UNBREAKABLE BOND
A cousin is someone whose smile helps when the roads are rough and long." – Unknown
"Is there an answer Mr. O'Sullivan? "
"Come back in an hour and you'll have my answer."
I almost threw the telegram away when it came. After that humiliating episode in Montana, I thought I had made it perfectly clear to those two that any debt I owed them had been fully paid…but as I was crumbling the paper-a memory flooded my mind. A journey, two families, heartbroken about leaving their home; packed on a ship, only food was what they had brought with them, no sanitation and no opportunity to go to the deck for fresh air. They had left Ireland as two families, father, mother one with two children, one with three. Arrived in America with two mothers and two children, the others having succumbed to the diseases prevalent on Atlantic passage. Two children - one clever with ideas and one clever with survival; and they had survived. From Philadelphia to Chicago to San Francisco until they were established and well off. Some regret about the means to achieve their current status but balancing that regret with efforts to ease the pain of others who had taken their path. Father Donahue knew well the generosity of Silky O' Sullivan and Soapy Saunders and often counted on them for that generosity.
And so, these two children, sleeping side by side, on one very thin blanket. One dark haired, and one blonde, younger child holding onto the other's shirt as they slept.
Time for a wake up.
"All right boys, what's going on here? Can I help you with something?"
"Nothing sir, I just noticed that someone seemed to be calling….and I thought I would look into it"
It was perfect. The earnest face, the concerned tone, the perfect con game façade. I thought of dozens of schemes that these boys would be skilled at …but was not sure yet that they were capable of following through on what was necessary to accomplish the task. I would need to investigate further.
"OK, are you boys hungry? When was the last time you ate?"
The blonde child's eyes widened and I could see hunger manifest in his expression; his companion was a tad bit more circumspect.
"Why? What are you offering?"
Ah…checking out the consequence of acceptance…good.
"Not offering anything except some supper…I'm missing my friends and thought that sharing a meal would offer me some companionship. What do you say? "
"Oh, okay, if it helps you out…"
I took them to Emily's café.
"Silky, what are you up to? Who are these children?"
"Well, that's a fine welcome! I'm feeding the hungry Emily, my love."
"Don't 'my love' me. What are you up to?"
"Nothing. I found these two young ones sleeping behind the wagon and I wanted to make sure they were all right."
"Ah Silky, yes, you would want to make sure they were, okay? If that was your only thought –and I know how many folks you have referred to Father Donahue, Pastor Williams and the Sister's orphanage. I wouldn't be so suspicious if you had brought them to any of those, but why bring these two to my café?"
"Ah, Acushla, you are very suspicious tonight," said Silky with a smile. "I only want them fed and given a place to sleep."
"If only I could believe that! Well, let's get them fed."
Silky had Emily bring a steak, potatoes, fresh beans and an apple pie, topped off with large glasses of milk. He let the boys tuck in before starting to evaluate their potential.
"Tell me boys, why are you here all alone?"
Han looked at this stranger. He somehow felt a connection and made the choice to take the chance of actually being honest. He did not think this man was interested in the trouble of sending them back to Valparaiso, more likely to just feed them and send them on their way.
"We're runaways."
Jed looked up from his plate, startled. Han had never told anyone who questioned them the truth. He always had a story that seemed to convince whoever he was talking with to let them go. If they were forced to go to the sheriff or a church or a lady's society to be "looked after", they managed to run away again.
"Runaways, eh?" From your family?
"No sir, our folks were killed in them boarder wars, and we was sent to Valparaiso Home for Waywards."
"I see and you didn't like it there?"
"Not much to like."
It was clear that Han was the spokesman for these two. The younger boy, Jed, kept his head down, continued eating as if he would never eat again, with just an occasional, confused glance at his friend.
"Ah, so might you boys be interested in a job?"
"A job?"
"Yes, I will warn you. Most church going folks would not consider the work as fitting. Would you have a problem with that?"
"Well, we ain't been church going since…for a while." What would we have to do?"
"Charm and distract boys, charm and distract. Han, you seem to have the gift of gab and your friend here has a baby face that will melt many a matron's heart. I think you'll do very well, which means I will do very well."
Han looked at Jed to see how he was reacting to this offer; he looked confused and a little afraid.
"Sir, can I talk with Jed about all this?"
"Certainly, and if we're going to be in business together you can drop the "Sir" and just call me Silky."
"It looks like he is offering us a job that will keep us fed and housed, Jed."
"What kind of job is it, Han?"
"Don't know yet, but don't you think it's worth looking into?"
"Oh, I don't know Han, you decide those things. As long as it's something we can do together then I guess….."
So, I had two new recruits. Small jobs at first. Jed was very effective at tugging at the heartstrings of the ladies in the small towns we traveled through, while Han perfected the art of the pickpocket. On to bigger things as the boys grew – plants in the medicine show cures…solicitation for the betterment of orphaned children…etc. Soapy and I were working our way to our goal of settling in San Francisco and establishing ourselves there. The boys were part of the crew but they were getting older as well and that's when the problems started. The arguments were more frequent and getting more heated till…
"Come on Han, why can't I go with you?"
"You're not old enough Jed, the fellows don't want to feel like they're babysitting."
"You're only two years older than I am and I'm taller than you anyway – don't see the difference."
"Well, the boys see the difference between a 15-year-old and an almost 18-year-old, Jed, so let it be. Go practice your shooting, I'll be back when I'm back."
It was bound to happen. Han was older and ready to experience what he thought were the benefits of age. Jed was still 15 and looked upon as a kid by the rest of the crew. I heard the conversation and increased frustration of Han every time he was going into town with the rest of the boys.
"Han, how about camping out tonight and going fishing in the morning? Silky doesn't have anything going for us tomorrow."
"Nope, Jed, I'm going into town tonight. I can check in tomorrow morning and we'll see about fishing."
"Why not let me go with you tonight?
"I've told you over and over Jed, you're not old enough and the fellows don't want to feel like they have to watch out for a kid!"
"I'm not a kid – you don't have to watch out for me!" was the angry answer.
"Yes, you are, and I would have to watch out for you. I've had to watch out for you forever and I'm tired of it! I 'm going to town. You go to bed. I'll see you in the morning!"
I heard it all from my wagon and I knew there would be a consequence.
####
"Silky."
"Yes, Jed?"
"Silky, I'm leaving."
"What do you mean boy, you're leaving?"
"I gotta go. I just need to ask a favor or two."
"I heard you and Han last night, boy. It was the heat of the moment. He doesn't mean what he was saying, it was just the middle of an argument."
"He does mean it, Silky and he's right. He has been taking care of me and it's not fair."
"Jed, you'll break his heart if you just up and go."
"Better this way, or we'll just keep yelling at one another."
Sighing, I knew I wasn't going to be able to change his mind.
"What favors do you need Jed?"
"Wondered if you'd let me take my horse, I can send you money to pay for it after I get some kind of job. And, will you give this to Han after I'm gone," he said, handing me an envelope.
"Yes, Jed you can take the horse. I'm gonna give you your pay for this month as well."
"Nah, didn't earn it. Han always takes money outta the pay for the month and then puts the rest away in the safe box. Says we're saving for the future and its half his and half mine. I took my half out of that – told Han so in the letter. He won't care that I took my part."
"All right Jed, I will need two favors from you then."
"What?'
"That you let me know at least every month where you are and that you are all right, even if it's a one-word telegraph. Send it to Soapy in San Francisco. And, that you'll come back, when you are ready."
He looked at me hard for a few minutes.
"I'll do that Silky but only if you don't let Han know where I'm at."
It was a losing battle.
"All right boy, I'll do this your way. I know that I am going to miss you." (All of a sudden, I could not say anything more.)
"Thanks, Silky…. you've been great…. I'll miss you too…I'll miss…..Bye."
He quickly turned to go but I saw the tears in his eyes….
####
Han was working with Dan on getting the medicine wagon ready for our next stop – McAdoo. I was debating going to talk with him or to wait till he came looking. I decided to wait, which would give more time for Jed to go wherever he was going. I was not happy with his decision to leave, but I also knew that it was inevitable that this would happen in some way. I just hoped it would eventually turn out okay.
"Silky, ya seen Jed?"
"Yes, Han, I have something hard to tell you."
"Something hard? What do you mean?"
"Jed's gone, he left about 3 hours ago."
"Gone, what do you mean, gone? Where did he go?"
"I don't know. He left you this."
I handed Han the letter.
He ripped it open and began to read. His expression changed from puzzlement, to anger and then to an almost panicked confusion.
"Tell me, Silky, tell me! Where did he go?"
"I don't know Han; I truly don't know."
"I gotta go look for him!" he shouted.
"I doubt you'll find him; he has a good 3 hours head start and there's no way of knowing which direction he set out on."
"This is my fault; this is my fault…. What am I gonna do Silky, what am I gonna do?"
My heart was breaking.
"There isn't much to do. Hopefully, Jed will find out that the wide world isn't what he thought and he'll be back."
"No, this is my fault, I've done nothing but yell at him for weeks, this is my fault."
"It's actually no one's fault Han; it's growing up that's to blame. It's always been you leading the way and Jed following. You leading the way and Jed tagging behind. I heard the argument last night. You have been watching over him forever and it was bound to cause this kind of problem. You have a right to sometimes resent being responsible for him. He has the right to want to be equal with you. This is something that only time will heal."
He looked at me with desperation and then with defeat.
####
It was about 4 months later and what I knew was coming finally came. Han was getting more and more restless. He was losing interest in our cons and charades. He stayed mostly by himself, not really interacting with anyone. I didn't let him know when Soapy told me that Jed had telegraphed, as I had promised. Jed kept his promise of letting me know where he was but only when he left a town not when he stayed at a town. It seemed that he was moving down the middle of Nevada. I assumed that he was finding some kind of work wherever he went, cowhand, stable guy… He didn't share that information.
"Silky."
"Yes, Han'"
"Silky, I've been thinking and what I've been thinking is that it's time to move on."
"Oh, move on to where?"
"Saw an article in the newspaper. Guy named Roundy in Alton Utah. Looking for trackers, has a cat problem."
"Tracking, huh. You have some experience tracking?"
"How much experience do you need? You follow tracks."
"I think there may be a bit more to it than that."
"Well, gonna give it a try. I need to do something Silky. I'm real grateful for all you did from me…for me and Jed…but I gotta move on. Don't seem like Jed's coming back. Need to do something."
"All right son, I'll do the same for you as I did for Jed. Take your horse and let me pay you for this month."
"Nah, didn't earn it. I have money saved. I'll be okay."
"Well, will you do me a favor? Let me know how you are and where you are. Send a telegraph to Soapy in San Francisco. He'll let me know. I want to stay in touch, remember what we talked about in San Francisco? The gambling palace? You boys were going to be a big part of that, you still can be."
"Sure, Silky, sure" he answered, with a sad smile.
####
And that's how it was for about two years or so. I had been hearing from the boys on a fairly regular basis. Jed would still telegraph more often than not. Han would fill me in a little more on what was happening with him. Seems that tracking was a little more complicated than he thought but he stuck with it for about 5 months. He actually made a visit to Soapy and spent a few days in San Francisco. I never told Soapy of my promise not to let Han know where Jed was or where he had been – I don't spend too much time wondering why I hadn't - and so he gave Han the latest information on Jed's where abouts when he could. Han headed out for Nevada, Reno to be exact. No luck. Next we heard from Han was after he left the Plummer Gang or rather the Gang fell apart. I was surprised that he had joined a gang. I'm in no position to judge on a basis of morality but I always thought Han would end up using his mind to prosper. Jed, I knew focused on his skill with a gun and I believe it was because it was the only skill he felt he had. I do not like guns and never encouraged him, apparently though he was gaining quite a reputation. Han started seeing stories and hearing whispers of a young kid, blonde hair, blue eyes, fast as lightening on the draw. Folks were actually starting to call him "Kid". I was glad to hear that he never initiated a confrontation and had not killed anyone. Prayed that that would always be the case. So, time went along. I had finally joined Soapy in San Francisco and we were "working" out of the city, hoping to be able to retire to a life of leisure soon. Then finally, a telegraph from Han. He had found Jed! The boys were back together.
####
And so, today's telegram. Han was asking if they could visit for a few days. Jed had been sick and Han was looking for a place where they could rest without looking over their shoulders. The tone of the ask was a little hesitant and I knew he was worried about Montana and our last words. I smiled – I had a little bit of an advantage here – but truth be told, I missed them. Thought of them as sons. Was anxious to see them again.
"Mr. O'Sullivan – a Mr. Jones and a Mr. Smith to see you."
"Send them in."
"Hello boys, good to see you. I've just been thinking of you!"
"