Seasons of Our Youth
(While not every boy growing up during those difficult times turned out to be an outlaw, a look at the early childhood years of Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry just might offer some insight as to why these two "pretty good bad men" turned out the way they did. Events described in this story are fictional and specific to the characters, but designed to reflect the fear and turbulence the real people of Kansas experienced, and offer some insight as to why an adult Hannibal Heyes once said "after our first job, it just didn't seem that different from all we had been through").
Fact: On May 21, 1856, Missouri pro slavery advocates known as The Ruffians, looted and burned much of the town of Lawrence, Kansas, setting fire to The Free State Hotel, and destroying the offices of two anti-slavery newspapers. Nearby farms were also looted and burned in what became known as The Sacking of Lawrence. The declaration of war was still a few years away, as was the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the achievement of Statehood by the Kansas territory.
This story begins two years after The Sacking of Lawrence.
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Early summer, 1858
Born in the territory of Kansas in an era wrought with political turbulence, Hannibal Heyes and Jed Curry were never strangers to radical instigators of violence determined to coerce the people of the Kansas territory into statehood as a pro slave state. Radical Missouri Democrats composed of poor farmers, future outlaws, and zealots dedicated to strengthening and expanding the use of slave labor became known as The Ruffians during the period that would embed itself in the annals of history as the Bleeding Kansas Years.
Kansas was a boarder territory, and later a boarder state, and as such was seen as a golden ring to both the North and the South. As the likelihood of war grew stronger, the state's declaration of support became vital to both the pro slavery states and the freedom states. Raids, thievery, and horrendous acts of violence peaked and troughed for six long years before the inevitable declaration of war.
This was the world for many, including two young farm boys living on adjacent farms near a rural southern Kansas town...
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The crisp autumn morning began like every other morning with a trek to the barn to milk the cows before a hardy breakfast of fresh eggs, cured bacon, and pan fried biscuits fresh from the hearth and still steaming when lathered with hand churned butter and sometimes, a sprinkle of sugar.
Bessie was cranky this morning and tried repeatedly to kick over the milk pail, and Hannibal struggled to work the teats while keeping the hooves at bay. Muttering some colorful words he had picked up from friends at school, he cursed the old cow and twice threatened some bodily harm.
"You best never let your mother hear you talk like that."
So focused on his frustrating task, Hannibal had not heard his father come into the barn. "I'm sorry, Pa," he quickly replied, knowing no punishment was forthcoming as his father had a far more colorful vocabulary than Hannibal dared utter.
The milk pail now full, Hannibal stood and kicked the stool out from under his feet, then gave Bessie a final shove and picked up the pail by its rope handle to carry it up to the house. As he crossed the barn, warm milk splashed over the edge of the pail and a dozen barn cats quickly appeared to lap up the sweet, thick liquid.
"Breakfast is on the table. Better get a move on so you won't be late for school," Bartholomew Heyes told his son.
"Yes sir," Hannibal replied and picked up his pace while trying to keep the pail level and the milk contained.
Half an hour later, Heyes (as he insisted on being called by his friends), stood on the dirt road at the end of the lane leading to the Curry farm, his school books bound together by a leather strap, were slung over his right shoulder, while his metal lunch box was clutched tightly in his left hand. As he waited for his cousin to appear, Heyes amused himself by kicking small stones down the road to see which one he could kick the farthest.
"Sorry I'm late," six year old Jed Curry called to his cousin and he raced down the lane.
Reaching the road, the curly haired blond stopped to catch his breath. "Ma made me wait while she sewed the hole in my britches," he explained.
"You worked hard to make that hole," eight year old Heyes replied.
Jed nodded with a frown on his face. "She said no spectable Curry was leaving the house with a hole in his pants."
Heyes smiled. "The word is respectable, Kid."
"That's what I said," Jed replied as they started on their way down the road.
Almost three years apart in age, the two boys were not only blood cousins, but best friends as well. Heyes, the older of the two, was a natural born leader and was looked up to, not only by his stubborn and strong willed younger cousin, but by all the boys who attended the one room school house in the small, rural town of Lawrence. He hated his first name and suffered the use of it only by the adults in the community. His
classmates all knew that Heyes was the only moniker he tolerated by any boy wishing to avoid a black eye or a broken nose. The only exception to this applied to his cousin Jed, who occasionally referred to him as Han, but never when in the company of other boys.
Jed, on the other hand, was six going on ten. He was far more quiet and introspective than his cousin. Many would consider him shy, but this was a false assumption. While quiet in nature, Jed was intuitive and listened intensely, gaining far more knowledge of others by seeing and listening, than by speaking. Like all six year olds, there was an innocence about him. He trusted his cousin unconditionally, still believed in Santa Clause, and saw his father as the wisest man who ever walked the earth. He could already hold and shoot a six gun with surprising accuracy, but only shot at tin can targets, and would mourn a baby bird that had fallen from its nest to its death.
The two boys walked to school together each day, talking of the things boys their ages talked about; fishing, chores, classmates, and what kind of mischief they could get into a recess. This day was no different and they arrived at school with big plans to dip Amy Caldwell's pigtails in an inkwell.
But when they reached the school yard, Miss Dobbs was standing on the porch ringing the school bell. Both boys stopped and shared a quick, questioning glance as they always arrived a good ten minutes before school was called to order. Twelve of the fourteen students were scrambling into a line and Heyes and Jed quickly joined them to close up the ranks. Miss Dobbs then stepped slightly aside as the children silently filed past her into the school and quickly took their assigned seats.
Miss Dobbs then fell in line behind Hannibal and when he slid into his seat, she moved past him and walked to the front of the class, stopping in front of her desk and turning to face the students.
"Children I want you to listen to me carefully. There's no need to be frightened, but I want you to remain silent and do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand?"
A murmur of affirmative comments spread across the room and Miss Dobbs watched fourteen faces grow suddenly pensive.
"The Ruffians raided a farm twelve miles from town. I'm canceling school for today and tomorrow as well. Those of you who live in town may leave right now, and go directly to your homes or your parent's place of business. Do. Not. Doddle," she said emphatically.
Miss Dobbs stopped talking while eight students quickly gathered their books and lunch boxes or paper bags and filed hastily out of the school.
"The rest of you will walk with me to the church. I want you to walk single file and stay close together. The Sheriff is making arrangement to get you all home safely. Any questions?"
One hand shot up into the air. "Miss Dobbs, which direction is the farm from town?" Hannibal asked.
"East, and it appears the Ruffians have left the area, so there is no reason to be afraid, but there is every reason for precaution. Any other questions?"
When all the children remained silent, Miss Dobbs continued with her instructions. "Alright, gather your things and line up just inside the door."
Jed and Heyes were again the last two in line with Heyes taking up the rear to keep a protective eye on his cousin. While the raids in the area were thus far infrequent, the evacuation of the school had become a weekly practice and each child knew the routine well, so the move from the school to the church was flawless. Once safely inside the church, the children were taken to one of the Sunday School rooms where a plate of cookies and glasses of lemonade had been set up for the children to calm their nerves and occupy their time.
The church was located next to the school on the west edge of town and both the Heyes farm and the Curry farm were just three miles west of town. But both had school friends that lived on farms east of town and were therefore quite interested in hearing any information available.
Being as the classroom was rather small, it was not difficult for Jed and Heyes to slip quietly into chairs near the adults to listen and observe like a fly on the wall. Much to his disappointment, the adults in the room (that included Miss Dobbs, the Reverend Wilkes and his wife, Alicia, and Deputy Sheriff Homer Lofton), were all quite careful about what they said within earshot of the children.
"Mr. Sutter and their boy, Tom were already out in the corn field, but Mrs. Sutter was in the house with the baby," Deputy Lofton was telling Reverend Wilkes. "Them Ruffians set their barn on fire. They lost three horses and a cow, and the barn burnt to the ground. Mrs. Sutter took the baby and ran out the back door and into the corn field. Both the Sutters and their children were able to escape out the far end of the corn field and hid in the woods. Every window in the house was broken. The front door was torn off it's hinges, and the corn field was set on fire. The Sutters made it through the woods to the Beckman house and both families piled into a wagon and headed for town. Thank God they are all safe."
"Where are they now?" the Reverend asked.
"Sam Beckman's brother lives in town. They are all staying with him for now."
"I'll stop over there once these children are all safely on their way home."
"As soon as the Sheriff gets back from the Sutter place, we'll be loading all these kids up in a wagon and taking them all home."
Heyes heard every word and uttered a sigh of relief as Tom Sutter was a good friend. He looked over at his cousin who was watching his every move and realized that, but for the grace of God, the Ruffians might have chosen the Heyes or the Curry farm to raid that day. He knew Jed was thinking the same thing and he laid his arm reassuringly across the back of Jed's shoulders. "You want another cookie?' he asked his cousin.
Jed didn't speak, but simply shook his head slowly.
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"I'll tuck him into bed tonight," Seth Curry told his wife as they finished washing and drying the supper dishes.
"Remember, he's just six years old Seth, and his brothers are soldiers. With these raids and the rumors of war, he'll be growing up faster than he should, but that doesn't have to start tonight."
Seth wiped his hands on the towel and tossed it on the counter. "I hear you, darlin.' I won't steal his childhood. I promise."
Sarah bit the corner of her lip nervously and reached for her husband's hand. "I just worry what the next few years are going to bring..."
Seth leaned in close to his wife and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he told her. Gently pulling his hand free, Seth walked down the short hallway to Jed's room and knocked on the door. "Jed, you awake?"
Jed had been listening at the door and when his father started down the hall, he had quickly scampered back to his bed and pulled the covers up to his chin. "Come on in, Pa," he replied.
Seth opened the door and glanced about the room before walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge. "Did you get your homework done?" he asked.
Jed scooted over in the bed to give his father a bit more room. "Miss Dobbs didn't give us any homework. I guess she just forgot."
Seth smiled. "Maybe she did at that. You children had quite a day today, didn't you?"
Jed nodded and sat up in his bed. "What's gonna happen to the Sutters, Pa?"
"I don't know," he replied softly. "I don't think they even know just yet."
"Why would somebody do something like that, Pa?"
Seth took a deep breath and blew it out slowly as he shook his head. "The Ruffians are from Missouri, and Kansas is trying to become a state. The Ruffians just want to make sure we Kansans know which side our bread is buttered."
Jed looked at his father curiously. "Han says they want us all owning slaves."
"Well, in a way he is right. The southern part of this country thinks slavery is good business practice."
"But we don't think that, right?"
Seth nodded and smiled at his son's innocence. "That's right. No man has the right to own another man.
"And that's why Jacob and James joined the army, right?"
"That's right.."
Jed thought for a moment. "I hope they can get it all settled soon, and come back home."
Seth reached out and tousled his son's blond curls. "I do too, Jed. I do to."
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Late Winter,/Early Spring, 1859
The winter had passed peacefully with the only tragedy being a bit of lost innocence. Due to an unusually mild start to what was typically a cold and snowy season, a white Christmas simply didn't materialize. Concerned about the consequences of this fluke of nature, Jed had kept an all night vigil of the clear, star studded sky on Christmas Eve. Seeing no sleigh, no reindeer, Jed was about to surrender to sleep when he heard a noise in the front room of the house, opened his door just enough to peak out into the hallway, and discovered the true nature of Santa Clause.
On the outside chance that he was mistaken, Jed kept his discovery hidden from his parents, but when the Heyes' arrived for dinner, Jed was quick to pull his cousin aside and confess his revelation.
"Every kid figures it out sometime Jed. But don't worry, you still get presents every year," Heyes told him reassuringly.
In addition to a mild winter, spring arrived early and by mid March, the fields were plowed and ready for planting and a two week Spring Break began the last full week of March. Seven years old now, Jed was eager to throw a seed bag across his shoulder and walk the long rows of plowed sod next to his father. Seth would use a long, wide stick to plunge into the ground, creating a two inch hole into which Jed would drop three kernels of dried corn, then use his foot to fill the hole and cover the kernels.
N the last day of school before Spring Break, Miss Dobba let the children out an hour early, knowing that the children were all to excited to concentrate on their lessons. Arriving at the lane leading to home, Jed waved good bye to his cousin and raced up the stone path, but when he reached the clearing he stopped abruptly. Two horses and a carriage were tethered to the hitching post, Before he could take a step, the screen door opened and Seth Curry walked out and stopped at the top of the steps. For a moment their eyes locked and Jan ominous feeling rushed over young Jed as he knew what his father was about to tell him.
The anguished look on his father's face as he slowly descended the steps and approached his son sent a chill down Jed's spine. He stood, frozen but for a slight but steady shake of his head. Seth stopped in front of his son and wrapped a gentle arm about the boy's shoulders.
"Let's take a walk, Jed," he said softly.
Jed's books slipped from his hand and landed with a soft thud on the ground as his father led him gently away from the house, stopping as they neared the tall, old oak tree with a rope swing dangling from a thick and heavy branch.
"It's Sam, ain't it?" Jed said, his chin quivering as he spoke.
Seth turned to face his young son and placed a hand on each of Jed's shoulders and nodded his head.
Jed couldn't contain his tears and his father let his hands slide down his son's arms as he dropped down on his knees so he and the boy were at eye level. Seth's arms then wrapped around Jed and he drew his anguished boy into his strong arms as Jed sobbed against his father's shoulder. Seth held him there with no thought of time until the tears ran dry.
Jed took a single step back and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his shirt. "What... what about Jacob?' he asked.
The muscles in Seth's face twitched and he gave his head a shake. "We haven't heard yet... I don't know," he said softly.
Jed's chin quivered uncontrollably and he took jagged breaths, but he didn't cry. "I... I don't wanna go in there," he told his father.
Seth nodded and pulled himself to his feet. "Stay in the yard or the barn," he told Jed. "I want you to hear me when I call you."
Jed nodded and watched his father walk back to the house, picking up Jed's school books and carrying them inside with him. Jed stood still until he had caught his breath. As he started to turn to go to the barn, he again stopped abruptly.
Heyes was standing at the edge of the barren cornfield, waiting to console his cousin, his friend... His partner.
Together the two boys headed into the barn and climbed the ladder to the loft. Sitting down in a pile of straw, Jed rubbed his tired eyes with the palms of his hands. "Sam's dead," he said.
"I know. Pa said a Kansas Infantry was ordered to Great Bend because the Missouri Ruffians were looting and setting fires, and even killing some of the farmers. Fourteen soldiers were killed."
Jed's chin began to quiver. "It ain't fair... People just trying to live their lives and... It just don't make no sense."
Heyes scooted in close to Jed and wrapped an arm about his shoulders. "Pa says we're just to young to understand it all. He's says it's all real complicated. He says we're headed for an all out war."
Jed turned his head and looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "More killin'," he said as his gaze dropped and his eyes took on a far away look.
Outside the barn, Heyes could hear the sound of the carriage and horses heading down the lane. "Let's go in the house, Kid. We don't want to give your ma anything more to worry about."
Heyes stood and offered a hand to cousin, but Jed pulled himself to his feet and Heyes brushed bits of straw from Jed's shirt. Then together, the two boys climbed down the ladder and walked slowly to the house.
Later that evening, after Heyes had returned home, there was a knock on the front door. The sheriff had returned and was relieved when Seth was the one to answer the door and he motioned to Seth to step outside to the porch.
"I got back to town and found there was a telegram waiting for you. It's from Captain Osborne of the 7th Infantry," the sheriff said, handing the telegram to Seth.
Seth held the telegram in his hand, hesitant to open it as he knew what was likely contained in the message. He finally unfolded the paper and read the contents. "Jacob's gone, too," he said, his voice strained and weak.
At that moment, Sarah pushed open the door and stepped outside. "I told Jed to stay inside," she said softly as she wrapped an arm about her husband's waist.
Seth still held the telegram loosely in his hand. "Jacob's gone, too," he said as her eyes fell to the folded paper.
Sarah buried her head in Seth's chest. She had no more tears. She had only grief at the knowledge that two of her sons were dead.
"If there's anything I can do..." the sheriff offered, but Seth shook his head as his hand caressed the back of his wife's head.
Without another word, the sheriff turned and moved down the walk to his horse.
"Let's go inside, darlin'," Seth whispered and slowly edged them both toward the door.
Sitting apprehensively at the table, Jed knew the moment he saw their faces that Jacob was dead. He didn't wait to be told. Instead he jumped from his seat and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him.
"I need to go to him," Sarah said urgently.
"He's angry and distraught. Give him a few minutes alone to curse and throw a few things around. Then we'll both go," Seth told her.
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Summer 1859
By July the corn was better than knee high. The spring rains and the summer sun were both well proportioned and the crops were healthy and full. But a dark cloud hung over the Curry household as all three continued to mourn the loss of Sam and Jacob. Sarah seemed especially saddened, seldom smiled, and Jed could not remember the last time he had heard her laugh.
Kansas was still a year and a half away from joining the Union as an anti-slavery state, and two months shy of that, the country would see the election of Abraham Lincoln. But the greatest concern for Kansans in the summer of 59' remained the random pillaging of farmers and even towns by the growing group of radical Missouri Ruffians. Though attacks were waning, largely due to patrols of Kansas soldiers, the fear held by rural farmers remained strong.
It was late July when a few farms near Lawrence, including the Heyes farm, fell victim once again to the violence and destruction of the Ruffians.
Anyone who might have been looking into the Curry field of corn would have sworn a raccoon fight was in play as two parallel rows of corn swayed in opposing directions in a migratory pattern beginning at the far end of the field and moving toward the Curry homestead. Hannibal Heyes was running as fast as he could through the cornfield to the Curry house. When he reached the clearing, his lungs felt like they were about to burst, but he didn't stop until he reached the hitching post where Seth was standing adjusting the rein lines of the two horses hitched to his wagon.
"Uncle Seth!" Heyes shouted as he reached the hitching post and nearly collapsed into his uncle's arms.
"Slow down boy and catch your breath. Then tell me what's so urgent."
Heyes bent over and placed his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "Ruffians," he blurted.
"At your place?" Seth asked urgently.
Heyes nodded but waved one hand toward his uncle. "Gone now."
"Anyone hurt?"
Heyes shook his head. "But Pa needs your help. They burned down the barn and trampled the corn with their horses."
"Climb in the wagon," Seth told the boy. "Jed! Come out here?' he called to his son who was still inside the cabin.
Jed pushed open the screen door and ran down to the hitching post while Sarah stood in the doorway wiping her hands with a dishtowel.
"Tell your Ma I'm heading over to the Heyes place. Their farm was looted but Hannibal says all are well and safe. You stay here Jed, and if any strangers come up the lane, you take the hand gun and you and your Ma head out the back and into the woods. Then make your way to town and notify the sheriff. You understand?"
Jed nodded while keeping his eyes on his cousin. "You alright, Han?"
Heyes nodded. "They're gone, Kid. You shouldn't have no trouble."
"Tell your Ma I'll try to be back for supper," Seth said and climbed up into the wagon seat beside Heyes.
Jed stood and watched them race down the lane, then turned and hurried back into the house to inform his mother of what had happened and what they were to do. He then lifted the Colt .45 from the shelf above the fireplace, carefully opened and checked the chamber, then closed the chamber and carried the gun and a box of bullets over to the front window and carefully set them both on the sill. Lastly, he went to the kitchen table and scraped one of the chairs across the room to the window where he sat down to vigilantly watch out the window.
Sarah picked up a bowl of apples from the counter and carried it and a paring knife to the kitchen table, then sat down and set to work paring apples while keeping a watchful eye on her son.
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Seth and Hannibal reached the Heyes farm and pulled the wagon to a stop near the house. Heyes' father was carefully rummaging through the still smoldering ashes of the barn. It was late in the afternoon, with only a few hours of daylight remaining. Seth and Heyes climbed out of the wagon and Seth laid a gentle hand on Hannibal's shoulder. "Go check on your ma and I'll go talk to your pa."
Heyes nodded and headed for the house though his eyes were focused on his father.
"At least no one was hurt," Seth said as he approached his brother-in-law.
The senior Heyes looked up and rubbed the back of his neck. "We were in town most of the day and came home to find this."
"The sheriff know about this?"
Bartholomew nodded. "Sam Taylor owns the next farm over. He came by when he saw the smoke and rode into town to let the sheriff know. He said the sheriff is requesting some soldiers to make sure it don't happen to anyone else."
"What can I do?" Seth asked.
Bartholomew shook his head. "Help me see if there's anything to salvage. I don't know what else to do right now. The horses and cow are gone. I don't know if they took em or set em free."
"I doubt Ruffians make a practice of setting any living creature free. To them, freedom is pretty selective," Seth replied.
"Hannibal said something very much like that the other day. It pains me that children even have to give thought to such things."
Seth thought about his only remaining son, eight years old and standing watch with a gun to protect his mother and home. "I wish things were different for them, and it worries me how this will all affect them when they are older and making their own decisions in life."
Bartholomew stopped searching the ashes. "I have no doubt there's a war coming, Seth. I'm considering taking my family north, maybe as far as Canada. Maybe you should think about bringing your family with us."
"I'll give it some thought," Seth replied, knowing Sarah would never agree to leave the country with two of their sons buried in American soil.
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The sun had set on a moonless night when Jed caught sight of the light from two lanterns coming up the lane. "Pa's home," he announced.
"Maybe now you'll eat something," Sarah replied and approached the window to stand behind her son and watch Seth lead the horses and the wagon into the barn.
Jed slipped from the chair and returned the gun and box of bullets to their storage places. "Maybe a slice of that apple pie?" he asked.
Sarah smiled. It brought joy to her when her son sounded like the boy he was. "Two of those pies are going over to the Heyes' tomorrow, but I think we can cut into the third one," she assured him.
Minutes later Seth walked into the house and Sarah pulled a pot of hot stew from the stove and set it on the table, then gathered bowls and spoons. "Everyone alright?" she asked.
"A bit shaken by what happened, but no one's hurt. They weren't home when the raid occurred."
"At least something positive out of all this. I made a couple of pies to take over there in the morning after we gather the eggs and maybe some milk and take those over, too."
Seth nodded and sat down at the table, deciding not to mention that the Heyes were thinking of uprooting and moving on. Better that everyone got a good night sleep instead of worrying about an uncertain future.
Sarah and Jed sat down at the table with Seth. Jed ate almost as much as his father, but Sarah just moved the stew around in her bowl and spoke little. For dessert she cut two large pieces of pie along with a smaller one for herself, and she did eat much of that, largely to make sure it was worthy of giving away.
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While the adults sat around the Heyes' kitchen table sharing coffee and Sarah's apple pie and discussing politics and future plans, Hannibal and Jed had been delegated to the front porch. There they sat at the top of the stairs, each with a large slice of apple pie and a glass of fresh milk and discussed their own version of politics and future plans.
"Why do the Ruffians pick on farmers?" Jed asked
"To keep em from voting."
"But there's more store owners and other jobs than there are farmers."
"The farmers are isolated so it's easier for them to loot and steal from the farmers and get away before they get caught."
"Pa says any money they collect they send to the South to pay for guns and soldiers and such," Jed said.
Heyes nodded. "That's what my Pa says, too."
"Then why don't they loot and steal from them that's got lots of money?"
"People that have lots of money don't leave it laying around their houses. It's in banks and wrapped up in land or gold and stored in vaults and safes," Heyes told him.
Jed gave this some thought. "If I was wanting to steal a lot of money, I'd rob a bank or learn how to open a safe, but I wouldn't take it from the folks that live hand to mouth."
Heyes grinned. "Remember that the next time you snitch a peppermint from the candy jar at the General Store. Mr. Garvey ain't rich. He likely lives hand to mouth just like we do."
Jed considered this and reluctantly and silently vowed never to snitch another peppermint.
"Pa's thinking of moving come spring," Heyes told Kid.
"Where to, Han?"
"He said something about Canada but, I don't think he's made up his mind. He wants your folks to come too. That's probably what they're talking about right now."
Jed bit his lip with worry but knew he had no say in the matter. "If we don't go, maybe you could stay here with us."
Heyes smiled. "Jed, you don't have to worry about us. We're partners and we always will be." he said and slipped an arm across the back of Jed's shoulders. "Let's go see if there's any pie left."
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Late Winter/Early Spring. 1860
The two boys moved to the edge of the snow packed road and watched a small regiment of Union soldiers ride by on their way toward town. A few of the soldiers smiled or waved, but the boys only nodded a polite recognition. Recent months had been quiet, especially with so many soldiers patrolling the southern Kansas boarders, and many activities, such as attending school, had returned to a precautionary normal.
Reaching the lane leading to the Curry farm, Heyes stood and watched his cousin race up the dirt road and disappear around the bend. He stood for a moment and listened for the sound of horses, but the air was quiet and still. Had he heard horses, Heyes would have slipped quickly into the nearby woods as he knew traveling alone could be dangerous. But the silence gave him a sense of security and he continued the fairly short distance to his home.
Captain Hornsby of the 9th regiment was the man in charge of the soldiers protecting a large swath of the southern boarder of Kansas for the past few months and had made a point of becoming acquainted with many rural families in the area. Thus, it was not alarming to Heyes when he saw the horse with an Army brand tethered to the post. Heading inside the house, Heyes saw his father and Captain Hornsby sitting at the kitchen table, talking over a cup of hot coffee.
Heyes didn't interrupt the conversation, but did slip into a chair at the table when Captain Hornsby invited him to join them. Heyes' mother brought him a tall glass of milk.
"Once the vote for statehood is behind us, I think the raids will stop completely because no amount of looting will change the facts," Hornsby said.
"If Kansas votes to be a free state, and I think it will, it will be just a matter of time before war is declared. Will the battles gonna stretch this far north?" Bartholomew asked.
"There will still be radical skirmishes by the likes of the Ruffians and other such groups and will likely stretch as far west and north as they can. I hate to say it, but if war is declared, no one will walk away unscathed, not the slaves, not the soldiers, and certainly not the civilians."
Heyes sat quietly but took in every word and, at the end of the conversation, he was convinced the Union was on the side of justice.
"You share that opinion, son?" Hornsby asked as the conversation came to an end.
Heyes looked at his father for permission to speak his mind. When he got a consenting nod, he spoke honestly, but politely to the Captain. "I think both sides present good arguments, Sir. I mean, I know Mr. Lincoln says the nation's economy is the driving factor toward a possible war, and Mr. Davis says the South can't survive without slave labor, but I don't think one man has the right to own another," Heyes replied.
"Do you think that issue alone is enough to go to war?" the Captain asked.
Heyes again looked at his father and again, got an approving nod. "Yes sir, I do... But I don't think that's possible. I doubt the country can avoid war, but it's for a lot of reasons, slavery being just one of them."
"You're quite astute for a boy of... How old are you?"
"Eleven, almost twelve, Sir."
Captain nodded. "Very astute."
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Autumn 1860
There was an Indian Summer warmth to the late October Saturday; the kind of warmth that beckons a boy to explore new adventures and spend the day lost in dreams and imagination. The autumn leaves were ablaze with vibrant colors and those that had dried and fallen to the ground crunched beneath Jed's feet as he carried the milk pail up to the house.
The corn had been harvested and the stalks cut down and gathered, and the ground was ready to be churned before a winter's rest. A new President had been elected and people were cautiously hopeful that the growing concerns of an impending war could be resolved by a new administration. With a full regiment of Union soldiers guarding the town and patrolling the surrounding countryside, the farmers and town folks as well were feeling a sense of security they had not experienced in recent years.
The Heyes' had decided not to pull up roots and instead had joined forces with the Currys. plowing, planting, tending,and reaping two fields together and Jed and Hannibal had worked side by side with their fathers throughout the spring planting, the summer tending, and the fall harvesting. The result was a joint crop yield that far exceeded their individual production. While the winds of impending war hung heavy in the air, a temporary reprieve of turbulence had befallen the community.
So it was with a few words of caution that the two fathers had agreed to granting the boys a few hours of basking in the joys of childhood and, with fishing poles and two cans of worms in tow, Heyes and Kid set off barefooted to the banks of the river for an afternoon of fishing and laughing, and dipping their toes in the cold river water.
Despite the years of turmoil, no one could have fathomed just how this day would unfold. It was a day Hannibal Heyes and Jed Curry would both long remember, not for the carefree hours of captured youth, but for the abrupt and violent metamorphosis that changed their lives forever and forced two Kansas farm boys to abandon their innocence, and together face a war torn world that defiled the boundaries between right and wrong...
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Author's Note: A thank you shout out to Maureen who planted the seed for this story, written to explain why the transition to a life outside the law was not particularly difficult for Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry. I purposely stopped at this point because we fans all know the rest of the story.