NOT ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS

MISSING SCENE

MAN WHO MURDERED HIMSELF

Or

What really happened when they got into the saloon….

Drena Hills

“Kid if you feel that way just hit me!”

Kid Curry turned with all the energy he had left and swung. It was high and wide and the effort nearly knocked him over. Heyes ducked easily wincing has his cousin’s fist connected with the Hurdy Gurdy by the door and causing it and the machine to groan in pain.

“I didn’t mean it really,” Heyes said rolling his eyes and then the sight of his weary, beaten partner made him sigh and putting an arm around him he led him to the bar. “Whiskey, two,” he said and leaned sideways against the bar taking in the full state of his partner’s condition.

The punch had dissolved his anger, but not his weariness.

“You look awful.”

“I feel worse,” Kid said taking the whiskey and downing it.

Heyes immediately passed him his, which this time he only took a sip of.

“So you wanna know what happened to me?” Heyes asked with his best smile.

“I all ready know, you didn’t get the money.”

“It’s a great story…” he tried and then let the smile fade away. “Want another whiskey?”

“No Heyes I just want a bath and a meal and a bed. Preferably none of which involve you anywhere in the vicinity,” and with that he downed the drink and moved towards the door.

“Aw you don’t mean that…” Heyes tried.

Kid glared back at him and exited.

“You! Smith!”

Heyes turned instantly re-directed by the man rising from the poker table he had left just before Kid had arrived.

“Yes?” he said with false pleasantness. The man had lost steadily to him and been drinking harder since he left. The room smelling trouble went quiet and began eyeing options of how to get out of the way.

The man stood. He had 4 inches on Heyes and a 100 pounds. Heyes had all ready summed him up in the game as a trapper and had not missed he wore his gun tied down when the man had begun to lose.

“I been thinking.”

Heyes refrained from saying something smart, but it was tough, “Yes?”

“You win too much.”

“Maybe you just lose to much,” Heyes said. The smile hadn’t left his face, but it had left his eyes, which were now dark and dangerous.

“I want my money back.”

Heyes considered the $130 he had in his pocket. He had been trying to at least have something to offer Kid for losing the fee from the job. He had not intention of giving it up.

“You lost,” Heyes said calmly.

What happened next went down so quick even the bartender wasn’t sure of the exact details.

The man drew; Heyes went for his gun knowing he couldn’t outdraw him and moving to dive as he did.

The man never fired. Three shots and three separate howls of pain. Heyes turned slightly and realized the man had two friends with him and all three had drawn on him.

He didn’t even have to turn to know his partner was directly behind him.

“Think you boys better move along and next time don’t play if you can’t lose,” Kid’s soft drawl commanded the room.

Terrified and clutching their arms the men scurried for the door. Heyes turned to watch them leave. Slowly the room came back to life.

Kid turned back from where he had been watching their exit; satisfied he replaced his gun.

“You okay?” he said simply.

“Yea,” Heyes smiled. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“I am. I wanna kill you, wasn’t about to let anyone else have the enjoyment.”

Heyes smile grew bigger and Kid managed to look embarrassed and resigned at the same time.

“Can I buy you dinner?” Heyes offered.

“You got any money?” Kid couldn’t help adding.

“$130 at Poker.”

“No wonder he was annoyed. All right, let me clean up first and then you can tell me this amazing tale.”

Laughing Heyes draped an arm around him and propelled him to the door. “Kid, I hate to admit it, but I missed you.” Kid gave him a look that made him only laugh harder. “Well to begin with have you ever thought of murdering yourself?…”