Brotherly Love (Chapter 2) - Alias Smith & Jones
Title: Brotherly Love (Chapter 2)
Author: onewhodreams
Rating: All
Characters: Heyes, Curry, etc...
Timeline: During Series
Story Summary: John brings the two outlaws home to meet his family.
When they caught up to Kid he was waiting at the top of a small hill, looking down on a modest farm. The ramshackle barn and unplowed fields revealed a place in need of a lot of work.
“Well boys, there it is. I know it doesn’t look like much. I’ve let it go a bit since…well…since…Marcus…,” his voice trailed off.
Heyes gave him a curious sidelong glance, “Marcus?” he prompted.
“My oldest boy, we lost him a few months ago. Fever took him.”
John went on quickly, before either man could utter any pitying or comforting words, “We’d best get on down there, Sarah’s probably got dinner waiting on the table.”
The three men were just riding into the yard when a young voice rang out, “Papa, Papa”. John climbed quickly from the wagon and caught the boy up in a tight embrace.
Heyes and Curry dismounted just as a woman came out of the house, “You’re home just in time for dinner, and I see you brought friends. Who’s this, John?”
“Sarah, these boys are going to be helping out for a few weeks. Joshua Smith & Thaddeus Jones, this is my wife Sarah and my son Gabe.”
Heyes and Curry both tipped their hats and greeted Sarah. When Heyes turned his attention to the boy he was struck by his blond curls and blue eyes. He looked over at his partner and saw that the same thought had occurred to him. Gabe was the picture of Kid when he was a young boy.
“Do you have enough to feed a few extra mouths tonight,” John asked his wife. She nodded, “Sure, just give me a few minutes. You two can put your horses in the barn and you’ll find a room with a few cots for you to bed down in. I’ll get you some blankets that you can take back with you after dinner.”
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry walked their horses to the barn in silence. It wasn’t until they entered the tiny room where they would be spending the next few weeks that Kid finally spoke, “Heyes what are we doin’ here?” he asked as he threw his saddle bag down on the dusty cot.
“Well, up until a few hours ago you were the only relative I had. And since I’m not too fond of you right now, I aim to get to know John again and see if he’s any more bearable.”
“How can you joke about this?” Kid angrily erupted. “I’m so mad I could spit fire and you’re just going along with everything he says like nothin’ ever happened.”
“Kid, nothin’ did happen,” Heyes shook his head, “Why are you acting like this? What are you so upset about? John didn’t kill our parents. John wasn’t responsible for anything that’s happened to us since. What is it you think he did?”
Kid just stared at him for a moment, his eyes flashing fire. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, then he just turned and started for the door.
“Where’re you goin’?”
“I’m hungry, I’m goin’ to eat,” Kid threw back over his shoulder.
Heyes just shrugged his shoulders and started after him. One thing about the Kid, no matter what was botherin’ him, he never lost his appetite.
The boys entered the house together, greeting John, Sarah and Gabe with their hats in their hands. Sarah led them to a table laden with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. It looked like a feast to two saddle worn ex-outlaws who’d not had a home cooked meal in a very long time.
The little group sat down and John led them all in grace. As food was passed around Sarah began to make conversation. “So what are you two boys doin’ in these parts?”
“We’re just passin’ through ma’am. We travel around a lot, pick up odd jobs here and there,” Heyes answered for the both of them.
“What kind of work do you generally do?” Sarah asked innocently.
Heyes flashed his most charming grin and gave his usual answer, “As little as possible.”
The Kid shook his head as Sarah’s eyes widened in disapproval, “What he means ma’am is that we’ve done a lot of different kinds of jobs, but never really settled on one thing. We’ve done a lot of cattle drives, ranching, farming, odds and ends.”
It was the most Kid Curry had said since meeting John in the street. Heyes was encouraged that maybe the Kid was softening towards the situation and had finally let his anger go. But then maybe it was just the food. Kid was always in a better mood when he was eating.
“Where are you two from?” Sarah continued.
“Kansas,” Heyes answered honestly as he took another biscuit and buttered it.
“Oh, what a coincidence. John is from Kansas as well. Maybe you lived close. Your families might have known each other.”
Heyes glanced at John, before answering as casually as possible, “We’re orphans ma’am. Grew up in the Valparaiso Home for Waywards.”
“Oh, how awful. I’m so sorry.”
“What’s a wayward?” Gabe inquired curiously.
“Gabe,” John warned the boy.
“It’s ok,” Kid told the young boy, “I always wondered that myself.”
“A wayward is a child that doesn’t have a mother or father,” Sarah explained.
“Well, that’s partially true, I suppose,” Heyes added. “A wayward is a troublemaker, Gabe. Someone who’s willful, disobedient, and unruly…and on top of that has no parents.”
“Were you all those things,” young Gabe asked, mystified as he looked between the two men.
“Well, if we weren’t when we went in, we were when we came out.” Kid answered matter of factly.
“Oh don’t worry ma’am,” Heyes rushed to reassure Sarah, “We’re on the straight and narrow now. You have nothing to worry about from us. We’ll work hard and do our best to help out you and your husband as much as we can while we’re here. There won’t be no trouble from us.”
She laughed, “I wasn’t worried boys. I’m sure you’ll be a great help to John. And I’m so grateful to both of you.”
The rest of the meal was filled with idle chatter about the weather, the farm, and Gabe’s lessons. Afterwards Heyes and Curry helped Sarah clear the table and clean up. She excused herself to gather linens and blankets for them to take out to their bunks and John sent Gabe off to bed.
“Thank you boys for answering all of their questions like you did. I appreciate you being honest.”
Heyes nodded in response. Kid stood with his hat in his hand looking everywhere but in his brother’s eyes.
“You were being honest, weren’t you boys? Are you really on the straight and narrow?”
“Yes, we are. At least we try,” Heyes reassured him.
Sarah came back then and they said their goodnights. “I’ll see you two at daybreak. Sarah will fix us breakfast and then we can start making some much needed repairs around the place,” John Curry instructed.
As the couple sat together later in the night Sarah sipped her coffee and reflected on the men she had met, “I like those two, John. I think they’ll be a lot of help to you. Such a shame about their childhood though. It’s terrible they had to grow up that way. I wouldn’t ever want that to happen to our children. I think of Gabe and what would happen if something happened to us. He‘d have no one. Before he and Marcus would‘ve had each other, but now…he‘d be all alone. They‘d send him off to a place like that.”
John sat quietly, looking down at his cup of coffee. He shook his head, guilt nearly overwhelming him. He buried his face in his hands.
“Darling what is it?” Sarah asked, her voice filled with concern, “Is it Marcus, are you thinking of him?”
John shook his head again. “Do you remember when I told you I had a brother?” He waited for his wife to nod and then continued, “Oh Sarah…it was him…he was here tonight. You met him.”
His wife’s eyes widened in understanding, “Thaddeus.”
“Yes, Thaddeus…Jed, my baby brother.”
“But…didn’t you tell me that your brother was…Kid Curry?” John nodded. “But that means the other one is…”
“Hannibal Heyes,” John finished for her. “He’s my cousin.”
“Oh John. I can’t believe this. Heyes and Curry…here. But they seemed so nice, so sincere.”
“I’m not sure yet whether we can trust them or not, but I asked Heyes tonight if he was telling the truth about being straight now. He said yes. I think I believe him. They were never bad boys…Not when I knew them at least.”
“But they spent all that time in the Home for Waywards. They said themselves it changed them.”
John looked at her sadly, “Jed said as much this afternoon, and again at dinner. He told me that he wasn’t my baby brother anymore. He’s angry with me, Sarah. I’m not sure why. I’m not even certain that he knows why. But I think he may believe I abandoned them.”
“Did you abandon them?”
“Sarah!” John protested.
“Well, they did grow up in an orphanage.” Sarah reasoned.
“I didn’t know that. I had no idea what had happened to them until tonight. I thought they’d both died with the rest of my family until I started seeing the wanted posters. I feel so terrible. If I had only known. Maybe I could’ve stopped all this.”
His wife shook her head and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, “You couldn’t have known. You can’t blame yourself.” She glanced towards the room where Gabe slept, “But they are outlaws…Do you think we should take some precautions?”
The next morning Heyes and Curry woke up to a rooster crowing the dawn of a new day.
Kid Curry moaned and rolled over. Heyes sat up and rubbed his eyes wearily. “I forgot how much I hate chickens,” he complained. “Come on Kid, get up. Maybe Sarah’ll have eggs and bacon.”
Kid moaned again in response. Heyes got up and dressed, strapped on his holster and grabbed his hat. “Kid, breakfast. You like breakfast, remember?”
Getting no answer Heyes finished his preparations and headed over to the house. The smell of bacon greeted him as he walked in the door.
“That smells heavenly, Mrs. Curry.”
“Thank you Joshua, and good morning to you. Where’s your friend this morning?”
“Oh he’ll be along. Generally, he don’t like mornings, and he’s not too thrilled about farming either, so I suspect Thaddeus isn’t in a hurry to start the day.”
By the time Kid joined them Heyes and John had downed much of their breakfast and Gabe had already hurried off to school.
Kid mumbled a greeting and immediately began to dig into his food.
Heyes shot a grin in his direction, maybe Sarah’s home cooking would melt away Kid Curry’s anger.
“Boys, now that you’re both here, I’d like to discuss something with you.” Sarah looked between the two men and then went on, “I’d appreciate it if you’d not wear your guns around the place. With Gabe being so young and impressionable, I think it’d be best if he not see you with your holsters on all time.”
Heyes nodded “No problem, ma’am.” Then he glanced at the Kid, who was taking an extra long time to chew his bite of food.
“Thaddeus,” Heyes prompted.
Kid looked down at his food and took a deep breath, “The thing is, I’ve been wearing this gun so long that it’s like it’s a part of me. I don’t think I can…I feel sorta…naked…without it.”
Heyes rolled his eyes, “This sounds familiar.”
Sighing heavily Kid looked up at Sarah, “What I’m getting at ma’am is maybe we can come to some kind of compromise.”
Heyes shook his head, “Careful Thaddeus, she may make you do a jig, and you know how that turned out last time.”
A biscuit hit Heyes between the eyes.
“Sometimes I really hate you,” Kid said angrily.
Calmly placing the offending biscuit back on the table Heyes answered, “Well that’s good. I was starting to feel left out.”
Kid shoved his hat on his head and pushed his chair back. “Thank you for the food ma‘am,” he mumbled, then slammed out the door. Heyes watched him go, then turned back to Sarah and John, “I’m sorry. That was my fault. He’s not usually like this. I’ll talk to him about the gun, it’ll be ok.”
“Does he usually do what you tell him?” John asked.
Heyes shrugged his shoulders, “Well…yeah.”
John let out a chuckle, “You two always were inseperable, even as little kids.”
Heyes sent a nervous look towards Sarah. “It’s alright Mr. Heyes, John told me who you are.”
“John,” Heyes raised his voice in frustration, “We talked about this. You said you weren’t going to tell her.”
“I owe it to her, Hannibal. She needed to know that I may have put us all in danger.”
“Danger,” Heyes repeated, frustration still lacing the word, “From us?”
John shrugged nervously, his eyes darting towards his wife, who stood twisting a dish towel in her hands, her eyes wide.
Heyes sensed their fear, setting his hat far back on his head, he stood, “Kid was right, maybe we shouldn’t have come here.”
“No, that’s not what we meant,” John reached out to grip his arm, “I want you here, I need to make my peace with you…with Jed. You’re the only family I have left. Please don’t go yet.”
“But you think we’re dangerous,” Heyes said slowly, shaking his head sadly, “I know we’re outlaws and we’re not like you. But we don’t hurt people. In all the trains and banks we’ve robbed we’ve never killed anyone. And that’s a feat when you’re trying to lead a gang that don’t always share the same feelings on the matter.”
“Does Jed…Kid share your feelings on the matter?” John asked pointedly.
“Of course he does,” Heyes answered too quickly.
“He’s a gunfighter,” John’s voice was filled with doubt.
An uneasy look passed over Heyes face as he stared into his cousin’s eyes. “He’s not a gunfighter…He’s…He’s…,” Heyes struggled for words to defend his partner, then waved his hand in disgust and went on, “He’s fast with a gun, there are always people looking for him trying to prove their faster. Kid’s been through a lot and yes, he’s had to kill people. But he’s not heartless, he’s only done it when there was no other choice, when they would’ve kept coming for him. Being good with a gun doesn’t make him dangerous.”
John watched his cousin’s dark eyes as he spoke, felt the passion behind the words. He knew he spoke the truth, or what he believed was the truth anyway. He sighed in relief and nodded. Everything would be ok.
“You’ll stay then?” Sarah asked tentatively.
Heyes nodded, “Yeah, we’ll stay. And I’ll talk to Kid about the gun, he’s a bit touchy about being without it, but I’m sure we can work something out.”
As Heyes looked between his cousin and his wife he was struck by another thought. They were dangerous to them, just not in the way John had thought. If anyone found out that Heyes and Curry were related to them their lives would never be the same again.
He gave them a serious look, “But we are dangerous to you and your family. If we’re found out, then your lives here will never be the same.”
“We’re willing to take that risk. I’ve just lost my son, Hannibal. After taking something so precious from me, God’s givin me the chance to get something back that I thought I’d lost. I don’t want to miss my chance.”
Heyes nodded, his brow furrowed in thought, “Maybe I can lessen the risk a little.” He turned around to look through the doorway at the barn, “Listen John, I know this is our first day of work and all, but do you think you can do without me. I need to go into town.”
“Uh…sure,” John nodded numbly. “Should I ask what you’re planning to do?”
“No, probably not,” Heyes answered. Tipping his hat to the two of them he turned to go.
He’d saddled his horse and gotten out of the barn without Kid noticing him, but now that he was ready to leave Kid was pestering him with questions.
“Where are you goin?” Kid yelled up at him as he started out of the yard.
“Town, you don’t mind, do you? It’s just for the day, I’ll be back tonight.”
“What are you gonna do in town?” Kid asked incredulously.
“We need to send Lom a telegram to let him know where we are.”
“That’s not a good enough reason to ride out like this. What are you really gonna do?” Kid persisted.
“Nothin’ kid, don’t worry. John’s told Sarah about us and they’re fine with everything. Just do whatever John needs today and try to be respectful. Ok.”
“I’m comin’ with you.”
“No, you’re not,” Heyes kicked his horse into motion.
“You stay away from that Sheriff, he doesn’t need another look at you.”
Heyes waved his hand in response and rode out.
Kid stood in the yard staring after him. What was he supposed to do now? He took off his hat and threw it on the ground in frustration. He looked back towards the house…it was time to start the work day.
Author: onewhodreams
Rating: All
Characters: Heyes, Curry, etc...
Timeline: During Series
Story Summary: John brings the two outlaws home to meet his family.
When they caught up to Kid he was waiting at the top of a small hill, looking down on a modest farm. The ramshackle barn and unplowed fields revealed a place in need of a lot of work.
“Well boys, there it is. I know it doesn’t look like much. I’ve let it go a bit since…well…since…Marcus…,” his voice trailed off.
Heyes gave him a curious sidelong glance, “Marcus?” he prompted.
“My oldest boy, we lost him a few months ago. Fever took him.”
John went on quickly, before either man could utter any pitying or comforting words, “We’d best get on down there, Sarah’s probably got dinner waiting on the table.”
The three men were just riding into the yard when a young voice rang out, “Papa, Papa”. John climbed quickly from the wagon and caught the boy up in a tight embrace.
Heyes and Curry dismounted just as a woman came out of the house, “You’re home just in time for dinner, and I see you brought friends. Who’s this, John?”
“Sarah, these boys are going to be helping out for a few weeks. Joshua Smith & Thaddeus Jones, this is my wife Sarah and my son Gabe.”
Heyes and Curry both tipped their hats and greeted Sarah. When Heyes turned his attention to the boy he was struck by his blond curls and blue eyes. He looked over at his partner and saw that the same thought had occurred to him. Gabe was the picture of Kid when he was a young boy.
“Do you have enough to feed a few extra mouths tonight,” John asked his wife. She nodded, “Sure, just give me a few minutes. You two can put your horses in the barn and you’ll find a room with a few cots for you to bed down in. I’ll get you some blankets that you can take back with you after dinner.”
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry walked their horses to the barn in silence. It wasn’t until they entered the tiny room where they would be spending the next few weeks that Kid finally spoke, “Heyes what are we doin’ here?” he asked as he threw his saddle bag down on the dusty cot.
“Well, up until a few hours ago you were the only relative I had. And since I’m not too fond of you right now, I aim to get to know John again and see if he’s any more bearable.”
“How can you joke about this?” Kid angrily erupted. “I’m so mad I could spit fire and you’re just going along with everything he says like nothin’ ever happened.”
“Kid, nothin’ did happen,” Heyes shook his head, “Why are you acting like this? What are you so upset about? John didn’t kill our parents. John wasn’t responsible for anything that’s happened to us since. What is it you think he did?”
Kid just stared at him for a moment, his eyes flashing fire. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, then he just turned and started for the door.
“Where’re you goin’?”
“I’m hungry, I’m goin’ to eat,” Kid threw back over his shoulder.
Heyes just shrugged his shoulders and started after him. One thing about the Kid, no matter what was botherin’ him, he never lost his appetite.
The boys entered the house together, greeting John, Sarah and Gabe with their hats in their hands. Sarah led them to a table laden with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. It looked like a feast to two saddle worn ex-outlaws who’d not had a home cooked meal in a very long time.
The little group sat down and John led them all in grace. As food was passed around Sarah began to make conversation. “So what are you two boys doin’ in these parts?”
“We’re just passin’ through ma’am. We travel around a lot, pick up odd jobs here and there,” Heyes answered for the both of them.
“What kind of work do you generally do?” Sarah asked innocently.
Heyes flashed his most charming grin and gave his usual answer, “As little as possible.”
The Kid shook his head as Sarah’s eyes widened in disapproval, “What he means ma’am is that we’ve done a lot of different kinds of jobs, but never really settled on one thing. We’ve done a lot of cattle drives, ranching, farming, odds and ends.”
It was the most Kid Curry had said since meeting John in the street. Heyes was encouraged that maybe the Kid was softening towards the situation and had finally let his anger go. But then maybe it was just the food. Kid was always in a better mood when he was eating.
“Where are you two from?” Sarah continued.
“Kansas,” Heyes answered honestly as he took another biscuit and buttered it.
“Oh, what a coincidence. John is from Kansas as well. Maybe you lived close. Your families might have known each other.”
Heyes glanced at John, before answering as casually as possible, “We’re orphans ma’am. Grew up in the Valparaiso Home for Waywards.”
“Oh, how awful. I’m so sorry.”
“What’s a wayward?” Gabe inquired curiously.
“Gabe,” John warned the boy.
“It’s ok,” Kid told the young boy, “I always wondered that myself.”
“A wayward is a child that doesn’t have a mother or father,” Sarah explained.
“Well, that’s partially true, I suppose,” Heyes added. “A wayward is a troublemaker, Gabe. Someone who’s willful, disobedient, and unruly…and on top of that has no parents.”
“Were you all those things,” young Gabe asked, mystified as he looked between the two men.
“Well, if we weren’t when we went in, we were when we came out.” Kid answered matter of factly.
“Oh don’t worry ma’am,” Heyes rushed to reassure Sarah, “We’re on the straight and narrow now. You have nothing to worry about from us. We’ll work hard and do our best to help out you and your husband as much as we can while we’re here. There won’t be no trouble from us.”
She laughed, “I wasn’t worried boys. I’m sure you’ll be a great help to John. And I’m so grateful to both of you.”
The rest of the meal was filled with idle chatter about the weather, the farm, and Gabe’s lessons. Afterwards Heyes and Curry helped Sarah clear the table and clean up. She excused herself to gather linens and blankets for them to take out to their bunks and John sent Gabe off to bed.
“Thank you boys for answering all of their questions like you did. I appreciate you being honest.”
Heyes nodded in response. Kid stood with his hat in his hand looking everywhere but in his brother’s eyes.
“You were being honest, weren’t you boys? Are you really on the straight and narrow?”
“Yes, we are. At least we try,” Heyes reassured him.
Sarah came back then and they said their goodnights. “I’ll see you two at daybreak. Sarah will fix us breakfast and then we can start making some much needed repairs around the place,” John Curry instructed.
As the couple sat together later in the night Sarah sipped her coffee and reflected on the men she had met, “I like those two, John. I think they’ll be a lot of help to you. Such a shame about their childhood though. It’s terrible they had to grow up that way. I wouldn’t ever want that to happen to our children. I think of Gabe and what would happen if something happened to us. He‘d have no one. Before he and Marcus would‘ve had each other, but now…he‘d be all alone. They‘d send him off to a place like that.”
John sat quietly, looking down at his cup of coffee. He shook his head, guilt nearly overwhelming him. He buried his face in his hands.
“Darling what is it?” Sarah asked, her voice filled with concern, “Is it Marcus, are you thinking of him?”
John shook his head again. “Do you remember when I told you I had a brother?” He waited for his wife to nod and then continued, “Oh Sarah…it was him…he was here tonight. You met him.”
His wife’s eyes widened in understanding, “Thaddeus.”
“Yes, Thaddeus…Jed, my baby brother.”
“But…didn’t you tell me that your brother was…Kid Curry?” John nodded. “But that means the other one is…”
“Hannibal Heyes,” John finished for her. “He’s my cousin.”
“Oh John. I can’t believe this. Heyes and Curry…here. But they seemed so nice, so sincere.”
“I’m not sure yet whether we can trust them or not, but I asked Heyes tonight if he was telling the truth about being straight now. He said yes. I think I believe him. They were never bad boys…Not when I knew them at least.”
“But they spent all that time in the Home for Waywards. They said themselves it changed them.”
John looked at her sadly, “Jed said as much this afternoon, and again at dinner. He told me that he wasn’t my baby brother anymore. He’s angry with me, Sarah. I’m not sure why. I’m not even certain that he knows why. But I think he may believe I abandoned them.”
“Did you abandon them?”
“Sarah!” John protested.
“Well, they did grow up in an orphanage.” Sarah reasoned.
“I didn’t know that. I had no idea what had happened to them until tonight. I thought they’d both died with the rest of my family until I started seeing the wanted posters. I feel so terrible. If I had only known. Maybe I could’ve stopped all this.”
His wife shook her head and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, “You couldn’t have known. You can’t blame yourself.” She glanced towards the room where Gabe slept, “But they are outlaws…Do you think we should take some precautions?”
The next morning Heyes and Curry woke up to a rooster crowing the dawn of a new day.
Kid Curry moaned and rolled over. Heyes sat up and rubbed his eyes wearily. “I forgot how much I hate chickens,” he complained. “Come on Kid, get up. Maybe Sarah’ll have eggs and bacon.”
Kid moaned again in response. Heyes got up and dressed, strapped on his holster and grabbed his hat. “Kid, breakfast. You like breakfast, remember?”
Getting no answer Heyes finished his preparations and headed over to the house. The smell of bacon greeted him as he walked in the door.
“That smells heavenly, Mrs. Curry.”
“Thank you Joshua, and good morning to you. Where’s your friend this morning?”
“Oh he’ll be along. Generally, he don’t like mornings, and he’s not too thrilled about farming either, so I suspect Thaddeus isn’t in a hurry to start the day.”
By the time Kid joined them Heyes and John had downed much of their breakfast and Gabe had already hurried off to school.
Kid mumbled a greeting and immediately began to dig into his food.
Heyes shot a grin in his direction, maybe Sarah’s home cooking would melt away Kid Curry’s anger.
“Boys, now that you’re both here, I’d like to discuss something with you.” Sarah looked between the two men and then went on, “I’d appreciate it if you’d not wear your guns around the place. With Gabe being so young and impressionable, I think it’d be best if he not see you with your holsters on all time.”
Heyes nodded “No problem, ma’am.” Then he glanced at the Kid, who was taking an extra long time to chew his bite of food.
“Thaddeus,” Heyes prompted.
Kid looked down at his food and took a deep breath, “The thing is, I’ve been wearing this gun so long that it’s like it’s a part of me. I don’t think I can…I feel sorta…naked…without it.”
Heyes rolled his eyes, “This sounds familiar.”
Sighing heavily Kid looked up at Sarah, “What I’m getting at ma’am is maybe we can come to some kind of compromise.”
Heyes shook his head, “Careful Thaddeus, she may make you do a jig, and you know how that turned out last time.”
A biscuit hit Heyes between the eyes.
“Sometimes I really hate you,” Kid said angrily.
Calmly placing the offending biscuit back on the table Heyes answered, “Well that’s good. I was starting to feel left out.”
Kid shoved his hat on his head and pushed his chair back. “Thank you for the food ma‘am,” he mumbled, then slammed out the door. Heyes watched him go, then turned back to Sarah and John, “I’m sorry. That was my fault. He’s not usually like this. I’ll talk to him about the gun, it’ll be ok.”
“Does he usually do what you tell him?” John asked.
Heyes shrugged his shoulders, “Well…yeah.”
John let out a chuckle, “You two always were inseperable, even as little kids.”
Heyes sent a nervous look towards Sarah. “It’s alright Mr. Heyes, John told me who you are.”
“John,” Heyes raised his voice in frustration, “We talked about this. You said you weren’t going to tell her.”
“I owe it to her, Hannibal. She needed to know that I may have put us all in danger.”
“Danger,” Heyes repeated, frustration still lacing the word, “From us?”
John shrugged nervously, his eyes darting towards his wife, who stood twisting a dish towel in her hands, her eyes wide.
Heyes sensed their fear, setting his hat far back on his head, he stood, “Kid was right, maybe we shouldn’t have come here.”
“No, that’s not what we meant,” John reached out to grip his arm, “I want you here, I need to make my peace with you…with Jed. You’re the only family I have left. Please don’t go yet.”
“But you think we’re dangerous,” Heyes said slowly, shaking his head sadly, “I know we’re outlaws and we’re not like you. But we don’t hurt people. In all the trains and banks we’ve robbed we’ve never killed anyone. And that’s a feat when you’re trying to lead a gang that don’t always share the same feelings on the matter.”
“Does Jed…Kid share your feelings on the matter?” John asked pointedly.
“Of course he does,” Heyes answered too quickly.
“He’s a gunfighter,” John’s voice was filled with doubt.
An uneasy look passed over Heyes face as he stared into his cousin’s eyes. “He’s not a gunfighter…He’s…He’s…,” Heyes struggled for words to defend his partner, then waved his hand in disgust and went on, “He’s fast with a gun, there are always people looking for him trying to prove their faster. Kid’s been through a lot and yes, he’s had to kill people. But he’s not heartless, he’s only done it when there was no other choice, when they would’ve kept coming for him. Being good with a gun doesn’t make him dangerous.”
John watched his cousin’s dark eyes as he spoke, felt the passion behind the words. He knew he spoke the truth, or what he believed was the truth anyway. He sighed in relief and nodded. Everything would be ok.
“You’ll stay then?” Sarah asked tentatively.
Heyes nodded, “Yeah, we’ll stay. And I’ll talk to Kid about the gun, he’s a bit touchy about being without it, but I’m sure we can work something out.”
As Heyes looked between his cousin and his wife he was struck by another thought. They were dangerous to them, just not in the way John had thought. If anyone found out that Heyes and Curry were related to them their lives would never be the same again.
He gave them a serious look, “But we are dangerous to you and your family. If we’re found out, then your lives here will never be the same.”
“We’re willing to take that risk. I’ve just lost my son, Hannibal. After taking something so precious from me, God’s givin me the chance to get something back that I thought I’d lost. I don’t want to miss my chance.”
Heyes nodded, his brow furrowed in thought, “Maybe I can lessen the risk a little.” He turned around to look through the doorway at the barn, “Listen John, I know this is our first day of work and all, but do you think you can do without me. I need to go into town.”
“Uh…sure,” John nodded numbly. “Should I ask what you’re planning to do?”
“No, probably not,” Heyes answered. Tipping his hat to the two of them he turned to go.
He’d saddled his horse and gotten out of the barn without Kid noticing him, but now that he was ready to leave Kid was pestering him with questions.
“Where are you goin?” Kid yelled up at him as he started out of the yard.
“Town, you don’t mind, do you? It’s just for the day, I’ll be back tonight.”
“What are you gonna do in town?” Kid asked incredulously.
“We need to send Lom a telegram to let him know where we are.”
“That’s not a good enough reason to ride out like this. What are you really gonna do?” Kid persisted.
“Nothin’ kid, don’t worry. John’s told Sarah about us and they’re fine with everything. Just do whatever John needs today and try to be respectful. Ok.”
“I’m comin’ with you.”
“No, you’re not,” Heyes kicked his horse into motion.
“You stay away from that Sheriff, he doesn’t need another look at you.”
Heyes waved his hand in response and rode out.
Kid stood in the yard staring after him. What was he supposed to do now? He took off his hat and threw it on the ground in frustration. He looked back towards the house…it was time to start the work day.