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1872
"JEDDIEEEEEE!" The frantic shout rang out from the bunk room, to no one's surprise.
"Wonder who that Jeddie fellow is he screams about in his sleep?" Wilkes held the coffee pot to Plummer's cup for a refill.
"I thought he's sayin' "Jessie," Swills said to the room, bringing Wilkes to scowl down at him.
"Maybe he rode with the James Gang!" grinned Buck Dixon.
"He ain't saying 'Jessie', ya deaf half-wits!" shouted Wilkes.
"Maybe then it's Jeffrey." Swills wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. "Who's the Jeffrey Gang?"
"They the ones out by Virginia City?" offered Emmet.
"Naw. They moved on when the silver went." Dixon pushed the non-sense he'd started, seeing how Wilkes' face was now bright red with frustration. He could count on Swills and Emmet to take him seriously, that might get Wilkes to shift to purple.
"Think you're right about that, Dixon," said Emmet, deferring to the more experienced outlaw. "The Farringtons? No, they're in Indian Territory. Or was that the Jeffrey's?"
"Could be they're up in Dakota now." Swills rubbed his forehead trying to come up with the answer to his mystery. Thinking more coffee might help, he took in a mouthful from his cup.
Wilkes slammed the coffee pot on the table and bent over, his purple face inches from Swills' calm one. "WHO? Just WHO in God's blue blazes you talkin' 'bout?"
Coffee shifted from one cheek to the other, pushed out his pursed lips, and ran down his gullet before Swills admitted in all sincerity, "Cain't rightly recall, Wilkes."
A garbled "Mmph!" was all Wilkes could shout out before the room broke into raucous laughter, with the exception of Swills and Emmet, who were left wondering why the fascinating discussion ended.
The laughter died down as the door to the bunk room opened and a disheveled Heyes, eyes swollen and red, shuffled barefoot to the hutch for a coffee cup.
Wilkes looked on with sympathy. If their leader wasn't going to, he at least would offer a bit of kindness to this friendly young outlaw with the ideas and fingers they'd all come to depend on, even more so than Plummer. He filled Heyes's cup. "Food's still warm," he said pointing to the cast iron stove.
A nod and a quiet "Thanks" from Heyes as he shuffled to the other side of the cabin. Whatever was in the frying pan didn't matter, Heyes shoveled it onto a plate, picked up a fork, and sat at the table next to Dixon.
The dreams. They always came before a job. But this one, this one was worst of all, the most frightening, the deepest. The emptiness it brought still filled his mind. What a strange thing, is it even possible for nothing to fill something? Must be a word for something like that. In a dictionary. In a library someplace. Maybe he would write to Jeddie and see if he could ask around, some officer with schooling... God, he had to get to Jenny's and make contact with his cousin real soon. After this next job he'd even travel to see him. Maybe not go back to the Plummer Gang... Yeah, that's what he'd do! It'd be great seeing his cousin again, hear his voice and the stories he's got to tell. What an exciting life he leads compared to mine! He could start again with Jeddie. He'll talk to Plummer today and let him know his plans.
Dixon watched the smile appear and fade on Heyes's face. Whatever was going through that brilliant mind he didn't need to know. Dixon was a pro, and nothing mattered as much as a job. This next one was the biggest one the Plummer Gang had ever planned. Each man had to know and understand his part like he knew his own hand. He'd gone over and over the plans with Plummer and Heyes, refining and finalizing until he thought it was fool-proof, which was required with Swills and Emmet included.
Strange thing was, this time Plummer shared things with him that he didn't share with Heyes. Dixon put it down to ruffled feathers. Since Heyes came on board he'd been a constant reminder to Plummer that he lacked a certain ability to see things to the end, anticipate the unexpected and have a plan to handle any of it. Had to be wearing on a leader to be shown up all the time. Worse yet, by a young buck. Dixon was glad it was back to him and Plummer for the most part. Heyes could move on if he didn't like the take down, far as he was concerned.
"Ready to do your part tomorrow, Heyes? You look a might shaky right now. Safe's in the most protected bank in these parts." Dixon spoke congenially.
"Safe's in the only bank in these parts." Wilkes got his dig at Dixon for turning him purple.
Heyes raised his head to his table companion, looking him in the eye."Don't ever worry about me, Dixon. I can open a safe in a coma."
Hoots and cheers. "The boy knows his hand, Dixon!" "Hoo-HOO! We'll be floating in greenbacks thanks to Heyes's hands!"
Heyes stiffened at the last hoot, his fork stopped in mid-air before his mouth.
"Stop antagonizing the safe cracker, boys. He's got enough to handle without your undue attention." Plummer finally joined the conversation if only to move it from the topic of Heyes, taking the opportunity to throw a thinly veiled slam his way.
"I want to go over the plans with the inside group before noon. Then I'll meet with you in the outside group at three o'clock. If there's any changes to be made, me and Dixon will go over the plans and meet with the whole group tonight. I want everyone to get a good sleep tonight so we're all sharp and ready for anything on the job. Got it?" Heads nod and agreement is voiced. "Good. I'll be in my cabin."
"Ah... Jim, can I have a word with you?" Heyes followed Plummer out the door.
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The Plummer Gang rode out single file to cover their number, each man fully armed, each one visualizing the street, the buildings, each mind going over his part again and again so as to not let the others down. Their confidence was almost palpable. The bank at Laramie would certainly give up it's treasures to the Plummer Gang, if Hannibal Heyes had his day!
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Despondent isn't adequate to describe the Plummer Gang as they dismounted in front of the hideout cabin. The plan went off without a hitch, not a man missing his cue, not a sheriff or lawman to spot them or give chase.
As far as Heyes could see, the problem wasn't the plan or the implementation. Heyes had the safe open in record time for him, the tumblers almost shouting their secrets. It's just that the safe was empty but for fifty-one dollars! Opening the safe door, he had been smiling wide in anticipation of holding wads of musty smelling greenbacks, all $22,000 worth of them in his hands, only to find nothing inside but a few bank documents and folders, and fifty-one dollars.
No bags of US currency to hand off to Jim to divvy up between themselves, no celebration in town, no drinks flowing and overflowing, no tall tales flying, no ladies of the night shimmying up to him asking with seductive eyes what else his talented fingers are capable of, which he'd happily demonstrate to each and all. None of that!
"I'm sorry, boys, real sorry. You performed exceptional today, every one of you, and I am very proud of each of you for that. No, if you want to find fault, don't look any further than your leader. I had, well, faulty information, no other explanation, no one else to blame but me."
Plummer looked the very image of a contrite and remorseful man. Heyes even felt a pang of sympathy for him standing before the men and taking full responsibility for the job failure.
"Jim, what do you figure happened to the money that was supposed to be there?" A question from the practical minded Heyes. If he didn't figure out where they went wrong, they were bound to go wrong again.
Plummer had the information directly from the bank owner when, dressed in businessman's clothing and posing as a land speculator, he paid a visit to the only bank in Laramie. He'd reported to his gang the bank layout, guard postings, safe model, all the details to formulate the perfect plan.
"Probably lost on failed speculation by the owner, most likely. Rumors of precious metals in the mountains are running rampant. I don't expect the bank to be open much longer or the owner to be in town much longer. If he isn't gone already. This is a boom and bust time for the town, things still haven't settled much since the railroad crews moved further west. Like I said, the bad information is my fault."
"Aw, it weren't no one's fault, Jim. These things happen." Emmet thought he'd speak for the group, but had a second thought on his words. He looked at the experienced Dixon. "Don't they?"
Dixon backed up the new kid. "Yeah, they do. We really did have a good plan and you boys did more than any leader could ask." He looked to Plummer who nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, Dixon. I hope you all feel the same?" Plummer smiled as each man gave him an encouraging smile and voiced his confidence in the unit and their leader. "A leader couldn't ask for better men. Get yourselves a good meal and a long sleep. You deserve it." Plummer turned toward his cabin.
"Ah, Jim. About that time off?" Heyes climbed the cabin steps after Jim. "I'd like to leave in the morning, should be back in a month, or a bit more, then we can get going on the next plans for..."
"Heyes." Jim put his hand on Heyes's shoulder with the same remorseful look he'd given them all. "Heyes. I know what we'd said before the job, but things have changed now. Don't you agree? The men need you here for their confidence. I need you here for the plans. And even if he doesn't show it, Dixon does, too."
Hard for him to believe that about Dixon, but Plummer had a point about the rest of the men. "I know, Jim, and I thank you for sayin' it to me, but I really need to see to my friend in the cavalry, I promised him, and you know what it's like to fail at a promise."
Oops, did I go too far? Did his eyes just darken or was that the shadows inside the cabin?
"You know what I mean, Jim, to deliberately not come through on a promise. It's the worst thing!"
Hope that clears things up.
Jim's expression was almost fatherly. "Yes, I know, Heyes. Maybe we can compromise. How about you write him a letter and put everything in it you think he needs to know."
"That's what I've been doin', Jim, well, not as often as I promised but I been writing. It's his letters I got to see, I got to see how he's doin', how the army's treatin' him, how he's gettin' along and if he needs anything from me, if I made the right decision for h..." Heyes checked his tongue before finishing that thought.
"I'm sure he'll understand your situation. An army man knows about commitments, doesn't he?"
"Jim..."
"I'm only asking for one more job, Heyes, not your whole life. Just one more job. Work with the men through winter and after the spring job, take all the time off you need. You'll have plenty of time for letter exchanges then. Maybe you could even go see him, spend time together and see for yourself how he's getting along. That's got to be more helpful than some letters."
Heyes turned his head away from his leader.
"I really need you on this next one, Heyes. Counting on you, for me and the boys."
"Alright, Jim. One more job."
Plummer smiled.
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The planning was going strong. Dixon didn't mind Heyes being involved as much as he was. In fact, after Plummer's last foible he was glad to have someone else, another set of eyes and a brain in the scheming.
Heyes took on a leader's demeanor and stance, so much rein had Plummer given him in this next job. And Heyes filled in the men as often as he thought necessary. Every time he entered the bunkhouse he felt a pride he had never known before, the men listening with, is it almost awe? No one had ever treated them this way. Wilkes patted his shoulder.
"We sure do like bein' in on the plannin', Heyes. 'Specially when we all got to work together or we lose together, the lot of us."
"You're an outlaw philosopher, Wilkes." Heyes held out his hand and Wilkes gripped it tightly, not really understanding but confident it was a compliment.
Heyes felt that if he wanted, he could have easily worked up a mutiny and taken over as leader. His own gang! Now wouldn't that be something! But as much as leading was an innate characteristic, Heyes was a team man. And that's why the men respected him.
"We got more to do than talk, men. Time for training and drilling!" Heyes borrowed a couple phrases from Jeddie. Again and again he went over each man's part, sometimes enacting them around the gang's buildings or inside using them as makeshift box cars, answering questions, taking suggestions seriously and altering the plan for a good one.
The men enjoyed being part of what they had come to call 'The Heyes Plan'.
Plummer gave Heyes that fatherly tone and patted him on the back for a job well done.
"We're all grateful for your part in this, Heyes. I know how much you want to see to your friend and I know what you've given up for the men, for me." He smiled paternally. "Winter looks to be leaving early, we might pull this one sooner than anticipated. You'll have all spring to travel and visit him."
Heyes drove himself even more.
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Heyes was in the steel tunnel again, not floating on a raft but taken in by the forceful waves, his head thrown repeatedly against the hanging steel, sucked down and grated across the pointed steel rocks, thrown back up gasping for air at the top and then sucked back down into the cold, suffocating water. God, when will this torture end?
He landed in the dead desert, alone, no tunnel, no Jeddie, no hope. Just himself, beaten and bleeding.
Lying face down in the burning sand, he reached out with his last ounce of strength, breathed his last breath to warn...
"JEDDIEEEEEE!"
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