Chapter 22

“Curious to know why you left that bag of silver out for the Kid and me to find,” Heyes asked Morgan after everyone left “Did you really have some kind of deal going with Billie and Lom?”

Morgan nodded her head. “I already told you that Lom wanted to get the two of you over here. He was so sure that you wouldn’t come here if he asked you outright, so I told him not to worry, that I would get you here and keep you here.”

“So it’s true, you did make a bet with him.” Heyes eyed her curiously. “Next thing you’re going to tell me is that you weren’t surprised to see us at your front door.”

Morgan shook her head. “Uh, Heyes, that wasn’t a posse that was chasing you. That was a few of my ranch hands. They also roughed up your saddlebags to make it look like a robbery. They hid your horses so that you’d have nowhere to go. You already guessed about the silver and the mine which was Plan D.”

Heyes smiled. “Plan D, huh? Sounds familiar.” He shook his head. “So the grand scheme was to get me and the Kid to….”

Morgan nodded her head. She placed her tiny hand on his cheek. “Stay here,” she finished. “That’s what Horace and I wanted from the beginning.”

“And nothing else?” Heyes whispered, moving closer.

Morgan smiled. “No, she answered, inching closer to him. “Nothing else. Did you have something in mind?”

They kissed briefly and parted, staring into each other’s eyes. “You’re not angry?”

“Should I be?”

She shook her head as tears formed in her eyes. “It’s a shame that Horace had to miss this. He would have been so happy knowing that you were his son-in-law. You do realize that he loved you, Heyes, just as if you were his own son.”

“Let’s go,” Billie said, her gun drawn on the five remaining Miller boys as they entered the stagecoach. “I don’t have all day.” Winston was already inside, his hands bound behind his back, as was all the others.

“Just enough room for one more,” she said, smiling at her husband, placing her gun inside her holster. It wasn’t going to stay there for long. She turned to the small group waiting outside the stagecoach. “They’re all yours now, Lom. Take good care of them.

Lom Trevors smiled at his wife and gave her a light kiss on the lips. He looked up at Heyes, Curry, Morgan and Maddy.

“Well, he said, “I guess this is it for a short while. I’ll be back in a week to bring Billie back home with me.”

Morgan looked puzzled. Billie had been there keeping an eye on things since she started the place. “We need someone here, Lom. Billie’s done a good job of keeping the peace here for a long time.”

Lom turned to her and smiled. “Don’t you worry none, Miss Morgan. You got two bright young men here to keep the peace.” He looked over at Heyes and Curry and then turned back, kissing her on the forehead.

“Don’t you agree?”

Morgan looked at Lom, then at Heyes and Curry. “I’m not so sure what peace you’re talking about.”

Heyes looked at Morgan and smiled slightly. “Now just wait one minute here. I’ll decide what I think is best and right now and that is to agree with Lom. He made me and the Kid here promise to take care of you ladies. And we’re going to see to it that we keep that promise.” He put his arm around her. “Besides, old Jed is gettin’ married and I’m gonna be best man at his wedding. Might even be a double if you want a proper ceremony.”

“And don’t forget,” Curry said, placing his arm around Maddy. “We can’t go anywhere else for a year, not that I’m complaining.”

Morgan looked wide eyed at the Kid. “Sure,” she said. “You’re not complaining. Guess I’ll have to trust the two of you.”

Heyes nodded and pulled her close. “After all, it was you who made that bet with Lom, now, wasn’t it?”

He turned back to Lom and Billie. “Everything will be fine here, Lom. You just take care of yourself and your wife. We’ll be here when you get back.” Heyes motioned to the stage. “What’s going to happen with them?”

Lom shook his head. Nate will be back here in a week with me when I come get Billie. He’ll have to stay here for a year and earn that amnesty we gave him. Meanwhile, his brothers will do some jail time before coming back here for good. They are wanted in Porterville for kidnapping the teller of the bank and trying to rob it.”

Heyes smiled and shook his head. “I read about that. Botched that one up pretty good. The teller broke his bonds and ran off. You and that posse tailed them all the way back to Devil’s Hole. The Miller boys could never get anything right.”

Lom laughed. “They did manage to hide from us for a short time. We knew that they were down here because Morgan had sent me a telegram. So I sent Billie down here to keep an eye on them. When Nate turned himself over to Billie a year ago, we knew that it would be easy to get them. Just had to make sure they didn’t go anywhere.”

The smile disappeared from Heyes’ lips. “What’s gonna happen with Winston?”

“He’ll be tried for murder. We’ll have to await the outcome. It will sort itself out in the end.”

He turned back to Morgan. “Now you promise me that you’ll take care of these two, you got that?” He kissed her cheek. “I want a full progress report on the reformation of the two notorious outlaws, Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.”

Lom turned to face the stage, grabbed the door and climbed in, taking his place next to Winston.

“See you in a week.” Lom called out as the stage began to roll.

The four of them watched as the stage disappeared into the distance. Heyes placed his arm protectively around Morgan and Kid Curry did the same with Maddy.

“Well, he’s gone,” Heyes said, looking at the Kid.

“Only for a week, Heyes. He’ll be back.”

Heyes turned to Billie who was standing behind him. “I don’t doubt it for a second, Billie. You know, the two of you are invited to the wedding.”

Billie smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Heyes. In fact, I’m looking forward to it. Just remember to keep an eye on Morgan here.”

Heyes smiled. “Won’t let her out of my sight, Billie, not again. Besides, how many times do I have to promise?”

Morgan smiled. “Until you get it right, Heyes.”

“And how do you know that I haven’t?” Heyes answered, smiling.

“Can’t you two be quiet for at least two seconds?” Curry said, as they walked up the steps to the main house.

“Don’t worry, Kid. We’ve got a whole year to go. We should be all set by that time.” Heyes said as he opened the door. He waited until they were all inside before closing it behind him.