JELLY BREAD JAM SANDWICHES

Drena Hills

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove,

than the hunger for bread.”

- Mother Theresa

Historical Note:

Between 1853 and 1890 an enormous influx of immigrants from Europe arrived in the United States seeking a new life. Unfortunately the large cities of the east were ill prepared to cope with the numbers and it was the children who suffered.

In 1853 Charles Loring Brace created the Children’s Aid Society to help deal with the needs of homeless, orphaned or abandoned children. But so large was the number needing aid that a plan was developed to send many of children to the rural Midwest by train. These so-called ‘Orphan Trains’ stopped in each town where homes were then attempted to be found for a few children.

It is estimated that 400,000 children made their way west through this system and as the train moved to its next stop, those children not taken feared no one would ever want them…

“Heyes will you stop being so stubborn!”

Hannibal Heyes stood up from the edge of the bed he had been sitting on and paused for a moment to take in the accomplishment. He felt dreadful and every instinct in him screamed to grab hold of the headboard to keep himself upright, but under his cousin’s unwavering scrutiny he merely picked up his shirt and attempted to focus.

“I’m fine,” he replied, but it came out more cough than actual words.

“Heyes you haven’t been able to get out of that bed for a week, you can barely walk let alone ride,” Kid Curry said disgusted from the doorway of the three room cabin they shared in the outlaw hideout known as Devil’s Hole.

The outlaw brushed his dark hair back with his fingers and ignored how his hands were shaking. “Kid you worry to much, now I told you I’m not letting this train go by, we’ve planned too hard and long.”

“Agreed,” his blond cousin said choosing his words carefully. “That’s why were going and you are not.”

Heyes looked up startled, “What!?”

“I’m serious Heyes you aren’t coming. We’ll take the train, I know what to do, I’ve been over it with you a dozen times.”

“No,” he said willing it to come out like a bark instead of the squeak that emerged.

“Heyes there is a storm brewing, influenza was bad enough, you want pneumonia?”

“It’s just a cold.”

“All right,” Kid said pursing his lips and then spotting something smiled. “Well you’ll be needing your pants, wanna come get them?”

Kid picked up his trousers and held them just out of reach.

Heyes cast a dark glance towards the slightly younger man, but taking a breath moved to stride over and take the article of clothing.

He got two steps when the room began to swim and he felt himself going over.

He never hit the floor; his cousin catching him half way down and supporting him over to the bed where he helped him lay down.

“I could do it if you’d help me,” Heyes grumbled unable to open his eyes as he collapsed into the pillow.

“Heyes your sick. You aren’t indestructible, whatever you like to think,” Kid said pulling the covers around him and trying to keep the worry from his voice at his partner’s pale complexion.

“You need me,” he whispered.

“Yup, but not enough to scrub the plan or drag you along and kill you, we’ll manage.”

“How you gonna open the safe?”

“A lot louder than you would.”

“Storm coming,’ Heyes said wearily.

“I know, I’ll be back before it breaks. I’ll tell Chet to keep an eye on you,” Kid said referring to the camp’s cook.

“Tell him no more soup.”

“Okay no more soup,” Kid smiled. “Take care of yourself.”

He moved to door.

“Kid?”

He looked back to see his partner had willed his eyes to open.

“Come back safe, I wanna flatten you when I feel better.”

“I’ll count on it,” Kid grinned.

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

Kid stepped out into the compound where six armed men sat saddle ready to ride.

“Where’s Heyes?” Wheat asked suspicious as Kid mounted.

“Ain’t coming,” Kid said simply.

The group began to murmur as one.

“Then how we gonna open the safe without Heyes?” Kyle said terrified.

“Same way you always used to,” Kid said. “We’ll dynamite it.

“I don’t know Kid there’s a storm coming,” Lobo said uneasy. “Maybe we ought to wait till Heyes gets better.”

“Yea we can wait,” Hank agreed.

“No we can’t, we’ve been planning this run for 2 months, conditions will never be this way again, that track we damaged to take the train this way will be fixed and they would be suspicious if it happened again. Now there’s $25,000 on that train and I’m taking it, you boys can stand here hemming and hawing or you can come get your share.”

“With you as leader?” Wheat said amused.

Kid looked at him, his face expressionless, “With me as leader, anyone got a problem with that needs to make it known right now.”

Quick glances were exchanged, but not one man had the courage to look up and meet the icy cold blue eyes waiting for a challenger.

“Guess that will work,” Wheat said finally.

“Guess it will,” Kid said as if there had never been any question.

And turning he kicked his horse into motion and led the group from the compound.

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

Rain was coming late that year. Kid Curry cast a concerned glance towards the storm clouds building over the ridge. He sighed, it seemed obliged to make up for lost time and gave every indication of being a wicked downpour.

He knew better than to rush Hank as he set the dynamite, but time was definitely not on their side.

The weather had forced him to alter his plans and send the rest of the train and its passengers on, after disconnecting the boxcar containing the money. What with the storm coming and women and children aboard, wouldn’t do them any good to get a reputation of endangering folks. Posses ride harder for men like that.

Or that had been his explanation to the gang when Wheat had challenged him. He had learned from Heyes that a show of compassion or mercy often didn’t do much to endear an outlaw to his peers. Heyes was great deal kinder and more thoughtful than a leader of an outlaw gang should let on. And Kid had learned from him that if he was going to do something kindhearted he always made sure it came across as in his own self interest and for the good of the gang.

Kid usually never felt such pressure, as there wasn’t a man who would question his icy stare if he said he wanted to help someone. Heyes as leader was the one who had to contend more with appearances, but as acting leader he felt obliged to follow his cousin’s example.

“She’s all ready Kid,” Hanks said jumping down and allowing Kid to climb up and check his work.

“All right tell the boys to get down,” Kid said striking a match and lighting the fuse.

Kid leapt free and was turning to run for cover when something made him look back.

“What the!”

The little face peered out of the boxcar curious and a little scared. It was child, 5 years old at best.

Pivoting on his heel, he ran back and dived for the opening only to see three other little faces staring at the fuse winding up to the dynamite in frozen fascination.

“On my back, now!” Kid yelled at the oldest boy, who looked about 8 years old and scooped up the other three.

The child thankfully obeyed and he ran as far as he dared and then dived down shoving the children under him.

There was a horrible explosion and then silence.

Kid got up slowly.

The four children lay frozen, two boys and two girls, the youngest, a little girl, no more than 3 or 4 years old.

“You kids all right?” Kid asked as the gang ran past them to the safe only Kyle and Preacher pausing to check on them.

Slowly the children sat up slightly dazed to stare at what was left of the boxcar.

“You blew up our jelly bread jam sandwiches,” the little boy he had seen first said disapprovingly.

Kid grinned in spite of himself. He could sympathize with a boy who saw the importance of dinner not being blown up.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said.

“You outlaws?” the oldest boy said scrambling to his feet and pushing the other three behind him.

“Yup,” Kid said. “Names Jed Curry.”

“He’s famous,” the second boy said in awe elbowing his big brother for emphasis. “He’s Kid Curry!”

“You gonna shoot us?” the oldest girl asked wide-eyed.

“No ma’am. You all got names?”

“Samuel Jeremiah, but most folks just call me Sam,” the oldest boy said a hint of an Irish brogue in his voice. “This is my sister Kera Sage, she’s 7 and my little brother Jacob Anthony, he’s five. The little one there is Molly Belinda, she’s 4.”

“And how old are you?” Kid said impressed by his bravery.

“Old enough,” he said puffing out his chest.

“Got it all Kid,” Hank said coming up his eyes greedily staring at the bags in his hands.

Kid took the saddlebag from him and swung it over his shoulder.

“Your folks on the other part of the train?” Kid asked weighing his options.

“No sir,” Samuel said.

“We’re orphans,” Kera Sage said.

“Nobody wants us,” Jacob said loudly.

“Orphan train,” Preacher said quietly coming up behind Kid.

Kid sighed. Children didn’t usually get this far.

“They wanted to split us up,” Samuel explained reading his mind.

“I didn’t want to leave Samuel,” Molly said and something she saw in Kid’s face as he remembered how frightening that could be made her trust him and she slipped her little hand into his surprised one. “Do you live here? We’re going to live in the boxcar.”

“Well we were until you blew up our sandwiches,” Jacob said pointedly.

Kid let out a long breath. The gang was watching him and waiting.

Heyes of all the jobs for you to be sick on, he sighed.

“We’ll be going now,” Samuel said reading the mood of the group and making a decision. He walked over and moved to take Molly’s hand from Kid’s.

“No, I want us to stay with him,” Molly said holding on to Kid tighter. “He’s nice.”

Someone in the gang chuckled and Kid looked up with a glance that would have killed the man if he hadn’t looked away fast enough.

“Kyle, Preacher, Hank take one of them,” Kid said swinging Molly up onto the front of his horse and then handing Kera Sage to Preacher and Jacob to Kyle and waited while Hank helped Sam up.

“You mean your taking them kids into the Hole!” Wheat said incredulously.

“What else do you want me to do with them Wheat? Leave them out here with a storm coming?”

“Don’t know, but I do know this, Heyes is gonna kill you.”

“Well then Wheat day won’t be a total loss for you then will it?” Kid said climbing up behind the little girl and securing her and the money. “Now lets ride before that storm catches us.

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

“I ain’t gonna tell him, you gonna tell him?” Kyle said nervously to Preacher as they rode their horses into the barn.

“I’ll tell him,” Kid said giving Kyle a look like this is not going to be a problem, but Kyle knew other wise. Once or twice the bunkhouse had speculated on how a fistfight between the two cousins would end.

Most agreed Kid was the better fighter physically, but Heyes was sneakier. Maybe they were finally going to get that opportunity to find out.

Kid looked down at the four faces looking up at him and sighed. “Well let’s go break this to him.”

“Who?” Jacob asked taking his right hand since Molly refused to relinquish her claim on his left.

“My partner,” and he added under his breath. “Least wise I hope he still is after this.”

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

Hannibal Heyes had made it to the rocking chair in the living area and was feeling highly pleased with himself. He had even managed to pull on his pants and decided he looked terribly well and fit. It was important that he did so he could show Kid he had over reacted in leaving him behind. He just hoped Kid didn’t expect him to get up.

He had taken the seat where he could watch out the window without being seen. He didn’t want to give the impression of being anxious or let the gang think he didn’t have every confidence in Kid leading them. He trusted his partner with his life and knew he could lead as effectively as he could, though their styles were different.

He saw the horses gallop in and seek refuse in the stable. Rain was about to break and they were in a hurry. He breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in the chair exhausted. His concern for his friend was what had gotten him up and dressed. Now that he was back safe, he felt the adrenaline created by his concern ebbing.

“The Kid’s back Heyes,” Chet, the camp’s skinny red headed cook said knocking and peering in.

“Thanks Chet,” Heyes said as if he had been unaware he had even been gone.

Chet walked away shaking his head. Never could figure out those two. Yelled more at each other than any man would dare, not a mark of concern when the other was late, but let any man raise a finger against the other and you’d have the man’s partner on you before you counted three.

He heard footsteps on the porch and picked up his book pretending to read, it was vital he be seen as unconcerned as possible.

“About time,” he said turning the page casually and not looking up as the door opened.

“Had a little trouble.”

Heyes’s eyes flew up immediately and he quickly checked his friend for damage, when he saw none his face grew puzzled. “One of the gang?”

It was at that moment simultaneously four little heads peered from around Kid’s legs.

“What the!” he yelled.

Instantly the four heads withdrew back to their hiding place.

“Those are…”

“Children Heyes, I know,” Kid sighed throwing his hat onto the table. “Come on kids its all right he doesn’t bite… much.”

Heyes watched in amazement as his partner ushered the four small creatures into his cabin.

“Take your things off, go sit over by the fire and warm up,” Kid said resembling more a sheep dog looking after lost charges than an outlaw with $5000 price on his head.

The four did as they were told all crawling up on the sofa in front of the fire, the smallest girl turning so she could watch Heyes.

“I’m gonna go find them something to eat,” Kid said.

“Wait a minute you aren’t leaving me alone with them,” Heyes said staring at him in horror.

Kid looked at him, he was tired. “Heyes they don’t bite much either. “

“Don’t you think I deserve an explanation?”

“Yup, but they’re hungry and tired, let me get them settled and then I’ll give you one.”

“Settled? Kid they are not staying here.”

“Well they ain’t staying in the bunkhouse, Wheat made that real clear and the barn is freezing. You got a better idea I’m willing to hear it.”

“I don’t want them anywhere. Kid they are children, this is Devil’ Hole, outlaw hideout?”

“Thank you Heyes that clears up why I keep seeing all these wanted men wandering around,” he said sarcastically and then sighed looking at his friend’s drawn face. “Look I’ll be right back and then you can flatten me.”

He left.

Heyes turned and stared at the four children who stared back wide eyed.

“You really gonna hit Mr. Curry?” Jacob said softly.

“No I’m moving up to just out and out shooting him now,” Heyes mumbled.

Molly, the youngest, burst into tears, “He’s gonna shoot Mr. Curry!”

Heyes look horrified, “No, no, I was joking.”

“Ain’t nice to joke about shooting people,’ Sam said sternly.

“You don’t have my cousin,” Heyes said feeling hurt for being perceived as the bad guy.

“What’s your name?” Kera Sage asked cocking her head to study him.

“Mister Heyes.”

“You’re the leader, Mr. Curry said we had to be nice to you,” Kera Sage explained to him.

“Oh he actually acknowledged that did he,” Heyes said more amused now than annoyed.

“You won’t shoot him will you?” Molly whispered coming up and standing at his knee, tears ready to spill out if needed.

“No, I won’t shoot him.”

“You can’t hit him either,” Jacob said joining her at the other knee. “He said you might hit him.”

“He did did he?” Heyes said swallowing a smile.

“He gave me a gumdrop, a green one,” Molly said deciding Heyes was all right and before he realized what had happened she had climbed up into his lap. “Those are the best ones,” she explained as if he was far too old to understand.

“Molly get down before he gets more mad,” Sam said exasperated. “Sorry Mister.”

“No he’s comfortable and warm,” Molly said snuggled up under Heyes arm. “I don’t think he’s mean at all, I think he just pretends. You were pretending weren’t you mister?”

Heyes looked down. She was all big eyes and dark curls. He closed his eyes and fought off the headache working to kill him.

The door burst open and Kid practically flew in looking like he had run the whole way.

He stopped and took in the scene and almost swallowed a grin that involuntarily appeared.

Hurrying over to the table he set down the bread, jam and jug of milk he had stolen from the cook and shrugged off his jacket.

“Wash up,” he ordered and began slabbing huge slices of bread with jam.

Eagerly the children hurried to the pump and Molly scrambled off Heyes’s lap pausing only long enough to add, “I hope your head feels better.”

Heyes squinted at the domestic picture fascinated. Within minutes Kid had send Jacob back to try again at washing up and then finally had the little group safely tucked into their feast with big cups of milk.

There was a momentary crisis when Jacob spilled his and looked up with a trembling bottom lip, but Kid merely wiped it up and went back to drinking his coffee.

“You been doing this long?” Heyes said.

“You look terrible.”

“Thanks, that’s helping.”

“You should be in bed.”

“I was about to, but my partner brought company. You going to talk to me?”

Kid looked down to see Molly’s jam covered hand pulling on his pant leg. “He won’t shoot you, we made him promise,” she whispered up loudly.

“Thank you Molly,” Kid said and then smiled at his partner. “Awful big of you Heyes.”

“Careful I didn’t say a word about strangling you.”

The children stopped eating in mid bite.

“I’m joking,’ he roared. “Kid…we need to talk!”

He got up and Kid held back helping him knowing it would only make things worse. Heyes felt all eyes on him as he made it into his bedroom and collapsed sitting on his bed exhausted by the ordeal.

“What the hell happened back there?”

“Orphan train, they didn’t want to be split up so they hid in the box car, they were planning on living there.“

“And so you just figured bring them here and let them live with a bunch of outlaws instead? Oh that’s good thinking Kid, get us a next generation ready on the side. I don’t know why you didn’t take over as leader sooner, I never would have thought of that.”

“Come on Heyes you telling me you would have left them there with a storm coming?”

“You couldn’t have just let them go with the rest of the passengers?” Heyes asked and when Kid didn’t reply immediately he looked up sharply. “You let the train go on didn’t you? Damn it Kid why don’t you just telegraph the law we were taking the train!”

“Heyes they still had miles to go and there was a storm coming, just seemed the best thing.”

“Kid you are an outlaw now, the best thing is us getting free and clear with the money!”

“Which we did, $25,000,” Kid said dropping the bags on the bed.

“You took too big a chance,” Heyes said impressed, but hiding it. “Besides if you had held the train you wouldn’t have those four to worry about.”

“My call, my problem,” Kid said and Heyes realized he had pushed it too far. “They won’t be any trouble, they can stay in my room.”

“How long?” Heyes said and nearly bit back the words. He had jumped on his partner the moment he had ridden in and despite pulling off the job and doing things the exact way he would have done, he had laid into him like he had failed completely.

“Till the storm clears then I’ll take them into a safe town and drop them off at the sheriff.” Kid turned to go, to anyone else he seemed unaffected, but Heyes knew his words had hurt. He could imagine Wheat had not made Kid’s first time in charge of a job easy. He also knew his partner put a lot of store in his opinion of him and what he did. Heyes’s disapproval would have cut at him. But all Kid said was “You need anything before I get them settled down?”

“Kid,” Heyes said sighing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to jump all over you, you did a fine job, you can take over anytime you want.”

He watched Kid visibly relax accepting the apology. Kid had never been any good at holding grudges. “Heyes you couldn’t pay me to lead this bunch,” he sighed finally and his friend laughed.

“You two friends again?” Kera Sage asked from the doorway where four faces were watching around the frame.

“Anyone ever tell you it’s not nice to eavesdrop?” Kid asked fiercely.

“Found it best too, people tend to ship us off if we don’t pay attention,” Sam shrugged.

Kid and Heyes glanced at each other; they knew how that felt.

“You’re sick,” Molly said coming in and climbing up on the bed and touching Heyes forehead. “You should be in bed young man!”

Heyes grinned even though it hurt to do so, “And which one are you?”

“Molly Belinda, you’re not gonna die are you?” she said suddenly looking up at him worriedly. “My momma got all hot like you and she died.”

She said it with such wistfulness that Heyes found him slipping an arm around her before he realized what he was doing. An action not lost on Kid.

“No Molly Belinda, I’m not. Though I gotta confess at the moment it might feel like an improvement.”

“All right kids out let my partner rest.”

“We can stay?” Kera Sage asked.

“If you do it quietly,” Heyes ordered sinking back into the pillow and closing his eyes.

Four voices loudly proclaimed they could be quiet as Kid herded them out and Heyes found himself smiling as he drifted off to sleep.

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

“Mister? Hey Mister you asleep?”

Heyes opened one eye to see Molly and Jacob staring at him.

“Yes.”

“No you aren’t!” Molly giggled.

“What do you want?” he said surprised how much better he felt.

“We wanted to make sure you was still alive,” Jacob explained.

“Oh, well I am. Where’s Mr. Curry?”

“He took Kera Sage and Sam to go get some supplies before the rain starts. We’re having chicken for dinner!” Jacob said enraptured by the thought.

“But were not suppose to bother you,” Molly explained now up on the bed with him.

Heyes found himself laughing as he pushed himself up to study the two children.

“So where you from?”

“Ireland,” Jacob said. “Well our mother was, Kera Sage and Sam too.”

“I was born in New York City!” Molly said. “Do you want to play?”

“Ah no Molly I think I’m just gonna rest a bit.”

“Yea Mr. Curry said you had to stay in bed or he would get mad cause you never look after yourself,” Jacob explained.

“Mr. Curry worries to much.”

He watched as Jacob wandered around his room taking everything in.

“Must be wonderful having a room to yourself,” he said running his hand along the dark wood of the end board of his bed and then turning his attention to the maps pinned to the wall behind him.

“Yea it is kinda nice,” Heyes admitted

“What’s this?” he said studying the drawing of a pump Heyes had tacked to the wall.

“Little idea I have,” he smiled watching the boy study his room and enjoying seeing it through the child’s eyes. It wasn’t luxurious, things were just too hard to lug up there. The bed had been a treat to himself. It was feather and the frame real mahogany and he paid top dollar for it. The quilt was red, a dominant color in the room. The walls were blank except for the odd map he had put up to consult. Directly across from him was a bookcase, which had long since taken its quota of books, and now had them piled beside and on top. He seemed to come back with one every trip away they took and there was the odd one or two Jim had owned, plus the ones men passing through left behind.

Beside the bookcase in the corner was a guitar. He had acquired it when one of the men had left in the middle of the night to avoid a fight and what he owed Heyes at poker. The first of two chairs came next, one currently holding a catalog and a stack of drawings he had been working on. Between them there was a small table with a chess set. That had been Jim’s and every now and then a rider would come in who could give him a run for his money and he would bring it out. Kid had never been much for chess, sitting still didn’t suit him.

Next was the window with the makeshift curtains to keep out the light and beside that the dresser which held up his mirror for shaving, plus a brush, comb, shaving water, which had been a gift and his lock pick kit. Crowded in among those was a half-filled bottle of whiskey with a garter round the middle, a pack of cards and a scattering of train timetables. He suddenly realized it wasn’t very much to show for a life lived as long as his.

“It’s very boring staying in bed,” Molly said suddenly. “Mama got terribly bored being sick, we would entertain her…” Suddenly she gasped as a brilliant idea occurred to her. “Want us to entertain you?”

Heyes opened his mouth to decline, but she had already tumbled off the bed and was pulling Jacob along with her.

“We’ll be right back!”

Chuckling Heyes leaned back considering whether this frightened him or not. They certainly were a distraction against his illness. Kid had done his best to keep him amused, but Heyes did not take confinement well.

Outside the door he could hear whispers, the closing of drawers and giggling and he grinned trying to figure out what they were up to.

“Okay close your eyes!” Molly ordered.

Heyes did as ordered, or appeared to, keeping one open enough to see the two scurry in with something on their hands and race to the end of the bed and duck down behind the end board.

“Can I open them?”

“Nope,” Molly said in her best bossy voice. “Okay now.”

Heyes did as he was told and blinked. There at the end of the bed were two white socks that faces had been drawn on using a lump of coal. What was the most startling was the sock puppets were wearing his and Kid’s hats.

“I’m Kid Curry,” said the one sock in a deep voice and it ‘strode’ across the bed board with great importance.

“And I’m Hannibal Heyes,” said the second sock and a hand pushed the hat back up and then quickly disappeared.

“Stand and deliver!” said the Kid sock.

Heyes was laughing now in spite of how much it hurt.

“Who says so?” he grinned.

“Kid Curry!”

“Hannibal Heyes!”

“I see, so you think your pretty tough do you?” he growled back.

“Yup I’m the fastest gun in the west!” said the Kid puppet and suddenly Heyes found himself staring into the barrel of his own gun.

“Jacob…” he said hoarsely pushing up to get out of the way. “Put the gun down.”

“But I’m Kid Curry,” said the voice. “I gotta have a gun!”

Kid entered the room on his name and took in the scene in one amazing instant. Heyes later admitted he never was quite sure how his cousin had moved as fast as he had.

But suddenly Kid had thrown himself across the bed in front of Heyes just as the gun clicked back. Reaching it he pulled the barrel up. The gun went off as he did, the shot going wild into the ceiling.

Kid yanked the gun free and turned on the two frightened children angrily.

“Have you lost your minds!” he yelled furious. “You don’t ever, ever touch a gun without a grown up’s permission. You realize you could have killed him or yourselves!”

Heyes had never seen Kid so mad and frightened at the same time. The children were crying now and Kera Sage and Sam rushed past him to comfort them.

“Hey what’s going on! Heyes shoot one of them kids?” Kyle said coming in the door out of breath with Lobo.

“No I didn’t shoot one of the…OUT!” Heyes ordered. “Kid, you’re scaring them to death,” Heyes said and then added in a soothing voice to the children. “It’s all right no harm done.”

“No harm done! They almost killed you!” Kid yelled and let out the breath he had been holding. “Just what do you think you were doing anyway… wait a minute are those my socks?”

“We were giving Mr. Heyes a puppet show to cheer him up, we always gave our mama one when she was poorly,” Molly choked out between sobs.

“We’ll be going now Mister, won’t be anymore trouble,” Sam said quietly moving to usher his family out.

Kid stood there still reliving the moment.

“Nobody’s going anywhere,” Heyes said calmly. “We got chicken for dinner.”

Molly and Jacob stopped at the side of the bed beside him.

“I’m so sorry Mr. Heyes I didn’t mean to kill you,” Jacob said devastated and then just fell against him crying. Molly was suddenly at his other shoulder and Heyes found himself putting his arms around them without thinking.

“It’s all right I know you didn’t, but from now on you don’t touch any guns, promise?”

They both looked up and nodded and then peered anxiously at Kid. Slowly every face was on him and he shifted uncomfortably not sure how he had become the bad guy.

“You gonna whip us?” Molly asked sniffling.

“No I ain’t gonna whip you,” Kid said and finally smiled. “But if I ever see you even looking at a gun again without me or Mr. Heyes’s permission all bets are off understand?”

“We promise,” Jacob said wiping the tears away with his sleeve. “Do we still get chicken?”

Kid laughed, “Yea you still get chicken, now go wash up!” the children scrambled out relieved and deciding he hadn’t been tough enough he yelled after. “But as soon as dinner is over you are washing my socks!”

The children gone, Kid sank down on the edge of the bed.

“Heyes I am so sorry, I never thought, it never occurred to me…”

“It’s all right, neither one of us been around children so who could have guessed,” Heyes smiled. “And it was a pretty good puppet show till Kid Curry drew on me.”

Kid looked up sharply and then caught the smile. “I thought you were dead.”

“So