Japanese holly.

Bingo! Thank you! I may try some artificial resuscitation on them, but they’re pretty unsuited to this area. That explains their current state:) Thanks again, embothrium!

Those leaves look opposite on the stem.

Yes, they're opposite, so not a holly. My first reaction is Euonymus.

Definitely Euonymus. Possibly the invasive E. fortunei (wintercreeper). They're coming up under all my plants.

I think it looks more like a Euonymus japonicus cultivar.

I see the pairing of the leaves now. The blue tinting of the stems didn't fit the holly either, and the leaf margins aren't really crenate as well.

Ah, the plot thickens. Thanks everyone for weighing in!

It seems like it may be the low spreading kind that Dave mentioned. And nothing is invasive in this climate except bindweed:)

Euonymus fortuneii is listed as invasive in Kansas. However, I still think its a cultivar of E japonicus given the stiff habit and leaf shape. Does it show any signs of vining?

Yes, it wouldn't be E. fortunei.

No signs of vining, floral. It’s a low scrubby thing, a foot to 18 inches high. I would like to know which it is, since I’ll probably move it and start watering it, just to see what happens:) Tomorrow I will take a pic of the entire thing, in case that helps.

Thanks embothrium. If fortunei vines at all, then this isn’t it:)

E fortunei will climb like Ivy if it meets anything vertical. That's why I asked if yours was vining. Imo yours is E japonicus. Perhaps 'Microphyllus.'?