The Course of True Love
​
-5-
​
As Heyes arrived at the O’Reilly’s farm, Kid Curry was cutting wood in the yard and didn’t hear his approach. He stood, waiting until he had finished the log he was chopping before speaking.
“Hi, Kid.”
Curry turned round, startled.
“Heyes!” He blurted out, forgetting, momentarily that they could possibly be overheard, “But... what are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you back until next week at least.”
“I wouldn’t have been, but I had a slight accident.” Heyes held his wrist aloft, displaying the bandage around it.
Curry gave him a withering look, “What trouble have you been causing this time?”
“None.” said Heyes, crossing to him, “Don’t tell me you actually enjoy doing this?” he pointed to the pile of logs waiting to be cut, “It’s pretty mundane work.”
“I’ll bet it’s a damn sight more than you’ve been doing this past couple of weeks, riding around the desert after a bunch of cows.” quipped Curry, ignoring the partly healed gash on his forehead and the uncharacteristic fatigue in his face that told its own story. The Kid knew only too well how hard cattle driving was, but he didn’t want to give Heyes the satisfaction of acknowledging that.
“Riding around the desert after a bunch of cows is what you call a rest, huh? If it’s so easy you can go take my place to finish the job if you want to.” Heyes bristled before, seeing the amused twinkle in Curry’s eyes at the fact that he’d gotten a rise out of him, he shook his head in wry amusement.
“Is that sprained, or broken?” Curry asked, nodding towards his bandaged wrist.
“Sprained, fortunately, although, at the moment I think it would hurt less if it were broken. Doc Marston says I’ve torn some ligaments.”
“What happened?”
“You won’t believe it.” said Heyes
“Try me.”
Heyes shook his head, smiling.
“Come on... give.” said Curry, sitting down on an upended log.
Heyes sighed, “If you must know, I fell off my horse...”
“You, what...?”
“I fell off my—“
“Yeah, yeah,” Curry began to laugh raucously, “I heard you... Fell off... your... horse? Oh, boy...”
“Quit laughing will you? It damn well hurts.”
“I wish I’d been there to see that.” Curry gasped amid giggles.
Heyes rolled his eyes to the sky, “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” he said, trying to fake annoyance, but it was the first time in weeks, since before Hannah died, that Curry had laughed so much, so he bit his tongue and let him enjoy the moment.
“How did you manage to do that?” Curry asked when his giggles finally subsided.
“We were herding the cattle and I’d gone out after a stray. My horse stumbled over a rock, or something, and threw me. Caught me completely off guard. Knocked me out cold and sprained my wrist.”
“Did you get your wages?”
“Half of it. Roper is coming up a week Friday to pay out the rest.”
“Roper?
“Yeah. I told you about him. Don’t you remember? This guy named William Randle hired him to organize bringing his herd of cattle down from his old ranch near Cheyenne to his new ranch near Lake Palmer.”
"William Randle?" Curry asked now.
Heyes nodded.
“I know his daughter.”
Heyes raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
Curry wagged a finger at him, “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not what you think.” He said, turning and heading towards the house, Heyes following after him.
They went into the kitchen where Curry introduced Heyes to the O’Reilly’s.
When they heard that Heyes had booked into the hotel, Patrick insisted he stay at the farm with them.
“No, it’s alright, really.” Heyes protested.
“Listen,” said Patrick, “if you hadn’t injured your arm you wouldn’t have been back here until next week, right?”
“I guess.”
“So, Thaddeus would have continued working here at least until after then, so, if you stay here, Thaddeus can finish off the week’s work before he leaves, which will save me a lot of time and effort, and you’ll save some money.”
“Well, when you put it like that...” said Heyes
“It’s settled then.” said Patrick.
That afternoon, Josie came over to the farm and after visiting with Moira, she and Curry went for a ride out to the spot on the river where they’d picnicked a few days earlier.
“Who’s that, M’am?” asked Heyes, as he watched them ride out.
“Oh, that’s Josephine. She was my best friend at school. She visits us regularly.” She joined Heyes at the window and watched as they rode away, “She seems to get on well with your friend. “
“Yeah.” agreed Heyes.
“It’ll do them both good to get out for a while. Josie doesn’t have too many friends, and Thaddeus seems so sad sometimes, I think they’re good for each other.”
Heyes nodded, as he watched them disappear out of sight.
* * *
That evening, after their ride, Josie invited Curry to have supper and this time he agreed and they stayed up until the early hours, drinking and talking.
“Patrick and Moira will have locked up now.” said Josie when she realise how late it had become, “It’s a shame to get them up. Why don’t you stay here tonight?”
Curry was undecided, but, when Josie cuddled closer to him, he gave in.
Later, in bed, Curry couldn’t sleep. He felt guilty somehow. He still hadn’t fully gotten over Hannah’s death, and it didn’t seem right to him to be here, now, with Josie and he knew that he shouldn’t have been persuaded to stay the night.
Feeling the way he did, he couldn’t face Josie in the morning and so, quietly, he dressed and crept out of the house.
He arrived back at the farm in the early hours of the morning. Not wanting to wake the O’Reilly’s he crept around the back of the house to the window of his room.
​
Knowing that Heyes was to share the room with him, he tapped quietly on the glass and waited.
A few moments later the window opened and Heyes stuck his head out.
“Do you always come in by this door, Sir?” asked Heyes in his plummiest tone.
“Quit fooling around and let me in.” snapped Curry.
“Certainly, Sir.” Giving a gracious bow, Heyes withdrew and held the window open while the Kid clambered in.”
“Lose your way or something?” Heyes smirked
Curry glared at him, “I’ve been at Josie’s.”
“Ah, yes, Josephine, Moira’s friend.” Heyes acknowledged, raising an eyebrow quizzically.
“You needn’t give me that look either.” snapped Curry as he began to undress.
“Do you blame me? She looks like a real attractive woman. To pass up the chance—“
“Who said I passed?” Curry bristled as he climbed into bed.
“Why did you sneak back here at 4.00am then?” questioned Heyes.
Curry opened his mouth to speak but then changed his mind and shrugged.
Heyes decided to stop teasing him and, climbing back into bed, blew out the lamp.
* * *
“Morning, Thaddeus.” said Moira, over a pan of bacon and eggs.
“Morning.” Curry sat down at the breakfast table. He had slept a little late from his disturbed night and Patrick had already headed out to start the chores.
“Morning.” said Heyes from over the top of the newspaper. He gave him a mischievous wink, eliciting a mouthed obscenity from Curry while Moira’s back was turned.
Just as Moira served up the breakfast, Patrick and the children game in.
“Morning, Thaddeus.”
“Morning, Patrick.”
“Everything O.K?” Patrick eyed him worriedly. It was unusual for Thaddeus to sleep in and he was concerned he might not be feeling well.
“Yes, fine. I just got to bed a little late.” replied Curry.
Patrick nodded, “There’s some fences I need to fix up on the north field, if you could give me a hand later?”
“Sure thing.” replied Curry
After they’d eaten, Patrick and Curry headed out to carry out the fence repairs. Heyes tagged along too. With his injured wrist he couldn’t help with the work, but it was a sunny morning and Heyes preferred to take a ride rather than be stuck around the house waiting for them to come back.
Just before lunch, Josie arrived. After visiting with Moira, she rode out to where Patrick and Curry were working, to bring him some documents from the bank.
“Hello.” smiled Curry.
“Good Morning.” Josie replied, her tone less than friendly. Obviously, she had taken Curry’s early morning disappearance personally.
“Josie,” said Patrick, “I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Smith. He’s a friend of Thaddeus’. He’s going to be staying with us for a few days.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith.” Josie turned towards Heyes and held out her hand, her eyes widening as she looked at him.
“Pleased to meet you too, M’am.” smiled Heyes, taking her hand and bestowing a kiss on it,“I believe it’s your Father I’ve just been working for? William Randle?”
“That’s right. But, how come you’re back so early? The party isn’t due back until next week.”
“I had a slight accident.” said Heyes, waving his bandaged hand in the air.
“Yeah, he fell off his horse.” Curry began to laugh as the image sprang into his mind.
“I don’t know what’s so funny about that.” snapped Josie, “It’s lucky it’s only his arm he injured. He could have broken his neck.” She took Heyes’ arm and drew him away, out of earshot, giving Curry a black look as she did so.
Curry was annoyed by her attitude, but, on the other hand, he guessed he deserved it after his behaviour the previous night.
He continued with his work, pretending not to be aware of her laughter as Heyes entertained her. When they paused for lunch, he watched, moodily, as Heyes and Josie sat on the grass some distance away, talking and laughing. Heyes was just being his usual charming self, but Curry knew Josie was deliberately playing up to Heyes just to annoy him, and, worse, still, she was succeeding.
The next few days were pretty busy as Patrick tried to finish off as much work as possible before the Kid left.
Josie had turned her attention to Heyes, virtually ignoring Curry, and Curry deliberately kept his distance from both of them, embarrassed about sneaking out of her house in the middle of the night, and feeling awkward around Heyes. He wondered if Josie genuinely liked Heyes, or if she was just trying to make him jealous. If it was the latter, she had succeeded. Heyes was a handsome man and Curry often lost out to him where women were concerned, and he felt resentful that Josie seemed to be following the same path.
A couple of days later, he was exercising one of the horses in readiness for giving Joseph and Jennifer a riding lesson when he bumped into Josie, seated at a painting easel in a meadow just outside of the farm.
“Hello.” he said, bringing the horse to a halt.
She looked up from the picture she was painting.
“Hello.” she replied, before turning back to the canvas.
Dismounting, he moved to stand behind her, “That’s very good.” he said, eying the painting which was a scene of the trees at the edge of the meadow and a brook which flowed just in front of them.
“Thank you.” replied Josie, without looking at him.
He stood watching her paint for a few moments before saying, “Josie, I’m sorry about the other night.”
“It doesn’t matter.” she replied, turning to rinse her brush into a jar of water.
“Doesn’t it?”
She looked up, “No. Not any more.”
“Oh?”
She sighed, “I won’t compete with a ghost.” she told him, “You’re so wrapped up with the memory of the woman you lost, nobody else stands a chance.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea. I like you, Josie, but when you invited me to stay to supper, I didn’t stay with the intention of... you know... I just enjoyed your company, as a friend.”
Josie sighed, “I felt... jilted... the way you sneaked out like that, in the middle of the night.”
“So you’ve been hanging around my partner just to make me jealous?”
“I started off to do that,” Josie admitted “but that’s not the case any more.” With a sigh she turned back to her painting and picked up her brush, “I like Joshua, very much...” She gazed wistfully at the canvas, brush in hand.
Curry studied her, beginning to realise what she was saying.
“You’re wasting your time you know.” he told her.
“I know...” she nodded, “But...” she shrugged. “I guess you know how it is...?”
“I’m sorry, Josie.” said Curry, and he was. Josie was a nice woman and he’d blown his chance with her because of his feelings for Hannah.
“I’m very fond of you, Thaddeus, but when I met your friend, I realized I didn’t like you enough.” she turned to look at him now, “No hard feelings? I’d like you to be my friend.”
“Sure.” smiled Curry.
“You won’t tell him, will you? I know he doesn’t feel the same way... it would be embarrassing...”
“It’ll be our secret.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I should be getting back. I promised the kids a riding lesson.”
Josie nodded, “You mustn’t keep them waiting.”
Curry nodded, before re-mounting his horse and heading back towards the farm.
He felt sorry for Josie. What she had said about his grief for Hannah was true, but she didn’t stand a chance with Heyes. Emotionally, he always remained detached from women and was too full of wanderlust to be tied down to one woman and one place.
That evening, when he went into the house for supper, Heyes was already there.
“Hi Mary, Patrick.” he nodded to them as he sat down, “Hi, Joshua.”
Heyes looked at him in surprise. He had wondered how long it would be before the Kid got over his mood, but hadn’t expected it to be this soon.
“Hi.” he smiled.
They ate supper and Joseph and Jennifer pestered Curry to read them a bedtime story. When he came back, Heyes put down the book he was reading and looked up at him.
“ I thought I’d go into town for a drink later, and a hand or two of poker. Want to come?”
Curry thought and then nodded. “O.K.”
* * *
An hour later, they were in the saloon having a quiet drink.
Heyes was still puzzled by the Curry’s sudden change in demeanour and so he asked him the reason.
“Let’s just say I’ve learned a few things this past couple of days.” Curry told him.
“Oh?”
Curry didn’t get chance to answer as a voice behind them said, “Why, Joshua, ah sure dain’t think ah’d see ya agin so soon.”
Heyes looked up, “Why, McKenzie! What are you doing here?”
“Ah’ve come down for ma wages tomorrow.”
“Of course. I’d forgotten.”
“How’s the hand?” McKenzie enquired.
“O.K. thanks. Still painful but the doc says it’ll heal up in a few weeks.”
“Glad t’hear it.”
“How did the rest of the trip go?” asked Heyes.
McKenzie shrugged, “Alright. Glad t’be back though. That foreman, Roper, got on ma nerves.”
Curry coughed, as a hint for an introduction.
“Sorry.” said Heyes, “McKenzie, this is my friend, Thaddeus Jones. Thaddeus, meet John McKenzie.”
"Hi.” Curry shook hands with him.
“Pleased t’meet ya, Thaddeus.” said McKenzie.
“Will you join us in a game of poker?” asked Heyes.
“Sure.”
They spent the rest of the evening together, and McKenzie told Heyes that he thought Roper was up to no good.
“Why?”
“Dunno.” Mckenzie shrugged, “Just a feelin’ ah get.”
“Oh.” said Heyes.
The conversation moved on, but McKenzie’s comment played on Heyes’ mind and he went to bed that night with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
* * *
Next morning, Heyes went into town to collect his share of the money for the trip.
There met Mckenzie, Andrew and David Pearson and the guy they had nicknamed ‘The Stranger’. They stood around chatting while they waited for George Roper to arrive.
He arrived some fifteen minutes later, and they all waited in his office while he wrote out their cheques.
He passed them out, Heyes feeling that Roper seemed to hold his gaze longer than the other men, making him feel slightly uncomfortable without knowing why.
The men pocketed their cheques and made their way across the street towards the saloon for a celebratory drink.
They’d only been there a few minutes, when George Roper entered the saloon, accompanied by the Sheriff.
Walking up to the men, the Sheriff addressed Heyes.
“Mr. Smith?”
“Yes? ” Heyes replied, a pleasant smile fixed on his face even though his senses were warning him that something was very wrong.
“Mr. Roper here has reason to believe that you are a certain wanted outlaw.”
“What?” Heyes laughed, “And what outlaw does he say I am?”
“A certain Hannibal Heyes.” replied the Sheriff.
“That’s ridiculous.” scoffed Heyes.
“Why?” demanded Roper.
“Everyone knows he always goes around with Kid Curry. They’re never apart.”
“That’s true.” acknowledged the Sheriff, “All the same, I’m going to have to take you in, pending further investigation.”
“Look... this is pure victimisation.” protested Heyes, “He’s had something against me since he set eyes on me.”
“Yeah.” put in McKenzie “
“Sorry, but that don’t make no difference to me. I’m just doing what the law demands.” said the Sheriff, “Mr. Roper has raised concerns that you’re a wanted criminal and I have to follow procedure. Now, are you gonna come quietly?”
Heyes sighed, “OK, O.K.” He turned to McKenzie. “Will you take a message to my friend, Thaddeus? He’s staying at Patrick O’Reilly’s farm, just North of town. Tell him what happened.”
“Sure, thing.” nodded McKenzie.
The Sheriff took hold of Heyes’ arm and marched him out of the saloon and over to his office where he locked him in a cell.
* * *
Curry was in the kitchen having lunch when Patrick hurried in.
“Thaddeus, this fellow says he has an important message for you.”
“Mr. McKenzie!” Curry was startled.
“Mr. Jones, Thaddeus. The Sheriff has arrested Joshua. That guy we told ya about, George Roper? He told the Sheriff that Joshua was an outlaw.”
“What?” gasped Curry.
“The Sheriff said he had to take Joshua in, while he made further investigations. I reckon its victimisation. Roper seemed to take a dislike t’Joshua the minute he laid eyes on him.” He shook his head, disgustedly, “Joshua asked me to come an’ tell ya.”
Curry picked up his hat and jacket and headed out of the house, McKenzie hot on his heels.
“How awful.” said Moira, her hands pressed to her face.
“Yeah.” nodded Patrick.
Curry went straight to the Sheriff’s office to see Heyes. He made an excuse to get rid of McKenzie so that he could speak to Heyes alone.
After searching him, and relieving him of his gun, The Sheriff took him through to the back room where the cells where and then left, locking the door behind him.
“Heyes! What the hell’s going on?” Curry demanded in a loud whisper, “How did that guy find out who you are?”
Heyes shrugged, “I don’t know if he does know for sure, or if he’s just guessing. Either way, if the Sheriff does some checking, it’s not going to take him long to put two and two together.”
Curry ran his hands through his hair, “What are we going to do?”
Neither spoke for several minutes as the contemplated all the possible scenarios that might result from the situation and tried to think of a way out.
“I’ve got an idea.” said Heyes
“What?”
“I told the Sheriff that I couldn’t be Hannibal Heyes because he never goes anywhere without Kid Curry and he agreed with me.”
“So?”
“So, they’ll probably expect Kid Curry to come and try to break me out of jail. If that doesn’t happen, they won’t have any positive proof that I’m me, will they?
“They have our descriptions on our Wanted posters.” Curry reminded him.
Heyes waved a dismissive hand, “Those descriptions could fit a hundred men. They’re not conclusive proof.”
“Conclusive enough. Especially if they find someone who does actually know you, to identify you.”
Heyes shook his head, “Slim chance of that in this town.” he said dismissively.
“So?”
Heyes paced about, thinking, “Firstly, Kid Curry - you - mustn’t come to break me out of jail. In fact, it’s best you don’t come here to see me again, in case the Sheriff looks at your Wanted posted too and puts two and two together. After this meeting, you have to stay away.”
“But...” Curry began, but Heyes signalled for him to be quiet and began pacing again, trying to come up with a plan.
“You need to wire Lom, to come over. Hopefully, he can come up with some way to sort this out.”
“No can do.” Curry shook his head, “Somebody borrowed a couple of miles of wire from the telegraph.”
Heyes pulled a face at the news.
“If I took the train, I could get there late tomorrow afternoon, and maybe be back the next evening.” Curry told him.
Heyes nodded, “O.K. Go to Porterville, explain what’s happened. Perhaps Lom could come up with some story to explain why I’m here in Denver.”
“Do you think it will work?”
“It’s got to, or I won’t be seeing you all for the next twenty years.” said Heyes, grimly.
“What shall I tell Patrick and Moira?”
Heyes shrugged, “Make up some story. I’ll back up whatever you tell them.”
Curry sighed. “O.K.”
They stood in silence for a few moments, each contemplating the possible outcome.
Presently Curry reached in through the bars of the cell and grasped Heyes’ shoulder.
“Keep your fingers crossed.”
Heyes nodded.
Curry turned and headed for the door.
“Kid...”
Curry stopped and turned back, “Yeah?”
Heyes opened his mouth to speak and then shrugged, unable to voice the words.
Curry gave him a reassuring smile before turning to knock on the door for the Sheriff to open it.
Curry headed back to the farm to collect his things for the journey to Porterville.
​
“It’s all a misunderstanding.” he told Patrick and Moira as they expressed their concern about what had happened, “I have to go over to Porterville, to see a friend of ours, a... legal representative... He should be able to sort this out in a couple of days.”
“I hope everything turns out alright.” said Patrick
“Thanks, I hope so too.” said Curry, “Will you tell Josie not to worry.”
“Of course.” said Patrick, “We’ll see you when you get back.”
* * *
It was close on sundown the following day when the Curry arrived in Porterville. He headed straight to Lom Trevor’s office, only to find him not there.
“He shouldn’t be long.” His young deputy told him., “I’m waiting for him myself. I need to get off home. Got a date see.” he grinned, “Want some coffee?”
“Why not.” Curry sat in Lom’s chair.
He had just finished his coffee when Lom returned with another man, escorting a couple of drunks who had been causing trouble in the saloon.
Lom locked them in a cell to sober up and sent the other men off home before turning his full attention to Curry.
“Kid, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. What brings you here at this time?” The fact that Heyes wasn’t with him hadn’t escaped him and he guessed there must be some kind of problem. He crossed to the sink and pumped water to wash his face.
“Sorry to bother you so late, Lom, but we need your help.”
“Oh?” Lom raised an eyebrow as he picked up a towel to dry himself.
“Heyes was arrested.”
“Arrested? Why?”
Curry told Lom all about Heyes’ cattle driving job and George Roper’s seeming dislike of him leading up to their confrontation in the town.
“Heyes is hoping you can come up with some story that will convince the Sheriff he’s not who they think he is.”
“I see.” said Lom, thoughtfully, “By rights, I shouldn’t, it goes against my oath as Sheriff... but...”
“Yeah?” Curry asked hopefully.
“Seeing as I’m responsible for you this year, and that Heyes hasn’t actually broken any laws to justify being in jail... O.K.”
Curry gave a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Lom.”
“We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
Curry nodded, wishing they could leave right away, but there wasn’t a train until first thing the next morning.
“Come on, I’ve had a hard day and I’m tired and hungry. I’ll buy you dinner.” said Lom, picking up his hat.
Curry smiled, “Thanks, Lom.”
* * *
Just after breakfast the next morning, Lom and Curry headed to the train station to get the train back to Denver.
Lom was thoughtful on the journey and Curry left him to his thoughts, hoping he was working on a plan to get Heyes out of jail.
It was early evening when they arrived in Denver. Curry wanted to go to the jail to see Heyes right away, but Lom told him it was better to wait until morning, so, after dinner at the local restaurant, they headed back to the hotel, where Lom had booked a room, where they played a couple of games of cards and chatted about old times before Lom became a Sheriff, when he used to ride with them as an outlaw.
Restless, Curry threw in his cards and got up to peer through the window in the direction of the Sheriff’s office, hoping Heyes was holding up O.K.
“Quit worrying.” said Lom, taking out a cigar and offering one to Curry, who shook his head.
Lom lit the cigar and stretched out on the bed, inhaling, “One more night aint gonna make much difference. Anyway,” he added, blowing a smoke ring up towards the ceiling, “it’ll give him a reminder of what he, and you, have to look forward to if you...”
“If we go back to robbing banks you mean?” Curry finished the sentence for him. He shook his head angrily, “Honestly, I don’t know why you bothered to recommend us for an amnesty, Lom, you’re obviously convinced we can’t do it, aren’t you?”
“Can you?” asked Lom, fixing him with a level gaze.
“Well, if I can’t, I know damn well Heyes can.”
“A year ago, I would have agreed with you,” said Lom, “but I don’t think you’d want to go back to that life now.”
Curry sighed, “I guess you’re right, if I’m really honest with myself, although sometimes, when we’re broke and running away from some posse, it does seem pretty tempting.” He shook his head, “I often wonder how Heyes has stuck it out this long, you know how he loves to be in the action?”
“Yeah,” agreed Lom, “but there’s one thing Heyes has that’s beginning to rub off on you too.”
“Oh? What?”
“Determination. Once Heyes puts his mind to something he’ll move heaven and earth to try and achieve it.”
“That’s true.” said Curry, “He’s a lot like you in some ways.”
“Huh?” Lom looked surprised, “Name one.”
“Well,” Curry began, “as you say, he’s determined, just like you. He’s honourable, in his own way, just like you. His face never belies his true feelings. You can never tell what he’s feeling unless he wants you to know, and that can make him seem a bit... impersonal... sometimes, but if you dig down deep enough... it’s all a front. Underneath he’s a big softie...”
Lom laughed, “You think I’m like that?”
“You must be. I mean, how can you sit there, like you’re on a picnic, with so much at stake? And yet, I know, deep down, you’re just as concerned as I am.”
Lom nodded, for the moment unable to think of a reply.
“Well, I’m gonna try and get some shut-eye.” said Curry.
“Me too.” said Lom, stubbing out the cigar and getting into bed.
Curry blew out the lamp and lay staring anxiously into the darkness.
“Goodnight, Kid... and don’t worry.” Lom’s voice came through the darkness.
“Goodnight.”
* * *
After breakfast, Lom got a horse from the livery and headed into town while Curry headed out to the O’Reilly’s farm. They had taken Heyes’ advice to avoid being seen together where possible to lessen the risk of anyone suspecting Curry’s real identity.
Lom planned to spend the morning pretending to make enquiries as to the whereabouts of his Deputy who he would claim had gone missing, so that if the Sheriff decided to check, people would be able to confirm he had been asking around town for that information. He then planned to go to the Sheriff’s office and elaborate on that story and try to convince the Sheriff that his prisoner couldn’t possibly be Hannibal Heyes, and, hopefully secure his release. It wasn’t a great plan he had to admit, but it was all he could come up with.
Back at the farm, Curry found all the family, and Josie, waiting for news.
“Thaddeus! You’re back!” Moira rushed over to greet him, “Have you sorted everything out?”
“Hopefully. Our legal friend has come back with me and is going to speak with the Sheriff this morning. I’m going back into town a bit later, to wait for news. I just wanted to let you all know what was happening.”
“Would you like something to eat?” asked Moira.
“No, thank you, M’am, I already had breakfast. But I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee.”
“Sure.” Moira poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him.
“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll drink it outside.” said Curry.
“Of course.” said Moira, presuming that Thaddeus needed some time to himself.
Curry went outside to sit on the front porch, staring out across the fields, his mind pondering on the possible outcomes of Lom’s attempt to get Heyes released. He was so lost in thought he didn’t hear Josie come out onto the porch and jumped as she spoke.”
“Thaddeus?”
Curry turned to look at her.
“It isn’t true, is it? About Joshua being an outlaw?” Josie asked, worriedly.
“What do you think?” asked Curry, not wanting to tell her an outright lie.
“He will be alright, won’t he?” asked Josie, ignoring his question, “I mean... there’s no chance of a mistaken conviction is there?”
“No, of course not.” said Curry, swallowing hard as the horrifying thought reared up in his imagination, “He’ll be fine, don’t worry.” he said, with more conviction than he felt.
“Good.” she sighed.
Curry eyed here momentarily, “Josie, what will you do now?” he asked presently.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, after all this is over, Joshua isn’t going to want to stay here for long. He’ll want to leave, as quickly as possible, just in case they change their minds.”
Josie shrugged, turning away with tears in her eyes, and Curry felt a pang of sorrow for her, knowing what she was feeling.
“I’m sorry, Josie.” he said, quietly, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder.
Josie burst into tears and turned away.
Curry pulled her close to him and held her as she cried into his shoulder.
“Don’t cry, Josie. Not over Joshua. He’ll only break your heart. He’s not worth it.” He said the words to try and ease her pain, rather than out of any disrespect for Heyes’ character, but Josie just sobbed harder.
“Yes, he is.” she wailed, “I can’t bear to think of anything happening to him. What if they mistake him for this outlaw and... and hang him...” she broke off, overcome.
“It’s alright. Nothing like that is going to happen.” Curry said, as much to reassure himself as her. He rocked her gently in his arms as she wept, praying that Lom would be able to prevent that.
“I’m sorry.” she said, as her tears subsided, “I must look an awful fool.”
Curry took her handkerchief and dabbed at her tearstained cheeks, “You look just fine.” he told her, handing her back the handkerchief.
Josie studied him, as he stared over her head into the distance, his expression unreadable. Reaching up she gently stroked his cheek with her fingertips.
​
Curry looked down at her, startled by her touch.
“You felt the same way about your girl as I do about Joshua, didn’t you?”
“I hardly think it’s the same thing.” Curry began.
“But it is.” said Josie, “When Joshua leaves here, I’ll never see him again. He might just as well be dead as far as I’m concerned. I’ll only have memories the same as you.”
“What memories? You barely know him. You don’t know what he’s really like. Nobody does. He makes sure of that. He puts up a front.”
“I love him, Thaddeus.” said Josie, “I know we haven’t spent much time together, and I know he doesn’t feel the same way, but I love him. I loved him the first moment I saw him, and I’ll treasure the memory of that feeling forever.” She studied him momentarily before saying, “You love him too, in your own way, don’t you?”
Curry nodded.
“Take care of him for me, won’t you?” said Josie.
Curry nodded again, “I will.”
“Thank you.” she whispered, and, kissing him on the cheek, she turned and went back into the house.
Later, Curry rode back into town, to the saloon, to await the outcome of Lom’s visit.
​
​
​
​
