They finally limped into town, their arms round each other's shoulders. The long stumbling walk had been completed in silence, but their hold on each other never faltered, when one began to fall, the other kept him upright. But the fragile hope they'd nursed that they would find some kind of sanctuary here, was quickly shattered as they took in the depth of the damage that had been inflicted on their town.
Stumbling to their knees, their strength gone at the devastation in front of them, they simply stared in wide eyed shock at the burnt out buildings, as the sounds of sobbing reached them, making them shake in reaction, it all too much to bear on top of their own immeasurable loss.
They remained there, leaning on each other, totally unable to move, until they were spotted by Mrs Jenkins, the Doctor's kindly wife. Her face was streaked with tears and smudges of charcoal marked her cheeks. She gave a small yelp and ran over to them, scooping the stiff boys into a tight hug as she said tearfully."Oh my darling boys."
Jed tried to speak, but when he opened his mouth, tears threatened once again, and he couldn't say a word, so it was Hannibal who managed to choke out. "Our folks...they're gone...everything gone."
ASJ
Hannibal woke from a confused dream of fishing with Jed by his side laughing, until bullets began to fly round them, making them have to dive for cover into the rushes on the banks of their river. They'd gasped as shells flew harmlessly over their heads, before landing to scorch and burn the grass beneath. As the fog of sleep clung to him, he stared round him, disorientated at his unfamiliar surroundings, then memory hit him hard like a cold fierce wind, stealing his breath for a moment.
It'd been three weeks since they'd lost everything, and it was these first few minutes of waking that were somehow the worst, because for a few precious moments he'd forget, and expect to hear his parents hushed tones drift up to him, as the smell of baking bread tempted him to full waking, only for the shattering reality to crowd in, and grief sweep over him as memory returned.
Jed was curled up behind him, sleeping quietly, his own restless dreaming, having finally stopped about two hours ago.
The sun was just up, and Hannibal eased himself out of bed, pulling back the curtain of the doctor's guest room, and looked down at the street that still bore the stain of the devastating attack by Quantrill and his men.
He wasn't sure how long he'd been staring, his eyes blurred by tears as he remembered, when Jed stirred. He didn't speak, his cousin had barely spoken more than three words, other than if he was pushed to answer a direct question from an adult, since they'd left their families graves. Jed hurriedly clambered out of bed and joined him at the window, and as he leaned in to him, shivering, Heyes slipped an arm round his shoulder in reassurance, knowing he'd no doubt had exactly the same experience on waking as himself.
ASJ
Mrs Jenkins wasn't in the kitchen when the boys entered, which was unusual, and they exchanged a nervous glance, as Jenkins waved them to sit, his face serious.
"I've got some news boys." He paused, cleared his throat and started again. "Mrs Jenkins and I are leaving for New York at the end of the month, to be near our eldest, and this means..."
Hannibal looked back at his cousin, who had paled. He quickly pushed away the sick feeling that came with the thought of leaving the West, and interrupted, hating how desperate he sounded, as he began to plead. "Please Doc, let us come with you, we won't be no bother." He looked again at his silent cousin, as he added. "Isn't that right Jed?" The younger boy nodded, his eyes wide and hopeful, as he looked over at Jenkins.
Doc Jenkins his heart aching, wished he could grant them this, but he knew the move east would take much of their energy, leaving them not nearly enough to deal with taking two traumatised boys, far away from the land they'd been born to. He swallowed hard, and shook his head. "I'm sorry, if we were twenty years younger, there'd be no question, we'd take you both without a worry. But Mrs Jenkins, Martha, is ailing, and I don't think we can manage the move, and look after you properly too." He wished his daughter could afford to take them on, but with her husband away fighting, and the financial depression that the war had brought with it, she was struggling to feed her own family. Another reason for he and Martha to join her, as they could help ease that burden at least.
Hannibal heard Jed swallow hard, before saying quietly. "We'll be good, Doc, we won't even eat much." With that he pushed away his untouched oatmeal, and subsided back into the now familiar withdrawn silence, as Hannibal patted his knee offering comfort best he could, despite the tightness in his own throat, and the way was beginning to clog as his worry about what lay ahead for them. He knew from the man's eyes that he was resolved in this decision, despite his obvious unhappiness at having to make it. A glance at his cousin told him that he knew it too, as his shoulders were slumped, and his expression blank. Both clear signs that he had accepted the worst, and was trying to work out how to deal with it.
Simon Jenkins was a kind man, and the carefully concealed desperation in his young charge's faces was making it was difficult to refuse them. But he hardened his heart, determined not to be dissuaded, as he firmly believed that the best option for them, was to stay. He wished his enquiries had turned up a loving family who would take them here. But with the destruction all around, and fears of what was coming next, no one he trusted with their well-being, had felt up to taking them on. So here they were. "We've found a place that'll take you both. Its called Valparaiso."
Hannibal and Jed's eyes met briefly once again, before Hannibal turned back to him and said fiercely. "We've heard of that place, its for waywards." He stopped, then added. "I know we weren't perfect Sir, but we weren't never that bad...and we promise to do whatever ya want us to do if you let us come with you."
Jenkins couldn't let them think this was anything to do with their behaviour, so shook his head firmly. "Ahh boys, .. this isn't about you being wayward, you're a credit to your families, but its the only place that seems safe for you right now." He paused and added honestly. "The lawyer here in town, would've taken you on Hannibal, but says he hasn't any room for Jed."
Jenkins had some very serious doubts about that man's suitability to take on any child, never mind one living with such terrible loss, but felt he had a duty to make them aware of the offer, but he was profoundly relieved when Hannibal looked back at his cousin, as he said fiercely. "Jacob Porter? I wouldn't live with him, he tried to evict our folks more than once, and he was always going on about Jed's Ma..." He stopped and grabbed hold of his cousin's forearm before asking. "When do we leave?"
"Martha and I will take you there on our way to the train."
ASJ
Jed sat at the back of the classroom, trying not to fall asleep as Parker, the maths master droned on. He was always cold and hungry at night, so sleeping well was difficult anyway, and with Hannibal being punished in the hole the last three nights, for informing the maths teacher correctly, that he had made a mistake, he'd found it even harder. He was still often plagued with the worry, that if his cousin was out of his sight for too long, he'd never see him again. He hadn't shared this with Heyes, a little ashamed of his fear, but as his cousin never said anything on the nights he crawled into bed with him, merely shuffled over to give him room, he suspected that Heyes understood.
As a result of his sleeplessness, his eyes burned, and his body ached with tiredness, and the dull drone of Parker's voice wasn't helping to keep him alert.
In a desperate attempt to stay awake, Jed took the pocket knife out of his pocket, letting the memories of his family wash over him. He was so lost in thoughts of happier days, he didn't hear Parker come over to him, until the pocketknife was snatched out of his hands.
Swallowing hard, he asked softly. "Please, Sir, may I have that back. It was my grandfather's, a gift from my folks. All I got left of them." He hated having to admit any of this to a man like Jacob Parker, but he'd do what he had to, so he could keep the knife.
He held his breath, as Parker turned the perfectly clean, impeccably cared for knife in his hands and huffed. "It's obviously far too much of a distraction for you, Curry. He paused then added. "As this is not the first time that I've observed such impolite behaviour in you during this class, I think this item is proving too much of a temptation for you, so I will find another more deserving boy to pass it on to."
He started to put the knife in his pocket, and as Jed saw the last solid link to his parents about to disappear, he was unable to keep his anger down, and reached for it, managing to get hold of it. He refused to let it go, even as the man tugged hard and hissed at him. "Give it to me boy, or you'll be sorry."
Jed shook his head, and as he yanked the knife out of the teacher's hand, his elbow ended up in the man's stomach. Parker gave a startled angry snort, as his face reddened, and with a snarl of anger, he pulled Jed up to his feet by the scruff of his neck, shaking him hard as he did so.
The rest of the class watched on in wide eyed shock, as Parker slapped Jed hard and took the knife from him as he said loudly, "You will be punished for this Curry, and just to show the other children the consequences of such wild behaviour, they will observe it, and hopefully be dissuaded from exhibiting such foolishness themselves."
ASJ
Cheeks burning in humiliation, Jed counted the strikes of the cane on his bare buttocks out loud, as Parker demanded, hearing the muffled laughter of his classmates, though soon even that noise faded as the pain stole most of his attention. He was made to stand in the corner, exposed, until the end of the class. He could feel tears of humiliation threatening, but he fought them, thinking of the touch of his Ma's hands as she kissed him goodnight, and the firm but gentle touch of his Pa, as he'd taught him how to handle and aim a gun, in the last months before he'd lost him.
He was startled from his memories at a sharp slap on his already sore butt as Parker came up behind him while the class filed past, some of the children offering sympathetic glances, while others grinned at his misery. "Seeing as your cousin is already occupying the punishment room, you will simply go to bed without supper tonight. And I will inform the kitchen that you are only to have bread and water until the weekend."
Jed walked hurriedly to his dorm, not looking anywhere but the floor, humiliated, sore and angry. The dormitory was to his relief empty, and after he'd undressed, he lay down on the rough, threadbare sheets, gasping in pain as they rubbed his sore buttocks. He was about ready to run from here, but he wouldn't leave his cousin, and besides he was getting that knife back before he went anywhere.
Despite the early hour, and his discomfort, Jed fell asleep, and only woke when he was nudged hard. He stirred, senses alert, only to find himself looking into the smiling face of his cousin. "You just can't keep outta trouble can you? I heard Ole Nosey whining to the Dean when they lemme out the hole." He paused and added. "I'm allowed breakfast tomorrow, so I'll make sure you don't starve. And tonight I'll break into the Dean's office and get back what belongs to you. He ain't changed that combination in weeks, and I know it by heart."
Jed though worried that would just cause them both more trouble, couldn't find the words to disagree, desperately wanting his treasured possession back. He was relieved when Heyes winked at him and said lightly. "I'll replace it with the cheap one, that I won in tiddlywinks from Paul, and no one will be any the wiser."
Just as they finished talking, Harry Mason and two of his hangers on, swaggered into the dormitory. At thirteen and a half, Harry was close to ageing out of the home, and neither Jed nor Heyes would miss him, in fact they, and many of the other boys might even throw a party after he left. He was one of the biggest bullies in the place, and could get away with a lot, as he snitched freely on just about anyone, even those who were willing to suck up, in an attempt to save themselves from him turning on them.
Eyeing Jed with a sneer, he said. "Well, you in trouble again huh? Ain't real surprising as I heard somethin' real interesting in town the other day, your Ma was a Mick, and they don't know how to raise nothing, 'cept pigs."
Hannibal laid a warning hand on his cousin's shoulder, as he said softly. "Easy now, don't let him rile ya. He's not worth it." Jed swallowed hard, forcing his anger down, trying not to rise to his taunting, but then the older boy took something out of his pocket and waved it at Jed with a laugh. "Look what Mr Parker gave me, cos he figured I deserved it more than you...I'm gonna have to get that stupid inscription of it mind, but I'm gonna enjoy using it."
"Give me that back! It ain't yours!"
Mason laughed mockingly as the two boys with him joined in, and took a step backwards, keeping Jed's pocket knife just out of reach as he said sneeringly. "Aww, the baby wants his toy...come and get it, ya little Mick! I also heard ya Ma tried to buy her life with her body!"
Hannibal tightened his grip on his cousin, but was easily shaken off, and saw everything unfold as if in slow motion as Jed launched himself, ignoring his yelled. "Jed, no."
Hannibal realised quickly that there was nothing he could do the stop the fight, so instead ran to block the door, and tackled the other two boys as they tried push past him to run for one of the masters. As they stumbled, he pushed them so they were prone face down on the floor, and lay on top of them, his elbows on their backs, till they begged him to let go, agreeing not to move if he did so. A glance over at the boys rolling on the floor, he was relieved to see that his cousin was definitely in control now.
Out of his pocket, he took his copy of the Dean's master key. He'd made it after he and Jed had broken into the man's office, stealing the original, two Saturday nights ago. "Means I can get into to see you, when you're in that damn hole." The original had been returned late that Sunday morning, with no one any the wiser, that it had ever even been gone.
As Hannibal had efficiently cracked open the lock, Jed had looked at him in amazement. "How'd you learn to do that Heyes?"
Hannibal had grinned. "Your Ma taught me, she figured it'd be useful, after we got stuck in Old Bill's basement that time. Of course, she made me promise that I'd only use it in an emergency...I'm calling this an emergency..."
He dragged himself back to the here and now, and quickly locked the door, before returning to the still prone boys, and saying firmly. "There's only going to be two winners here, and neither of them will be Harry, so I'd just stay where you are and think about what ya gonna do when this is over."
They looked up at him, pale and wide eyed, nodding before their gazes strayed to the fierce fight, between what Heyes presumed was now their ex-leader and his cousin.
It wasn't long when with a cry of triumph, Jed rolled off the older boy, pocket knife safely in his hands as Harry sputtered. "I'm gonna tell on you both...and neither of ya will be sitting down till you're 14!"
As Jed panted, rubbing his knuckles, Heyes moved to stand in front of him, and with a small sneer, laughed and shook his head. "Nah, I don't think so Harry, I know what you were doing in town, and even you being a little snitch won't save you from a beating, maybe even worse! I'm told the food they give ya in jail is even worse than the slop they feed us."
Mason glared at him, blood dripping from his lip as he said. "You can't prove nothing!"
Heyes grinned. "Oh, but I can, Harry, I got me a reliable witness to your breaking into the mercantile. Seems you made a lady promises, but when she caught ya kissing her friend Anna, she figured out that you were just making nice to get her to steal her Pa's keys and get her to keep a look out for ya. It ain't smart disappointing a lady, Harry, it always tends to end badly."
ASJ
That night, when Jed climbed into bed behind him, Heyes sighed as his cousin shuffled in an attempt to get comfortable, before saying softly. "You better wake up good and early, Jed, as I don't figure your ass can take another caning anytime soon. And I got plans that mean you don't gotta be in the hole neither." He paused then added. "Harry kinda did us a favour you know, means I don't have to crack the Dean's safe tonight."
Jed snorted softly, then nodded, he was quiet for a moment then said softly. "I don't think I can stay here much longer, Heyes."
Heyes sighed, then said softly. "I feel the same Jed, but there's still a war on, and our folks..." He swallowed, the words sticking in his throat as the memory of that day was still fresh. Jed tensed next to him, his breathing speeding up, but he said nothing, and the silence grew. But finally, Heyes managed to talk round the lump, and continued quietly, "Its horrible here Jed, I know, but least we're mostly safe, and we owe to our folks to try and stay that way. We get fed...most days anyways."
Jed didn't reply for a moment, then said, his tone heavy but resigned. "I guess ain't no one gonna hire us, with me being just eleven and all. And I don't wanna freeze in the snow. So though I ain't happy 'bout it, I guess you're right we gotta stay...least till they've all stopped killing each other anyways." Heyes knew he'd accepted that they had to stay, when with a sigh he snuggled in closer, and his breathing evened quickly into sleep.
Heyes though was awake for a long time, despite what he'd said to his cousin, his mind was still spinning with schemes and plans about getting away from here. But whatever he came up with, the fact there was a war on, made staying here there best option however unhappy they were. But he was sure the fighting would be over soon, and then, and then, they'd be gone from here. Whatever they would face out on their own, he couldn't imagine it'd be any worse than what they were living with right now. With his mind not exactly peaceful, but with some resolutions made, he was soon asleep himself.
ASJ
Jed so hungry, after four days of nothing but bread and water, that he attacked the watery gruel, laughingly called oatmeal, with unusual enthusiasm. Mouth full, he looked over at his cousin, who was eating his far more slowly, and said with some surprised. "This tastes almost like food today, Heyes!"
Hannibal looked over at him shaking his head, feeling a bit sorry for how hungry his cousin must be, if he thought this mush tasted anything other than nasty. Only half joking he said warningly. "Don't be asking for anymore, Jed, you gotta try and stay outta the hole, at least until the weather warms up."
Jed eyed him with a frown. "You really think they'd lock me up for asking for more, Heyes?"
"Well I wouldn't count on them not, and as you ain't called Oliver, and we've no rich relatives to save us, you best not try it."
Jed's frown turned puzzled, and he replied, putting deliberate emphasis on a name he rarely used."You know, Hannibal, you're weird sometimes. "
Heyes sighed, no one, had never managed to get his cousin to read beyond what he was forced to, so of course he didn't understand, so letting out a breath, Heyes simply pushed his half full bowl over and said, "You can have this, and I got some more peppermint candy hidden under my mattress, that I won it from some boys last night while you were sleeping. You can have half."
Jed took the proffered meal with one hand, and dug in quickly and was soon scraping the bottom of the bowl. Heyes watching in only partially feigned amusement, retrieved it quickly, when they heard footsteps coming towards them, knowing they would likely be in trouble if caught sharing food.
They looked up innocently into the suspicious gaze of Parker, but after glaring at them, he realised there was nothing he could punish them for, and moved on reluctantly, leaving them alone.
They exchanged glances and Jed patted his pants pocket, and feeling the reassuring weight of the knife, smiled to himself as he said. "What kinda peppermint candy, Heyes?"