The first time I met Natty Gann I was eighteen and riding the rails.

I was just sitting down on a crate in the boxcar I'd jumped into when I heard a gasp coming from the doorway. Looking down I noticed a small hand clinging to the opening, it was obvious the kid wasn't going to make it on their own. I wasn't about to just let someone die, not when it could be prevented, so I reached down and yanked the kid in. The kid was tiny, has no business being on the tracks.

"You know, uh . . . you can get hurt that way." I said to the kid as I sat down again.

The two guys on the other side of the car started talking then, trying to freak the kid out. "I thought that one was a gonner. "

I pulled out a cigarette and match while listening. "Rail meat, little bits of blood and busted guts. . ." Here I interrupted, "Leave the kid alone!" I ordered. I lit my cigarette and took a puff, thinking about my first time on the rails, before looking up at the kid, who still hadn't said anything.

It was almost like the kid wanted to disappear it was pressed so flat against the wall, but soon enough the kid had slumped down in the corner asleep. I slept a bit too but when you're on the rails you kind'a learn to sleep with one eye open. Around six in the morning I woke up all the way and with nothing else to do, the other guys had left during the night, got out my harmonica. After a bit of playing I began to feel someone's eyes on me. I was surprised to look up and see the kid listening with interest on its face, the kid was just as startled to see me look up. In response to the music stopping she blurted out, "That was nice!" a bit defensively.

"Huh," was all I said as I brought my harmonica down and started tapping it on my hand. A girl, it was probably a good thing the other men hadn't known that. Being a boy was bad enough it was dangerous for a girl by herself. I wonder what happened to make her run.

"Where'd the others go?" She asked.

"I dunno."

"Where you goin'?" She tried again.

I tucked my harmonica in my pocket before answering, "West."

"Me too," she replied instantly. "My Dad's out west."

"Yeah?" I responded, in a, almost bored, skeptical tone. Sure the kid's Dad was waiting for her. If she had to ride the rails to get to him, he probably wasn't. She was probably just running away.

"In Washington State," She clarified.

"What part?" I asked.

She looked frantic for a second before replying, "The . . . middle part."

I smirked, definitely a run away, "You're runnin' away, huh?"

"What makes you say that?" She asked, in a tense worried voice, before realizing how much like a confirmation it sounded and , trying to backpedal, said "I didn't say that!" while shaking her head the tiniest bit.

"You didn't have to." I remembered the first time I ran away, when those busy bodies were trying to put me in a state home. No way was I going to one of those places. My thoughts turned back to the kid, she was still staring at me. I almost rolled my eyes at her.

"You better wise up if you expect to make it, Kid."

That ticked her off, "Oh I'll do alright mister know-it-all!"

Just then a horrible screeching sound split through the air. I almost laughed as the kid threw out her arms to brace herself on the wall, not so tough now was she.

I got up and ran to the opening the kid following. Up the rail you could see the rail cops waiting to check the train. "Don't let the bulls catch ya!" I informed the kid.

"The what?" Her voice came from behind me.

"Railroad cops." I explained.

"Y' think I don't know that!" She snapped at me. I looked back at her and had to resist rolling my eyes again, she had no idea what she was doing.

"Jump with the train and you'll be alright." I told her as I sat down on the edge to get ready to jump. She said something but I didn't catch it and then sat down next to me.

As the train slowed a bit more I prepared to jump, "Good luck, Kid." I told her. I heard a faint almost sarcastic 'yeah' and then I was gone. When I hit the ground I looked back to see the kid still on the train, I didn't know why but I was suddenly very worried she was scared stiff and wouldn't be able to make the jump. Then the bulls started coming at us and I had to run. I looked back once to see if the kid made it but I couldn't tell, I had to keep going.