Kyle’s Mission
Part One

By MoulinP

After Heyes, the Kid and Wheat crossed the river, the land became gently undulating grassland, peppered by rocks and boulders, small streams, shallow lakes. Dry from the summer heat, negotiating this landscape wasn’t difficult, but it was slow. Reduced to walking in places, not willing to risk their horses. Finding a concealed pothole could pull a tendon or, worse, break a leg.

The Kid pulled up when they reached the top of a low hill. Concealed behind a massive boulder, he stared back into the distance. Getting down, he rummaged in his saddlebags, and retrieved binoculars. By now, Heyes and Wheat, realizing he was not with them, had turned back.

” Are we being followed?” Heyes asked.

“Not sure,” The Kid said, distracted. “Thought I saw something moving back there.” Looping the strap around his neck, he raised the glasses to his eyes. Adjusted them before training them on the spot of interest.

Heyes dismounted, threw the reins to Wheat, and walked over. He stood, hands on hips, by the side of his partner. “Is it them? he asked, voice noticeably deeper.

“Yep.”

“Good. Let me see.” Heyes snatched for the binoculars, forgetting the strap around the Kid’s neck. A strangled squawk emitted, resulting in swapped irritated looks. “Where?” Heyes asked when the Kid had untangled himself.

“Bottom of the valley. Just coming around the bend in the creek.”

Heyes scanned in the direction the Kid pointed. A moment later, he lowered the binoculars sharply. “Oh.”

“What ya see there, boys?” Wheat remained on his horse. No sense getting down if he don’t have to.

The Kid looked up, closing one eye against the sun. “Tail.”

Heyes handed up the glasses and folded his arms across his chest. “Kyle and three others. My guess: Robin Navaro and his gang.”

Wheat saw for himself. “Someone tried to improve Kyle’s looks with their fists,” he said, matter of fact and handed down the binoculars. “Don’t think they succeeded.”

“How d’ya wanna play this?” The Kid asked, accepting the binoculars back. He peered through them again. “Wheat’s right Heyes. Someone did a real number on Kyle. One eye’s swollen shut, face a mass of bruises, fingers on the right hand probably broke. Way he’s riding, I’d say cracked a few ribs too.”

Heyes chewed his lips for a moment. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. What on earth possessed him to volunteer? Navaro must know Kyle works for us,” he said, before turning and walking away back to his horse.

The Kid nodded. “We can’t know their intent. We’re worth a sizable amount of easy money to ‘em don’t forget.”

Heyes swung up onto his horse. “We let them catch up. I don’t wanna be caught unawares.” Heyes stared into the distance. “Let’s try to control the situation our way. Agreed?”

Wheat nodded. “Makes sense.”

Heyes turned to the Kid, who stood running the reins of his horse through his hands, thinking. “Yep,” the Kid agreed. “Let’s keep going and find a place where we can talk.”

 

***

 

“This looks like a good place,” the Kid said, half an hour later.

They’d come across a rocky outcrop. Behind lay a campsite clearly used before. Fire pit, complete with ashes, rocks and a well-worn log drawn up for sitting. The trail ran off to one side, boulders provided cover. Giving it a wide berth would add at least an hour. For those following them, this delay would be unacceptable and likely lose them the trail.

“Thinking the same thing.” Heyes passed a leg over the high pommel of the saddle and jumped down.

The Kid handed the binoculars to Wheat. “Keep an eye on ‘em. While me and Heyes get this set up.” He pulled his horse around to follow Heyes before turning back. “Try not to let ‘em spot ya.”

Wheat scowled. “What? Do ya think this is mah first rodeo?”

They made their preparations with the Kid insisting on checking line of sight and firing angle repeatedly until Heyes sat down hugging his knees.

“I’m done,” he said, when the Kid tried chivying him to his feet. Heyes chewed his bottom lip. “If we’re not ready by now, we’ll never be.”

“Okay.” The Kid sighed reluctantly. “They’ll be here soon, anyway. Still there, Wheat?”

Wheat peered through the binoculars again. “Yep. All four of ‘em.”

“Good.” The Kid sat next to Heyes and mirrored his posture. “Sure, ya wanna do it like this? Dunno much about Navaro, but from what I hear, he’s got a short fuse. And he’s a killer.”

Heyes let out a shuddering breath. “I know, but I don’t like what he’s done to Kyle. Nothing for it but to go in hard and confident.” Heyes nodded, before adding with a smug grin, “’Sides I have Kid Curry looking out for me. Not to mention…” He glanced back at Wheat and grinned, “all the knowledge of our esteemed leader.”

The Kid followed his gaze. “Must be hard havin’ta defer to him.”

“He’s in charge now Kid. I just havta suck it up.” Heyes ran his fingers through his hair and then reached for his hat. “Enough of this. Let’s get it over with.”

He placed his hat carefully and took a few seconds to adjust it so it sat low over his eyes. Using the Kid’s shoulder like a lever, he uncurled slowly.

Not long after, they were in position, the Kid hidden behind a rock, gun angled down on the trail. Wheat crouched on the opposite side; his gun trained at an angle behind The Kid’s.

Heyes swallowed hard. Waiting was tough.

 

***

Heyes heard the horses’ hooves and the creak of the saddles first. He took up position in the center of the trail, awaiting the oncoming men to appear around the corner. He stood up straight and tall, shoulders back. Confident.

“Howdy fellas. Mind telling me why you’re following us?” he asked the moment Navaro in the lead appeared.

Navaro brought his group to a halt. The two others came up, either side of him. Kyle remained in the rear.

“Ya mistaken friend. Happen to be going in the same direction, that’s all.”

“Is that a fact? Looks like one of your number could use some doctoring. We’ve bandages and salve if it’s a help.”

Navaro cast a glance back at Kyle. “Naw, he’s good.”

Although Navaro sat easily, Heyes could see he was a coiled spring. The two men on either side of him appeared nervous. The one on Navaro’s left, not too subtly, dropped his right hand to hang close to his gun, the other kept his hands high, clasping the reins of his horse. Kyle looked done in. His gun was tucked into the waistband of the man on the right.

“Ya plan on letting us pass?” Navaro asked, when the standoff became unbearable.

“Nope,” Heyes said, simply. “Wanna word with you first.”

Navaro laughed. “If ya mean to rob us, friend, let me tell ya we don’t have more’n a few dollars between us.”

“Somehow, I doubt it. Get off your horse and let’s talk like civilized men.”

Navaro scanned up at the rocks. “Where’s ya buddies?”

“Around.” Heyes grinned. “It isn’t them you need to worry ‘bout. It’s me.”

The smallest of movements, made Heyes frown. Then it happened fast.

“Easy boys.” The Kid stood, gun drawn and leveled at Navaro. The man on his left closed his fingers inches from the butt of his gun. The man to the right hovered his hand in midair. Heyes now held his gun pointing at them and Wheat also appeared, gun drawn.

Kyle’s eyes widened. Well, one eye widened, the other swollen shut, but he spoke in awe.

“Who ee! Kid Curry! Mighta known ya’d not be far away.”

Navaro looked up at the Kid and then back to Heyes. “So, you’re the great Hannibal Heyes.”

Heyes cocked his head, closing one eye against the sun. “Now you know who we are,” Heyes said. He’d be hurt if Navaro said no.

“Take out ya hardware real slow and toss it over there.” The Kid pointed out Wheat’s side of the trail. Four distinct thuds followed. Rifles were pulled out of boots and thrown. “Now all of ya get ya hands up.”

Navaro rolled his eyes and laughed. “Anything ya say, Kid.”

Wheat collected the discarded hardware. Satisfied the men were now disarmed, Heyes holstered his gun and folded his arms. The Kid scrambled down the rocky incline, stones skidding out from under his feet, gun still levered at them until he reached Heyes.

“Now what?” Navaro asked.

“You.” The Kid gestured to the man on the left. “Get off ya horse. Slow.” When he was down, the Kid motioned to the other man. “Now you. Just like ya partner.”

“That’s good.” Once he was down, the Kid raised his chin. “Kyle?”

“I don’t think I can Kid,” Kyle gasped. “They beat me pretty bad.”

Heyes and the Kid both turned to Wheat. He straightened up from making a cache of their guns behind a rock and gave a sharp nod.

Wheat went to Kyle, giving the others a wide berth. Kyle groaned loudly when Wheat peeled him with surprising gentleness from the saddle. Reaching the ground, Kyle nearly lost his footing but Wheat stopped him from toppling. With Kyle bent double, Wheat guided him past the group and along to the camp. Kyle’s horse trotted along behind them.

“You two follow ‘em. Lead ya horses.”

When they’d gone, Heyes looked back at Navaro, still sitting on his horse.

“What’s this about?” he asked, a sharp note in his voice.

“I’m not satisfied with your answer yet. We need to talk. Bring him, Kid.” Heyes gave Navaro a lingering look, before turning to stalk up the trail.

 

***

Their camp stood a short way along the trail off to one side. A meagre fire crackled away, coffeepot wedged in the embers. As Heyes arrived, Wheat eased Kyle onto the ground, emitting an oomph from them both. Heyes went immediately to the coffeepot and offered it to their guests.

“Sure,” one said, with a shrug. The other nodded.

“Pull up a rock then.” Heyes picked up two previously used enamel mugs, discarded the spent contents, then refilled them. “What do they call you?”

The two swapped glances before one answered. “Kantor,” he said, accepting the mug.

“Pleased to meet you. Frankie, isn’t it?”

Kantor gave a curt nod. “I answer to either.”

Heyes smiled, tight-lipped. “Very wise.” He turned to the other, holding out a mug to him. Even at arm’s length, Heyes could smell the unwashed body. “You must be Adam, Navaro’s brother.”

He nodded.

“Ah, and a man of few words.”

Heyes sat on the log opposite. Then Navaro arrived, followed by The Kid.

“What’s this all about, Heyes?” Navaro asked, accepting the offered mug. He took a seat on a rock near to his two men.

The Kid remained standing. He’d holstered his gun and hooked his thumbs in his gun belt, ready if one of their guests should make a move. He shook his head when Heyes offered coffee.

Heyes took a long, slow, drink, regarding the three men, considering how to play this. Finally, he sniffed and set aside the now empty mug on the log beside him.

“I know who you are and you know who we are. Let’s cut to the chase. You’ve been trying to take over our patch and now you’re following us. I‘d kinda like to know why?”

Navaro shifted his position. “What’s it to you? Heard you and the Kid there went to make peace with the law. Leaving the Devil’s Hole patch vacant. Figgered me and m’boys would fill the void.”

Heyes gave a grin guaranteed to annoy Navaro. By the scowl appearing on Navaro’s face, he’d succeeded. “I’m the one asking is what’s it is to me. The Devil’s Hole patch isn’t vacant. And you’ve worked over one of my men.” Wheat sucked in a hiss, which Heyes ignored. “That don’t sit too well with me.”

For a moment Navaro face registered surprise, then he laughed. “So that’s what this is about. Never figured ya for a bleedin’ heart, Heyes. Why I heard ya can be right ruthless.” He chortled into his coffee.

“I can be,” Heyes said, with menace, keeping his eyes locked on Navaro. “You still haven’t explained yourself.”

Navaro drained his mug, and set it down. “Like I said, we’re just going the same way. It’s a free country after all and…” He rose to his feet, one eye on the Kid, and motioned to his men to do the same. “I’m done answering ya questions. Thanks for the coffee. We’re leaving now.” He took a step forward and stopped.

The Kid stood in his way, gun drawn and pointed at him. “No, you ain’t. Suggest ya sit back down and answer his question.” Navaro didn’t move. The Kid pulled back the hammer.

Navaro held up his hands. “Okay, okay. Ya’re holding all the aces.”

Heyes acknowledged the Kid’s help. As Navaro and his men retook their rocks, Heyes raised his chin in Wheat’s direction. Seeing he was finishing up doctoring, he asked, “How is he?”

“Done what I can. Could use a doctor.” Heyes turned his attention back to Navaro. “There’s more to it. You’re not just happening to be going in the same direction we are.” He didn’t give Navaro time to speak before carrying on. “By the way there’s far more subtle and painful ways to take revenge than beating on someone. Entertaining too.”

Heyes drew out his gun and turned it over in his hand, regarding it speculatively. “Can you dance?” he asked, in a murmur.

Navaro viewed the gun warily. “What d’ya mean?”

“You heard.” The Kid said, taking a step forward. “Answer his question.”

“Can I dance? Sure, I can do-ce-do if I have to. What’s ya point?”

Heyes smiled. “Like to see some of your moves.” His smile faded and pointed the gun at Navaro. The hammer click sounded loud in the canyon. Heyes aimed at a spot between Navaro’s legs. “Just about there oughta do it. I reckon you’ll put on a right nice show. Shame we haven’t got any music.”

“What d’ya want, Heyes?” Navaro, plainly rattled. He closed his legs, then opened them again wider. “I’ve told ya already.”

“No, you haven’t. I’ve asked you twice already. Politely. Now I’m not asking politely. Why are you following us?”

“An’ I keep telling ya, we’re not.”

Heyes looked up at The Kid. “Want a spot of entertainment?”

The Kid shrugged. “Sure, why not? Unless ya want me to do it? Ya aim is always a little off.”

Heyes peered along the sight of his gun. “Naw, I’m good,” he said, casually. “Okay, Robin, are you ready?” He didn’t wait for an answer. His finger moved on the trigger, squeezing. “Let’s dance.”

To be continued