Chapter 21 - A Walk Off

Han and Jed were playing down by the stream when Bill and his gang suddenly appeared.

They were bored with hunting in the woods and hanging around the town. When Bill heard the laughter coming from the creek, he went to investigate. He paused for a moment when he saw Jed and the other Heyes kid.

He turned back to the others to see what they wanted to do.

He was all for going forward; he didn't like the way things had gone the last time he'd tried to get a rise out of 'Hannah-Belle' Heyes. Instead of reacting like any other kid would've, he'd let six-year-old Jed fight his battles for him. Now everyone was angry with Bill for hitting the child. His father had really let him have it when he'd heard about it. Bill felt he had a score to settle.

But his gang included Adam and Joe Curry, as well as the other new kid, Tom Heyes. He'd wait and see what they wanted to do.

Tom shrugged. Sure, Han was his adoptive brother, but it wasn't like they'd spent years growing up together. Tom couldn't really see what the big deal was anyway; bigger, stronger kids always picked on smaller ones, it was just the way things were. Once Han learned his lesson, Bill would probably leave him alone.

Adam and Joe exchanged a glance. After the incident in the woods, they'd decided they didn't like Han much. He should've accepted that they were older and in charge; it wasn't for him - a new and younger kid - to criticize or question them. They felt he'd shown them up that day. But Jed was their brother and unlike Tom, they cared about him, even if they weren't prepared to admit it. A silent communication passed between them.

Adam walked forward and Bill continued on, correctly interpreting his actions to be assent. Adam would see where this was going. If it looked like Jed was going to get hurt, Adam would intervene. Han could just learn to take care of himself.

"Whatcha doin', Hannah-Belle?"

Han and Jed looked up in surprise. They hadn't heard the other boys approaching. Han didn't reply, but watched them warily.

Bill jumped down to the water's edge and gave Han a small push. "Asked you a question, Hannah-Belle!"

Jed tried to push himself in front of his friend. "Leave him alone!"

Adam grabbed his brother by the shoulder and pulled him away. "Stay out of this, kid!"

Jed struggled beneath his brother's firm grip.

Han looked at him and shook his head. He faced Bill. "We weren't doing nothing but playing."

Bill laughed derisively and affected an upper-class accent. "Oh, 'doing nothing but playing'! Listen to Hannah talkin' all posh!"

Han flushed. He'd been working hard at trying to talk the way Elizabeth wanted him to. She hated the way he dropped his 'g's'. He shot a quick look towards Tom, who was also trying, although less successfully. They weren't teasing him about it.

Tom jumped down the bank next to them. Han didn't think he was going to help and he was right.

"Ma wants him to do it. She doesn't like the way he talks, thinks he sounds common."

Han's blush deepened. He knew Elizabeth didn't like the way he spoke, but he hadn't known why. He didn't know that Tom was only guessing about it, and he thought that Elizabeth must have confided in his brother. In truth, Tom was right, but Elizabeth would never have admitted it to anyone.

Bill saw his rise in color and grinned. "Well, she shoulda thought of that before she brought home a kid from the gutter, ain't that right, Hannah?"

Han swallowed. He wasn't going to win a fight against Bill or his gang. He looked Bill straight in the eye. "Yeah, I guess she shoulda."

There was a little gasp of surprise that Han should give in so easily, but Bill looked satisfied. Han had backed down and Bill had won. Bill and Adam exchanged a grin. Maybe now, the kid would learn his place.

Unfortunately, once again, they had reckoned without Jed.

Now that the Han had conceded, Adam released his brother.

Jed ran back to his friend's side. "Han!"

"It's okay, Jed."

"Well, I don't think it is!" He puffed out his chest and clenched his fists. "I think what we got here is a walk off!"

Han closed his eyes and swore under his breath as he heard Bill ask the inevitable question.

He knew that Adam and Joe didn't want to fight with Jed, but this was pushing everyone too far. Bill and his gang would have to do something, just to save face. Mentally, Han cursed Grandpa Curry for telling them that story.

There was only one thing to do. Attack, then run. Han could probably outrun them, but Jed couldn't, so heading for the woods would be best. They could hide there for a while.

He worked out his plan as he heard Jed finish the story.

"...And they just upped and walked off before he ever got back, and that's what we got here - a walk off."

Adam stepped forward to grab Jed's collar. Han flashed Jed a look and was pleased that Jed seemed to know exactly what he meant. Jed kicked Adam in the shin as Han punched Bill hard in the stomach. Then Han grabbed Jed's wrist and pulled him as he took off. They ran through the stream, their familiarity with it making it easy for them to know where to get across. They scrambled up the other side and made for the woods, Han still pulling Jed along with him. They had a good head start and he didn't intend to lose it.

They weren't as familiar with the woods as the area around the stream, but it wasn't long before they found a tree they could climb. They were both relatively small and could climb well. They could hide in the branches until the other boys were gone.

They had minutes to spare. They could hear the others rustling about below.

"Well, where'd they go?"

"How should I know? What d'ya think I am, some kinda champeen tracker?"

Han and Jed exchanged a grin at Bill's mispronunciation, and Jed nearly giggled. Han put a finger to his lips and Jed bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from laughing. Bill and his gang moved on, but the boys stayed where they were. They wouldn't put it past Bill to have someone waiting for them by the edge of the woods.

Jed whispered from his branch, "D'ya think it's safe to go yet?"

Han shook his head. "Not yet. Let's give it while longer. They'll leave soon to go in for their dinner. It'll be safe then."

"But I want my dinner too!"

"Shoulda thought of that before you told that story! Why'd you do it?"

"They deserved it! They was bein' mean!"

"Well, if it was to make them feel bad, can you explain why we're the ones stuck up here in a tree, going hungry?"

Jed was about to respond when he realized Han was right. "Guess not. Just didn't seem right that they could go 'round behavin' like that!"

Han sighed. "It ain't right, Kid. But life ain't fair or right most of the time. Gotta get used to it, can't keep fighting against it. 'Specially when the odds are that much against you."

"That why you didn't want to fight?"

"Yeah. I learned long ago that the best way to win a fight was not to get into one. Most kids are bigger 'n me - you too! We didn't stand a chance."

"But they didn't get us."

"They will next time."

"But not this time!"

Han couldn't help but grin at the Kid's persistence. "No, not this time!"

Han was glad that he was staying with the Curry's when he and Jed finally returned home, tired, dirty and hungry. Elizabeth would've had a fit if she'd seen him looking like that.

Maggie jumped up in alarm at the sight of them. "Lord save us, children! Whatever have you been doing?"

Jed waited for Han to answer.

"We were playing in the woods and lost track of the time. Sorry we're late."

Maggie stared at them. They looked filthy and exhausted, and she guessed they weren't telling her everything. "Alright. Sit down and eat your dinner, you must be starving."

"We are!" Jed promptly sat down and started to pile food on his plate. Han moved to the sink to wash his hands, as Elizabeth insisted he always did.

Maggie ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about that! Go sit down and eat, child, you look famished. I won't tell if you don't!"

Later that night, she went to kiss the boys goodnight. Jed was already fast asleep, but Han was still awake.

Maggie sat beside him on the bed he was sharing with Jed. "Everything alright, Han?"

"Yes, Aunt Maggie."

"What happened today?"

His eyes slid away from her. "Nothin'." He stopped and corrected himself, "Nothing."

She studied him for a moment. "Alright, if you say so. But if you ever want to tell me anything, you can talk to me. I'll listen."

He smiled one of his genuine smiles. "I know, Aunt Maggie. Thanks."