What could possibly go wrong guarding a valuable statue for a friend of the governor’s? Plenty if it’s Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.










NIGHT TIME – GREEN RIVER HOTEL

In the darkness, the shadowy figures of Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry dart to the door of an impressive brick building.  The sign on the building reads, “Green River Hotel.”  Under it is another sign that reads, “Tradesman's Entrance.”  Heyes knocks three times.  They look around furtively as they wait and notice the banner stretched across the face of the building.  Large lettering spells out, “GRAND INVITATION POKER TOURNAMENT, 2OTH YEAR.”  A man opens the door.  There is a brief whispered exchange before Heyes and Curry enter.

Once inside, the man leads Heyes and Curry through dimly lit hallways to an office.

“Have you got the letter?” the man asks, gruffly.



Curry picks a letter out of his sheepskin jacket and hands it over.  The man fumbles it open, reads it quickly, and then lets out a deep relieved sigh.  Heyes, in the meantime, is standing quietly in his grey/blue coat watching first his partner and then the man.

The man holds out his hand and nods.

“Good evening, gentlemen.  I’m John Fleming, owner of the Green River Hotel.”

“Thaddeus Jones,” says the Kid, shaking the hand.

“Joshua Smith,” says Heyes.

Fleming starts as he is about to shake Heyes’ hand.  “The letter says I’m to expect a Mr. …”  He consults the letter.  “Carlton Balfour with Mr. Jones.”  He frowns.

A wide Heyesian grin.  “Carlton Balfour is just a name I’ve used in the past on undercover jobs like this.  With great success.  As that fella, I’ve built up a considerable reputation as a card player.  You can rest assured that the $10,000 dollar buy-in you’ll be covering for me is in very safe hands.”  He looks at his partner who rolls his eyes.  “I'll check into this hotel in the morning as him.”

Fleming still eyes him suspiciously.

“Er, Mr. Fleming,” says the Kid.  “The Governor of Wyoming has asked us to do this job.  We’ve worked for him before and he lets us do things our own way.  Doesn’t lay down too many ground rules, if you know what I mean.”  He glances with concern at Heyes.

“So long as it’s legal,” Heyes chips in.  “He gives us a free hand.”

Fleming sighs and sinks into the desk chair that is behind him.  “Well, he does say you’re resourceful men.”  He consults the letter again.

Heyes grins at his partner and widens his eyes, in a reassuring way.

“If a little unorthodox in your methods,” finishes Fleming.  He tosses the letter onto the desk.

Heyes loses the grin and thrusts out his chin, then clears his throat.  “We’ve got a proven track record, Mr. Fleming.  We won’t let you down,” he says, firmly.

Fleming sighs.  “I have no choice.  If Ol’ Wes says you’re the men for the job, I have to respect his judgement.  The Governor and I were at school together and I like to feel I know him pretty well.  If he says I can trust you, then…”  He purses his lips and sighs again.  “I’d better show you what you’re dealing with.”

Fleming gets up and goes over to a safe in the corner.  He glances back and seeing the boys are behind him, frowns.  “Gentlemen, if you don’t mind.  Only I know the combination to this safe.  I’d like to keep it that way.”  He waves them to one side.

Heyes nods, presses his lips together tightly and takes an exaggerated step forward and to one side so he is out of sight of seeing the safe open.  He looks at his partner and smirks.  Curry rolls his eyes at him.  They wait patiently for the safe to open.

Fleming takes out a large wooden box.  He closes the safe door and brings the box over to the desk.  With a glance at the boys, he unlatches the box and drops the side to reveal a gold statue of a stag with a female and baby deer.



“This, gentlemen, is what you’re guarding.”

Curry whistles.  Both he and Heyes lean in to take a closer look.

“This is the table centrepiece for our private dining room.  It’s worth in excess of $50,000 and I’ve reason to believe that a renowned art thief is going to try to steal it next weekend, during the poker tournament.  Which is where you two come in.”

“So it’s going to be on display?”  Heyes widens his eyes in disbelief.  “Knowing that a renowned art thief is going to make a play for it?”  He sounds incredulous.

“It has to be.  It’s tradition.  We’ve been holding this poker tournament for twenty years and it has been present at all the dinners held before the games.  Players touch it for luck.  Folks will ask where it is if it’s not on the table.  The Green River Hotel prides itself on being a respectable, safe and secure establishment.  The damage to our reputation, if it is not there, is incalculable.”

No one says a word for a moment, then Curry speaks.  “You ever think of gettin’ a replica made?”

Beside him, Heyes raises his eyebrows in surprise.

Fleming hesitates.  “Well as a matter of fact… I did.”

Heyes and Curry swap looks.

“Had a replica made in base metal.  Figured I could have it covered in gold leaf.”  Fleming sees their blank looks.  “I got the idea last year when we had the ballroom redecorated.”  He sees more blank looks.  “It’s used for the decorative mouldings!”

“Ah!”  Heyes rocked back in realisation.

Curry rubs his chin, absently.  “How’d it turn out, Mr Fleming?” he asks quietly.

Fleming looks embarrassed.  “Not so well.”  He wrinkles his nose.  “Looked cheap and you could tell it wasn’t real.”  He hesitates.  “It’s going to be right there in the middle of the table.”  He shakes his head.  “Naw, it was an idea that didn’t fly, that’s all.”  He looks at Heyes and Curry.  “Guess we’re back to protecting the original.”

“Do you know anything about the art thief?” the Kid asks.

Fleming growls.  “No.  Only that he leaves a calling card.  Signs it M.  Nobody knows what M stands for.”

Curry nods.  “Not a lot to go on,” he muses.  The partners swap glances.

“The poker tournament, Mr. Fleming, is by invitation.  The Governor invited Mr. Balfour.”  Heyes flashes a brief grin, and then is serious.  “Who invites the other players?”

“No one exactly; it's more like a tradition.  Normally, players are selected by a secret ballot.  They are sent engraved invitations, signed personally by the Board of Directors of the Hotel.  It's considered a very high honor indeed to receive an invitation.  However, with your name already being one of the chosen, they only needed six more.  A list of the players is sent with the invitation so they know who the opposition will be.  Then it is up to them to decide if they want to play.”  Fleming smiles.  “I’m happy to report that no one objected to Carlton Balfour.  It would appear that your reputation is well-founded, Mr Smith.”

Heyes smirks.  Curry nods and they glance at each other.

“Put this back in your safe, Mr. Fleming.  We’ll think on it overnight and Mr. Jones here will come see you in the morning with our plans,” Heyes says, with a grin, slapping his partner on the shoulder.

Fleming nods and starts to latch the box back up.  “I’ll leave word at the reception desk for when you arrive.  They’ll know where to find me.”



OUTSIDE THE CLOSING TRADESMAN’S ENTRANCE

Heyes and Curry step into the street.  The moonlight catches on Heyes’ grin.

“So Kid, how did you like taking the lead in the negotiations?  It’s more difficult than you thought, huh?  Huh?  You have be ready to respond appropriately to whatever they say.”  Heyes is talking quickly.

“I did that.”  The Kid speaks though gritted teeth.

“Even if it’s something you’re not expecting.  You have to shape the conversation.  Steer it in the direction you want it to head.  And away from where you don’t want it to go.”

“I did that, too.”

“For a while there I didn’t think he would believe you.  At first he sounded real suspicious of Carlton Balfour.”  Heyes slapped his partner’s chest with the back of his hand.  “But you managed to turn him around Kid.  I’m proud of you.”

“Good.”

“I mean it coulda gone wrong.  He coulda not believed us.  He coulda thrown us out!  Then what would we have told the Governor?  But no.  None of that happened.  You did it, Kid.”

“Yes, I did.”

“We’ve got a real good job here.  A crime to prevent.  I’m sure we can do that.  It’s not too hard on the back.  You like jobs like that, don’t you?  Huh?  Huh?  That looks like a real swanky hotel so we’ll get to sleep in nice comfy beds.  Have decent meals.  Relax for a few days before the tourna….  Hey, what you doing?”

Curry presses Heyes against a wall.  He holds a threaten finger up in front of Heyes’ face.

“Heyes, I won the bet we had about who’s the most believable.  I took the lead tonight as we agreed.  You don’t have to keep on about it.”

“I don’t?” Heyes asks innocently.

“NO!  You don’t!”

“But Kid, I was extolling your virtues.  It was a difficult thing you did.”  Heyes makes a strangled sound as the Kid’s finger closes on his face.  Cross-eyed, Heyes focuses on it.

“It ain’t WHAT you’re sayin’, it’s the WAY you’re sayin’ it.  You can’t stand it, can you?  Me being able to do something as well as you.”

“Kid,” Heyes whines.  “I was praising you.  Can’t a fella be proud of his partner?”

With a growl, Curry lets him go and stalks off.  Heyes shakes himself and straightens his clothing before going after him.  He has a pleased grin on his face.



LATER THAT NIGHT – THE FRIENDLY HOTEL

“Kid, I know exactly how we can do this.”

Heyes is pacing the floor of a typical run-down western hotel room in his long johns and Henley; it is obvious he has been for some time.  In the double bed, Curry is asleep.  Heyes spins on his heel and faces the bed.  He sighs and stands hands on hips looking at his sleeping partner.

“Kid!”

Curry starts, his right hand automatically reaching for the Colt hanging over the bedframe.

“Heyes?”  He looks around in alarm.

“I got it, Kid.”

Curry lets his head fall back onto the pillow and groans.  “What exactly is it that ya got Heyes?”

“A plan.”  Heyes settles himself on the edge of the bed, shifting his partner’s legs roughly out of the way, as he sits.  “I’ll tell you all about it.  We check in tomorrow and get the lay of the land.  That sorta thing.  Then you get to make a trip to the Hole.  There’s something there we’re gonna need.”

“Me?”  Curry raises his head and jerks his thumb towards his chest.  “Goin’ back to the Hole?  Why?”  He yawns widely.  “What am I gonna get?”

Heyes grins broadly.  “I’m glad you mentioned that…”



GREEN RIVER HOTEL, HOTEL RECEPTION

Heyes, dressed in one of his smart suits, is signing the register.

“Thank you, Mr. Balfour.  Will your wife be joining you perhaps?”  Pilsner points to the ring Heyes wore on the appropriate finger.

Heyes pauses.  “Er…  Ye…s.  Yes, of course.  I can’t wait.”  He plasters on a fake smile.  “We’re so newly married…” he explains and gives an embarrassed laugh.  “Haven’t got used to it yet.”

Pilsner smiles.  “Oh you soon will, sir.  Yessir.  Been married twenty years myself, sir.  Can’t forget the little woman.”  He grins.  “She won’t let me.”  He roars with laughter.

Heyes smiles politely.

Pilsner clears this throat and sobers as he attends to the register.  “The bellhop will show you to your suite on the second floor.  The key, sir, to the Crystal Suite.  My name is Pilsner.  I’m the Hotel Manager.  If there is anything I can do while you are here, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

With a smile, he hands over the key.

“Thank you, Mr. Pilsner,” says Heyes with a charming smile.  “I’ll be sure to let you know if there is anything.”

The uniformed bellhop picks up the carpetbag and Heyes follows him out of shot in the direction of the stairs



GREEN RIVER HOTEL, A SHORT TIME LATER

Curry comes in wearing travel stained western gear, saddlebag slung over his shoulder, bedroll in hand.

Pilsner gives him a look of distaste.

“Can I help you, sir?” he asks.

“Yeah.  Name’s Jones.  You have a room for me?” he says, abruptly.  Curry leans nonchalantly on the desk.

Pilsner looks at the elbow in irritation and consults the register for a moment.  “No.  No I can’t see a Jones.”

“The owner.  Fleming.  He’s expectin’ me.”

Pilsner’s mouth forms an O.  He nods.  “THAT Jones.”  He casts aside the register and retrieves a smaller ledger from under the desk.  He harrumphs as he consults it.

“Yes.  4B.  Staff accommodation, fourth floor.”  

Pilsner slides across a small key attached to a horseshoe as a key fob.

Curry looks at it in disbelief.  “Thank you.”  He tips his hat and is about to walk away when Pilsner calls him back.  He is tapping the ledger.

“You need to sign for it.”

Curry gives him a look and, snatching up the pen, scratches a hasty signature.

“I’ll let Mr. Fleming know you’re here.”

Curry nods and is about to walk away again when he notices a sign at the foot of the stairs indicating on which floor the room numbers can be found.  There is no fourth floor, second is as high as it goes.

Curry turns back, settling his things under his arm.  He looks the question at Pilsner.

“No, not that way.  That staircase is only for our guests.  Staff accommodation is through there.”  He points at a door to the side of the main staircase, marked Private.

The look is given and Curry stalks off.



EARLY MORNING: CURRY, EN ROUTE TO THE DEVIL'S HOLE HIDEOUT

There is as a faint dew on the grass as Curry sets out on his journey.  He is wearing his sheepskin jacket.  Later, the bright sunshine convinces him to shed the jacket.  He rolls it up and straps it behind his saddle.  A few hours later, with the sun high in the sky, Curry stops his horse beside a lake.  He takes a long drink from his canteen and allows his animal to satisfy its thirst, too.

Sometime later, he is picking his way, slowly and carefully and then comes to a complete stop.  He takes out his gun, holds it up in the air and fires three shots.  Then, urging his horse on slowly, rides with his hands up.



Two men are sitting on a rock.  One is looking through binoculars.

“Who is it?”

“Weel, I kain’t tell yet,” says the man with binoculars.

Curry continues to ride slowly with hands up.

The two men on the rock are still watching.

“Somethin’ don’t smell right,” the man with the binoculars says.  “Better flash Lobo.”

In an overhang, one man sees the flash and nudges another.  “Lobo.”

Lobo grunts.  “What?”

“Somebody’s coming.  Kyle’s flashing.”

Back on the rock, the man with binoculars exclaims.  “It kain’t be!”

Under the overhang, Lobo is looking through binoculars as well.

“Well looky here.  If it ain’t Kid Curry.”

Curry stops hands still up.  He doesn’t look around.

“Whoo wee!  Howdy, Kid!”  The man with binoculars appears on a rock behind the Kid, chewing furiously.

Curry looks around and smiles.  “Howdy, Kyle.”

Three more men appear from on top of rocks, all carrying rifles.

“Howdy, Kid.  You come to join up with us again?”

“Howdy, Kid.  Where’s Heyes?”

“You split with Heyes?”

“How’s life on the dodge?”

“Yeah, had enough an’ looking to come back in?”

Curry laughs.  He still has his hands up.  “Fellas, it’s good to see you, too.  Can I?”  He gestures with one hand.

“Oh, oh yeah, ‘course,” Kyle nods.

“Thanks.”  He puts down his hands.

“Why you here?”

“Ah, Heyes asked me to come get somethin’ we left behind.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, I gotta discuss it with Wheat first, fellas.  He around?”

“Yeah, but he’s got the grippe.  He ain’t seein’ no one right now.”

Chuckling.

“Yeah, he’s done lost his voice!”

“Sure is quiet round here right now!”

Kyle hitches up his pants.  “Guess that means I’m in charge.  So if’n there’s any negotiatin’ to do, best do it with me,” he says with an air of importance.

Curry nods.  “Down at the bunkhouse, fellas?  Sure could do with a cup of coffee about now.”

“Sure thing.”



HOTEL LOBBY

Heyes walks in.  Fleming strides towards him with his hand outstretched.

“Mr. Balfour!  How do you do?  I’m Fleming, the owner of the hotel.”

Heyes smiles and shakes the offered hand.

“How are you enjoying your stay?” Fleming asks, drawing Heyes to one side.  Then in a low voice.  “Or is it Smith?”

Heyes grins.  “You just go on calling me Balfour, Mr. Fleming, until this is over.  That way you won’t accidentally slip up.  It’s easily done with aliases.”

Fleming nods.  “If you say so.”  He looks around furtively.  “Where’s Jones?  I thought he was supposed to be guarding…”

“Mr. Fleming,” Heyes interrupts, putting his hand reassuringly on the owner’s arm.  “Mr. Jones has gone to get something we'll need.  I assure you if the centrepiece is still locked up in the safe, then it's perfectly alright.”

Fleming looks doubtful.

“Mr. Jones will be back tomorrow night.”

“This whole thing’s worrying me sick!” Fleming groans.  “I’ll be glad when the tournament is over!”

Heyes smiles.  “Don’t worry, Mr. Fleming.  Everything is going to plan.”

“I hope so.”



HOTEL SUITE

The suite consists of a main room and two bedrooms leading off it.

Heyes starts up from the bed, his hand going for his gun in its holster hanging over the bedframe.  He has a clear view of the main door to his hotel suite as it opens.  When he sees it is his partner, he visibly relaxes and replaces the gun.

Curry’s expression is unreadable as he swings his saddlebags from his shoulder onto a table.

“Never ask me to go to the Hole again, Heyes,” he says, wearily collapsing into a chair and resting his head back, eyes closed.

Heyes walks into the main room, looking expectantly at him.  “Did you get it?” he asks.

Curry opens one eye and looks at him.  He just sniffs, closes his eyes and shifts more comfortably.

“You got it, didn’t you?”  Heyes is eager for news.  “Tell me you got it?”  He is crossing to the saddlebags.  “Is it in here?”  As his hand reaches out, there is a click of a gun cocking.  He looks around and sees his partner pointing his gun at him.

“Now you know, Heyes, how I feel ‘bout folks touchin’ my stuff…”

“Kid!” Heyes growls.

Curry sniffs and returns his gun to its holster.  A faint smile now plays around his mouth.

“Kid,” Heyes growls again.  He folds his arms and gives his partner a hard stare.  “This whole plan depends on you getting it.  Without it I just…”  He shrugs and holds his arms out wide.  “Don’t know.”  He starts to pace.  “I don’t know what we do,” he mutters.

Curry watches Heyes pacing up and down, shaking his head.

“I’m all outta aces.”

Curry lets his partner pace despondently for a few moments.  Then, with a rapidly spreading grin, levers himself out of the chair and crosses to the saddlebags.

“Is this what you’re lookin’ for?”  He holds up something that looks suspiciously like a gold ingot.

Heyes covers the floor quickly.  “Aw, Kid!”  He takes the ingot and holds it reverently.

“Wheat was usin’ it as a door stop!”

Heyes rolls his eyes.  “I go to all the trouble of making it…”

“You sure had some complicated plans back in those days.  We didn’t even use it for that job in the end.”

Heyes gives him a disgruntled look.  “Not the point.  It’s still no way to treat it.”  He strokes it lovingly and smiles.

“So what now?” Curry asks, bouncing on the end of the bed.  “Hey, this is much more comfy than mine.”

“Now…”  A Heyesian smug grin spreads over his face.  “Now we’re in business.”



NIGHT TIME – THE MOON IS JUST RISING OVER THE TOWN HALL

Fleming is walking, carrying a wooden box.  Curry is with him.

“Do you have it?” Fleming asks.

Curry nods and pats the bulge in his jacket.  They look around furtively and then disappear into the blackness.



THAT SAME NIGHT – THE MOON IS ABOUT TO SET

Fleming, the Kid, and then Heyes emerge from a building.  In the gaslight, a sign overhead reads “Henry and Sons Ironworks.”  They look around furtively.  Fleming carries the box again, but this time the Kid isn’t hiding anything.

“Is it going to work?” Fleming asks.

“That was a real good replica, Mr. Fleming.  They’ll melt down the ingot we brought and dip your replica in the fake gold.  No one will even notice the difference between that and the real thing.” Heyes says.

“Where’d you get fake gold from anyway?”

Heyes grins.

“Let’s jus’ say we know the man who made it,” Curry answered and grinned at his partner.  “Right, Joshua?”

“Yeah, you might say that,” Heyes nods with a tight-lipped smile, and then changes the subject.  “We'd better get going.”

The trio creep back to the Green River Hotel.



INSIDE THE HOTEL – LOBBY

Heyes idly picks up a pamphlet from the table and reads the title aloud.  “The History of the Green River Hotel Decorations.”  He flips through the pages and then reads aloud to himself.  “The lobby boasts lighting features that once graced private estates in Europe”  Heyes looks around, sees them and nods.  He reads on.  “Paintings worthy of any fine art gallery dot the walls in the lobby and other public rooms.  Valuable antiques stand in every room.”  He looks around; nodding at the ones he can see.  Then returning to the pamphlet, his eyes light up larcenously and a dimpled smile spreads across this face.  “Pride of place, however, is the large table centrepiece used in the private dining room.”  He tucks the brochure into his inside pocket, and walks away.  



AN ALCOVE OFF THE HOTEL LOBBY

Heyes is standing outside a set of grand double doors.  A sign on the door reads “Private Dining Room: 20th Grand Poker Tournament.”  His hand pauses on the doorknob as his eyes glance around.  Nobody is paying him any attention and he turns the knob.  His eyebrows go up in surprise when he finds the door unlocked.  “Really?” he says to himself and shakes his head.  With a glance back towards the main lobby, he squeezes himself slowly through the door, shutting it behind him.

The room is furnished and decorated ornately.  A magnificent chandelier sets the ambience of the room.  The large circular table is laid for dinner for twelve guests.  In the middle is the centrepiece from the brochure that Heyes found so interesting.  Hands flat on the table he leans over and inspects it from all angles.

“Hmmm,” he nods.  Lips purse in contemplation.  He nods again.  He turns to leave just as the door opens.  It is the hotel manager, Pilsner.

“Ah!  Mr. Balfour, I see you’ve found the venue for the big game.”

Heyes smiles.  “Yes, I always like to check out the room beforehand.  The ambience, lighting, ventilation.  All play a crucial part in the game, y’know.”

“Yes, yes, I believe you may be right.  One has to be comfortable to enjoy a good game.  However, this isn’t where the game will take place.”

“It isn’t?”  Heyes widens his eyes in surprise.

“No, the game will take place in here.”  Pilsner gestures to a door on their right.  “Allow me to show you.”

Heyes follows Pilsner to the other room.  He glances back at the table display as he goes.

Pilsner shows him to a smaller room.  There is a traditional green baize covered table and lowered lighting over it.  There are heavy drapes at the windows and dark wood panelling on the walls; the room exudes masculinity.

Heyes smiles and nods.  “Very nice, Mr. Pilsner.  Very nice indeed.”

They go back into the larger room.

Heyes sweeps a hand around the room and frowns at Pilsner.  “I’m a little surprised to find this room unlocked, Mr. Pilsner, given the value of some of the items you have on display in here.”  He nods to several sculptures around the walls and then meaningfully at the centre table display.  “Anyone could just walk in.”  He pauses and clasps his hands in front of him.  “Just like I did.”

Pilsner looks sheepish.  “The staff has only just finished laying everything out.  I came to make sure everything is in order and lock up.  I have the only key to this room.”  He pats the top pocket of his jacket.  “Once dinner is over, the players will go through into the gaming room.  So that nothing disturbs the players’ concentration, we leave the clearing of the table until the morning.  I personally will lock the room from the outside.  We have a man who will stand guard on the outside door all night.  I can assure you no one will be allowed in this room.”

Heyes nods, looking around the room again.  Turning back, he opens his mouth to say something further, but Pilsner goes on.

“When did you say you were expecting your wife, Mr. Balfour?”

“Oh, soon, soon.  Any day now,” Heyes nods.  He starts to move away, uncomfortable with the direction Pilsner is taking the conversation.

“Good, good.  You must be missing her?  Being newly-weds?”  He looks at Heyes, expectantly.

“Counting the days, Mr. Pilsner.  Counting the days.”  Heyes smiles holds up his key, continuing to back away.  “I think I’ll go up to my room now.  Good night.”  Heyes hurries away, his mind already working on finding a solution to the “wife” problem.



BACK STAIRS OF THE HOTEL

Heyes is making his way upstairs and stops outside the door marked as 4B, Staff Accommodation.  Looking around, he taps the partner’s special knock on the door and opens it.

Curry is lying at full stretch on his bed, hands behind his head.



The room is small and basic.  As Heyes walks in, the Kid sits up.  The look on his partner’s face tells him there is something up.  “What’s wrong?” he asks, quickly.

Heyes rubs the back of his neck and turns away.  “Pilsner asked if my wife would be joining me.”

“You ain’t gotta wife!”

“I know that!”  Heyes starts to pace, fingers on his chin in contemplation.  “But I’ve got to get one from somewhere.”

“Why?”

“'Cos he saw my ring when I checked in and one thing led to another.  Before I knew it, I had this whole story made up that I was a newly-wed!”  Heyes tosses his hands in the air in frustration.  “And that I was missing her and couldn’t wait to see her again.”  Heyes rubs his forehead and shakes his head.

“Why’d you do that?”

“I don’t know!  At the time, it was just talk; you know, to pass the time while I was signing in.  I thought he’d forget but… he asked me again just now.”  He sighs.  “I rather gilded the lily,” he admits quietly

Curry purses his lips thoughtfully, and then shrugs.  “Suppose you could propose to someone,” he suggests, helpfully.

Heyes gives him the look.

“Jus’ a thought.”  The Kid does some more thinking.  “You can get Clem.”

Heyes shakes his head.  “No.  I don’t want Clem mixed up in this.  An’ anyway she couldn’t get here in time.”

“George?”

Heyes looks at him hard.  “George is taking a trip back East, Kid, remember?  To learn deportment?”

The Kid nods.  “Who then?”

Heyes shakes his head.  “I need someone classy.”

“We don’t know any other women like that,” the Kid says, doubtfully.

Heyes stops pacing and looks up.  “Or… who can act classy,” he muses, stroking his chin.  He paces some more.  “Someone who’s… beautiful… smart… charming.”

“We definitely don’t know any women like that.”  Curry shakes his head furiously.

Heyes’ smile is smug now.  A gleam appears in his eyes.  “Yes, we do, Kid.  We just haven’t been thinking hard enough.”  He takes up residence on the bed beside his partner.  “What ‘bout Charley?”

Curry stares at him.  “Charley?” he repeats and looks incredulous.  “You mean… Charley from the saloon in Burton Wells?  The girl you… ah, favoured with your company when we were in Devil’s Hole?”

Heyes grins broadly and nods.  “Yeah, that’s the one.”

“I liked Charley,” the Kid says with a smirk.

Heyes gets up and does some more pacing.  “She isn’t quite what you think, Kid.  I got to know her real well…”

“Yeah, I know you have,” the Kid laughs.  “Amount of time you spent with her.”

Heyes sniffs embarrassed.  “We talked, y’know.  In between…”  He clears his throat.  “Clinches.”  He paces to the mirror and puffs.  Then he turns slightly.  “Anyway she, er, kinda let things drop one time.  And, er, well, I picked her up on it.  Now you’ve got to promise me, Kid.”  Heyes turns completely, reaching out a hand.  “She’ll skin me alive if it gets out.”

“What?”

Heyes considers and smacks his lips.  He hesitates.  “She isn’t… a… western gal.  She’s from Newport, Connecticut and she can speak like she’s real sophisticated.”

“Naw!  I’ve …”

Heyes raises his eyebrows in surprise.

“Ah!”  The Kid looks guilty and winces.

Heyes gives him a long look, and then sets off pacing again.  “She’s saving up to go to Europe.”

“Working as a saloon girl is a helluva way to save.”  The Kid muses as he watches his partner pacing.

“Yeah well, we all have to do what we have to do don’t we?” Heyes admits quietly.  He pauses for a moment and then shakes himself.  “Anyway… I know she could carry it off.”  He stands with his back to the Kid, hands on hips, thinking.  “Besides, she might be useful.”

“For what?”

Heyes pauses before answering and then turns around, rubbing his chin.  “Well she can ask questions we can’t or won’t have the opportunity to.” Heyes narrows his eyes in thought.

“Such as?”

“There’s a dinner before the game.  Charley will keep the conversation away from me while I size up the opposition.  I need to win more than the buy-in, remember?  Otherwise we don’t get paid.  Again.”

“It’s not jus’ gettin’ paid, Heyes.  We need to find this art thief afore they strike.”  The Kid is sitting up now.  “Otherwise we don’t get paid, period.”

“I know that.  Charley can run distraction.  She’s real good at that and as my wife, being polite, she can asks lots of questions.  Nobody’ll think twice about it but our art thief just might let something slip.  When he does I’ll be alert to pick up on it.”

Heyes smiles and shakes his head, fondly.  “That girl could talk for Wyoming in an All-American Talking Contest.”  He nods.  “Yep, we definitely need her, Kid.”

The Kid does his own thinking.  “It’s been over a year since we left the Hole.  Supposin’ she ain’t in that business no more?”

“Yeah, she is Kid,” he says.  “She has a lot to save.  She can’t have saved enough yet.  She’s a nice girl and I’d liked to help her.  Being a saloon girl is no life.”  He sighs.

The Kid thinks for a moment and then nods.  “I like Charley, too.”  He catches Heyes look and grins.  “And not just in that way,” he adds, quickly.

“Okay, then your job is to go get her.”

“Me!”

“Well I can’t go – can I?” Heyes says reasonably, holding his hands out.

“Heyes, there’s a problem with your plan.”

Heyes looks around quickly.  He frowns.  “A problem?  With one of my plans?”

“What’s in it for her?” the Kid asks.  “If she’s savin’, she ain’t gonna do this for free.  Or just for old time’s sake.”

“Yes, you’re right.”  Heyes looks thoughtful.  His brow furrows, he thrusts out his chin and snaps his suspender.  He sucks in a breath through his teeth.  “Offer her five hundred dollars.  That should do it.  No more.  I dunno how much I’m gonna win.”

The Kid rolls his eyes.  “Well okay,” he says, slowly.  “I’ll give it a go.”

“I need her back here by mid-day day after tomorrow.”  Heyes picks up his partner’s saddlebags and throws them at him.  “You’ve got a long ride ahead and not much time.  You’d best get started.”

The Kid opens his mouth to speak...



BURTON WELLS, WYOMING

Curry rides past a sign which reads, “Burton Wells, Wyoming.”  Underneath is the word, “Population.”  Next to it, somebody has scrawled, “Who cares?”  As he reads it, his mouth curves into a grin.

In town, he heads for the Silver Dollar Saloon.  Pushing open the batwing doors, he enters slowly.  He walks up to the bar, pulling off his gloves.

The bartender grins.  “Well howdy, Kid.  Didn’t figure on seeing you again.  Not after you and Heyes left the Hole.”

“Howdy, Mike,” the Kid replies, quietly.  He looks around at the few customers.  They show no interest in him.

“What can I get you?” Mike asks, polishing the bar.

“A beer.”

Mike leans in and drops his voice.  “Say, is it true what I heard?  You and Heyes gone straight?”

Reluctantly, Curry nods.  “Yeah Mike.  It’s kind of a secret though.”

Mike taps his nose.  “Glad to hear it.  I never thought you or Heyes were cut out for a life of crime.  Why, it would be downright criminal to lock you two up.”

The Kid smiles weakly.  “Thanks.”  He pauses.  “The beer?”

“Oh.  Yes.  Coming right up.”

When Mike returns with the beer and Curry hands over some coins.  “Say, is Charley still around?” he asks casually and glances at the stairs that lead to the rooms above.

“Charley?”  Mike frowns.  He looks thoughtfully.  “Yeah.”  He sighs.  “Yep.”  He nods.  “Still here.”

“Is she… around?”

“Yep.”  Mike glances at the stairs.  “Reckon she’ll be down in a spell.”

“Good.  I wanna talk to her.”

Mike grins.  “Well then I reckon she’ll be real glad to see you.”

The Kid nods and looks relieved when Mike is called away to serve another customer.



SALOON – HALF A BEER LATER

Curry stands at the bar and keeps an eye on the stairs.  A scantily dressed woman appears at the top.  The man with her starts down, pauses, grins and gives the woman a soppy wave.  She waves him off with a smile.  When he turns back to descend the stairs, she loses the smile and rolls her eyes.  Turning to go back to her room, she notices Curry.  He raises his beer glass in salute and grins.  She inclines her head, inviting him up.  The Kid takes a gulp of beer and heads upstairs.



UPSTAIRS

The woman shuts the door of her room.  Curry is already inside.

“Well, if it isn’t Kid Curry.  Now you’re a sight for sore eyes and no mistake.”  Her arms snake around his neck.

His arms go around her waist.  “Charley, it’s good to see you, too,” the Kid says, with sincerity before they kiss.

“So, what brings Kid Curry back here?” she purrs, afterwards.  “Into Devil’s Hole country.”

“Heyes,” he grins.

“Heyes!”  She pushes him away in outrage.

“Yep.”

Curry sits heavily in an easy chair, not before removing a stocking from the seat.  He drapes it over the arm.  “Heyes wants a favour an’ he’s asked me to come get you.”

“Oh, does he now?”  Charley stands hands on hips.  “And why does Mr. Big Shot Heyes think I’d be inclined to do HIM a favour?  I don’t see him for… over a year AND NOW HE wants ME to do HIM a FAVOUR?!”

Curry looks uncomfortable.  “Um, he did say it would help you out.  With your financial situation,” he starts.

“Did he now.”

Charley paces to the window and looks out, her arms folded.

“Yes ma’am.  He told me to come get you.”

Charley looks unsure.  “What’s he want me for?”

The Kid grins.  “For his wife,” he chuckles.
Charley’s heads snaps around.  “His wife?”
“To pretend to be his wife.  It’s real important, Charley.  You know Heyes.  He wouldn’t ask if it weren’t.”

Charley is looking out the window again.

“He needs somebody…”  Curry gets up and walks over.  He places his hands on her shoulders.  “Beautiful.  Smart.  Sophisticated.  Charmin’.  An’ your name…”  His arms slip around her waist and his lips are near her ear.  “… was the first name he thought of.”

Charley grins.  “Really?”

“Really.”  The Kid nods, oozing sincerity.

“Well...”  She walks out of his arms.  “I can’t say it’s not nice to be wanted by Heyes ‘cos it is.  Real nice.  After all this time…”  She leans on an occasional table, one hand on her hip.  “How much is in it for me?  I’ll lose business, Kid, and I can’t afford to do that.”

“It’ll be worth your while, Charley.  Heyes won’t stiff you.”  The Kid hesitates.  “He was sure you’d wanna help him out though.  So how does five hundred dollars sound?  And a few nights in a real expensive hotel with fancy food.”  The Kid pauses.  “Think of it as a vacation,” he adds triumphantly.

Charley folds her arms and walks back to the window.  “It’ll be nice to see him again,” she muses.  “Okay.  When and where?”

“Green River, mid-day tomorrow.”

She grunts.  “He don’t leave a girl much time to get ready, does he?”



GREEN RIVER

A stagecoach comes into town and stops a little way up the street from the Green River Hotel.  A porter from the stagecoach company assists Charley out.  Every inch of her outfit spells sophistication.

“Charlotte!  My dearest!”

Heyes hurries from the Hotel steps and rushes to greet her.  She looks at him imperiously and inclines her cheek.  Heyes hesitates.  Then letting out a barely audible growl, he kisses her chastely on the cheek.  Other passengers get off behind them.

“How was your trip?  Not too uncomfortable, I trust?” he says, tucking her hand firmly under his arm.  He escorts her to the Hotel, a delighted grin on his face.

A porter from the stagecoach company follows behind discreetly, struggling with several large bags.



HOTEL LOBBY

“My wife, Mrs. Charlotte Balfour,” a grinning Heyes, informs the desk clerk.  To one side stands Pilsner.  He sidles around the desk and lifts Charley’s hand.

“Mrs. Balfour, what a pleasure!” he gushes.  He presses her hand to his lips.  “I’m the hotel manager, Pilsner.  I do hope you enjoy your stay in our little establishment.  If there is anything I can do to make your stay more enjoyable while you’re here, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’m sure I will love my stay, Mr Pilsner,” Charley beams and glances sideways at Heyes.

Heyes rolls his eyes.

“Mr. Balfour has been counting the hours until your arrival,” Pilsner smooths on.

“Has he?” Charley smiles with interest at Heyes.

Heyes nods.

“How sweet of him,” gushes Charley.  “This is the longest we’ve been apart since we were married.  I expect it was SOO hard on him.”

Heyes visibly squirms and pulls at his shirt collar in embarrassment.  He fixes his smile.  “And on you too, dear.  But we’re together again now at last,” he smarms, patting her arm.

Heyes gives Charley a nudge with his knee.  “Let’s get you upstairs and settled my dear.  I expect you’re tired from your long journey.”

Heyes whisks her away in the direction of the stairs.



IMPRESSIVE HOTEL SUITE

Once the door is closed, Charley and Heyes look at each other with serious faces.  Heyes takes a deep breath and stands hands on hips, looking her up and down.  Charley thrusts her chin out at him, a smile beginning to form on her lips.

Heyes smirks, then grins, then chuckles.  He holds his arms out to her.  “Charley,” he laughs.

“Heyes!”  Charley gives an unladylike squeal and rushes into his arms.

Heyes hugs her tightly, a look of bliss on his face.  He kisses her expansively on the cheek and then draws back.  “It’s good to see you Charley.  I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

“Hmm.  Well…”  She regards him suspiciously.  “It’s been over a year, Heyes, and not ONE word!”  She holds up an index finger.

“Aw, Charley!  I’ve been busy.”

“Doing what exactly?”

“Trying to stay outta jail and not get killed.  Y’know?  Busy.”

“So it’s true?  You and the Kid are trying to go straight?”

“Yep.”

“Then why am I here?  This some kinda scam?”

“Nope.  It’s a job and I’m glad you came, Charley.  It’s gonna make all the difference.”

“The Kid is very good at persuading.  Against my better judgement, I might add.  This had better be important, Heyes.”

Heyes purses his lips and nods.  “Yeah, it is,” he says, seriously.  “This is a legitimate job.  For the Governor of Wyoming, no less.  And he’s real important to the Kid and me right now.”

Charley looks around the room in pleasure.  “Well I have to say as places of work go; this is a great place to work.  Very nice.”

“You get your own room and everything.”  Heyes indicated the other bedroom.  Charley crosses to the door and looks in.  Then she looks in the room Heyes has made his own.

“I think I might like that this one better,” she grins.

Heyes rolls his eyes.  “Before we discuss the sleeping arrangements in detail,” he smirks.  “Come over here and let me tell you what all this is about.  And what I need you to do for me.”

“Oh I know what I’ll be doing for you, Heyes,” she laughs.

Heyes clears his throat and takes her firmly by the hand.  He leads her over to the sofa.