They heard the door open then and watched as the sheriff came back in and with his deputy's help, emptied the contents of their saddlebags onto his desk. He went slowly through everything, turning each item over and around and examining it in minute detail.

"What's he doing?" whispered Kid.

Heyes just frowned and shook his head, indicating he had no idea. They both watched intently as the sheriff continued. He carefully shook each item of clothing, fished into all of the pockets and then laid the item flat on the desk and ran his hands over every inch of it. He shook the book from Heyes' bag vigorously and then flicked through each page. Finding Curry's shaving brush he ran his fingers carefully through the bristles and shook it hard.

"I think he's looking for something Heyes" said Kid

Heyes just looked at him. His partner did have the knack of stating the obvious at times.

Starring

Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes
Ben Murphy as Kid Curry


Guest Stars

You Don't Bring Me Diamonds
by Sally Wheaton

The saloon in Oak Creek was one of the liveliest they'd been in. The noise of the patrons at the bar and the poker tables almost drowned out the piano player in the corner. It was a bright, cheerful place and Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry had spent the last three nights in there.

Heyes was involved in a poker game in what passed for a quiet corner. The game was challenging but he was winning more than he was losing as usual. The man sitting opposite him, who'd introduced himself two nights ago as Harvey Sandford, was an especially good player and Heyes was enjoying the contest.

Curry was leaning against the bar, enjoying the whisky and the attentions of a pretty, blonde haired saloon girl in a bright blue dress. The truth was he'd been enjoying the whisky all evening and he wasn't exactly sober at this point.

He knocked back the contents of his glass and placed it down heavily on the bar. The saloon girl ran her fingers through his hair enticingly.

"What'd ya say ya name was honey?" he slurred slightly.

"Lucy" she smiled at him and leaning close, planted a kiss on his lips. "What's yours?"

"Thaddeus" he replied happily. For this small moment at least, all was well with his world, as the bartender filled his glass once more and Lucy put both arms around his neck.

Suddenly the piano player stopped playing and within moments the whole room had gone silent. Standing in the doorway was Sheriff Taggerty and he certainly looked like he meant business. The group of four men with him looked like they were expecting trouble and almost like they were looking forward to dealing with it.

Kid turned towards the bar, not wanting the sheriff to see his face. He was still sober enough to know what this meant. Next to him, Lucy pulled away from him and also turned towards the bar. In the now quiet saloon, Curry heard the footsteps approaching and, deciding it was better to face what was coming, he turned back around and came face to face with two of the sheriff's men. Glancing towards the back of the room, he saw the sheriff and the other two men standing by Heyes' table. He exchanged a look of resignation with his partner as the sheriff's loud voice demanded

"OK cowboy, on your feet, you're under arrest."

Heyes turned his eyes to the sheriff but didn't make any move to stand up. He took a breath to voice his objections, but as he did so, Sheriff Taggerty placed his hands on the shoulders of the man sitting beside him.

"I said stand Ralph Benton, you're under arrest." the sheriff growled and non too gently hauled Benton to this feet. The other two men with the sheriff flanked the cowboy and escorted him out of the saloon.

The sheriff turned back to the poker table, tipped his hat at them and smiled "Gentlemen. Sorry to interrupt your game" before following the others across the saloon.

Heyes looked at Curry in shock, unable to believe he was still sitting there.

In front of Curry, one of the men was speaking. "I'm sorry Lady, but you're under arrest too. I don't want to use force, so just come quietly."

Curry's surprise at the situation turned to bewilderment a moment later as Lucy pulled him into an enormous bear hug, kissing his face and running her hands all over him.

"Seems like it's not our day Thaddeus honey" she whispered in his ear. "Maybe we can try again another day?" Kissing him full on the lips, she pulled away from him and allowed herself to be escorted out of the saloon.

Curry again just stared after her in amazement.

At the back of the saloon, Heyes smiled to himself. Trust the Kid. He thought he'd done well himself to avoid being arrested, but Kid had not only avoided arrest, he'd also got himself kissed - and how!

Curry picked up the whisky the bartender had poured for him, downed it and leaned against the bar, a little uncertain at this point whether his legs would hold him up without support. The bartender quickly refilled the glass yet again.

Heyes meanwhile had excused himself from the poker game and had now joined Curry at the bar. Curry reached for the glass of whisky but Heyes beat him to it and downed it in one.

"Close call?" slurred Curry, a little too loudly for Heyes' liking.

"No need to tell the whole world that" he said in a low voice so that only his partner could hear and then added pointedly "Thaddeus."

Kid realised what he'd done and looked contrite. Heyes slapped him on the back and smiled to soften his words.

"S'OK. No harm done."

Heyes realised that the Kid was somewhat drunk, but he couldn't blame him. Life was tough and they'd seemed safe in this town, come to think of it, they still were really, but the close call had been a little unnerving to say the least.

The bartender placed a glass in front of Heyes but he shook his head, refusing the whisky. The one thing they had learned, the hard way, was that it was dangerous for them both to be drunk at the same time and so Heyes needed to stay sober tonight.

Curry looked at Heyes miserably "They took Lucy away" he stated flatly.

"Yeah, I know." replied Heyes wondering if Kid had had more than he thought.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I've been wondering the same though."

Kid looked at his partner and tried hard to concentrate. Yes, Heyes was worried. Probably wondering how soon they'd be able to leave town. Kid took a huge deep breath and stood up straight, pushing himself away from the bar. He wobbled a little but stayed upright. That was good he decided.

"Well, we'd better get our stuff then." He said with more enthusiasm than he felt.

Heyes was relieved.

"You're probably right" he agreed and propping his arm under the Kid's shoulders to support him, they made their way out onto the street.

The cold night air hit Curry like a tornado and he stumbled and would have fallen had Heyes not caught him just in time.

"You sure you can ride?"

"Yeah. Been doing it for years Heyes. Heck, how do you think I got into town? Walked?" Curry clearly thought this was hilarious and laughed loudly. Heyes just smiled and shook his head. His partner's sense of humour was bad enough when sober he mentally grumbled.

Heyes contemplated leaving Curry by the livery while he went upstairs to collect their things, but in the end decided he'd better take him with him.

"OK Kid, now we have to go to our room and get our stuff. OK?"

"OK" nodded Kid.

"Now I want you to concentrate once we get into the hotel, OK?"

"OK" nodded Kid again, seriously

"Hard, OK?"

"OK"

"It's important"

"OK"

"Whatever you do, don't .."

"OK," interrupted Kid slightly louder. "I'll be careful I promise."

"OK," replied Heyes.

"I know it's important."

"OK."

"You can trust me."

"OK."

"You don't have to worry, Joshua," he emphasised the name. "I know what my name is." Kid grinned broadly.

"Oh I wasn't worried about that." Heyes dismissed with a serious expression.

"You weren't?"

"No."

"What then?" asked Kid puzzled and suddenly serious.

Heyes looked at him intently before saying deliberately and sternly. "Don't sing."

Heyes gave Kid that wide-eyed innocent expression he'd seen so many times before and turned to hold the door open for Curry, who staggered through it, totally bemused.

The stairs proved something of a challenge but were eventually negotiated safely and Heyes sat Kid on the bed while he gathered their belongings together and stuffed them into the saddlebags. It only took a few minutes and in no time they were at the livery and ready to leave.

This time as they walked across the street, Curry insisted he didn't need any assistance.

"You sober now then?" asked Heyes, not convinced.

"Yep," replied Curry confidently and with a too big smile.

"Uh-huh." Heyes was extremely doubtful as they walked into the livery.

"You can get on your horse OK then?" he asked, trying not to laugh.

"Sure" nodded Curry automatically without really thinking about it. Once he stood by the horse though, it was a different matter. Heyes had surreptitiously checked the saddle for him but had then left him to his own devices. Kid looked at his foot and then at the stirrup - it was high. Could he get his foot that high without falling over? He'd need something to hold onto for sure, so he reached out and grasped the saddle. The problem then was that he didn't have a spare hand to direct his foot into the stirrup and after all that whisky he didn't think he could find the stirrup with his foot alone. He stared at the saddle and frowned. This was harder than he thought.

Then it suddenly dawned on him that he could get up without using the stirrup at all, heck he'd done it many times before. Now, all he needed was a big, big jump....

Heyes' eyes widened as he saw the Kid suddenly take off from the ground and leap towards the horse. He went sailing high up into the air and then seemed to change direction in mid-air until he was flying over the horse, headfirst. He would have landed on the ground on the other side had Heyes not leapt forward and grabbed his ankles, but at least, Curry mused, he was on the horse - sort of. He wasn't the right way up yet but he was on it. Heyes of course was laughing loudly at him and truth to tell he felt extremely foolish and more than a little nauseous. Heaving himself into an upright position, he glared at Heyes and tried to sit still while the nausea passed. Never again, he vowed, would a drop of whisky pass his lips. Now, if Heyes would just shut up and if they could travel slowly, he just might make it out of town.

He did better than that and they succeeded in putting several miles between themselves and the town. As they came out of a small glade of trees, they found a small clearing and looking around as best he could in the dark, Heyes judged it was as good a place as any to make camp for the night. They were far enough out of town for now - after all they actually had no reason to believe anyone had recognised them. They'd bed down and get a good few hours sleep - Kid was beginning to look like he needed it. He'd feel better in the morning though and they could get an early start and be miles away by nightfall.

"Hey Kid, what do you reckon we stop here? Rest up for the night? Well, what's left of it."

"You reckon we're far enough away from Oak Creek?"

"I think so. You know Kid, as much as those three being arrested gave us a shock, we don't actually have any reason to think that they know who we are."

Kid looked at him for a moment, considering. "You're right. Let's rest."

In truth, Kid was seriously feeling the effects of the alcohol and a few hours sleep sounded real good right now. As he watched Heyes dismount and tether up his horse, a wave of sleepiness came over him and all he wanted to do was lie down and close his eyes. He was really in no condition to be making sensible decisions and for some reason known only to himself and never to be disclosed, especially to his partner, he decided that the quickest way down was just to topple off sideways, landing on the hard ground with a loud thud.

Heyes was running towards him in a second. "Kid?"

As he rounded the animal, he came face to face with Kid lying on his back in a pile of dust, laughing hysterically.

"I take it it's only your pride you hurt?" he asked.

"Ah Heyes, it was the quickest way," he smiled.

Pulling him up into a sitting position, Heyes quickly checked him over and found the only damage he'd done was to his shirt.

"Kid, you've ripped your shirt to pieces, not to mention all the dust."

Standing, Heyes found his partner's saddlebag, rummaged around inside it and pulled out a clean shirt.

"Here."

When Kid encountered a few problems with the sleeves, Heyes took the ripped shirt from him and throwing it on the ground behind him, he helped Kid into the new shirt, smiling at his helplessness. He then rescued the old torn one, screwed it up and threw it into the saddlebags.

Next he laid out Kid's bedroll and blanket and Kid rolled into it gratefully and within moments was snoring. Heyes smiled at him in the darkness and patted his shoulder. He hadn't seen his partner the worse for drink in a long time - too long in fact. It did him good to let his guard down for a while and just enjoy himself. Too bad the evening had turned sour. Still they were safe and they were free and tomorrow was another day. Remembering back to when the sheriff had walked across the saloon towards him, he acknowledged that that was more than enough for now. At that moment, he had definitely expected to be spending the night in a jail cell.

He set about making camp as quickly as he could and as well as he could in the darkness and it wasn't long before he too was fast asleep.

* * * * *

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Curry opened one eye reluctantly and then snapped it shut again. He groaned groggily. Why did the morning after always have to hurt so much? Hearing a series of mini-explosions getting closer and closer to him, he pulled the blanket back over his head.

"Morning Kid," Heyes whispered, though it sounded to Curry like a Cavalry stampede.

Slowly Kid's head emerged from the blanket and he dragged both eyes open. His partner was standing over him. Darn Heyes and that big smile he thought. What does he have to be so cheerful about anyway?

"I thought you could use this." Heyes handed him a cup of strong coffee which he accepted gratefully. After downing the whole cup he decided it might well have improved things and he tried sitting up gingerly and stretching a little. Yes, maybe things weren't as bad as he'd expected after all. Another cup of coffee he reckoned and he'd be ready to ride.

The extra coffee had done the trick and the pair had spent a pleasant day riding through beautiful scenery with, for once, the time to enjoy it.

As they rode into the town of Linden Peak, they discussed what had happened the previous evening.

"What do you think that was all about last night anyway Heyes?"

"I don't know, Kid. Ralph Benton was arrested and of course so was your friend Lucy"

Kid smiled at the memory. "Yeah, that was a shame, a real shame."

Heyes laughed. "I have no idea what they were arrested for though, the sheriff never said."

"Whatever it was though, it has nothing to do with us, right?"

"Right" Heyes agreed. "Leaving town was the best option though. That way we don't need to concern ourselves with any of it."

"I like the sound of that Heyes. Trouble that don't concern us," grinned Kid

"Makes a nice change huh? Nothing to worry about."

"First stop the saloon then?" asked Kid

"I thought you swore never to let a drop of whisky pass your lips again?" laughed Heyes.

"I said that?"

Heyes nodded.

"Really? Out loud?"

Heyes nodded again.

"Hmm" Curry shook his head thoughtfully and then grinned.

"Well, I must have been drunk. Didn't know what I was saying."

With that he dismounted, tethered his horse and made his way into the saloon, closely followed by Heyes.

In the doorway of the sheriff's office, Sheriff Warren watched the two strangers ride into town and enter the saloon.

"Billy" he called to his young deputy inside, "bring me that telegram that Sheriff Taggerty from Oak Creek sent us this morning." After a few moments of frantic searching, Billy handed him the telegram and he read through it again.

"To all sheriffs close to Oak Creek. Believe 2 men left Oak Creek overnight carrying stolen diamond worth 10,000. Be alert to all strangers."

Warren looked down the street towards the saloon pensively.

"Billy, keep your eye on things here for a while, I have some business to attend to," he said, walking out onto the street, He passed the saloon and stopped briefly to look inside. The two strangers were there at the bar and he took a more detailed look at them. Then he continued on to the telegraph office.

"Hank, can you send a telegram for me please."

The telegraph operator nodded.

"It's to Sheriff Taggerty at Oak Creek. Two strangers here. Detailed description of 2 men required."

The sheriff watched as Hank sent the message through and then as he left, he added. "Hank, let me know the minute the reply comes back will you? It's urgent. I'll be in my office."

It was only about ten minutes later that Hank came running up to the sheriff's office with the reply and taking it from him hurriedly, Sheriff Warren studied it.

"One blond curly hair, white shirt. Other dark straight hair, black hat, tan pants in boots. Both same height."

Sheriff Warren sighed. That was them. And he'd been hoping for a quiet evening too.

"Thank you Hank" he dismissed the telegraph operator and turned to his deputy. "Come on Billy, we've got work to do."

* * * * *

Heyes and Curry were still in the saloon. They'd intended just to get one drink before checking out the town and the sheriff's office and finding a room at the hotel. It hadn't worked out that way though. Standing at the bar, Heyes had been watching a poker game and had come to the conclusion that these were some of the worst players he had ever seen. He was just about to nudge his partner and comment on it, when one of the players bowed out of the game, leaving an empty seat. It seemed too good a chance to miss. Heyes turned towards Curry, but found that the Kid's attentions were now firmly fixed on the dark-haired saloon girl in the bright green dress who was smiling seductively at him. Shrugging, Heyes decided there was no harm in staying here for an hour or so and then they'd go and find the hotel.

He had very quickly made an impact on the game. The players were indeed as bad as he had thought and he already had more in front of him than he'd started with. He was really beginning to like this little town. Glancing over at his partner, he guessed that he was starting to like the place too.

Suddenly a hush fell over the saloon. Looking up from his cards, Heyes saw the sheriff and his deputy standing in the doorway.

The events that followed seemed almost surreal to Heyes. The sheriff approached his table and looking directly at him, said, "OK stranger, you're under arrest."

Heyes was yanked non too gently to his feet and his arms tied behind him. Looking towards Curry he saw the deputy approach him.

"OK fella, you're under arrest too." Curry's face hardened as his arms too were tied behind him and he didn't even pay any attention to the dark haired saloon girl when she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

The pair were bustled out of the saloon and up the street to the sheriff's office where they were thoroughly searched. The sheriff removed their guns and placed them on his desk with their saddlebags and then ordered his deputy not to touch them until he returned. He then pushed Heyes and Curry in the cell and they heard the all too familiar clanking of the jail cell door closing behind them.

"Sheriff" began Heyes "may I ask what we've been arrested for?" My name is Joshua Smith and this is my friend Thaddeus Jones and ..."

The sheriff cut him off abruptly.

"I don't really care what you say your names are. And I think you know only too well why you've been arrested. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen, I have an important telegram to send. The news of your capture will be most welcome I am sure" and with that he was gone.

Heyes and Curry slumped down onto one of the bunks.

"How'd he recognise us?" whispered Curry.

"I don't know" Heyes was clearly puzzled "I don't recognise him, do you?"

"No, I don't think we ever saw him before."

"The name outside says Sheriff Warren - that doesn't sound familiar either."

"No." Curry shook his head "The deputy?"

"I don't recognise him either though, do you?"

"No. Someone else in town then?"

"Must be. Someone must have seen us ride into town."

"Or in the saloon."

"Could be."

"He's sure ran off to telegraph Wyoming pretty quickly though," groaned Kid.

"It'll be a couple of days before they can get someone down here though to collect us, there's time."

"Time? Yes. Means? No."

"You've got to have a little faith, Kid. It takes time to find the means," grinned Heyes confidently.

They heard the door open then and watched as the sheriff came back in and with his deputy's help, emptied the contents of their saddlebags onto his desk. He went slowly through everything, turning each item over and around and examining it in minute detail.

"What's he doing?" whispered Kid.

Heyes just frowned and shook his head, indicating he had no idea. They both watched intently as the sheriff continued. He carefully shook each item of clothing, fished into all of the pockets and then laid the item flat on the desk and ran his hands over every inch of it. He shook the book from Heyes' bag vigorously and then flicked through each page. Finding Curry's shaving brush he ran his fingers carefully through the bristles and shook it hard.

"I think he's looking for something Heyes," said Kid

Heyes just looked at him. His partner did have the knack of stating the obvious at times.

The search continued until they'd looked at every item. Evidently, they hadn't found what they were looking for.

Sheriff Warren sighed and approached the two men in the cell. Opening the door he pulled Heyes out of the cell and pushed him into the cell opposite.

"OK," he said brusquely to his deputy. "Search him again." Billy searched Heyes thoroughly this time, turning out all of his pockets and making him take off his boots and even his socks. Still finding nothing, they made Heyes remove all of his outer clothing until he was standing there in just his long underwear.

The sheriff was becoming more and more frustrated and bad tempered. He threw Heyes' clothes back at him rather angrily and moved to Curry's cell to give him the same treatment.

Finally he pushed Curry into the cell with Heyes and then he stood and watched as the deputy did a thorough search of the cell they had originally been in. When the deputy still couldn't find whatever it was they were looking for, the sheriff yelled at him to search the saddlebags again.

Still, they had turned up nothing. The sheriff slumped down into his chair and leaning on his desk, placed his head in his hands and sighed. His deputy stood nearby, watching rather nervously.

"What have we missed?" wondered the sheriff aloud.

Heyes and Curry looked at each other in puzzlement. They were obviously looking for something specific and for some reason, mused Heyes, they expected to find it. But what or why he didn't know. They hadn't given any clues about what they expected to find, except that it was small, judging by the places they had looked. What had also puzzled Heyes, was how this all tied together. When they'd first been arrested, he'd assumed that they had been recognised, but now he wasn't so sure. Maybe they'd been arrested because the sheriff thought they had something? They obviously hadn't found what they were looking for. If they became convinced that they didn't have it, whatever it was, would they then release them?

"Aha"

He was rudely awakened from his thoughts by the sheriff's loud voice.

"The horses" he said to the deputy, standing up in excitement. Go to the livery and search their horses. The deputy hurried to his task and the sheriff sat back down, this time nodding to himself. He was convinced he'd figured it out.

When the deputy returned half an hour later to report that still he hadn't found anything, the sheriff was stunned.

"What? Nothing? That's not possible. It has to be there somewhere. We've searched everything here twice. It has to be there. Are you sure you checked thoroughly?"

The deputy nodded, becoming more and more nervous. "Maybe... maybe they don't have it?" he ventured gingerly.

"Don't have it?" raged the sheriff "Of course they have it you fool. You're just not looking properly."

Sheriff Warren sat back down. It was getting late.

"OK," he started a little more sympathetically "maybe we'll do better in the morning. Let's leave it for tonight and look again tomorrow."

Billy nodded in relief. It sounded like a good idea to him.

The sheriff gathered up the things on his desk and put them back into the saddlebags.

"You keep a careful watch now tonight, you hear?"

Billy could only nod again - he was too exhausted to talk further.

"Well then, I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight sheriff." Billy finally found his voice.

"Goodnight Billy."

With the sheriff gone, the deputy settled down into his chair and put his feet up on his desk. It had been some night he thought, as his eyes started to drift closed. He snapped them open. Mustn't fall asleep he admonished himself. Must be careful ... very ....careful .....very ......

* * * * *

Heyes and Curry were lying on their bunks, but neither was asleep. Heyes' mind was in overdrive, trying to figure out what was going on. Curry looked over at the deputy who hadn't moved in several minutes. With the deputy most likely asleep, now would be an excellent time to attempt an escape - if only Heyes had a plan. Looking over at his partner on the other bunk, he assumed he didn't have a plan - or he wouldn't still be lying there.

Sitting up, he whispered, "Heyes?"

His partner sat up as well and turned to face him.

"What Kid?"

"You any ideas on how to get us out of here?"

"Nope, I don't."

Curry shook his head in resignation. This wasn't good.

"I'm not sure escape is a good idea though," added Heyes.

"Not a good idea?" Curry was shocked "Since when has breaking out of a jail not been a good idea?" he asked urgently.

"Think about it Kid," his partner leaned forward intently. "They're looking for something right?"

Curry nodded.

"They haven't found it," continued Heyes.

Curry shook his head.

"So?" urged Heyes, as if that should make it obvious.

Curry looked at him a little blankly and repeated "So?"

Surprised that for once Curry wasn't following his thinking, Heyes explained further.

"So maybe they didn't arrest us because they knew who we were. Maybe they arrested us because they thought we had something. But, whatever it is they're looking for, we don't have it, right?"

Curry nodded slowly, still a little unsure where this was leading.

"So what are they going to do when they can't find it? They'll have to let us go."

"Let us go?"

"Yes. Clear case of mistaken identity. We don't have what they think we have. I don't know who they think we are, but it’s not Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry."

"So they'll let us go?"

"Uh-huh. I think so. They'll have to."

"That's your plan, Heyes? We're not going to escape, we're just going to wait here until they let us go?"

Heyes nodded again and as he opened his mouth to reply, they spotted movement by the door. The door handle was turning - someone was entering the office.

By unspoken agreement, they positioned themselves so that they could see clearly what was happening.

Slowly the handle turned and then the door opened, completely un-noticed by the deputy who was fast asleep. As the shadowy figure crept around the door, Heyes was surprised, and confused, to recognise Harvey Sandford, the other cowboy who had been at the poker table with him in Oak Creek when the sheriff had arrested Ralph Benton and Lucy. What was he doing here? He glanced quickly at Curry whose questioning look told him that he had recognised him too.

Harvey looked towards them and placing his finger over his lips, indicated to them to be quiet. Heyes and Curry became more and more confused as they watched him move over to the sheriff's desk and very carefully, so as not to wake the deputy, open the drawer and gently remove a set of keys.

Moving stealthily over to the cell, he slowly and silently placed the key into the lock, turned it and opened the cell door.

Standing in the cell, staring at Harvey Sandford through a now open cell door, Heyes and Curry didn't need a further invitation. Despite his earlier misgivings about an attempt at escape, Heyes could not look at an open cell door and not walk out of it. If the sheriff didn't find what he was looking for, then maybe he would let them walk out of the jail - but on the other hand, maybe he wouldn't. The pair looked at each other and it didn't take long to come to a decision.

They walked out of the cell and moving quietly, they collected their saddlebags and guns from the desk.

"Come on" urged a whispered voice from behind them, and hurriedly they followed Sandford out of the sheriff's office. He lead them across the street to the livery where he had all of their horses ready and together the three mounted and galloped down the main street and out of town.

They kept a careful watch for any signs of pursuit and didn't slow up until they were well clear of the town. Eventually though, with no evidence that anyone was following them, they slowed to a walk.

"Well Mister, I don't know why you did what you did, but I guess we should say thank you." ventured Curry with reservation.

"I guess you should," smiled Harvey.

Heyes was more than a little more suspicious and eyed the man dubiously. "So why'd you do it?" he asked a little coldly.

"An act of charity?" he replied.

"Nope. Not that." returned Heyes immediately.

"You're right. I do have my reasons."

As he said it, he drew his gun and pointing it at them he said, "Throw your guns to the ground. Nice and slow. No fast moves."

Heyes and Curry had no choice but to comply.

"Now, where is it?" demanded Sandford.

"Not that again," sighed Curry. "Why does everyone think we have something?"

"I don't know what others think, but I know that I know you have it."

"How?" asked Heyes.

Sandford sighed impatiently "I was there remember? I saw Lucy give it to you," he said, looking at Curry.

"Give me what?" demanded Curry, getting irritated.

"The diamond!" Sandford was getting irritated too.

Heyes glanced at Curry.

"Diamond?" asked Curry.

"Stop playing games" Sandford was angry now. "I saw her after she was arrested, she told me where it is. I know you have it. Now, where is it?" he demanded, cocking the gun.

Curry was about to answer but Heyes beat him to it.

"Aah, come on now, you seriously think we're gonna walk around with it? The only reason that sheriff couldn't find it is because we don't have it with us. It's hidden of course. We're not that stupid."

"Where?"

"I'd have to show you that."

Sandford considered this for a moment and then nodded. "OK, which way?"

Quickly scanning the lay of the land as best he could in the moonlight, Heyes swung his horse around and lead the way towards what he hoped was the most difficult trail. If they got any chance at all to escape from Sandford, this kind of trail would hopefully give them the best chance to get away properly. An easy, open trail would make them too visible.

* * * * *