Twelve year old Jed Curry jerked in his seat as his arm shot across the table in a futile attempt to catch the toppling glass before the contents spilled across the table and the milk began dripping off the edge to the floor.
"What did you go and do that for, you damn fool?" the school master shouted as he swung the back of his hand forcefully across Jed Curry's cheek, knocking the boy from the chair.
The room was instantly silent, all eyes focused on the angry, overbearing schoolmaster.
Jed Curry landed hard, spread eagle on the wood floor, splinters piercing his hand. Ignoring the pain in his hand, Jed scrambled to his feet. His eyes quickly darted across the room and found his cousin poised to leap to Jed's defense. Jed gave one subtle shake of his head and Heyes slowly sat back down.
"I'm talking to you, boy! What did you do that for? Food costs money you little ingrate!" the school master shouted as he started to take an intimidating step forward toward Jed. He stopped suddenly, startled by the boy's cold blue eyes glaring back at him, absent of fear.
"You touch me again, ever, and you'll regret it," Jed said a calm, low voice that sounded much older than the boy's twelve years.
Hannibal Heyes closed his eyes and winced when he heard his cousin threaten the school master. Jed was in for another beating for sure.
The schoolmaster was surprised by the shiver of fear evoked by a boy who had not yet experienced puberty. Not taking his eyes off Jed, the schoolmaster raised his hand and motioned with two fingers to the two male teachers chaperoning the dining hall.
"Put this boy in the detention room. Make sure the door is locked behind him."
The two men each took a firm hold around Jed's arms and pulled him forcefully across the room. Jed turned his head and blue eyes locked with brown as he was dragged out of the dining hall.
When they reached the detention room, Mr. Hawkins raised a leg and pressed the sole of his boot against Jed's back. He gave Jed a forceful push and Jed stumbled into the room. Losing his balance, Jed again found himself sprawled prone on the floor.
"When are you going to learn, Curry? You can't cross Mr. Jarvis. You'll always come out on the losing end of the stick."
Jed again pulled himself to his feet, his back to the door, his jaw clenched tight. The door slammed shut behind him. Jed heard the click of the bolt locking him in the room. He knew what was coming next. It was just a matter of time. He sat down in the far corner of the barren room and waited.
Hannibal Heyes was worried. In the three years they had spent at the Valparaiso School for Wayward Boys, Han had adapted to the calculated discipline of the schoolmaster, saving his schemes and antics for the brief periods of schoolyard freedom the boys were given each day. Inside the walls of the school, Heyes carefully adhered to the rules and was thought of as a model student.
But Jed had floundered, unable to adjust to the strict disciplines and expected obedience demanded by the schoolmaster. In the past year, Jed's defiance had blossomed and his youthful innocence had transformed into bold rebellion brought on by three years of harsh beatings resulting from minor infractions of the schoolmaster's rules.
Heyes paced the dormitory room, anxiously waiting Jed's return. But this night, Jed didn't return.
The detention room door opened and Mr. Jarvis and the two teachers who had brought Jed to the room, walked in. A fourth man, waiting outside, locked the door behind them. In Mr. Jarvis' hand was a long, thick board with a dozen holes bored into it.
"Stand up, Mr. Curry," Jarvis demanded.
Cold blue eyes raised to meet the school master's eyes as Jed slowly raised himself from the floor.
"You were wasteful and insolent, neither of which are tolerated here. Do you understand?"
Jed kept his eyes locked on the school master, kept his jaw clenched tight. He did not reply.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Mr. Jarvis shouted
Jed gave one slow, deliberate nod of his head.
"Walk over here to me and turn to face the wall."
Eyes still focused on Mr. Jarvis, Jed walked with slow determination and stood three feet in front of Mr. Jarvis. Then he slowly turned to face the wall.
"Drop your pants, Mr. Curry," Mr. Jarvis said, resting the paddle board in the palm of his hand.
Jed slowly unbuttoned his pants and dropped them to his knees.
"Grasp your ankles with your hands," Jarvis said in a calm, monotone voice, devoid of emotion.
Jed did as instructed, clenching his jaw tight and closing his eyes.
Jarvis moved to stand beside Jed and ushered the first blow of the paddle against Jed's buttocks. Jed winced and stifled a whimper. The second and third blows came in rapid succession. Jed squeezed his eyes tight, but not a sound escaped his lips.
Jarvis stopped after twelve blows of the paddle board. Small spots of blood formed on Jed's long johns. Jed stood up, but did not turn around.
"You'll spend the night here, Mr. Curry. Perhaps a night on a cold floor will bring you to your senses. We do not tolerate insolence. Learn to accept that fact and your stay here will be much more tolerable."
Mr. Jarvis turned and gave one wrap on the door. The man outside unlocked the door and the three men exited. The door bolted behind then.
Jed stepped out of his pants and tossed them in a corner. He knew sitting was not an option and even walking was uncomfortable. So he stood, in the same spot, all night.
When he heard the bolt being unlocked the next morning, Jed walked over to the corner and put on his pants. They chafed against Jed's very sore butt. He bit his lower lip, determined not to let the pain show in his face.
"Mr. Jarvis excused you from classes today, Jed," Mr. Hawkins said, holding the door open for Jed to walk out. As Jed reached the door, Mr. Hawkins placed his hand on Jed's shoulder and Jed stopped.
"Jed," Mr. Hawkins said gently. "Try to conform. It'll be a whole lot easier on you, son."
"Ain't your son, Mr. Hawkins," Jed replied and headed out the door.
When classes were finished for the day, Heyes raced back to the dormitory. He stopped in the doorway and uttered a sigh of relief when he saw Jed, asleep on his belly on his bed. Heyes walked over and sat on the edge of Jed's bed and nudged Jed's shoulder. Jed opened sleepy eyes and smiled when he saw Heyes.
"I worried about you all night, Jed."
"I'm alright, Han."
"Belt or paddle?"
"Paddle."
Heyes winced. "Sleep standing up, did ya?"
"Didn't sleep."
"I'm glad you're back."
"It weren't my milk, Han."
"What?"
"The spilt milk. It weren't mine."
"Who's was it?"
"Tom Wilson's."
"Ah, that's why you didn't try to explain it to Jarvis."
Jed nodded. "Tom couldn't take a beatin like that. He's too puny and sickly."
Heyes nodded. "You did the right thing, Jed."
Jed rolled over on his side and propped himself on an elbow. "I ain't staying, Han."
They had had this conversation several times before, but Han noticed a new tone in his young cousin's voice. A tone of conviction.
"Where would we go?" Heyes asked.
Jed smiled at the use of the word 'we.'
"Don't know. Just know I ain't staying here."
"We'd have to get jobs, Jed."
"Yep."
"Might head for Denver. It's a big city. Probably plenty of jobs there."
"Okay."
"When do you propose we leave?"
"Tonight."
Heyes thought a minute.
"If we wait till Friday night, they might not notice we're gone till Monday, and we might be able to pilfer some food to take with us," Han suggested.
"If we do that, I'll have to go to classes for two days. And the dining room. Han, I don't think I can sit that long just yet. Besides, they ain't going to look for us. We're just two less mouths to feed."
"Okay, Jed. We'll wait till it gets dark and go tonight. I'll see what I can steal at supper tonight. Maybe Billy and Wink can help me get extra food."
"Best not to let too many people know, Han. Don't want to get anybody in trouble with Jarvis."
"You're right, Jed. You try to get some more sleep cause we'll be up all night tonight. I'll start planning things out."
"Han?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks for going with me."
Heyes smiled. "We're in this together, Jed. We're partners, you and me."
Jed's not coming down for supper, so if anybody's got anything on their plate, they ain't eating, I'll sneak it up to him," Heyes told the nine other boys seated at the long table with him."
A few apples were passed down the table to Heyes and he quickly stuffed them inside his shirt.
Tom Wilson, the nine year old boy whose milk had spilled the day before, stopped beside Heyes on his way out of the dining room.
"Tell Jed I'm grateful for what he done for me," Tom whispered into Heyes' ear.
Tom reached into his pocket and withdrew a nickle that he handed to Heyes. "Give this to Jed to pay him for what he done."
"Where did you get that?" Heyes asked, scooping the coin out of Tom's open palm.
"Out of Mr. Henry's desk drawer. It was open so I snitched it."
"Ah, Tom, you better be careful stealing other people's money. If Mr. Jarvis were to find out, you'd get a worse beatin than Jed just got. Besides, it ain't right to steal. I'll give this to Jed, thought. Thanks."
Heyes stuffed the nickle into his pocket and Tom left the dining room.
Not wanting any of the teachers to see his shirt stuffed with apples, Heyes sat at the table and waited for an opportune time to make a quick exit. When the timing was right, Heyes got up and hurried out of the room and back to the dormitory.
Once in the dormitory, Heyes pulled the pillow case off his pillow and opened the trunk that he and Jed shared. As other boys began straggling into the dorm, Heyes placed the pillowcase in the trunk and began filling it with their few possessions. He pulled the apples from his shirt and placed them near the top of the makeshift valise. He tied the open ends of the pillowcase together and closed the trunk. Heyes glanced at Jed and saw that he was still sleeping peacefully on his stomach so Heyes stretched out on his bed, his heak resting against the wall... and waited.
At nine o'clock, all the lamps were extinguished and all the boys settled into their beds for the night. When he thought midnight was approaching, Han crept out of his bed, retrieved the stuffed pillowcase from the trunk, and woke his partner. As quietly as they could, the two boys tiptoed to the far end of the dormitory and Han slowly and carefully opened the window. Heyes handed the pillowcase to Jed.
"You're going to have to jump to that branch, Jed," Han said, pointing to a specific branch. "As soon as you grab hold, get your feet solid on that branch right below it. "Can you do that?"
"I've done it before, Han. I can do it."
Han nodded. "I'll go first. When I'm on the ground, you drop the pillowcase down to me. Then you come, fast as you can."
Jed gave Han a nod. Han crouched on the windowsill and calculated his jump. He turned again to Jed and nodded. "Be quick about, Jed," Han said and jumped to the nearby branch and scurried down the tree. Jed tossed the pillowcase down to him and climbed onto the windowsill. Without looking back, Jed took a determined leap and grabbed the branch with both hands while his feet found the supporting branch, below. Within seconds Jed joined Han on the ground.
Crouching, both boys darted across the schoolyard and climbed over the wrought iron fencing, their boots landing with a thud on the other side. They looked at each other and, without speaking, determined the other was not hurt.
"Come on," Han said and the boys began running down the dirt road that would take them out of town.
"Han stop," Jed shouted after they had distanced themselves more than a mile from the School for Wayward Boys. Han stopped and waited for his heavily panting cousin to catch up.
"Need to take a minute to catch your breathe" Han asked.
Jed nodded and stood stooped over, his hands clutching his knees as he sucked in gulps of air. Still breathing heavily, the boys looked at each other and smiled proudly. When their breathing had settled, Han untied the pillowcase and handed Jed an apple.
"We can walk for a spell," Han said.
"How far is Denver?" Jed asked, extracting a large bite from the apple.
"Long ways, Jed. It'll take us days to get there, maybe even a couple of weeks."
"What'll we do for food in the mean time?
"Likely won't be eating three square meals for a while, but maybe some farmstead will help us, might be able to steal some eggs once in a while. If we come to a town we might be able to lift some things from a store. There's always wild berries to be found. We'll manage. Oh, here, I forgot about this."
Han reached into his pocket and produced the nickle that he handed to Jed.
"This is from Tom. He said to tell you thanks for what you did."
Jed's eyes sparkled as he inspected the coin and stuffed it into his pocket. "Well, at least we ain't broke, Han."
Han laughed. "A nickle ain't going to go very far."
"I'll save it for when we're desperate," Jed promised.
Han stopped walking and perked up his ears.
"Jed, you hear that?"
Jed listened and heard a long whistle. "Yea, it's a train. So what?"
Han smiled. "It's coming from that direction. Come on! Run!"
Hans took off running with Jed in hot pursuit. They reached the tracks before the train, both again panting heavily. Han carefully scanned up and down the tracks, and spied what he was hoping to see.
"There's a water station. Come on," Han shouted and ran beside the tracks as fast as he could.
"Are we going to jump a train?" Jed asked when they stopped a couple of hundred feet from the water station.
"It'll get us further away faster than running."
Jed smiled. This still felt like an adventure to him and the thought of jumping a train caused a significant rise of adrenaline.
"When the train stops for water, look for an open boxcar. We're going to have to move quick. If one of us don't make it into a boxcar, the other jumps back out. We don't want to end up being miles apart," Han instructed. "Now, get down low so the engineer don't see us," Han said, crouching down into the wild grass growing near the tracks. Jed did the same.
The trained slowed and then stopped beside the water station. Han nudged Jed and pointed to an open box car. Both boys made a quick dash. Jed jumped into the car and spun around to grab the pillowcase Han tossed up to him. Then Han jumped into the car and both boys quickly moved to one end of the car and sat down. Jed was so excited he felt no pain when his bottom end hit the floor of the boxcar.
"Wonder where it's going," Jed said.
"S'pect we'll find out soon enough."
After the initial excitement of hopping their first train had ebbed, both boys were soon lulled to sleep by the rhythmic clickity-click sound of the wheels moving along the tracks.
When Han woke he could see the first light of day turning the night sky to a dull gray. He nudged Jed and then moved closer to the open door to try to determine where they were. He heard his cousin's boots scraping against the floor as Jed stretched and yawned. Jed soon stood beside Han near the open door.
"Where do you suppose we are?" Jed asked.
"Well, we've been on this train for at least a couple of hours, so I'm guessing we're in Wyoming by now.
Jed pointed to an area off to the west. "Look, Han. It looks like we're coming to a town."
"I wonder if that's Cheyenne. We'd better jump off a little ways off from there."
"Jump off a moving train?" Jed asked.
"Sure. We'll wait till it slows down, but jump before it reaches the edge of town. Just remember to roll as soon as your feet hit the ground. Then we'll walk into town."
Jed went over to where they had been sitting and picked up the pillowcase and returned to his cousin.
"I'm getting hungry, Han."
"Me, too. We'll see what we can pilfer in town."
The boys stood in wait as the train began to slow as it neared the town.
"You want to go first?" Han asked.
Jed shook his head. He wanted to watch how his cousin landed and rolled. "I'll throw you the bag when you land and then I'll jump."
Han took two steps back and kept his hand braced to the edge of the door so he could push off, adding momentum to his jump. "Here goes," he said and heaved himself out of the boxcar. Jed watched him land and roll. Jed tossed him the pillowcase. Then he took the same stance Han had taken. Jed counted to three, but jumped more than pushed and landed within a few feet of the moving train. His left foot landed with a twist, but he immediately dropped to the ground and rolled away from the moving train.
Han was at his side when Jed's roll came to an end. Jed immediately sat up and grabbed his left foot.
"You break it?" Han asked with urgency in his voice.
"No, but it's going to be black and blue."
"Can you walk on it?"
Jed stood up and took several limping steps steps. "Yea, but I'm going to be slow," he said."Sorry, Han."
"Don't be sorry, Jed. You did good for your first try at it. You'll get better at it, you'll see. Come on, let's head in to town."
Town was over a mile away and by the time they reached Cheyenne, Jed's limp had increased visibly. Han moved to stand to the left of Jed. "Throw you arm over my shoulders and I'll help you walk. Jed swung his arm across Han's shoulders and the took a few steps.
"That better?"
"Yea, thanks, Han. Where are we headed?"
"We gotta find a saloon."
"What for?" Jed asked
"Cause the bartenders always know where there are jobs to be had."
Together they walked down the street till they reached the first saloon.
"You wait outside, Jed. The bartender ain't likely to let you in, anyway, on account of you're still a kid."
Han helped Jed sit down on the edge of the boardwalk. He handed Jed the pillowcase and went into the saloon. Twenty minutes later Han emerged and sat down next to Jed.
"Find us jobs?"
"Well, he knew of three jobs available. The first is at a ranch about ten miles outside of town that's needing bronc busters."
"We're probably both too young and puny for that job. What else?"
"The bar owner is looking for someone to sweep up, mop floor, you know, keep the place clean... I told him you'd take that one."
"I'm working in a saloon?"
Heyes nodded. "I figured you could do that even with your sore ankle. The owner looked out at you and said he agreed."
Jed frowned. "What's the third one?"
"Someone to work at the livery stable cleaning stalls, brushing down horses, getting them fed and watered. That kind of stuff. I'm going to go over there and inquire about it now. You stay here. Eat one of them apples while you wait."
"Okay but I'm going to need more than an apple today."
Heyes smiled. "Food is the next think on the agenda, and then finding a place to sleep."
"Get the job at the livery and we can sleep in an empty stall," Jed called after Heyes as he walked away.
"You get the job?" Jed asked when Heyes returned a half an hour later.
"Yep." Han said proudly.
"When do you start?"
"This afternoon and, Mr. Finney will pay me daily this week. After that I'll get paid weekly. That means when I get off work tonight, we can get supper," Heyes said smiling.
"When do I start my job?"
"Mr. Townsend knows about your ankle. He said you can start day after tomorrow. You go to work at four in the afternoon and work till closing. Most nights that will be midnight, but on Fridays and Saturdays you work till two A.M."
"What am I getting paid?"
"Fifty cents an hour."
"That's half what your getting!"
"It's half as hard, too."
"What am I supposed to do when you're at work today?"
"You can come with me. I don't see why Mr. Finney would mind."
"Did you ask him if we could sleep there, Han?"
"I didn't think that was likely a good idea on my first day. We'll see how it goes."
As seemed to be the norm with most livery stable owners, Mr. Finney was an older man, a bit short in stature, and lean. He tended to be a bit on the gruff side, but proved to be a fair and honest man. That afternoon, when he saw Han approaching for his first day on the job, he was none to please that Han had brought a companion.
"Who's this other fella," Finney asked.
"He's my cousin, Jed."
Finney gave Jed a careful once-over. Then he looked at Han. "You two run aways?"
"Orphans," Han replied and smiled politely.
"What happened to your folks?"
"They got killed in the Boarder Wars."
Finney nodded. "I see. Well you get to work, Han, and kid, you stay out of his way."
"Yes, Sir. I will, Sir," Jed replied.
Finney was impressed by Jed's manners. "How old are you, kid?"
"Twelve, Sir."
"How about you, Han?"
"Fifteen, Sir."
"How long you been in town. I ain't seen neither of you before."
"Just arrived today, Sir," Han said.
"Got any family?"
"No, Sir, we don't."
Finney was satisfied with the amount of knowledge he had regarding the boys and went on about his own work.
Jed had sat quietly in an empty stall, resting his injured ankle on a bale of hay while Han cleaned the other stalls, fed, watered, and brushed the horses, stacked bales of hay. Around ten in the evening, Finney walked over to pay Han to tell him to call it a night.
"You boys got a place to stay?" Finney asked.
"No, Sir," Jed answered quickly and Heyes shot him stern look.
"You can sleep in my barn tonight if you want."
"That's very nice of you Mr. Finney but..."
"But what?"
"Well you see we haven't had anything to eat all day. Now that I have some money, we thought we'd go get some supper."
"I've got some left over stew at my place. You can start saving your money to find a proper place to stay."
"He's right, Han," Jed said. "We need to pocket our money."
Outnumbered and seeing the logic of saving his money, Han agreed. Jed grabbed the pillowcase and the boys climbed into the back of Finneys wagon and rode out to his homestead.
"You can come in while I warm up the stew," Finney said.
"Fifteen is almost a man but twelve is a might young to be out on your own. " Finney said as they sat at his table eating the stew.
"I ain't alone. I got Han, and I got a job," Jed replied
"What kind of job have you got, kid?"
"Cleaning up at the saloon."
"What saloon?"
Jed looked at Heyes. He hadn't notice the name of the saloon.
"The Lucky Horseshoe," Heyes replied.
"That one's descent. You stay away from those saloons on the other side of town, kid. They're all in a pretty rough area of town."
"Yes, Sir. I will," Jed replied.
"There's a bit of stew left if either of you want it. Jed looked at Heyes who gave Jed a approving nod.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir," Jed said and emptied the pan onto his dish.
After supper the two boys made their way to the barn and climbed into the loft. Having no blankets, they piled hay high and then snuggled down under much of it.
"Mr. Finney's been real good to us, Han. I ain't hungry no more."
"Yep. You're ankle seems to be feeling better, Jed."
"It is. Just think, Han. This time last night we was just climbing out of the window at the School for Waywards. Now, tonight, we both got jobs and are on our own. I like being on our own, Han."
Heyes sighed and slipped his hands behind his head. Jed had another four to five years before he'd be considered a man, and Han was the sole person responsible for a twelve your old boy. He hoped they had made the right decision running away from the school.
Finney knew that Jed was to start his job the following day, so he didn't object to Jed spending one more day at the livery while Han worked. Jed stayed out of the way, but did help Han clean the stalls. At the end of the day, Finney paid Han his dollar wage and gave Jed two bits for helping with the stalls.
"You boys can stay in my barn till the end of next week. That'll give you time to save up some money for a place to stay."
"Thank you, Mr. Finney," Han said. "We really do appreciate your kind offer and we accept," Han said without consulting Jed. It didn't matter as Jed was as pleased as Han to have a place to stay.
"Mr. Finney, could we borrow a couple of the horse blankets for the night? You can bring them back to the livery in the morning,"Jed said.
Finney nodded. "I didn't think about you boys needing blankets. Kid, you take a couple with you tonight and just leave them in the loft. I'll take them back when you go."
Jed grabbed two blankets off the rail of a stall and tossed them in the back of the wagon before he and Han climbed in for the ride back to Finneys place.
"Why does he keep calling me Kid?" Jed asked as he crawled into the hey and pulled a blanket over him.
"S'pose cause you are one," Han replied. "You nervous about starting your job tomorrow... Kid?" Han asked with a smile on his face.
"No. Just think, tomorrow night we'll have... three dollars and eight-five cents."
"Don't forget, you're getting paid by the week. They won't be handing money out to you tomorrow."
Jed frowned. "I forgot."
"But, we'll still have three dollars and eight-five cents between us... just not in our pockets."
Jed brightened. "We keep working like this, Han and we'll be rich."
Han laughed. "Nobody ever got rich sweeping saloons and cleaning horse stalls... Kid."
"Han, I'm glad we left. No matter what happens, I'm glad we left that school."
"Me too."
Kid showed up at the saloon at exactly four in the afternoon. He had never been inside a saloon and wide eyes took in everything. He looked in awe at the rows of bottles that lined the mirrored shelving behind the bar, the stacks of shot glasses and rows of beer mugs. He saw a dozen round tables of various sizes, a large player piano, a roulette table, four penny slot machines and...ladies wearing almost nothing. Black stockings covered exposed ankles, calves, and knees. Tight fitting bodices that gave way to flouncy short skirts. Kid's mouth fell open and a huge smile spread across his face.
"Hey, boy!. You the kid that's working here?" the bartender shouted "Hey, Kid! I'm talking to you!"
Jed turned abruptly. "Yes, sir. That'd be me," Jed replied and stepped over to the bar.
"You got a name?"
"Jed, sir."
"Alright Jed, you ain't getting paid to ogle the ladies. You can start by getting that trash piled up here behind the bar and lug it out the back door. Just add it to the pile already out there."
"Yes, sir." Jed scurried behind the bar and hoisted a wooden slat box filled with empty bottle and carried it out the back door. He returned for another box, and then another until all the boxes had been removed.
"What do you want me to do now, sir?" Jed asked the bartender.
"Might as well give the floor a good sweep before the place starts filling up. And you call me Henkings."
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Henkings."
"Just Henkins. Kid."
Shortly after ten, Heyes walked into the saloon and ordered a beer.
"How's it going, Jed?"
"Good."
"Jed," Henkins called. "Another load of trash."
Jed sighed and looked at Han. "Gotta go," he said and disappeared behind the bar.
Heyes nursed his one beer until midnight when Jed was ready to head back to Finney's barn.
"So, how does it feel to be a working man?" Han asked.
"Better than being a wayward. The women that work there sure are pretty, Han. "
"Do tell,"Jed," Han said with a grin
"You see how short them dresses are?"
"You getting an education, are you, Jed?'
"What?"
Han smiled. "Nothing."
When they reached Finney's place they headed for the barn and climbed into the loft
Han and Jed spent the next month living in Mr. Finney's loft, working long hours at their jobs, and helping Mr. Finney with chores, for which they were paid with meals and the barn loft. Neither complained. Both found this life far superior to the School for Wayward Boys. At the end of one month they had saved forty-two dollars. Han gave each of them one dollar for spending money for the month and carefully stuffed the forty dollars inside a sock and buried at the bottom of the pillowcase.
"Han, if Mr. Finney will let us stay in the loft in exchange for meals. I don't mind staying here for a while."
"You'll mind living in a loft when winter comes, Kid. But maybe we can stay here till then. By winter maybe we can rent a room at a boarding house, or maybe one of the rooms above the saloon where you work."
"Want me to ask Mr. Townsend about that?" Jed asked.
"No, Jed. There's plenty of time to do that later."
The next day Han worked his usual hours, but being that it was Saturday, Jed worked until two in the morning. Mr. Finney let Han borrow one of his horses so he could give Jed a ride home. Han arrive at the saloon around one and found a penny ante poker game. Within the hour he had turned his dollar into a dollar and eighty-five cents.
Jed was grateful for the ride back to Mr. Finney's. He was bone tired and offered little in the way of conversation on the ride. When they reached Mr. Finney's place, Han noticed a light burning inside the cabin.
"Not like Mr. Finney to be up this late," Han said.
"Or maybe this early," Jed added.
The boys dismounted and tethered the horse to the post.
'"Maybe we'd better find out what's going on," Han said as he walked up to the cabin and knocked on the door, Jed right on his heels.
Han knocked again. "Mr. Finney? Everything alright?"
When there was still no answer, Han tried the latch on the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked. Han opened the door slowly and spied Mr. Finney lying unconscious on the floor. Han rushed to Mr. Finey's side and fell to his knees. Jed stood timidly in the doorway.
"What happened to him, Han?"
Han pressed his ear to Mr. Finney's chest and placed his hand under Mr. Finney's nose.
"He's alive," Han said and tried shaking Mr. Finey's shoulder but got no response. Han lifted one of Mr. Finney's arms and found it limp.
"Jed, take the horse and go get the doctor. And be quick," Han shouted. Jed turned and darted out the door.
Han placed his arms under Mr. Finney's shoulders and pulled him across the room to his bed. Then he wrapped his arms around Mr. Finney's chest, and clasped his hands together and hoisted Mr. Finney into the bed. He laid Mr. Finney on the mattress, then lifted his legs into the bed and covered the man with a blanket. Not knowing anything else to do for the man, Han sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bed and waited.
Jed and the doctor arrived a few minutes later. Han got up and moved away from the bed to give the doctor room to examine the old man. About twenty minutes later, the doctor dropped his stethoscope in his medical bag and closed the bag.
"I'm afraid he's had a heart attack. It's only a few hours till sunrise so I'll stay with him tonight. In the morning, one of you ride in and tell the sheriff. Tell him I need a wagon to move Mr. Finney to my office."
"I'll do that, Doctor," Han said. "Jed, put the horse in the barn but don't unsaddle him. Then bring our blankets down. I think we should sleep in the cabin tonight."
Jed nodded and darted out the door. When he returned, Han laid the blankets on the floor on the other side of the room and both boys laid down, but neither slept.
At the first sign of light, Han rode in to town and within an hour, returned with the sheriff and a wagon. Han and the sheriff loaded Mr. Finney into the wagon and the sheriff tied his horse to the back of the wagon climbed into the wagon seat.
"Take it slow, Sheriff," the doctor instructed as he mounted his own horse and he and the sheriff left for town with Mr. Finney in tow.
"What do we do now, Han?" Jed asked.
'Well, first I'll fix us some breakfast, then you and me will ride to the livery stable. We'll have to find Mr. Townsend today to let him know what happened, cause you're gonna have to quit working at the bar so you can help me run the livery till Mr. Finney gets better."
"What if he don't get better, Han? What if he...?"
"Can't think like that right now, Jed. Gotta take things day by day."
Han and Jed spent the day working at the livery. Both were thankful it was Sunday because the livery closed at six. Both boys were exhausted. Han carefully scratched the day's business into the ledger book while Jed fell asleep in a pile of hey.
"I'm gonna stop at the doctor's office to see how Mr. Finney is doing before we head back to his house," Han told Jed as they mounted Mr. Finney's horse.
Jed waited in the saddle while Han went in to the doctor's office. Mr. Finney was awake but still quite weak.
"Jed and me ran the livery today for you Mr. Finney. We'll do that till you're back on your feet again."
"Pay Jed what I'm paying you, Han."
"Yes, sir."
"You know how to keep the books?"
"Yes, sir."
"You boys can stay in the cabin while I'm here. Doc says that might be a while. You can use whatever food there is."
"Thank you, sir."
"Alright, that's enough talking for now," the doctor said. "Looks like you both need more sleep."
Han nodded and headed out the door.
They rode double back to Mr. Finney's place and headed straight for the barn to take care of of the horse. Then they headed into the cabin.
"I'll fix us something to eat," Han said.
"I'm too tired to eat, Han."
"Well then, go climb into Mr. Finney's bed. I'll join you later."
"Aren't you tired, Han?"
"Yea, but I need to plan this out a bit. You go on. I won't be long."
For the next week, both boys put in twelve hours days, although when times were slow, Han did let Jed nap in a pile of hay. Han stopped in at the doctor's office each day to see how Mr. Finney was doing and to report the day's business.
"Doc says unless I want another heart attack, I can't go back to work. So, Han, I'm putting the business up for sale. Don't know how long it will take to sell it, but I'd like you and Jed to stay on till it sells."
"Yes. Sir. We'll to that."
"Doc says I'll be coming home in a couple of days."
"We'll have the place ready for you Mr. Finney."
"You've been doing a fine job for me, Han. I appreciate that."
On the way home, Han told Jed what Mr. Finney had told him.
"How much does a livery cost, Han? You and me could buy it," Jed suggested.
Han smiled. "A lot more than the fifty dollars we have saved, Jed. No, we'll be moving on when Mr. Finney sells the livery."
"Where are we gonna go?"
"We'll both think on that a while and when it's time to go, we'll decide."
Mr. Finney returned home on Monday. The evening before, Han and Jed had cleaned up the cabin, washed the bed sheets and hung them out on the line to dry overnight, and moved back into the loft.
So, for the next several weeks, Han and Jed continued to work long hours at the livery. At Mr. Finney's suggestion, Han brought the ledger home every night so Mr. Finney could go over the books. Every morning, Han took the previous day's earnings to the bank to deposit in Mr. Finney's account. Every Friday, Mr. Finney paid the boys their wages which they carefully hid in their pillowcase. By the time Mr. Finney had sold the livery, the boys had saved up one hundred and thirty dollars.
"I sign the papers on Wednesday and the new owner takes over. He says he is willing to keep you both on, at least for a spell," Mr. Finney told them.
Han and Jed looked at each other before Han spoke up. "That's nice of him Mr. Finney, but Jed and me decided to move one once you got the place sold."
Mr. Finney reached into his pocket and pulled out two ten dollar gold pieces. He handed one to each of the boys. "You two took on the responsibilities of a man and I appreciate that. You've earned a little bonus."
Jed's eyes lit up and both boys thanked Mr. Finney.
Mr. Finney, Jed and me would like to buy one of your horses," Han said.
"Which one?"
"Well, I kind of like the sorrel."
"Sorrel's getting up there in age a bit. He'll get you around alright for a few years yet if you don't push him too hard. You need a saddle, blanket, bit, reins."
"Pretty much the works, sir."
"I paid twenty dollars for that horse. I got an old saddle... Twenty-five dollars and it's all yours."
Han looked at Jed who nodded eagerly.
"Sold, sir," Han replied.
"Han, I know we just spent money on the horse, but... can we each keep our bonus money?" Jed asked when they were settled down for the night in the loft.
"What do you need that much money for, Jed?"
"You remember the gun pa gave me for for my last birthday at home?"
"It was a Colt .45 as I remember."
"Yea. I seen one just like it in the gun shop. You know, I was getting pretty good with that gun before..."
"I recall that, Jed. You had gotten pretty fast."
"Yea. I'd like to have a gun just like that one."
"The cost of a new Colt is more than ten dollars, Jed. They're close to eighteen dollars."
"This one ain't new. But I figure with a little gun oil I can get it looking like new again."
"How much is it?"
"Nine dollars."
"That would leave you money for gun oil."
"Uh-uh. And I can shoot rabbits and wild hens so we won't have to buy food on our travels."
Han smiled at Jed's sales pitch."
"Alright, Jed. You can keep your ten dollars."
Jed smiled brightly. "I can protect us, too, Han."
"When have we needed protecting, Jed?"
"Well... just in case we do... I'll be able to watch your back, Han. … Lord knows you ain't a good shot."
Han laughed out loud. "Okay, Jed. We'll stop at the gun shop on our way out of town tomorrow.."
Jed smiled. "Thanks, Han. You'll see, I'll practice every day. I'll get real good, Han. You won't be sorry."
Han smiled. "With you watching my back, Kid, I won't ever be sorry. Now get some sleep."
Jed wiggled down deeper into the hay and rested his head on his arm.
"Good night, Han."
"Good night, Jed."