For You, Peter

I made this for you, Peter.  I believe your spirit soared across the face of the earth 40 years ago, much like in this video, before it parted the clouds and ascended into the heavens to touch the face of God.  Rest now.  My candle is still burning.

Love,
Karen

Burning a Candle for You

At midnight tonight, I will light a candle for you, Peter.  I will leave it burning until midnight tomorrow.  I will always be a keeper of the flame.  The flame that you started in my and so many other hearts so long ago.  I'll never let it go out.

Please join me tonight in keeping the flame of Peter's memory alive by lighting a candle for him.

Peace and love to you all,

Karen
As always, Love you, Peter.

Heyes and Evie ~ Their Song

The clear winner for the official song for Evie and Heyes is "Far Away" by Nickelback.  The song will automatically play whenever you visit my blog, but if this is distracting and you don't want to hear it just go to the player in the side bar and hit the pause button or slide the volume bar all the way to the bottom and it will be muted.  I have also added a soundtrack player so it will be easy to listen to any of the selections from any page.

I'll try to keep the list updated as I add more songs.  Hope you enjoy it.  

Peace and love,

Karen :')

Chapter 27

Sherman McMaster watched the trail of smoke he had just exhaled drift slowly towards the heavens and disappear into the blackness of the starless sky.  He held the cigar between his teeth while he stretched  his hands out towards the fire.    Why had it turned so blasted cold?  He hated the cold.  That's why he had come to the southwest in the first place. It wasn't supposed to get this cold in Texas, he thought.  But then again,  Mother Nature could do as she pleased, he reckoned.  He had been born and raised in Chicago where the winters were especially cruel.  But since coming out west he'd forgotten how much he hated the cold.   And the further north Heyes and Curry led them, the colder it got.  But he didn't figure on it turning into much of a chase.  According to that blacksmith who'd pegged them they weren't wearing any coats and didn't appear to be carrying gear for traveling.   A man could only go so far in the cold without food before his mind started getting fuzzy.  His senses dulled and his reaction time was delayed.  Not even Kid Curry was a real threat when he was shivering from hypothermia and half starved to death.

They must have  been expecting to return right away to wherever they were calling home these day.  And that place must have been close by.  That smithy was pretty sure they'd come north from Red Rock.  He'd sent a few men that way just in case they doubled back.  But he didn't see Heyes and Curry making an amateur's mistake like that.  And he had no doubt it was Heyes and Curry.  The smithy's description was too spot on.  It had to be them.  No other outlaws he'd ever come across were as slippery as those two.  And he'd know plenty of outlaws.  Some he'd called his enemy and some he'd called his friend.  He'd even helped a few escape the clutches of the law when he was supposed to be the law.  But these two wouldn't be escaping.  Not this time.  He'd made sure the word got out real quick that they'd been spotted and in which direction their trail was headed.  It would be in all the newpapers as far north as Denver by tomorrow night.  They wouldn't be able to find refuge in an outhouse by then.  And finding someone to give them refuge was their only hope. How they'd gotten out of that saloon and out of town today without anybody noticing was beyond him,  but it didn't matter.  He was patient.  He could wait.

The sounds of snoring from one of the men in the posse shook him momentarily from his reveries.  Heyes and Curry would travel on through the night most likely.  But he and his men could afford a little rest stop.  Because once hunger, fatigue and exposure began to take their toll, catching up would be as easy as pie.  He hadn't needed a posse this size.  Just a couple of men to watch his back would have sufficed.  But he wanted to have plenty of eye witnesses there when he took down the two big fish that had gotten away once before.  He'd taken such a ribbing from Doc Holliday and the Earps after he let them get away two years ago that he'd finally left Tombstone.  Well, we'd see who was laughing this time.  They'd all be laughing on the other sides of their faces when they saw the photographs of Heyes' and Curry's dead bodies.

Amos' young greenhorn deputy, Jesse Horton, had asked him if he thought they were headed back to Devil's Hole.  McMaster had only laughed at that.   They wouldn't be this far from Devil's Hole this late in the year if they were still staying there.  Too much risk of getting caught in inclement weather, like the weather they were experiencing now.  They were holing up somewhere near Cold Springs.  He'd heard rumors of Heyes and Curry trying to play it straight.  He wondered now if those rumors were true.  Why else would they be so far from an inpenatrable fortress like Devil's Hole?     In fact, now that he thought about it, he hadn't heard of any crimes being commited by Heyes and the Kid in quite a while.  He'd heard about a few minor altercations involving the Devil's Hole Gang, but the gang had been led by Wheat Carlson, not Hannibal Heyes.

And so what if they were playing it straight these days?  It didn't erase all the crimes they'd commited in the past.  And didn't change the fact that he had a score to settle with them.  And it certainly didn't make him any less eager to see those two laying cold on slabs with several bullit holes from his Colt Peacemaker decorating their bodies.

He crushed the butt of his cigar under his boot heel.  He leaned back against the trunk of the felled tree that lay behind him and closed his eyes, though he doubted if sleep would come.  A slow, lazy grin spread across his otherwise emotionless face.  He was just too blamed excited to sleep.


*Author's Note*
Sherman W. McMaster was a real person.  He did ride with the Texas Rangers and he knew the famous Earps.  He was thought to be on both sides of the law at different times in his life.
 

Soundtrack Selection for Chapter 27

I couldn't really come up with an appropriate song for this chapter, so I'm sharing another one of Hillary's great videos.  And it does fit in with what's coming up in future chapters.  And it just happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time.  "Renegade" by Styx.   Enjoy.

A Christmas Card to All my Readers and Friends

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Karen :')

A Song From Peter

Sometimes I will think of a song and I will go to youtube and find it and listen.  That song will lead me to another song and then another until I come to a song  that immediately makes me think of Peter  and I get this overwhelming urge to share it.  I have posted a couple of those songs before.  I think he wants me to share these songs.  And if not, oh well, they are still beautiful songs and it's nice to hear them and think of him.  So here is the latest song that I feel so compelled to share.  Maybe it is for someone out there who's reading.  ~ Karen :')

Love you, Peter.
:')

Another Video Tribute

When I used Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" as part of the soundtrack, I mentioned that it would be a great song for a Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry video.   So I made one.  We've all seen the clips hundreds of times before.  But does looking at our favorite outlaws, especially set to music, ever really get old?  Not to me.  So here it is.  Hope you enjoy it.  And, yes, I know that's an episode of "The Virginian" and not "Alias Smith and Jones."  But I just couldn't resist putting that scene of Pete fast drawing that gun in there.  Let's just pretend it's Hannibal Heyes wearing a different hat.  :')

Love you, Peter!

Chapter 26

The fall back into consciousness was like plunging into ice cold water.  For a moment she didn't remember where she was or what she was supposed to be doing. Until she heard their voices.  She could hear them and comprehend them.  But her eyes remained closed.

"Evangeline, can you hear me?"  That was Aunt Livvy.

"Poor child must be overcome with nerves about tomorrow."   That was Georgia.

"Nonsense.  After all she's  been through, that girl's as steady as a rock."   That was Mr. McCreedy.

But where was the voice she was waiting for?  Where was Joshua's voice?  Joshua?  Don't you mean Hannibal?  Hannibal Heyes.  Her eyes flew open.  She sat upright.  Dear, Lord, he was in trouble.  She had to get to him.  Before it was too late.

She blinked at the three faces that loomed in front of her in concern.

"You fainted, darling.  You were out  for quite a few moments.  Are you alright?"

"Yes.  I'm fine.  I think I need to...."

"What you need to do is get your behind upstairs to that bed.  A body up and falls out like that, you need to rest,"  Georgia cut her off emphatically as she headed up the stairs mumbling about  turning down Evie's bed and building a fire.

Rest was the last thing she needed.  She needed to get to Cold Springs and warn Hannibal and Kid.  If it wasn't too late.

"What time is it?"  she asked.

Mr.  McCreedy took the watch from his pocket.  "Two in the afternoon."

Oh, no.  They were going to be in town by noon.  That meant they'd already been to the blacksmith's shop.  If Bradley Shepherd had  recognized them, it was too late. There was nothing she could do.  What should she do now?  She got to her feet with Livvy and Big Mac's help.

"I need to speak to the preacher,"  Evie stated matter of factly as she moved past her aunt and Big Mac to head towards the front staircase leading to Preacher's bedroom.

"Why?  Are you having second thoughts, dear?"  Livvy asked following behind her.

"I'm just in need of  some advice."  She turned to face her aunt before heading up the stairs.  "Private advice.  Mr. McCreedy, will you escort me into the Preacher's room, please."  She hoped she was putting just enough inflection in her tone of voice to let him know that she required his council as well, without giving anything away to Livvy.  Livvy only regarded her request as a detail of propriety.

Big Mac cleared his throat.  "Oh, why, certainly."  He followed Evie up to Preacher's room.

Once behind the closed door of Preacher's bedroom, Evie began to nervously pace while wringing her hands.

"Is something the matter, Miss?"   Preacher asked, surprised by a visit from both the young lady and the man of the house.  He hoped they couldn't smell the whiskey he'd been drinking from the flask he'd hurriedly hidden under a pillow when he heard a knock at his door.

"I think Hannibal and Kid might be in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"  Preacher asked, suddenly very sober with genuine concern.

"What makes you think that?"  Big Mac inquired.

"It's a long story and I'm asking you to trust me.  But there's a woman who recognized Hannibal in Cold Springs a couple of weeks ago.  They were sweethearts when they were kids, but she broke his heart for another boy.  The same boy she is now married to.  The same boy who is now the blacksmith in Cold Springs.  The same blacksmith they were taking that pony to this morning.  I only figured it all out a moment ago in the kitchen.   I just know he's going to recognize them and turn them in to the sheriff."

"You said they were due in Cold Springs about the same time I arrived in Red Rock.  That was noon,"  Preacher stated glumly , as he looked at the mantle clock.  "It's past two o'clock.  It's too late to warn them off.  If he did recognize them they're sitting in a jail cell by now."

"If he didn't kill them first.   They're worth the same dead as alive, you know.  And I don't figure Mr. Shepherd is feeling too kindly towards Hannibal Heyes these days."

"What do you mean by that?"  asked the Preacher.

"Mrs.  Shepherd it seems, developed a severe case of hero worship a few years ago when she started reading articles and dime novels  about the exploits of  Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes.  She had it in her head that he was loaded with cash and had a swanky hide out.  She cornered him at that barn dance last night and wanted him to leave and take her with him.  If her husband has any notion of how his wife feels...."

"I get the picture,"  Preacher said.

"Let's not jump to any conclusions. If it's been a long time since that man has seen the boys,  maybe he didn't recognize them at all,"  Big Mac reasoned.

"No, they're in trouble.  I know it.  That's the part I'm asking you to trust me about.  I've got to get to Cold Springs to find out exactly what kind of trouble they're in.  But I can't let Livvy know why I'm going.  If she finds out the truth....I don't even want to think about what will happen if she finds out."

Big Mac pondered the situation for a moment as he took several draws from his cigar.  "We've already established the fact that it's too late to warn them.  So leaving now won't change anything if they've been arrested.  And leaving now would definitely have Olivia raising her eyebrows.   But if they weren't arrested they'll be back here in a few hours.  I think you should wait to see if they come back."

"They should be back be nightfall.  If they're not back by nightfall, we'll know they're in trouble,"  Preacher added.

"But then I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out exactly what kind of trouble they're in.  I don't think I can do that.  I'll go crazy,"  she pleaded.

Big Mac turned to face her before opening the door to leave.  "That is part and parcel to being the wife of a wanted man with a price on his head.  Something to consider,  my dear."

She ignored that last remark as she watched Mr. McCreedy close the door behind him, leaving her and Preacher alone.   If Hannibal  was in trouble she would have to find a way to help him out of it.  Then all they had to do was wait the two years it took for her to be financially independent and all their troubles would be over.  If the amnesty didn't come through first.  Either way,  nothing would change her mind about becoming Mrs. Hannibal Heyes.

She turned to face the tall thin man dressed in black.  "I don't know what to do.  I've never felt this helpless before.  I know they need help but how can I help them if they're in jail.  And what if they're...."  she trailed off not wanting to voice the other alternative out loud.

"Now, miss, it's times like this you have to have faith.  I know that's what Heyes would tell you if he was here.  And besides, those two have gotten out of predicaments worse than this before.  Why,  I've never seen two fellas that the good Lord watches out for more than Heyes and the Kid.  It seems like there's always some sort of divine intervention that helps them out of any trouble they get into.  And there's also the fact that I've never know anybody that can bust out of jail easier than them boys. But ma'am,  I gotta say, I think Mr. McCreedy is right.  We oughta wait to see if they ride in tonight.  Like Heyes always used to tell the gang, 'don't go borrowing trouble.'    If we leave tonight, you'll have a lot of explaining to do to Ms. Livvy.  And the good Lord will keep his hand on them.  Them boys have done as much good as they've done bad.  They just don't realize it."

 The logical part of her brain knew he was right, but the emotional part of her brain and her heart wanted to jump on a horse right now and head for Cold Springs. "Mr. Heyes may have said 'don't borrow trouble'  but my mama always said 'hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.'   And if the worst has happened,  and they don't come back tonight, I'm going to need help. I'll have to get to Cold Springs as soon as possible.  Can I count on you?  Can they count on you?"

"Ma'am them two boys couldn't mean more to me if they was my brothers.  They can always count on me.  And so can you."

"If they don't show up tonight, can you be ready to ride at dawn?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'll be ready."  

She left the room and ran to the bottom of the stairs and out the front door.  A shaft of cold air smacked her in her face and almost took her breath away.   But she didn't go back into the house,  she kept running until she reached the front gate of the ranch.  Maybe Preacher and Mr. McCreedy were right.  Maybe she was looking for trouble when there wasn't any.  But she couldn't relax until she saw his face riding over the hill towards the gate.  She waited and watched until the cold wind had her teeth chattering.    The bunkhouse was closer than the ranch house so she ducked inside to ward off the chill and grab Joshua's jacket.  When she got inside she found not only his tan jacket but his blue coat as well.  They were hanging from the row of brass hooks by the door, along side Kid's leather jacket and sheepskin coat.  A shudder ran through her that had nothing to do with the temperature.  They were both out in this cold wind with no coat.   She remembered vividly the sight of them riding out this morning.  Neither with coat or jacket.  It had been warm and sunny then.  But now, it was cloudy and cold.  She was starting to feel sick to her stomach.  Now she had even more reason to worry.    God, please keep them safe, she prayed as she left the bunkhouse.  And please let them come home.  She wasn't going to wear a coat.   If Hannibal was out in this weather without one, then she would be too.  She resumed her vigil by the gate.  Watching.  Waiting.

An hour passed before Olivia realized that Evangeline wasn't in the house.  Evangeline saw her aunt's small figure approaching out of the corner of her eye.

"What in the world are you doing out here in this freezing wind without a coat?"  Livvy scolded.  "You should be upstairs resting.  Georgia has your bed turned down a nice warm fire blazing."

"I'm just anxious for Joshua to get home.  I'm really missing him right now.   I thought I'd wait here for him."

"It may be hours before they get back.  He wouldn't want you waiting in the cold without so much as a wrap.  Come back inside.  Georgia will have supper ready soon."   Evangeline didn't reply.  "They won't get home any sooner with you standing out here.  You're just having a case of nerves.  It's time to come back inside."

"No,"  she snapped.  "I want to wait here.  Please, Aunt Livvy,  just leave me alone, alright?"

Olivia wondered at her niece's anxiousness.  A little nerves before making a commitment to someone was one thing, but she seemed to be on the verge of hysterics.   She was smart enough to know when something was wrong.  Olivia wanted desperately to make her come inside and get to the bottom of her anxiety, but decided it was best to humor her niece.  "Alright, but at least put on a coat.  Here, take mine, and I'll go get another and come back and wait with you."

"Thank you, Livvy but I would really like to be alone right now."

"Fine, dear, but please take the coat."    She removed her brown wool coat and placed it around Evie's shoulders before reluctantly returning to the house.

Five o'clock.  One more hour of daylight then temperatures would plummet.  She was almost unbearably cold, even with Livvy's coat.  A swift gust of frigid wind sliced through her, whipping her loose hair about her face.  She shivered.  How must Hannibal feel?

 She paced.  She stood.  She prayed.  She cried.  She hoped.  She despaired.

Another hour passed.  Watching. Waiting.

Dusk.  Watching. Waiting.

Darkness fell.  Watching.  Waiting.

Complete darkness.  Still watching.  Still waiting.

When eight o'clock came and went, so did her hope that they were coming home. It had been two hours since nightfall. Why hadn't she called them back this morning?  She had felt the urge to but had hesitated, not wanting to appear silly or over cautious.  Now she was kicking herself for ever letting them leave this ranch. They were in trouble.  She knew it.  They should have been back by now.  Even allowing extra time for any mishaps, they should have been here at least an hour ago.  She knew he would have come back to her if he were able.  That meant he wasn't able.  Dear, God what if he had been killed?  She felt suddenly weak in the knees.  Her legs trembled.  She held onto the large stone gateway for support then stumbled slowly to the bunkhouse.  She had to sit down.

Once inside she leaned with her back against the door, trying to catch the breath that her lungs seemed incapable of holding.  She removed Livvy's coat and let it drop to the floor.  She removed Hannibal's  blue coat from the hook;  the one he had given her to wear when they were out on the trail together.  She put the coat on and wrapped it around herself.  She hugged the coat to herself as she let her eyes scan the large room.  How empty and lonely it was without them here.  Her gaze fell on the worn leather gloves that lay at the foot of the bunk he slept in.  He had left them there this morning before he'd asked her to be his wife.   She staggered to the bunk and sat on its edge.  She lifted the gloves in trembling hands.   The soft leather had molded itself into the exact shape of his hands.  She stroked them as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She held the the gloves against her cheek, imagining it was his hands that touched her.  She began to sob as she clutched the worn leather gloves to her chest.  Her sobs grew into an anguished wail as she crumbled into a ball on his bunk.  She lay there in a fetal position, gripping tightly to the only things she had left of him. She felt like her whole world was crumbling around her.

That's how Olivia found her, curled in a ball on Joshua's bed wearing his coat and clinging to his leather gloves.   When she led the inconsolable young woman back to the house she didn't resist. She let herself be lead like a child.  What difference did it make now?  There was no need to wait any longer.   She wasn't going to see the face that she loved smiling at her as he rode over the hill into her waiting arms.  And into their future.

"I wonder what's making them so late?"  Livvy pondered out loud as she settled a lethargic Evangeline near the fire in the parlor where everyone else was waiting.

No one in the room answered.

When ten o'clock had come and gone,  Livvy too became concerned.  "I can only think of three possible reasons for them not coming home,"  she said as she parted the curtains on the front window and looked out towards the front gate.  "They either got waylaid along the trail, or they decided to have themselves a bachelor party and got drunk at the saloon and are now sleeping it off at the hotel."

"And the third possibility?"   Georgia asked as she threw another log on the fire to warm the chilly room.

Livvy looked cautiously at Evangeline.  She didn't want to upset her any more that she already was, but it was obvious why she was so distraught.  It was best just to say what everyone was probably thinking.  "Well, he wouldn't be the first man to get cold feet and leave a girl standing at the alter.  And it's best that you find it out now, dear instead of having to find out on your real wedding day."

Her real wedding day.  Tomorrow was supposed to be her real wedding day.  Though only she and Preacher were privy to that information.  The thought brought tears back to her eyes.  Eyes that stared unseeing at the fire that blazed in the fireplace.   She rose slowly from the hearth before any one could see her watering eyes and sat in front of the piano.  She couldn't speak right now.  Words would fail her if she tried, so complete was her sorrow at this moment.  She knew in her heart that Hannibal was either in jail waiting extradition,  was on the run in the cold or.... Her heart was breaking in two.

She played what she always played when she was sad or upset.  Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."  As she poured out her soul through the music, she let her mind drift back to the first week she had shared with him.  It had been scary and dangerous.  But it had been beautiful and magical too.  Just like this song.  The song Beethoven had written for the woman he loved and wanted to marry. The woman he was never allowed to have.  She played it over and over until her hands started to cramp.  Then she folded her arms over the keys and laid her head on her arms and bawled.  Again she let Olivia and Georgia lead her to her bedroom where she fell, still dressed, into her bed.  When she was alone, she let the floodgates open again and she wept bitterly.   She reached for the handkerchief lying on her bedside table.  Her hand fell on the small book that was such a huge part of her childhood.  She sat up and took the book in her hands and examined it.  With a sorrowful  groan she hurled the little book as hard as she could against the opposite wall.  Damn the accursed thing!  Her life was turning out just like her namesake in the book.  She had found the love of her life.  Everything was perfect.  And the day before she was to be his forever, fate had stepped in and ripped him out of her life.  "Why?"  she asked aloud.  "Mama, where are you now?  I need you to tell me what to do.  I know you tried to warn me, but I didn't listen.  I'm listening now.  Please tell me what to do."    She fell back onto the bed and buried her sobs into the mound of pillows.

Her crying had subsided to sniffles when Livvy came into her room carrying a tray with the supper she had missed.  She nearly tripped over the little book lying in front of the door.  She bent to retrieve it and laid it on the bed next to the supper tray.

"I know you probably don't feel like it but you really should try to eat something."    She picked up the book that had once belonged to her sister.  "Here, read some of this.  It was your mother's favorite.  It will make you feel better.  And tomorrow we'll get to the bottom of everything.  I know it won't do any good to say it but, try not to worry.  I'm sure they're fine.  And I'm sure Joshua will have a very good explanation for his absence."  At least she hoped so.  She leaned over and kissed the top of Evangeline's head before exiting the room and retiring to her own.

She sat up on the side of the bed and stared at the book.  She was almost afraid to touch it.  She didn't want to open it and see the words that were like a prophesy of doom.  She didn't want to read about finding her true love as he lay dying, breathing his last breath.

With trepidatious hands she lifted the book and let the pages fall open where they would and read the first words that caught her eye.

"Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, and not elsewhere.
For when the heart goes before, like a lamp, and illumines the pathway,
Many things are made clear, that else lie hidden in darkness."

Her heart swelled with a bit of hope.  He was alive.  She felt that in her heart.  If he were dead she would have felt something different she was sure.  But he was in trouble and he needed help.  He couldn't come to her.  She understood that now.  Else he would have been here by now.  And if he couldn't come to her, she would go to him.   "Where my heart has gone, my hand will follow,"  she said aloud.  Everything would be made clear once she got to Cold Springs tomorrow and then she would know exactly what she was facing.   She could not - would not - sit here like a blubbering ninny and do nothing.  He'd risked everything to save her when she'd been in trouble.  And now he was the one in trouble.   And just like her namesake in the book,  she would go wherever she had to to find him.  No matter how long it took or how far she had to go.  She wiped the streaks of tears from her face.  It was time to make a plan.  If she was going to pull this off there were several obstacles that had to be overcome.  The biggest of which stood five feet two inches tall and was sleeping in the bedroom down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"At least let me come with you.  What if you get there and find out something bad has happened.  You don't need to be alone.  Just let me get dressed."

Evie looked down at Livvy as she stood on the front porch in her robe and slippers, shivering against the frosty morning air.

"There's no time for that Aunt Livvy.  We've already mounted and are ready to ride.  Besides, I won't be alone.  Preacher will be with me.  He's just as concerned about them as the rest of us.  He'll take good care of me."

"That's right, ma'am.  I won't let nothing happen to Joshua's gal,"   Preacher said as he checked the ammo in his six shooter.

Livvy sighed heavily in resignation.  "Very well.  But I want you to go to the authorities immediately if there's been trouble and let them handle it.  Then get back here as soon as possible."   She turned to go back inside but turned back to add, "With two hungover cowboys hopefully."

Evie wished a hangover was the only problem she was about to face as well.  But she knew better.  "We'll be back as soon as we find out what's happened."   She pulled the hood of her black wool cloak over her head before nudging Rusty forward through the gate.  She felt underneath the folds of her cape with hands wrapped warmly in worn brown leather, to make sure the blue coat was there.   Then she glanced over at her partner and smiled to herself seeing the sheepskin coat he was wearing.  They had decided it was best to wear the boys' coats to make sure they were warm, in case they ran into them on the trail.

They didn't meet a single person on the road to Cold Springs.  The white coating of frost that covered every blade of grass and every rooftop began to disappear as the sun rose higher in the the sky.   But her dread grew with every mile that brought them closer to town.  When they passed the sign that said "Cold Springs - Population 894"  a shudder went through her body.  She looked silently at Preacher.  He gave her a nod, indicating he knew the plan and was ready to carry out his part.

She waited by the sign just outside of town while Preacher rode on.   His first stop would be the blacksmith's shop.  If that revealed nothing he was going to the saloon.  In the mean time she would ask questions in the mercantile and the last result was going into the sheriff's office.

After giving Preacher enough head start she rode into the town that she was coming to loath.  Something bad always seemed to happen here.   She drew rein in front of Handy's mercantile and dismounted.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw the image a woman with a baby on her hip.  She turned and saw Laura Thomson holding baby Hannibal emerging from the alleyway between the blacksmith's shop and livery stable.   She watched her from under the cover of her dark hood.   Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and distaste.  Had she turned them in?  Had her husband turned them in and she had done nothing to stop it?

She pushed the hood off her head revealing herself just as the mother of seven approached her.  Their eyes met and locked.

Laura stepped back a couple of steps, seeing the fiery look in the younger woman's eyes.  Her first instinct was to turn and run back towards her house, but she knew she owed this woman an explanation.

"I had nothing to do with it, I swear,"  Laura stated quickly and firmly, knowing why she was in town.

"With what?"

"My husband....he....well, he turned them in to the sheriff."

Evie closed her eyes and sighed.  Mostly in relief.  At least he hadn't killed them.

"So they're in jail?"  Evie asked.

"No.   They got away.   I helped them escape and they rode north out of town."

"They brought a pony with them.   Where is it?"

"It's in the livery."

Evie turned her back to the older woman and started to mount.  She turned back when Laura stopped her.
"Wait.  I....I just want to tell you that I'm sorry.  About the barn dance and about what happened to Hannie and Jed.  If I could have prevented it I would have, but I had no idea they were going to be in town.  And I certainly didn't expect them to bring any business to our shop.  I hope that Texas ranger doesn't catch up to them."

"What Texas ranger?"

"Sherman McMaster.  He was a ranger a couple of years ago when he nearly caught them somewhere in northern New Mexico.  But they managed to lose him in some canyons and he's been itching to get another shot at them ever since.  I'm afraid if he does catch up to them it won't end well."

"How many men are in the posse?"

"Two posses.  Ten men each.  They split up to cover more ground."

Evangeline's face drooped with fear.   How could they possibly escape two posses that size when they were without coats or food?   And they weren't being chased by a posse who wanted reward money.  It was personal.  That meant the reward wasn't money, but their hides.  She had to find them.  Soon.

"Thank you for the information.  And thank you for helping them.  I just hope it wasn't in vain."

Evie mounted Rusty and was about to head out to find Preacher when Laura halted her again.
"I thought you should know.   He wanted to come back to you.  He wanted to ride south back to Red Rock, but Jed wouldn't let him.  Jed said that it would lead the law straight to you and you might be in trouble for helping them.   He finally agreed with Jed and rode north, but he didn't want to.  He didn't want to leave you."

She had known that all along.  But hearing it out loud from someone else made her heart hammer in her chest.  It also gave her a revelation.  She knew where they were.  She had to find Preacher.  And she prayed he knew how to get to Rising Gulch.

Chapter 26 Soundtrack Selection

This song and this film have been an inspiration to me throughout the writing of this story.   Overused? Perhaps.  Cliched?  Definitely.  Do I love it anyway?   Absolutely.   Hope you enjoy.  Intended to be from Evangeline's point of view.  I've included lyrics below.

Hope is your survival

A captive path I lead

No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a long long time
No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a thousand years

(mohican)
Nachgochema
Anetaha
Anachemowagan

No matter where you go
I will find you
In the place with no frontiers
No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a thousand years

(cherokee)
Hale wú yu ga I sv
Do na dio sv i
Wi ja lo sv
Ha le wú yu
Do na dlo sv

No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a long long time
No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a thousand years

No matter where you go
I will find you
In the place with no frontiers
No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a thousand years

No matter where you go
I will find you

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 25

"Cold Springs Texas  - Population 894"

That's what the sign read as they rode into town just before noon on the cool, cloudy Saturday.

"Boy, it sure has gotten chilly since we left the ranch.  Wish I'd brought my coat.  And I left my gloves laying on the bunk."  Hannibal Heyes pulled his black hat lower over his eyes to shield them from the brisk cool wind that had started blowing in from the north.

"Looks like another cold spell is blowing in,"   Kid Curry told his partner as they rode through the busy streets of Cold Springs towards the blacksmith's shop.

"Sure will be glad to get to that smithy's and warm up next to his fire,"  Heyes said.

They pulled rein in front of the only blacksmith's workshop in town.  The smith was busy with his back bent over the hot forge.  The boys observed from the large open double doors for a moment as the man pulled a glowing red hot horse shoe from the flames and placed it on the anvil to pound into shape.  The horse tied next to their own must be awaiting the newly shaped shoe.

"Excuse me,  are you the fella they call Shep?"  Heyes asked making his way under the tin roof  to stand among the many instruments of the trade that hung from the low rafters.

"Yep, that's me."  The man turned to face the two young men who had just rode in.

When Shep turned to face the boys they were taken aback for the briefest of seconds.  The entire right side of the man's face, head and neck were disfigured by deep scars, obviously the results of severe burns.  All the hair, eyebrows and eyelashes on his right side had been singed away.  Heyes quickly recovered his manners and spoke without  staring,  "This paint here needs a new set of shoes.  How soon before you can have him fixed up?"

"I just got started reshodding that bay there.  It'll take me another fifteen or twenty minutes.  Then I can get started on your pony.  All four shoes should take me about an hour."

"Fine. Fine.  We'll just wait here by your fire if you don't mind.  Sure has turned off cold hasn't it?"

"I didn't notice.  Standing over a fire all day you sweat no matter what the weather,"  Shep stated indifferently as he turned back to his work.

The boys leaned against the opposite wall watching the smithy at work,  relieved to be out of the cold wind and out of the public eye.  Heyes hadn't forgotten his promise to Evie to go nowhere except the jewelers and the blacksmith's shop.  And after her warnings about coming to Cold Springs, no matter how unfounded or silly they may have seemed,  both he and the Kid were a little on edge.  Hopefully in a little more than an hour  they'd be headed back to Red Rock with no trouble.

"You fellas must be from Red Rock.  I don't remember seeing you around here before.  I've been getting a lot of old Boone's customers.  How is old Boone doing after that fall anyway?"

Wary of giving away any information about where they'd come from or where they were headed the boys didn't answer immediately, prompting Shep to ask,  "Is that where you'll be headed back to after you leave here?  Red Rock?"

The boys exchanged a worried look.  "Uh, we're just passing through,"  Kid said nervously.

"Oh?  Is that a fact?  Which direction will you be headed in then, when you leave here?"

Another look passed between the boys.  "I think right for now we've warmed up enough and  we'll be heading for the saloon,"  Heyes said and motioned for his partner to exit the establishment.  "We'll be back in about an hour to check on the horse."

Shep never spoke or looked up from his work as the boys made their way out of his shop and headed down the dirt road main street towards the Holy Moses saloon.  But as the pair stepped up onto the boardwalk, he turned malicious eyes that bore a hole in the backs of the two men.  When they had disappeared inside, he wasted no time.  He tossed his tongs aside, his work forgotten,  and headed straight for the sheriff's office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a typical saloon.  Like dozens of others they's seen before.  They stood just inside the doorway and scanned the room.

"I don't like the way that guy was asking so many questions,"  Kid said, his blue eyes intense as they darted from left to right.

"Me neither,"  Heyes replied as he took note of the many sets of eyes that turned to size him and the Kid up.   "Sure are a lot of people in here."

"Yeah, too many.  I got a funny feeling, Heyes.  I don't think we should be in here."

"Yeah,  I got that feeling too.  And I did promise Evie I wouldn't go anywhere except the jewelers.  Come on, let's get out of here."

The partners exited the saloon and headed south unnoticed towards the jewelers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sheriff Amos Crenshaw's eyes bugged out of his head.  "Did you say Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry?  Here.  In Cold Springs?"

"That's right sheriff.  I was in the orphan's home with both them hooligans and I recognized them right off. That Hannibal Heyes even punched me in the nose once. It can't be anybody else."

"Well, I'll be,"  said the stunned, middle aged, portly sheriff.   "Sure am glad you decided to show up today, Sherman."   He turned towards a tall thin man who stood silently in the corner looking at the floor. The man had an air of authority about him but that authority also seemed mixed with a bit of lawlessness.  He lifted cold steel gray eyes to the sheriff.  A sideways smirky grin formed on his lean chisled face.

"That makes two of us Amos.  If it really is Heyes and Curry you've got, I'll know it.  I almost caught up to those two a couple of years ago when I was riding with the Texas Rangers.  They had just robbed a bank in  El Paso.  I chased them for two days before they finally shook me somewhere near the Colorado border.  I've been waiting for the day to get another crack at those two."

"No sense wasting time.  You said they went into the saloon?"

"That's right.  They're waiting for a horse to be shod.  I told them it be more than an hour, so I don't figure they'll be going anywhere soon."

"Better round up some of your deputies, Amos.  Those two ain't going down without a fight.  You're going to need all the help you can get,"   the steely-eyed man in the corner informed his older colleague.

"Right you are.  Jesse,"  he addressed his young deputy, who stood at attention like an army soldier when called upon. "Go round up Joe and Hershel.  Tell 'em we've got a situation and we need 'em here lickity split."

"Yes, sir."   Young deputy Jesse Horton bolted out the door, and ran towards his horse.

"Where's the fire, Jesse?"   called out Mr. Handy who was sweeping off the boardwalk in front of his mercantile.

"I gotta round up Joe and Hershel.  Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes is in the saloon.  Shep recognized 'em from when they beat the tar out of him back in the orphan's home.  And we're a fixin' to go in and take 'em into custody."  And with a kick of his heels he was off to complete his mission.

The news spread like a prairie fire and within ten minutes the entire town had heard the news and was gathering in the streets to witness the capture and arrest of two of the west's most notorious outlaws.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Heyes, your silvery tongue has done it again.  I can't believe you got the jeweler to throw in that silver chain for free."

Heyes couldn't keep the self satisfied smile from his face.  "It was pretty genius at that.  I figured Evie could use the chain to keep her mama's ring on.  Since she's gonna be wearing this one."   The partners admired the small silver band with the single sparkling diamond in the center as it lay nestled in the little cushioned box.

"She's gonna love it, Heyes,"  Kid said to this partner as they headed back up the street.  "Hey, Heyes, look what's going on over at the saloon. A crowd's gathered.   I told you we shouldn't have been in there.  There's some kind of trouble."

Both ex-outlaws watched with furrowed brows as more and more towns folk formed a large congregation around the Holy Moses saloon.

"Hey, neighbor!"  Kid called out to an elderly man who was limping hastily towards the crowd.  "What's the commotion?"

"You ain't heared?  Why, Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes is in the saloon.  Shep, the blacksmith says he spotted 'em right off.  Says he was in the orphan's home with 'em and woulda knowed 'em anywhere.   Says they just about killed him with their bare hands once.  So there's no doubt that's who they are.  'Course they didn't recognize him cause of them scars.  The sheriff and that Texas Ranger fella are goin' in to arrest 'em.  Ever body's gatherin' to get a look at them ornery no account cusses."

The partners each  gave a nervous half laugh.  "Oh, say, who is the Texas ranger fella you're talking about?"  Heyes asked.

"McMaster.  Sherman W. McMaster.  Sheriff Crenshaw is an old friend of his daddy's and he just stopped by to pay respects.  Good thang too.  Well, don't just stand there, let's get goin' so's we can get a good view.  I ain't seen this many people gathered since they had nickel night at the whore house."    The old timer limped off with an excited gleam in his eyes.

The boys were frozen in their tracks for a moment.  Then two heads turned in unison to  stare in disbelief at each other.  Then again in unison they ducked into the nearest alley and ran through the back streets of Cold Springs towards the blacksmith's shop where their horses were tied.   They were lucky the entire town was in the middle of Main Street.  They didn't run into a single person as they made their way towards the rear of Shep's shop.

Sherman McMaster had almost cost them their freedom in the spring of '78 when they'd robbed the Citizen's bank of El Paso.   And he'd almost cost them their lives when he'd dogged their heels for two straight days, forcing them to ride into  trecherous canyons.  But it had been in those canyons that they had discovered  Rising Gulch.   They had hidden in an old mine shaft for days waiting for the posse to give up.

"Heyes, how are we gonna get our horses?  They're sitting right at the edge of that crowd.   Everybody's bound to know they're ours by now.   If we up and take them  we're busted."

They stood with their backs against the front of the small house that was attached to the back side of the black smith's shop.   Before Heyes could answer his partner, the front door came open and a woman wearing a long coat and bonnet stepped outside holding a carpet bag.  Both men stood still.

She turned towards them and was startled to see them standing there.  Her bag fell to the ground as she gasped in surprise.

Her mouth fell open.  Her eyes grew wide.  He had come.  He had come to take her away.  "Hannie?"  she whispered.

A shocked Heyes stood silent as Laura Shepherd threw her thin arms around his neck.  "I knew you'd come for me.  I just knew you would."

He pulled her arms from around him and gently but firmly set her away from him.
"You live here?  In this house?"

She looked at him confused.  Why did it matter?   They would be leaving here soon.  "Yes, why do you ask?"

Brown eyes met blue as the whole truth became apparent to both men.  "And your husband's the blacksmith, right?"  Kid asked, not expecting an answer.

"Yes, but why does that matter?"

The sound of horse's hooves coming hard and fast and the ever growing murmur of the crowd around the corner of the building they were sheltered behind, let them know that the sheriff's backup had arrived.

"That'll be the deputies, Heyes.  Which means there ain't much time before they find out we're not in that saloon and then they'll be scouring the town looking for us."

"What's going on?  Has someone recognized the two of you?"  Laura asked with genuine concern.

There was no need for them to answer.  The answer was written all over their faces.  "Then let me help you.  Tell me what to do and I'll do it."

Just then her four little girls, one with the baby on her hip crept slowly up behind Laura.  Heyes and the Kid felt immediate sympathy for the lost lonely looking children, in spite of their own predicament.  The boys were feeling the bite of the north wind even through their undershirts and long underwear.  But these kids had on thin dresses and no coats.

"Ma,  we've been outside now for hours.  We're cold."   Rebecca said in a small voice between chattering teeth.

"And hungry."  Anna Mary whispered timidly.

Eliza Pearl hugged tiny Hannah Belle, both trying to gain some warmth from the November chill that had filled the air.

The angry look that passed over her face for a scant second did not go unnoticed by the perceptive eyes of Hannibal Heyes.

Laura whirled around to face her children.  "Well, don't just stand there.  Hurry on inside then."   She opened the door and ushered the youngsters inside.  She shut the door and turned her full attention again to the two wanted men standing outside her house.

"What can I do to help?"

"Don't you want to go inside and take care of your younguns?"  Kid asked incredulously.

Heyes was smart enough to figure out what was going through her mind.  He knew she was unhappy and that she was looking for a way out.  She thought she had found it in him.

"Laura, your husband did recognize us and he's turned us in to the sheriff.  He thinks we're in the saloon.  But we must have left while he was in the sheriff's office.  When we came out of the jeweler's that crowd had gathered to watch us get arrested.  Once they realize we're not in the saloon they'll be hunting us down.   Our horses are tied in front of the shop.  We won't get far without our horses."

She didn't speak.  Her mouth was firmly set.  Her eyes cold.  "He turned you in?"

Heyes just nodded.  "And who could blame him?  I punched the man in the face once.  And now his wife has packed a bag and is trying to sneak out and leave him with seven kids to raise,  all because of me, right?"

The guilt was written all over her face.  She looked away, unable to face his penetrating gaze.

She silently walked around the corner of the building into the alley.  Three minutes later she emerged from the alley with both horses.  

"You didn't come here for me did you?" she asked, her voice weak.

"No, Laura, I didn't."

The look on her face was one of absolute defeat.  She wilted like a cut rose in the desert sun.  Someone shattered and hopeless.  Kid was already in the saddle.  But Heyes could not help but reach out with compassion to this confused woman he had once cared for.

"Laura,  I don't know what kind of life you think I live, but those stories in those dime novels are not true.  You want to know what kind of life I lead?  Well, you're looking at it.  Always dodging the law.  Always having to get out of town fast before somebody can turn us in for the bounty.  It's a lot like the life your kids are living.  Cold and hungry with only each other to rely on."   She lifted shame filled eyes to him.  She was shamed that he was able to see her miserable failings as a mother and a wife.  "You were forced to grow up without your folks.   Your kids have folks but they may as well be orphans.  Don't deprive them of a normal loving family because you think I'm something I'm not.  You don't know what I'd give to have what you have.  A quiet peaceful existence with somebody who loves me and a house full of beautiful kids."   He thought of his beautiful Evie.    He placed a gentle hand to her cheek as tears spilled from  her eyes.  "Go inside and take care of your kids, Laura."

She just nodded her head in response, knowing that he was right.

"Let's go, Heyes,"   Kid gruffed impatiently.  Heyes mounted the black.

"Which direction are you heading?  I'll try to lead them in the other direction,"  Laura asked, still concerned and willing to help.

"No, if they know you saw us, your husband will know you helped us and that might get you in trouble.  Just go back inside and pretend you never saw us."  Heyes turned Odin in a southerly direction intent on riding back towards Red Rock.

"We can't go back towards Red Rock, Heyes."  Kid stated firmly.    "He was already suspicious that we'd come from there.  That'll be the first place they'll look.  Besides that we'll be leading them straight back to Evie, Livvy and Big Mac.  Do I have to remind you what happened to Belle Jordan and her girls."

Heyes gritted his teeth.  He struggled with the decision but only for a moment before turning the big black around and pulling up beside his partner.  Their eyes locked and an unspoken conversation that they had had so many other times wordlessly passed between them.  Here we go again.  Leaving all that we love behind us.  But at least we're alive and we're together.


"Heyes, I know you want to go back to her, but right now we can't.  You know McMaster's is not going to give up a second chance at us.  He'll get a posse bigger than the last one  and they'll split up and part of them will go to Red Rock just in case we double back.  We need to head north."

Heyes just nodded solemnly.  He looked back, tipped his hat to Laura and mouthed the words, "Thank you."

She smiled sadly at him.  "I won't tell any one I saw you.  You have my promise."

 And with a snap of Heyes' reins and a nudge of Kid's boot heels they were off, headed north through the back streets of Cold Springs.

And with the snap of those reins,  Hannibal Heyes galloped away and out of her life.  Laura watched until she could no longer make out their retreating forms in the distance.  She picked up the carpet bag she'd dropped on the ground earlier.   She slowly opened the door of her home, almost afraid of going inside.  The sight of her four small daughters huddled together by the fireplace hearth picking out pieces of cold, burned eggs from the frying pan was a rude awakening for her.  Hannibal Heyes was a right.  No child should be left motherless, especially when their mother wasn't even dead.   Her children deserved better than what she had been given as a child.   She removed her coat and bonnet, placed the carpet bag under the bed.  The bed she had shared with Bradley for thirteen years.  She touched the quilt that covered it.  She remembered making that quilt the first year they had been married.  She smiled.  He had been so proud of her and how beautiful it had turned out.  They had shared many loving moments under that quilt.  Bradley was a good man.  He was a good provider and a good father.  His only crime had been that he wasn't Hannibal Heyes.   But now she knew that the Hannibal Heyes she had conjured in her mind wasn't even the real Hannibal Heyes.  The real man was riding now in the cold to outrun the law.  And he was leaving behind a woman that he obviously loved and who loved him back.  And he couldn't go back to her.  She felt sorry for him.  And for the woman he was leaving behind.  Would she ever know what had happened to him?  Would he ever be able to contact her again?  And what if they got captured?  Laura felt suddenly grateful for her small cozy home and her family.  She spun around to face her children with an apologetic smile.

"How about I make us some fresh eggs, and bacon too.  Rebecca, you can help me make some biscuits.  Anna Mary, do you know where your brothers are?"   The child nodded.  "Good.  Put on a coat and go fetch them.  Tell them to come home right away."   She picked up baby Hannibal and changed his diaper before settling in the rocker by the fire to nurse him from her small breast. "We'll make a nice big meal for your Pa when he gets home from working so hard."  

Three little girls watched in awe as their mother fed the baby.  Not that feeding the baby was so unusual.  It was what their mother was doing as she fed him.  Something she didn't ever do.  She was smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cold wind made his eyes water as he and the Kid urged their horses into a gallop once they reached the open fields on the outskirts of town.  He shuddered against the bite of the cold air that seemed to cut straight through his clothes to his skin.

He hoped they were getting a good enough head start to keep the inevitable posse from catching up to them.  He had to find a way to get back to Evie.  She would be devastated when he didn't come back tonight.  She might even think he'd gotten cold feet and had left her.

Why hadn't he just listened to her and stayed home?  None of this would be happening now if he had.  But it was too late now to worry about it.  He could feel the little box in his breast pocket sliding up and down with the beat of the Odin's hooves.  Would he ever be able to give her the ring now?  Would he ever be able to place it on her finger?    Please don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not leaving you. I'll find a way to get back to you, I promise. 

As the powerful black stallion carried him further and further away from her, and the air grew colder he prayed it was a promise he'd be able to keep.

Chapter 25 Soundtrack Selection

"Life After You"  by Daughtry
:')

Boy do I feel stupid!

So everybody knows that some words in our super complicated English language are spelled the same with different pronunciations or pronounced the same with different spellings,  yadda yadda yadda,  but any way....when I first started writing I spelled blonde with an "e."  Then, being new to all this blog stuff I later discovered the spellchecking feature and it flagged blonde as misspelled and I changed them all to blond without the 'e.'  Then I notice while reading something a moment ago that blonde does have an 'e.'  So I just googled it and found that blond is for men and blonde is for women.  I guess I was having a blonde moment, because I never knew that.  So for the purposes of our story,  Kid Curry is a blond and Livvy is a blonde.   I am a brunette by the way.  Brunette with an 'e.'    




Peace, out.   \/
Karen :')
                

Chapter 24

"Shut up!  All of you just shut up and sit down!  I'll have it for you in a minute!."


Laura Shepherd adjusted the squirming baby on her hip as she scooped up eggs from the frying pan and laid them in the serving dish.  "Rebecca, hold the baby for me.  It's not like his father is going to hold him for me."  Her words were said loudly so that her husband could hear her over the noisy children, hungrily awaiting their breakfast.

"That kid ain't mine and we both know it.  Neither is that one,"  his finger stabbed the air in the direction of young Hannah.  "I got blue eyes and you got green ones.  How the hell could we have brown eyed kids?  They're both the bastard whelps of that young buck I hired when I was laid up after my accident."   He rubbed the deep, purplish puckering scars that marred the entire right side of his face and left him unrecognizable as the man he used to be.

"You think he's the only brown eyed man in the world you dumb horse's ass,"  she said in an indignant voice.

"No, I guess he ain't at that.  As I recall your precious Hannibal Heyes had brown eyes too. "

Her head snapped around in surprise at the mention of that name.

"What?  You think I didn't know about all your little newspaper clippings and seedy paperbacks?"  He stood and marched angrily to the maple wood  pie safe that sat in the kitchen corner.  He yanked open the right hand door and drew out a large earthenware crock.

Laura  dropped the spatula she held into the hot greasy skillet.  Her face was a mask of barely contained fury.  She rushed her husband determined to rescue all that remained of Hannibal Heyes in her life.

He eluded her grasping hands and ran to the fireplace where he dumped the entire contents of the crock into the fire.

"No!"  she  yelled frantically as she dropped to her knees in front of the hearth.   In vain she made an attempt to rescue the fragile papers with the poker.

"Humph.  If you'd put as much effort into cleaning this place and keeping these kids in line as you do mooning over that junk maybe I'd give a damn about going to work everyday and busting my ass to support you."

She pinned him with a look of pure hatred.  "If you had treated me like something other than a whore and a maid all these years maybe I'd give a damn about you and these rotten kids!  I hate you, Bradley!  Do you hear me?  I hate you!"

He scowled at her, the ugly scars on his face drawing and creating a monstrous look.  His eyes held a mixture of anger and hurt as he struggled with the venomous words his wife of thirteen years had just hurled at him.   He grabbed his hat and stormed out the front door of the small dwelling that was attached to the back of the blacksmith's shop.

The room went silent except for the sound of the eggs that were popping and burning in the skillet.  She watched helplessly as flames consumed her books and clippings.  A small hand touched her arm.  "Go away Hannah!"

Baby Hannibal started to cry.

She wanted to be alone.  She had a plan to carry out.  She was even more determined now to see it through.
"Get out!  All of you!"  she yelled over her shoulder at her children who sat quietly now, silenced by the angry words of their parents.

"We ain't had no breakfast yet, Ma.  And the baby needs his diaper cloth changed,"  Rebecca Gail said in a barely audible voice.

Laura stood and turned towards her offspring.  "I said get out," she said in a low threatening tone.   "Now!  And take the baby with you!"

All five of the oldest children hastened to the door with Rebecca Gail holding baby Hannibal and John Thomas leading little Hannah Belle.  Rarely did they listen to their mother.  Her threats were always empty.  But today something in the sound of her voice told them she meant business and it was probably best if they did as she said.  They left the small house, leaving the door slightly ajar.  A cold wind blew in from the cracked door and  swirled around her thin body causing her to shiver.  It also made the flames in the fireplace dance higher.  It didn't matter.  She didn't  need those things anymore.  Because she would have the real thing soon enough.  All it had taken was asking a few questions last night at that barn dance to learn that Hannibal Heyes was using the name Joshua Smith and he was working on a ranch in Red Rock for a man named McCreedy.

 She went to the bed she shared with her loathsome husband and reached underneath to pull out an empty carpet bag.  She began packing her belongings inside.  If all went according to plan, tonight she'd be in Red Rock with Hannibal and that little tart he thought he was in love with would be nothing but a memory for him.  She'd make him forget all about her.  If she had had a little more time last night before that interfering little trollop had come along she was sure she could have talked Hannie into leaving with her.  Hannibal Heyes was hers.  Had always been hers.  She'd spent the last ten years dreaming of him.  And now that she'd found him again she wasn't going to let anything stand in her way of realizing her dream.  Not her bratty kids, not her scarred miserable excuse for a husband and certainly not that snooty little  prudish girl he'd been with last night.

A girl wasn't what he needed.  Hannibal Heyes needed a woman.  And that uppity tease probably hadn't let him so much as feel her up.  Her frown slowly turned into a sinister grin.  Her eyes took on a devilish gleam.  Yes, she knew exactly how to lure a man like Hannibal Heyes away from her.   She began packing things in earnest.  It was a long ride to Red Rock.  She would take one of the horses and leave when Bradley came in at noon for his lunch.  The only thing that could stop her now was Hannibal Heyes himself riding into town to take her away from this miserable existence.

Thank You

My thanks and God's blessings to all who have served and are serving.  

Part left out of Chapter 23

A few sentences got deleted or didn't copy and paste correctly, and I just now realized it so I fixed it.  It's the part where Kid is telling Heyes that Preacher is coming.  Sorry about that.  Hope nobody was confused.

Thanks for reading.
Karen

Chapter 23

"Are you gonna let me in on it or not?"  Kid asked his partner who rode along beside him on the back of Odin the big black stallion.

"Let you in on what?"   Heyes asked turning briefly in the saddle to check on the pinto he was leading by rein.

"What ever it is that's got you grinning like the cat who just ate the canary."

"Can't a man be happy and smile about it without you thinking he's keeping something from you?"

"This is me you're talking to Heyes.  I know when you're not telling me everything.  So out with it."

 When Heyes just shook his head in amusement and continued to smile silently, Kid figured out what was going on.  "It happened didn't it?  I knew it.  I knew if you two rode out alone together you'd give in.  I can't believe you, Heyes,"  Kid said in a disapproving tone.

"Me?  Look who's talking.  If you and Livvy get anymore fresh air you're both gonna leave the rest of us choking for lack of oxygen."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kid replied, his innocent act less than convincing.

"This is me your talking to Kid.  I always know what you're doing and who you're doing it to.  You and Livvy have been foolin' around for weeks now.  Don't deny it."

"Alright, I admit it.  But she's a grown woman.  And she's not a virgin one either.  But then again neither is Evie anymore I take it."

 Heyes wasn't going to answer that question.  A gentleman never kissed and told. But his silence spoke volumes.

"I sure hope Mr. Peterson and his son will be happy with this pinto,"  he changed the subject.

"Uh huh.  That's what I thought,"  Kid replied,  taking his partners unanswer for the affirmative answer he was looking for.  He didn't say anymore about it.  He just let his partner keep smiling while he rode along on the back of the powerful black stallion.

If anybody had a right to smile it was him.  Heyes couldn't remember being this happy before in his life.   He'd promised Evie he'd come to her room last night and he'd stealthily climbed through her window around one am.  He hadn't left until five am.  He had not wanted to leave her then.  He had wanted to stay and just hold her and watch her sleep.  But he knew that wasn't a good idea.  So he had kissed her on the forehead and left her sleeping.  He hadn't seen her yet today.  She was sleeping in no doubt.  He was going on two hours of sleep himself but he wasn't complaining.  He was too happy to need sleep.  When he'd crawled in his bunk  in the early morning hours to the sound of Kid's light rhythmic snores, he'd lain there for a while and he'd made a decision.  He'd decided he didn't care anymore about the amnesty .  Evie's trust fund was gong to change everything.  Just like she had said, they could disappear to anywhere they wanted.  They could build an impenetrable fortress if they wanted.  And with that promise of stability in their future there was no reason he couldn't marry her.  To heck with hand fasting.  He was buying her a ring  as soon as possible and then he'd get in contact with their old friend Preacher and he would marry them.  He was after all an honest to goodness ordained minister of the gospel.  Albeit one who drank like a fish and dallied in any number of illegal activities.  But still a minister none the less.   And they wouldn't have to use any aliases.  He could marry her as Hannibal Heyes.    Sure they would have  a fake ceremony using his alias to satisfy Livvy later on, but she would really be Mrs. Hannibal Heyes.  His grin just kept getting bigger and bigger.

"Kid, I've got some news to tell you."

"Aw no.  Don't tell there really is a shotgun wedding in the immediate future."

"Will you shut up?  It's the best news we've had in a long time.  Maybe ever."

"Well, what is it?"

"In two years Evie will be twenty-one."

"Yeah, so?  What's news about that?"

"When she turns twenty-one she can start using a trust fund that her grandfather started for her."   Heyes came to a stop when Kid whoaed his mount.  " It's worth seventy-five thousand."

Kid's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Did you say, seventy-five thousand?"  He whistled low and long.

"Yep.  With that kind of money we can disappear to wherever we want until the whole world forgets who Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry ever were.  And with that in mind I've made a decision.  I'm going to marry Evie.  As soon as possible.  I admit it, we got a whole lot closer to each other last night.  And I did sneak into her room last  night and it just about killed me to have to leave her this morning.  I don't want to leave her anymore.  I want to go to sleep beside her and wake up next to her.  I'm going to try and find out where Preacher is and have him come out and marry us.  He's the only one who can marry  us using my real name."

"You won't have to search too far, Heyes.  It was supposed to be a surprise but I may as well tell you.  When I told Livvy that we had an old friend who was an ordained minister, she insisted that I find him and have him come out to officiate over the ceremony.  He'll be here on the stage tomorrow at noon.

Heyes smiled at the thought of seeing his old friend again.  And he laughed out loud when he realized he wouldn't have to wait to marry Evie.  This day was just getting better and better.  "Looks like I'd best be buying a ring today then."

They arrived in town mid morning and headed straight for the blacksmith's.  They were puzzled when they found the place empty.  No fire going in the forge.  They had brought many horses here to be shod since they'd been wrangling the mustangs and old Mr. Boone was always in his shop early.   The two walked over  to the livery stables and asked the stable master if he knew where Mr. Boone, the old blacksmith was.

"He fell from the hayloft in his barn yesterday morning.  Busted his leg and a couple of ribs.  Doc has laid him up for quite a spell.  I went over to see him this morning and he said to tell any body that came asking that they should take their business to Cold Springs.  There's a young fella over there that just took over as the town smithy.   He said the fella calls hisself Shep."

"What should we do, Heyes?  If we start for Cold Springs now it'll be dark by the time we get back."

"Yeah, and the girls will be worried sick wondering where we are."

"Oh, shoot.  There's that barn dance tonight too.  Livvy'll skin me alive if I don't take her."

"I guess we'll just have to leave early in the morning and ride into Cold Springs.  What choice do we have if we want to get this pony shod by Monday?"

"I guess Cold Springs in the morning it is then.  Let's get back to the ranch.  I didn't get to see Livvy this morning before I left and you know, Heyes,  I miss her.  I feel like something's been missing from my morning.  And it's seeing her face."

Heyes cracked a big old grin.  "Well, now.  You wouldn't be gettin' interested in more than just sharing fresh air with the lady would you?"

"I don't know, Heyes.  There's just something about her that fits me you know?"

"Oh, yeah.  Believe me I know.  Evie was still asleep when we left this morning and I didn't get to see her either.  If I could have gotten past Georgia I would have went in her room and woke her up just so I could see her face and hear her voice before I left."

"What's happened to us, Heyes?"  Kid asked with a slow, puzzled shake of his head.

"I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, Kid.  We're turning into family men."

"Hadn't we oughta go see about that ring before we start talkin' about families?"

Heyes placed an affectionate hand on his partner's shoulders as they headed down the street towards the jewelers.  Both with big smiles on their faces.  Both anxious to get home to see a lady.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bright rays of sun that came abruptly through the curtains shocked her from her sleep.  She woke to find Livvy pulling the curtains and letting in the sunlight.

"What on earth are you doing still sleeping at this hour.  It is 9:30.   You and Joshua were home before eight last night and you were in bed by ten.  Didn't you get enough sleep last night?"

No, Aunt Livvy I didn't get any sleep last night.  It's hard to sleep when Hannibal Heyes is in your bed showing you exactly what a silver tongue is used for.  A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she recalled the hours he'd spent in her bed last night, teaching her the finer details of lovemaking.  She had lain awake in anticipation the three hours before he'd climbed through her window at one a.m.  And it had been nearly dawn before she'd finally fallen asleep from exhaustion after two more bouts of lovemaking.   She barely recalled his gentle kiss to her forehead before he'd slipped out the window again. She threw back the covers and moved to get out of bed and winced at the soreness in her entire lower half.  She mustn't let Livvy notice her discomfort.  Otherwise she'd have some heavy explaining to do.

"No, I didn't get much sleep,"  was her truthful, groggy reply.

"Well, we still have a lot to do today and tomorrow to get ready for Sunday.  And the barn dance is tonight.  You still haven't tried on your gown to make sure the alterations are right.  And if they aren't we will have to take it back into town tomorrow.  Georgia needs help with the cake.  A minister friend of Joshua and Thaddeus is supposed to be arriving tomorrow and we have to make up the spare room for him.  Mr. McCreedy has even cancelled his Saturday night poker game to help with everything..."

"Alright, I'm up, I'm up."  She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and just sat there, still not ready to relinquish the comfort of her bed.    "Did Joshua and Thaddeus go into town to shoe that pinto?"  she asked yawning.

"Yes, I saw them ride out about half an hour ago.  I'll leave you to get dressed.  Meet me in the kitchen."   Livvy glided elegantly as always out the door, closing it behind her.

Evie fell back onto her bed, threw her arm over her eyes and groaned.  She didn't want to get up.  She didn't want to do anything except lie here.  She stretched and yawned.  Then smiled lazily as she recalled again the glorious night she had spent in the arms of Hannibal Heyes.  Nothing that Sally had told her had prepared her for the reality of what came natural between a man and a woman.  It had been the most magnificent experience of her entire life.  And it had not been only the physical pleasure that had been so wonderful, it was the intimacy that came with it. She had never felt so connected to another human being as she did to the ex-outlaw she could now safely without a doubt say was her "Gabriel."   "I found him, Mama.  Just like you said I would."    She couldn't find words to describe her love for Hannibal Heyes.  She missed him fiercely right now. And oh how she wished it were her wedding day she was looking forward to the day after tomorrow.

She rose from her bed and looked out, the window.  The same window he'd climbed through just hours ago.  She gazed upon the sunshiny morning.  Everything seemed to be brighter this morning.  The sky was bluer, the trees greener,  her curtains pinker.   She should get dressed and get started.  The sooner she started the sooner it would all be finished and she would have plenty of time to make herself beautiful for the dance tonight.  She had no doubt that she would have the most handsome escort there.  And she wanted him to think he was escorting the most beautiful woman there.

Her mind kept lingering on memories of her night with him.  She had been afraid last night when they were riding in that everyone would be able to take one look at her and know that she had just lost her virginity.  But Hannibal had laughed at her and told her how silly that was.  And he had been right of course.  He was always right.  No one had suspected a thing. He was handsome, he was smart, he was hers.  An anxiousness built inside her.  She couldn't wait for him to get home.   She hurried to get dressed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How do I look?"  she asked as she stepped from behind the dressing screen in Livvy's bedroom.

"Oh, Evangeline.  You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  It's a good thing for Joshua that he's already snatched you up because there's no doubt about it, you will be turning the head of every male at this barn dance."

"Well, they can look all they want, but all my dances are for one man."

The sound of voices at the bottom of the stairs turned both lady's heads towards the bedroom door.

"And speaking of  that one man,  I do believe he has arrived to escort you to the dance."

Dressed in crisp white linen shirts with bow ties, the boys waited anxiously at the foot of the stairs for the ladies to make their appearances.

"Since you couldn't find a ring in town today, are you still going to tell Evie about your plans or are you going to wait to see if you can find a ring in Cold Springs tomorrow?"  Kid asked his partner while they waited.

"I think I'll wait until I have the ring tomorrow night when we get back, then I'll officially pop the question."   Heyes wide grin slowly faded into a worried frown.  "Hey, Kid I just thought of something.  What if she says no?"

Kid just rolled his eyes and was about to tell his partner that that was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard come out of his mouth, when Livvy appeared at the top of the staircase wearing a lovely silk gown of a deep purple color.  She was exquisite. Kid couldn't take his eyes off her.  She was more beautiful than most women half her age.

Livvy descended the stairs to take the waiting arm of Thaddeus Jones who looked incredibly handsome in his white shirt and bow tie.

When Evie appeared at the top of the stairs,  Heyes' breath caught in throat.  He was spellbound.  As she gracefully descended the stairs, everything and everybody else in the world disappeared.  She was the picture of perfection.  Her pale blue silk gown was covered in lace.  The creamy skin of her chest and arms were left uncovered by the scooping neckline and cap sleeves.  She beautiful hair was mounded in curls atop her lovely head.   He met her at the bottom step where he took her silk gloved hand.

He brought her hand to his lips, his dark gaze never leaving hers of silvery blue.  "No doubt about it.  I'm going to be escorting the most beautiful lady at that dance tonight."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everybody in three counties had shown up for the barn dance.  There were buggies and buckboards parked everywhere.

The boys spent most of the evening turning down requests from other gentlemen to cut in. Livvy and Thaddeus were sitting this one out...to get some fresh air.  Evie and Heyes shared a private laugh at that, but the truth was they probably did some air.  It was getting a little stuffy in the crowded barn.  They were both beginning to get a little warm themselves as they swayed slowly together among the other couples.

"Have I told you you're the most beautiful woman here?"  he asked as he held her closer than most people probably considered appropriate.

"Yes, you have.  About five times now I think.  And have I told you that you are the most handsome man here?"  she said as she placed a kiss to his clean shaven cheek.  She ignored the disapproving glares she received from the offended couples who were dancing close by.

"Yes.  But you can say it again if you want."  She laughed at him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Oh, I can do better than that.  You are the most handsome, most intelligent, funniest, sweetest, most talented man in the room."

"Talented?  Are you referring to my skills at breaking into safes or playing poker or...."

"You know what I'm talking about."   She snuggled closer to him as they swayed to the music.  "Um.  You smell so good.  You smell like shaving tonic and cigars and sweet whiskey all at the same time."

"Want to know what you smell like?"

"What?"

"You smell like Evie.  You have a unique scent that's all your own.  I could pick you out in a room of a hundred women blindfolded."

"Why, Mr. Heyes, the things you do say.  Makes a girl need some....fresh air."

"Don't tempt me, you little tease,"  he growled into her ear.

"Who's teasing?  I'm going outside to cool off for a moment.  Meet me by the surrey in ten minutes,"  she whispered seductively in his ear.

"Do you know how bad I want start pulling those hair pins out so I can run my fingers through your hair?"   He nuzzled the mass of fragrant curls as he spoke.

Was it just her or was it getting unbearably warm in here.  "On second thought make it five minutes,"  she said as she walked gracefully off the dance floor and out the barn doors.

Heyes ogled her hourglass figure as she strolled through the barn doors.  He made his way to the long table at the far side of the room where all the refreshments and the huge punch bowl sat.  He dipped himself a cup of punch and leaned against the wall watching the couples dancing to the music of the five piece band.  He checked his watch.  Another four minutes and he'd go in search of his lady love.

He sat his cup on the table ready to make his way towards the door, when two small gloved hands crept around him from behind and pulled him behind the row of hay bundles and corn shocks that were behind the refreshment table for decorations.

He couldn't help but smile to himself as he let her draw him back into the dimly lit corner of the barn, away from prying eyes.  "Don't tell me you couldn't even wait five minutes.  Gee, I think I've created a....,"  he turned around to stare down into the gaunt, hollow eyed face of Laura Thompson, "...monster."  His smile disappeared.  His expression went flat.

"I thought I'd never get you alone."   She ran her skeletal fingers up and down the front of his shirt, caressing the firm muscles beneath.  "I've been waiting all night to get you all to myself."

"What do you want?"  he asked curtly.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend, Hannie?   I only came to this stupid old dance because I was hoping you'd be here."   He pushed her roaming hands away from his body.

"Where's your husband, Laura?"

"What makes you think I have a husband?"

"A woman doesn't usually have seven kids by sleeping alone."

"Oh, who cares?  He's probably found himself a poker game where he's losing all our money and getting drunk.  And he'll still be drunk when we get home and he'll climb in bed and expect me to play the part of the dutiful wife where he'll probably plant another of his demon spawns in my belly."

Heyes frowned down at her.  Her face turned ugly when she spoke of her husband.  And what kind of mother called her children demon spawns?  He felt an overwhelming urge run far away from her.  Before he could spin around to leave she wrapped her frail arms around his waist and pressed her thin body flush to his.

"You don't know how many nights I've lain with that man on top of me and pretended he was you just to get through it.  I've kept every newspaper clipping I've ever read about you and Jed.  And I've bought all the dime novels about you."

He pryed her arms from around him and set her away.  She was not deterred.  She stalked closer to him.  He backed away feeling suddenly a bit like a hunted animal.

"So many long lonely nights, Hannie, I've lain awake dreaming and fantasizing about you.  Ever since I saw that first newspaper clipping describing how you and Jed stopped that train in Rawlins and robbed it.  I'd dream that you would come and carry me away and take me back to Devil's hole where you would make me your woman.  And we'd make passionate love before you rode off to your next robbery.  And when you came back I'd be waiting for you.  And you'd make love to me again.  Only this time with all that money spread out beneath us."

She was just like all the other women he'd ever met.  She didn't really care about him.  It was the fantasy of being taken away and ravished by a desperate outlaw that they were in love with.  And desperate was exactly how he was starting to feel.  Desperate to see the face of the one woman who really did love him.  He felt like a child who'd been separated from its mother and was surrounded by unfamiliar, uncaring faces.  This woman actually scared him a little.  He had to get out of here and find Evie.

But Laura had him backed against the wall.  Her pale bony fingers caressed his chest again.  He grasped her wrists and put her hands back to her sides.  "You shouldn't talk that way.  You're a married woman."

"Ppfftt.  Unhappily married.  I don't care about him.  Let's run away together tonight.  We can have it all.  All the money and each other."

Was she crazy or just stupid?  Did she really think he had all the money he had ever stolen?  And did she really think he gave two figs about her anymore?  And what about her children?  Was she willing to just leave them all behind to pursue a fantasy?   He needed to get out of here fast.

"I know you loved me once and you will again, I promise.  I'll make you love me.  I should never have let you go for that other boy when we were kids.  I know we would have gotten married and we would be living like royalty on all that money you'd steal for me. And our babies would have been beautiful and sweet.  Not like those devils I've already given birth to.  Although, my two youngest aren't even my husband's.  I got knocked up on purpose by a young man my husband hired to help out around the farm.  He had brown hair and brown eyes just like yours.  I wanted babies that looked like you.  So I could pretend they were yours.   I named them both after you.  Doesn't that show you how much I love you?"

Love?  He could tell she had no idea what the word really meant.  "Laura, I thought I loved you once.  But I was just a kid.  I didn't know what love was.  But I do now.  I'm in love with someone and she's taking up every bit of space in my heart.  There's no room in there for anybody else."

"Are you talking about that girl you were with in the mercantile.  The one you've been dancing with all night?"   Laura threw her head back and cackled.  "She's obviously too young to know what to do with a man like you.  I'll bet she hasn't even let you past her petticoats has she?  But me....,"  she crowded close to him again.  And this time her hands went straight for his manly parts.  "...I know exactly what to do with a man like you."

"Whoa!  Will you please get your hands off me and get out of my way?  She's waiting for me."

"What a foolish girl.  I'd never make either of us wait, Hannie,"   she crooned as she brought her face close to his.

He was about to reach for her groping hands when she spun suddenly away from him.  He had an horrific moment of deja vu when he saw her head snap backwards as her chin made contact with the silk gloved fist of Evangeline Webb.

Evie had come looking for him when he hadn't shown up in ten minutes.  She'd heard his voice from behind the wall of corn and hay.  She'd stopped to listen and knew that the walking skeleton had cornered him.  She was going to just walk away and let him handle it.   She didn't want to cause any scenes. But when she knew that ugly bag of bones had her hands on him, and that he would never do anything to hurt a woman, she knew she was going to have to step in and save her man.

Heyes caught Laura's slumping body before it hit the floor.  He looked up at Evie, her face scowling in anger, her hands balled in fists at her side, chest heaving.  "What did I tell you about that?"  he griped as he laid Laura's thin body against the barn floor.

"You said not to go around slugging innocent people.  Well, she's not innocent.  I heard what she was saying to you and then I knew she was putting her hands on your....oooooh, I want to strangle her!"

Heyes restrained her as she started with outstretched hands toward the dazed and prostrate woman on the barn floor.  "No, what have I told you about drawing unnecessary attention?  Come on let's get out of here."

Laura's moans drew their attention.  She was struggling to stand.  Always the gentleman, Heyes helped her up.  Once she was on her feet she lunged for Evie. Heyes stepped in front of Evie before Laura could get to her and shielded her from the fuming older woman.

"You little bitch.  You'll pay for that,"  Laura hissed between clenched teeth.

"Oh, I wish you would try it, you bony old hussy,"   Evie spat out as she tried to step around Heyes to get another shot at her adversary.

"Stop it! Both of you."   Heyes said firmly.  "Laura, I think you had best be finding your husband.  And I hope I've made myself clear that I don't want anything to do with you.  I'm trying to live a straight life now.  We haven't done any outlawing for a year.  And we don't need any trouble."  He took Evie's hand and led her from the barn and out to the surrey, their evening having been obviously brought to an abrupt end.

They left behind a very angry, very bitter woman who stared a hole through their backs as they left.  "I may have rejected you once, but nobody rejects me.  You may not want trouble, Hannibal Heyes, but you found it anyway.  You and your little bitch."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were flames.  First small flames, then large shooting flames.  "The smith.  Not the smith."  Lilly Webb stood by the flames yet she shivered as if she were cold.  Then Hannibal was there, smiling.  His smile faded.  She reached for him.  But he could not hold her.  His hands were bound and he was fading into the darkness.  "No!  Don't leave me!"


She sat bolt upright in her bed with a huge intake of breath.  She felt all around her.  Her bed.  She was in her bed. Fire.  There had been fire.  What does it mean, Mama!  She didn't know what it meant, but she knew that she had to see Hannibal.  Now.  She had to see that he was alright.  Had to touch him.  Had to talk to him. She wrapped her robe around herself and pulled slippers on her feet.  She snuck through the dark house and out the front door and ran until she reached the bunkhouse.  She slipped through the door to be greeted by a cocked Colt .45.  "It's me,"  she said quickly.

Kid put his gun back in its holster before rising to light the lamp.

"What's wrong, is everything alright?"  a sleepy eyed Heyes asked as he sat up in his bunk.

Evie sank to the floor on her knees at his bedside.   She touched his face and then lifted his hand to her lips.  "Please, don't go into town tomorrow.  I want you to stay her at the ranch.  Please."

She was pleading with her eyes as well as her words.  Heyes looked at Kid who only shrugged.  "Why?  Has something happened?"

"No.  It's just that....well....I've been having these dreams again and....." She stopped when both men sighed and looked visibly annoyed.

"Aw, no.  Evie, you thought Livvy was going to be some sort of evil step mother from hell type because of the other dreams you were having and look how that turned out.  Livvy is nothing like that,"  Kid tried to ease her mind.

"No, Aunt Livvy wasn't.  But that Laura certainly is.  I know Mama was warning me about her in those first dreams.   And I'm afraid if you go into town tomorrow she'll be there and she'll turn you in to the sheriff."
"What exactly did you dream, sweetheart?"  Heyes asked, stroking her hair to comfort her.

"Mama is always there telling me something about the smith.  And it's something bad because she says no or shakes her head.  And then you are always dragged away in shackles.  But tonight there were flames.  And Mama always looks like she's cold.  So I think she's telling me that you shouldn't go to the blacksmith in Cold Springs because Laura's going to be there and she's going to turn you in.  And now she's mad because you made a fool of her at the dance.  She'll be wanting to get even with you."

The boys exchanged looks.  "We have to go there, or we won't be able to deliver Mr. Peterson's horse on his son's birthday like we promised.  And you know us.  If we get there and anything seems out of the ordinary, we'll high tail it out of there."   She wasn't swayed.  She still had that worried look on her face that was pleading him not to go.  "Look, I'll make you a promise.  We'll go straight to the blacksmith's.  He'll shoe the pinto.  We'll get right back on our horses and head for home.  We won't even go to the saloon for a drink.  We'll stay right there and wait.  And the blacksmith's name is Shep.  We've never met anybody named Shep.  So if he's the only person we see, we're safe. How's that?"

He was treating her like a child and she didn't like it.  "Don't patronize me.  I'm being serious.  I feel it in my gut that something is not right.  I'm asking you please to trust my instincts and what I feel and don't go to Cold Springs tomorrow."

Heyes looked to Kid for assistance. "Now, what are the odds that we'll run into her again.   You're a gambling girl.  If the odds are in your favor you always bet,"  Kid said.

"He's right.  The chances of us running into her are almost none.  She'll be home looking after all those kids most likely.  And we won't be in town more than an hour.  You're worryin' over nothing."

"You probably had that dream because of what happened at the dance tonight,"  Kid reasoned.

"I've been having these dreams for weeks.  Ever since Livvy got here."

"We have got to get that horse shod and delivered by Monday morning.  And we can't do it Sunday.  We have to go to Cold Springs.  That's the closest smithy around since Mr. Boone is laid up.  We can't just change our plans because you had a dream."   That last part sounded more harsh and dismissive than he had intended.  But before he could tell her he was sorry and try to make her see that he wasn't trying to placate her she stood and headed for the door.

She could see that she was getting nowhere fast. And she was a little angry and hurt that he wasn't taking her seriously.  "Fine,"  she said flatly as she jerked open the bunkhouse door, "don't listen to me.  Go to Cold Springs then.  I just hope it's not the last place you ever go before they cart you both off to Wyoming!"   She rushed out of the bunkhouse and back to the ranch house.  Heyes jumped up and started pushing his legs into his pants, intent on following after her.  Kid stopped him with a hand in the air.
"Don't bother. She's already on the porch."

Heyes went to the door anyway and looked out across the yard.  He could just make out the white of her robe as it went through the front door of the house.

Kid crawled back into his bunk while Heyes paced.

"I guess that was your first official spat, huh?"  Kid asked after a bit.

"Yeah, I guess.  I feel bad.  I should go up to her room and try to smooth things over."

"Yeah, I know what you'll end up smoothin' over if you go up there.  Give her a little time to be mad at you first.  Then you can make up with her in the morning before we leave.  Try and get some sleep.  All that pacing's keeping me awake."

Heyes turned down the lamp and crawled into his bunk. But he couldn't sleep.  He lay awake for hours fighting the urge to climb through Evie's window and make up with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She wasn't in the kitchen when they ate breakfast.  She hadn't come to the stables while he saddled his horse.  They would be riding out in a few minutes and she still hadn't shown her face.  Heyes felt terrible.  He wanted to tell her he was sorry for not being more respectful of her feelings and her doubts.  But he couldn't tell her if she wouldn't come out of her room.  He sighed heavily.  She wasn't even going to come out and see him off.  He had his foot in the stirrup when he heard the screen door slam.

He turned and saw her standing at the top of the porch steps.  Their gazes locked.  There was no need for words.  They had both said "I'm sorry"  without saying a word before she even took that first step down the stairs.     Then she was running to close the distance between them.  He met her and caught her up in a tight embrace.  She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he lifted her off the ground.  "I'm sorry,"  he told her between kisses.  One's he was giving and one's he was receiving.

"No, I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have given you something to worry about when it probably means nothing.  You have enough to worry about without my nonsense."

"Do you want to come with us?  It might make you feel better.  I'll saddle up Rusty if you want to come?"

She thought about it.  She really would like to come along.  But she knew Livvy would throw a fit if she did.  "No, I've got to help Livvy with all the final preparations and we have to be in town at noon to meet your minister friend."

"Preacher?"  His head snapped towards the Kid.  Kid gave his partner an approving, go ahead nod.
 "Come on.   I've got something to talk to you about."  He took her hand and led her inside the bunkhouse.  He took off his leather gloves and laid them on his bunk.

"I've been doing some thinking.  And your trust fund money will change everything for us.  And since Preacher is coming, I was thinking....well....."  he got down on one knee and took her hand.  "I never really did make it official, so..."

Evie's mouth fell open and tears formed in her eyes.  "Miss Evangeline Webb, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"  The tears fell like rain.  She couldn't form words.  "Is that a yes?"  She just nodded  her head.  "I'll get you a ring today in town.  That will be the only place we'll go besides the blacksmith's.  And tomorrow night, we'll get Preacher to marry us.  I thought under that big old oak tree would be perfect.  And Preacher can use my real name.  It won't be on any books but we can put it in your Mama's Bible and it will be just as good as legal."   As he spoke he wiped tears away from her cheeks with his fingers.  "Only thing is we'll have to keep it a secret from Livvy for now.  Only you, me, Kid and the Preacher will know.  Then later on when the amnesty comes through...hopefully...we'll be able to tell her the truth and have any kind of wedding she wants to plan."

Still too emotional to speak she simply threw herself into his arms and held on for dear life.  "So, tomorrow night I will be Mrs. Hannibal Heyes?"  she asked when at last she was able to speak.

"That's right."

Was it possible to die from happiness.  Probably not.  If it were she would be six feet under.  They walked hand in hand back to his horse where Kid was waiting.  The smile on Heyes face and the tears on Evie's let him know that her answer was obviously yes.

"I take it congratulations are in order."

For an answer, Evangeline threw her arms around the blue eyed ex-outlaw and hugged him tight.  "I'll need somebody to give me away.  Would you do me the honor?"

Kid's face beamed, his blue eyes glowed.  "The honor would be all mine."  

"Please take care of each other and please come home to me soon.  I've got even more reason now for you to.  I love you," she said as she gazed into the brown eyes of her soon to be husband. "Both of you," she added as her gaze turned to Kid Curry, already in the saddle.

"I love you.  See you at supper."

 After one last kiss Heyes mounted Odin and they headed out for Cold Springs.

She watched until she could no longer see them over the hill.  She shivered and hugged herself tightly as a cold wind came blowing in from the north.  For some reason she had a feeling the weather was about to change.  A prickly feeling rose up the back of her neck.  For a brief second she opened her mouth to call out to them and tell them to come back.  But she didn't.  She prayed silently that the weather was the only thing that was going to change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She couldn't stop smiling.  She hummed to herself as she stood in the kitchen chopping fresh mint leaves while Georgia and Livvy iced the big cake and talked about the strange yet charming man that was now inhabiting the spare bedroom upstairs.  Evie had spent the last two hours in that room with Preacher listening to tales of his adventures with Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.  Her visit was of course under the guise of seeking spiritual advice from a man of the cloth before taking such a big step tomorrow.

"What did the man say his name was?" Georgia asked.

"He didn't.  He said his friends just called him Preacher.  And you know if I didn't trust Thaddeus' word that he was a real honest to goodness minister I'd have sworn I smelled whiskey on his breath."

"He sho is humble.  Looked at us like we was crazy for inviting him to stay in the house.  Like decent folk would let a minister stay out in the bunkhouse with the hired hands."  Georgia observed.  "It ain't like he'd steal anything from us."

Evie's smile grew wider.  If you only knew she thought.  Then her thoughts returned to the real reason for her smile.  Tomorrow night, she would be Evangeline Heyes.  Mrs. Hannibal Heyes.  Hannibal Heyes would be her husband. Even if it was in secret, he would still he her husband.   She almost laughed out loud.  Her husband.  She loved the sound of it.  Her husband.  Husband.  Her hand went still. She looked up from her work. Her smile disappeared.

"Aunt Livvy?"

"Yes, dear?"

"The woman in Cold Springs.  Laura with all the children..."

"What is your fascination with her Evangeline?"

"Just humor me, please.   Do you remember what her husband's name was?"

Livvy  huffed in frustration, not understanding her niece's need to know everything about that woman and her family.  "His name was Bradley.  Mr. and Mrs. Bradley.....oh, shoot what was that last name?"

"Bradley."   She said the name out loud.  "I punched that boy in the nose. Then she informed me that I was too young and immature for her and Bradley was her new beau.   Then I went off by myself and cried like a big baby."  She recalled the story he had told her when they were riding in the wilderness of the Trans Pecos. Bradley was the name of the boy who had taken Laura away from young Hannibal.  So she had married the boy.

"Shepherd!"  Livvy exclaimed.

"What?"

"Shepherd.  That was their last name.  Bradley and Laura Shepherd."

Evangeline's insides started to quiver.  She had to sit down. "Do you remember why they were coming to Cold Springs?"  she asked, gripping the side of the table for support as she sank into the nearest chair. She had a feeling she already knew the answer but she had to hear it out of Livvy's mouth just the same.

"Oh, yes.  They came here to get a new start.  Mr. Shepherd was going to be the new blacksmith in town. I suppose the boys will be meeting him soon."

Air.  She needed air.  She was going to be sick.

"Evangeline what's wrong with you?  You've turned white as a ghost."

Laura Thompson had married Bradley Shepherd whom everyone apparently called Shep.  He was the new blacksmith in Cold Springs.  He had to be the boy Hannibal had caught Laura kissing.  The boy he had punched in the nose.   And if Laura had recognized him, surely...Oh, dear Lord.  And if he had any idea that his wife  harbored fantasies of leaving him for Hannibal Heyes he probably hated him more now than he had the day  he'd punched him in the nose. He wouldn't think twice about turning them in to the sheriff.  We're worth the same dead as we are alive. The Kid's words echoed in her mind.  If the wrong person recognizes me and wants to turn me in dead he has the legal right to do so.  And Hannibal's words as well.  Bradley Shepherd probably wouldn't think twice about killing them before claiming the reward on their heads.  It wasn't Laura her mother had been warning her to keep them away from.  It was Laura's husband the blacksmith.   She stood quickly knocking her chair over in the process.  All the blood dropped to her feet.   "I have to warn them,"  she whispered on a ragged breath before she fell to the floor in a dead faint.