Chapter Text
The black hat tilted at an angle, shading Hannibal Heyes' eyes from the sunlight streaming through the railcar window as his chin gradually dipped toward his chest. The warmth, together with the hypnotic rhythm of the ten-fifteen locomotive out of Chihuahua, Mexico, speeding north to Albuquerque, was having a soporific effect on him as well as a good number of the other passengers onboard.
Unlike his partner Kid Curry, who according to Heyes could sleep on a rearing horse in a thunderstorm, he didn't find it easy to sleep while they travelled; he was usually too busy thinking about where they were going and how they would find work when they got there, or scanning the faces of their fellow passengers for any he might recognize. Today, however, it had not been long before his eyes had become heavy and he had drifted into a deep sleep.
About an hour after the train crossed the US border putting them roughly four miles south of Fort Davis, there was a loud screech of brakes, the resulting force of which threw people out of their seats and caused luggage to tumble from the overhead racks.
"What the—?" gasped Heyes, opening his eyes to find himself sprawled across his partner who was occupying the seat opposite.
"Either the track's blocked or we're being held up; prob'ly both," Curry opined with a humourless smile while easing Heyes back into his own seat. The worried expressions and hushed voices surrounding them confirmed their fellow travellers also feared it was indeed a robbery.
Heyes pressed his cheek to the dirty window pane hoping to get a better look at what was going on outside. "I sure hope it isn't someone we know," he murmured. They had been recognized twice before by outlaws from gangs they had occasionally associated with, and he really didn't want it to happen again.
"We don't know anybody workin' this far south, do we?" asked the Kid in an equally hushed tone.
"I don't think so, but—"
"Think I'll take a closer look."
Before Heyes could stop him Curry slid the window down and stuck his head out. He had barely had time to turn it in the direction of the engine when a bullet whizzed past his blond curls. Quickly ducking back inside he sat down heavily in his seat.
"You alright?" Heyes asked, concern for his partner's safety evident in his brown eyes.
Curry brushed the danger to one side. "Shot wasn't even close. Couldn't see much, but it looks like they're all wearing sombreros."
Before they could consider this further their attention was drawn to raised voices outside the carriage, and the former outlaws watched as two of the bandits walked past roughly dragging the conductor along between them.
"I can't do it," they heard the man protest.
"You open eet."
"But, I don't know the combination."
One of the bandits levelled a pistol at the man's forehead and said with a sneer, "You wanna live; you open the safe."
Curry leaned forward and murmured urgently, "We gotta do somethin', Heyes."
Having suddenly developed a profound interest in the mosaic of shrubs and grasses covering the surrounding countryside, Heyes stared out of the window.
"So you're just gonna sit there and do nothin', huh?"
"No." Heyes folded his arms and wriggled down in his seat. "I'm gonna take another nap." Then, seeing the gunman's eyes begin to narrow he reasoned, "We're supposed to stay out of trouble, remember?"
Irritated, Curry ground his teeth. "They'll take our money too, y' know."
"We don't have a whole lot worth stealing; only a few miserable dollars."
"Yeah, and I plan on keepin' every one of mine!"
Although Heyes was his partner and only remaining kin, there was one thing about him that didn't sit easy with the Kid, and that was his unwillingness to get involved in other people's problems. Over the years he had learned to tolerate this trait, often going along with him in order to keep the peace, but there were occasions when he felt he should try to change Heyes' mind. This was one of them.
Given the circumstances he knew he had no time in which to formulate a coherent argument to counter whatever gems of wisdom the former outlaw leader would no doubt offer. There was only one way to make his friend comply, albeit grudgingly.
Curry pulled his gun and slotted a cartridge into the empty sixth chamber.
At the all-too-familiar sound of the cylinder clicking round Heyes opened one eye a fraction and groaned, "Now, Kid..."
Acting as if he had not heard the blond rose from his seat, and with the fully loaded Colt clasped firmly in his hand, started moving purposefully toward the rear of the carriage. Heyes watched from under half closed eyelids for a few seconds then let out a disgruntled huff. He had never succeeded in finding a cure for the Kid's natural impulse to defend the helpless or assist the needy. Unable to stay put and watch his partner try to get himself killed Heyes stood, and with a small shake of his head, followed him.
A sudden gust of wind almost separated Kid Curry from his hat the second he opened the rear door of the carriage and stepped out onto the metal gangway. When the door didn't close behind him it confirmed what he already knew — Heyes was there. With a satisfied smirk he proceeded to step across the coupler and open the door into the first class carriage.
As they entered, a multitude of worried faces turned their way prompting Heyes to whisper into Curry's ear, "Put that hog leg away, Kid — they'll think it's us doing the robbing."
Not wishing to cause any further alarm, the gunman quickly holstered his weapon.
"Howdy folks!" Heyes said, flashing one of his most charismatic smiles. "Please remain calm. My name's Joshua Smith and this is my partner, Thaddeus Jones, and we're gonna do our best to see none of you good folk get robbed today."
A hopeful murmur rippled through the passengers until a well-dressed, older gentleman with a large grey handlebar moustache, spoke up. "How do you plan on doing that, young feller? Are you lawmen?"
Heyes placed his hand firmly on Curry's shoulder in the hope of dispelling any negative reaction to what he was about to say. "Yes, sir. We're deputies from the marshal's office in Denver, and we aim to get this situation under control real fast."
"Lawmen, you say? Where are your badges?" The man's eyes narrowed sceptically. Curry also struggled to maintain his poker face at his friend's unoriginal choice of profession.
"Oh, we don't have them on our person right now," explained Heyes. "We've been on a special mission for the US Government down in Mexico. It's top secret and—"
Before Heyes' silver tongue could get into full flow Curry announced, "Now, we don't have a lot of time folks. There may be some shootin' so the best thing y'all can do is stay put, and stay quiet."
Silent nods of agreement came from the collection of travellers, and as though re-enforcing this silent co-operation, the two ‘deputies’ placed a finger to their lips and staying low, made their way down the aisle between the plush velvet seats. Arriving at the rear of the carriage and the last remaining door before the main focus of every train robbery — the express car — the two crouched down below the window hoping to hear what was going on outside. Regrettably, it sounded very much like things were still not going well for the conductor.
"I'm... telling you... the truth," the man pleaded, breathlessly. "I can't... I can't open it."
"You lie!"
"I'm not. Ooff!"
Heyes winced at the sound of a fist making contact. "So, what's your plan?" he hissed. "And it had better not be one that'll get us both killed."
Kid Curry frowned at his cousin's lack of faith. "It's simple. We're gonna go out there and scare those bandits off."
"Okay," murmured Heyes thoughtfully as he did a little math. "We've got 24 bullets between us. Won't be doing a whole lot of scaring with only two more loads apiece."
"You won't maybe, but I sure will."
"So, what do you suggest I do, stand and watch?"
"Might save time. And bullets," Curry deadpanned.
Heyes rolled his eyes. "Well, before you go out there and blast them all to kingdom come, I'm gonna go take a look and see if I can come up with anything more subtle."
Gently turning the doorknob he eased himself through the door and onto the gangway. Sidling to his left he glanced up and down the length of the train before moving to the other side. This quick reconnoitre was all he needed to glean some useful information.
It appeared there were six men in total, all wearing bandoliers across their chests and sporting handguns as well as rifles. Four stood at the end of the train next to the express car, while two more kept their rifles pointed at the engineer to ensure the locomotive didn't move. Nobody, however, was positioned on the other side of the train. He rejoined his partner.
"Well?" asked Curry.
Heyes inclined his head. "Nobody's watching that side so we can easily surprise them. I figure they'll high-tail it after a few well-placed shots."
"That all you got?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothin's wrong with it, 'cept I said the same thing two minutes ago!"