ALONE

DRENA HILLS

I am not alone at all, I thought.

I was never alone at all.

And that, of course, is the message of Christmas.

We are never alone.

Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent.

For this is still the time God chooses.
--Taylor Caldwell

DEVIL'S HOLE, WYOMING

December 24, 1874

It wasn't suppose to end like this Hannibal Heyes decided grumpily and wondered as he rubbed his hands raw trying to loosen the ropes how many layers of skin he had lost on his wrists over the years.

He looked up and saw Swinson grinning at him as he cut up an apple with his long Bowie knife.

"You ain't gonna get free boy," Swinson grinned and from the corner his partner laughed and continued his assault on Heyes's desk.

"I told you there is no money in there," Heyes said through gritted teeth watching his carefully filed train timetables and bank floor plans carelessly tossed aside.

"You really thought you was a high and mighty outlaw leader didn't you boy!" Swinson grinned stabbing his knife into the table, meal finished. "Big Jim must have been crazy leaving a scrawny kid like you in charge."

Heyes fought his growing rage. He had been betrayed and that burned bad enough, but to have these lowlifes destroy a place he had come to regard as home, well that was almost as bad as being called boy. Hannibal Heyes hated being called boy.

"So you sure Curry ain't here Jameson?" Swinson directed the question at the man at the desk.

"Nope, Wheat said he rode into town yesterday, reckon he won't be back before New Year," the man said getting up and stretching. "Ain't nothing here. Hey Chris you find anything?"

A third outlaw came out grinning from Heyes room. "Well lookie what I found in the dresser, Santa gone done and brought us a present. Aw heck it's just a note, something about a saddle in the smoke house and knowing he'd look here."

"Sheesh an outlaw leader with nothing worse robbing, you are pitiful boy," Swinson said shoving supplies off the pantry shelf. "Ain't you even got whiskey."

"Fraid not, planning on getting supplies at the first of the year," Heyes said. Not adding the reason being he had heard this bunch was hoorahing the closest town and didn't want his men having a run in with them. He looked down at the present he had wrapped so carefully for his cousin and his eyes got dark. One more boy, he thought and I'll find a way to kill them from here I swear I will.

"So why ain't you with Curry?" Jameson asked. "I heard you two was inseparable."

"Maybe he got tired of being in a gang where the leader ain't old enough for long pants," Swinson guffawed. He was a large blond man of Swedish heritage with a neck like an ox and a reputation for killing first and asking questions later.

Heyes ignored him. He didn't need the man knowing his partner had argued over how to spend the Christmas holiday with Curry finally slamming out and heading for town alone.

Heyes had only been in charge of the gang for six months and it had been an uphill battle. He had to win his men's confidence and respect, while still keeping his partner's good will.

And he was on the verge of thee plan, the one that would turn them from outlaws to legend when he had got stuck missing the last needed component. Without realizing it he had gotten so absorbed in untangling the last knot of his plan that he missed his men's cabin fever and his own partner's exasperation with his moodiness.

It had been bad enough when Kid had taken off, but when Wheat and the boys had followed leaving no one for look out and allowing the Swinson gang to ride in and take Heyes by surprise he had never felt so alone.

A noise at the fireplace caught his attention and he looked up as a glob of snow fell down extinguishing the flames. That chimney, one more thing he had meant to fix.

He paused a memory catching his attention. Then again maybe there had been a Christmas when he had felt more alone he thought ruefully.

************************

LAWRENCE, KANSAS

CHRISTMAS EVE, 1859

"We can catch him Jed I know we can," 7 year old Hannibal Heyes said his eyes sparkling with ideas as he hammered another hole in the tin can with a nail. He had already strung nearly twenty across the front of the house and was now booby-trapping the kitchen.

"What we gonna do when we catch Santa?" his five year old cousin said eyes wide with excitement. Hannibal always had the best plans and this one was the greatest of all.

"Well we'll get a chance to talk to him and explain why we need those things we keep asking for that he never leaves."

"My Pa says Santa ain't never gonna leave us a cannon. He said the tiger was real doubtful too," Jed sighed shaking his head at the folly of grown-ups.

"Yea well you see that's because we have to have grown ups talk to Santa for us. They don't understand about needing stuff like that for a circus, but Santa will, we just gotta slow him down long enough to splain to him."

A loud crash sounded on the porch followed by swearing in both Gaelic and English.

'HANNIBAL JOSHUA HEYES!"

"JEDEDIAH THADDEUS CURRY!"

"You think Santa came early?" Jed asked worried.

"No, but I think our dads did."

*************************

"Now Sheila is gonna watch you two with the other children while we do midnight service," Jed's mom said tucking them both in under the large quilt on the floor by the fire. "I talked your fathers into letting you sleep here on the condition there would be no shenanigans, are we clear on that Mr. Heyes?"

Hannibal smiled and she sighed unable to resist the impish grin. "Tis the devil's smile on you lad," she sighed kissing him on the forehead. Jedediah keep your cousin out of trouble, you’re the clearer head of the two."

The two boys watched the grownups leave and Jedediah snuggled down into the comforter.

"Jed you ain't going to sleep are you?"

"Yea, I'm tired cleaning that mess up wore me out," the little boy said eyes drooping.

"But what about Santa?"

"He can bring me a cannon next year," Jed yawned and a moment later was asleep.

Hannibal Heyes lay there disgusted. Suddenly the sound of the wind whistling down the chimney made him look up and a grin spread across his face. A grin anyone who knew him knew was the beginning of trouble pure and simple.

Sheila would be out back smooching with Mr. Eddy now that the grown ups were gone, Han knew from experience and slipping out of the covering he eyed the fireplace.

"Yup only place to wait for him," Han decided and hurrying into the kitchen he filled a pitcher of water and doused the dying fire. This done he picked up an unused candle and a box of matches and sticking them in his pajamas stuck his head into the chimney and after taking a breath of courage, began to climb.

******************************

Jedediah Curry awoke and listened. Confused at where he was he sat up and rubbed his eyes feeling for his cousin to rouse.

Seeing Heyes was gone he suddenly felt scared as a sound came this time louder from the chimney.

Intrigued he got up and padded over and peered up hesitantly, "Santa?" he whispered. He listened. It sounded like someone was crying.

"Santa are you all right?" Jed asked concerned.

"Jed?"

Jedediah Curry jumped back so fast he hit his head. Santa knew his name!

"Jed it's me Han I'm stuck!"

"Han!" Jed said ever so impressed. "Whatever are you doing up there?"

"Waiting for Santa, but I got sc…. I got stuck," he said. "There's this little ledge, I'm sitting on."

"Boy is your Pa gonna…"

"Jed!"

"Okay Han don't cry," Jed said looking around. His mom said he liked problems to figure out just like his dad. This was just a different kind of problem. Finally he hurried over and grabbing the quilt shoved it over the cold ashes.

"Okay Han I made it all soft to fall on, jump down."

"No."

"Why?"

"I can't. I'm too alone."

Jed considered this. Han had gotten stuck up in Mrs. Allbright's tree last summer and strangely enough it had been Jed who had helped get him down. Sometimes Han climbed too high and didn't think about how to get down, Han's dad said. But Jed still thought it was pretty brave not worry about things like that.

Han never really liked being alone. He liked people. Jed, well he didn't mind it sometimes. It was good to get by yourself, alone could be a good thing.

"Hang on Han, I'll come up and then we can be alone together."

"Jed! NO! Don't then you'll get stuck and in trouble…" Han said worried, but relief clearly in his voice at the thought of company.

Jedediah Curry peered up, just making out a small light half way up. It was dark and a little scary, but with a determined frown he began to climb. He was after all the very best tree climber in all of Kansas; his grandfather had said so.

A moment later he reached the light and grinned at his cousin.

"Hello Han! My your dirty, your mom is gonna throw fits," Jed said grinning.

"You should see you!" Han said smiling for the first time in what seemed liked hours.

He scooted over and made room for his cousin.

"My Pa is gonna whoop me so bad," Han said miserable.

"Well maybe we can get down fere they get back from church," Jed said hopeful.

"I can't," Han said hanging his head. "I'm scared."

Jed considered this; "No you're not! You had the courage to think this up and do it, that's pretty brave. Hey I know!" Jed said excited to be the one to have an idea. "We'll wait for Santa and he can help us down!"

"Yea!" Han said suddenly hopeful. "Our parents won't get mad at us with Santa there!"

This decided they soon found their eyes closing and drifted off to sleep until they were suddenly awakened by frightened voices and a bright light.

"I got them!" came Jed's dad's voice triumphant.

"Oh are they all right?" Heyes's mom cried.

"They're fine, sound asleep," the man laughed. "You two buckos are in a wee bit of trouble, you've had half the town looking for you. Luckily your dad, Han, saw the quilt and thought to look up or we might not have found you till spring! Come on then let's get you down so your mother's can embarrass you."

A moment later they were indeed being cried over by their mothers.

"What on earth do ya think you were doing!"

"Waiting for Santa," Jed said simply. "Is it morning? I'm hungry."

Everyone laughed and he was handed a cookie.

"It's my fault Pa, don't whoop Jed. I got stuck and he came after me."

"No I was as bad as he was," Jed assured them mouth full of cookie.

"Let's get them home we'll sort it out in the morning," Han's father sighed.

Ten minutes later they were bundled up in the wagon heading home.

"Han, you think Santa will still come?"

"Yea, I figure he all ready left with this year's stuff, which means we got a whole year to make him forget about this."

"Your smart Han."

"Thanks Jed, and don't worry by next year we'll have a better plan."

"Yea!" Jed said confident in his cousin. "Can I have your cookie?"

******************************

Heyes stirred from his musings and stared at the fireplace. Something was definitely happening there.

Swinson noticed it first and approached gun drawn. When the sleigh bells sounded, his two men joined him all peering carefully up it.

The bag fell with a thud making them jump back in shock.

"Ho, Ho, Ho boys, Merry Christmas," the door kicked open and the three men turned startled, but were far too late. Kid Curry's gun fired three times and their weapons scattered leaving two holding their arms and moaning in pain as he crossed the room and decked the one still standing dazed trying to figure out where his gun had gone.

"Honestly believing in Santa at your age," Kid said disgusted throwing them into a pile and then turning to his cousin as he shut the door. "Someone use your face for a punching bag?" the younger man frowned lifting Heyes chin to check out the damage and then quickly cutting him free.

"I thought you went to town?" Heyes said rubbing his wrist as his partner walked over to the sack still in the fireplace and pulling a bottle of whiskey free and laced a cup of coffee before handing it to him.

"I did, but you know how much I hate being alone," he said his face unreadable as he filled a basin with water, kicked a man with the audacity to look up and setting it down pulled off his bandanna and wet it. "So I figured if you wouldn't come to Christmas, I'd bring Christmas to you."

"How did you?"

"Rope, from the porch. Lowered it down the chimney to distract them, I thought the bells were a nice touch, amazing what they keep in that old barn."

"What's in the bag?" Heyes grinned feeling a 100 percent better.

"Nuff food to feed an army, I tell you that little girl that runs the café is sweet on you Heyes, just gotta mention your name and I got me a whole ham and fixin's."

"Ouch," Heyes said grabbing the cloth from him. "I'm fine…what else is in there?" he said trying not to care.

"Cigar, Whiskey, few luxuries…" Kid suddenly spun gun drawn as the door opened and a surprised Kyle, Wheat and Lobo looked at him.

"Will you look at that!" Lobo stared at the downed Swinson gang. "They whooped them without us!"

"Yea seems Heyes don't need us boys," Kid said shaking his head. "Just got here to see him tidying up."

"That was some shooting Heyes," Kyle said wide-eyed.

"Yea not bad," Wheat said clearly impressed and it was killing him.

"I thought you boys headed to town," Heyes said his face unreadable.

"Yea then we heard about Swinson heading up here and well figured you might need us," Wheat mumbled.

"Yea you been doing all right Heyes," Kyle said. "I mean I ain't never had both a new jacket and new boots at the same time."

"No hard feelings," Lobo said worriedly.

"This time, try it again, you'll look like them," Heyes said standing and looking every inch the outlaw leader.

The men shuffled and nodded.

"Now go tie them up in the barn till we can drop them off in town, then come on back. Kid brought Christmas up from town, what say we have us a little holiday poker game?" Heyes smiled.

"Hooowheee that sounds good!" Kyle said.

"Why did you tell them I did that?" Heyes asked after the last body had been dragged out.

"You would have, I just got around to it first," Kid said putting the sack on the table and emptying it.

"What's that?" Heyes asked curious at the long slender tube Kid removed last.

"Reason I wanted you to come into town. Had to figure out how to get it off her on my own," Kid said. "Fortunately I reminded her of her son."

"Get what off who?"

"Wife of the man who drew this, heard she'd be in town for the holidays, got family there. So I wrote her to bring it."

"What are you talking about?" Heyes said taking it and unraveling the blue print and freezing.

"Ar-kee-teck, her husband, he draws how they should build banks."

"This is it!" Heyes yelled jumping up in amazement. "This is what I needed!"

"I know Heyes you been saying that for two months."

"And you got her to come here, bring it? You believed in me, the plan?"

"Heyes I've been going along with your adventures for so long I don't even register doubt any more, just try and sort out how I can help. Now where's my present? I know you got me one it's hid in your wardrobe."

"The floor plan of the Bank of Fort Worth," Heyes said staring starry eyed at the blueprint.

"Tomorrow Heyes, tonight I'd appreciate not spending alone with you here," his partner said dryly.

Heyes looked up, a funny smile on his face, "Ain't never alone with a good partner Kid and I got the best."

"Han?"