Yellowstone: Starting Careers
Chapter One
Late May 1885
Philetus Norris, Yellowstone Park Superintendent, and Harry Yount, Yellowstone's Chief Gamekeeper, tired but satisfied men, paused at the top of the yellow sandstone stairs leading to the Yellowstone National Park Headquarters and watched Hannibal Heyes and Jedediah "Kid" Curry lead four horses and two laden pack mules down the road towards the stables. Norris, turned towards his friend and soon to be ex-colleague with a self-satisfied grin tinged with the regret of seeing the nation's first gamekeeper retire.
"Harry, you feel like a last glass of whiskey with me before you finish packing up for tomorrow?"
"Sure thing, Phil, I think for my last night in Yellowstone you can break out the good stuff."
"Come into my office. It'll take those two some time to unload and store the gear. They'll have to take care of the animals too, since it looks as if Sam is still away purchasing horses for the new rangers."
The two men took one last look at the retreating backs of the new Ranger Chief and his partner, the Director of Planning and Community Relations, before crossing the porch to enter the park's headquarters. Harry remarked, "Maybe we should have waited and sent either Heyes or Curry with Sam. Judging by the horses they chose for themselves from that herd in Gardiner, they're damn fine judges of horseflesh."
Norris entered his office, crossed over to the office credenza and pulled out the good stuff. He poured two generous glasses and handed one to Harry. "Your family has been wanting you to retire for a while now. I bet your daughter and her family are happy to finally have you move to Saint Louis to be with them."
Harry accepted the glass and agreed, "Yep, they are, my son, also, since he's not too far away from them. It'll be good to spend time seeing my grandchildren growing up. I missed much of my own children's youth when I was away as a guide. It's a good thing my dear departed wife was a strong woman." He took a long look out the office window before sitting down and sighed, "Still, I'm gonna miss the wildness of Yellowstone and the unpredictability of the job."
Norris nodded in understanding and let a chuckle escape, "I know what you mean. Who knew what to expect? Harry, you were the first person in the country, maybe the world, to have the chief gamekeeper job of a national park. I've enjoyed working with you to lay a good foundation for those who come after us."
Harry sipped at the smooth whiskey, memorizing the details of an office he's spent countless hours in, working with the superintendent. "It's been a challenge but overall a good place and time to end my career. The job's grown, beyond me now, heck, you've even changed to title to Ranger Chief because of all the new responsibilities."
The two longtime Yellowstone leaders and caretakers reminisced for a time reliving the challenges and the good times of the past. Looking forward to the future, Harry remarked, "You know, I had my doubts when you told me who you were thinking of hiring, big ones. But over the years I've grown to trust your judgement. I don't know what I expected but it wasn't what we found at that March meeting in Livingston."
"The idea came from TR, and you know him. His enthusiasm can be hard to ignore but he is a good judge of character," interjected Norris.
Yount chuckled at the remembrance of Theodore Roosevelt, a New York eastern dude, who proved himself as hearty, knowledgeable about the wild, and energetic as any western born and bred man. He continued his original train of thought. "Heyes and Curry, those names, bring to mind the newspaper accounts and the dime novels. But spending the last month or two getting to know them and the last three weeks in close company, touring the park in the rough, gives a body a better picture of a man. What I knew of them, ain't the half of it, is it?"
Norris leaned back in his chair, glanced over at the park map pinned to the office wall and agreed, "Those boys done good, better than I'd hoped for. Heyes had some good ideas about what the typical tourist would want to see and how to direct and manage them. I especially like his idea of issuing annual park permits for tour operators, limiting the number of operators and holding them to set rules to ensure compliance if they want the business the next year. Curry is definitely out talked by his partner but what he does say is worth listening to."
Harry lounged back in his chair. "They sure work well together, I guess they'd have to, to be a successful as they were and to stay one jump ahead of the law for all them years. And who knew, they'd both have a great sense of humor? I feel much better Phil, with Curry's skills that we've seen the last few weeks, it'd be hard to pick a better man. And Heyes, he'll be able to help you with the administrative work. The man has a sharp mind. It'll be put to better use protecting and building the park, than robbin' the railroads and banks. Although, in a way you'll still have him putting one hand in pockets, legally, of course."
The two old colleagues shared a laugh. Philetus Norris turned serious. "Harry, you're right. I need the help. This way I can concentrate on lobbying Washington for funds and resources for the park development and garnering support in the big eastern cities while Heyes can work his magic in the west. He and Curry can manage the day to day operations and the three of us can work together on strategy."
"I'm gonna take a last look around then go finish packing. Curry and me are leaving early tomorrow for the train at Livingston. I do kinda wish I could see how he handles the brand-new college boys that we were saddled with as rangers, Adam, the New Yorker that came right before we left, and the two Harvard ones arriving tomorrow on the train." Chuckling, Harry Yount rose from the chair, took a last look around the superintendent's office, shook hands with Philetus Norris and walked out to his own office.
Norris called out, "Keep in touch. You've become a good friend, I'd like to hear how things are going with you every now and then."
"Sure thing, Phil. Maybe you can stop by in Saint Louis on your travels."
Harry entered his office to find Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes sprawled out in the two office chairs positioned in front of the recently cleaned off desk, laughing. Both partners shot to their feet with slightly guilty expressions as if they were caught doing something out of turn.
"Relax, I'm just taking a last look around." Harry glanced over at the cluttered side table and straight-backed chair Curry had been using while Harry was still Chief Gamekeeper and they were sharing the same office. Yount reached down to open a drawer in the desk, pulled out a package, heavy for its size, and handed it to the Kid. He gestured for Curry to come around in sit in the proper desk chair.
Heyes and Harry shared a conspiratorial smile before they focused on the blond opening the unexpected present. A fine-grained wood stand that held a long narrow piece of petrified wood, spectacularly colored and beautifully carved with a dark wood inlay spelling out the words "Jedediah Curry, Park Ranger Chief - Yellowstone National Park", was revealed.
Kid looked flabbergasted, as the current rangers appeared at the door in order to say good bye to their old boss. Good byes and congratulations went all around as the men crowded around the desk.
The men were leaving, to give Harry Yount privacy with his memories. Curry was the last out the door.
"Kid?"
Curry turned back. "Yeah?"
"I'm not going to be long. If you want when I'm done I can help move your stuff into my or I should say your apartment half of the quarters."
Kid smiled as he replied, "Thanks for the offer Harry, but Heyes and me decided that since we've shared living space for most of our lives that for now, until one of us comes home with a wife, we'll stay in Heyes' half of the building. As long as we each have our own room, we're good."
"Suit yourself. It'll be there when you find yourself a gal." Harry winked and waved good bye as Kid left the doorway.
It was turning out to be a warm spring day, with an expansive blue sky above the sheltered valley on the way to Livingston, Montana. Harry Yount was giving Curry a break from handling the reins to the wagon team after a brief stop for an early lunch. The two men had traveled for several hours since leaving Monmouth Springs, Wyoming at dawn. This section of road was relatively smooth and straight, not demanding much attention as the horses plodded on. The retiring gamekeeper, his mind wandering in thought, was stealing furtive glances at his traveling companion.
"So, what's your plan after you drop me and my stuff off at the train station?" Harry inquired.
Kid looked over from his habitual surveillance of the surrounding countryside. "After I take the horses and wagon over to the livery, I have to go register at the hotel for two rooms. Next thing is to have a nice dinner. Then, I thought I'll find a saloon, have a nice cold beer or two, maybe sit in on a poker game. I should be able to increase my stake without too much trouble."
"Don't get so involved in the poker game you forget to collect those Harvard college boys."
"I won't. It's my partner that loses himself in the poker games, not me. Besides, I've never yet missed a train I was supposed to meet one way or another. The train arrives at 11:35 pm. I'll be there to meet them and take them to the hotel for the night."
"What do you think of college educated rangers?"
"My first choice is to hire local men for the remaining ranger jobs. They'll know the area, the terrain, the weather, the people and the animals. I won't have to worry so much about them getting into trouble while learning the job. On the other hand, as my partner has pointed out, knowing about natural history and geology will help us explain to the people touring the park what they're seeing and why it's important to preserve Yellowstone for the future. Heyes knows a little from books that he's read but we both could learn a lot more from them. So, I'll take both the college boys and the local guys, if I can find any locals that are willin' to work for us."
Harry nodded as Curry outlined his thoughts. He finally decided to say what was on his mind.
"You know, Curry, I'm glad I had the chance to get to know you. I never would have thought I'd ever say that about you or your partner just a month or so ago."
Yount cut his eyes quickly sideways to rest briefly on his companion sitting beside him on the wagon seat before returning to the road in front of him.
Curry smiled and answered matter-of-factly, "You're not the first person to say something like that. Thanks."
"I've told Norris, I feel good about leaving the park in your hands and I meant it. TR was right, you might not have had a fancy education in natural science or geology, like the new college boys, you ain't a rancher's son like the two men I hired, you're not like me havin' been a wilderness guide for years but robbin', runnin' a gang with your partner, runnin' from the law and the many kind of jobs you've told us you boys did tryin' to get amnesty sure seemed to turn you into ranger chief material…"
Kid outright laughed at Harry's genuine puzzlement. He had to admit he was a bit puzzled himself at the turn of events, and very grateful but it was still hard to believe when he woke up in the dead of night, panicked at the thought it was nothing but a dream.
"…Plus, you're a natural observer, know what you're doing in the wilderness, and lord knows I ain't never in all my born days seen anyone as good with a revolver as you. Norris and me just couldn't believe you making that shot that quick and dead on last week and Heyes sat there like he's seen you do somethin' like it a thousand time before. No wonder you're called a livin' legend."
"Harry, I'm called a lot of things, most of them not fit for polite company. The livin' legend is straight out of the dime novels, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I have a feeling I'm gonna need all the support I can get." The former gunslinger grew thoughtful himself. Kid Curry kept his awe at his new responsibilities and fear that he wasn't the man to fulfill them to himself, those were to share with Heyes alone.
Philetus Norris and Hannibal Heyes were bent over a map table in Heyes' office where the most up to date large survey of Yellowstone National Park was unrolled. Both men had a pencil in hand and were marking out the tentative route for a Grand Loop road to be constructed first, making use of trails, where they existed, and designating camping, viewing, and off-limits areas along the route. If that project was successful then Heyes had suggested a slightly larger loop, with the eastern side skirting Yellowstone Lake, to make a big figure eight. Straight extensions could be planned later to reach out to the sides, creating entrances from all sides of the park. The men fed off each other's vision and big ideas for the National Park. Both men looked up at the sound of loud voices from the headquarters' lobby.
"Who are you? Never mind, just get out of our way. We need to see the Superintendent. Norris!"
A troop of middle-aged men, oozing self-importance and with an aura of men used to being obeyed pushed past the lone clerk employed at headquarters and tramped into Heyes' office when they spotted Norris through the door. Heyes' hackles were immediately raised. He spent years thwarting such men, and recently, through the special circumstances Heyes and Curry found themselves, he was obligated to hold his tongue to earn a paycheck for working like a dog. Then he remembered part of his job was community relations and these men were most likely part of the community he needed to relate to.
Norris stood up straight and went to greet the big man at the front. "Ah, the Northern Chapter of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association. Hello, have you come all the way out here to complain about the bison grazing again, or dispute the official survey, or are wolves, grizzlies or cougars harassing your stock, what can we do for you?"
"No, I mean yes to all of those things, not that complain' to you has got us anywhere yet. We have to do what we have to do and so do you. I don't see that stoppin' any time soon. We're here because we've heard you have Heyes and Curry working here. Are those thieves actually walking around free and are expected to tell good upstanding citizens what to do on government land?"
Norris suppressed a wiry grin. "Allow me to perform the introductions. Gentlemen, please meet the new Yellowstone Director of Planning and Community Relations, Hannibal Heyes."
Heyes pasted a false wide smile on his face but his brown eyes remained hard and measuring.
"Heyes, the Northern Wyoming Chapter President who inquired about your employment is Ray Taylor. Mr. Taylor owns a ranch bordering the park outside of Ralston, the other ranchers are Clive Owens and Sven Johansson from the Badger Basin area, Frank Barrows is from Elk Basin, Nathan Kraashaur's from west of Clark and Bill Seawell is from outside of Cody."
Heyes gave a curt nod to each man.
Barrows and Johansson were looking around nervously and startled when Owens barked out, "Where's the Kid? I can't believe Governor Warren gave that murderer amnesty, much less that you hired him."
"The Kid is not a murderer. He's never been wanted for murder and has only ever killed a man in self-defense, as a last resort." Heyes defended his absent partner.
Kraashaur added in to the general dissatisfaction, "Heyes, maybe I can give the benefit of the doubt to. He's a thief…"
"Was a thief. We haven't robbed anyone for a number of years now. The Kid and I earned that amnesty," Heyes informed the ranchers.
"…Alright was a thief, no offense intended Mr. Heyes."
"It's just Heyes, none taken. I realize it will take time for the community to get to know us."
"Okay, Heyes it is then. But you at least have the reputation for being a smart man, not given to violence. But then I guess that is what you had Kid Curry for. But Norris, putting Kid Curry, the Fastest Gun in the West as the Ranger Chief, what were you thinking?"
"Wait a minute. My partner is a lot more than a fast gun. He's…"
"He's actually a personable young man. I think we should give him a chance." Conversation in the room halted and all eyes turned to Bill Seawell, who with a mixture of defiance and embarrassment made eye contact with Heyes.
Ray Taylor rounded on his fellow rancher, "Bill?"
"I've met Curry before, although, I didn't know his real name at the time. He introduced himself as John Hotchkiss. He bought horses from my ranch, a few times. The man knows what he's looking at, that's for sure. Paid cash…"
"Most likely stolen cash," Taylor commented in disgust.
Heyes shifted his focus between the speakers and when his eyes met Seawell's again they widened in amusement and recognition.
"…Anyway, how was I to know if it was stolen or not…"
"You're not that far from Devil's Hole, didn't you guess?"
"The Devil's Hole Gang never bothered anyone or robbed anything in Cody. I'm not saying it was right or wrong or that I knew who they were but I do know that the business owners in Cody were mighty grateful for the business, enough so the local law turned a blind eye."
"Actually, it might have been legitimate poker winnings. And we always tried to be good neighbors," Heyes couldn't resist pointing out.
"…As I was saying, I've dealt with Kid Curry a few times, unknowingly. Once he even rescued my daughter from being run over by a runaway buckboard on the streets of Cody. He recognized her from the ranch, she was quite taken with him after that, now that I think back, she was kinda taken with him after the first time he met her, I guess that women find him handsome but he acted the perfect gentlemen. He didn't look or act anything like a notorious gunfighter should. My wife liked him, too, when he ate dinner with us, said he had proper manners."
The ranchers were looking at their colleague is disbelief, while Norris looked bemused and Heyes rolled his eyes.
"What should a notorious gunfighter act like?" Heyes was always curious to know what others thought they should be like. That they didn't fit the stereotype armed robbers was one of the major reasons they were so hard to identify and capture.
Seawell shuffled his feet and wondered why he bothered to speak up. He'd get nothing but grief and disdain from the other ranchers. He should have kept his mouth shut. But on the other hand, he had liked the boy when he believed him to be a wrangler sent to purchase horses from one of the ranches further away. Kid Curry had been an amiable young man, yet there was an authoritative edge to him that both he and Seawell's ranch foreman had noted, which kept the business transactions straightforward.
Owens spoke up, "Gunfighters are mean, easily offended, arrogant hard men. They'll shoot you just as soon as look at you. If a body were to give one of 'em the fisheye it's, 'pistols at dawn.'"
"I hate to disappoint you folks but my partner doesn't do anything at dawn, certainly nothing before breakfast, if he can help it. Too bad the Kid isn't here at the moment because he'd love to hear what you have to say." Heyes' laugh had a challenging hint in it.
Norris gained control of the conversation. "Thank you for voicing your concerns. I can assure you that Mr. Curry is not in the habit of using his gun unnecessarily…"
"Never has. Not ever. The Kid is fast, accurate and he knows when to keep the Colt in his holster. Like I said before, everyone he has aimed at has drawn first. He's killed a lot less than you'd believe and only to save his life or mine or someone he cares about. His skill will be useful in his new job to protect the people and the animals in the park." Heyes felt the need to be perfectly clear.
Norris continued, "I don't need to defend my decision to anyone but the U. S. Secretary of the Interior but I will say that I have every confidence that Heyes and Mr. Curry will be assets to the park and to the community. Their range of abilities, varied experiences, intellect, and skills are well suited to the expanding responsibilities and Yellowstone's overall mission. Since you made the journey all the way out here, if you want to move into the lounge we can all sit down with some coffee and discuss your concerns like reasonable men." He started to usher the men out of Heyes' office.
As Seawell passed Heyes he thought that yes, they can discuss things. He didn't know how reasonable some of his acquaintances would be, especially Taylor and Kraashaur. For himself, Bill thought that relations with the park and its personnel were about to get more interesting. Rumor had it that the Rangers were being increased to at least ten of them, which meant more area could be covered than before. He also thought despite Heyes and Curry being still young men they weren't to be pushed around and could very well be capable of enforcing the rules and regulations with a mixture of friendship, incentives, threats, and violence used only as a last resort. Personally, he'd rather stay on their good side and develop a cordial relationship in which to talk over differences.