31_days | [February 16] [Alias Smith and Jones] Wanted, Reward Available

Title: Wanted, Reward Available
Day/Theme: February 16; Sell yourself for a profit you can't spend
Series: Alias Smith and Jones
Character/Pairing: Hannibal Heyes, "Kid" Curry
Rating: PG

Kid and Heyes made camp a few miles outside of Yellow Ridge. They were close enough that they could see the town faintly in the distance. It looked damn tempting. After two days of hard riding Kid would much prefer the beds in a cheap hotel to the hard ground. And he wanted a real steak dinner instead of having to make do with the small game he'd been able to shoot. But even though the town was close both were out of the question considering they didn't even have enough money to board their horses. At least they had their next paying job set up just thirty miles away in Bakersfield.

They sat in silence eating their dinner. Heyes had a slightly wistful far away expression no doubt remembering the poker game in the last saloon they'd been in. Heyes had just been getting into his stride when he'd seen a real opportunity to double their small stake. He'd pushed the entire lot to the center of the table so sure he'd win the hand. And the thing was, he'd probably been right. Unfortunately, before he had a chance he been forced to abandon it in their rush to get out of the saloon before the deputy could alert sheriff.

Now, it was two days later and they'd lost both the posse and all their money. Sometimes, Kid thought, lady luck enjoyed toying with them.

"Kid do you ever think it's kinda ironic, here were are less than a dollar to our names and yet we're worth 10,000 dollars apiece."

Kid chuckled low, "Almost makes you want to turn yourself in just to see if you could cash in the reward." Kid thought for a moment then added as an afterthought, "Or maybe I could just turn you in. Make 10,000 dollars and not have to listen to you anymore." He knew Heyes would know he was only kidding, though there were times his partner sure made it damn tempting.

"Wouldn't work, remember what happened in Junction City? Those railroads and banks who put the reward on us in the first place won't pay us a dime. Why do you think I haven't turned you in?" Heyes gave his cousin a teasing smile.

Kid remembered how they'd been denied the reward for the bank robbers they'd caught as well as their payment for delivering the original prisoners. In fact they'd had to leave Junction City flat broke having paid every last cent as bail. "So I'm guessing we won't be becoming bounty hunters anytime soon."

"We pulled off that job in San Juan." Heyes pointed out.

"Heyes, we had to use ourselves as bait, I'm pretty sure bounty hunters aren't supposed to do that."

"Yeah," Heyes agreed, "Bounty hunter is out." He was quiet for a moment then asked, "Do you think they'd let us be Bannerman detectives?"

Kid choked on his dinner.

Note: my second Alias Smith and Jones entry and the second one that ended differently then I originally intended. Those boys have minds of their own.