THE DAY AFTER THE AMNESTY CAME THROUGH

Drena Hills

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

-

Graham Greene

The woman looked up at him as if something dreadful had crawled into her office. She was probably pretty or had the potential for it, but the scowl and distaste on her face drained it from her. Her entire attitude was superior and smug and would have chased most men from her presence.

Kid Curry wasn't most men.

"So you’re the outlaw," she said leaning back. "I had my doubts you would come."

"Miss…Barto wasn't it?" he said holding his temper. He was tired, and not having slept since he had received the telegram; the institute around him had done little to improve his temperament.

Stepping through the door of the orphanage he had remembered that smell and instantly had been transported back to another time when it had been him arriving at such a place. The memory was neither pleasant nor worth revisiting and he was in no moods for games.

"Yes well a man who abandons his wife and children…"

"Where are they?" he said it in such a way she sat up and for the first time looked as if she had lost control of the situation.

"Lorelei bring the Curry children into my office," she said into the tube connected to the reception desk outside her office. "I had no hope of finding you until I heard about the amnesty, lucky that wasn't it?"

He looked at her, "Yes ma'am."

The stare made her shiver and then he merely turned his attention to the window and ignored her.

Had it really only been six months since the news had come? They had waited so long that neither would believe the telegram, instead riding to Porterville to have Lom confirm it in the middle of the night and yell them both out of his house for waking his family.

The celebration had been a wild one with old friends seeking them out to congratulate them and causing it to start all over again with each new arrival.

It had taken a month for them to finally sober up and take stock. Between them they had $80 and amnesty. But neither could be brought down or discouraged because now they also had a future.

Kid had immediately thought of finding a place to live, while Heyes had been eager to roam with out fear. Finally they agreed to disagree and shaking hands went their separate ways with a vow to meet up in a couple of months and see what the other had come up with.

It barely lasted a month. Both had been offered jobs by railroad men and bankers feeling that if they couldn't beat Curry and Heyes they might as well have them on their side.

The jobs had been dangerous, but the risk was well paid for and their reputation for resourcefulness and discretion spread. Now six months later based in Cheyenne they had enough work to live well out of the town's finest hotel and were even beginning to hire men to help them on jobs they only needed to supervise. Life was indeed looking up.

And then it had came. Only two days ago, a telegram, to Mr. J. Curry, Cheyenne. Simple and to the point it announced his two children had been transferred to the Oakdale Orphanage due to their no longer being a living relative able to care for them.

He had gone sick to his stomach when he saw their mother's name. Quickly and quietly he had packed leaving Heyes a note that said nothing and caught the next train east.

Arriving in town he had done some checking. She was indeed dead, died in childbirth with twins, three years past.

He had never known. To be honest he had never expected to see her again and certainly had never known she was pregnant. Not that it would have made much difference he thought wearily, what kind of father would Kid Curry, gunslinger and outlaw make, a man on the run.

The door opened and a tiny older woman led two small children in by the hands.

Any hope of them not being his was instantly dismissed as they looked up at him.

The boy was blond, his spitting image, with huge blue eyes in pale white skin. He looked undernourished and his clothes were patched and ill fitting.

But it was girl that caught his breath. Her dark curls were her mothers, but that was all, the rest was pure Curry. He instantly thought of Heyes's mother as the blue eyes looked up at him shyly.

"Bridget, Shaun this is your father, lot of good it will do you," the woman finished under breath.

Kid had never hit a woman, but the way the two children flinched at her voice brought him the closest he had ever come.

"I'd like to speak to them in private," he said quietly.

"Mr. Curry my office is not…"

"Now."

To the surprise of everyone, but Kid, she rose and mumbling angrily exited the room calling her assistant to follow.

The door shut, Kid sank into a chair and smiled softly at the two little faces watching him warily.

"Hello Shaun, Bridget," he said quietly.

Shaun pushed his sister behind him, "Sir."

"It seems I'm your father," he let out a long breath and it made him look younger and less terrifying, so much so that Bridget took a step forward.

"You have blue eyes too," she said.

He looked at her and smiled again, "Yea, Curry blue, my grandfather used to call it."

"Miss Barto told us you are an outlaw and you kill people," Shaun said concerned.

"I used to be an outlaw, but I didn't kill people."

"Are you gonna be our Father now?" Shaun said no expression on his face.

He looked at them all the plans he had made running through his head, the people he would have care for them, whatever money was needed, a real home without the stigma of his reputation to haunt them.

"Course he is," Bridget said making her decision about him and going over she climbed up into his lap "That's why he came for us, didn't you daddy?"

Kid Curry had faced many sets of eyes in his lifetime, but the two that looked up at him then with complete love and trust were the toughest. But when she laid her head against his chest with a little sigh of comfort he knew he hadn't got a chance.

"Uh yea, I guess I am," he said weakly.

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

There had been papers to sign and their meager belongings to collect and then there was the problem of getting them back to town with just a horse, but plopping them both up in front of him they had managed despite Shaun's continual questions at everything and everyone they saw.

"Shaun?" Kid asked after the 20^th question. "I can't wait for you to meet your Uncle Heyes."

"Who's Uncle Heyes?" Bridget asked as he got off the horse in front of the hotel and helped them down.

"My partner."

"He's the other outlaw everyone kept saying," Shaun said thoughtfully. "He opens safes and leads the gang."

"Not anymore. You two hungry?" he said not sure what to do with them first.

They looked up hopeful and he noticed again how thin they were.

"Me too, come on lets have supper."

The hotel restaurant seemed a bit surprised at two small children being led in, but Kid merely stared down the maitre'd and they were quickly seated and cushions brought when the two little heads barely peered over the table from their chairs.

"So what would you both like to eat?" Kid said studying the menu.

"You mean anything?" Bridget said in awe.

He looked at her and frowned and she took it as chastisement.

"I'm sorry daddy, I'll eat whatever you want me to," she said shrinking back.

"Sweetheart you can have anything you want, as much as you want," Kid said horrified she had taken it wrong.

"Even pie?" Shaun said amazed.

"Whole pie."

The two children looked at each other and Kid realized they had the same silent communication going that he had Heyes had.

"We would like blueberry pie and a chicken leg please sir," Shaun said finally.

Kid swallowed a smile. "Just one chicken leg?"

"Can we both have one?" Bridget asked hopeful.

"You can have twenty," Kid said firmly and to the waiters shock ordered just that along with biscuits and butter and potatoes and corn.

For once his own food went untouched, so amused was he at the way the children approached their feast. At first they were hesitant and then reassured it was not going to be taken away they went at it with gusto trying to remember their manners, but so excited by the meal.

"Better leave room for pie," Kid laughed as Shaun ate his 5^th drumstick. "Bridget what are you doing?" he asked surprised as she took her napkin and carefully wrapped the rest of her chicken in it.

"For later, when were hungry," she told him in a whisper like she had a treasure to take away.

"Bridget if you get hungry…"

"We're always hungry," Shaun said and then looked up worried. "I'm sorry I can't eat it all." He seemed to be waiting for some punishment for this statement, but Kid smiled.

"I'm amazed you ate what you did. Still got room for pie though right?"

"Yes sir!"

They actually made it through three bites of pie before sleepily sliding into it and Kid quickly scooped them up and balancing the two sleeping children in his arms tossed a coin down and carried them up the stairs, Bridget still clutching her napkin of chicken.

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

"Is he dead?"

"I don't think so, look he's breathing."

"Look at his gun!"

Kid opened one eye at the two little figures beside him and groaned. He had emptied the whiskey bottle on the dresser last night dealing with what to do with the two children in the bed across from him.

"Don't you two believe in sleeping in?" Kid said softly for fear his head would fall off.

"Good morning daddy!" Bridget said climbing up on his bed with a bounce that made knives shoot through his skull.

"Can I touch your gun?" Shaun asked.

"No," Kid said firmly sitting up and moving Bridget to the other side of him and pulling the boy up and out of reach of the deadly object. "Not until I can explain how it works and I know you can handle it, understand?"

"Yes sir."

Kid let out a long sigh that had sounded like he was planning on this being permanent. He wasn't. He had decided last night this simply would not work and now had one mission, get back to Heyes and make him figure out the best thing to do. Heyes would think clearly and not be swayed by little girls that hugged you good morning.

"I guess you want breakfast," he finally said.

"We get breakfast too?" Shaun said in awe.

Kid laughed, "Yea, we always get breakfast, put your shoes on," he ordered as they scrambled off the bed excited and he groaned again at the motion.

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

"More coffee sir?" the waiter asked nervously as the Curry family finished its pie. He was unused to breakfast having dessert and this strange little family worried him.

"Yea thanks, tell me where in town could I get them some clothes?"

"There is a fine establishment two door's down sir, Milly's."

"Thank you and tell the clerk I'm gonna need a bath brought up to my room in an hour."

"Yes sir, of course sir."

"We get clothes?" Bridget said wide-eyed. "New ones!"

"Yea I think we better those stockings of yours have more holes than the graveyard, drink your milk and lets go."

Quickly the children obeyed and a moment later were holding his hand walking down the street.

He hadn’t planned that, but stepping out into the busy street they had instinctively each taken a hand. For Kid it was an odd sensation. He was used to looks when he walked down a street; people tended to clear way for a man with a gun strapped to his hip. But now with the two blue eyed children on either side he was being rewarded with smiles and good days and almost felt respectable.

Milly's turned out to be a rather fine clothing store and Milly herself was soon waiting on them when Kid mentioned he didn't care what it cost, just find them what they needed.

Bridget went first and was shown one dress after another until finally the little girl just put her face against his leg and began to cry.

"What's wrong? What did I do?" Kid said horrified to Shaun.

"She ain't never had a new dress before, its kinda scary," Shaun explained.

Kid instantly crouched down to face the little girl.

"Bridget honey, which one do you like?"

"The blue one with the flowers daddy."

"Do you like the others?"

"Yes daddy, but that's my favorite."

"Okay," he said to the clerk. "Leave that one for her to change into and wrap up the rest," he pointed to the remaining 8 dresses.

Both child and woman stared at him.

"All of them?" Milly said as Bridget gasped.

Kid shrugged, "She liked them all. Oh and give her whatever they wear under those things when they are little."

"Would you like ribbons to match sir?"

"We want ribbons?" he asked Bridget who stared at the colors the woman held up in delight. "We want ribbons," he said and the turned to Shaun. "You're next partner."

Shaun was soon outfitted with shirts and trousers and then both were led over to the General store where shoes were found for Bridget and boots for Shaun. He was most specific in the kind he wanted, just like his dads.

Kid looked over at him eyeing the hats and tried not to smile.

"Guess you need one of those too," he said gruffly. "Got one you like?"

The little boy pointed hesitantly at the brown one, one size too large, but close in shape to his fathers.

Kid put it on the boy's head and it slid over his eyes.

"Bit big for you isn't it?"

"I'll grow daddy," the boy said from inside it.

"I can put something in the lining sir," the clerk smiled. "Now after all this shopping how about a sweet on the house," the man smiled offering the row of candy sticks in front of him.

"For free?" Bridget gasped and her expression clearly expressed her opinion she had woken up in heaven.

"What's your favorite flavor?" Kid said picking them up so they could see.

"Cinnamon," Bridget said eagerly.

"Sasperilla," Shaun said. "But what's the yellow one?"

"Lemon and that's cherry and…" the man named all the flavors and the children stood stunned by choice.

"Better give me two of each," Kid said. "But these are only when you behave yourself," he said sternly at their cheers.

"Lovely children sir," the clerk smiled as they skipped off with their choices in a chorus of thank yous. "You must be very proud of them."

Kid merely nodded and paid the man starting to feel uncomfortable at how much he was enjoying himself.

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

"Will you stop squirming!" Kid yelled as Shaun slid out of his hands once more in the huge great tub of soapy water. Bath time had not gone exactly as planned. Bridget had been washed and scrubbed by the maid to the relief of Kid who had no idea what to do with all the curls that needed washing.

Shaun had been another story absolutely disliking the idea completely until he realized the water was warm and then he had taken such delight playing in it, Kid could barely get him scrubbed.

Finally he collapsed in a chair mission completed and decided there was a harder job than riding drag.

"Daddy will you tell us a story?" Bridget asked crawling into his lap. She seemed to feel this was the only place to sit when he was in the room and Kid shook his head amused as she snuggled up into his arm happily.

"I'm not really much of a storyteller," he said as Shaun suddenly joined them. "Your Uncle Heyes tells the best ones."

"Are we going to meet Uncle Heyes," Shaun asked interested.

"Yes, train leaves this afternoon."

"Tell us a story about him," Bridget said interested in this relative to come.

"Story about Heyes huh? Well I do remember once when he was not much older than you…"

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

The train trip was for the most part uneventful. The children had never been on a train and found watching the scenery terribly exciting. The picnic basket they had secured for the trip kept them all in food even enough for Shaun and with other children to play with the time passed quickly.

"So lovely to see a father taking his children on a trip," one of the mother's said to Kid.

"Yes ma'am."

"Their mother must be so proud," said another beaming at this handsome man.

"Our mother is dead," Shaun said looking up from playing soldiers with another little boy in the aisle.

"Oh you wonderful man!" all the women sighed.

Kid had never had a problem attracting female companionship before, but now he was suddenly gold. Word quickly spread about the kind, widower and his two adorable children and soon they were being offered cookies and sandwiches and Kid was politely fending off offers to meet sisters, daughters and even the women on the train.

"Daddy is Uncle Heyes going to like us," Bridget yawned from beside him where she was resting against his arm weary from a hard day of play.

Kid considered this and then looking down as her eyes drifted shut and she snuggled up against him, he smiled, "Well he is going to be surprised."

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

Hannibal Heyes was late. He had received Kid's telegram and anxiously had planned to meet the train concerned by what could have taken his partner out of town without an explanation of where or why in his note. To make matters worse he had cryptically asked Heyes to meet him at the station with a carriage instead of a horse.

Hurrying onto the platform he saw the train had pulled away and all that remained was a little boy standing there next to some luggage looking up at him with large blue eyes.

Checking inside Heyes came out to find the same little boy watching and finally annoyed he spoke.

"You here all alone?"

"No my dad is with my sister in the wash room."

"Oh, okay good, listen did anyone else get off this train?"

"No sir, just my dad and my sister. Are you Hannibal Heyes?"

The questions startled Heyes so much he sat down on the chest across from the child to take it in. Having someone recognize him still gave him a start, but this had to be the youngest bounty hunter he'd ever come across.

"Why do you think that?"

"Well you're like my dad described him."

"And how did your dad describe him?"

"Smart, worried and tall."

Heyes broke into laughter, "And just who is your dad son?"

"I am," Kid said coming up behind him.

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

"And you brought them here!" Heyes yelled pacing the room as Kid sat back in the hotel room chair letting him get out the shock he had kept hidden until the children had been put down for a nap in his adjoining room.

He had to admit Heyes had done well. He had stared at him and then looked down at Bridget and back to Shaun and realized why the little boy had looked so familiar.

"Hello Uncle Heyes!" Bridget said happily running up to him and hugging his legs.

Heyes had looked down and merely said hello back and then stared at Kid in complete amazement. Kid had quickly hurried them all off to the carriage where conversation was limited to the children oooing and ahhhing the capital.

"I couldn't very well leave them there Heyes," Kid said calmly.

"But they are children!"

"Yes Heyes and they are mine," Kid said annoyed.

"Certainly can't deny that, the boy must be like looking in a mirror," Heyes said sinking onto the edge of the bed across from him and downing the whiskey he had poured.

"Bridget reminds me of your mom," Kid said softly.

Heyes looked up, "Yea, blue eyes put in with dirty fingers my dad used to say," he smiled and then frowned, he was getting distracted. "Kid what are you gonna do with them? You can't keep them. We don't know anything about raising children, I'm surprised you haven't broke them in the two days you've had them. No, no we have to find a home for them."

"Please sir, Uncle Heyes?"

He turned surprised at the two little faces that had quietly entered the room.

They were holding hands and it was Shaun who had spoke.

"I thought you two were taking a nap," Kid said concerned by how much they had heard and then his worse suspicions were confirmed.

"If you can't have both of us, could you at least keep Bridget? I'll be fine, but well she gets bad dreams at night and she'd be better with you," Shaun said bravely.

"No," the little girl cried tightening her grip on his hand, "Please keep us both! We won't be any trouble, we don't normally eat that much and we can clean and we don't need a bed and I don't need all those dresses…"

She started to cry and Kid was instantly at her side scooping her up and holding her to him, while giving his partner the evil eye.

"It's all right Bridget no one is going anywhere at the moment, were just trying to find you the best home to live in."

"Home is where my daddy is," she sobbed against him. "And my brother and my Uncle Heyes."

Heyes let out a long sigh and looked up at his partner. Rocking the little girl and whispering soothingly to her and stared at the transformation.

Thank God he was stronger and more practical he thought resolutely. Someone certainly had to be.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock at the door.

"Telegram!"

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

"Why can't Butcher see me or wait?" Heyes said two hours later as Kid tightened the cinch on his horse.

"Because he feels safer with the 'fastest gun in the west'," Kid said sarcastically remembering the tiny little red faced man who had hired them a month back to help him with an old nemesis. "These raiders got everyone frightened. I'll go check out his place, assure him its safe and be back by nightfall."

Heyes looked at the two children. "That's 8 hours from now and I've got a date tonight with Lily! You know how long it took me to convince her to come up for supper?" Heyes said annoyed.

"I'll be back in plenty of time for you and your actress."

Heyes didn't seem reassured, "And then there is the problem of what am I suppose to do with them?" He had already considered finding someone in town to watch them, but had then decided he really didn't want it getting out whose children they were. They had enough problems with their past as it was in this town.

"Well they like to eat and hear stories," Kid said swallowing a smile and walking past him crouched down before the two worried faces. "Now I'll be back by dark I want you two to mind Uncle Heyes understand?"

They nodded, but both seemed on the brink of tears.

"I don't think he likes us," Bridget whispered, but Heyes caught it.

"Sure he does and you can trust him, just like you do me, I promise okay?"

They nodded again and then despite Heyes stare, he hugged them both before mounting up.

"Look after them Heyes," he ordered and turning his horse was gone.

All three watched him until he was out of sight, unsure what else to do.

"Well," Heyes said looking down at them. "I'm gonna take you both over to the office and you can play while I do some work."

"Play?" Shaun asked.

"Yea, you remember playing?"

"They didn't like us playing at the home, they said it was noisy and…unpro, unproductive," Shaun managed to get out.

Heyes instantly remembered his years at the school for Wayward and understood.

"Yea they can be pretty rough, but you can play now. We'll get your toys…"

They looked down embarrassed and Heyes realized his mistake and felt terrible. Of course they wouldn't have toys, Kid had said they barely had clothes on their backs.

"You mean your father hasn't bought you any toys yet?" he said covering their distress with indignation that made them look up startled. "Not getting you toys, well its lucky you have an uncle that knows how to look after children, come along."

"Were going to get a toy?" Shaun stared at him in wonder.

"Toy shop down the street, pick out anything you want," Heyes said smiling at their faces.

"Could I have a doll?" Bridget asked breathless at the possibility. "I never had one of my own."

"Sure you can," Heyes smiled and found himself crouching down to face them. "Any one you want."

He suddenly found himself being hugged thoroughly by two little children and gruffly stood up, "Alright let's get on with it."

He looked down at two little hands were slipped into his and smiling faces beamed up.

"You are not going to break me," he said under his breath. "I'm not a sentimental idiot like my cousin!"

And he hurried them across the street.

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

Leopold's Toy Shop was a bright cluttered affair run by an old German man who had brought his old world knowledge of the magic of childhood to the west.

There were carousels and soldiers, blocks and carriages, balls and hoops. And along the far wall an entire row of dolls of every shape and size.

They spent a minute at the big display window just staring in with a group of children equally enraptured until Heyes caught himself enjoying pointing things out and hurried them inside.

"This is wonderful!" Shaun said in awe staring around.

"Go on Bridget pick out a doll," Heyes said trying to look uninterested, but found he watched her wonder with a smile tugging at his lips.

She looked back and he shooed her forward trying to decide which of the creations would steal her heart.

The large one with the green velvet dress and muff wasn't bad, it had her dark curls and a hat, he was pretty sure little girls like things like that.

"This one Uncle Heyes."

He stared down at the cheap cornhusk doll she was holding preciously.

"Sweetheart, why this one?" he said surprised picking her up and setting her on the counter.

"The man said it cost the least," she confided in a whisper.

He stared at her understanding. She was desperate to do nothing to annoy him.

"Well Bridget it is a nice doll, but as it’s the first present I get to give you I was thinking of maybe something a little more like that one."

He pointed to the doll in green and the owner quickly brought it over.

Bridget stared at him and then the doll stunned, "It's the most beautiful dolly in the whole world Uncle Heyes," she said breathless. "But it must cost ever so much."

"Nothing is too good for my niece," he said before he could stop it and suddenly she was wrapping her arms around his neck hugging him.

"Enough of that," he said sternly, but she was starting to catch on and smiled at him. "We'll take this one, does it need anything?" he asked Bridget. "No, how would you know, hang on."

Stepping outside he called the one small little girl still there staring into the window.

"Excuse me I need an expert on dolls, you know anything about them?"

The little girl blinked at him and nodded.

"Okay what does she need to play with this?"

"Well I've always wanted a tea set," she said pointing to the miniature one in the middle. "And if she had a carriage she could walk it?"

"Okay we'll take what she said," Heyes told Leopold. "And oh, give this lady a tea set for her help," he added gruffly and turned away to help Shaun before anyone could say anything.

"You have the most wonderful dad in the whole world!" the little girl said in awe to Bridget.

"Yes I do, but that's my Uncle Heyes, he's wonderful too though!"

"All right what about you?" Heyes said trying not enjoy himself as much as he was.

"Would a ball be all right?" Shaun said his eyes never leaving the soldiers in the case in front of him.

"Pretty wonderful aren't they?" Heyes said bending down to look with him.

"I've never seen anything so wonderful in my life," Shaun said breathlessly. "Mack on the train had some, but not as special as these!"

"Your dad and I used to play with soldiers our grandfather made us," Heyes smiled and the boy smiled back at the thought. "We used to fight terrible battles all over the farm and in the creeks, they'd often go on for days."

"Who won?" Shaun said.

Heyes looked at his shining eyes and lied truthfully, "Your dad did of course, no body could beat him."

Shaun looked about ready to burst with pride, "I thought he might."

"Maybe we should find out if you're just as good as him eh? Leopold! We're going to need some soldiers!"

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

Despite his best attempts not much work got done. For one thing Bridget invited him to tea with her doll, which after much persuasion on his part was no longer named Heyes, but Susie. Shaun then needed serious help with his battle strategy and it took them forever to find the best place to put the cannons.

He finally got them back to the hotel and ordering room service began to change for his date while the two children happily tucked into their meal.

"You look so handsome Uncle Heyes," Bridget said impressed as he stood in his evening clothes herding them into bed.

"You think she'll like it huh?" he asked.

"Oh yes, you look wonderful!" Bridget said shaking her head yes.

"All right now your dad is running late, but I am going to be just next door if you need me," he said sliding them under the covers and reassured by their heavy eyes that they would be asleep in minutes.

"Can we see your lady?" Shaun asked with a yawn.

"No you cannot, I have enough trouble with your father stealing my women, I don't need competition from his son, now close your eyes."

"Can we have another story?" Bridget tried.

"No you cannot, you have had six today all ready," he said tucking her in with her doll.

"I liked the one about the house where were going to live, will it really have a swing on the porch?"

"I like the one where daddy fought off 50 apaches and saved the President," Shaun said eyes shutting.

"I thought you might," Heyes grinned. "Good night."

He shut the door and looked around his suite. The table was set, everything was arranged and Lily should be arriving any minute. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and then looked up as the door knocked.

Quickly he reached it and opening it smiled appreciatively at the flamboyant red head smiling seductively at him.

"I still think this is a mistake, what will people think," Lily smiled gracefully gliding past him into the room and leaving her wrap in his hands in one fluid movement.

"They'll think I am the luckiest man on earth," he whispered in her ear as he passed her and then suddenly seeing a soldier on its side by the bed effortlessly kicked it under without her seeing.

"Champagne?" he asked.

"I thought you'd never ask."

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

"Hannibal!"

"What?" he said turning startled to look back at the woman beside him on the couch next to the fire.

Supper had gone well and they had both played the game to maneuver her over to the sofa, her protesting, him convincing, but oddly tonight some of the appeal had gone out of the conquest.

For one thing Kid was late and that spelt trouble, for another he just couldn't get his mind off the days events. For some reason the time he had spent with those children had been some of the nicest he could remember. Perhaps it was the innocence of it, the fond way it brought back his own childhood, but once or twice his thoughts had drifted causing Lily to rap his hand with her fan annoyed.

"Hannibal you know just what to do to capture my heart, invite a woman up to seduce her and then promptly ignore her," she smiled leaning in on him. "Well you win, have your way with me you terrible outlaw."

"Did you hear that?" Heyes said getting up so fast she fell forward into the cushion.

"Hannibal!"

"Shhhhh, it sounds like someone crying…" in three steps he had reached the dividing door and opened.

"Please don't cry Bridget, its okay, daddy is fine, he'll come back. Please Bridget or Uncle Heyes will get mad and make us leave…" Shaun stopped, eyes full of tears himself as they both looked up frightened at Heyes standing in the door way.

"What are those?" Lily said like she discovered mice in her bed.

"My niece and nephew," Heyes said going over to the bed and picking up Bridget, who buried her face into his shoulder and clung to him for dear life.

"I had a bad dream Uncle Heyes, bad men were trying to shoot daddy," she sniffed.

"Now Bridget you remember what I told you, your dad is the fastest gun in the west, probably the whole world, he's just running a bit late."

"Hannibal!" Lily stomped her little satin-laced foot this time.

"What!"

"I think you need to choose which of us you want in your arms?"

Heyes looked at the gorgeous woman pouting at him. The way her ample shape slid along the dark satin of her dress and exposed her creamy white bosom. There was a hunger in her eyes and a promise of untold delights to come.

He turned and looked back at the large blue eyes of Shaun worriedly staring up at him concerned for his sister and remembered those eyes from a lifetime ago.

"Your right Lily I do, shall I call you a carriage?"

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

Kid Curry entered his room as quietly as possible and might have succeeded if it hadn't been for the cannon on the floor that tripped him.

It was almost dawn and he was tired and worried and barely caught his balance as the light came on and he found his partner looking up at him sleepily from a chair beside his bed; the two children in it fast asleep.

"Heyes I am so sorry," he said. "Lily?"

"She left after supper, Bridget had a bad dream."

Kid groaned, "Heyes I will make this up to you."

"She dreamt you were in trouble and being chased," Heyes said his eyes concerned.

Kid looked at him, "She was right. When I got to Butcher's he was under attack, I barely got him out in one piece. Funny her dreaming that," Kid said smiling softly as he looked down at the two and gently brushed a curl from her face.

"You okay?" Heyes asked.

"Yea, weary, but in one piece. Those raiders got away though, didn't like the look of them Heyes. I think we need to tell Lom tomorrow to get a posse out after them or nobody is gonna be safe."

"You better get some sleep, take my bed," Heyes said putting his feet back up and closing his eyes.

"Uh Heyes, don't you want to…"

"I promised Bridget…"

"Daddy!"

On her name the little girl opened her eyes and seeing Kid flung herself at him overjoyed.

"You're back daddy! Oh daddy I was so worried, but Uncle Heyes he said you would be fine because you are Kid Curry and nobody is tougher than you!"

"Daddy!" Shaun said sleepily. "I got soldiers and cannons and cavalry too!"

"Yea I noticed," Kid said dryly holding up the cannon he had tripped on. "You need to put these things away or someone is going to fall…" he stopped not sure where his father's voice had come from. Looking over he saw Heyes grinning and he glared at him. "I'm glad you didn't spoil him Heyes, cannons and cavalry?"

"Well you remember how badly we wanted them to go with the soldiers," Heyes said defensively. "Cannons really fire!"

"They do!? I mean that is far too much…"

"I got a doll and carriage and a tea set Daddy and Uncle Heyes had tea with us!"

"Oh he did, did he?" Kid grinned.

"Some father you are, they didn't have one toy," Heyes said indignant and trying to steer away from the tea party, it was not the sort of thing that needed to be widely known.

"Is it breakfast yet?" Shaun yawned. "I'm hungry."

"Like father like son. Let me call down to the kitchen," Heyes said getting up. "Coffee sounds wonderful."

An hour later the four of them sat on Kid's bed munching down bacon and toast and happily having a breakfast picnic.

"You come up with any ideas for them?" Kid asked as they two children began playing with the soldiers on the floor.

Heyes looked guilty. "Not exactly, what about Clem?"

"Heyes she just married a Federal Marshall, how happy is he gonna be raising Kid Curry's children?"

"Yea, well look lets send some telegrams tomorrow and maybe we'll get an idea."

"Heyes it is tomorrow."

"I know, I mean the next tomorrow."

"What about today?" Kid said confused.

Heyes went poker faced. "We have plans."

"Case?"

"Fair."

"A what?"

"The children saw the poster for the fair tomorrow, I said you would take them."

"I would take them?"

"Okay we'll both take them. Do you know they've never had candy apples?"

"Good Heyes I'm glad your keeping your distance and perspective on this," Kid sighed.

"Go take a nap, you look beat."

"Grownups take naps?" Shaun asked interested.

"Every chance we get," Kid said pulling off his boots and gun and laying down sleepily.

"Play quietly," Heyes ordered the two children going back to his room.

He gave them ten minutes and then coming back in covered all three up as they slept.

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

"You sure that's the way little girl's wear them?" Heyes asked as they stepped out of the hotel to the waiting carriage.

Kid looked over at his daughter wearing eight different colored ribbons.

"Looks all right to me."

"You scare me sometimes Kid."

"Hey you didn't have to do her hair all right?" Kid grumbled picking up the reins.

"Can I help you drive daddy?" Shaun said crawling up in front as Heyes helped Bridget and her doll into the back and joined her.

"Sure you can, now the important think to remember is…"

The fair was had been set up on the outskirts of town and was being attended by the entire county it seemed. The children gasped at the bright balloons caught up in nets over the walkways and laced with brightly colored banners between the tents set up among the booths and attractions.

"Now you hold on to either me or Uncle Heyes no wandering off," Kid ordered trying not to smile at their faces. This had been a great idea, but then he frowned wondering if it would in fact make leaving them even harder when the right family was found.

"Hey little girl get your daddy to win you a toy dog!" barked the man from the shooting booth. "All he's got to do is shoot the target!"

"Boy did he hit up the wrong little girl," Heyes said laughing as Kid pulled off a glove in answer to his daughter's squeal of delight.

"You both want one?" Kid asked picking up the revolver the man gave him and weighing it in his hand.

"Two?" said the small boy watching them. "Ain't nobody one any this whole time!"

"Well my daddy is the fastest gun in the west and he can do anything," Bridget told the boy hands on her hips, highly annoyed that anyone would doubt her father.

"I need two," Kid said laying the coins down.

The man laughed, "I like your attitude mister."

Kid picked up the gun and fired. As he suspected the barrel was bent and he watched the bullets fly off course not hitting anything.

"He missed!" Shaun said horrified.

"Patience," Heyes winked at his nephew who beamed back at the grin his uncle gave him.

"Nice try mister."

"Paid for two goes," Kid said. "What do I need to hit to get two of them dogs?"

"You'd need to hit two of the clay ducks."

"What do I get if I hit them all?'

The man laughed, "Mister you knock down all those clay pigeons, I'll give you every toy I got."

"Seems fair," Heyes nodded when Kid looked at him innocently.

The gun seemed to jump into Kid's hand and this time he knew how to compensate for the trick and firing with split second accuracy he hit every target.

"Hooray!" Bridget yelled jumping up and down and hugging him while Shaun ran around whooping and hollering what his dad had done.

A crowd had gathered by now in wonder and everyone stared at the booth owner who had gone a horrible shade of white.

"Believe you owe me a dog or so," Kid said quietly.

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

"I think my favorite part was giving all the children a dog," Bridget said twenty minutes later munching on her candy apple..

"You sure made a lot of people happy daddy," Shaun said proudly holding his dog.

"And scared the carnival owner to death," came a voice.

They turned to see Lom staring at them.

"Did he just call you what I think he did?"

Heyes and Kid looked at each other.

"Are you a sheriff?" Shaun asked interested. "My daddy used to be an outlaw. He and Uncle Heyes made right fools of you didn't he?"

Heyes bit his tongue trying not to laugh, Kid was not as successful. Lom glared at them both.

"Might have taken a story I told wrong," Heyes said coughing.

"But Uncle Heyes you said…"

"Bridget, Shaun, this is Lom Trevors, he's an old friend," Kid said. "Lom," he continued looking the man in the eye. "These are my children."

Lom had played enough poker not to react in shock, merely tipped his hat to Bridget and shook Shaun's hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, have to bring James by to meet you both, he's my son, just a bit older than you Shaun."

"I have toy soldiers, Uncle Heyes bought them," Shaun explained happily holding on to his Uncle's hand.

"James will like that. Can I speak to you two for a moment?" Lom said.

"You two go watch the puppet show where I can see you," Kid said and they scrambled off excited to find a seat.

"All right what is going on."

"Nothing going on, Kid has kids," Heyes said enjoying himself.

"I can see that, look like the both of you, except innocent, never thought that was possible."

"Look Lom we aren't planning on keeping them, its just until I can find them a decent home," Kid said.

His older friend looked at him, "I would have thought being with their own family was a decent home," Lom said quietly.

"Lom you know what he means, we can't take care of children, we can barely take care of ourselves," Heyes said feeling guilty all the same.

"Hey Lom what about you and…"

"Don't even think about it, having James nearly killed her and she never got her strength back, no you are gonna have to find someone else to leave them with."

"Not gonna leave them," Kid said shifting uncomfortable. "We'll visit."

"Wonder how they'll feel about that. Anyway I wanted to find you cause I got your message about running into the raiders at Butcher's place."

"Yea seven of them. I wounded at least two."

"Which means they'll be moving on and need a big strike to do it, thanks I think I better get me some men deputized."

He turned to leave and then glanced back past them at the two children watching the puppets laughing.

"Seems to me God hands a man a ready made family after losing his first, he ought to take it and hold on real tight. Boys."

"Kid don't even think it," Heyes said trying to fight down the thought himself. "We cannot raise two children, we just can't. Heck there are people that still don't know we aren't wanted. It would be dangerous for them and us. Not to mention what kind of home is a hotel and look how much we travel."

"Heyes I'm not arguing with you, are you trying to convince me or you?"

"Kid!"

The name was said with an edge Kid knew from too many tense moments and he looked up sharply in time to see what had alarmed his partner.

Five riders coming through at break neck speed, guns drawn, whooping and hollering and holding the fairs taking in a canvas bag.

People were diving out of their path and those that didn't were trampled or shot.

And directly between them and freedom was the puppet theatre and it tiny audience.

For Kid his first instinct was to dive for the children, but Heyes was already running and he knew he was needed more diverting the riders and giving his partner time.

Drawing his gun he found his target and shooting up he aimed for the knots on the rigging above holding the balloons and banners and was rewarded with the entire colorful display dropping down on the approaching riders causing their horse to rear up terrified.

Two men were thrown and scrambled up angrily taking aim at anything that moved.

Kid let out a yell and they whirled on him, but he was ready firing twice and causing both to drop in anguish.

Turning he realized the last three riders had freed themselves and were heading straight for him, his gun now empty.

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

"Uncle Heyes!" Bridget gasped unsure what was happening other than all the children were being scooped up. "I want my daddy."

"Hang on honey, I gotta get you two safe so I can help him," Heyes said and running he carried them clear behind a large stand of beer barrels.

"Wait here! Do not move until I come back!" he ordered. "And stay down!" Drawing his gun he vaulted over the barrels and as the children stared in horror leapt in front of their father and fired.

One rider went down and then a second and then simultaneously a third from a shot to the side.

Turning the two ex outlaws saw Lom Trevors leaping into the path gun drawn.

"You hurt?" he asked as Kid, gun now reloaded, checked the downed men.

"No, but Bridget? Shaun?" Kid asked his cousin, his face white.

"Safe," Heyes said getting up and dusting himself off. "I'm find too thanks for asking."

Kid looked at him and groaned, "Heyes I didn't mean, thank you, I didn't have a chance, if you hadn't," Kid was rambling now looking confused and very very young and Heyes grinned and grabbed his arm.

"Hey its okay, I was joking, and any time."

The two smiled and as Lom ordered men to help him pick up the fallen raiders they hurried over to the barrels where the children sat staring at them wide-eyed.

"They are gonna be terrified," Kid groaned.

"Just take it slow…" Heyes said cautiously approaching them.

"Will you teach me to do that Uncle Heyes!" Shaun said.

"You were wonderful Uncle Heyes! You saved my daddy!" Bridget said jumping up and down and clapping.

"Terrified," Kid said shaking his head and holstering his gun.

"Boy no bad men better come around us!" Bridget imitating the gun battle.

"I wanna be just like you both when I grow up," Shaun said doing his re-enactment.

"Me too!" said Bridget holding her hands up to her father who picked her up relieved.

"You can't! You’re a girl!" Shaun said doing the same to Heyes who lifted him up without thinking.

"I can too, can't I daddy? I'm a Curry!"

The two outlaws looked at each other and started laughing.

"They're as blood thirsty as we were at that age," Heyes grinned.

"Guess they know only family can ever look after you best," Lom said quietly walking by.

"And I got the best family in the world," Shaun said hugging Heyes's neck. "Can I have another candy apple?"

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

"Heyes will you please tell you where we are going" Kid hissed at his partner as the carriage made its way down the tree lined road next to the river.

"I told you it’s a surprise," Heyes said smiling back at the two children in the back of the carriage watching the scenery excited.

Kid sighed. It had been a week since the fair incident and neither man had broached the subject of finding a home for the two children. To make matters worse Kid was now certain no matter how good the home was he would never now be able to part with them. The problem was Heyes deserved some say in things, as it would affect their business, their partnership. Kid groaned, it was all too complicated. He didn't want to lose one family to keep another.

"The truth is I found them a home," Heyes said finally and Kid looked up and winced.

"Big three story house, next to the river on 200 good acres. Perfect tree out back for a fort, remember that one we built? Swimming hole only a hundred yards from the back gate. Porch even has a swing," he smiled back at Bridget.

He rounded a grove of trees and stopped the carriage.

Kid sighed staring at the house. Heyes was right, it was perfect. The kind of house a child could grow up in safe and happy, with a family, a real family.

"Whose home it is?" he asked feeling as if he had been punched in the stomach as the children scrambled out and began running towards it.

Heyes almost hid his smile as he jumped down eyes twinkling.

"Ours, I bought it yesterday."

Kid stared at him, "What? You mean?"

"Lom was right Kid, family is too precious too lose," and then feeling he had revealed too much he coughed and added. "I just hope it's big enough for all those soldiers."