GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
The
Christmas Episode!
Alias Smith and Jones – Drena Hills
"A
lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory,
like
a thunderstorm,
and
we all go through it together."
-
Garrison
Keiller
CAST
Kid Curry……..………………………Ben Murphy
Will
Black…………………………..…Tommy Lee Jones
Phillip
Buffington……………………..Michael Caine
Dan
Russell……………………………Brian Keith
Alan
Wells…………………………….Tim Curry
Mrs.
Lewis…………………………….Helen Hayes
Sharon
Dunson………………………..Stockard Channing
Jessie
Dunson.…………………………Elijah Woods
Irene
Dunson………………………….Hayley Mills
Sam
Shaw…………………………..…Michael J. Fox
Lily
Shaw………………………….….Molly Ringwald
Mr.
Gustley…………………………..John Laroquette
CHRISTMAS,
"Could we sink any lower," Kid Curry said gloomily as his
horse stopped at the entrance to what could only with great generosity be
referred to as a 'town'.
Abandoned buildings littered the
forlorn street stretched out in front of him, their shutters flapping noisily
in the cold wind that had blew down from the north announcing the snow to come.
Everywhere there were signs of neglect and desertion
and the two riders along with the man in the carriage accompanying them paused
at the desolate scene before them.
"What did you say the name of
this town was Mr. Wells?" Hannibal Heyes asked the small dark haired man
impatiently waiting to move on.
"Christmas, now lets get moving
we have three stops on my list," the man said pulling his expensive coat
in around him, his face seemingly scrunched permanently in a scowl. It was
clear he thought all of this beneath him and when they didn't obey immediately
he slapped the horse forward and moved his carriage down the dusty street
alone.
"Heyes how did we sink this
low? Working for the railroad and
helping a lawyer and all three days before Christmas," Kid said shaking
his head.
Heyes didn't feel any better about it,
but was a practical man, "Now Kid you heard Lom we gotta build bridges
with the companies we offended. Us doing
work for the Western Pacific will make them look kindly on the Governor's offer
of amnesty when he reveals it," Heyes recited from memory as he urged his
horse forward.
"Yea," Kid said following
him. "That's about as likely to
happen as them using the word offended instead of robbed. Besides something about this feels all wrong;
you sure he said he was here to pay these people to move on so the railroad
could get the land?"
"Yup, even has a passel of money
in that briefcase of his."
"So if people are gonna be so
sure fired happy to see him, why did he need us?"
Heyes swallowed, that had been
bothering him too. "Reckon he
needed honest, trustworthy assistants to help with the money being
delivered."
"Heyes he hired us cause our guns
are tied down and that other fellow hadn't showed up yet," Kid said.
"Besides you ever heard of anyone being glad to have the railroad knock on
their door?"
Clearly this argument had been going
on all the way from town and exasperated Heyes turned on his partner. "Look Kid were broke, it's right before
the holidays so no one is hiring and with snow expected we didn't have a lot of
choice. Now I will happily take another
job if you show it to me. But we need a
stake to get out of here and somewhere warm and this man is paying good money
for us to help him so lets just get it over with."
Kid nodded, "Yea this time of
year gets to me too."
"It is not this time of year all
right!" his partner almost yelled.
"Whatever you say Heyes."
Prodding their horses they quickly
pulled up to where the carriage had stopped and Wells was standing at the gate
of a small house tapping his foot.
Surprisingly it looked well kept
compared to the rest of the town and the smoke that was coming from a chimney
was the first comforting sight they had seen since entering the town.
"Now we are here to evict these
squatters. This is railroad land and I
want them gone today!"
"Right after you pay them for
what its worth correct?" Kid said stopping.
"Of course! Of course!
Everything is legal! Just three
families are holding out for more. You
may have to get rough with them."
Kid stopped completely and Heyes
winced clearly having been fearing this.
Suddenly the door of the cabin opened
and a tiny white haired old woman smiled out at them as several small children
peered around her clutched to her dress.
"You want the little boy or the
grandmother?" Kid asked Heyes sarcastically.
"Oh it's that interesting man Mr.
Wells from the railroad!" the woman smiled. "Please all of you come inside and get
warm you must be frozen!"
"Mrs. Lewis I have told you I do
not have time for this…" the lawyer screeched as he was ushered into the
house along with the two outlaws who removed their hats respectively. "Tell those charges of yours to keep
their grubby little paws off of me!"
The woman forced a smile and turned
her attention to Curry and Heyes, "Now would you boys like tea or
coffee?"
Kid and Heyes exchanged glances. The cabin had clearly once been a home with the
remains of a woman's touch found in doilies and small knick-knacks on the
furniture and mantle. But repairs had
been put off for too long and now even inside with the small fire the cold
reached and gnawed at you.
A quick count revealed six children,
none older than 8 and an inventory of the wood by the fire and food on the
shelves clearly indicated meals had been lean of late.
Yet still she smiled and did her best
to make them feel welcome.
"Ah no ma'am, but thank
you," Heyes smiled grateful.
"Well then at least warm yourself
by the fire. I'm afraid the wood is
getting a little low, I hate to leave the children to collect it."
"These are all yours?" Kid
asked blinking.
She laughed and for a moment they had
a flicker of how beautiful she had been in her youth, "Oh no, just some young friends who
needed a place to stay when things started happening to the town." For a moment she flashed a defiant glance at
Wells. Clearly the railroad's buy out of
the town had not been as peaceful as they had been told.
"Mr. Wells has come to bring you
the money the railroad owes you ma'am," Kid said and found a small
wide-eyed boy at his side eyeing his weapon with the interest only little boys
could manage.
"And what money would that be Mr.
Wells?" she said sitting primly and ladylike, but rod straight.
"$20 dollars ma'am as
agreed."
Both men stared at him.
"You are only giving her 20
dollars for her house and this land?" Heyes said sure he had heard wrong.
"Its what was agreed on,"
Well said huffily.
"I never agreed to that,"
she replied softly.
"Well that is what you signed
for. Now as soon as she is out I want
this building burned to the ground. Mr.
Smith come with me we will do the next transaction while Mr. Jones finishes
up."
Kid looked at Heyes who read the fight
in his partner's eye and held up a hand to signal 'let me try' and followed the
man out.
"You're going to make me leave my
house aren't you? I've lived here 40
years young man. My husband and two sons
are buried out back, I had hoped to join them one day." She got up and glanced out the window. "This used to be such a lovely
town."
Kid exhaled and glanced at the small
faces peering at him from around the room tucked under blankets trying to keep
warm.
"Pack up any personal items you
have ma'am," Kid said rising and making a decision.
"Please couldn't we at least stay
until Christmas?" the woman whispered tears in her eyes.
"No ma'am that won't be
possible," Kid said firmly.
"Now what did you want to take?"
*******************************************
"Wells you are not serious,"
Heyes said catching up with the man and taking his arm forcing him to turn and
face him. "An old lady and
orphans…3 days before Christmas?"
"Spare me your Dickenesque out
rage you were glad to take the money when I offered it," he snarled back
and rapped on the door of the building that had once been the town newspaper
office
It took a moment but finally they
heard footsteps and a young man peered out and then finally opened the door
slightly, but making it clear they were not welcome. Behind him the newspaper office was strewn
with debris of broken furniture and machinery.
Someone had made very certain the town's paper would never be printed
again.
"Mr. Shaw I have come with your
money…"
"And I told you Mr. Wells what
you could do with your money."
"As promised I have men to
physically evict you."
Shaw looked up at Heyes and
swallowed. The outlaw looked quite
capable of doing just that and the young man quickly gave up any hope of
fighting his way out of things instead appealing to Heyes hopefully.
"Sir my wife is with child. The baby is due any day and the doctor said
she can't be moved…"
"Sam?" came a feminine voice
and the boy turned allowing them to see a small woman with red hair, heavy with
child moving towards them wrapped in a thin shawl.
"Lily I told you to stay in the
back where it's warm…"
"Have you come to make us
leave?" the woman asked Heyes with terrified eyes.
"He has indeed…" Wells
jumped in.
"No ma'am just wanted to check
and see how you were doing. You have
enough wood?" Heyes asked quietly.
"Uh yes thank you," Sam Shaw
said surprised.
"We'll send a doctor and some
supplies out to keep you going until the baby is born, but I'm afraid then you
will have to move into Sugar Pine. Once
winter hits you'll be trapped out here until spring."
Shaw nodded grateful, "Thank you
sir."
"MISTER Smith!" Wells said as Heyes turned to walk away and
he was forced to follow him. "Just
what do you think you are doing?
"What I am doing MISTER
Wells," Heyes said grabbing the man by the collar. "Is not throwing a woman expecting a
child into the cold, now if you wanna argue about that we can take it into the
street."
Wells stared at him unable to believe
anyone would talk to a man of his importance that way and then he met Heyes's
eyes and let out a little squeak as he got his first real glance at Hannibal
Heyes and not Joshua Smith.
"Fine! Can't believe Sheriff
Trevors recommended you both…" the man stomped away like a small boy
denied a treat. "We have one more
house sir! Merely a widow with her son and daughter, I presume you can handle
them?"
Rolling his eyes Heyes followed surely
his luck couldn't get any worse…
The shot blew the hat right off Wells'
head and whimpering he dropped to the ground as Heyes dived behind a broken
piece of fence, gun out.
"I told you Mr. Wells we ain't
leaving!" the woman's voice came from the door at the cabin at the end of
street.
Heyes squinted. All he could see was the end of a shotgun and
he had no urges to make the lady try her aim on him.
"Mrs. Dunson your husband signed
those papers!"
"My husband was shot in the back
and left in a ditch when he defied your ruffians! You will get his land over my dead body!"
And to make a point she shot his hat a
little further down the road.
"Ma'am?" Heyes called out
and winced as the gun turned towards his voice.
"We are going to go back to Sugar
Pine to get the doctor for Mrs. Shaw. We
aren't going to move her until her baby is born."
"Who are you?"
"Name is Joshua Smith."
"You work for the railroad?"
"At the moment."
"Then you’re a liar and a
cheat."
"Understandable thinking
ma'am. But you might wanna remember snow
is coming and it will be a lot safer for you and your family in Sugar
Pine."
"I'll think about it all
right."
"We are going to go now and I was
wondering if it might be possible to have Mr. Wells back, preferably without
ventilation ma'am?"
He heard the smile in her voice as she
told him to take him and get out of her sight.
"What do you think you are
doing?" Wells said as Heyes pulled
him to his feet and dragged him away.
"Saving your life!"
"I'm going to have that woman
arrested for attempted murder."
"Wells what is it with you? Pregnant women, orphans, old ladies, is this
your regular Christmas schedule or do you just like to excel this time of
year?"
"You all right?" Kid asked running up gun in hand.
"Yea, but he needs a new
hat," Heyes said with a grin.
"I am merely doing my duty. I am
a loyal….what is the meaning of this!"
Wells sputtered as they reached his carriage to find it filled with the
old woman and all the children bundled up with blankets.
"They need a ride into town, too
cold to stay here," Kid said simply and got on his horse. "Any luck with the others?"
"Got a woman with child, she
can't be moved. Wells is going to send
out a doctor and some food until it comes and then we can move her."
"What about the other one?"
"Widow, can take care of
herself."
"Wonderful," Kid sighted.
"And where am I suppose to
sit?" Wells said looking like he was about to throw a fit.
"Behind me, but be careful my
horse ain't partial to talking, spooks him, so if you don't want to fall off
and get left I'd stay quiet," Kid said coldly.
The man just stared at him.
"Mr. Smith tell your
partner…"
"Afraid I can't Mr. Wells,"
Heyes said apologetically. "Just
gets ornery like that sometimes and nothing will budge him. "Ma'am can you handle those reins
alone?"
"Oh yes thank you!" she
smiled up at him and for the first time Heyes realized she was wearing Kid's
coat. "Mr. Jones has been ever so
kind."
Heyes shot his partner a look, which
he pretended not to see.
"Yea he always was partial to the
pretty ones."
********************************
Three days till Christmas Sugar Pine,
a prosperous mining community, was alive with shoppers completing tasks for the
holiday. Fueled by the mines in the
area grand houses had begun to spring up and clearly prosperity had come if the
hustle and bustle was any indication.
Jumping down Kid moved to help Mrs.
Lewis down as she pulled the carriage in front of the upscale hotel Wells had
commandeered for his work.
"Oh my this is very grand!"
she said and looked down nervously at her charges, which Heyes had helped from
the wagon.
Wells in the meantime had made a
dramatic scene of climbing off Kid's horse and ignored them all to stagger into
the lobby.
"Oh Mr. Wells are you all
right?" Mrs. Lewis asked concerned as they followed him in. From the hotel desk the clerk in charge
watched amused, though he swallowed his smile quickly when Wells shot him a
look.
"I am not madam!" he snapped
and glared at the desk clerk.
"Gustley! I want a bath
drawn immediately!"
"Certainly sir," the tall,
dark haired man nodded, suddenly all business and turning ordered a bellhop to
complete the task.
The rail man's attempt to be rid of
them all was delayed as he reached the stairs and a trail weary gunman with
dark hair and intelligent eyes stopped him.
"You Wells?
Name is Black, Will Black, sorry I'm late, had a little trouble getting
here and…"
"You are late," Wells spat
at him and then looked him over distastefully.
"You need a shave."
"Ah yes sir, just got in. I was planning on that," Black said
clearly afraid he was going to lose the job.
"See that you do. I won't need you till morning," Wells
snapped and then with a groan mounted the stairs.
"Real nice fella, railroad all
right," Black said shaking his head to no one in particular.
"Looks like were working
together," Kid said offering a hand.
"Thaddeus Jones and this is my partner Joshua Smith."
The three men shook hands amiably.
"You have some trouble out there
today?" Black asked looking at the children sitting fearfully in a huddle
on the lobby sofa.
"No, just like you said, the
railroad," Heyes sighed and then followed his partner's glance to Mrs.
Lewis talking with Gustley at the desk.
"Thaddeus this is not our
problem," Heyes told him softly.
Kid nodded, he knew that. He also knew the woman had no money and how
desperate a feeling that could be.
Finally unable to take it any longer
and hurried over to the counter before his partner could stop him.
Heyes rolled his eyes at the
inevitable. He had never thought
anything different would happen.
"Problem?" Kid asked Gustley.
The man sighed, he was not
unsympathetic for the woman's problem, but there were rules.
"Lady needs a room and Mr. Wells
has made it clear the Railroad will not pay for any accommodations for
relocated persons."
"I was just hoping there was
something I could do so we could just stay long enough for me to make some
plans. I could wash floors or cook,
anything…" her voice trailed off.
She knew her tiny frail form did little to assure the men of her
capability.
"Give her a key," Kid said
pulling out a few bills from his pocket.
"This should get you through Christmas." He added putting down
the money.
"Oh Mr. Jones I couldn't…"
Mrs. Lewis said tears of hope in her eyes.
"Why that will get you a nice
family room ma'am, enough beds for all of you," Gustley lied handing her a
key to a suite whose cost was twice the money he had been handed.
"Come along Ma'am," Kid said
picking up her cases. "I'll see you
settled."
Herding the children towards the stairs,
Curry managed to avoid his partner's eyes as the children excitedly got up.
Shaking his head Heyes walked up to
the desk to collect their room key.
"You own this hotel?" Heyes
asked casually watching the group leave.
"No sir, wish I did," Gustley
sighed. "Came here as a lawyer and
ended up here. Hotel and most of the
town is owned by one of the big mine owners, a Mr. Russell. That's his fine house at the edge of
town."
"Came here as a lawyer?"
Heyes asked surprised.
"Not all of us can stomach
working for the railroad," the man said stiffly.
Heyes nodded his opinion of the man
going up a few notches, "You think this Mr. Russell might take pity on
them?"
"I don't know sir. He was severely burned financially by
Buffington's rail line, got cut out of the deal and now is going to have to pay
ten times his normal rate to transport his ore.
Wise man doesn't bring the subject up around him."
Heyes nodded and reached into his
pocket and pulled out several bills.
"Make sure they don't go hungry."
Gustley smiled, "I will sir and
I'll tell the lady…"
"You mention this to the lady or
my partner and we'll step outside," Heyes glared "Just tell her meals
come with the room."
Gustley swallowed a smile
understanding.
"Yes sir, no one will hear it
from me."
************************************
"You better hope the poker
tonight is better," Heyes grumbled as they took a seat in the hotel dining
room which was filled with holiday shoppers and visitors all chatting happily,
the chairs beside them filled with boxes and packages.
"Most folks rather be home this
close to Christmas," Kid said glumly looking around at the families and
couples.
"We get those last two out and
Wells pays us the balance we can head somewhere warm and rest up," Heyes
said refusing to feel melancholy or even acknowledge the season. "Provided you aren't going to bankroll
them as well."
Kid glared at him as Mrs. Lewis and
the children entered the dining room.
"Kid you gotta learn to be more
like me," Heyes said ignoring her arrival and noting his partner was
watching to see what happened and swallowed a smile as Kid sighed relieved when
she was shown a table by Gustley.
"Don't get involved, looking after yourself comes first."
"You are right Heyes," Kid
nodded. "We have to take care of
ourselves first." He added this
genuinely repentant and clearly determined to adopt Heyes's stern
self-preservation attitude.
"You fellas mind some
company?" Black said strolling up to their table. "Don't mean to be
so pushy, but this time of year really gnaws at me ya know?"
"Have a seat," Heyes
offering a chair.
"Much obliged. That scene over there looks just like
home," he smiled at the table full of children.
"Come from a big family?"
Kid asked.
"Eight younger brothers and
sisters," Black said looking heavenward.
"Never thought I'd miss them, but sometimes alone on the trail,
well makes a body think. Which was why I
was so impressed with what you fellas did for them kids over there. Getting them a room, making sure they had
meals, well lot of folks wouldn't do that for strangers."
"Getting them meals?" Kid
said straightening and glancing at his partner who was suddenly studying the
menu intently.
"Yea even told Gustley to tell
her it came with the room, right fine Christmas spirit you two have, don't see
that much with people working for the railroad."
Kid grinned and leaned back looking at
his partner. "No you don't. Most
people just look after themselves, don't get involved."
Heyes shot him a dark look and Kid
started chuckling, but his amusement was short lived as Wells appeared in the
doorway.
"Well there goes my
appetite," Kid sighed tossing down his menu.
Spotting them Well maneuvered through
the crowded room until he reached their table.
"I have just received word from
Mr. Buffington that he needs to see me urgently. His train will be in Littleover in the
morning. Mr. Smith you will accompany me
and ensure that I arrive safely."
"What's the matter Wells,
concerned one of the railroad's satisfied 'relocatees' might wanna take a shot
at you?" Heyes asked amused.
Wells ignored him and turned to Black
and Curry. "You two will remove the
remaining squatters. The last thing I
want is them to be snowed in for the winter.
Mr. Buffington is adamant that town be gone by Christmas!"
And without waiting for confirmation
he turned and walked away to a private table reserved for him.
"Real piece of work that
one," Black said.
"Oh you don't know the half of
it," Gustley murmured going past their table. "He pocketed most of the small payment
the railroad was paying. He's a
dangerous little snake and I'd advice you gentlemen to keep that in mind."
***************************************
"Bit stark for a man as rich as
Buffington," Heyes remarked politely as he stepped into the glum and
sparsely furnished private rail car.
They had found it waiting on a siding and tying up their horses had
waited to be admitted into the back car that housed the rail tycoon's sleeping
area and dining room. Passing through to
the second car they were escorted through the kitchen to the area Buffington
had renovated into an office.
But even with the shades up the dark
grays and blacks brought to mind more a funeral car than a millionaire's home
on wheels.
"Mr. Buffington does not waste
money on luxuries," Wells sniffed at him.
"Coal either," Heyes said
pulling his coat in around him.
"Did you bring them?" a
clipped eastern accent demanded even before they had gotten through the door.
"Yes sir," Well said
instantly cowered and hurrying up handed an older, white haired gentlemen the
satchel he had clutched to him all the way from Sugar Pine.
Heyes stepped back watching the
interaction of the two men. Wells had
been instantly reduced to a whipped pup in the presence of his boss and stood
wringing his hands concerned something might be amiss as the taller man slipped
back into a chair behind his paper strewn desk.
He looks like he has ice water in his
veins, Heyes thought at the stiff frozen posture and realized this was where
Wells had learned his scowl from.
"And you have removed the
remaining three obstacles?"
"Sir those obstacles are
families," Heyes said quietly.
The man looked up sharply pretending
to have just noticed him.
"They are obstacles, who are
you?"
"Joshua Smith sir," Heyes
said before Wells could respond.
"Mr. Smith in business the wise
man does not humanize barriers to his success."
"I would have thought a wise man
would take into account the effect public opinion could have on his
business," Heyes countered with a confident smile.
Wells began to sweat wishing he had
left Heyes with the horses, but the urge to impress him had been too great. Clearly it had been a mistake, because even
Mr. Buffington wasn't impressing the man!
"Mr. Smith unless you are a
complete moron you must have realized I am rich enough to neither care nor
worry about public opinion. Besides I
hardly think the ramblings of a few dirt poor farmers will hold much
water."
"My family were farmers Mr.
Buffington," Heyes said his expression unreadable. "And you'd be surprised and what even
two men can do to stop a railroad."
Both men's eyes met and to Wells'
surprise Buffington looked away first.
"Very interesting Mr. Smith, but
I have no time for idle what ifs," and turning the man walked over to a
large safe tucked into the corner of the room.
"You have been dismissed Mr. Smith.
Wells you will lunch with me, I have a few things to discuss."
"They will feed you in the
kitchen, wait for me there," Wells told him haughtily.
"Yes sir," Heyes said
quietly his eyes never leaving the man working the combination of the
safe. "I'll do that."
**********************************
"What the…she's shooting at
us!" Black told Kid from behind the
building they were watching from.
"Yea we noticed that last
time. Keep her distracted while I slip
around back and remember it's just a widow and her two children."
"Don’t shoot like any widow I
ever met," Black grumbled ducking back.
Slipping around Kid quietly made his
way behind the cabin and then stealthily inched around the side till he was
parallel with the front of it. He could
see the rifle sticking out the door.
Black fired another couple of bullets into the air and she responded
with another well-aimed shot back.
"Jesse reload this…" the woman whispered back to someone behind
her and Kid saw his chance pouncing on outstretched barrel of the gun and
yanking it free from her grasp.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I really
need to talk to you," Kid said firmly.
The woman tried to push him out the
door but she was no match for him and a moment later he and Black stood in the
small cabin confronting the woman.
She was a small thing with thick dark
hair that had been piled on her head quickly and in doing so had let several
wisps of curls to escape.
A little girl with blond braids, no
more than 8, ran to her side and the woman put a protective arm around her,
which might have looked defiant if the fear in her eyes wasn't so apparent.
A second child, a boy of 12 rushed
from the back room having retrieved and old army revolver and moving in front
of his sister and mother aimed it at them.
"Get out of my house!" the
boy said his voice breaking, but he stood firm.
"Jesse, no!" the woman
sobbed terrified. "I've all ready lost your father to them, I won't lose
you as well!"
"You the man that killed my
Pa?" Jesse asked with a cold rage.
"No son were not. Were just here to help you and your family
move along," Kid said quietly.
"You're lying."
"No he ain't boy," Black
said unable to keep his eyes off the woman.
"Now why don't you put that down so we can talk?"
"And let you hurt my mother and
sister? Not a chance!"
"What if I can prove I can get to
my gun faster than you can shoot that?" Kid said quietly and everyone
stared at him.
"Ain't nobody that…" the boy
stared as Kid's gun appeared in his hand.
The boy gasped in surprise and
frustration as Kid removed the pistol from his hand.
"Don’t you hurt him!" the
boy's mother said pulling her son to her as Kid holstered his gun and motioned
for Black to do the same.
"Now what say we talk this
out," Kid said handing Jesse his gun back.
The boy stared at him, "Why you
giving me this back?"
"Just wanted to talk," Kid
said simply. "Ma'am you all right?"
The woman moved to nod yes but started
to collapse even as she did. Black
reached her first and gently caught her up and laid her on the small couch by
the fire.
"She ain't eaten, she saves all
the food for us," the little girl told Kid.
Kid crouched down and smiled at her,
"What's your name?"
"Irene Dunson sir. You’re the fastest gun I ever seen! My daddy was fast too!"
"Well Irene I've got some
supplies for the Shaw's in a wagon out there, what say you and me see if we can
rustle something up to make her feel a bit better?"
Giving her his best smile he stood up
and offered his hand.
She studied him for a moment and made
her decision. "Thank you sir,"
she nodded and took it.
"Hey where are you going with
her!" Jesse said not wanting to
leave his mother, but fearing for his sister.
"It's all right Jes, he's not
like the other men," Irene told him and then turned her attention back to
Kid. "I'm making decorations for
our Christmas tree would you like to see?
I only have a few ribbons, but I found some…"
"He's a killer Irene, you see him
draw that gun?" her brother said angry at her lack of fear.
"Papa was fast and he didn't hurt
people," the little girl retorted.
"Irene?" the woman asked
opening her eyes terrified.
"Its all right ma'am, were just
gonna bring in something for you all to eat," Kid said.
"Jes go with them," the
woman ordered sitting up despite Black's concern.
"Yes ma'am," Jesse said
moving to follow Kid.
"Be a might easier to carry
things without that," Kid told him quietly.
The boy looked at the gun he was
clutching and then realized he didn't stand a chance against Kid and resigned
placed it on the table.
"Your friend talks pretty for a
hired gun," the woman said getting up and instantly becoming light headed
again.
"Things aren't always what they
seem ma'am," Black smiled steadying her.
"Keep your hands off me!"
"You sit down and I will, but I
ain't having your kids walking in and thinking I put you on the floor!"
She looked at him and he gave her a
small smile.
"You aren't like regular railroad
men."
"Ma'am sometimes a man gets
caught at the start of winter and just needs a stake and has to take whatever
work is offered."
"Sinking even low enough to work
for that blood sucking Buffington?"
"Ma'am you should be grateful me
and Mr. Jones did cause I guarantee this all would be playing out a lot
different right now."
She looked up at him trying not to
trust him as the door burst open and Irene danced in.
"Momma! He's got chicken and pie!"
******************************
Heyes rode up to the hotel and
remained on his horse. Wells had kept
him waiting for almost an hour, but his satisfied smile whenever the railroad
man had looked at him had worried Wells all the way back to Sugar Pine.
"Aren't you coming in?"
"No I think I'll ride down to
Christmas and see how my partner is getting on," Heyes said politely.
The man looked at him, "Well yes,
fine, excellent, " and he almost felt back in control until he glanced
back and caught Heyes's expression.
It was very much like a tiger watching
a cornered mouse.
******************************
"They are all packed," Black
said coming up to Kid who was standing on the porch of the Shaw's
residence. "They ready?"
"I'm still waiting on the
doctor," Kid sighed and glanced up at the sky uneasily. The bad weather was way overdue and the last
thing he wanted to do was leave these people stuck out here alone, especially
with the woman in her condition.
"You want me to wait?" Black
asked deferring to Kid's judgement.
"No, get them into Sugar
Pine," Kid said. "And find out
what happened to that doctor!"
"Will do," Black said
clearly pleased he got to ride alone with the widow and her family.
"And Black?"
"Don't let her shoot you."
"Try my best," the man
grinned hurrying off.
Kid turned his attention back to the
door, "Mr. Shaw…"
The door opened and the young father
to be burst out frazzled, "Hurry I think she's dying!"
**********************************
Hannibal Heyes rode into the deserted
town and frowned. He had passed Black on
the road and his concern had grown when his partner hadn't followed along after
him.
Reaching the Shaw's he dismounted and
hurried up to the door and knocked several times finally giving up and trying
the knob, which opened on his touch.
Moving through the office he found the
door to the residence in back and entered a small but tidy room where a fire
was burning, but no one was present.
"Hello?" Heyes called out
and was answered by the far door opening and his partner exhaling relieved.
"Boy am I glad to see you,
where's the doctor?"
"I thought you were bringing
him?"
Kid looked at him horrified, "No,
he was on another call, but he said he would follow us here!" Kid groaned and sunk into a chair. "Wonderful!"
Heyes looked at him slightly
exasperated. He had ridden long and hard
since daybreak and was tired and cold.
This was hardly the response he had expected.
"Nice to see you too!" Heyes said disgusted pulling off his gloves
and looking around for coffee.
A woman's scream froze him in his
tracks.
"What was that?" he said
warily.
"Mrs. Shaw, having a baby!"
Kid said simply.
"A baby? But the doctor isn't here!"
"I know that Heyes, I tried to
tell her that, but she won't listen to me.
Maybe if you explain it." Kid said patiently.
"Make her husband tell her!"
"He's having a worse time of it than she is. Every time she screams, he passes out."
"Then who is delivering the
baby?" Heyes asked abnormally slow.
Kid looked at him.
"You don't know how to deliver
babies!" Heyes told him unnecessarily.
"Thank you Heyes that thought did
occur to me!"
"What are we gonna do?"
Heyes asked clearly rattled.
"Well you’re the one who keeps
telling me you know everything, after you!"
Heyes stared at him, "I don't
know how to deliver a baby! The only
thing I ever delivered was a foal with my Pa."
"One up on me."
"Kid I was 8! And that is not a horse in there!" Heyes said yelling now.
Suddenly the door jerked opened and
the white faced father stumbled out.
"It's coming! The baby is
coming!"
Groaning the two outlaws were urged
into the room and stopped dead looking at each other and anything other than
the woman in the bed.
"Heyes do something!" Kid
hissed.
"Me? What about him! He's the father, this is his fault!"
Heyes yelled back.
Mrs. Shaw let out a blood curdling
scream and on cue her husband dropped to the floor in a dead faint.
"Please help me!" she begged
so pitiful Heyes abandoned all hope of escaping.
Heyes swallowed, "Get some
towels!"
Kid, eager to have any instructions
obeyed and Heyes reluctantly moved up to the woman.
"Are you the doctor?" she
asked desperately.
Heyes for a moment considered being
honest, but the fear in her eyes told him that was not what she needed.
"Yes ma'am, everything is gonna
be fine," he smiled his best smile and pulled off his coat and started
rolling up his sleeves.
"Now what?" Kid whispered
handing him the towels.
"I don't know," Heyes
whispered back taking them. "That’s
all my father let me do!"
*****************************
Sam Shaw groggily got to his feet as a
baby's cry startled him into consciousness.
"Heyes you did it!" Kid
laughed slapping him on the back as Heyes stared at the tiny creature in his
hands.
"I think she gets more credit
than I do," Heyes laughed back.
"Give me a blanket."
Kid quickly slipped the cloth under
the child and together they managed to wrap the child.
"It’s a boy ma'am," Heyes
smiled at the young mother and handed her the child.
"A boy!" Sam cried and then seeing the bloody towels
on the floor keeled over again.
"Did someone call for a
doc…" the small-wizened man stopped short in the doorway. "Well I see I'm a bit late."
"Were just glad to see you
Doc," Kid told him.
"Father?" he asked looking
down at Sam.
"Yea," Heyes nodded.
"Take him out there and get him
some air while I check these two out," the medical man said not surprised.
"Come on Sam lets see if we can
find you a drink, cause I sure need one," Kid said swinging the man's arm
around his shoulder and taking him out.
******************************
"So there was a quite a battle
between Buffington and Russell?" Heyes asked interested a half-hour later
as the two ex-outlaws sat with Shaw next to the fire sharing a bottle of
whiskey.
"Buffington tricked Shaw by
making him think he would be his partner in the railroad then bought up all the
land any way he could and cut him out of the deal."
"And Russell's mines will have to
pay through the nose to get his ore out on it," Kid said sitting
back. "Explains why Buffington is
in such a hurry. "The last thing he
wants is to give Russell time to regroup."
"More than that," Sam said
knowingly. "Ever wonder why he's so
obsessed with destroying this town before Christmas? Seems Russell stole his fiancée out from
under him when he brought her out here 40 years ago. They eloped on Christmas day and set up
living here until Russell hit a big strike.
Feud had been simmering all that time and then when she passed away last
year whole thing flared up between them."
"Revenge and greed, heady
stuff," Heyes nodded.
"Buffington was ruthless. He got most people to sign under duress or
before folks realized what was happening.
With those deeds he owns this valley," Sam sighed. "I tried to stop him with the newspaper
and well you saw how that went. John
Dunson tried to stand up to him and they found him dead. No were powerless without those deeds."
"What if he didn't have them or
the papers you signed?" Heyes said
quietly.
Sam laughed bitterly, "I imagine
he has them locked up real tight on that fancy train of his."
"Like in a safe?" Heyes said innocently.
Kid looked up sharply as Heyes almost
bit back a smile.
"Joshua…."
"Tell me Sam do you think Mr.
Russell would be interested in buying you out at a fair price?"
"He's a tough character, but he's
always been fair with his people, yes I think he would, but most people have
moved on. Why it's just our three
families left…"
"That would be enough to put a
dent in Buffington's plans though," Kid said cautiously. "And as rich
as Russell is he wouldn't be easy to roll over."
"Yes but we don't have the
deeds! We don't have our notes!"
Sam said draining his glass and getting up.
"And I'm afraid I'm too cynical to believe in Christmas
miracles," he said firmly.
The two men watched him go through the
door to his wife.
"Heyes you have those notes don't
you?" Kid asked quietly.
"Just the three families, I
didn't want Buffington getting suspicious if he looked in the safe."
"What happened to not getting
involved! Making friends with the
railroad!" Kid hissed. "Do you
know what he will do when he realizes those papers are gone?"
"Blame Russell. Don't worry Kid we're not getting involved,
we'll just pass the deeds on to Shaw and they can handle it."
Kid looked doubtful, "Heyes that
group can't stand up against Buffington, they'll fold like a house of cards if
he threatens their children."
"We've done what we could. We'll collect the rest of our money and be
gone before Buffington can put two and two together," Heyes said pleased
with himself.
"I hope your right Heyes, cause
otherwise these people are gonna be in more trouble than when we found
them!"
****************************
"We'd like to collect the rest of
our pay now Mr. Wells," Heyes said smiling politely at the railway man as
he stood in the doorway of his room.
"All three families are gone from Christmas and we torched it just
like you told us to."
"You have been paid," Wells
said with a smirk.
"No sir that was just the fifty
dollars good faith money. You still owe
each of us 500 dollars," Kid said his face unreadable.
"I don't owe wanted men anything! Oh didn't think I would figure that out did
you? Trevors recommended you to get on
the good side of Mr. Buffington and I've been watching both of you. You both are on the run and you can't afford
to stick around anywhere too long or make a fuss about how you are
treated. So I'm keeping your money and
if you aren't out of town I'm going down to the sheriff's office and go through
his wanted posters until I find just what you two are wanted for!"
********************************
"He's got us," Kid said
slamming the door of his room and looking like he wanted to shoot
something. "Nothing we can do but
crawl out of town whipped…and broke! We
should have known that little no good would try something after what he did to
those families…Heyes?" Kid
stopped. His partner was standing in the
middle of the room with a look Kid knew all too well.
"Come on."
"Where we going?"
"To hire a lawyer."
**********************************
Gustley sat across from them staring
at the papers incredulously. "How
did you get these?"
"Mr. Buffington took too long at
lunch and it was only a Pierce and Hamilton 1872. Man really should spend the money to get the
newest version," Heyes said innocently.
"But what do you need with
me?" Gustley said.
"We want you to come up with some
legal writing to make sure those folks don't get cheated out of their land
again this time," Kid said.
"And then represent them to
Russell," Heyes added.
"Why you doing this?"
Gustley asked suspicious.
"Lets just say it's a little
Christmas present to ourselves," Kid smiled.
"Yea if we can't get payback,
we'd like someone else to!" Heyes added wickedly.
**********************************
"What the…" Dan Russell said
looking up from his desk at the large group filling the doorway of his house's
study. "Marcus who let all these
people in!"
"Sorry Mr. Russell," Heyes
smiled. "Not his fault."
"Look I want all of you people
out of my house…" he stopped as Mrs. Lewis and Irene hurried up to his
desk followed by the other children.
"Mr. Russell I can't tell you how
grateful we are to have you see us and it almost Christmas Eve!" Mrs. Lewis said. "Such a kind man."
"I am not a kind man," the
blond haired older man growled.
"Oh but your wife always
said…."
"My wife lied, I am not
kind."
"We brought you some
cookies," Irene smiled putting them on his desk and immediately the other
children gathered around hoping for him to pass them out.
"What are all these
children? MARCUS!"
"Mr. Russell we are here to
present you with an extraordinary offer," Gustley said nervously stepping
forward on Heyes's encouragement.
"I don't want what you are
selling, giving or taking, now get out!
Oh all right have one," the man sighed giving the children a
cookie.
Smiling the smallest crawled up onto
his lap to eat it and he stared down at the little boy in shock.
"Would someone please get this
child off of me?"
"Oh that's Toby!" Mrs. Lewis
smiled adoringly. "He doesn't just
like anyone, this is a great compliment Mr. Russell."
"Who are they," Russell said
softening a little as the little boy offered him a bite. "You people barge in here with
gunman!"
"They're not gunmen!" Irene
said smiling at Kid. "That is Mr.
Jones and Mr. Smith and Mr. Black. They
helped us with the mean railroad men."
"They did eh?" Russell said
sizing them up.
"Sir I really think if you listen
to what Mr. Gustley has to say," Mrs. Dunson said.
"Gustley? Don't you work at my hotel?"
"Yes sir, but I'm really a
lawyer."
"I hate lawyers."
"Yes, sir very wise that,"
Gustley agreed.
"Would someone please start
explaining all this to me?" Russell yelled.
Everyone looked at Heyes who rolled his
eyes heavenward, so much for staying in the background.
"Mr. Russell…"
"Who are you?"
"Joshua Smith," Heyes
grinned liking the man and not missing he had passed the children another
cookie.
"Of course you are, can you
explain all this?'
"Yes sir I think I can.
Buffington and his railroad ruthlessly took these people's land to ensure the
cheapest most efficient route for his railroad from Denver to the mines."
"Up to an including murder,"
Sharon Dunson said under her breath and her daughter took her hand.
"What's this got to do with me? I
can't do anything about it," Russell said, but he leaned forward
interested.
"How would you like the deeds to
their lands for a fair price and relocation?" Heyes asked quietly.
Russell leaned back and took a bite of
one of the cookies considering this amazing offer.
"If I owned their land Buffington
would move heaven and earth to get it from me.
Why would I want their troubles?"
"Because we think you are the
only man who can stand up to Buffington, hold your own you might say," Kid
said.
"Which one are you?"
"Jones sir."
"Smith and Jones, well everything
else is unbelievable go on," Russell said throwing up his hands, but his
eyes were twinkling.
"With legal possession of those
deeds you could force Buffington to give you and your mine a fair contract to
transport your ore," Heyes went on.
"That would certainly get his
dander up," Russell smiled liking this.
"But how would you all have gotten the deeds back? I know for a fact he had them all."
Heyes walked over and put the deeds
down in front of him.
"Man was mistaken, these people
didn't sign them over to him," Heyes said quietly.
Russell picked them up and studied
them and then looked Heyes in the eye.
"You realize he will challenge
this in court?"
"Oh I don't think Mr. Buffington
wants all this getting out in court," Heyes said simply.
Russell nodded, "How much this
all gonna cost me?"
Gustley straightened and pulled a
piece of paper from his pocket. "I
have here a fair and adequate settlement for all three families in exchange for
their land and all rights to it."
Russell took the paper shaking his
head and then spotted Black.
"What about you, you on their
side too?"
Black shifted nervous, but nodded as
he glanced at Mrs. Dunson, "Reckon I am sir."
Russell pulled out his glasses and
read it, "Looks fair. So you a
lawyer boy?"
"Yes sir."
"Honest one too it appears,
though that's the hardest thing I've had to believe so far." He stood up
and looked at Heyes. "You and your
partner seem to be leading all this, what's in it for you?"
"Five hundred dollars apiece
finder's fee, what Buffington's man gypped us out of," Heyes said simply.
"You think all this is worth that
much?"
"No sir, but I think the pleasure
you are going to get telegraphing Buffington will be," Heyes said almost
swallowing a smile.
For the first time a full smile broke
across Russell's face. "Might have
a point there son! All right let me get
my man to check this over and I'll get back to you. I take it your all staying in my hotel?"
"Yes sir," Kid said.
"All right I'll get back to
you. Little girl do not hug me I am not
a nice man!" he groaned as Irene wrapped her arms around him.
"This is going to be a wonderful
Christmas after all!"
*********************************
"Jess you help little Toby get
those decorations up on the higher branches," Sharon Dunson ordered as the
entire party sat in the hotel dining room finishing breakfast and Christmas
chores.
"A tree?" Heyes said looked
at Kid as he finished fastening it down.
"It's Christmas Eve, Heyes,"
Kid told him firmly. "And it didn't
take me but a minute to cut it down for them."
"If Russell doesn't get back to
us soon it won't be for us. The minute
Buffington gets his telegram we have to be out of here."
"Gustley who said you could put a
tree in here!" Russell yelled from the door.
Everyone looked up and froze.
"I can see I'm gonna have to make
you my lawyer instead of my hotel manager, your obviously better at that than
this," the man said shaking his head.
"Little girl would you please stop hugging me, I have an image as a
cranky old man to uphold," Russell said exasperated to Irene, but everyone
noticed he did nothing to remove her.
"I take it your inquiries went
well?" Heyes said politely.
"You know darn well they
did. Deeds are all in order and
Buffington's reply to my news sent him through the roof. He should be here by dark, made my Christmas
this has. And speaking of which my staff
seems to have lost their minds and cooked enough food for a regiment for this
holiday everyone is so fond of. I'll
never eat it all so only thing to do is you all come up and tuck into it and
we'll get these papers signed and processed before Buffington
arrives." On that thought he rubbed
his hands together. "Well get a
move on!"
Excited the group hurried from the
room as Russell watched.
"You turning down my offer?"
he said noticing Curry and Heyes had not moved.
"No sir, just that we really need
to be moving on," Kid said.
"Christmas Eve, not the best day
to travel, especially with a storm arriving," Russell said eyeing them
shrewdly.
"Ah yes sir, but with Mr.
Buffington arriving I think it best we be leaving," Heyes said.
"Yes, I can understand that. This Black fella, he any use looking after
those folks? I don't want that old miser or his cronies harassing them."
"I think he'd do just fine
looking after them sir," Kid said.
Russell nodded and turned to go.
"Ah sir about our fee…"
Heyes said hopeful.
"You never did tell me why Wells
didn't pay you."
Kid let out a long sigh.
"Nice doing business with you Mr.
Russell," Kid said moving for the door.
"I thought so," Russell
smiled softly. "Been on the run
myself once, not easy this time of year.
I'll have my man bring your money to you at the stable in an hour."
Heyes broke into a grin, "Thank
you sir."
"You sure you don't want to say
good bye to those folks? They owe you
quite a bit."
"Thank you but no sir. Good byes sort of wear on a man this time of
year," Kid said honestly.
He nodded understanding, "I have
a miner's shack about ten miles from here in the hills. Pretty well hidden and its stocked with both
food and supplies. Good place to hold up
till a storm passes or things quiet down.
I'll send directions with the money."
"Thank you sir we appreciate
that," Heyes said shaking his hand.
"You should, leaving me with all
those little kids and a house full of guests…" he mumbled going out the
door grumbling happily.
"Think we can trust him?"
Kid asked worried.
Heyes considered this, "I don't
know Kid, but I sure do wanna believe we can."
**************************************
They spend the hour gathering their belongings
from the hotel and a few supplies for the trail and stepped out into the late
afternoon to find snow had finally arrived.
"I sure hope that cabin of his
works out because were not gonna get far in this," Kid said as they
trudged to the stable.
"You sure you wanna leave and not say good
bye?" Heyes asked as they reached their horses. And paying the man began to saddle them.
"Aw they'll have clean forgot
about us by tomorrow," Kid said with a shrug.
"Yea but you won't have. Kid I keep telling you ya gotta stand back,
stay uninvolved," Heyes went on smugly.
"Oh like you breaking into
Buffington's safe to get those deeds," Kid said calling him on it.
Heyes looked hurt, "Kid I did
that for us, figured some leverage against Wells might help come in
handy."
"Heyes you did it because you
couldn't stand those people being treated that way, especially at
Christmas," Kid said grinning enjoying seeing his partner squirm.
But Heyes was having none of it,
"Christmas just another day to me Kid."
"Gentlemen?" came a voice
and they turned to see Marcus, the butler, hurrying up to them with a large
sack. "From Mr. Russell with his
best wishes for the new year."
The two ex-outlaws frowned at the
sack, but Kid took it and tied it to the back of his horse as Heyes accepted
the envelope and opening it nodded to Kid to say all was in order.
"Tell Mr. Russell thank
you," Heyes said as Kid mounted up.
"I will sir, Merry Christmas
Gentlemen!"
They offered him the same and then
with a kick moved their animals out into the snow.
******************************
Darkness had long fallen and the snow
turned into a blizzard by the time the two ex-outlaws found their way to the
miner's shack.
The sight of the small building and
its stable hidden among the trees renewed their energy and gratefully they
pulled their horses in and quickly bedded them down.
The animals settled they collected the
meager supplies they had brought and plodded back to the cabin door not sure
either had the energy to make a hot meat of the jerky and beans they had
brought along with coffee.
"Just about
Stepping back he exhaled enjoying the
warmth that began to radiate from it.
"Still I reckon it could be a
whole lot worse. Snow will keep
Buffington's people away and you can always explain to Lom…maybe in a letter,
yea letter might be better…"
"Kid?"
"You wanna eat or just turn
in…" Kid stopped having turned and stared at the table Heyes had dumped
the contents of the sack they had been given out on to.
Several packages wrapped with ribbons
lay there along with large cloth napkins containing turkey legs and biscuits
and other Christmas treats.
"Where did…" Kid gaped.
Heyes started laughing as he reached
into the sack again and pulled out a carefully boxed collection of
cookies. "From Irene," he
grinned.
"What else is in there?" Kid
said both of them looking like children on Christmas morning.
"Ah lets see, we have cigars…and whiskey! Bless you Mr. Russell!"
"What's that?" Kid asked as
Heyes removed the final item from the burlap sack.
"Letter of some kind," Heyes
said opening it as Kid took a bite of one of the cookies. "It's from
Russell!" And clearing his throat
he read:
"Dear
Gentlemen,
It
was decided we couldn't let you go off without Christmas, Mrs. Lewis was most
adamant and those socks are from her, amazing woman, knitted them herself to
give you tomorrow morning. Mrs. Dunson
and her family packed the food. Irene said to make sure I tell you she baked
the cookies. Annoying little child,
won't leave me alone.
The whiskey and cigars are from me and Black,
least he understands what a man needs at Christmas.
Oh
Mr. and Mrs. Shaw said to tell you they have named their son after you. And we are all hoping
Merry
Christmas
D.
Russell
P.S.
We all put the pieces together and decided anyone who could open a safe like
that and out draw the wind could only be two men. Don't worry your secret is safe with us,
Gustley is all ready spreading the rumor Wells broke into the hotel safe,
should give Buffington something to think about!
For a moment the two could only stare
at the letter.
"They knew," Heyes said
softly.
"Ya know Heyes sometimes
Christmas on the run isn't so bad," Kid said grinning at him.
Heyes let out a laugh and opening the
whiskey savored its smell and then poured them both a liberal glass. "Ya
know Kid maybe our luck is changing after all!"
"Actually Heyes I'm starting to
think it wasn't that bad to begin with!"
The two grinned at each other.
"Merry Christmas partner!"
Kid clinked his glass, "Merry
Christmas Heyes!"