GETTIN' EVEN

(The Missing Scenes from Something to Get Hung About)

 

"You have to understand he was my brother so it didn't

count as revenge.  It was merely getting' even and expected.

But it was just as clearly understood in our neighborhood that only

 a brother had this right and anyone else trying such a thing on

one of us found out how quickly we could forget what had annoyed

us about the other."

-

Harpo Marx

 

 

 

            "How long have you been standing there?" 

 

            Hannibal Heyes voice was level and sounded to the untrained ear calm and unruffled, but Jedediah Curry knew better.

 

            Kid grinned broadly as he looked down at his cousin soaked to the skin and wearing a fair amount of mud as he stood in the river near its edge.  The churning water had to be cold and from the state of his friend’s clothes, the rocks on its bottom very slippery.

 

            "Ah not long," Kid said sincerely and then without thinking added, "How'd you get so dirty?"

 

            The look his cousin gave him showed his skill at communicating even without the use of a silver tongue.  Quickly Kid offered a hand to help pull him out; unable to hide a grin at the suction noise his cousin’s boots made as they were pulled free from the river bed's mud.

 

            "Saving you," Heyes said with a dark glare and held up Kid's hat.

 

            The amusement drained from Kid's face, as he understood.  They had split up after the stagecoach they had been following had stopped in town.  Heyes going on to see if the couple they were following would disembark, while Kid stood ready to make sure they didn't lose them if they had some other form of transportation waiting.

 

            But once separated a bad piece of luck had caused Kid's horse to spook at the top of the ridge and lose its footing on the sandy hill above the river.  The animal had been killed in the fall with Kid only just jumping free in time to avoid being hurt or worse on the rocks below.

 

            Worried he would not be ready to travel should the need arrive he had hurried down the road and luckily come across a farmer willing to sell him an animal.    Riding back to collect his gear it had never occurred to him that the grisly scene would be the first thing his cousin would see should he return.  And finding no trace of him, Heyes would only presume the worse and begin checking the rocks and pools for him in the river's overgrown brush.

 

            "I got off in time," Kid said cheerfully and then noting Heyes’s expression decided cheerful wasn't the best tone of voice.  "Horse spooked," he continued and then added sincerely.  "Thank you anyway though.”  When he got no response he followed his partner talking as he went.  “Slipped did you?  Boy that green moss is gonna really be a devil to get out of your shirt.  You want me to take your boots?  Boy they are pretty bad aren't they?"

 

            The glare he got only made the grin he was fighting seek freedom harder.  He really was grateful and knew full well his partner, believing him hurt or trapped had dived into the river with only one thought, saving him.   And he appreciated that and he knew how lucky he was to have someone like Heyes watching out for him.   But in their long life together there had just been so few moments where Kid had been the dry one on the bank and Heyes the one covered in river slime.  He wouldn’t have been human if he hadn't enjoyed the moment just a little.

 

            "I can manage thank you," Heyes said with a black look.  "We haven't got much time, they are catching the afternoon train to White River. I got us two tickets on it."

 

            "Then we are gonna have to get you a bath, no one is gonna let you get on the train like…"

 

            Kid Curry stopped as his cousin froze and turned and gave him a look that made words unnecessary.

 

            "I'll go get my gear," Kid said backing away cautiously. 

 

Enjoyment was one thing, ending up in the river in the same condition as his cousin was another.

 

 

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

 

 

            Hannibal Heyes spurred his horse into a run as he made his way back into town from his visit with Mrs. Henderson.  She had at last agreed to return with them and he didn't have much time if was going to get Stokely out of the way and him and Kid back to the station in time to meet her.  He reined in as the crowd ahead of him came into view and was about to go around it when he realized what had caused the crowd.

 

            Grinning he swung off his horse and waded to the front.  Only Jed would consider this a logical way to keep the man busy!   Folding his arms he felt a warm glow of satisfaction that did much to help dry his still damp boots.

 

            He looked down as Kid landed at his feet and looked up surprised to see him..

 

            "How long have you been there?" Kid gasped.

 

            Heyes smiled innocently, "Not long…"

 

 

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

 

            Two hours later the train was well on its way and both men began to relax.  Mrs. Henderson was content to keep her thoughts to herself and the two men had respected her privacy letting her have a seat at the front of the empty rail car while they took ones in the back.

 

            "You mean were taking her back to a man who…" Kid frowned as Heyes explained the conversation he had had with the woman.

 

            "None of our business Kid."

 

            "I don’t know Heyes she might be better off with Jim, Jim wouldn't hit her."

 

            Kid was still uncomfortable with how they had left Stokely and had been highly vocal in expressing it.

 

            "Kid, Henderson is her husband."

 

            Curry looked at the dark haired man with a scowl, they both had seen the way enough wives had been treated to know how little protection such a title gave a woman.

 

            "And what if he goes back to hurting her?" Kid went on doggedly.

 

            Heyes stared at him exasperated and pulled out the book he had taken from the hotel, "Like I said that's not our business now will you leave it?"

 

            “Like we left Jim?  At least he didn’t hurt her!”

 

            "What you want him following us and forcing you to show him how fast you are for real?" Heyes growled. "Look I know that's both your idea of a good time…"

 

            Kid got up angrily and slammed the door as he exited.

 

            Heyes sighed.  He hadn't meant that.  If truth be told he had been down right proud of how Kid had worked the man into seeing the folly of drawing on him without anyone getting hurt. It had been highly amusing watching the two and knowing what was coming.   Stokely hadn't even cleared his holster, but then few did. 

 

The problem was Kid was right, he had been feeling misgivings about taking the lady back to her husband.  The short time he had spent with Sarah Henderson had allowed a grudging respect to blossom, which was dangerous, because it made her no longer a job, but a person.  Heyes had a dark view of men who thought wives were property and abuse part of their right.  Henderson's drinking did not excuse him in Heyes's eyes and normally he would never have thought of taking such a job, especially getting to know Jim Stokely and like him.  In his heart he knew the woman was better off with the reformed gunman.

 

            But the morale dilemma was a luxury they could not afford to explore.

 

            Heyes stared down at the page.  The book was interesting, but he had read the same page three times.  He hated it when he and Kid fought and nothing was quite right until they patched things up.  To make matters worse he was beginning to dread hearing Stokely's name.  Kid had really taken to the man and under normal circumstances Heyes could see them becoming good friends, which shouldn't have bothered him, but it did.

 

            Heyes sighed disgusted with himself.  It sounded so childish him worrying that Kid might have found a friend he would like more than him, what was he a child?  He shook his head, besides they were stuck with each other.  But what about after the amnesty?  Heyes had let his mind dwell on that lately and had realized all his grand ideas always had Kid at his side.  It had never occurred to him Kid might have other plans.  Of the two of them Kid was the more friendly, more easy going likeable one.  Kid didn't need Heyes for company, he never had.  If he was honest people wanted to be around him because of his ideas and his natural leadership.  With Jed they had because he was a good friend.

 

            Feeling moodier he tried to immerse himself in the book as his cousin came back and tried to start a conversation.  But he was feeling ornery and pretended to ignore him.  Kid at last gave up and put his hat over his eyes to sleep.

 

            The sooner this was over and they were away the better.

 

 

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

 

            Things had not improved since they had returned and agreed to stay in town for a week to give Henderson a sense of security.   For some reason Heyes just couldn't shake the dark mood dogging him and it made him retreat into himself using the book as a shield against Kid's constant attempts to draw him out.

 

            Not that his reading was anything new, but years earlier in the Home for Waywards they had developed the habit of Heyes reading aloud.  It had reminded them both of the readings their Grandfather had did and allowed Kid to be apart of Heyes's love of books.  And while Heyes would often read books to himself that Kid had no interest in, Kid's taste ran to action and adventure, Heyes would at least discuss them and bounce his opinion of the book off him.

 

            But this was different, Kid felt excluded and Heyes knew he was doing it because of how he felt excluded by Stokely's friendship with his partner.  It was childish, it was ridiculous and the more Heyes realized that the worse he felt and the harder it became to break out of it.

 

            It finally all came to a head when Henderson was gunned down at this ranch and Stokely was arrested on the grounds and accused of the murder.

 

            “Heyes we have to help him.”

 

            “Kid you are not thinking straight.  Every time we go into that jail we risk being recognized, you really wanna risk that for a man you just met?” Heyes yelled. 

 

            “No, but I’d do it for a friend!  Look Heyes if not for Jim, then what about the money he offered us?”

 

            Heyes looked at him.  That had hurt.  Did he really think he was that mercenary?

 

            “Kid we can’t take the chance…”

 

            “Well I’m gonna, with or with out you,” Kid said quietly.

 

            Heyes leaned back tired, “All right let me think about how we can do this.”

 

            Kid broke into his sunniest smile and Heyes smiled back relieved at the faith his partner still had in him.  Now all he had to do was live up to it.

 

 

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

 

            This was the plan?  Get tied up and let the man they suspected being the killer lead them into the middle of nowhere?  Kid rolled his eyes suddenly fed up with Heyes solitary attitude.

 

            "Joshua when this is over you go your way and I'll go mine," he said as the lawyer led them up the hill towards the cabin.

 

            Heyes swallowed.  Kid was just angry at feeling useless; it would all work out.  Kid would feel better once Stokely was out of jail.  Stokely, maybe Kid was on to something about them splitting up. Kid going with Stokely would make them less easy to recognize.  The thought of Kid finding a new partner gnawed at him and he forced his mind back on what lay ahead, he had to or they were dead.

 

 

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

 

 

            The ride to Santa Fe was one of the most unpleasant Heyes could ever remember.  Jim and Kid relieved of the obstacle of Sarah Henderson’s well being talked non-stop.  Both gunmen, they had much in common and there was little of it Heyes felt motivated to contribute to.  At first Kid attempted to draw him in, but after being rebuffed a few times he merely fell in with Stokely and the two carried on as if he wasn’t there.  Which is fine with me, Heyes told himself as they reached the hotel and checked in.

 

            “Aren’t you coming over with us to the bank?” Kid asked as Heyes moved to the stairs.

 

            “Yea if we don’t go now be Monday before we get another chance,” Stokely pointed out with a grin.

 

            “You go,” Heyes said with a wave of his hand and not looking back he missed the hurt, puzzled look on his friend’s face.

 

            “Okay I’ll be back in a bit and then we’ll hoorah the town,” Kid said trying to sound like everything was all right.

 

            Heyes didn’t answer. 

 

He knew it wasn’t.

 

 

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

 

 

            “Look Thaddeus I can see your partner doesn’t care for my company,” Jim said as they stepped up on the bank porch.

 

            “No, no, he’s just worried about something or…” Kid stopped.  He wasn’t use to Heyes closing him out.  Oh he had his dark moments where he would withdraw, but in the end he always opened up to Kid, it had been that way since they had been children.  Kid didn’t know what he had done to be shut out, but he was certain it was his fault and he worried at the problem determined to find a way to fix it.  In fact so absorbed was he in the puzzle he didn’t notice the man behind the door until he clicked the gun to his head.

 

 

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

 

 

            Hannibal Heyes tossed his gear on the bed and out of habit went to the window to check the view of the main street.  He was just turning away as something caught his attention and sharply he glanced back to make sure he wasn’t reading something into nothing.   Convinced he groaned and grabbing his gun belt ran for the door.

 

           

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

 

 

            I am not going to die in a bank robbery I am not pulling, Kid Curry told himself furiously as he was pushed against the wall with the other bank patrons.  Watching he counted four robbers and frowned at the way they were yelling and pushing the tellers around.  Armed amateurs, the deadliest kind of thieves.

 

            He looked over and caught Stokely’s eye, but he seemed at a loss to understand what Kid was thinking and Kid wished for the third time in a minute that Heyes have come with him.  No that was wrong, at least he was safe, but it sure would have given him hope knowing his friend was beside him.

 

            “Now we need us a nice sweet hostage to get us out of town,” the lead bandit grinned and Kid groaned realizing he meant the young girl beside him no more than 15.

 

            “You don’t need her,” Kid said pushing her behind him.

 

            “Oh fella here thinks he’s gonna tell me what to do does he?” the man grinned cocking back his gun in Kid’s face.  “Well let's just see about that.”

 

 

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

 

            Heyes hit the ground running.  The plan formed in his head as he reached the bottom step.  The wagon he had seen in his survey of the street was waiting.  Jumping in he grabbed the reins and slapped the horses in to a run.  He knew he had to get them going fast enough if he was going to swing the wagon around sharp enough to hit the front of the bank.   People scurried past sure he had gone mad as he headed back towards the bank the horses at a full gallop now.  At the exact right moment he pulled the release freeing the wagon and sending it hurling off into the front of the bank where it jackknifed and crashed breaking the door in and shattering the window.

 

            Heyes hadn’t stuck around to notice. 

 

He was too busy coming through the back door.

 

 

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

 

 

            Kid saw the wagon first.  To be honest even staring down death he had been expecting something.  Heyes kept telling him that one of these days his faith in him would be misplaced, but Kid knew better.  Kid knew what the bank robbers and patrons didn't, what it meant to have Hannibal Heyes watching your back.

 

As the wagon connected with the building the robber turned startled and Kid saw his chance and jumped him diving for the gun as they both hit the floor.  

 

            One of the other men turned to fire at him, but a shot from the back door relieved him of his gun.  It was all Kid needed to pull a weapon into his hand and take out the remaining two armed men.

 

            Kid stood up to find he and his partner were the only ones calmly standing, the rest of the patrons and Jim huddled down in shock.  The two outlaws eyes met and they both flashed one another amused, understanding smiles.

 

            “I always wanted to do that,” Heyes said eyes twinkling walking over and clapping him on the arm as if wanting physical confirmation he was well and whole.

 

            Kid found himself laughing and knew the rest of the room thought them mad,  “Just don’t tell me what else you always wanted to do, I wanna be surprised.”

 

 

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

 

 

            “I tell you friend I ain’t never seen anything like the way you two work in a fight, totally amazing,” Jim said an hour later as he and Heyes sat at the bar waiting for Kid.

 

            Heyes grinned modestly, “Just got lucky.”

 

            “No, no that was more than luck, but the way Thaddeus brags on you I shouldn’t have doubted you’d come up with something.”

 

            Heyes looked up surprised, “Brags on me?”

 

            “Joshua can’t shut the man up when he gets started on his partner.  I was beginning to believe I was being tall tailed, but between that fingerprint trick and the wagon I think he might be selling you short.”

 

            “Thank you,” Heyes said warmed by the man’s words and his cousin’s opinion of him.

 

            “Of course I wouldn’t expect less of Heyes and Curry.”

 

            Heyes looked up sharply,  “How did you…”

 

            “No, no Thaddeus would never betray you like that," he said quickly mistaking Heyes look for anger at his partner.   "Found out by accident as we were leaving town.  I had suspected after that little fast draw incident.  I can’t believe I tried to challenge Kid Curry to a fast draw, that is the last time I brag about how good I am to a stranger.”

 

            Heyes was forced to smile at the memory, “He likes you Jim, that’s why he insisted on the bottles.”

 

            “I like him…and you.  So rest your concerns no one is gonna hear it from me.  Jail is a very bad place, I don’t send my friends there.”

 

            “Thank you,” Heyes said offering his hand and moving to get up as he saw Kid enter. 

 

            “Oh no you can’t go,” Jim said firmly.  “If I’m fool hardy enough to take on Kid Curry with a gun, I most certainly want to say I also was crazy enough to play poker with Hannibal Heyes.”

 

            Heyes laughed, “It’s mostly hearsay I assure you.”

 

            “Yea, I bet it is, just like getting that wagon into the bank was luck.  I also wanna thank you for what you did for Sarah,” Jim said as Kid reached him.

 

            “What you did for Sarah?” Kid asked interested even more so by the look of embarrassment on his cousin’s face.

 

            “Yea seemed your partner was worried about my sister going back to her husband so he gave her the name of a sheriff in Wyoming and told her that if she ever needed help to contact him and he would find you two.  That was fine thing to do Mr. Heyes.”

 

            Kid grinned at his partner and then the smile left his face as he realized what the man had just called his cousin.

 

            “Gentlemen what say we play some poker,” Heyes smiled innocently.   "I always enjoy a game with friends."

 

 

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

 

 

            “Imagine him knowing,” Kid said softly as hours later the two stumbled into their room tired, but content.  He stopped as his friend lit the light.  “I didn’t tell him Heyes…”

 

            Heyes grinned, “I know, I trust you partner.”

 

            Kid looked relieved and sunk onto the bed to pull his boots off.

 

            “That was nice of you staking him that hundred dollars,” Kid laughed.  “The look on his face when you laid down that flush.  Well he went in knowing who he was playing with.”

 

            Heyes smiled, “Look Kid about the last week…”

 

            “It’s okay Heyes I figured it out and this is for you,” Kid reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a book.  “I imagine having me only to talk to does get a bit boring, especially someone as smart as you, so I got you another book and I promise this time I’ll let you read it in peace,” Kid looked down uncomfortable, but doggedly continued.  “I know how lucky I am to have you as a friend Heyes.”

 

            Heyes stared at him in amazement and automatically took the book grinning at the title, ‘The Three Musketeers’, just the kind of book Kid would pick out.

 

            He looked up and realized his partner had turned his attention back to getting ready for bed.

 

            “Kid?”

 

            Curry looked up with a yawn.

 

            “I was afraid you might want someone else for a partner…”

 

            Curry was jerked out of sleepiness, “I would what?  Who could I possibly?” he stopped.  “Jim.  You thought that me and Jim?  Partners? Heyes how plain stupid is that?”

 

            “Well I don’t know,” Heyes said feeling very young as he sunk down into the nearest chair and didn’t meet the man’s eyes.  “You got along real good and as soon as the amnesty kicks in no reason we have to stay partners.”

 

            Kid nodded, “True, no reason ceptin maybe were friends.  Heyes, Jim is a good man and I like having him as a friend.   But I only have one partner, my best friend.  Man who kept me from being beat up in Kindergarten, convinced the prettiest girl in school to dance with me, helped me bury my family and saved my life today.  Yea I’ve been lucky to have a lot of friends, but I will only ever have one partner.”

 

            Heyes looked up and grinned, “You sure do talk a lot lately.”

 

            “Might shut up if you read me that story.”

 

            “What’s it got pirates or sword fights?”

 

            Kid grinned, “Sword fights, man said the wimmin are pretty in it too.”

 

            “Oh well in that case,” Heyes said opening to the first page and then stopped, “Kid?  Thanks.”

 

            “Just gettin' even Heyes, just gettin' even.”