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 did I, that puppet was a lot faster than you,” Heyes said finding himself laughing at the absurdness of it.

Kid shook his head not understanding his partner sometimes and then smiled, “Got you dinner, you want your soup here or out there?”

“My what? I’m having chicken and out there, I’m sick of this bed.”

“All right, all right, you want a hand?”

“No I don’t want a hand, go look after your kids.”

“My kids!”

“Could be yours, as much trouble as you…”

“Heyes you don’t think we were ever that much trouble as children do you?”

“Us? Never, well you maybe. I was the soul of manners and restraint.”

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

The rain came just after supper. Dinner had been loud and wild and more than once Kid had looked up to see how his partner was holding up. But oddly the children’s enthusiasm and excitement was the distraction he needed and when Kid finally bustled them all off to his bed. Heyes watched from the doorway feeling more himself.

“Where you sleeping?” Molly had asked concerned as a flash of lightning lit the room.

“On the floor right next to you,” Kid promised as he tucked them in the creaking brass bed that had come with leadership of the gang.

“Oh,” Molly said yawning and deciding this was acceptable.

Kid got up to leave.

“Where you going?” she asked opening an eye.

“I’ll be in, go to sleep,” he ordered. “I gotta put Mr. Heyes to bed.”

Heyes glared at him as they walked back into the living room.

“You’re gonna have to wait a day or two for the trail to dry up enough for a wagon,” Heyes said quietly as Kid began cleaning the table.

Kid didn’t look up, “Yea I realized that, look Heyes I’m sorry if this is gonna drive you crazy…”

“No, won’t bother me, hardly notice them,” Heyes said. “You want help with those?”

“No, no thank you,” Kid said frowning his surprise at how well he was taking it. “How you doing?”

“Better, puppet shows always make me feel better,” and picking up his book he walked to his room leaving his partner to just stare after him.

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

It was after midnight when Heyes walked back into the living area and poured himself a cup of coffee and eased into a chair. The storm was at its worse now and the thunder shook the building. He had never been able to sleep during thunderstorms as a child and now was no different.

He felt himself being watched and looked up to see Sam standing uncertain in his doorway.

He was about to say something about him having his own bed when he saw the look in the boy’s eye.

“Not much for thunder either huh?” he said with a small smile.

The boy looked up sensing an ally. “No sir, but I can’t let the others know or they get scared.”

Heyes nodded, “Coffee?”

The boy straightened at the grown up offering, “Thank you sir, be obliged.”

Heyes poured a cup of his coffee, considered it, and then quietly threw 2/3’s out and filled it back up with milk and several lumps of sugar.

Then replenishing his own cup he walked over and handed the boy the cup.

Sam took a sip and looked up surprised and swallowed pleased.

“Not easy being the oldest is it?” Heyes said

“No sir, but I do all right.”

“Yea looks like you do.”

A sudden crash of thunder had the boy on his feet and beside Heyes, “So what you reading?” he asked breathless.

Heyes fought back a smile, “Story about an orphan, interested?’

The boy nodded.

A flash of lightning lit the room and Heyes didn’t miss the genuine fear in the boy’s eyes.

“But I can’t read too loud or I’ll wake the others, come on up if you want to hear.”

The boy hesitated but another crack of lightning gave him wings and he was suddenly in Heyes lap sitting stiffly.

Heyes grinned and shifted his arm around the child and plopped the book in front of them both wondering why this was strangely familiar until he realized this had been how his father had read to him.

“Mr. Heyes you gonna read the story?” the boy said sleepily against him and this time when the thunder sounded he didn’t flinch as Heyes just tightened his grasp.

“Yea, guess I better start over…lets see…”

An hour later Heyes stood with the sleeping child and moved to Kid’s bedroom and stopped in the door way with a grin.

The bed was empty and there curled up around Kid on the floor and across him were the three children.

“Heyes?” Kid questioned waking slightly as Heyes sunk down to sit on the edge of the bed, the exertion catching up with him.

“You want to put them back up here?” Heyes said laying Sam down beside him on the bed.

“Don’t bother I tried three times,” Kid yawned. “Every clap of thunder brought them all back down,” he said closing his eyes. “Sam okay?”

“Yea just a little scared of the thunder.”

Kid opened one eye, “Hard being the oldest,” he said innocently.

Heyes merely grunted and with a smile Kid closed his eyes and surrendered his pillow to Molly.

Heyes tensed at the clap of thunder and felt Sam stir uneasy and thought about how far away his bed was. He would just rest here for a minute and make sure the boy was asleep and then head back he decided.

Falling back onto Kid’s bed he felt Sam seek him out for comfort and wrapped an arm around him. Just for a minute, he repeated to himself and closed his eyes.

He never heard Kid get up and drape the comforter over them both, the storm forgotten.

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

Heyes awoke to find he was alone and the smell of bacon coming from the next room.

He lay there for a moment seeing his cousin’s room from a different perspective. He smiled, the room felt like Kid. On any clear surface there was something he was fixing or repairing or cleaning. Kid liked nothing better than taking things apart to see how they worked or wouldn’t work. It was Kid who hearing about the pump he needed had begun working on a prototype.

And then there were Kid’s ‘toys’ as Heyes liked to call them. The picture viewer he had found in Frisco, the telescope he had bought in Denver and off in the far corner of the shelf the box of toy soldiers he had mysteriously brought back one night.

As a child they had been Kid’s favorite toy and Heyes had watched fascinated as he had taken each one out and examined it carefully before putting the box on his shelf. More than once he had caught him looking at them and lining them up in his head for battle.

He had teased him about it until Kid had finally admitted they reminded him of home and the ones their grandfather had made him. After that Heyes never said a word.

He smiled at the scattered clothes, that hadn’t changed since they were children, his eyes finally resting on his bureau also lined with shaving and grooming equipment, but it also contained the odd tool, gun cleaning kit, a box of cartridges and the handkerchief the lady on their last train robbery had given Kid for carrying her away from the train when she had been afraid of getting her dress dirty.

Along the wall above the mirror he had stuck various newspaper articles proclaiming their success with his first wanted poster he had taken off a jail bulletin board on a bet. Next to it were the cell keys to a jail in Texas and a marked deck he had taken off a gambler in Billings.

There was the colorful garish poster the actress in Cheyenne had signed for him in French, which he kept saying he could translate, but never would and an add for a new kind of gun he had tore out of a catalog and was meaning to check into.

The room was like his partner, relaxed, open and interesting.

Standing he found the effort went a lot easier than the day before and relieved he wandered out to find Molly and Kera Sage hard at work at the stove with Chet.

When they had first taken over the cabin it had been one room and less than livable. But Heyes had wanted a place he could make coffee in the middle of the night or even eat when he was working on a job. So slowly they added a sink and stove and the two bedrooms giving Heyes room for his desk and them both a place to unwind unfettered by the duties of leadership.

Kid always said they spent the first part of a plan with Heyes just thinking stuff up in front of the fire. And while both men usually made it a point to eat at least one meal a day with the gang, it was nice to have a place where they could relax and not worry about what the man across from them was thinking.

“Good morning Mr. Heyes how do you like your eggs?” Kera Sage called from the box she was standing on by the stove.

“Sunny side up,” he said as Molly took his hand and led him to the table.

“You want coffee?” she asked brightly.

“Yea, black,” he said and watched as Chet poured a cup and let her carry it back to him both men sighing relieved when she made it without spilling and burning herself.

“Where’s Kid?” Heyes said trying to remember the last time Chet had come up to the leader’s cabin to make him a special breakfast.

“Took them young fellas out soon as the rain’s stopped,” Chet said placing a huge plate of bacon and eggs before him.

“Thank you for helping me Mr. Chet!” Kera Sage said hugging him. “We can make cookies later right?”

“Right as rain princess,” the old man said ruffling her hair.

“And pie!” Molly said enraptured. “Jacob loves pie.”

“Then pie it will be!” Chet said grinning and then seeing Heyes staring at him remembered how to scowl again and stomped out.

Kid passed him in the doorway as he made the boys stop and pull their muddy boots off.

“Molly I shot a real gun!” Jacob said excited running in and then stopped noticing Heyes’s plate. “You gonna eat all that bacon?”

“He what!” Heyes said turning on his partner.

“Calm down Heyes I figure they gonna be around guns for a few days I better make sure they understand and respect what they can do.”

“Kera you ain’t never seen anyone draw as fast as him, he’s just like they say in the dime novels,” Sam said breathless.

“And later Mr. Mertree is gonna teach me to ride a horse outlaw style!” Jacob said now munching on Heyes’ s bacon.

“Oh good everyone should know how to fall off a horse,” Heyes said under his breath and passed Jacob another piece of bacon.

“Well we’re making cookies,” Molly said not to be outdone. “And they’ll be…outlaw cookies!”

Kid laughed, “That should be something.”

“Jacob stop eating Mr. Heyes’s breakfast you had yours,” Kera Sage scolded.

Jacob looked up from Heyes lap where they were now sharing the plate. “That was an hour ago!” the skinny child explained to Heyes.

“It’s okay Jacob, I generally just have coffee anyway, my partner,” he said and Kid looked up from the toast he had taken from the plate. “Usually eats breakfast for both of us.”

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

“It’s a horse!” Molly said wide-eyed and Heyes froze at the end of the porch and stopped just unseen. “Did you make it? You did, its what you were carving from that piece of wood earlier!”

“Yea, just don’t go telling no one where you got it,” Wheat said hitching up his belt and looked around to make sure the conversation was not being witnessed.

“Oh thank you Mr. Wheat,” she said flinging her arms around him.

“Ain’t nothing sweetheart,” Wheat said hugging her back and then froze as he caught Heyes now leaning against the porch post grinning.

“That was nice Wheat I didn’t know you could do that,” Heyes grinned as the little girl ran off to show her sister.

“Ain’t nothing, just trying to keep them brats quiet. Don’t know what Kid was thinking bringing them up here anyway,” he scowled stopping off.

Chuckling Heyes turned and watched Sam ride by on Lobo’s shoulders carrying a lariat.

“I’m gonna learn to lasso Mr. Heyes!” he called excited.

“I’m just, I was just…”Lobo said and as Heyes’s grin got broader he gave up and hurried off.

“You’re ruining my gang,” Heyes said walking into Kid’s room and stopping. It wasn’t his cousin sitting on the bed, but a startled Kera Sage, in her hand a cigar box open and its contents scattered across the bed. On the floor lining up soldiers was Jacob.

“I’m sorry,” she said jumping up guiltily. “I was making the bed and I found it under the mattress. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Puzzled Heyes stared at the box not understanding and then slowly he remembered back to another time and his eyes darkened.

“It’s all right lets put it back,” he said quietly.

He sat down next to her and began placing the items back in the box. A newspaper article on Quantrille’s capture and death. A note with a list of items needed from the general store that was faded, but surprisingly in good conditions and Heyes realized it was his Aunt’s handwriting and must have been in Kid’s pocket that day and he had kept it.

A lady’s slipper and Heyes studied it perplexed and suddenly was transported back Abilene and his and Kid’s first visit to a bordello. Grinning he picked up a faded piece of blue gingham and the locket inside dropped into his hand and his smile faded. It was the one Heyes had found in the dirt by his aunt’s body and given him.

There was a dime novel, ‘Kid Curry and the Guns of Thunder’, the first one they had ever seen mentioning them and he realized now his partner hadn’t been as disgusted with finding it as he had let on.

But it was the next item that surprised him the most. It was a telegram addressed to him, first one he had ever received. The Wilson’s that had been their name and they said they were returning to adopt him. Adopt him and not Jed. He didn’t realize Kid had ever seen it.

He looked up and felt Kid’s presence in the door.

“Ah she found it under the bed when she was making it, we were just putting it away,” Heyes said suddenly feeling awful and it wasn’t the flu. “Jacob did you ask Mr. Curry for permission to use his soldiers?”

“No sir.”

“It’s all right Jacob put them on the table, they stand better,” Kid said simply.

“I’m sorry Mr. Curry,” Kera Sage said worriedly closing the cigar box. “I just wondered what treasures were in it. Funny how the best treasures never seem to fit.”

Kid said nothing, merely nodded and Kera Sage slid off the bed and escaped.

Heyes got up and handed it to him.

“Look I’m sorry I didn’t’ mean to pry I was just helping her put them back, she’s a kid, she was curious.”

“Not a problem,” Kid said quietly taking the box and opening a draw of the dresser tossed it in like the contents meant nothing to him. “Boys are asking when we’re dividing up the money.”

“Why they in a hurry to go nowhere?” Heyes said grateful for the change of subject.

“No just making plans is all, you want me to do it?”

“Yea, thanks.”

“Usual cut?”

“Yea, but give Phil the bonus for getting us the information.”

“Right,” Kid said and left the room.

Heyes gave the drawer one more glance and followed him.

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

Heyes walked into the Bunkhouse and it instantly went silent.

Kid had disappeared over an hour ago to distribute the money and curious Heyes had finally gone in search of him.

“Pretty quiet for a poker game,” he said with a smile walking over to the table where Kid sat with gang.

“Ah we weren’t playing poker,” Kid said apologetically. “Just trying to come up with a way to get those kids a good home.”

“Didn’t think you’d be interested,” Hank said embarrassed to admit he had been.

“So what did you come up with?” he asked casually.

“Newspaper ad,” Kyle said.

“Figure that would be the best way to place them,” Kid said.

Heyes nodded, “Can I see?”

He picked up the paper and everyone looked somewhere else and there was a distinct shuffling of feet.

Heyes read it quickly and nodded, “Very good, I especially like the part about the $800 going along with them.”

“Aw Heyes we had to do something to sweeten the deal,” Lobo said. “Weren’t no one gonna take them otherwise.”

“Makes sense,” he agreed. “What you all kick in a 100 or so?”

“Ceptin Kid, he kicked in 200,” Kyle said and Kid glared him back to silence.

“I see.”

“All right Heyes what’s wrong with it?” Kid said knowing that tone.

“Nothing, nothing I would have just wrote it different is all.”

“How’d you have wrote it Heyes?” Kyle asked interested.

“Well I would have done it something like this,” Heyes said picking up a pen.

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

“FREE TO GOOD HOME, ONE HORSE IN GOOD HEALTH…” the Newspaper editor looked at Heyes two days later. “Free?”

“Yes sir, free and we’d be obliged if you would get that out right away,” he said paying him.

“Well don’t that beat all!”

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

This task completed Heyes made his way back to the saloon taking his time to take in the improvements to the town of Riley’s Bend. There was the school of course, even got them a proper teacher from back east. They’d elected a mayor, short stubby fellow who talked too much and didn’t say anything making him perfect for the job.

They were still searching for a sheriff, which was one of the reason’s Heyes had picked the town, but there didn’t seem to be much crime to speak of anyway. The church now had a choir. Yes Riley’s Bend had all the earmarks of having got itself civilized and Heyes was well satisfied with his choice as he climbed the stairs at the back of the saloon and knocked on the third door on the left.

A moment later a garish red head appeared and smiled.

“About time you got back, what do I look like a nanny?” she pouted as Heyes entered and kissed her lightly securing forgiveness.

“They been any trouble Sharon?” he asked and blinked at Molly and Kera Sage parading around in the saloon girl’s clothes.

“None, Kid took the boys for pie, that little one sure can eat.”

“You mean Jacob ?”

“No Kid, so what’s all this about Heyes, how is giving a horse away gonna get them kids homes?”

“Horse is to get people out there and while they are examining the horse, we’ll be examining them.”

“Yea but why here, why my town? Kid said you were real specific about Riley’s Bend for the ad.”

“Something you said once when I asked you while you picked this town, remember?”

“Yea I said that being Irish it called to me.”

“And I’m betting a whole lot of Irish feel that way. I got a look at the church baptism records O’Hara’s and Flannigan’s abound.”

“Well sure enough there are a few, but just because someone is Irish and them kids is Irish doesn’t mean a body is gonna feel obliged to take in 4 children!”

“I’m not asking a body to, I’m asking a town.”

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

The line was long and there was excitement in the air the following afternoon as people hurried over to the corral to either watch or participate in the give away.

The horse, a fit 3 year old mare had been examined and proclaimed a prize and there was a carnival atmosphere to the wait as Heyes set up a table and chair and began ‘interviewing’ for the winner.

“You sure you want them kids just running lose?” Kid asked as the four orphans ran in and out of the crowd playing tag unaware of what was at stake. “They’re gonna be into everything.”

“That’s what I’m hoping,” Heyes smiled mysteriously and then the smile faded as Wheat and the rest of the gang appeared into view.

“What are they doing here? I thought they were off hoorahing Cheyenne?”

“I’ll go find out,” Kid said.

“Well tell them not to interfere or they’ll ruin everything,” Heyes hissed angry.

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

“Wheat, boys, thought you had other plans,” Kid said quietly coming up next to the outlaws who had found a seat on the far fence to watch.

“Heyes made Riley’s Bend sound kinda interesting thought we’d take a look,” Wheat said casually.

“Besides we wanted to make sure this town be all right for them brats,” Lobo said softly.

Kid looked up suddenly understanding, “We’re gonna find them a good home boys, Heyes has a plan.”

“I’ve seen some of Heyes’ s plans,” Wheat said rolling his eyes.

“They ever not work?” Kid said icily.

“Well no, but still always a first time.”

“Wheat you boys just stay put or your gonna be looking for a home, understand?”

The gang nodded in unison and with a sigh Kid walked away.

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

An hour went by. Subtly Heyes found out who had children, who liked children and who couldn’t be trusted with children. One by one each couple was evaluated and dismissed as the outlaws glared down at the people.

“Molly give that back!” Jacob said dodging in and out among the people waiting restless in line and suddenly slamming into a large unshaved man who seemed out of place among the families waiting.

“Watch where you are going boy! Where are your parents you little urchin!”

“Don’t got none,” Jacob said.

“Another Irish bastard, typical.”

“And what would you be meaning by that!” Ilene Chandler said hands on her hips turning to face the man with full Irish fury. She was just 19, newly married to the lanky young school teacher talking with Heyes and as she spoke the rest of the town moved in knowingly.

Heyes smiled fascinated and as Kid moved to intervene he shook his head no.

“I mean they’ve dumped enough Irish in this country for us to feed and I’m sick of us having to take care of their illegitimate brats.”

“I’m not illegitimate,” Jacob said crying now.

“Of course you aren’t,” Ilene Chandler said hugging him.

“Mister you better take back what you said about my brother,” Sam said darkly stepping in front.

“Careful boy or I’ll step on you, now out of my way I want that horse.”

“What’s all this about,” James Chandler said hurrying up to his wife. “Ilene are you all right?”

“Oh good the school teacher is here I am really scared now.”

“And the barber!” said a little bearded man stepping up to stand along side the teacher and his wife.

“Don’t be forgetting the Mortician!” said a third man and slowly the group rallied into one.

“Ain’t none of you wearing a gun though I notice,” the man laughed nastily.

“They aren’t, but I am,” Kid said quietly.

The group gave Kid room as he stepped into the circle.

“Fight ain’t with you mister,” the man said tossing down his cigar, but it was clear he was now apprehensive.

“Yea it is, I’m Irish too.”

The crowd gasped and then someone laughed and another cheered.

The man now nervous at being clearly outnumbered moved to go for his gun.

Kid’s gun met him before he reached the handle of his.

“Did ya ever see such a thing?” someone said in awe.

“Why the man is like lightnin’!” someone said and the group began to applaud.

“Best be moving on,” Kid said quietly.

The man nodded slightly and a moment later was riding off.

Heyes smiled satisfied. Now for part two.

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

“Can’t thank you enough mister, not sure why you’re giving us this, but it sure is gonna make my life a lot easier,” Chandler said taking the horse’s reins Heyes handed him.

“Tis a blessing indeed,” his wife said. “We weren’t sure when we’d be able to afford such a luxury.”

“Young man why exactly are you giving the horse away?” the barber asked and the town leaned in interested.

“Well,” Heyes said. “Mother of these fine children wanted the animal to go to someone who would take care of it, dying wish it was.”

“My mother never had a hor…” Jacob tried to point out, but Kid clapped a hand over his mouth.

“You their father?” a woman in the front asked touched.

“Me? No, me and my men are just looking after them. Doing our best we are.”

“Young man that is the biggest bunch of cornswaggle I ever heard,” said the mortician shaking his head. “Want to tell us what your really here for Mr. Heyes and Mr. Curry. Yes that’s right Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry,” thought I recognized you and when that young man drew his gun I knew for sure.”

Heyes looked contrite and repentant. “All right the truth is we found these four children on a train, orphan train, they had run away because they didn’t want to be separated. We were using the horse and them as a diversion to get you all over here while my men cased your bank. But since getting to know you all, well we figured bank doesn’t look that interesting after all.”

“These children live with you at Devil’s Hole?” the Miller’s wife said aghast all the women ignoring the part about the bank.

“Well yes ma’am, live right in the leader’s cabin,” Kid said.

“Mr. Curry taught me to shoot a gun!” Jacob said proudly.

One of the women swooned and everyone was talking now.

“Ain’t right children…”

“Raised by outlaws…”

“Need a home…”

Heyes watched Ilene and James Chandler out of the corner of his eye talking to one another quietly and smiled. It felt just like it did when he was opening a safe and could feel the last tumbler about to drop.

“Mr. Heyes? We just met; I’m James Chandler. School teacher? Well my wife and I have been talking, we’d like to take the children.”

“We’d give them a good home, not that you haven’t tried,” Ilene said and then looked at Kyle next to her who smiled and she turned back and added quickly. “But I think they would be happier with a real home.”

“Four kids a lot to look after,” Heyes said as if thinking it over.

“Not with the town helping its not,” the general store owner’s wife said. “Why we’ll all pitch in, like we did in the old country!”

Everyone began murmuring in agreement.

“How bout it kids?” Heyes said bending down to look at the children. “Got a chance to stay together in a real home.”

“But I want to stay with you,” Molly said a tear beginning to fall.

“Now Molly you know that isn’t possible, besides children need a mom and a dad.”

“You didn’t have one.”

“And look how we ended up,” Kid said to her.

“I like the way you ended up,” Jacob said hugging him.

“Best thing for us,” Sam said attempting to do the right thing though his lip was quivering.

“We’ll give you a good home son,” James said kneeling down to face him.

“Can you make pie?” Jacob asked.

“Aye and cookies,” Ilene smiled.

“Might work,” Jacob said thoughtfully.

Everyone began to laugh and smile.

“Heyes you must have been born under a lucky star,” Kid said pulling his partner away as the town surrounded the children and everyone began talking at once. “That fella going after one of the kids was the best thing that could have happened.”

“I don’t do luck Kid, I think. And I knew when I ran into Willy Greene in the saloon yesterday he was just the man for the job.”

“What!” Kid said realization dawning.

“Willy Greene, rode with him before Jim, don’t think you ever met him.”

“Heyes you mean you paid the guy to draw on me?”

“No, no of course not, should have known though you’d butt in, you have a real problem with that you know?”

“Me! You organize this whole charade…never mind.”

“Mr. Heyes? Mr. Curry looks like were going with the Chandlers,” Sam said coming over.

“Mr. Curry can I talk to you,” Molly said pulling on Kid’s pant leg.

“Sure you can Molly,” he said picking her up and carrying her off by the fence.

“It’s gonna be all right Sam, they’re good people,” Heyes said.

“I know sir, I know what you done, how you set this up to find them, can’t thank you enough for that.”

“Well we older brothers gotta stick together,” he said. “And Sam you ever have any problems, that lady at the saloon? Sharon? You tell her you need to talk to me and she’ll get word to me, understand?” Heyes said offering his hand.

The boy moved to take it and then suddenly Heyes found himself being hugged.

“Jacob’s right,” Sam said as they both pulled away eyes wet and Heyes commented on the dust. “What he said about you turning out? I hope we do as well.”

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

“All right Molly what’s the problem, you got a nice family and town to take care of you and no one is gonna take your brothers and sister away.”

“But I’ll miss you.”

“I’m gonna miss you too,” Kid said. “But ya know I just might get out this way every now and again and I’ll come by and say hello, how would that be?”

“Will you bring green gum drops?”

“Promise.”

“You take care of Mr. Heyes for me?”

“Yea, I’ll see if I can do that,” he smiled and hugged her.

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

“They said they’d make me pie,” Jacob said coming over to Kid.

“Man should never turn down an offer like that,” Kid said tightening the cinch of his horse.

Jacob shuffled and then suddenly hugged him, “I’ll miss you.”

Kid smiled and hugged him back, “Do me a favor?”

The little boy looked up and turning Kid reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the tin of soldiers. “Look after these for me? I never seem to have the time to play with them.”

The little boy’s face lit up.

“Really!”

“Really, maybe I’ll even get by from time to time and we’ll have ourselves a proper battle.”

“Thanks Mr. Curry,” he cried running off to show his brother.

“That was nice,” Heyes said coming up behind him.

“Well you’d never play with me,” Kid said scornfully and mounted his horse.

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

“Can’t believe those folks actually agreed,” Kid said a day later as they entered the cabin.

“Well him being a teacher, and her Irish, match made in heaven,” Heyes answered from his room. “And the $1000 will help.”

Kid looked up sharply, “$1000? We only had 800.”

“Did we?” Heyes said absently. “My mistake.”

Kid shook his head and grinned understanding. “Sure it was Heyes. Ya know I think you kinda liked having those kids around, who knows someday you just might have some of your own,” Kid laughed. “That scare you?” He queried sitting down at the table and taking out his gun to clean.

Heyes walked back into the room and considered it, “Only one thing scares me more.”

“What’s that?”

“Being uncle to yours!” He walked over to the table. “Here,” he said and dropped a small leather box onto the table next to him.

Kid looked down.

“What’s this?”

“My box, seemed only fair I saw what was in yours, you should see what was in mine,” Heyes said softly sitting down across from him.

“Heyes its okay…you have a box too?”

“Yea, stuff I’ve been carrying around in my pocket all these years. When we got here, well it was the closest to a home we ever had and I guess I relaxed enough to trust it to that box. Just like when we were kids,” he half smiled.

“Yea,” Kid nodded and slid the box unopened back to him. “It’s all right Heyes, I don’t need to see it.”

“No, really I’d feel better, I feel kind of like I intruded and well it would even things.”

Kid considered this and nodded and slowly drew the box back and opened it.

Grinning he pulled out the black garter, “Mrs. Beloin?”

Heyes grinned, “Yup.”

“What were you 15?”

“14,” Heyes said.

Kid shook his head and laughed. “Only you Heyes.”

He pulled out a newspaper article and stared surprised at the content. It was an exaggerated account of the time he had outdrawn a man in a saloon.

“Why this?”

“Was when we weren’t riding together. Saw it and knew it was you, no reason, I just liked the way they described you as ‘Death’s White Knight’.”

“Ah huh,” Kid said rolling his eyes.

“Okay maybe it made me think you were less far away.”

Kid pulled out the broken pipe and slumped, “Your pa’s?”

“Yea, only thing I kept from that day, always said I’d get it fixed.”

Kid rummaged through the rest. It was mostly newspaper clippings of their jobs, a letter from Silky, and then finally he reached the bottom and pulled out the last item, a dented and smashed bullet.

Kid held it up puzzled.

“One they took out of you, that you took for me,” he said simply.

Kid stared at the object, “Why’d you keep it?”

“To remind me that we both need to get out of the way next time.”

Kid grinned and started to laugh, “Heyes for a couple of infamous outlaws we got some pretty strange treasures.”

“Or maybe Kera Sage was right,” Heyes said raising his cup to him. “Maybe the real treasures don’t fit in a box.”

Historical Note:

Gertrude Chandler Warner was a 1^st grade teacher for 30 years. She was born in 1890 and lived across from a railway station where she would play in the boxcars and imagine living in one after hearing a story from her mother…Molly Chandler.

She eventually went on to become a best selling children’s author and the writer of the classic series…’The Boxcar Children’.