pull off this amnesty for both of you without costing me my career."

"Both of us?" Kid said eyes wide.

"The two of us?" Heyes clarified.

"Yes gentlemen, just don’t ask me to flip for it all right?"

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

Dazed the two men walked down the dark quiet street back to their hotel neither one trusting themselves to say a word for fear the spell would be broken.

"Can’t believe you didn’t trust me to flip that coin," Heyes finally grumbled. "Not like I can make it do what I want."

"No more than I can despite that lesson Soapy gave me after he taught you," Kid said innocently.

The dark haired man turned and stared at his partner, "Soapy taught you…"

"Yup, figured I might need it some day."

"Why didn’t you ever? I mean not that I would ever cheat you…" Heyes said suddenly feeling 10 again.

"You never cheated me Heyes, you just looked after me, I was just trying to return the favor."

Heyes had to swallow before he could speak.

"Thank you."

Kid merely nodded and kept walking.

A smile broke across Heyes’s face as he hurried to catch up with him suddenly feeling on top of the world.

"Ya know I didn’t do half bad having you as a partner," he said and then added with a grin. "Wonder how that is."

Kid let a small smile escape, "Just lucky I guess."