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1874
The red sun had passed below the horizon and was still tainting the sky when Heyes rode back to the northwestern line shack. He saw to his horse first, then washed his hands, face, and neck at the water pump before stepping to the porch.
"Last one back in again, Heyes. You're one for workin' long." Leo Harken, younger brother of Wes, sat on the top step. Heyes figured him to be about the same age as himself. Leo had the same easy-going personality as his elder brother.
Heyes admired the ramrod for his handling of his younger brother in the group, showing no favoritism yet keeping the fraternal bond in place.
"Or, mebbie yew got a special cow out there wot needs yer tender touch afore nightfall?"
The Oklahoma drawl was strong in Eb Roscoe, which added to the humorous expressions that accompanied his jesting. He sat next to Leo, looking up at Heyes with an eye squinted shut and his big, gap-toothed grin cocked to one side.
Heyes flashed his dimples. "ALL the ladies need my tender touch."
Guffaws from the hungry men.
"Alright, supper's on!" Wes called from the open door and the men shuffled inside, each taking a plate from the stack and lining up to the stove. Old Gil scooped out two ladles of stew for each and the five men sat at table. A plate of sliced bread was passed around with the butter dish.
"Any news from town, Wes?" Leo asked for the group. It had been so long since they'd been anywhere near civilization.
"Yeah. Beef prices are down. Cost of supplies is up. Old timers 'round here are sayin' it's the coldest winter in memory. Newspapers say the same for Cheyenne and Chicago. The 10th Cavalry passed through town. Two new saloons opened up so there's more ladies askin' for Mr. Tender Touch here."
Heads jerked up and mouths filled with food fell open on the unexpected humor from the boss. Heyes swallowed quickly.
"What can I say, fellas? The ladies know what they need!" He shrugged with his hands held palms up, dimples attesting to his claim.
"And..." Wes waited for the teasing to die down. "…and ...Wilder will head 'em north come the end of April. They'll meet up with us at Fort Belknap this side of the Brazos." He took three large bites of his slice of buttered bread. "That means we head 'em up first week of May."
"Anyone make it to the telegraph office?" Heyes still hadn't heard from Jeddie on his discharge.
"Oh, sorry, Heyes!" Wes took the small envelope from his inside vest pocket and held it across the table. "Here!"
Heyes opened it immediately.
..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _
Date: April 9, 1874
Sent From: Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Received At: Comanche, Texas
To: H. Heyes, Rocking J Ranch
Return Ft Lyon by river transport.
Arrive Ft Lyon by May 10.
Discharge May 22.
PFC J Curry
..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _
"Your friend?"
"Yeah! I'll need some time off come May. Still got that spot for him on the drive? Not sure where we'll join the herd but maybe around Fort Cobb."
"He work as hard as you, there's a spot for him!"
"Wes, he makes me look like... like I been dry bit!"
Leo gazed heavenward. "Lord save the ladies of Comanche, Texas from Heyes's friend!"
No man laughed harder than Heyes at Leo's joke. He did set himself up nicely, after all!
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Dear Jeddie,
Happy to get your telegraph of your discharge May 22 and we can ride together again! You have a spot with me on the Rocking J with Wes Harken, ramrod. Trail boss is Buck Wilder, a man with good reputation. They will start the drive north before your discharge and we will likely meet them by Fort Cobb.
After your year in -dusty- Philadelphia, you are in for some real dust, my friend!
I had a strange dream much like yours. I got dry bit by a rattler and the fever took my mind so I was flying over the Kansas hills looking for you and I found you. Only Grandda Curry could figure these!
Wes is leaving in minutes for Comanche so my letter is very brief.
Will see you soon in Fort Lyon!
Your cousin,
Hannibal
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His days seemed to fly by when he looked back on them, but each day seemed longer than the previous. He just didn't seem to be cut out for cattle work, at least a lifetime of it. Odd man out in the group, as all the rest seemed to have no other ambition in life. But the men had a natural camaraderie that made the arduous work lighter. Heyes attributed that to Wes keeping an even head, treating the men fairly and openly and not afraid to show his sense of humor. That's the kind of leader Heyes admired.
The month of April had passed the half-way mark when Wes approached Heyes outside the line shack that evening. He held out a telegraph.
"This just came in. I suppose you're anxious to get on the road."
"Yeah, gettin' close but still have those strays on the south plain to round up, then we'll be ready for the drive north." He wiped his forehead with his bandanna before taking the telegraph from Wes. "Thanks."
"Me and the other boys can handle that, Heyes. You'd best be moving out, don't want to miss your friend's big day."
Heyes listened while he read the telegraph, his face changing from a smile to a frown.
"Nothin' bad, I hope?" The concern in Wes's voice was evident.
"No, no, Wes. Just a bit of a disappointment for the two of us." He put the envelope in his shirt pocket while looking out over the wide open country. "I think you're right. Never know what trouble lies ahead on the open road. Can I head out in the morning?"
"Sure thing, Heyes. Haven't heard of much trouble from Indians lately. Stick to the fort roads, safest way. You might even meet up with some of your friend's fellow soldiers, give you safe passage. Catch the train when it's goin'."
"Right again, Wes."
Heyes stepped inside the shack. He took his fill of supper, could be some lean days on the road to Fort Lyon and he wanted to start off with a full stomach.
Sitting on his bunk before lights-out, he took the telegraph from his pocket and read it again.
..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _
Date: April 14, 1874
Sent From: Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Received At: Comanche, Texas
To: H. Heyes, Rocking J Ranch
Discharge still 5.22.
Run on my Philly bank.
Lost all deposits.
Bring money.
PFC J Curry
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It was almost impossible to believe or to understand. Not only Jeddie's cavalry pay but all the money he'd wired to Jeddie, all of it gone! A man's entire savings of three years, gone!
And to whom? Bankers and railroads! How do they get away with stealing people's money like this? Who arrests them? Hauls them into court and tosses them in prison? No one! It ain't fair! It just ain't right!
Heyes knew his cousin well. A chivalrous streak a mile wide, that was Jeddie! Back in Valparaiso, Jeddie devoured books on the Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers and the like. It was only natural he signed on with the cavalry to protect lives. Heyes understood that. And Jeddie expected the best of other men, as if by their very nature all men followed an ancient code of chivalry.
And here he is now, taken in and robbed by unscrupulous bankers who operate above the law. God, it had to be eating him alive! To top it off, Heyes knew Jeddie took responsibility for losing the money.
Heyes shook his head. Poor Jeddie! He was the one busting his butt for low pay while Heyes made his deposit money relaxing at the poker table. He pounded his fist into the mattress. It ain't right what they done to him!
He jumped off his bunk as the thought hit him. "Wes! Any way you can get into Comanche when you're roundin' up those south strays?"
"Sure, Heyes. What you got in mind?"
"Need to send my friend a telegraph in Philadelphia before he leaves. I'll write it, if you can send it for me?"
"Sure. I'll get to the telegraph office soon as I can."
Heyes grabbed a sheet of paper and a pencil stub from the dresser drawer and quickly jotted down his message. "I really appreciate this, Wes." He reached into his shirt pocket for a few coins. "This oughta cover it."
Wes waved him off. "I'll take it out of your wages when you and your friend meet up with us on the trail."
Heyes held out his hand in friendship.
Wes grinned, returning the shake. He really liked Hannibal Heyes. He's a man to be trusted, and clever, someone Wes could consider as a partner in his own cattle ranch some day. Maybe that idea would come out on the drive north.
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"See the colonel right off, Curry. Sergeant said."
Myles's natural sneer made everything he said seem dishonest. This is one soldier Jeddie won't miss when he transfers! Relived of morning guard duty by Myles, he headed straight for the CO's office.
Lieutenant McAlister was exiting the front door as Jeddie walked up to the office building.
"Private Curry, good morning!" McAlister returned Jeddie's quick salute. "Business with the colonel, eh? Maybe your transfer orders are in!"
"Hoping you're right, Lieutenant! Nothing personal, but I'm ready to head back west!"
"You're a lucky man! Wish I knew where the army was sending me next. And when."
"Maybe we'll cross paths again some day, Lieutenant." Jeddie opened the door and headed down the hall to the colonel's office. He knocked on the frame of the open door.
"Pardon, Colonel Abercromby. I've been told to report to you, Sir." Jeddie saluted briskly.
"Private Curry, yes, come in." Colonel Abercromby, sitting at his desk, began moving piles of papers in search of something particular. "Ah, that's right. Here it is!" He opened the top desk drawer and withdrew a bundle of papers.
"Your transfer orders, Private. Be on the eight-fifteen train to Pittsburgh tomorrow morning and ship out on the next transport west leaving at nine o'clock tomorrow night." He stood to hand the papers across his desk to the young private, who suddenly looked like a lost little boy who'd just spotted his mother in a crowded store.
"Thank you, Colonel!" Jeddie saluted after placing the treasured papers in his inside pocket. "It's been an honor, Sir. I've learned a great deal under your command and Ordnance Sergeant MacKenna's."
Colonel Abercromby shook Jeddie's hand. "It's been an honor having you here, Private Curry. I wish you well in life. And if I may say, I think you should reconsider being discharged. The cavalry could use a man of your abilities."
"Thank you, Sir. My mind is made up right now. Maybe if things change in the near future."
"You're a young man yet, Private Curry. Maybe we'll hear from you again. Best of luck."
"Thank you, Sir." Jeddie saluted and was about to the door when the colonel called his name again.
"Be sure to see Ordnance Sergeant MacKenna today. I've informed him of your transfer orders but he wants to meet with you personally."
"Yes, Sir."
It wasn't until after supper that Jeddie had the chance to see his sergeant. MacKenna came up to him outside the Mess Room and put his arm on Jeddie's shoulder while removing an envelope from his upper pocket.
"Private Curry, I want you to know how much you been a welcome sight around this pile o' mud called a fort. Me and the boys were terrible sorry for the beating you took from that scoundrel bank, God have mercy on their Black Guard souls, so we passed the hat and came up with a little something to help you get started in civilian life. It isn't near what was stole from you, mind, but it's what us enlisted are capable of doing for a fellow soldier." The tall man almost thrust the envelope into Jeddie's chest. "Well, here you are."
Tears welled in Jeddie's eyes as he opened the envelope and saw the thick stack of crumpled bills. "There must be over two hundred dollars in here, Sergeant! How..."
"Passed the hat, Trooper. And not just enlisted. Officers all the way up to the colonel were happy to lend a hand to a fellow soldier in need."
Jeddie looked around to the men from his barracks who had followed MacKenna out the Mess Room, surprised to see Myles Neeley standing next to Ted Harrington. Smiling faces returned his nod of gratitude to each one. "I never been so honored in all my life. Thanks, fellas."
His embarrassed shifting in place caused them to laugh good-naturedly. Jeddie was suddenly clapped on the back by each soldier wishing him "Good luck out west!" as each went his way.
Jeddie stood alone outside the Mess Room, looking down at the envelope and wondering what he'd done to elicit such friendship and good will from others he'd known only a year. He shook his head thinking how Hannie would react when he recounted the story... Hannie!
He raced up the barracks staircase to his foot locker and began clearing it out. He was headed home in the morning!
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Losing sleep was pretty hard on Jeddie, but this morning found him bright eyed and animated. There'd be plenty of time to sleep on the train! Already awake at reveille, he passed on breakfast and headed straight to the pier so there would be no chance of missing the ferry. His stomach growled its displeasure with that decision but, thanks to his fellow soldiers, he could pay for a meal on the train.
In line with the passengers moving up the plank, he turned back to Fort Mifflin one last time as he heard McAllister calling his name.
"Private Curry!" McAllister huffed as he caught up with Jeddie. "This just in for you!" McAllister handed Jeddie the telegraph envelope.
"Thanks, Lieutenant!" He had time to shake McAllister's hand before stepping onboard. He waved to his friend on the pier, then moved inside away from the chilling morning breeze. He opened the envelope and read the telegraph.
..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _ ... _ _..._ _
Date: April 28, 1874
Sent From: Comanche, Texas
Received At: Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
To: PFC J. Curry
On way to Fort Lyon.
So very proud of my cousin.
We ride May 22.
Your big brother Hannie.
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That silver tongue knew no bounds! In just a few lines of telegraph, Hannie had made all his worries, all his self-doubt and his shame evaporate.
No, not his silver tongue. It was Hannie's golden heart that touched him. What would he ever do without his cousin!
His fears relieved and knowing he'd soon be back with his family, the trip back to Fort Lyon passed pretty quickly. Jeddie spent the time mostly playing cards, no money gambling allowed by military rule even on ship, and that was a shame since he most often took the pot of match sticks. He'd learned well from Hannie.
And expecting the short time in Fort Lyon to go as quickly as the trip had, Jeddie was getting more worried as his last day was approaching and still, no sign of his cousin, no word from him.
What did that mean? There were telegraph offices in the forts along the road. Why hadn't he heard from him? Bad weather? Bad roads? Train held up? Did Hannie encounter hostiles along the way? Would he even see his cousin again...?
The dreaded thought entered his head despite his utmost confidence in his cousin's resourcefulness to handle whatever came his way. Hannie always worked his way out of a scrap! Still, the old orphan fear reared its ugly head and stung him in the heart.
Jeddie stood on the perimeter of Fort Lyon looking out over the high plains, scanning the fading horizon one last time before Evans's bugle would sound. Nothing moved.
One more day, Hannie, and you better be here, I'm tellin' ya!
He closed his eyes and imagined Hannie's face before him. If he could still do that, maybe...
The mournful yet serene notes of Taps carried on the night air, calling the troopers to rest from their labors for the night. Jeddie clenched his fists trying to keep the thought down as he walked to his barracks.
Please, Hannie, don't leave me alone!
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"I'm at the end o' me rope, Captain. Done all I can t'ink t' keep Private Curry busy on this his discharge day so he an' his cousin can ride out t'gether."
Sergeant Quinn wiped his brow as he stood peering out the window of Captain Roberton's office. He watched as Private Curry, in the middle of a group of new recruits and seasoned troopers, gave pointers on accuracy with each weapon handed him.
"No sign of him yet?" Captain Roberton sat at his desk, papers stacked neatly in two piles.
"No sign, Captain. We got no word from t'other forts on any Indian scuffles?"
"Seems to have been peaceful these last few weeks regarding them. But there's more to give a man trouble from Texas to Colorado. I do hope it's just a delay Private Curry has to deal with."
"Aye. Another day wit'out his cousin is better than a lifetime." Quinn looked down at his dusty cavalry boots. "Why is it them two has taken hold of us like they did?"
Captain Roberton sat back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest and sighed. "I don't know, Quinn. Maybe some day we'll discover the reason." He looked past Sergeant Quinn to the outdoors. "In God's time, ay?"
"In God's time, Captain." Quinn broke his downward gaze and turned to the room. He lowered his big frame into the creaking wooden chair at the wall and sighed.
"Well, I'll give 'im the choice of stayin' here as a guest just so's he can..."
"RIDER COMING!" The gate guard spotted a black form on the horizon kicking up dust.
Quinn and Roberton jumped up in unison and hurried out the front door.
"Only one man sits a horse like that." Roberton grinned at Quinn, then gave the order to the guards. "Stand and let Mister Heyes pass!"
Amid the group of men, Jeddie heard the guard call out, then his cousin's name was shouted. Time seemed to stop, or maybe slowed so much Jeddie thought he could see every movement of the men surrounding him as they broke away and gave him clear view of the fort gate and beyond. Coming on fast, a lone rider. That can be only one man!
Jeddie watched with pride and with his heart overflowing with joy at the sight. Without breaking stride, the rider entered the fort at full gallop and, following the direction of Sergeant Quinn's outstretched arm, headed his horse toward the rear of the fort to the group of men at the firing range.
Jeddie stepped forward out of the group of men. The rider, in seasoned trooper fashion, reined in his horse sharply, jumped off the saddle landing on two feet and was walking forward before the animal had stopped. Jeddie wanted to run, run and throw his arms around his cousin. He just couldn't move. The sight of his cousin after three years of separation was overwhelming, almost impossible to believe. Hannie, with that face, that smile, those dimples, and that walk, his cousin was coming toward him, arms outstretched.
"JEDDIE!"
He ran into Heyes almost slamming him downward. Heyes laughed and Jeddie thought it was the greatest music he ever heard. The two young men stood with arms tightly wrapped around each other, their faces tucked into the other's shoulder, their bodies shaking with their laughter and tears.
"Hannie." All he could say, so he squeezed his cousin tighter. Heyes returned the favor.
"Three years, Jeddie." Heyes was the first to lighten his hold. "Let me see you, alright?" Jeddie held tight. "C'mon, little cousin." Heyes spoke quietly into Jeddie's ear.
Jeddie smiled at the term of endearment and the voice his cousin used only between them. He reluctantly let go his grip and stepped back a bit. Heyes lifted the cavalry hat from his cousin and let it fall to his back.
"Look at you! You're almost to my height! Look at you!" He held his cousin at the shoulders and looked him up and down. "You've grown so much!" He pulled Jeddie back in and hugged some more.
This time, Jeddie broke the embrace. He spoke quietly, in the voice they used only for each other. "It's so good seein' you again, Hannie! I've missed you so much." He was smiling, but fighting back the tears.
Heyes put his hands on the sides of Jeddie's head and gently shook him like a big brother does. "Me, too." He didn't hold in his emotions. A joyful tear ran down his cheek. Jeddie smiled with pride.
"God, I can't believe how you've grown!"
Jeddie had to laugh at his cousin's repeated amazement. "I'm twenty, now, Hannie! A year older than you when we last saw each other!" The fact made each shake his head.
"I ain't talkin' just about height, Jeddie. You're not the teenager two years out of Valparaiso that I left behind. You're a man now."
The cavalry did what I couldn't. Seems I made the right decision for him, Uncle Dan.
Hannie's praise filled Jeddie's heart. God, he had missed his cousin! He quickly wiped away the tear.
"Trooper Curry! Care to introduce your guest?" Captain Roberton walked toward the men with Sergeant Quinn at his side.
Jeddie saluted sharply. Heyes was impressed.
"Captain Roberton, Sir! My cousin, Mister Hannibal Heyes," he announced with obvious pride.
Heyes's ears pricked up as Jeddie spoke to his CO. He's picked up the cavalry way o' talkin'. Wonder if he even knows it?
"Mister Heyes. Good to see you again." The captain offered his hand.
"Captain Roberton, yes, you as well." Heyes shook hands smiling with his dimples-of-friendship. "Sergeant Quinn! Good to see you again, too!" He shook the big man's hand.
"Aye, ye look grand, Mister Heyes!"
"Private Schmidt, age twenty-one, Mister Heyes!"
"Private Evans, age twenty-one, Mister Heyes!"
Heyes turned to greet the two troopers behind him. "Schmidty! And Evans!" They certainly had grown, too!
"Brazen is out on patrol with the Tenth. Sorry you can't get meet him or First Sergeant Sims," Jeddie explained.
"Me, too. Was looking forward to both."
"Private Curry, see me in my office when you are ready. Have some papers for you." Captain Roberton nodded at Heyes.
"Yes, Sir." Jeddie saluted.
Heyes turned to Jeddie and put his hand on his shoulder. "There's one more."
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"He suffered, Hannie. For a week. I never got to see him once the doctor found it was smallpox. Never got to say good-bye."
They stood side-by-side, hats in hand, in the fort burial ground before the headstone of Private René Proulx, 1853 - 1873, RIP.
Heyes looked at Jeddie, his blue eyes misting over with the grief of his loss, and wrapped his arm around Jeddie's shoulders pulling him to his side. Then, he knelt on one knee at the foot of the grave, his head bowed, eyes shut, his closed right hand to his heart. Jeddie watched as he said a silent prayer and then...
Standing, Heyes looked up at the sky and gave a deep sigh. Jeddie, perplexed, touched his arm.
"Hannie, what was that?"
"What? What was what?"
"What you did. You did the sign thing."
"Sign thing?"
"Yeah, What they do in Catholic churches."
"You mean, I made the Sign of the Cross?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I guess it was for your good chum." Heyes looked back on the grave. "He was French, right? So, Catholic, right?"
"Sure." Jeddie shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Just, I never saw you do that before."
Heyes replace his hat. He smiled at Jeddie and gave him a wink. "Let's get those papers."
They continued their conversation on the walk to the CO's office.
"Did many get smallpox?"
''Yeah, it was pretty scary with the isolation goin' on, sleepin' in tents or in the open and men lookin' for signs all the time wonderin' who's next."
"And you never got sick. Hm. Guess the vaccination we got at Valparaiso paid off."
"We were vaccinated? When?"
"Let's see... you must have been eight, maybe nine. You don't remember?"
"Uh-uh."
"Still got our scars. Our shoulders." Heyes pointed to the top of his left shoulder.
"Oh, yeah. Guess I forgot. Doctor Matheson asked about it first day but I didn't remember. Well, maybe Valparaiso was good for some things."
"It's late afternoon. You want to leave today? Or stay overnight and leave in the morning?"
Jeddie was back to his enthusiastic self, his face beaming. "Hannie, I been dreamin' of this day for two years and I ain't waitin' a minute longer than I need to ride with you!"
"You'll be needin' a horse and tack." Voicing his plans as they formed, Heyes held up his pointer finger as a teacher to students, making Jeddie smile at the familiar pose he'd not seen in three years. "I'll go to the livery and see what I can get for you. Meet you back here in front of the CO's, alright?"
"Right! I'll get my gear, it's all packed, and then my papers an' see you here!"
Fifteen minutes later, Heyes walked back from the miniature town burgeoning outside the fort with a capable horse saddled for his cousin. He took up Jeddie's gear from the porch and secured it to his new civvie saddle.
The office front door swung open and Jeddie, grinning from ear to ear, exited with Captain Roberton and Sergeant Quinn following.
"Best of luck, Jedediah Curry and Hannibal Heyes!" The captain shook the hand of each.
"It's been an honor serving with the likes o' ye, Private... er, Mister Curry! And knowin' ye, Mister Heyes!" The sergeant shook both hands, then sniffed.
"Best of luck to you, Sergeant Quinn! And to you, Captain Roberton!" Jeddie saluted his captain one last time. "And to C Company, Seventh Cavalry!"
He mounted his horse alongside Heyes already in the saddle. "C'mon!" ordered the dark haired one. They turned in unison, paused to look at each other, then kicked their mounts to a full gallop.
Captain Roberton and Sergeant Quinn watched the two young men race out the gates of Fort Lyon free as the Irish wind.
"I wonder if we'll ever hear of them again." Captain Roberton shook his head and turned back to his office.
Sergeant Quinn stood in place watching as the two riders disappeared into the eastern horizon. A flash of lightning far to the northwest brought a prayer from deep inside.
"Sacred Heart protect ye, me boy-o's."
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