Christmas Blues

By Rachel74

Walking back to the hotel, snow just beginning to sprinkle down, Kid found himself drawn to the brightly twinkling tree dominating the town's square, and stopped to stare as he allowed himself a moment to indulge in memories of Christmases past. He'd loved this time of year as a young boy, enjoyed poking the colourfully wrapped gifts under the tree that blinked cheerfully at him from the corner of his family's small living area. Of course, during the painful years spent at Valparaiso, the season had lost some of its lustre, and they'd sometimes not even noticed it, when they were fighting to survive in the years after.

Surprisingly, the next good Christmas he'd had, despite the fact he'd been missing Heyes so badly it hurt, was one that he'd spent without his partner, because a couple named Barker, had taken pity on a cold, hungry and obviously terribly lonely young man and included him in theirs.

Joining Heyes at Devil's Hole had brought him different, more rowdy celebrations, but he remembered them fondly too. This year though, because it was just him and Heyes again, and well aware of his partner's sincere distaste of the season, he'd tried not to notice it.

Still in the last week, an ache had settled in his chest, and he knew it was caused by the fact that Christmas, a favourite time of year for the Curry and Heyes families, would pass him by uncelebrated. Blinking away the memories as there was little point in dwelling on them, he turned away and continued on back to the hotel, unaware that Heyes, worried about the time he was taking to stable the horses, had come to stand at the window, and had seen him gazing at the tree.

ASJ

Heyes flopped back onto his bed and sighed. He disliked Christmas intensely, hadn't properly enjoyed it since he'd lost his family, though as leader of the Devil's Hole Gang, he'd always made sure to provide something special for the men, despite his own apathy towards the season, realising that it helped with morale. Sometimes it was just a loud party at the hole, well provisioned with whisky and food, other times an all paid up trip to a town, including a visit to the best brothel in the area. He'd rarely taken a huge part in the celebrations once he'd organised them, content to watch from the sidelines to ensure the gang did nothing to cause the law to take too much of an interest in them.

Now that he and the Kid were again out on their own, he'd decided he would just go back to ignoring it, especially as his friend hadn't even mentioned how close it was, allowing Heyes to happily assume that he was of the same mind. Now though having seen him looking almost longingly at the tree in the square, he was suddenly less sure. Though if his partner wasn't going to complain, then he'd carry on as they were. Hearing familiar footsteps coming towards the door, he picked up the newspaper by the bed and was already reading it when Kid re-entered the room. Heyes watched as his partner shook his hat to get rid of the few flecks of snow stuck to it, before tossing it to land on the hook at the back of the door. He then removed his coat, brushing it free of the flakes had settled there, and placed it on the back of the chair near the door. After a moment he flopped down onto his bed with a muffled sigh.

Heyes gave him a moment then said casually. “Problem? Took you a while at the livery stable.”

Kid turned to look at him. “Nah, Heyes, no problem, Just the livery guy Jake was real excited about his family comin' to visit, so wanted to talk.” He paused, and after a rather tight look at Heyes added quietly. “For Christmas.” Heyes waited for him to continue, but the Kid nodded over at the paper that was now resting on Heyes' stretched out legs. “Find anythin' for us in there?”

Heyes hadn't been paying attention to what he'd been reading, so had no real idea, but still shook his head as if he had, and replied. “Nah, it's good thing we got a fair amount of money left from our last job, 'cos it seems like no one's hiring 'round here.”

The Kid nodded. “Well, guess we oughta move on tomorrow, if the snow don't get no worse.”

Heyes hearing the reluctance in his voice, suddenly recalled two things vividly: Kid joining in with the gang's celebrations with seeming enthusiasm, and how even before their separation, if he remembered, he'd always bought something for Heyes, and looked to be in a town, if they could afford it, when Christmas came round. Heyes stifled a sigh at the memories as they meant he had to acknowledge, even if just in his own mind, that Kid liked Christmas far more then he did, so against his own inclination he said lightly. “Snow or not, Kid, seeing as we got the money, don't make much sense freezing our asses off on the trail when we can sleep inside.”

Rewarded by that brightly grateful smile, which always made his partner resemble the boy he'd been, Heyes was quickly transported back close on twenty years to the happy loving Christmases with their families that he and Jed had so enjoyed, and despite the bittersweetness of the memory, found himself returning the smile with a small one of his own.

The Kid must have realised what thoughts had swept through his head, as his smile turned soft. After an emotional pause, with neither wanting to look away, the Kid finally swung his feet off the bed, and after quickly gathering his cleaning gear, began to carry out the painstaking regime of returning his colt to pristine condition, as Heyes turned back to his paper. As he read, Heyes decided that remaining in town would be his only concession to the season, and Kid would just have to accept that.

ASJ

In the general store, Kid took in the messy festive decorations that adorned it with a smile, recognising a child's hand in their making, and gathered what he needed: bullets, gun oil and some fresh cloths. Happy he had all he needed, he went toward the counter to pay. As he waited behind a woman and a small dark-haired boy, he dug into his pocket for the money he'd need, and as he did so, his attention was drawn to a small pile of books, which looked well read but still in readable condition.

Studying the spines, there were two titles that leapt out to him: 'The Story of a Bad Boy' and 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.' ' Not thinking too hard, the Kid added them to his purchases: With the threatening snow, and it being so close to Christmas, the Kid knew that the town would remain quiet, and as a result Heyes would be bored, and with his mood already a bit uncertain the Kid hoped having something to read, would help curb his sharp tongue some: That was the justification he'd give to Heyes if he had to, though for him, the books were really about giving his partner a gift for Christmas.

As the woman was paying, and chatting to the man behind the counter, Kid watched as her son obviously bored of waiting, wandered off to look longingly at some toy soldiers. He picked them up carefully, and turned them upside down, before on obviously seeing their price, returned them to the shelf, his shoulders slumping. His Ma turned to look for him, and Kid saw a sad smile cross her face.

Kid recognised the signs of a family with not quite enough money to live well, but trying to make it stretch with love: The carefully hidden fear and exhaustion of the woman, and their worn, but clean and well mended clothing

The young boy tugged on the woman's sleeve. “Ma, if I can sell my books, do ya think I can afford to buy some of those soldiers for Jimmy?”

The woman's face crumpled a little and she petted her son's head gently. “Oh, Sammy, that's a lovely thought, but I doubt you'd get enough to buy even one.”

The young boy buried his head in his Ma's leg nodding as he said sniffling. “It ain't fair, Ma, he's been so sick, and  needs something to cheer him up.”

“I know, son, maybe next year, when the harvest is better, or your Pa gets that ranch foreman job he's hoping for.”

So caught up in the little drama in front of him, the Kid didn't notice that they now had an audience, his partner had slipped in quietly after seeing him through the window. Driven by a sudden impulse, Kid walked over to the small collection of soldiers, and did a quick calculation, it wouldn't leave him much left, but he could afford them all. He'd gathered them up when he finally saw Heyes, but though he gave his friend a slightly sheepish shrug, he wasn't going to change his mind, making that clear by heading back to the counter, soldiers in his hands.

Shaking his head, Heyes throwing the Kid an annoyed expression, turned to exit with an sharp. “Guess I'm paying' for breakfast again.” With that he was gone, leaving Kid feeling irritated, and a little embarrassed, but still resolved.

After paying, Kid handed the soldiers back to the man, and said. “These are for that boy who was in here with his Ma.”

The man looked at him with pleased surprise as he said. “He'll get them in time for Christmas, me and his folks are neighbours.”

The Kid replied with a smile. “Let the boy think Santa bought 'em, and when his Ma asks, just tell her whatever you want.”

The man handed the Kid over half of the money he'd just paid for the soldiers with a smile as he said. “Son, you've just reminded me to be a good neighbour. I'll make sure they get some other treats too.”

Heyes might've decided not to celebrate Christmas, but the Kid was much happier having done something to acknowledge it, and was more than ready to face his partner's annoyance.

ASJ

Heyes paced their room irritably, they finally had money and the Kid was spending it on strangers, but he suddenly recalled something Kid had said about their separation, on the rare occasions they spoke of it, that one of his few positive memories of the time, was the second Christmas, when a family had found him shivering in their barn, and rather than reporting him for trespass, had instead invited him to join them, and realised he shouldn't have been surprised.

He was still pacing when the Kid arrived back at the room. His partner looked at him his expression tight, and his body tense, almost daring Heyes to comment, before he relaxed  and said slightly smugly. “I still got money, so no need to pay for my breakfast, or give me a lecture neither!”

Heyes gave a shrug, then a small sigh, “I saw some folks in the saloon so I'm gonna see if I can get them into a poker game, and replace some of what your generosity cost us!” He then swept out, shutting the door with unnecessary force.

Kid humphed, almost resolved to return the books he'd just bought, feeling less than Christmassy towards his partner, but then shook his head. Heyes was always the same this time of year, but there was no need for him to be grumpy too, so with a small smile, he hid the books in the drawer by his bed, and lay down on the quilt happily imagining the expression on a young boy's face come Christmas morning.

ASJ

 

Heyes had won a decent amount at poker, but not too much, and the game had ended good-naturedly when the other players had headed home to avoid the threatening snow.

Unwilling to return to the room straight away, Heyes ordered a beer, and was nursing it, when he noticed two men at the other end of the bar, both wearing suits. Probably clerks or bank workers, Heyes thought.

The younger of the pair touched his companions shoulder gently as he asked.“What you doing for Christmas, Walt?”

The older man's face dropped as he replied. “I got no plans Jason, as with my sweet Kathleen gone, and my son and his wife unable to visit until late January, maybe even February, as she's just had my first grandbaby, I haven't got anyone to celebrate with.”

The younger gave him a sympathetic look, before saying quickly. “Me and Lily were talking. We've only got our youngest this year, and she always cooks like she's feeding an army....so we figured you might as well spend it with us. It won't be the same, but least you won't be alone.”

When the older man almost tearfully accepted, Jason gave a wide grin, and slapped him on the back. “Now, I'll walk ya home, then go tell Lily the good news.”

Heyes watched them go and was suddenly hit by a feeling he was being unfair to his partner by refusing to acknowledge the season, when he'd made the effort at Devil's Hole. They were safe and together, which was worth celebrating, and with something uncomfortably like guilt churning in his stomach, he checked his pocket watch, relieved to realise the general store would still be open.

As he handed over his two purchases, a packet of candy sticks, and something a little more expensive, the storekeeper smiled. “Your friend is going to love his gift I'm sure. Man like him deserves a good friend.”

Heyes nodded in agreement, and then with a smile and a nod, he exited and walked back to their hotel.

Christmas Day

Heyes and the Kid stared out at the snow blanketing the town outside, and Kid gave a relieved sigh. “Sure glad we stayed in town, Heyes.” He paused, before adding a little awkwardly. “I bought ya somethin', I know you ain't gonna be happy, but it didn't seem right not to.”

Heyes still looking out the window, replied grinning.“Good thing ya did,or you'd only be  embarrassed, seeing as I've bought you one.” Heyes then turned to the Kid feeling smug at the surprise on his face.

Kid's joy at receiving a buckle that was a match to his new hat, made his partner far happier than he would ever admit out-loud.

Chewing happily on a peppermint stick, Kid swapped out his buckle, before handing Heyes the two books, with a smile and a quiet. “Happy Christmas.”

Heyes found it easy to smile back at him, the memories that rose in his mind now more comfort than curse, as he replied. “Happy Christmas, Kid.”