CROSS TRAINED

Drena Hills

The real contest is always between what you've done and what you're capable of doing.

You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else.

-

Geoffrey Gaberina

The sad truth is that excellence makes people nervous.

-

Hannibal Heyes

"I still think we should have asked for more," Kid Curry said stubbornly as he dismounted his horse and tried to beat off some of the trail dust that covered him with his hat. He suddenly paused, noting the hole in it and shook his head in disgust. “We should at least get expenses.”

"Yea that was some shot," Hannibal Heyes admitted just as weary and gratefully slid off his horse and stretched relieved the trip was over.

"You're telling me, my arm still hurts."

His partner turned to look at him blankly, "I was talking about the one that almost killed you?"

Kid looked at him with a frown, "I'm talking about that needle they put in my arm!"

"Are you still complaining about that? You heard the doctor, that shot protected us from getting the disease, wouldn't have let us ride in here and delivery the medicine without it."

"Yea and I also remember him explaining he was giving us the disease so we wouldn't get the disease, how much sense does that make?"

"Yelled like a baby," Heyes said shaking his head as he carefully removed the precious cargo attached to his saddle. "You've been shot worse, beat harder and you never complained like that."

"Ain't natural sticking pins in a man, specially with a disease in them," Kid muttered following him up the steps to the doctor's office.

"Oh then perhaps you would rather have smallpox?"

"I just want to get my money and get out of here," Kid grumbled.

"We didn't have to take this job," Heyes reminded him. "But I seem to remember one of us going all tenderhearted when the doc rubbed in the part about children dying."

"It was good money," Kid said with a glare.

"Until you saw the needle, but you still went along with it cause no one else would take the job," Heyes said enjoying seeing his partner uncomfortable.

"And I remember the Doc saying he only needed on man to deliver it," Kid came back smugly.

Heyes shifted and considered this, "Well he was wrong, look how you got your hat all shot up, he didn't know how much trouble you can get into."

"I still don't get what they thought we had on us worth robbing," Kid said confused as they entered the Doctor's office.

"Nice to know we look affluent to someone," Heyes grinned and then turned as a young, red haired man hurried into the room and seeing the box let out a shout of relief.

"The vaccine! Gentlemen you are a godsend! How can I ever thank you!"

He reached for the box, but Heyes held on to it.

"By paying us the $500 were owed?"

The doctor looked at him first a surprised and then an amused smile slowly emerging.

"Is that what Dr. Marks told you so you would deliver it? I am terribly sorry."

"Wait a minute we were promised that money," Kid said firmly as both outlaws tensed.

"I'm sure you were, Dr. Marks would have offered you the state capital to get these drugs delivered. No one wanted the job; we had about given up hope. He would have come himself, but he has his hands filled keeping it at bay up there."

"Are you saying were not getting paid?" Heyes said incredulously.

"I'm saying gentlemen if I had the money I would gladly give it to you. But this town is dirt poor, I get paid in chickens and sacks of flour, I doubt with the exception of Mr. Jefferson, the town banker, any man here could come up with that amount of money."

"Well then we'll just keep these drugs till you do," Kid said stubbornly.

"No you won't," the doctor smiled kindly. "Marks would have never entrusted them to men who would keep such a life saving serum from children."

Heyes and Kid stood there. The man had called their bluff. He was right, there was no way either one of them would even consider such an action. It was a nice compliment on their character, but it wouldn't buy dinner or a bed.

"Doc you gotta understand we haven't got $2 between us," Heyes said wearily.

The man looked sincerely contrite, "I am so sorry. Let me at least get you a meal and a bed for the night. I'll pass the word through town about what you did and see if I can scrounge up some work to at least get you a stake."

With no choice, they nodded, and carefully placing the medicine in a cabinet the doctor escorted them out the door.

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

"Reckon you'll do," the leather skinned older man said glancing over Heyes resigned.

Kid gave his partner a small smile. It was the following morning and they had been asked to wait in the lobby to meet their two perspective employers.

A sound sleep and food in their stomachs had eased up some of the disappointment and both men were now resigned and had entered the lobby with tentative optimism.

"Well come on, I got a business to run," the man said heading for the door.

"It seems I have a job," Heyes told Kid.

"Hey at least you got picked first," Kid said worriedly.

“Don’t worry you’ll probably get the interesting one,” Heyes said cheerfully and then turning realized the man had left and hurried out to catch up.

"Name is Brians. Pay is $20 a month, $2 commission for every one you sell."

"What exactly am I selling?" Heyes said slightly amused at the man’s obvious loathing at the entire situation.

"Guns, I own the gun shop over there. I just hope you know enough not to get yourself killed cleaning them."

Heyes stopped and frowned, the job held not the slightest hint of interest to him. "Ya know actually my friend, Mr. Jones, back there? He would really be…"

"You want this job or not?"

"Oh I do."

"Then lets get on with it, can't stand a man who talks too much."

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

"You’re Mr. Jones?" the balding, little middle aged man stared up at Kid as if he had just rounded a corner to find a cougar preparing to pounce.

"Yea that's me," Kid said getting up.

"There must be some mistake, Doctor Ryan told me…well you just really wouldn't suit…I mean…"

Kid frowned worried and the man took a step back thinking he was angry. He needed this job, but his pride was stung by the man just writing him off on his looks.

"Look Mr.…."

"Oats."

"Mr. Oats, I'm a hard worker, I can do whatever you need doing and I really need this job."

His sincerity seemed to break through some of the man's apprehension and finally he nodded, "It’s just that Mr. Jefferson, well he was told, you weren’t exactly what was described to us by the Doctor."

Kid nodded, the Doctor had mixed up their names. The man was obviously a clerk of some kind and Kid’s rough and ready appearance was physically terrifying him.

“I can do the job Mr. Oats, whatever it is.”

“Well you would need to be able to read.”

Kid stayed poker faced, “I can read Mr. Oats, I can even write, now you wanna tell me what this difficult job is before I die of curiosity?”

“The bank Mr. Jones, we need a clerk at the bank.”

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

Mr. Jefferson turned out to be less easy to convince, growling his disapproval the moment he set eyes on Kid.

“Looks more like he robs banks than works in them,” Jefferson said through his cigar.

"Sir?” Kid said politely hat in hand disliking the man instantly, but feeling he owed his partner to at least try. "I know I'm not what you were hoping for, but I an do an honest day's work and the Doc will vouch for me. You just tell me what needs doing and I'll get it done."

Jefferson stared at him impressed at the way the young man didn’t back down from his stare.

“All right put him to work at a window, but I want him to close early and wait while I personally balance his transactions.”

It was meant to be insulting, it was, but Kid merely nodded his thank you and silently made note that if the amnesty didn’t work out, this was first place they were coming back for.

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

“I don’t think I can do another day like today, Heyes,” Kid said mournfully as he shoveled a spoonful of food in his mouth. “That was one of the worst days of my life.”

“Doesn’t seemed to have affected your appetite,” Heyes said innocently.

Kid looked up darkly, “That’s because I didn’t get any lunch, I spent it ‘tidying up my money’. You wanna explain to me what difference it makes which way its all facing as long as its all there?”

“Well it looks neater.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Yours, yours," he assured him. "And mine wasn’t much better, do you have any idea how many guns I cleaned today? Can’t see much purpose until someone wants to buy one anyway.”

“I guess it just makes them look neater,” Kid smiled smugly.

“Funny, I suppose you heard the news?”

“You mean about the medicine? Yea, all anyone could talk about. Imagine breaking into a doctor’s office and stealing medicine. He said someone stole it right out of his cabinet. He had just used up one bottle and when he came back the other 5 were gone. Who would steal something like that?" Kid said mystified.

"Maybe the same people that took a shot at us, Doc told me that stuff is gold on the black market when there is an epidemic," Heyes explained.

"Don't seem right stealing something like that, Heyes. I don't know what's become of the robbing business since we left."

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

Hannibal Heyes was bored. It was day two and he had re-organized the stock, sorted the invoices, ordered supplies and cleaned and arranged the guns in the store until they not only shined, but were shown at their best advantage.

Brians had quickly realized his new gun salesman was not only quick, but capable and promptly gone off to the saloon to spend the day leaving Heyes to study the new gun adverts. He had taken them back to the hotel the previous night to discuss with Kid and get his opinion. As he had guessed his partner quickly made short work of the claims and told him the truth about each weapon and gave his opinion. He had also wistfully offered to change jobs.

“You're doing fine, though you’d be a lot better at my job than I am, gun is a gun in my opinion.”

Kid had looked at him shocked and went on to explain in detail the improvements in Colt’s newest line.

"So you’d recommend it?” he had finally asked amazed at how much information his partner could store in his head when he wanted to.

"Might, have to shoot it first though."

Heyes had looked up and grinned, "There's a thought, you go test them all and I'll advertise each and everyone has having been approved by Kid Curry himself. That will drive up my commission"

"Cute Heyes and I’ll tell Mr. Jefferson I am personal friend with the only man who could open his brand new Philadelphia made safe.”

“Brooker?” Heyes said eyes glazing over.”

“Yup, and Heyes? It’s a 606!”

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

“Don’t you have any shinier ones?” the small old lady asked pleasantly from just over the counter where she was peering up at Kid with what appeared to be her life savings.

“Ah shinier ma’am?”

“Yes there for my grandson, his birthday, he’s going to be five, I don’t have much to give him, but I thought if they were shinier…”

Kid smiled, “Yes ma’am, I remember they were always better when they were shinier, let me look.”

“Mr. Jones!”

Kid looked up innocently, “Excuse me ma’am, yes Mr. Jefferson?” he said walking over to the red-faced bank manager.

“You are keeping Mrs. Markets waiting while you help that old woman look for shiny pennies! Mrs. Markets is one of our most valued customers,” he growled. “Move that old woman along.”

“Yes sir, quick as I can,” and returning he smiled at the old woman and then turned over his coin draw onto the counter. “Now lets see, shiny ones….”

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

“They let you have lunch?” Heyes said surprised as Kid stepped through the gun shop door.

“Had too, Mr. Jefferson said if I didn’t get out of his sight he was going to kill me.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing,” Kid said shocked his cousin could believe he was some way responsible, but suddenly got serious. “Guess who I saw Jefferson talking with when I left? French Sammy Jo.”

Heyes blinked surprised, "Are you sure it was Sammy?"

"Heyes the man's smell alone announces him ten miles out of town," Kid said remembering the patrons and employees reactions to the greasy fur covered man who had charged his massive bulk through the door and demanded to see the manager.

"I'd heard St Louis got a bit hot for him and his black market racket, makes you ponder doesn't it?" Heyes said thoughtfully.

"You think he's buying the medicine?"

“Does make me wonder what else beside money Jefferson keeps in that safe."

"That's what I was thinking," Kid said with a wicked smile.

"Forget it Kid, there's no way I can take the chance of opening it."

"I wasn't talking about you…I was talking about me," Kid smiled and leaned forward and continued softly. "Did you know Heyes that safe is directly behind me? Just on a slight angle and if I look in the reflection of the…"

"Don't even think about it!"

"First three numbers are 12, 7 and 52. I just got one more to get."

"Kid are you crazy!" Heyes groaned impressed despite his fear.

"I learned a lot from you Heyes."

"Well forget all of it," he hissed back.

"Aren't you just a little curious to see what's in those drawers in that safe?"

"Not enough to risk you being arrested for bank robbery!"

"Heyes I got shot at bringing that medicine in and it just don't sit right it ending up with Sammy Joe and the highest bidder."

"Kid…. Kid I am serious."

Kid smiled his best innocent one.

Heyes moaned and put his head in his hands. His mother had always warned him to be careful what he did because his little cousin was watching. He just wished he'd listened to her better.

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

His worrying was distracted an hour later when three young men in their early twenties came through the gun shop door with a swagger and a cold laugh as they eyed him up.

"Just what I need," Heyes sighed and then turned to face them with a forced smile, warily sensing trouble.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

"Here to buy me a new gun, got me a use for it!" the oldest said winking at his friends and pulling out his old gun twirled it with too much bravo and spun it back into his holster.

Heyes looked at him; dead by Christmas he sighed and pulled out the new colt.

"Well this here is the finest Colt makes," Heyes said handing it to him.

"Well this is one fine gun mister!" the boy said and his friends laughed again. "But $40 dollars is a bit out of my price range."

Heyes sighed; he knew where this was going. It was bad enough Kid acting like he was robbing the bank, but he was darn sure he wasn't going to let himself be robbed at the same time.

Smiling he stepped around the counter and for the first time the boys saw he wore his gun tied down.

"Now before you make any decisions I think you need a demonstration?" he smiled cheerfully.

The three boys looked at each other.

"Now let's start with my gun?"

It was in Heyes's hand before any of the three could breathe.

"Dang Tommy you see that?" one of the boys said to the leader of the group who had gone a shade of white at how much quicker Heyes was than him.

"Now this gun is balanced, right weight for my hand, friend taught me a few tricks with it," Heyes continued his eyes boring into the three. "Like never draw it unless you need to convince a body it be foolish to draw theirs."

"Uh I think maybe we need to think some more about this," Tommy said slowly backing up.

"Yea, think some more," his friends said moving with him.

"Thought you might," Heyes smiled.

He watched them leave and letting out a sigh dropped his gun back into his holster and had to laugh.

Maybe Kid should have taken heed of how much he had been paying attention!

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

It was after closing when Kid finally got his chance. Jefferson had left for dinner planning to return after supper and Oats has been called away on problem at the General Store over a deposit.

The safe had been securely shut, but there had been no chance for Kid to see the final number.

Frustrated he knelt down beside it the way he had seen his cousin do a hundred times. He had 3 of the numbers, how hard could it be to hear the 4^th? He paused something occurring to him; the safe handle was always opened with the dial on the last number!

Grinning he checked the number and then hurriedly clearing the dial ran through the first three numbers he was certain of and then slowly moved to the fourth.

He held his breath and put his hand on the handle. It jerked down easily and Kid let out a whistle of delight, he'd done it!

Grinning he savored the moment and how the handle had felt clicking down. He began to understand how Heyes must feel after working all night and then hearing that sweet blessed sound!

Quickly he got up and peered into the safe working through the small draws to the side until finally a small box tucked in the back of one made him pull it free and excitedly examine it.

The medicine! He had been right!

Quickly he looked around and spotting the inkbottles kept at all the windows, he replaced the medicine bottles with them and put the package back so it appeared unmolested. This accomplished he shut the safe without even a backward glance, a fact that didn't occur to him till later. Maybe Heyes was indeed right when he said that often the journey was more satisfying than the arrival.

The door opened and Jefferson stepped in and eyed him suspiciously.

"You still here Jones?"

"Just leaving now sir, good night!"

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

"I can't believe it! Jefferson?" The doctor said ten minutes later when Kid and Heyes met him in his office and once more handed over the precious cargo. "But he's the only one with access to the safe, makes a rather big deal about letting everyone know that. Gentlemen how can I ever thank you?"

"Just keep this quiet until tomorrow we want to see if Jefferson tips his hand when Sammy Jo comes to collect it," Heyes said. "Might be rather interesting."

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

"Where is Oats?" Jefferson roared the next morning as Kid stood waiting patiently outside the door.

"No sign of him sir," Kid said politely walking in with the manager and the group of people who had been waiting with him outside the door.

"Well get set up!" Jefferson barked as Kid paused eyeing up Tommy and his two friends who had entered and immediately began filling out deposit slips a little too enthusiastically.

"Ah Mr. Jefferson I think you might want too…"

Kid stopped as Heyes burst in the door clearly agitated about something and then seeing Tommy and his friends cocked his head slightly.

Kid nodded just as the three boys turned laughing and then seeing Heyes froze.

"Morning boys," Heyes smiled.

"Morning," Tommy said his eyes on Heyes's holster oblivious to anything else in the room.

Kid watched in complete fascination. He had seen this a thousand times, it was just that it was usually him staring down the man across from him not Heyes.

Suddenly the door opened again and this time the sheriff walked in, deputies in tow and cocked back his shotgun.

"These the three Mr. Smith?"

"Yes sir Sheriff," Heyes smiled.

"You're in real luck Mr. Jefferson," the lawman said as their guns were taken from the three young men. Mr. Smith had a run in with these three and was suspicious so he mentioned it to me. Did some checking and they robbed the bank in Billings just last week."

"Yea well as long as you're taking people in Sheriff," Tommy snarled. "You might as well arrest Kid Curry over there! That's right, that dark haired fella, saw him draw, ain't nobody that fast but Curry!"

"Son, you might wanna check out the descriptions of the men your accusing people of being before you go and act all stupid in public. Everyone knows Curry is fair. Thanks again Mr. Smith, I'll be checking to see if there is reward."

He stopped as the door opened and Oats entered, hat pulled low and collar up.

Heyes looked at Kid and they both frowned as bank clerk tried to hurry past everyone.

"Oats! Where have you been!" Jefferson yelled.

Startled the man looked up and it was then that everyone saw the blue stain across the side of his face.

"It was Oats!" Heyes whispered in amazement.

"Uh Sheriff hang on a sec," Kid said stepping forward. "I think we might be able to tell you who stole that medicine from the Doc. Ya see I know for a fact the medicine is now back in the Doc's hands and the thief's bottles replaced with ink. Sort of looks like Mr. Oats buyer got a bit upset when he found out and thought he was trying to cheat him."

"Why I never!" Oats said horrified.

"How do you know this?" the sheriff said with a frown.

"Because I'm the one who replaced them. He was hiding it in a drawer in the safe. Oh and Mr. Jefferson you really should think about moving that safe, real easy to pick up the combination if you have the right reflection working for you."

Jefferson stared. Oats began to weep.

"You opened that safe?" the sheriff said staring at Kid.

"Yes sir, when I thought that was where the medicine was. I suspected Mr. Jefferson because he said he was the only one who had the combination or I would have gone to him."

"You picked it up that quick?" Jefferson said weakly.

"Just the first three numbers sir, I had to figure out the last one on my own."

The sheriff began to laugh, "Young man you are to be congratulated for your ingenuity and be very grateful you don't in any way resemble Hannibal Heyes or I would be taking you across to jail this very moment. Jefferson, got a fine man there, I'd keep him."

Jefferson still stood mouth open as the bank cleared.

"I think that deserves a drink," Heyes said pleasantly. "Mr. Jones?"

"Why thank you Mr. Smith, you don't mind if I take a break Mr. Jefferson?" Kid smiled sweetly. "No I thought you wouldn't, not with that combination needing to be changed and all?"

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

"What exactly did you do to those boys?" Kid laughed minutes later as they settled at a back table with coffee.

"Drew on them, I'd seen the head one Tommy drew, all flash, knew none of the tricks you'd taught me to clear leather faster," Heyes said innocently.

"You Kid Curry," Kid began laughing again. "Heyes I am impressed, I may just have to give up that title about being fastest to you."

"Don't lose any sleep over it," Heyes grimaced. "And what about you….you had to figure out the last number? How? It's impossible to hear anything on those Brookers!"

"Guess I learned a few things from you too," Kid said raising his cup in salute.

Heyes stared at him shaking his head until finally his cousin smiled and explained putting him out of his misery.

"You had me scared for a minute there," Heyes said leaning back relieved.

"Why? Worried I might be a better safe cracker than you?" Kid grinned.

"No, that we might have had the wrong jobs all these years!"