The two newly married couples looked out the church door smiling at the beautiful June day and listening to the bells chime for them. But as they got onto the church porch, they looked down at the street in puzzlement. There was a line of cabs waiting at the curb, just as if the church was a hotel. Big Jim came up beside the two couples. "Cabs to the reception for everybody, I'm paying!" the old gang leader called out. As wedding guests came past Heyes and the Kid and their brides, they looked at this westerner, a stranger to most of them, and he motioned them toward the waiting cabs. "Everybody, get in and go to the Plaza! Hurry up!"

"Reception?" asked Heyes uncomfortably. "We can't afford a reception. Especially not at the Plaza. That's one of most expensive hotels in the city!"

"Well, I can afford it!" crowed Big Jim grandly, addressing the friends following the happy couples of the church door. "Everybody to the Plaza Hotel! I told all the drivers to take you there at my expense."

"Well, alright Big Jim. Go on, folks, my old boss is paying! He went straight, too." announced Heyes with a brilliant grin.

Ev Carter, with his long-time girlfriend Betsy on his arm, was the first to go toward a cab and help his girl in. He laughingly told the driver perched on the roof. "To the Plaza, my good man, and don't spare the horses . . . horse. We're celebrating the weddings of Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry!" The driver stared in surprise at the brides and grooms. Big Jim hadn't told the drivers who the celebration was for. Now word spread up and down the line of cabs, and the people passing in the street. Soon dozens of pairs of eyes were trained on the newly wed couples.

Heyes was appalled and ashamed to accept charity once again, but the Kid picked up Cat and kissed her in celebration. Beth looked pretty happy as well. Jim's wife Clara, who was in the fanciest dress there, explained, "Don't worry, Mr. Heyes. There's a catered reception all prepared. Nothing showy – just nice. You and Mr. Curry and your wives and friends deserve it. So just relax and let us pay."

Big Jim laughed theatrically and gestured toward the cabs. "Get your friends in those cabs Hannibal! And I'm very, very proud of you for earning two degrees in style to make any retired outlaw proud. And I'm even prouder of you for marrying this fine lady. And of Mr. Curry for putting up with you all this time and marrying his fine lady. So no arguments!"

Heyes, too, began to laugh. "Well, alright, if you insist, Big Jim and Mrs. S. I never was one to make waves. Come on, Beth, into that expensive cab with you."

"You, Hannibal, made more waves than anyone since Noah at the Red Sea!" laughed the former gang leader. "Thank goodness you did! So no cab for you and your faithful partner the new sheriff and your lovely brides. Ah, here is the conveyance for Mr. and Mrs. Curry and Mr. and Mrs. Heyes."

The vehicle to which Big Jim referred was just now pulling up with cabs scrambling out of the way. It was an open carriage bedecked with red and white roses. It was pulled by two prancing white horses. The Kid laughed, "Thanks Jim! Now we'll go in style. Let me give you a hand up, Mrs. Curry!"

Heyes helped his own bride up the step and then got in, landing in the carriage seat a bit hard as the driver started the carriage down the street. The two couples sat facing one another and laughing with stunned joy as the carriage went clattering down the street. Even the normally blasé denizens of New York looked up curiously at the fairy-tale apparition going by. "Now I really feel like we're Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingham, and Elizabeth and Jane," chuckled Heyes to Beth.

"Who're they? Somebody from New York" asked Cat curiously.

Beth smiled. "If you ever read Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, you'll find out. Heyes quoted the book to me when we first started courting properly, bless his romantic heart."

"I'll have to do that, Beth. So that's the famous Big Jim paid for all this!" exclaimed Cat. "He's generous with his money. He sure is nice, for a former outlaw." She winked playfully at her new husband.

"That's his wife's money," Curry corrected his new wife. "She's a strange lady, but she seems to like us alright – since Heyes talked Big Jim into going straight."

Heyes nodded. "She's a strong woman – wouldn't let him do this for us if she didn't agree. But she's a better liar than I ever was, so watch out."

Beth grinned. "Well, Han-ni-bal," she imitated Big Jim's stilted pronunciation, "I remember your saying that almost nobody called you that. Big Jim's the almost?"

Heyes winced. "Yeah. It's kind'a hard to argue with your boss in my old business. Tends to get your head blowed off. He wasn't as bad that way as some, but bad enough, before he went straight. And I don't like to contradict my financial backers."

"So you just never got around to correcting him?" Beth asked in Heyes' ear.

Heyes smiled sheepishly. "I tried, but not real hard. Guess it's too late now."

"Hey, congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Heyes!" called the Kid over the clatter of the carriage over the cobblestones.

"Congratulations to you two, too," responded Heyes, "Mr. and Mrs. Curry. Did you ever think we'd get to say that out loud – in New York City no less?"

"I never much worried about where, Heyes. Any place'll do. Didn't think it was just real likely until pretty recently," replied his partner. All four newlyweds laughed at that.

The carriage pulled up at the elegant façade of the Plaza, newly erected at the southern end of Central Park. An immaculate doorman helped the ladies down from the carriage and showed the four guests of honor across the palatial lobby and down a richly carpeted hall into a small but elegant reception room. Heyes and the Kid both anxiously tipped the carriage driver and the doorman, having no idea of how much they were expected to fork over in such circumstances.

"I bet Big Jim'll tip 'em both too," giggled Cat as the doorman returned to his post with a smile sneaking onto his face. "They've hit the jack-pot today. And they've got a story about you two celebrities, on top of it."

The two couples looked around the reception room in some awe. It wasn't large, but it was decorated like a little palace. It was supported by classical columns and bristling with crystal chandeliers and potted palms. A small orchestra was tuning up at one end. Tables at the other end were decked with food. "That sure is an elegant breakfast! I've never seen a breakfast with Champaign!" said Cat, glad to add to her professional knowledge.

"It's the latest thing," said Beth. "And I'll bet we don't get a bite of it, or least a hot bite. We've got to greet everyone as they arrive. They'll expect a receiving line."

"Oh," said the Kid in disappointment, looking at the steaming tables of food.

Of course, Big Jim and Clara Santana were the first to come in. "Gosh, Jim, we sure are in your debt," said the Kid, shaking the hand of his fellow former outlaw.

"Not at all!" exclaimed Santana. "I'm glad to get a chance to express my gratitude and congratulations. You deserve the best, all of you."

"Really, Jim, it's too much!" said Heyes, shaking his former boss's hand again. "And Mrs. Santana, really you are too generous with us."

Big Jim protested, with his wife smiling at his side, "No, no, I insist! Not a minute of our current, very comfortable and happy, lives would have been possible without you both. So it gives me pleasure to celebrate you. We retired outlaws must stick together, after all!"

"Well, alright, but I'll pay you back for the loan if it take me to my final breath," said Heyes. As the Santanas went in and got out of ear shot, the aspiring professor whispered to his new wife, "And it probably will."

Charlie Homer followed the Santanas in. Beth caught his hand. "Oh Charlie, thank you so very much! I recognized Marie's ring immediately. It means more than I can tell you."

Charlie blew his nose, obviously not for the first time that day. "My dear, I know she would rather have that ring on your finger than on anyone else's. She looked on Heyes as a second son, just as I do. I hope you will both be as happy as we were, and for even longer."

Then Ev Carter and Betsy came in. "Congratulations, Heyes, Jed, and ladies!" crowed Ev, shaking the men's hands and kissing the ladies.

"I hope you'll all be very happy!" said Betsy. "You surely do look happy, already."

Cat smiled self-consciously. "Yes, it's wonderful to finally be able to get married. But we had to wait for those awful wanted posters to come down."

Ev added, "I think we might just follow you example pretty soon. I just love Betsy too much for be able to wait for me to finish my MA, money or no money."

"I'm teaching, so we'll do alight," said Betsy. "Much as men hate to be supported, at least it's not forever, right?"

"Right!" said Beth. "I'm glad you take an even-handed view of it. I'm sure Ev will be a wonderful bread-winner when he's finished his MA next year."

"Yeah, I never could see why men would expect women not to be able to make a living," said Cat. "I've been supporting myself since I was eighteen."

"But you're a pretty special lady!" said the Kid, giving his new wife a proud hug.

Paul Huxtable came next. He grinned at the pair of ex-outlaws. "Congratulations, everybody! Boy, when I first met you, Kansas, who'd have guessed all the stuff that would happen?"

"Not me!" said Heyes. "I'm just glad we happened to have the same major. Wouldn't have been nearly as much fun without you."

Then the third Columbian, Neal George, came in. He looked a bit shyly at Heyes. "It's so great to see you and Beth get married, and Jed and Cat. I remember that first day when Beth introduced you to me, Heyes. And you tried to tell me about your western past. You left out a few things!"

Heyes chuckled. "I guess I did. Sorry about that. I'm glad you know the truth, now. I'm grateful to have kept such a good friend, despite it all. I see you finally got the ink off of your fingers."

"Yeah. Be happy!" said NG. "I don't know where you'll wind up, or where I will, but I hope to see all four of you now and again."

"You'll have to come out west to see us, and Heyes and Beth, too, we hope," said Jed. "You can come and take a room at our place any time."

As NG went to get some food, Cat glared playfully at Jed. "Stop that, honey! I mean nice is nice, but if all our New York friends come out at once, we could have the whole place filled with nobody paying!"

Jed laughed. "I only hope some of them come one of these days. But you're right, Cat. We couldn't afford 'em all at once! Heyes has too many friends."

After that it was steady line of guests shaking the grooms hands and kissing the brides – Lom and Isabelle Trevors, Harvey Wilde, the portly bartender from Christy's place, Arthur Wainwright and his elegant girlfriend Patrice, Joe Treadwell, bartender from Christy's Place, Matthias Peale with a new girlfriend, Dianna Hargrove with her friend Emma, Polly Moore with a boyfriend Heyes didn't know yet, Dr. Leutze, Dr. Goldstein with an elegant lady he was seeing, Jim Smith, and even the silent porter and aphasia patient, Sam, who might not be able to understand English but could spot a wedding with ease. And the Reverend dropped in later, when he had finished another few weddings. All of them came gladly to celebrate the weddings of Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry and their new wives.

Tom O'Keeffe arrived on his crutches with his proud parents at his side. "Oh, Mr. Heyes, we're so glad to meet you! You've done so much for Tom," said his tall, distinguished looking mother in a pronounced Montana accent.

Mr. O'Keeffe, shorter than his wife and much more openly western, shook Heyes' hand and said, "We're proud of how well Tom is doing. Now maybe he'll really be able to make his own way in the world like he should. We know it never would have happened without you, Mr. Heyes. And we're delighted to meet you, Mrs. Heyes, and Mr. and Mrs. Curry, and to wish you the best."

"It's a treat to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. O'Keeffe," said Heyes modestly.

"That's quite a son you have, Mr. and Mrs. O'Keeffe," said the Kid. "I think he's as smart as Heyes, and that's saying something!" Heyes grinned at the rare reflected complement from his partner.

Heyes added. "I'm sorry I had to teach with an alias. With Tom working so hard, it was a shame to have to lie to him. I hope my real name didn't bother you too much."

"Well, it was a bit startling to hear it, but it sounds like your parents have a lot to be proud of, too," said Mr. O'Keeffe.

Heyes' eyes fell. "I hope they would be," he said softly. "I wish they could have lived to be here. And Jed's, too."

The next couple in line was the one Heyes and the Kid had been dreading, after what they had overheard in the church.

Beth hugged a woman who looked very much like her, only younger and more slender. At her side was a burly bearded man with resentful eyes. Beth introduced them to her new husband and his partner and Cat. "This is my sister, Barbara Dunham, and her husband Corey Dunham."

"Oh, Beth! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations, all four of your!" said Barbara in a soft alto voice very like her sister's. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Mr. Heyes, and Mr. and Mrs. Curry. We wish you all the happiness in the world."

"Um, yes," said Corey awkwardly. "Congratulations." He moved away into the big room as quickly as he could, avoiding meeting the eyes of the grooms. Barbara, embarrassed by her husband, hugged Beth again, and hugged Cat and was gladly kissed by both grooms. But she didn't say anything about her husband. She just looked apologetic and then went to follow him.

After all the guests had come in and headed for the tables full of food, Heyes looked out the reception room door. He still hadn't seen one friend yet and he suspected that he knew why. "Excuse me, honey, and Cat and Jed. You get some food. I'll be right back," he said.

Heyes went out to the door of the hotel. And there the missing guest was, waiting quietly on the sidewalk near the door. It was Hardin Cole.

"Cole!" cried Heyes. "Come on in!"

Heyes' lawyer studied the sidewalk. "No, Heyes. It's not allowed. I thought you'd figure that out and come out so I could at least wish you well. I'm glad you did. Congratulations! Please give my best wishes to Beth and Cat and Jed. I guess I'd better get on back to Montana."

Heyes said, "Not before you enjoy our wedding reception."

The young African-American lawyer spoke quietly, resigned to his lot. "No, Heyes. No Negroes allowed at the Plaza except through the back way, and sure not as guests. I'm glad you wanted me at the ceremony and the Reverend let me in the church. Don't worry about it. I'm used to it."

Heyes stalked up to the doorman, who looked coldly at him. Heyes' brown eyes blazed angrily as he stated firmly, "You are going to let this man in and you're going to do it right now."

The doorman spoke mechanically. "No, sir. He's right. No negroes allowed."

Heyes was fuming, but he kept his voice as pleasant as he could. "He's not just a negro. And he's not just my friend. He's my lawyer."

The doorman started at Heyes' words. "A black lawyer?"

Heyes went on, "And not only that, he's an authority on the fourteenth amendment and the laws following from it. Do you have any idea how unconstitutional it is to exclude a man from your place of business on account of his race? He and all the other Negroes the Plaza has excluded sure do have excellent grounds for a class action suit. A very, very expensive class action suit. Maybe if you let him in quietly now, he won't take your employers to court and sue their pants off. Just maybe. If you're real, real nice to him."

The gaudily uniformed man glanced back and forth between the mildly smile of Hardin Cole and the sharp glare of Hannibal Heyes. He looked in the hotel's glass doors nervously to see who might be there. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Alright, alright, Mr. Heyes. Just get him in and out quietly, alright? I could get fired if I let him in."

Heyes smiled maliciously and shook an accusing finger at the doorman. "And your hotel could get sued into bankruptcy for keeping him out. Remember that."

Soon Heyes and Cole were walking down the elegantly carpeted halls of the Plaza. When they were out of earshot of any hotel employees, Cole shook his head and said, "Heyes, if I ever get careless and start thinking I can believe a word you say, I'll just remember that little display. You might not be an armed robber any longer, but you sure still are a conman. I only wish I really was an authority on the fourteenth amendment."

"What, you mean you aren't?" asked Heyes in feigned shock.

"And I dearly wish that anyone ever enforced it as widely and fairly as you would have that doorman think!"

"Goodness gracious, Mr. Cole. I had no idea or I would never had deceived that poor man so. Perhaps we should go back and apologize?" Heyes said with an amazingly straight face at they arrived at the reception room and saw the happy crowd of guests and the good food.

"Well, at least let me get something to eat before you have me thrown out!" said Cole. "And thanks, Heyes. You really are a friend - if l not a perfectly honest one." He winked one hazel eye at his new favorite client. "And congratulations!"

The orchestra, made up mostly of a few violins and a piano, played softly in the background as the guests visited in interesting combinations. Joe from Christy's place was visiting with Dr. Goldstein. Hardin Cole was chatting with Harvey Wilde. Heyes and Beth finally got some food, with Jed and Cat beside them. Beth whispered to her new husband. "I wonder what Joe and Dr. Goldstein are talking about? Talk about folks with nothing in common!"

"I'll bet Cole and Wilde are talking law," said Heyes, swallowing a mouthful of salad. "And there's Cat talking to your sister, just like I thought she would. Got to be on about the hotel business. Of course the Kid and Matthias already know each other. It's fun to have our friends meet up like this, before they scatter again."

"I do wish Mrs. Wilde could have come," said Beth "It's a shame for Harvey to be here alone."

"No it's not," said Cat acidly. "It's a blessing. That woman cordially hates all four of us for putting her Harvey in danger. You'd think she'd be grateful to Jed for taking over the job now that he can, but she still manages to treat him like a piece of . . ."

"Cat!" Jed stopped his new wife before she could say anything that nasty in public. The four newlyweds looked uncomfortably at each other. This little revelation reminded them that they still faced a lot of challenges due to their names and the past of the two grooms.

When they were done getting their brunch, Heyes took Jed with him and went to speak to the leader of the orchestra. The orchestra tuned up for a moment. The leader stood and cleared his throat. The crowd quieted and looked toward him. "May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jedediah Curry and Mr. and Mrs. Hannibal Heyes!" he announced grandly as the orchestra struck up a new melody. There was soft applause as the two couples stepped on the dance floor. Beth smiled when she recognized the melody – it was the Blue Danube. The first time they had ever kissed had been just after dancing to it. Heyes put his arm around his new wife's waist. The Kid intently watched what Heyes and Beth were doing and smoothly imitated them. Jed was a good dancer, but this kind of waltz was new to him.

"Well, Mrs. Heyes," whispered Heyes into Beth's ear when they had been twirling over the floor for a few moments and other couples were starting to join them, "maybe this time we can get through a dance without my leaving all of a sudden!"

Beth smiled. "I certainly hope so, Mr. Heyes. The first two attempts didn't go all that well. Maybe the third time really is the charm. Just as long as you don't get arrested again."

As the couples danced, an elegantly garbed waiter brought Lom Trevors and his wife each a glass of white wine and something the ex-sheriff didn't recognize from a small tray. Once the waiter had moved off, Lom whispered to his wife. "What did he say this thingy is? And what do you do with it?"

Isabelle restrained herself from giggling at her Western husband. "It's an hors d'oeuvre, Lom. You eat it."

"You do, do you?" Lom took a delicate bite, and then eagerly finished the little bit of toast and toppings. "Hm. Don't ask me what they put in it, but it's tasty. Do you think somebody might bring us another one or two of those do-dads?"

Isabelle laughed. "You just try to stop them!"

But Lom soon had little time for eating hors d'oeuvres or anything else because he found himself at the center of a curious gathering of Heyes' young friends. Paul Huxtable asked, "Mr. Trevors, how long have you known Heyes and his partner?"

"Hm." Lom struggled to finish his second hors d'oeuvre in as many minutes so he could answer. "First off, call me Lom. If you're friends of Heyes' and the Kids', you're friends of mine. I've known those guys more than twenty years. They was just boys when we met up in a pretty rough bunch that fed them up when they were pretty boney youngsters. We've been pretty close since then, 'cept for a while after I turned sheriff and it was too dangerous for them to see me at all."

Jim Smith, eyes shining with enthusiasm, asked, "What was Heyes like when you first met him? And the Kid, what was he like?"

Lom smiled at the memory. "Heyes as a youngster getting' started was pretty quiet and polite. He paid attention to everything. You could just see him watchin' and kinda takin' notes in his head. And he always had a book or two in his saddle bags. Made him stand out a mite, you could say. Most outlaws ain't big readers, but Heyes read in the saddle 'til it got him lost in the woods one day when we was on our way to a job out of state. We had to send somebody after him. After that he waited till he got off his horse." Lom laughed and so did his avid young audience.

"The Kid, that's another matter. He had a temper from the first and didn't always have a lot of sense. But he had the goods with a gun to back it up. Folks took him a lot more serious than they took Heyes, just at first. But the Kid was too young for any gang to take on regular. Heyes got a ranch to take him on while he grew up some. Heyes caught on with the Plummer bunch. First off, nobody thought much of Heyes. He was just a skinny, quiet kid. Once they started to find out what all Heyes could really do, that changed."

"Why? What could he do?" asked Tom O'Keeffe from a nearby chair.

Lom warmed to his stories. As Isabelle watched his tale telling in delight, Lom said to his young audience, "You might not think of what the leader of that first gang, the Plummer gang, had Heyes doing for 'em. What do you think?"

"I don't know," said Jim, "shooting people?"

"Drawing maps?" volunteered Huxtable.

"No! You ever seen Heyes on a horse?" asked Lom, looking at the young men gathered around him.

"No," said Huxtable.

"Yeah," said Jim. "In fact, he taught me to ride and to shoot, too, out on Long Island."

Tom, the westerner, knew more about riding even though he hadn't been able to ride until Heyes and Peale had made him a custom saddle. "He's real good on a horse, even when he's out of practice," said Tom.

Lom nodded. "Rides real pretty. Not showy, but solid. That first gang leader, Plummer, made Heyes the gate man. When the boys would ride through a locked fence, Heyes would open the gate before the gang and close it after them. That takes real close maneuvering on a horse – sidling up to the fence and holding the horse real still while you open and close - and you got to do it right quick during a get-away."

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?" asked Jim, "Wouldn't that leave him last – closest to anybody coming after them?"

Lom nodded. "Sure. Like I said, they didn't think much of the boy just at first. They didn't care much if he got killed or not. But they saw how good he was. So if there was any other bit of fancy riding had to get done, like jumping a wall or getting through a real tight place – Heyes'd do it. Nobody had any idea what else he might be good for. He was only fifteen, you understand."

"So how'd Heyes get to opening safes?" asked Huxtable, who had seen some of Heyes' talents for opening things first hand.

Lom paused a moment, remembering. "Little at a time, boy. Little at a time. One day, the gate we had to get through was locked. Big old padlock that hadn't been there when they scouted the route. And right there on his horse, Heyes pulled out one of those home-made pick locks of his from the home for waywards. The men laughed. But he had that lock opened before anybody knew it. So after that, they had him open a locked door. No problem. Then they had him takin' care of all the doors and windows. He got real good at that. Word started to get around. Other gangs was wantin' that boy to ride with them and Heyes, he wasn't above listenin' to some offers."

"So they went to another gang?" asked Tom.

"Yeah. The Plummer gang broke up after a big job when the leader and the take both vanished. Heyes and I went to different bunches. By the time I saw him again, he was openin' safes and startin' in to help with plans with another bunch. Then Big Jim was headin' up the Devil's Hole boys and I joined on along with Heyes – knew he was good. Yeah, Heyes, he was meant for big things. The Kid was someplace else then. I don't remember where. But Jed didn't come on with Devil's Hole until Heyes was in charge."

While Lom was holding court, Heyes was sitting with Beth in a corner, trying to avoid their friends for a moment. But a parade of well-wishers came by.

"Heyes!" said Ev. "You got your eye on any faculty spots yet?"

"No, Ev. I haven't had time to. Been kinda' busy you know. It's only a couple of weeks since we got out of prison and headed down here. You heard of anything?"

Even shrugged. "Nothing to suit you. But it's early. I know you'll find something."

Heyes gave a crooked smile. "I don't. Come on, who's gonna hire Hannibal Heyes to teach college? I know it's a sellers' market for teachers right now, with all the new schools being built and hiring on, but how desperate can they be? Even if I get some starry-eyed dean to trust me, what president or board is ever gonna agree?"

"Come on, Heyes!" said Beth, "Stop looking on the dark side! Keep your head up and believe in yourself!"

"See why I married this woman? She believes in me more than I do, Ev. And she's pretty nice in other ways, too." Heyes gave Beth a long, deep kiss, while she blushed and Ev did, too.

When Ev and Betsy had moved on, the Kid and Cat came by with a pair of small boxes. Curry spoke softly, "Heyes, Beth. We've got a little something for you, for your graduation and wedding, you know."

"Ah, Kid," said Heyes, afraid of what might come in such small boxes, "after all you've both done for us, we don't need presents. And we haven't had time or money to get you anything."

"Well, actually, I think you do need this. Especially after last night," said Cat.

Heyes looked embarrassed as he opened a small leather box. Inside was a gleaming gold pocket watch. It was engraved "HH, SCL."

"Aw, Jed, you really shouldn't have, you and Cat!"

"Well, you gotta' admit, you need it after you broke yours," said Curry. "You got to be on time for those job interviews."

Heyes said, "If I ever get any job interviews. There're all kinds of great math professors out there without felony records."

"But none as brilliant as you are, Heyes!" said Cat.

Beth opened her box and found a delicate gold watch on a long chain to go around her neck. "Oh, thank you! It's so beautiful. It will remind me to hurry and move out west near you with Heyes as soon as we can. But Heyes, don't worry. You might not have been in a position to think about presents, but I was. They aren't new, but they mean a lot to me and I hope they do to you, Cat and Jed." She brought a pair of tiny leather boxes out of a pocket in her skirts and handed them to her new cousins-in-law.

Jed opened his tiny leather box and found a tie-tack shaped like a star – like a tiny version of his new sheriff's star. "It belonged to my father," said Beth. "His commanding general gave it to him in the war after he saved some men in a battle. With all the times you've saved Heyes, I thought you deserved it."

Now Jed was blushing and being embarrassed. He blinked hard. "Oh, Beth, you shouldn't let that out of the family!"

"But it isn't out of the family, Jed. Don't forget – we're all four family, now." Beth gave Jed a little peck on the cheek.

Cat's box held a little flat oblong gold pin engraved with the image of a curled up Cat. "That belonged to my mother. She loved cats. I thought it fit you!"

"Thank you so much, Beth! Now I really do feel like family. If I have a daughter, it will go to her."

Beth said, "But not until after you've had it for many, many happy years first." The two women exchanged a sisterly kiss.

Then Isabelle came along and wanted to talk with Cat, while Jim and some of the Columbians claimed Jed's attention. So finally, Heyes and Beth had a few minutes alone. "Big Jim did us well, didn't he?" said Heyes.

"Yes. I never did understand why you worked so hard to get him to go straight," said Beth.

Heyes looked thoughtful. "I don't know. It was right after the Kid and I left the Devil's Hole and we were trying to figure out if going straight really made sense. I guess I started to think about how much that amnesty might mean to us. And then I saw Big Jim, out of jail and square with the law. Seemed to me he had always been a reasonably decent guy. I mean, when he saw me moving up, he didn't have me thrown out or killed when he sure could have. I guess I thought he could make it. But it was really Clara who got him convinced – showed him how good he could have it straight. Turned out to be right."

Beth touched her groom's hand. "Heyes, stop talking about Big Jim a minute."

"Sure, but you did ask, honey."

"I did. But I'd rather talk about us. Congratulations, Mr. Heyes." She leaned forward and gave her new husband a soft kiss.

"Congratulations to you, too, Mrs. Heyes." Heyes gave his new wife another kiss. "Mmm. That sure does sound good. Mr. and Mrs. Heyes."

"What about Mr. and Mrs. Heyes and all the little Heyeses?" asked Beth with a sparkle in her eyes.

Heyes' eyes sparkled back. "How soon do you think we can get away and go make use of that bridal suite? Get started on those little Heyeses?"

"Not yet, honey. We've got all kinds of friends and family to visit with. But soon," said Beth. And sure, enough, Barbara came by to claim Beth. The two sisters had had very little time together yet.

Heyes noticed Barbara's husband standing around awkwardly, not really knowing anyone at the reception except his wife and her sister. So while Barbara was visiting Beth, it left Corey at loose ends. Heyes felt rather noble when he went over to see if he could help his new brother-in-law to feel more at home.

"Hello, Corey! I'm so glad you and Barbara could come all that way. I appreciate how hard it is for you to leave your business."

Corey looked uncomfortable, standing with his hands in his pockets and avoiding Heyes' eyes. "Yeah, that's alright, Heyes. My wife wouldn't miss her sister's wedding and I wasn't gonna let her come alone. There are some dangerous types in a big city like this."

Heyes nodded. "Yeah, that's true. If you were worried about New York, I guess that's why you didn't bring your children. It's too bad. I'd sure have liked to meet them."

"Yeah." Corey looked up and caught Heyes' eyes.

When the retired outlaw saw the look in his new brother-in-laws eyes he said, "Yeah, I guess I know who had you worried."

"Yeah, I guess you do," said Dunham testily, meeting Heyes' gaze with unflinching hostility.

Heyes nodded and answered softly. "I understand. I'm sorry." There were only two dangerous types in New York who had really worried Corey Dunham. One of them had just married his wife's sister and the other was his partner. Heyes turned on his heel and walked away, head down. Corey didn't stop him.

The Kid was standing nearby, talking to Ev Carter. Seeing the exchange between Heyes and Corey Dunham, he abruptly broke off his conversation and started toward Corey. But Heyes looked at Curry with pained eyes. He waved his partner away from the looming confrontation. Curry went to his partner's side instead. "What's going on, Heyes? That man Dunham causing you trouble? Your own kin by marriage - and on your wedding day?"

Heyes kept his voice low. "Don't worry about it, Jed. We'll sort it out later."

"What did he say to you?" The Kid glanced angrily from Heyes over to the back of Corey Dunham's head.

Heyes spoke quietly but firmly. "Nothing, Jed. Nothing. Don't make trouble. It's Beth and Cat's wedding day and I want it to be happy for them."

"But it's your wedding day, too, Heyes, and if that small-time . . ."

"That's enough, Kid! Just let it be. Please."

"If that's the way you want it, partner. But the guy's got a lot of nerve!"

Heyes looked regretful. "He's also got three small children. He doesn't want bad influences around them. I really don't blame him. He doesn't trust us yet. How could he? We've only just met. Think of what he must have heard about us." Curry shrugged and walked away from his partner. If Heyes was willing to suffer this offence and say nothing about it, who was his partner to upset thing worse? He went to talk to Lom Trevors.

Then Beth was at Heyes' side. "Heyes, what did Corey say to you?"

"Nothing, Beth. He just . . . nothing. Just forget it."

"If my brother-in-law hurt my husband's feelings, then I will not forget it. What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything, Beth. I didn't let him. I just asked why he didn't bring the children and he didn't exactly hide the fact that he didn't want them around outlaws. Do you really blame him?"

Beth sighed. "He doesn't understand, Heyes. He can't understand, yet. He just knows your name and the stories that go with it. And that you don't have a job right now. He's just trying to look out for his family. I need to talk with him more. And with Barbara, too. There hasn't been much time to tell them the truth about you and Jed. You have to remember that most of the time I've been seeing you, I haven't been able to tell them the truth. But Corey's kin, now. He'll learn in time that you are perfectly trustworthy."

"It seems like the whole world needs to learn that. Me, too. Please don't have words with your brother-in-law about it. I don't want that."

"I'll have words, but not with him," Beth said crisply. She turned and went over to his sister. They had a long, intense conversation that Heyes tried unsuccessfully to ignore. Soon, Reverend Harrah joined the exchange between the sisters.

Meanwhile, Heyes went to visit with Ev and Neal George and their girlfriends. Then Paul Huxtable came over and joined the group. Heyes tried to pretend that nothing was wrong. But he saw Barbara having a talk with her husband. Reverend Harrah was a part of that talk, too. Their eyes kept going in Heyes' direction and the Kid's. Heyes tried to ignore them and keep talking about old times at Columbia.

"Heyes, I said don't you remember that baseball game we played with the history department? You aren't listening. What's wrong?" asked young Huxtable in concern.

"Nothing. Sorry, Missouri. Just got a lot on my mind, I guess."

Heyes heard a throat cleared behind him. He turned to find Barbara Dunham standing behind him, looking very apologetic.

"Yes, Mrs. Dunham?" said Heyes politely.

"Mr. Heyes, please call me Barbara. I'm sorry my husband was rude to you. He had no right to speak to you like that."

"But M . . . Barbara, he had every right. He wants your children safe. With our reputation, I don't blame him at all for not trusting us around them. I understand that he needs to time to get to know us. So do you, for that matter."

Barbara sounded very like her sister as she said, "I agree, Heyes. I have spoken to my husband. You do have to understand – he only learned your real names after midnight last night. He's got a lot to adjust to. Beth hinted to me before, even if she didn't name you. And she's my sister. So I feel like I can trust you on Beth's word. But after Beth and I had a talk with Corey, and the reverend said a few things. Corey's willing to give you a chance to prove yourselves. We would be very pleased if you and Beth would come and spend some time at our hotel. You need a honeymoon and our hotel's in a real pretty spot. Jed and Cat would be welcome, too. You really should come and meet our boy and our daughters. They need to know their new uncle and their cousins-in-laws."

Heyes opened his mouth and closed it. He looked over at Beth, who was coming to his side. "I don't know. I don't want to . . ."

Corey came to his wife's side "Please do come and stay with us, Heyes, and your partner and his wife, too," he said gruffly. Corey didn't sound very enthusiastic, but he didn't sound as hostile as he had just a few minutes before.

Beth looked up at her husband. Heyes turned back to Barbara and Corey. "We'd be delighted to stay with you, Mr. and Mrs. Dunham. That's very generous of you. We'll have to ask Cat and Jed. They have a hotel, too, you know, and it's hard for them to be gone so long. You understand. But if they can, I know they'd be happy to come."

After that, Heyes was glad to have some time to talk with Dr. Leutze. Here was a friend he was sure really did like and trust him, despite everything. "Doc, when I think of all you've done for me – for us – I just don't know how to thank you. If you had betrayed us, like you could have, the Kid and I'd still be in prison. No way Jed would have his star, or I'd have my degrees, or either one of us would be married."

The doctor glowed with delight. "Heyes, you've been the most successful patient we've ever treated. You've worked so hard and put your therapy and training to such good use. We're all very proud. But we're just plain happy, too. We don't think about those old wanted posters, or I don't. I just think of you as a young promising professor, and a good friend. I'd better let you go and enjoy your other guests, but I must say how very, very happy I am for you." The men shook hands warmly and the doctor started to turn away.

Heyes caught his doctor's hand again. He spoke earnestly. "Doc, before you get away from us, I have a question for you. And you can't wiggle out of it, now. I have to know. Who paid for my treatment at the clinic? You've kept it such a secret all this time. But we'll have to pay it off, when we can, so we have to know."

Dr. Leutze gave Heyes a proud look, then he looked over to where Beth was coming over to join them.

"He's right, Doctor," said Beth "We have to tell him. It's time."

The doctor looked into the crowd of friends and gestured for certain ones to come and join him. Heyes had a strange feeling in his middle as he saw who came to gather around him near the entrance to the reception room. It was Beth and the Doctor, of course, and Dr. Goldstein, and Jim, and Polly, and Sam, who needed no words to know that he was wanted.

Dr. Leutze said, "Heyes, I tried to find a patron for you. It looked like it would be so easy. You were the most promising possible patient. But then your progress stalled, and then you told me – or communicated to me – why that was. I couldn't possibly ask a patron to pay for someone whose true identity I couldn't reveal. So I had to find another way. And I did. Or we did."

"It was us, Heyes," said Beth.

"All of us," continued the smiling blonde Polly. Heyes' lips parted in surprise.

Jim took up the story, "The doc didn't t-tell us who you really were, just that he couldn't t-tell us. But we knew that we trusted you, no matter what your real name was."

"We were happy to share our services for free, for someone who worked so hard and cared so much," added Dr. Goldstein.

Sam came and shook Heyes' hand and kissed Beth's hand. He, of course, even now didn't know who Heyes really was. He just knew that the man had gotten married. "Even Sam carried your things without charge," said Polly. "And the doctors paid for other things that we with smaller salaries couldn't manage."

Then Heyes lost it. He had to take out his handkerchief and use it for a while before he could answer. "I don't believe it! I mean, I believe you'd all do. I believe it all too well. But I'm overwhelmed." The former outlaw stopped and blew his nose again. "I can't say you shouldn't have, because you saved my life. You really did. How can I refuse that? I don't know what to say, except the first thing that the doc taught me to say after I got to the clinic. Thank you! Thank you all very much.

I swear, I'll pay you back. I've kept track of every expense: every suit, every rent check, every bagel, and every cab ride. I know the amount to the penny, and I'll pay it all back."

"Even to you wife?" asked Dr. Leutze. "Surely you should let that part go. Just work hard and do well in your new career. That's payment enough for us, and more than."

Heyes was adamant. "No! I insist. I know you need all the money you can get for future patients, not to mention your own personal lives. Maybe Beth and I can combine our lots, but not the rest of you. I'll pay it all back! On my honor, I will! Most people may not think much of the honor of Hannibal Heyes, but I hope you all realize that I mean it."

"We know that, Mr. Heyes," said Dr. Goldstein, "If anyone could figure up every penny, it would have to be you. But please take your time. Be sensible. We don't want to cripple a young marriage over it."

Heyes wiped his eyes and said, "Alright. You won't see any dollars right away. But remember, any time you need a safe opened, you just call on me!" he winked broadly at them all. "But only if it's your own safe!"

As the Leutze clinic folks finished shaking Heyes' and the Kid's hands and kissing Beth and Cat, the party began to break up. Huxtable and the Columbians came over. Young Missouri said, "Heyes, when I think of that time we were tied up. I was so scared of you. It's hard to believe how much more I understand now. I just want to make sure that you know how sorry I am for some of the things I said."

Ev Carter and Neal George came over and they talked about baseball and poker and math classes. "I guess we'd better go," said NG. "But it's hard. You know – knowing it'll never be like it was again."

"Life never stays the same, NG," said Heyes. "You're old enough to know that even better than I do. But it seems like life gets better, at least some times." He shook his friends' hands yet again as they parted for the moment.

The orchestra took down their music stands and the waiters were clearing the brunch tables. It really was time to go. Charlie found Heyes and Beth near the door and handed them a large package wrapped in white paper and tied with a blue bow – Columbia blue.

"Oh, Charlie, you sure didn't have to do that," said Beth.

"Yes, I did. It's my duty to help get you two started on this new life. Opened it up, go ahead! It's for both of you." Charlie looked eager to see their reaction.

Heyes carefully untied the bow, which Beth put away to keep. Then they opened the large box together. The scent of fine leather rose from it. Beth reached in and pulled out a handsome brown leather briefcase. She showed it to Heyes with a slowly growing smile. On a brass plate by the handle were the engraved initials "HJH".

Meanwhile, Heyes pulled out the matching briefcase and handed it to Beth with a shy grin. It was initialed "EWH." Beth gave Charlie a warm hug and a kiss.

"His and her brief cases! You sure knew the right thing, Charlie! Thanks a whole lot!" exclaimed Heyes, shaking his advisor's hand. "I didn't know what I was going to do for interviews without one. And once I get a position, if I do, I'll need it every day. Beth'll be doing interviews, too, once we're in a new place. I hope I really do get to take the new middle name, or people will wonder about that J."

"Heyes – you'd better look inside," said Charlie with his eyes shining.

Heyes opened his new briefcase and found a folder inside. It held a couple of sheets of cream colored formal stationary. He took them out and read them over carefully – and slowly. Beth wondered desperately what they said, as she saw her husband swallow hard and his eyes open wide.

"What on earth does it say, Heyes?" Beth asked at last.

"It's a position announcement. Junior mathematics professor, specialty in trigonometry, strength in applied mathematics."

Beth smiled tentatively. "That's a perfect description of your qualifications. So what's wrong, honey?"

"It's not exactly in one of my four states."

Charlie said encouragingly, "Come on, they wouldn't ask you to pass up such a great opportunity. The amnesty papers only say to take a position in one of those four states 'if possible.' If you get this, it isn't possible."

Heyes nodded. "But I'd never get it in a million years. No way they'd even look at Hannibal Heyes."

"Don't assume that, Heyes," said Charlie. "If you get that new middle name in place, you might get past the watchdogs far enough for them to think seriously about how brilliant you really are."

"Heyes!" cried Beth at last in exasperation, with Cat and Curry leaning over her back, all three of them vainly trying to read the paper in Heyes' hand. "You're driving me crazy, and Jed and Cat, too! Where's it from?"

Heyes looked up uneasily and swallowed again. "Harvard."

A nervous silence fell. At last the Kid said, "Good school, is it?"

Heyes gave a bark of laughter. "Good! It's the best. It'd be a dream come true. But to apply there - it's like asking a wet behind the ears boy to draw his first time against you, Kid. Except I might just live through it. Maybe.

But, Jed, it's in Massachusetts. It sure would be hard to be that far from home."

Cat looked happy to have Heyes define home as Louisville, Colorado. That was where she and Jed had settled and planned to raise their coming child. The law trusted Jed for sure, and so did the folks in the hotel and saloon business. But Beth looked unsure. Where would she and Heyes make their home? It all hung on those applications that Heyes hadn't even started to send out yet and whether anyone in the academic world would ever trust Hannibal Heyes enough to hire him.

The End – for now. The cycle continues for one more part, titled "Two Sheepskins and a Star."

No fair skipping to the end, and no fun. To get here, and I hope you'll enjoy the process, you need to read, in order: Not Again!, Hannibal Heyes Goes to New York, Two Degrees of Separation, and Two Degrees of Separation, Part II.

Another historical note. When hard up for good names, I have turned to a whole list of great artists, mostly American. For instance, Emanuel Leutze painted Washington Crossing the Delaware, and then there's Thomas (Hardin)Cole, Georgia (Tom) O'Keeffe, Charles Bierstadt (remember the elk hunter?), Dwight Tryon, Winslow Homer (whose older brother was Charles), Joshua Reynolds (had to get a Brit in there for the British professor), and more. Theron Wiseman takes his first name from a very real person, but a patron of the arts rather than an artist. And there are a few art historians in there, too.

HW