Chapter Text
“Heyes….you better wake up.” Kid muttered to the unconscious man lying on the bed in the hotel room. The window was open to some degree and the lamp was turned low. Heyes lay in the bed, naked, only a sheet covering him. Kid imagined he could see the bruising through the thin piece of material. Heyes was already soaking it through with his sweat. The Fever had caught hold and Kid would periodically bath Heyes with the coldest water he could find. Primarily, the Hotel’s private well out back.
And so far the clues as to how and why Heyes had gotten into this state was all a jumbled mess of a puzzle. Kid frowned and cleaned his gun, all the while glancing at Heyes. He couldn’t help but be paranoid and count the amount of time Heyes’ chest went up and down. Sometimes he lied so still that Kid could swear he had passed. He’d spent half the evening after supper planning Heyes’ funeral.
And somehow he had managed to not lose his temper. It’s amazing what he could do when he can’t rely on Heyes. Stealing the Bust of Caesar back from MacCreedy for Armandiaz had been a cinch. Heyes would have had a ball planning that little job. But, they had other business that needed seeing too and since Heyes was an expert in that field it fell to Kid to get the bust back.
Thankfully MacCreedy had seen it as part of the game he and Armandiaz had going on so wasn’t entirely upset with him. It had paid well. In American dollars to boot and so they would be fine on the cash front for a while. Which was why Kid had sprung for room on top of the hotel where they wouldn’t be bothered and he had a good view of the town.
Still, the gang that had jumped, kidnapped, beaten and shot Heyes were still on the loose. Kid, of course, had notified Lom to be on the look out since the gang were primarily operating around Porterville. But, what had brought them all the way to Hope Falls, Nebraska he couldn’t guess. And for their first time in Nebraska, without knowing the lay of the land or anything, it’d been nothing short of Divine Intervention that he’d come upon Heyes in the countryside at all.
Kid abandoned his half cleaned gun in favor of washing Heyes’ face down with the damp rag. The heat radiated off Heyes as if he were the desert itself. Kid could feel it on his own face it was that bad. If the fever didn’t break soon he’d lose the only friend - and family - he ever laid claim too.
The soft knocking on the door brought Kid out of his gloomy thoughts. The knocking was three in quick succession, another two, then three more. Kid got up and opened the door. Sheriff Thomas Hogan stood there.
“Anything?” Kid asked as he admitted the man. Thankfully, their wanted posters hadn’t made it up to Nebraska and they were relatively safe where the law came in.
“Maybe, a feller by the name of Talmage Arthur says e ‘elped your feller a few days back. ‘E’d found him out in the woods and took ‘im to ‘is cabin. Says that when the gang came round, ‘Eyes had taken off and since ‘e wasn’t no place ‘round the gang left. ‘E also said they acted like lawmen.” Hogan reported.
“Lawmen?” Kid blinked. Surprised though it would probably make perfect sense to Heyes if he were awake and not suffering from a fever.
“Apparently the Wilcox gang acts like the law when they want information. They have badges and everything.” Hogan shrugged.
“Oh, right.” Kid nodded, it all made sense now. “It’d be easy to drum up some fake documents and take a transfer to another town or something.” Kid whistled, That was one bank robbing plan that took guts.
“Talmage played along though ‘e didn’t buy it. Lawmen tend to act a certain way.” Hogan said. Clipping his thumbs on to his gun belt. “Anyways, is your feller any better?”
“No, I think he’s getting worse.” Kid muttered. He shot a worried glance over to Heyes whose breathing had changed a bit. But he soon settled. Kid wondered if Heyes were dreaming. It must be bad whatever it is, because Heyes usually never had a breathe change when have a nightmare.
“I’m real sorry that we don’t got a good doc ‘round ‘eres.” Hogan shook his head. He turned and opened the door. “But, I sure know you have it handled.” he added before tipping his hat to The Kid and leaving the room. He shut the door gently behind him.
Kid returned to Heyes’ side. Once again he couldn’t help but ponder the beginning of this little adventure of theirs and he wished Heyes were awake so that he could holler at him,
~*~
TWO WEEKS AGO
~*~
“Heyes, are you sure you want to do this?” Kid asked for what seemed liked the thousandth time if Heyes eye roll is anything to go by. Heyes stands next to The Kid while they wait for the train to pull in. There’s no way Kid can ride to Texas in the few days they have to take up Armandiaz for that job so the train it is. A horse and an escort were to be provided once Kid reached Amarillo. Heyes still put a lofty amount of money in his bags just in case something happened. Kid didn’t like Heyes giving him a hundred dollars, but Heyes insisted.
“I’m certain. Kid. We can’t give up this find, and you know it.” Heyes lowered his voice. Over the past year the two run ins they had with mining, and gold, always ended badly for them. For once Heyes wanted to keep it a secret and mine enough for their retirement. And maybe some extra to keep them comfortable for a few more months. The year of their imposed Parole was almost up and they were to get their pardons. Hopefully.
“Fine. But don’t get into any trouble, you hear?” Kid waggled a finger at Heyes who let out a loud guffaw.
“You worry too much, has anyone said?” Heyes shook his head. The train pulled in and it was a second wait for passengers to get off and for the train to re-board.
“Be careful yourself,” Heyes said by way of parting. He waved Kid off and after he’d seen the last of the train, with nothing but white steam coming from the engine, Heyes was alone.
~*~
PRESENT DAY
~*~
Kid ground his teeth; “I never should have left you.” he told Heyes. Who is still unconscious and doesn’t have one sassy thing to say to his best friend and sometimes Lover.
~*~