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Who Didn't |
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Written
by Drena Hills
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Starring |
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Pete
Duel |
Ben
Murphy |
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Guest Stars |
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Jack Nicholson as J.K. Hadwin |
Burgess Meredeth as Boomer Kenway |
Ann Margret as Blair Regan |
Reese Witherspoon as Iona Morgan |
Sandra Bullock as Sandy Kenway |
Bette Midler as Betty Hadwin |
Gene Wilder as Dr. Burns |
Robert Mitchum as Sheriff John Colter |
Richard Dreyfuss as Joseph T. Mather |
David Hyde Pierce as Bernie Ackerman |
Daniel Stern as Felton |
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Opening
Titles - video |
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Spring had come early that year to Colorado and all along the well-traveled dirt road it was evident in the flowers and greenery coming to life. Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry, for once in no particular hurry to be somewhere or escape from somewhere, let their horses amble along, enjoying the last warmth of the day’s sunlight. Pausing for only a moment, they considered the wooden hand-written signpost offering a choice between Glenwood Springs and a town called Rifle. Shrugging, seeing benefits in both directions, they finally agreed, without a word, on Rifle, and turned their horses in that direction.
Heyes turned sharply and looked at his partner as if questioning where this had come from. “Kid, I’m too busy trying to figure out how we’re going to eat before the amnesty happens.” “Well I have, been thinking about what kind of jobs we should get.” Heyes let a small smile escape, “And what did you come up with?” “Haven’t made up my mind yet, but I did rule out bronco busting, banking and telegraph operators.” Heyes burst into laughter, “And why did you eliminate those?” “Well, busting horses is just too much plain work, banking too much temptation and I can never remember whether it's long or short taps on the Morse code, not to mention you would get so involved in the messages going out and coming in, we’d be fired in a week.” Heyes nodded, “You might have something there. What else?” “Considered blacksmiths, but then remembered how many times I’ve been kicked by horses, so I threw that one out. Sheriff and deputy is a possibility.” “Who is the sheriff and who is the deputy?” Heyes asked, eyes narrowed, feigning concern his partner would get the order wrong. “But I gave that up,” Kid said, ignoring him. “when I realized we’d be arresting everyone we know.” “How long have you been thinking about this?” Heyes said, amazed. “While now, decided we’d never last as undertakers.” “How come?” “Sitting around waiting for people to die is just plum depressing. Not to mention a man just has to feel bad getting rich cause a bunch of folks up and died.” Heyes swallowed a smile and tried to look serious, “You have a point there.” “We’ve tried being carpenters and we would either run out of thumbs or feel bad when the roof we built fell in on somebody.” Heyes shook his head in amazement. His partner never ceased to surprise him. “Did you ever find anything that might suit?” “Saloon running, we did pretty good with Mary.” Heyes brightened, “You might have something there. What about owning?” Kid shook his head, “Keep remembering Bilson and if that’s the kind of man who goes into it don’t think we’d take.” “We could become professional gamblers.” “Heyes, people keep trying to shoot us when we play poker.” “No, people keep trying to shoot you, people like me.” Kid stared at him and finally just shook his head. It was an old argument that Heyes would never see his share of the guilt in. “Speaking of gambling, how much money you got?” Heyes asked interested, as they reached the outskirts of town and stopped to consider it. Rifle was a small town prospering mostly because it was the first town the men working the nearby mines reached and thus had become a convenient spot to pick up supplies or transportation into Glenwood Springs and the railroad. “Enough for dinner and a bed and I’m keeping it.” “Well I got enough for one of us to play poker,” Heyes said happily. “And since you’re buying dinner and the room…” “Heyes I haven’t got the energy to argue. We have been sleeping on the trail for a week. Go right ahead, but just remember to pick a game where people like you!”
Rifle had turned out to be a thriving little community, civilized enough to encourage two churches and a school. The sheriff was a stranger to them and so far they had been ignored in a friendly indifference that made them both exhale happily. “Give it up boys, that bunch has been playing together every Saturday night for the last five years,” came a female voice. “And they don’t like strangers taking their money and ruining the game!” They turned to see the redheaded owner of the Shady Lady and smiled appreciatively. She was an older woman, but still incredibly beautiful and, even twenty years her junior, the two men had to admire how easy she was on the eyes. “Blair Regan, I own this place, you fellas just passing through to do some mining?” she asked with professional interest. “Thinking about,” Heyes admitted. “If we can get a stake.” She nodded, “Might find some work over at the Bar 7, heard they got some wild horses that need breaking.” Kid winced for both of them and she laughed, “Not your line of work?” “Not when we can help it ma’am,” Kid smiled at her with such intensity she took another look, but before she could decide on the offer in it, the doors of the saloon opened forcefully and a dark-haired, well-dressed man in business attire strolled in, twirling his silver handled cane. Behind him a surly cowboy with his gun tied down followed, checking out the room in such a way it was clear his job title was bodyguard. “Evening Blair!” the man’s voice was as oily as his smile. The woman moved to face him, “I told you that you weren’t welcome in here, Hadwin!” “You forget, sweetheart, that I hold the mortgage on your little establishment and that means I get certain rights!” Viciously, he pulled her to him and kissed her. Furious, she pulled away, causing him to snatch her back and slap her so hard she let out a little cry of pain. The two ex-outlaws reacted immediately, each knowing what the other was going to do, and complementing it. Heyes pulled the woman free and, pushing her behind him, turned back to the surprised Hadwin and decked him. The man crumpled like a house of cards falling to the floor, stunned. The gunman reacted immediately, but it was only to stare as his gun AND holster flew across the room as Kid easily reached his first. The room froze in silent awe, but both men ignored it, turning to Blair. “You alright ma’am?” Kid asked politely. Blair Regan was not a woman easily astonished, but their reaction to her plight had accomplished the impossible. She merely nodded in shock as Heyes helped her to a chair as if she was a respected lady and, pouring her a liberal whiskey from his own bottle, set it down before her. “Take a sip, it will calm your nerves,” Heyes ordered. “All right who is…” the sheriff in the doorway stopped. Sheriff John Colter was nearing fifty and after a stint in the army and a few hard years on the road, combined with the last twenty as a lawman, he had experienced enough life to be of the opinion that there was nothing anymore that would surprise him. But, seeing the town’s leading citizen on the floor, dazed, and his hired gun frozen in disbelief, convinced him he had been wrong. “Blair you're alright?” he asked noticing she was sitting and it was clear there was more than the concern a lawman would feel towards his townspeople. “Yes, these…gentlemen came to my aid,” she said, giving Heyes and Kid a smile that made both of them feel it had all been worth the effort. “Mike, take him home to Betty,” the sheriff ordered the gunman as he stepped over Hadwin. “Boss ain’t gonna like this sheriff, ain’t you gonna arrest them?” the gunman said, angry, as he hauled his unconscious boss up off the floor and threw him over his shoulder. “In this country we don’t arrest a man for defending a lady from getting snake bit,” the lawman said, his back to him. “And Mike?” he added as the gunman moved to recover his weapon. “Leave the gun; you don’t want someone taking it away from you again tonight.” Mike appeared to be ready to argue, clearly he and the sheriff had had words before, but a look from Kid changed his mind and quickly he hurried his employer from the room. “You boys just made an enemy there,” the sheriff sighed. “J.K. Hadwin is a very rich man.” “Don’t entitle a man to take what ain’t offered,” Kid said, finally holstering his gun. “Well you may have made an enemy there, but you made friends here,” an old, wizened man said, standing up from the poker table. “I’m Boomer Kenway, run the stagecoach with this fella here - Felton.” Felton was a young vacant-looking man, who still had his mouth open in awe as he nodded welcome. “This is Doc Burns,” he said indicating a wild, red-haired man who smiled welcomingly. “And Digger from the Bar 7,” he finished off indicating the remaining cowhand, who waved a greeting. “And Sheriff Colton here makes five, but I think just this once we might be willing to play with six if one of you boys is interested?”
Kid Curry had been asleep for perhaps an hour when the door to his room flew open with such force he had his gun in his hand before it hit the wall.
“Heyes, did it ever occur to you that I might be sleeping?” he asked as his partner lit the light on the dresser and grinned happily. “I know, that’s why I made so much noise,” Heyes said, insufferably proud of himself about something. Kid looked up warily, “What?” Heyes this happy could be a good or a bad thing Kid had learned from experience after too many bank jobs. “Let’s just say lady luck smiled on us tonight!” Kid brightened, “Yeah? You win big? How much?” “Kid, this is way better than money,” Heyes said, sitting down on his bed across from him with a satisfied air of success. Kid groaned again, “Heyes, when you have no money for breakfast, nothing is way better than money,” Kid told him, closing his eyes and rolling over. “You know how you were wondering about our careers after the amnesty came through?” Intrigued, Kid rolled back over, “You won the saloon?” Heyes looked hurt, “No, but…” “A restaurant that makes breakfast?” “Are you gonna let me tell this?” Sighing Kid sat up, “Go ahead, what did you win?” “A stagecoach!” Kid stared at him. Heyes frowned; Kid’s grimace was not the reaction he had been hoping for. “Not only a stagecoach, but the whole business!” he continued, hoping this would generate the response he had been expecting. But Kid disappointed him, “Heyes, how much luck have we ever had with anything to do with stagecoaches?” “Well not a lot, but this is different! We own it, we're not traveling on it!” “Who’s driving it?” Kid said, sleepy, but quick to spot the flaw. “I think we have a driver, his name is Felton. He was in the game along with the owner,” Heyes said eagerly, still attempting to jar some of the excitement he felt out of his partner. “Ah huh, and how are we going to pay this driver?” “With the money we make selling tickets!” “Ah huh, and just how many tickets does our stagecoach company sell a month?” Heyes frowned harder, “Is that all you can think about?” “No, I’m thinking about breakfast too. Did you win any real money at all?” “$200,” Heyes admitted. Kid brightened, “That’s great!” “But I had to spend some of it on feed for the horses and…” “Heyes, tell me we have enough for breakfast.” “Is that all you can think about with an opportunity like this?” His partner looked genuinely hurt and Kid finished waking up and sighed, “I’m sorry Heyes, I am very impressed you won an entire stagecoach. I am sure I will feel much more excited about it in the morning…after breakfast!” “Got to get up before breakfast, have to open the office and feed and harness the horses and…” Kid rolled his eyes. “Heyes, next time you have good news like this, don’t wake me up for it.”
But to his credit Kid was, in fact, the first one up and after rousing his partner, they hurried down to take a look at their new business in the light of day. The Kenway Stage line was a small office attached to a barn and to their surprise they found it open and ready for business. Sitting behind the counter was a dark-haired woman, dressed in men’s trousers and a dark work shirt. “You must be Sandy!” Heyes smiled, offering his hand. “And you must be the dirty, low-down, lying card cheat who stole my grandfather’s livelihood!” she growled, coming around the counter and looking for something to hit him with. “Cheating an old man out of…” “Whoa, whoa there,” Kid said, catching her arms before she scratched his partner’s eyes out. “Settle down Miss, my partner doesn’t cheat.” “He didn’t have to, my grandfather is the worst card player in Colorado!” she said, almost in tears, breaking free of him. “That’s why they never let anyone else into that game! How you wormed yourself into it…” “Well that’s hardly my partner’s fault,” Kid said firmly. “Now Sandy, leave these fellas be. They won it fair and square,” Boomer Kenway said, coming into the office, looking well rested and happy. Not exactly the image of a man who had just lost everything. ‘Grandpa!” “Git and make us some breakfast, me and these boys got some things to talk about!” With a disgusted growl, she stomped off, neither man missing how nice the back of her looked in the trousers. “Well young fella, you ready to run a stagecoach?” Boomer grinned. “Look Mr. Kenway, you said your granddaughter would be glad you were getting out of the business…” Heyes said, suddenly feeling some of the joy of his win deflating. As a rule he rarely allowed bets to progress to where a man was giving up everything, tainted the thrill of winning he had found. “Not your fault young fella, I lost fair and square. Now let me introduce you to the horses. Felton will be along in a bit. We have one run every day and back to Glenwood Springs,” he stopped and looked at Kid. “You boys gonna take turns riding shotgun?” Kid gave Heyes a look that clearly said, ‘I knew it!’ and, deciding he was safer with the horses, Heyes pulled the old man out the door.
“What do you mean I need a ticket?” J.K. Hadwin said, looking slightly the worse for wear after the confrontation with Heyes' fist the night before. But gamely, he faced Kid, who was standing in front of the stage, arms folded. “You wanna ride the stage, you need a ticket,” Kid said, eyes narrowed stubbornly. “Mr. Jones!” Sandy said, hurrying out as Heyes and Kenway hurried up. “Mr. Hadwin has a…pass to ride. He uses the stage every day to visit his bank in Glenwood Springs.” “Well you might have had a pass with Mr. Kenway, but you don’t have one with us,” Heyes said, moving next to Kid and folding his arms alongside him. “Do you both have any idea who I am?” Hadwin seethed. A crowd had begun to form now, including the players of last night's poker game, Blair Regan and a dark-haired, fashionably dressed, middle-aged woman. She, out of all the curious bystanders, seemed to be enjoying Hadwin being challenged the most. “You’re a man who is not getting on this stage without a ticket!” Kid said, digging in. “I can break you like tinder!” Hadwin spat and then, realizing he did not have a bodyguard with him, paused. “Mr. Hadwin, I got passengers waiting,” Kid said, indicating the old woman and her daughter watching wide-eyed from the carriage and, turning, climbed up alongside Felton and released the brake. “You wouldn’t dare leave without me!” Hadwin growled. “Yes he would,” Heyes said politely. “Eight dollars…if you want a round trip?” Kid picked up the reins to whip the horses. Letting out a cry of frustration, Hadwin reached in and quickly pulled out the money and, throwing it at Heyes, had to leap to catch the stage door and scramble in. The crowd erupted in laughter and, picking up the money, Heyes smiled, satisfied, as the well-dressed lady walked up to him. “Mr. Smith isn’t it?” she said, offering her hand. “May I say I have never enjoyed seeing my husband leave more?” Heyes bit back a smile, “You’re Mrs. Hadwin?” “Unfortunately,” she said and smiled coyly at him. “But you can forget that and come visit me any time! He leaves every day and isn’t back till dinner time!” And with a broad wink, she sauntered away, leaving Heyes staring in wonder. Turning, he watched, curious, as Kenway and Blair stood talking with Sandy. They were clearly arguing about something and suddenly Blair stopped and stared at them in shock. Then, seeing him watching, the little group hurried away as if the devil were on their heels. Shaking his head, Heyes considered his next move and then, spotting the mine assay office, smiled and headed for it confidently.
“What is the delay?” the round-faced man in a tight suit and too small bowler hat screeched for the third time from the window of the stagecoach. Kid looked up at him from the argument he was having with Felton. The boy wasn’t the brightest of companions, but he was diligent. “We can’t leave without Mr. Hadwin! We always wait for him!” Felton went on, aghast Kid was even considering this. “Listen gentlemen, I paid for my ticket and I expect to leave at the scheduled time!” the passenger said, indignant. “Do you have any idea who I am?” Kid sighed. He was fast losing patience with anyone who felt the need to ask him that. “I am Joseph T. Mather, attorney at law!” the man said, not waiting for Kid to answer. “And I…” “Calm down, Mr. Mather, we’re leaving now,” Kid said, deciding the man had a point and climbing up. Felton stared at him, “You’re gonna just leave him?” “Man takes the stage everyday you said, he knows what time it leaves.” Felton shook his head, astonished, and then, in fear Kid would leave him too and he would be forced to face the man alone, he scurried aboard.
“So how is the stagecoach business coming, Mr. Smith?” Blair said sidling up to Heyes as he stood at the end of the bar drinking a cup of coffee. “I’ll let you know as soon as my partner gets back, he’s real quick to keep me realistic,” Heyes smiled. She smiled back, “I never thanked you for what you did for me last night. Not a lot of men would help a woman who owns a place like this. They seem to feel it comes with the territory. You and your partner thinking of settling down here now?” Heyes considered the question, wondering if she was offering something more than a welcome to town. “Not sure yet ma’am, have to see how we take to stage coaching, not had a lot of luck in that area in the past!”
Kid Curry jumped down from the stage and decided, right then and there, he could learn to love riding shotgun. She was blonde, nicely-shaped and smiling. This couldn’t be the girl Felton had been mooning over the whole trip, could it? On the run out, they had not been met by anyone while they stopped to check the horses and let the passengers stretch their legs. Felton explaining on the trip back that Hadwin had come to demand refreshments and a local farm girl had taken the job. “Gentlemen!” the girl smiled. “Hello Iona!” Felton said, looking like a love-sick puppy. “Got your refreshments all ready, just like you like, Mr. Hadwin!” she smiled at the stage and then stopped as Mather got out with a huff. “About time I saw some proper service!” he growled, storming towards the small building used as a stopping house for the stage. “Where is Mr. Hadwin?” the girl said, clearly startled, and hurrying over, she checked the stage to find it empty. “Thaddeus Jones!” Kid said, offering his hand, only to have her stare at him, horrified, and turn towards the house. “She always that friendly?” Kid asked dryly. “Not like her at all!” Felton said, confused. “Maybe she was upset that Mr. Hadwin isn’t here, they…close?” Felton rolled his eyes, “If you call hating someone’s guts close. He bankrupted her and her husband’s farm. Left them with nothing. Her husband then got killed when he took a job mining to support them.” Confused, Kid followed Felton to the staging house to find Mather and Iona in a battle. “You stupid girl you spilt that all over me!” Mather said, desperately trying to wipe down the front of his suit. “But that wine was for Mr. Hadwin!” she said, desperately snatching up the bottle and clutching it to her. “If I hear one more word about this Mr. Hadwin I shall be ill!” the man snarled at her and in disgust, stormed towards the door. “Gentlemen, if you are ready!” he ordered and hurried past them. “That was for Mr. Hadwin,” Iona said, sinking into a chair. “I sure hope he didn’t drink any!” “Its all right Iona, he didn’t come,” Felton said kneeling down, trying to comfort her. “He won’t ever know.” “But I will!” she said, tearful. Confused, Kid left them alone and walked back to the stage to check the horses. Them he understood.
“So Mr. Jones, how was your trip?” Heyes said, rising from his chair in the shade to greet the pulling in stage. Kid looked at his rested partner and shook his head in disgust as he jumped down. “Bumpy and dusty. You ,however, appear to look none the worse for wear.” Heyes smiled, “Thought you might feel that way, but I think you're gonna appreciate all the hard work I did when you hear the deal I landed us.” “Deal huh?” Kid said and looked over at Felton who was staring at the stage with a funny expression. “What’s wrong Felton?” “It’s Mr. Mather; he won’t get out and after all that fuss about leaving to get here!” Sighing, Kid turned and, yanking open the door, leaned in. “Last stop Mr. Mather.” The man said nothing. “Mr. Mather…” Kid slapped the man’s arm, thinking he was asleep and, to his amazement, watched him fall over. “What’s wrong with him?” Heyes said, coming over and peering in. Kid shook the man again and then turned back to his partner, amazed. “I think he’s dead!”
“He’s dead,” Doc Burns said, coming out of his office, wiping his hands as Sandy, Heyes, Kid and the Sheriff stood waiting. “We knew that Doc, but what killed him?” Kid said impatiently. “Oh… natural causes no doubt.” “I’ll send a wire to Glenwood,” the sheriff said, turning to the door. “Fella was probably a lawyer for one of the mine companies. They’ll know what to do with the body.” “That’s it?” Heyes asked, amazed. “Not much else to do unless you wanna say a few words?” the sheriff said dryly.
“Well that wasn’t the best omen,” Kid said, disgusted, as they stepped out of the doctor’s office as Sandy hurried off at a dead run. “People die, besides if he was as bad tempered as you said, probably just up and died of meanness,” Heyes said, moving on quickly, excited about something.
His partner grinned, “Know all that ore the assay office takes in from the individual miners?” “Yeah.” “I just got us a contract to carry it to Glenwood!” Heyes stopped, fast losing patience with his partner’s remarkable lack of enthusiasm. “What’s the matter? That’s gonna make us a fortune!” “Heyes, you ever consider why Kenway never did that?” Heyes looked uncomfortable, “Well, we did have to insure it.” “Which means if anything happens to it, we're liable,” Kid sighed. “How much in a load?” “Only ten thousand dollars,” Heyes said pleasantly. Kid stared at him, “Ten thousand…fine, fine no problem,” he said, starting across the street. Worried at how easy that had gone, Heyes caught up to him. “You aren’t worried?” “Not at all, we can cover ten thousand,” Kid said easily and then turned to look his partner in the eye. “I’ll get it turning you in!”
“Now there is something you don’t see everyday,” Heyes said, pausing as he passed the strongbox up to Kid atop the stage, to watch Betty Hadwin and Blair Regan talking earnestly to each other. A moment later Sandy joined them. “How do you mean?” Kid asked, looking over. “Most wives don’t associate with their husband’s mistresses.” “Ex-mistress from what Blair told you, and I reckon now they both hate him enough to make it possible.” “You gonna be alright with just Felton?” Heyes asked, trying not to look worried as Kid tied down the strong box and its contents. “Heyes, we already discussed this, the best chance we have is making this run look like any other,” Kid said, jumping down as a frail, fragile-looking, young man hurried over and nervously held up his ticket. “Besides, you got that meeting with that postal fella.” “How do you do, Mr. Ackerman.” Heyes said politely. “Mr. Ackerman is the town school teacher, Thaddeus,” he added, amused, to his partner, noting word of Kid’s ability with a gun must have spread as the man made sure there was ample distance between them. “I am not sure this is the wisest idea now that you are carrying cargo that might tempt footpads!” the man said, fanning himself with his ticket and looking paler. “Where did you hear a thing like that?” Heyes said sharply. “From Mr. Crandall in the barbershop.” “Oh good, so much for keeping it secret,” Kid groaned, climbing up. “I think you’ve got more to worry about from Hadwin. He isn’t going to be too happy you left him behind,” Heyes pointed out. “Yeah that thought did occur to me,” Kid sighed and with a yell to the horses, pulled out.
Meanwhile, the strangest group of people was meeting in Blair’s office behind the saloon. A group consisting of Boomer Kenway, Blair Regan, Sandy, Betty Hadwin and Iona. “How could you let this happen?” Blair yelled, pacing. “J.K. Hadwin has been on that stage every day for the last 15 years, how was I to know they would leave him when he was late!” Iona said, yelling back. “Well couldn’t you have at least kept the lawyer from drinking the wine!” Betty said, throwing up her hands in disgust. “He’s a lawyer, they do what they want!” Iona glared back at her. “And all of you stop yelling at me! You’re as guilty as I am! Besides we don’t know he actually drank any!” “He dropped dead after leaving you. What else should we think!” Betty screamed. “If Doc hadn’t covered for us…” Blair moaned. “Mather was hated by every decent miner in the county, I say good riddance,” Boomer said, sipping a whiskey happily. “Dad!” Sandy yelled at him in horror. “And I told you letting those two win the stage was a mistake!” “No mistake at all. This way, if there is any fuss about Hadwin dying, they get the blame and not us!” “There is not going to be any fuss,” Betty said firmly. “The poison in the wine will look just like a heart attack.” “Doc didn’t seem convinced,” Sandy said, shaking her head. “He looked at me real funny and said Iona better be more careful next time with our passengers!” “Well if she hadn’t asked him all those questions about oleander poisoning,” Betty glared at Iona. “At least I was willing to do something about that lecherous viper!” Iona said dangerously. “Look, we only agreed to this when we thought Hadwin was the only one going to die!” Sandy said, still upset. “Not some innocent man!” “Lawyers are never innocent,” Betty said, dismissing the problem. “Besides, after today our troubles will be over. My dear, soon-departed husband won’t miss that stage, God help that Jones fellow, and when he does Iona will be waiting with his ‘refreshments’!”
“Just what did you think you were doing?” Hadwin said, stomping up to Kid, who was checking the harnesses. “Afternoon, Mr. Hadwin. Riding back with us today?” Kid said pleasantly, turning to face the man as Felton backed away, terrified. “You left me yesterday!” “No, you missed the stage and if you don’t get aboard you're going to miss it again,” Kid told him coldly. Unable to find a suitable replacement yet for the bodyguard he had fired, Hadwin had no choice but to climb aboard, seething. “Good afternoon, Mr. Hadwin!” Ackerman said, surprising him. “How lovely to have company on the return trip back!” Hadwin groaned and put his hand over his eyes.
“It can’t be, my luck is not that bad,” Kid said, turning suddenly to look back from the racing stagecoach. Felton followed his gaze and let out a whimper, “Robbers! I knew we shouldn’t have taken that gold dust! Word must have got out! We’re doomed for sure!” “We sure aren’t” Kid said, checking his gun and grabbing a rifle. “Head for those rocks up ahead and stop.” “What!” Felton said, horrified. “I ain’t getting robbed on my own stagecoach,” Kid explained dangerously.
Heyes started running as soon as he heard the shouts coming from the street. The stage coming in didn’t usually get that kind of fanfare. Something was wrong and he cursed himself for not going along with his partner on the trip. Leaving the barn, he skidded to a stop and watched in amazement as the stage pulled up. Atop it, two men were hog tied very uncomfortably and as a crowd started to gather, his partner jumped down and quickly pulled two more bound men from the carriage. A moment later, a gasping and terrified Ackerman scurried out and ran off, arms flailing. This was only exceeded in amusement value as Felton climbed out after him and Heyes realized Hadwin had been riding shotgun with Kid. “Interesting trip?” Heyes asked, coming up, and his partner didn’t miss his quick once over to make sure he was in one piece. “I ain’t getting robbed on my own stage,” Kid said dangerously, pushing the four men towards the sheriff who was hurrying up. Heyes swallowed a smile and nodded. “I will get you both!” Hadwin breathed pure fury. “Problem?” Heyes asked pleasantly. “Your partner endangered all our lives!” “No sir, I think he probably saved them!” “I am going to destroy both of you, mark my words!” and turning, he hurried off, clearing a path with his cursing. “Ain’t never seen anything like,” Felton said in awe. “He got the jump on all four of them, his gun blazing, better than any dime novel I ever read in my whole life!” “He doesn’t like getting robbed,” Heyes explained with a nod and hurried over to help his partner.
“He seems in a quiet mood this morning,” Kid said, finishing his coffee from the station porch and watching in amazement as Hadwin boarded the stage without a peep the next morning. “Yeah, odd that, still maybe yesterday shook him up a bit,” Heyes said thoughtfully, watching, beside him. “I doubt it, he whined the whole time about sitting with criminals, that’s why I put him up with me. He quickly realized how much nicer it is inside,” Kid said with a small smile. “No pleasing the man,” Heyes said, shaking his head and then looked up, serious. “You sure you don’t want me to take the run today?” Kid shook his head. “Stop worrying Heyes. The sheriff said that was the gang that’s been terrorizing the area. Besides, you're doing real fine for us here in town, got us that ore run and now the mail, this keeps up, we're gonna be needing another coach!” Heyes grinned, feeling content, “Sure does feel good to be prosperous and honest! I just hope it lasts!” “Yeah maybe, just maybe, we can stick at this till the amnesty comes through and then who knows!” Heyes slapped him on the back in agreement and watched him swing up into the driver’s seat. “Try this time to have a nice, uneventful ride alright?” Kid feigned being confused, “Yesterday was a nice, uneventful ride for us!” Grinning, Heyes watched the stage drive off and turning, watched, interested to see Sandy and Blair hurrying into the stable. He followed, more than a little curious. “Did you get word to Iona?” Betty asked, greeting them. “Pa did,” Sandy explained. “She wondered what in the world happened to them!” “This is not working out!” Blair said, exasperated. “We finally get J.K. on the stage and they don’t stop at the staging house!” “Did you want him to let the robbers shoot up everyone?” Sandy said, rolling her eyes. “If it got my husband dead, might have not been such a bad thing.” Betty said with a grin. “Let’s stick with the original plan.” Blair said firmly. “I gave Iona another bottle of wine and she should have enough poison left…” Heyes, having heard enough, stepped out of the shadows. “Ladies, I think we need to talk.” The women turned in horror at Heyes’ entrance. “As much as I agree with you about Hadwin, you just can’t up and kill a man as the solution.” “It was all Iona’s idea!” Sandy blurted out. “She blames him for her husband’s death.” “And you all decided to help her?” Heyes said in disbelief. “Not so much help her, as not stop her.” Betty explained. “Oh,” Heyes said smiling in spite of how mad this all sounded. “Well, that’s another story. I’m sure the sheriff will understand that…” He never finished, Boomer caught him hard with the end of a shovel and dropped him like a rock.
“Mr. Hadwin,” Kid said with a smile, checking his watch and noting in amazement that the man was on time for the return trip. Hadwin merely smiled smugly at him and Kid felt a shiver go up his spine. The man was itching for revenge and Kid suddenly had the oddest feeling he might just have found a way to get it. Unable to shake the feeling, he climbed aboard with Felton and slowly began to move the stage away.
Hannibal Heyes groaned and tried to move his head, regretting it instantly. He was alone, and for a moment just let his eyes focus. Those women were dangerous! He stiffened as the thought occurred to him that they might decide his partner and him might be less trouble after a glass of wine as well. And, pulling himself to a standing position, he began to work on his ropes.
“Afternoon gentlemen!” Iona smiled a bit too brightly, as Felton and Kid jumped off the stage. “Afternoon ma’am.” Kid said slightly warily, the lady seemed a touch odd at best, no matter how pretty she was. “Mr Jones, I am so sorry for my behavior the other day! My job means so much to me, I just was worried I had done something wrong, Mr. Hadwin is very serious about his wine and…” She looked so wistful, Kid instantly softened. “No problem, ma’am. Mr. Hadwin tends to invoke that response in a lot of folks,” Kid said, watching the businessman walk over to the cabin. “Speaking of which, I better see if he needs anything else!” she said, hurrying off quickly. “Woman sure does fret on a man she hates,” Kid said, shaking his head. “She’s just conscientious,” Felton said, spitting out a word he had heard, but clearly wasn’t too sure of the meaning. Kid nodded, “Yeah. Come on, lets see if she’s got some coffee to go with that wine!” The first shot just missed them. The nearest cover was the house and, pushing Felton forward, Kid turned and covered him, firing hard and fast at the direction the shots had come from. He was answered by a barrage of bullets that forced him to dive into the stage as he quickly reloaded. To his relief, Iona and Felton had reached the house, but he was a sitting duck out there and without some cover fire he wasn’t going to have much chance of reaching the building. Suddenly, as if by magic, he heard shots coming from behind him, towards the bushwhackers. Thinking Felton had found a gun in the house, he made his move in a quick series of darts and dives towards the house, impressed by how well Felton could shoot. It wasn’t until he reached the door and was joined by his partner that he realized the truth. “Where did you come from?” Kid gasped gratefully as they slammed the door shut and both quickly reloaded.
“Where’s Hadwin?” he asked. Kid frowned, “He came in here.” “He ran out the back,” Iona said. “We tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.” “How many of them do you think there are?” Kid asked, reloading. “Six, they must have figured you were easier to deal with in the back,” Heyes said, firing again. Suddenly, there was another volley of bullets and their attackers began scrambling for their horses. “What the…” Kid said, puzzled. “It’s the sheriff, Doc and Boomer!” The would-be thieves, deciding the odds were no longer in their favor, quickly mounted up and galloped off. “Wonder what he’s doing here,” Kid said gratefully. “I have a feeling Miss Regan might have spoke to him,” Heyes said, worried. “Let’s find Hadwin.” “Why?” Kid asked. “Because he might need the doctor,” Heyes said, giving Iona a look that made her flush and drop her eyes. Hurrying out back, they were quick to stumble upon the businessman’s body lying near a tree. “Two in the back. He never had a chance,” Kid said, rolling the dead man over. “He certainly didn’t,” Heyes said quietly. “Heyes!” Kid’s hiss of his name made his partner look back and widen his eyes. In turning him over, a folded piece of paper had fallen from the man’s inner jacket pocket. It was their wanted posters. “I thought he looked a little smug back there,” Kid groaned. “You think he told the sheriff?” “I don’t know, but I bet we're gonna find out real fast,” Heyes sighed, and, looking over, they saw the sheriff headed their way.
“Going to miss the funeral?” Doc Burns said, stopping, two days later as Kid and Heyes finished tightening the cinches on their horses. “Yeah, Boomer was kind enough to buy his stage line back and now that we’ve got a stake we're going to try that mining idea again.” Kid said, watching as Mrs. Hadwin and the rest of the town moved into the church up the street for the funeral. “Well, good luck to you,” Doc smiled, turning to follow suit. “Doc, what did that lawyer and Hadwin die of?” Doc looked startled for a moment and then smiled, understanding. “Put your mind at rest, gentlemen. My autopsy on Mr. Mather revealed a heart condition, man can’t bluster and fuss like that and not have it catch up to him.” “And Hadwin?” Kid asked, poker-faced. “Mr. Hadwin had two gunshot wounds to his chest, Mr. Jones. And before you ask Mr. Smith, bullets work a great deal faster than some other ways you can kill a man. Gentlemen.” “He knows.” Heyes said, amazed. “Knows what? Even I’m not sure what happened, did they kill him or not?” “They tried, that’s for sure,” Heyes said cynically. “Heyes, don’t you think we ought to say something to the sheriff?” Kid said, confused and a little lost by it all. “Kid, you saw those wanted posters, he knew who we were, and he could have told anyone. No, I think it's best we don’t stick around and wait to find out.” “But they tried to murder a man!” Kid said, shaking his head. Heyes considered it philosophically, “What did the sheriff say about not holding it against a man for killing a snake that tries to bite him?” Kid still didn’t look convinced, “Maybe, but it makes me a bit nervous when a whole passel of normal folks get together and think up something like that.” “Boys, I heard you were leaving,” Blair said, stepping out of her saloon. “Yes ma’am, Boomer bought his stage line back, decided retirement didn’t suit him,” Kid said. “Shame to see you go, remember if you are ever in Rifle again, stop in for a…drink?” “Thank you ma’am, but I think my partner and I have agreed to never be thirsty in this town again,” Heyes said, turning his horse away as she smiled, amused. “I was just coming to see you fellas,” the sheriff said, stopping them at the end of town. “Heard you were leaving, might be for the best. Funny how rumors start isn’t it? Why if you stuck around you might start talking about some suspicions you had about some of the ladies here in town and I might start listening to rumors I’ve heard about you two resembling a couple of fellas Wyoming is interested in, if you get my drift. But, with you leaving we can both rest comfortable knowing those rumors aren’t going to get started.” “Yeah, I guess that would be best for everyone,” Heyes said quietly. “Besides, always good for a man to remember that everyone needs a second chance from wrong decisions they’ve made, don’t you agree gentlemen?” “Goodbye, sheriff,” Heyes said with a nod. And they moved out of town just that much quicker.
They had ridden fast in silence for a good distance before finally slowing the horses to a walk, feeling they were, for the moment, safe. “Heyes?” His partner looked up from his thoughts, grateful they had been interrupted. Frontier justice was not something he liked to dwell on, made a wanted man nervous at the best of times. “Hmm?” he replied absently. “I think I’ve finally figured out what we should do when we get the amnesty.” “I thought we were saloon owners?” “Nope, detectives.” “Detectives? Kid that is the craziest…who is going to hire us to look after their valuables? Besides we don’t know anything about detecting.” “We just do outlawing backwards and if Harry Briscoe can make a living at it we could!” “Okay you might have a point there, but I don’t know Kid, a man can get killed doing that.” “Heyes, with us, a man can get killed doing laundry.” Heyes had to nod and they walked along, silent for a moment. “I could see our slogan though,” Heyes said after a moment with a mischievous grin. Kid grinned back, “What?” “Heyes and Curry Detective Agency…wanted throughout the west for over 10 years!” Kid started laughing, Heyes joined him and together they rode off into the sunset.
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“Heyes,
you ever think about what we're gonna do if the amnesty does happen?”
Kid Curry suddenly said.
“Never
seen folks so determined to keep a body out of a game,” Heyes said
frustrated as he and Kid leaned against the bar watching a four man
poker game being played in the corner. It seemed a tight knit group
that didn’t welcome outsiders, explaining, when asked, that they were
waiting for their regular fifth player and there would be no room.
Groaning
as he realized it was his partner, he holstered the gun and fell back
on his pillow.
“All
right Heyes, tell me before you burst,” Kid said stopping.
“I
realized your luck isn’t that good,” Heyes breathed, taking one of
the two windows as Kid took the other one. Glancing back he noticed
the table had a wine decanter on it and empty glass.