The Course of True Love
​
-3-
​
A few days later, they arrived in Porterville. They booked into the hotel and Curry took their horses to the livery while Heyes walked the short distance to Lom Trevors’ office.
​
Lom was wading through a sheaf of papers and didn’t hear Heyes enter. Heyes quietly closed the door and crept around the partition to Lom’s desk.
​
“Hi, Lom.” He said casually.
​
Lom looked up, startled, “Well, I’ll be...” He got to his feet, “Heyes! How are you?”
“Fine, Lom, just fine.” They shook hands.
“I’m glad to hear it. Where’s the Kid?” asked Lom, looking around.
“He’s gone to stable the horses.” said Heyes, “I think he’s in a bit of a mood.”
“Oh?”
Heyes nodded, “Yeah. Lost love, and all that. You know how it is.”
Lom nodded, “Oh, the girl you’ve been staying with?”
“Hmmm.”
“That’s too bad. I could tell he liked her.” said Lom.
“Yeah.” nodded Heyes, “He got shot up yesterday too.”
“The Kid?” Lom looked both shocked and incredulous, “Is he O.K?”
Heyes nodded, “It was a double cross. The man from behind. He didn’t realise quickly enough.”
“Bad?”
“Just the hand, but it’ll lay him up for a while.”
“I see.” said Lom thoughtfully.
“We’ve decided to stay here for a while, until we’re both fully fit.”
“I don’t blame you.” replied Lom, “I think the Kid could do with it. He came to see me a few days ago and he was pretty worked up. He takes things to heart, doesn’t he.”
“Yes, he can be pretty highly strung sometimes.” said Heyes.
Just then the door opened and Curry walked in.
“Hi, Lom.” he smiled.
“Sit down, Kid, we were just talking about you.” said Lom
Curry rolled his eyes, “I thought you might be.”
“I was telling him our plans to stay for a while.” Heyes told him.
“Good idea.” said Lom, “At least you’ll be safe here.”
“Well, that’ll make a change from the last few weeks.” said Curry.
They all laughed.
* * *
The next few months passed uneventfully for Heyes and Curry. At Lom’s suggestion they moved into his cabin as his guests, and spent the time relaxing, eating well, to build up their strength, and honing their shooting and card playing skills.
​
It was a great relief to know that they had a Sheriff on their side and that they were safe here, under his watchful eye.
When they finally got bored, they bid Lom goodbye and got back on the road.
They toured various towns, trying their hand at a few jobs here and there and supplementing their earnings at the poker table. Often they enjoyed dalliances with the saloon girls which, for Heyes at least, would lead to a night of romance, but Curry found himself held back by memories of Hannah.
They kept one eye open for Bill Burton, worried he might pick up their trail again, but, after nearly three months staying in Porterville it looked as though, for now, he’d lost track of them.
Eventually, they found themselves once again in Denver. They hadn’t planned to come here that they could remember. Somehow they’d just ended up here.
They were, at this time, penniless and Heyes, suddenly taking on an industrious mood, decided that they should find some work.
“Work?” Curry looked incredulous, “I don’t believe it. Are you sick or something?” Heyes loathed physical labour and tried to avoid it if at all possible.
“No, I’m serious, Kid. I mean, for example, what will we do if we do get our amnesty? We can’t be lazy good-for-nothings all our lives. We need a trade.”
“We could open a bank maybe?” laughed Curry.
Heyes glared at him and opened his mouth to state his case.
“O.K, O.K,” Curry threw up his arms in mock alarm, “Jobs it is.”
It had been just over eleven months since they left Denver and Curry decided to pay Hannah a surprise visit.
The following morning, Heyes went off to the saloon to try and win them some money and also to nose around for any jobs, and Curry set off towards Hannah’s house. He hadn’t told Heyes he was going there as he would only have teased him about it all day and he wasn’t in the mood for his partner’s banter. The way he’d left Hannah had played heavily on his mind these past few months and he felt the need to make it right with her.
He strolled up the street, taking in the early summer sunshine. He thought back to the day, almost a year ago, that he had been doing the same thing when he had literally bumped into her. The thought brought a smile to his face.
He reached her house and walked up the path and knocked on the door.
He was surprised when Hannah’s Uncle, Doctor Marston, answered the door.
“Why, Mr. Jones! Were you sent for?”
“No, just passin’ through.” replied Curry, “Why?”
“Please, come in.” Doctor Marston stood aside and waved him inside.
“How are you now?” the Doctor asked, as he led the way into the front room.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“And your friend, Mr. Smith?”
“He’s fine too. Thanks.”
“That’s good.” Doctor Marston replied, his attention seeming to be elsewhere.
“What did you mean when you asked if I was sent for?” asked Curry.
Doctor Marston seemed to come back to the present.
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew.” He sighed, “It’s bad news, I’m afraid.”
“Bad news? You mean about Hannah?” asked Curry.
“Yes.”
“What’s wrong?” Curry asked anxiously.
“She has this... disease... incurable I’m afraid.” Doctor Marston shook his head, “Hannah is dying.”
“Dying?” Curry couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Yes, lad. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”
Curry shook his head, unable to comprehend what the doctor was saying.
“How long has she known?” he asked presently.
Doctor Marston shrugge,. “Four, five months maybe.”
They stood for several moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Presently, Curry said “May I see her?”
The doctor nodde, “Of course. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. Go on up.”
Curry ran upstairs to the bedroom he and Hannah had shared just under a year ago.
He stood in the doorway, looking in. Hannah was lying in the bed, her eyes closed.
Slowly, he went inside and crossed to sit down by the bed.
“Hannah?” he called softly. “Hannah? It’s me.”
Slowly, Hannah’s eyes fluttered open, widening when she realised who was sitting in front of her.
“Thaddeus! You’re back... I never thought I’d see you again.”
Curry was shocked at how thin and pale she looked.
“It’s alright, Hannah. I’m here, and I’m staying this time.” he told her.
Hannah smiled, “I missed you.” she whispered.
“I missed you too.” replied Curry, suddenly realizing it was the truth.
He got up and went over to Doctor Marston who had come in and sat in a large armchair over by the window.
“How long?” he said quietly.
Doctor Marston shrugged, “Not long... You’re just in time.”
Curry went back to Hannah and sat down at her side.
“Where have you been all this time?” whispered Hannah.
Curry shrugged, “Oh, here and there. We spent three months with our friend, Lom, the Sheriff I told you about. Then, after my hand healed up, we hit the road. We’ve been touring around, doing odd jobs, you know.”
“When did you get into town?” asked Hannah.
“Yesterday.”
“Oh.” Hannah nodded weakly, “How is... Joshua?”
“He’s fine.” said Curry, glad she’d called them by their aliases and not their real names, “He said to say hello.” he lied.
Hannah smiled, “You haven’t... fallen out again?”
“No.” smiled Curry.
Hannah smiled wanly, “Good.” She reached for his hand, “It doesn’t look as though I’ll ever get to New York after all, does it?” she sighed.
Curry said nothing.
“Have you been there?” she asked.
“I can’t say that I have.”
“It sounds wonderful.” said Hannah, gazing past him dreamily., “All those tall buildings, the department stores and smart clothes and things...”
“You’re too good for New York, Hannah.” Curry told her, “Here, everyone knows who you are, respects you...loves you... There... no-one knows, or cares who you are.”
“I guess so...” she sighed, “Still, it would have been nice...”
They sat in silence for a few moments.
“I missed you...” Hannah said again, a few moments later.
Curry took her hand and kissed it, “I missed you too.” he told her, “More than you could ever imagine. Now, rest. I’ll be here with you.”
He sat, holding her hand, and they talked some more until, later in the day, Hannah fell into a restless delirium. The town preacher, who Doctor Marston had fetched earlier, gave her the last rites before, finally, late in the afternoon, her eyes closed for the last time, her hand going limp in Curry’s as he held it.
He stared at her, unable to believe she was gone.
“Doc!” he called, his voice hoarse.
Doctor Marston crossed hurriedly to the bed and bent to check her pulse. Straightening he looked at Curry and shook his head.
“No.” The word was a whisper on Curry’s lips.
“I’m sorry.” Doctor Marston said quietly, before turning and leaving the room.
Curry bent to kiss Hannah on the lips, “I’m so sorry.” he croaked, “I should have stayed... I wish I’d stayed...” He shook his head, his mind full of what things might have been if he had stayed with her.
The preacher approached and began saying prayers over her body, before heading off to see the undertaker.
Curry was completely dazed and, after standing there a moment, unable to take in the situation, he turned and walked blindly downstairs and out of the house.
He carried on walking for what seemed like an eternity, unaware of where he was going. Eventually, he came to a narrow brook in a field just outside of town.
​
He sat down at the water’s edge and stared into the water, thinking back over the time he’d spent at her house while looking after Heyes, of the nights they’d spent together, and of how Hannah had tried to persuade him not to leave. An image of her face when she’d said “Because... I love you.” floated into his mind, and he closed his eyes tightly, trying to push it from his mind.
He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there but he suddenly became aware that it was growing dark.
Climbing to his feet, he began to walk slowly back into town and up to their hotel room.
“Hi, Kid.” said Heyes, glancing at him through the mirror where he was shaving, “Where’ve you been all day?” When Curry didn’t reply he continued, “I won’t be long doing this and then we can go out and get some dinner. I won a fair amount at the saloon this afternoon so at least we’ll have enough for dinner and the hotel bill. “
“Not now, Heyes...” interrupted Curry as he threw his hat on the bed and moved to sit down on a chair by the window, gazing vacantly out through the glass.
Heyes turned to look at him, “What’s up?”
Curry shook his head without turning round.
Picking up a towel and beginning to wipe his face Heyes crossed to stand at Curry’s side, a slight frown creasing his brow.
“Something wrong?” he enquired.
“Hannah’s dead.” replied Curry, his voice barely audible.
“What?” gasped Heyes.
“Hannah’s dead.” Curry repeated.
Tossing the towel aside, Heyes grabbed him by the arm and pulled him round to face him.
“When?” he demanded, “How?”
“Hannah’s dead.” Curry repeated, not listening to him.
Heyes shook him, hard, realising he was in shock.
“Snap out of it, Kid.” he shouted, “Tell me what happened.”
Curry pulled his arm free and turned back to the window.
“I... I went to her house, to pay her a surprise visit...” he muttered, “Doctor Marston answered the door... He said she was... dying... of an incurable disease...”
“Go on.” said Heyes as he lapsed into thought.
“He said I’d arrived just in time...” Curry continued, “I went up to see her... God, she looked awful... so thin... and so pale...” He put a hand over his eyes as though to erase the memory.
“I stayed with her... all afternoon... we talked... and then... the preacher came...” He shook his head, “I didn’t know what to say to her Uncle...”
“Go on.” whispered Heyes.
Curry shrugged, “There’s nothing else to tell... the preacher read the last rites... and she died ... about half an hour later...”
Heyes was stunned, “I’m sorry.” he said, putting a hand on Curry’s shoulder.
“I left...” Curry continued, “I didn’t see Doctor Marston... I just kept walking... I ended up by a stream... I’ve been there until now... just... thinking...”
“I’m sorry, Kid.” said Heyes, his own heart heavy at the news. Hannah had been good to him after he’d been shot and he’d grown fond of her during his time at her house.
“I...” Curry began, looking for a way to explain his feelings, “I haven’t felt this way since... since our folks were killed...” he shook his head, “Sort of... empty, y’know?” He looked up, his bleak gaze meeting Heyes’.
Heyes nodded. “I know.”
“I can’t believe she’s gone... she had her whole life ahead of her...” He turned back to the window.
“I didn’t know I loved her so much.” he choked, dropping his face into his hands as his grief finally overcame him.
“Nor did I, Kid.” said Heyes, patting his shoulder. With a deep sigh, he turned and picked up his hat and headed towards the door. There was nothing he could say to make Curry feel any better so he decided to leave him alone for a while to grieve.
Firstly, he went to the saloon for a stiff drink. Then he decided to go and pay his respects to Doctor Marston.
He walked up to Hannah’s house and knocked on the door. A few moments later, Doctor Marston opened it.
“Why, Mr Smith. Come in.” Doctor Marston stood aside to let him enter and then led the way into the back room. Heyes removed his hat and followed.
“I... er... came to offer my condolences.” he told him, “Thaddeus has just told me the news.”
“Thank you, lad.” Doctor Marston sat down in a large armchair, “I’m alright now. I’d adjusted to the fact that Hannah’s death was inevitable... but the actual... moment... is still hard to take.”
Heyes nodded sympathetically.
“How is Thaddeus?”
“He’s pretty upset, but he’ll be alright. Obviously it’s all been a big shock for him. I don’t think he realized until this moment just how much he loved Hannah. He hoped to be able to... resume... his relationship with her at some point.”
Doctor Marston nodded, “I’ve had time to get used to the idea. It must have been a terrible shock for him.”
Heyes nodded, “And for me too. She took time to look after me when I was injured and I’ll be forever grateful for that. She was a good woman.”
“She was happy to do it.” said Doctor Marston.
Heyes sighed heavily, “Why does it always happen to the good ones?”
“Why indeed?” muttered the doctor.
They were silent for a few moments before Heyes said, “Well, I have to be going. I just wanted to come and say how sorry I am.”
“Thank you.”
They shook hands.
“Goodbye, and take care.” said Heyes
“Thank you. Goodbye Mr. Smith.”
Heyes left, and headed back to the saloon. While he was concerned for Curry, he had no idea what to do, or say, to comfort him, and felt awkward about going back to their hotel room.
When he returned to their room much later, Curry was sprawled on the bed, fast asleep, an almost empty whisky bottle on the dresser beside it.
“Oh, Kid.” sighed Heyes, “I always said you couldn’t hold your liquor.”
He put down his hat and crossing to the bed proceeded to thrown the blankets over him. Then he climbed into his own bed and blew out the lamp.
* * *
​
The next morning Heyes rose early and headed over to the restaurant for breakfast. Curry had still been sound asleep when he left, snoring softly. Heyes guessed he would have the hangover from hell when he woke.
After his breakfast he went over to the saloon where he joined in a game of poker to pass the time, knowing that it would be a while before Curry woke up. Shortly before lunch he headed back across the street to the hotel.
“Excuse me.” he said to the desk clerk.
“Yes, sir? What can I do for you?”
“I’d like some coffee in my room please. Strong and black.”
“Certainly. One cup or two?”
“Two, and better make it a pot full.” said Heyes, going upstairs and entering their room where Curry was still fast asleep.
Crossing to the bed, Heyes shook him gently.
“Wake up, Kid.”
Curry slept on. There was a knock at the door and Heyes crossed to answer it, seeing the junior assistant with a tray containing the pot of coffee he’d ordered and two cups.
“Thanks.” Heyes took the tray and tipped the boy.
Placing the tray on the dresser he crossed once more to the bed.
“Kid, wake up!” he said, shaking him again.
Curry grunted from under the bedclothes.
“Wake up. Here’s some coffee.”
“Ohhh” Curry groaned, “What hit me?” He rolled over and opened his eyes, squinting in the brightness.
Heyes poured a cup of coffee and held it out to him.
Curry struggled into a sitting position and took the cup, holding his other hand to his head as he sipped the coffee.
Heyes poured another cup for himself and turned back to Curry.
“How’s the head?” he asked
“Terrible. What hit me?”
Heyes held up the nearly empty whisky bottle.
“Oh. I didn’t, did I?”
Heyes nodded, “When I came back, you were out for the count.”
Curry looked sheepish.
“I guess you needed it.” Heyes smiled, sympathetically.
“Where did you go to last night?” Curry asked as he took another sip of the coffee?
“First I went to the saloon, and then I... er... went to see Doc Marston... to pay my respects.”
“Oh.” said Curry, “How was he?”
“Upset.” said Heyes., “He didn’t show it, but I could tell he was choked. He... er... asked after you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I told him you’d be OK.” nodded Heyes.
Curry nodded.
“It was just such a... shock.” He sighed, “I didn’t say anything uncalled for last night, did I? I’m sorry if I did.”
“You didn’t.” smiled Heyes.
They fell silent as they sipped their coffee.
“Are you?” Heyes said presently.
“Am I what?”
“Gonna be O.K?”
Curry sighed, turning to gaze out of the window. Presently he nodded, “I will be.”
Heyes eyed him sympathetically. Presently he said, “When I was in the saloon yesterday I heard about some jobs. Some guy called George Roper is hiring help to move a herd of cattle for a rancher named William Randle, from his old ranch up near Cheyenne to his new ranch south of Colorado Springs. I signed us up for it.”
“That was all you could find? Curry pulled a face. Neither of them were fond of cattle drives.
“It’s two weeks work at the most, maybe less, and the pay is good.”
“When do they leave?” asked Curry.
“Couple of days I think.” said Heyes, “But if you don’t want to go, that’s no problem. I’ll go alone.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere until after Hannah’s funeral.” Curry told him.
Heyes nodded, “I’d like to go to that too. I don’t think they leave for the drive until the day after. I’ll always be grateful for the way she looked after me when I was shot.”
“She was a good woman.” nodded Curry.
They both fell silent, each lost in their own memories of Hannah.
Presently, Heyes said, “Are you up to some lunch?”
Curry put down his cup, “I’m not sure.”
“You should have something, I don’t suppose you ate yesterday, did you?”
Curry shrugged.
“Come on, get dressed and we’ll go and get something.” said Heyes.
* * *
After lunch at the restaurant, which Curry only picked at, they adjourned to the saloon for some 'hair of the dog'.
While Heyes sat in at the poker table, Curry got chatting to a man at the bar who told him that he was looking for help on his farm.
“Would you be interested?” enquired the man, who Curry discovered was named Patrick O’Reilly, “I can’t pay you a fortune but you’d get a salary and free meals at the farm.”
“Well, I would be interested, but it would only be temporary. I’m not going to be in town for too long.”
“That’s no problem. Any help will be gratefully accepted.” smiled Patrick, “When would you be able to start?”
“At the end of the week?”
“Deal.” Patrick offered his hand, and Curry shook it.
“Tell you what, why don’t you come back with me for supper and I’ll introduce you to my family?” suggested Patrick.
“Well, O.K.” agreed Curry.
They finished their drinks and prepared to leave.
“Just a minute.” said Curry. Heading over to where Heyes was sitting, he quickly told him where he was going. Heyes turned to look across at Patrick before nodding.
​
Once outside the saloon Patrick said, “Would your friend be interested in helping out too?”
“Oh, he’s leaving on a cattle drive in a day or two.” Curry told him.
“I see.”
They headed out to the O’Reilly’s farm a couple of miles out of town. As they entered the kitchen his wife came to meet them.
“Moira,” he kissed he cheek, “I want you to meet Mr. Jones. He’s going to come and help out on the farm for a little while. Mr. Jones, this is my wife, Moira.”
“Pleased to meet you, M’am.” smiled Curry.
“Hello.” smiled Moira, “Please, sit down, I’ll make some coffee.”
“These,” said Patrick as two young children came rushing in, “are my two terrors, Joseph and Jennifer.”
“Hello.” smiled Curry.
“Hello.” Joseph and Jennifer replied in unison before their father shooed them away.
After coffee and sandwiches, Curry said it was time he was getting back to town.
“What time do you want me to start?” he enquired
“Is 7.30am O.K?” asked Patrick.
“Well... I guess I can make it for then.” smiled Curry, “Well, goodnight. I’ll see you at the weekend.”
* * *
Two days later, on Friday, was the day of Hannah’s funeral. It was to be a quiet affair with just Doctor Marston and his assistant, a few of Hannah’s friends, the other two teachers at the school she taught at, and Curry and Heyes.
Curry and Heyes arrived at the church at the appointed time, dressed in their Sunday best, their faces sombre.
They took their seats and sat in silence while they waited for the undertaker to arrive with the coffin. Heyes glanced anxiously at Curry, trying to read his face, but his expression was unreadable as he stared straight ahead.
Eventually, they brought in Hannah’s coffin and set it on a trestle in front of the altar. Several flower wreaths lay on top of it, including one from Curry and Heyes which they’d ordered in the names of Smith and Jones.
After the short service, they all gathered at the cemetery for the burial. Out of the corner of his eye, Curry spotted Luke Hardington at the back of the crowd, drunk again, but at least dressed in a dark suit and tie.
Heyes glanced apprehensively at Curry. Heyes hated funerals at the best of times, but he felt more uncomfortable being here with Curry knowing how he’d felt about Hannah. Curry’s face was set like a stone carving as he watched the coffin being lowered into the grave.
They began to shovel earth onto the coffin and the small crowd of mourners began to disperse.
Heyes walked slowly towards the cemetery gate, while Doctor Marston and Curry remained standing at the grave until the last shovel of earth was replaced and the flower wreaths placed on top.
Doctor Marston dropped down onto one knee to say a prayer, while Curry stood, stiffly, his hands clasped in front of him, head bowed, lost in his own thoughts.
Heyes watched him with sympathetic eyes. He had intended to wait by the gate for him, but changed his mind, not wanting to rush Curry away from his mourning, and so he headed back to town to the saloon to wait for him there.
It was nearly forty five minutes later when Curry appeared by his side in the saloon.
“I guessed I’d find you here.” he told him.
“I didn’t want to intrude... on your time...” said Heyes.
Curry nodded, “Thanks.”
“Are you O.K?” Heyes raised a questioning eyebrow.
Curry nodded, without looking at him, his face drawn and his eyes bright with suppressed emotion.
“Here.” Heyes poured him a glass of whisky and handed it to him.
Curry took it, He downed the drink in one go and banged the glass down on the bar.
“Thanks. I needed that.” he said gruffly.
“Has Doc Marston gone home?” Heyes asked.
Curry shook his head. “Not yet. I would have stayed a while longer, but...” he shrugged, “I felt like I was intruding... After all, who am I?” he said, with a catch in his voice, “I didn’t know her for very long... He was her only blood relative.”
“Yeah.” muttered Heyes, not sure what to say to him.
Curry stared pensively into his glass, wondering how it might have been if Hannah had persuaded him to stay on. They might have been married by now. The way he felt now, he was almost relieved he hadn’t stayed. He felt bad enough now and he hadn’t seen her for almost a year. If he’d stayed with her, married her even, and he’d lost her so soon, he didn’t know what he would have done.
“Come on.” said Heyes, seeing his melancholy expression, “I’ve had enough. Lets go.” If they stayed in the saloon, Curry would end up drowning his sorrows in liquor, so he led them over to the restaurant for a meal and then they retired early. Heyes wasn’t in the mood for socialising, plus he was due to leave on the cattle drive the next morning and so didn’t want a late night.
Curry had barely spoken a dozen words during their meal, which he’d only picked at, and after they’d undressed and climbed into their beds Heyes was prompted to ask, “Kid, are you sure you’re O.K?”
Curry cleared his throat before saying gruffly, “I’m O.K.”
They were silent for several moments, the only sound in the darkness the fluttering of the lace curtains as a gentle breeze blew through the open window.
“Kid?” Heyes said presently.
“Mmm?”
Heyes sighed, “I’m sorry.” he said quietly, “I wish things could have turned out differently.” It was tragic that Curry had had to give up the girl he loved because of their notoriety and then lost her forever without having had the chance to explore their feelings for one another.
He heard Curry sigh in the darkness, “Me too.”
​
