EVERYTHING I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW

I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN

By Drena Hills

“The difference between school and life?

In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

-

Tom Bodett

Hannibal Heyes leaned back in his saddle and subtly stole a glance over at his cousin riding along side him. They were half way down the main street of the farming community of Lester and so far he had not noticed anything that would cause them to pick up the pace and force them to keep moving on.

But his partner had a way of sensing trouble in a way that even his keen eye could miss and he had long ago learned to wait for his cousin’s opinion before exhaling.

“Nice little town,” Kid Curry said quietly reading his mind.

But before Heyes could relax the jail and its sheriff came into view. It mattered not that neither he nor his partner knew the lawman, it was enough he wore a badge, and Heyes wondered if the day would ever come when he would find himself not tensing up at every tin star that crossed his path.

Lester had been blessed with the good fortune of isolation and land that required so much hard work it was avoided by all but the respectable and diligent who made the kind of citizens that rarely have a problem with the sheriff. This in turn had made Sheriff Kearney, who was closing in on 50, a rarity in western law enforcement; a man allowed to grow old in his chosen profession.

He and his town had a reputation as being honest and just, which scored hire on both men’s lists of reason’s to visit…along with having a sheriff they had never run into.

“Looks like a nice prosperous place,” Heyes said finally noting the new construction going on at the hay and feed store. “Man might be able to find work…whoa!” he pulled his horse in hard just as a small figure darted in front of him laden down with slate and school books.

“Sorry mister!” the child yelled over his shoulder as he hurried to catch up with a group of children ahead of him.

Heyes shook his head more relieved than annoyed, but his quick reaction was not lost on the sheriff who was leaning over the hitching post sizing them up.

“Get this damn animal out of my way! What do you mean stopping in front of me like that?”

Heyes preoccupation with the sheriff was broken by the furious shout and he looked over to his right to see a stern, suited man huffing furiously at being blocked from crossing the street.

Heyes blinked at the accusation, “Excuse me?”

“I am talking to you ruffian!” the man continued hands on his hips bulbous red nose glowing with indignation.

“It appears Mr. Smith the gentleman is concerned that you did not realize avoiding running down that little boy was going to inconvenience him on his way across the street,” Kid said poker faced.

Heyes shot his partner a look that clearly said you are not helping and then noticed the Sheriff was watching even closer now.

“My apologies sir I’ll be more careful next time,” Heyes said with a sigh and before the man could spew more indignation kicked his horse and moved it forward.

“Much obliged mister,” the lawman said in such a way as they approached that they had no choice but to stop. “It is the first day of school and some of them children are so excited they forget to think!” the man added with a grin.

“Yea well maybe the real problem is how excited the grown up folks are to get somewhere,” Kid said dryly.

“Yea Henry Nelson is a real piece of work, owns the bank and pretty much expects the sun and the moon to line up for him every morning. I appreciate you letting him blow off steam, better for everyone.”

Kid managed a weak smile back. He was not especially excited to have caught the Sheriff’s attention even in a good way and to make things worse Heyes had turned in his saddle as if prepared to talk all day.

“Nice to see children so excited about school,” Heyes smiled disarmingly.

“You boys just passing through?”

“Looking for work, heard some good things about your town if a man doesn’t mind working hard,” Heyes continued.

“True enough,” the sheriff nodded. “See Paul at the Telegraph office he keeps a list of who’s hiring on his bulletin board and if anyone needs a reference tell them to talk to me. I’ll be gone until tomorrow lunchtime, but just saying I told you to say that should be enough.”

“Thank you sir we’ll do that,” Kid said relieved to see the man had lost interest in them as the town minister hurried up clutching a carpet bag desperately to his person.

“Joe will you stop looking like your carrying a fortune around with you?” the sheriff groaned pulling the skinny man of the cloth back on to the boardwalk.

“But I am!” the man sputtered. “That’s why you have to accompany me to deliver this!”

The sheriff rolled his eyes and muttered something about forty eight dollars and sixty-eight cents wasn’t any body’s idea of a fortune and moved him along.

The two men on horseback grinned to each other their good mood returned.

“First day of school,” Heyes remarked as they pulled their horses up in front of a hotel that fit their taste for location and expense and watched the children answering the school bell with various levels of speed and enthusiasm.

“Heyes you are the only man I know who can smile when he says that. You even did it as a child,’ Curry said disgusted swinging down from his horse. “Ain’t natural a body enjoying schooling like that.”

“What’s wrong with liking learnin’?” Heyes said indignant joining him at the hitching post.

“Nothing, but school isn’t learning,” Kid said firmly pulling his saddle bags free. “Only thing I ever learned there was how much I don’t like school.”

“What kind of crazy talk is that? Of course school is for learning.”

“Nope, look around Heyes,” Kid said spreading his arm out to indicate the town in front of them.

“Lester New Mexico?”

“No Heyes life! Life is where a man learns the important things.”

His friend blinked impressed, “When did you get all philosophical?”

“It’s the truth, think about all the important things you’ve learned: how to crack a safe, pull a con, evade a posse…”

“You are confusing desperation with Life,” his partner corrected and then smiled reassuringly at the desk clerk who frowned only slightly as he took their money and turned to get their key. “Besides if you will remember you were the one that couldn’t wait to start school.”

Kid frowned and paused as his cousin scooped up the key triumphant and made for the stairs and then Curry groaned as the memory flooded back.

“Heyes you have the most selective memory of anyone I know!”

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

LAWRENCE, KANSAS

September 1859

Five year old Jedediah Curry was vexed. The world was passing him by and not even his loved ones or for the matter his best friend were showing the slightest appropriate level of concern.

“Lands child you are just 5 years old! Don’t be rushing to grow up on me!” his mother said laughing from the kitchen where he was making his most recent passionate please for justice. “School is going to come soon enough!”

Jedediah roll his blue eyes filled to the brim with suffering. “But Hannibal has all ready been there a year! I am never going to catch up! He was all ready smarter than me before he started school!”

His mother gave him a tender smile and wiping her hands on her apron bent down to meet him eye to eye. “Jedediah people are not always clever in the same way. That is what makes you and Hannibal’s friendship so special. You both bring your own special gifts to the table.”

“Yes well at this rate my gifts are never going to get opened!” Jedediah said glumly and stomped off disgusted.

The first year his cousin Hannibal, two years his senior, had gone to school ahead of him had not been that bad. After all he had been little then and besides Grandfather had been alive. Having his Grandfather all to himself had taken the sting out of losing his best friend to formal learning. Even when Hannibal had come back with new and older friends it had been his Grandfather who had helped him find his place back at his cousin’s side by helping him and Hannibal see his potential.

It had been Grandfather who had first realized how quick and accurate he was with his slingshot and encouraged him to practice and impress Hannibal and his older friends. That support had made the run to summer pass quickly.

But now it was September again and this time Grandfather was gone.

“I don’t see why you gotta go back again,” Jed said swinging is legs back and forth from where he sat on Heyes’s bed while his cousin readied his supplies for the first day of school.

Hannibal looked up distracted. It might have been a simple job for most students, but Heyes always thought a head and brought things he might need. It was one of the things Jed liked best about him.

“Only been one year Jed; I got at least one more before I know everything,” Hannibal said absently trying to decide if his garter snake or the swell rubber spider he had gotten in Kansas City would work better at scaring Meg Florentine. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Meg Florentine, quite the opposite and he was certain saving the little freckled red head from danger would win her heart and make her give him that prize marble she had gotten from her older brother.

“Hannibal you gotta convince them I’m old enough! You need me there!” the little half sob in his cousin’s voice finally secured his cousin’s full attention. Hannibal really did understand how Jed felt, why he had been little once himself. And he also hated being left out of anything too and Jed really did have his uses, probably the only person he really trusted with his plans. But with that curly blond hair and blue eyes he didn’t look more than 3 let alone 5; nope he just wasn’t growed enough for something as grown up as school.

“Sorry Jed school has rules and you gotta be 6.”

“You told me real men look at rules more as just guidelines.

“Hannibal Heyes did you tell your cousin that?”

Both little boys turned startled to see Heyes’s mom giving them her best stern look that never quite worked since it rarely reached her eyes to cancel out the sparkle of amusement there.

“Aunt Maureen why can’t I go to school?” Jedediah said earnestly turning the full anguish of his suffering on his second favorite person in the whole world. Aunt Maureen always understood. She had been a Curry once and had never forgotten what it was like to be little.

“Because lad us wimmin folk need some of our men here at home to help look after things, especially now that your Grand da’, bless his memory, is gone.”

Hannibal rolled his eyes clearly not believing his younger cousin was capable of filling such big shoes and Jedediah felt tears well up in his eyes at his general over all uselessness.

But as always Aunt Maureen knew what to do and smiling she took his hand and winked, “Come on then; I just pulled some gingerbread out of the oven. What say we see if it passes the Curry family high standards?”

Jedediah only paused a moment. He knew he was being pacified, but all things considered it was better for a man to be overlooked with warm gingerbread and cold buttermilk in him than not.

The first day of school came and went and then a week, which was exactly how long it took Jedediah to throw off his self pity and decide someone grown up enough for school would take his fate into his own hands.

It hadn’t help that Hannibal had been a little startled about how much homework this new teacher was demanding of a 2^nd grader, not to mention with his grandfather gone the extra chores needed to be picked up by him since his father had told him he was old enough now to do his share of the work.

Which meant that when Jed did see him he was either studying or too wore out to do anything fun.

Something needed to be done. And 5 year old Jedediah Curry was just the man to do it.

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

Cleaned up the two ex-outlaws exited their room and followed the clerk’s advice over to a small café across the street where they were just able to find a table next to the window. It was market day in town and along with the first day of school a great many folks were treating themselves to a meal out either to celebrate or at least exhale.

Ordering enthusiastically, the result of too many cold breakfast’s on the trail, they tucked into their food silently, but neither one missing the comings and goings passing by their window.

“Sheriff seems to be ready to head out,” Kid said softly.

Heyes didn’t look up from his plate, “That good or bad.”

“Depends if that’s the deputy,” Kid said a smile in his voice causing his partner to glance up quickly to see a lanky boy of no more than 17 getting last minute instructions from the lawman.

“Things are looking up!” Heyes said with a bright smile and pouring them both more coffee from the pot they had confiscated from the motherly waitress, Shirley, upon ordering.

“Sure wouldn’t mind staying a while in a town that only needs a boy like that as its lawman,” Curry said wistfully.

“I think your forgetting how much trouble a boy can get into,” Heyes said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Kid looked up sharply, “You aren’t still on about that are you?”

“Nearly turned the entire town of Lawrence on its ear and you were only 5. I hear they still talk about in hushed tones,” Heyes teased.

“I was a little, I didn’t know what I was doing,” Kid said with his best innocent look.

Heyes smirked back at him, “You knew just what you were doing and I was just happy for once people recognized who the true criminal mind behind our misdeeds was!”

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

As a rule young Jedediah Curry did not mind the weekly Women’s Bible Study and Sewing Circle his mother and aunt attended. They met in different homes, which meant a wagon ride and there was always plenty of food as the ladies attempted to out due each other. There were also children near his age, though for the most part he kept to himself refusing to share his tin of soldiers since no one knew the right way to play with them except his cousin and perhaps his uncle.

But not even his most treasured possession could distract him on that first meeting after the start of school and he moodily haunted the room like a caged tiger. It wasn’t children he had been left to play with, but babies. They were content to quietly sit and play blissfully unaware of the injustice being dealt them.

Today the meeting was at Mary Hillary’s house. Mary Hillary lived in town and her husband was a lawyer and the town’s current mayor. Her house was filled with lace and breakable brick brack and was insufferably too white and clean. Jedediah’s mother always said a special prayer over him before they arrived. Not that he meant to knock things over or track in dirt it was just that as his Aunt Maureen put it, ‘he played like a boy’. Mary Hillary’s house was not made for little boys.

His restlessness must have been apparent to his mother because she was keeping a close eye on him and even Aunt Maureen was sneaking him more ginger snaps than usual.

“They say it is all the rage back east!” Mrs. Hillary said in her cultured voice she had brought back from a trip to St. Louis. “Our new school master, Mr. Quantrill, thinks our community would greatly benefit from such a program.”

“But 5 years old!” Grace Curry said shaking her head as she frowned at a knot in her embroidery. “They are just babes!”

Jedediah Curry’s blond curls popped up sharply.

“Europe has had great success with it,” Mrs. Doughtery went on in agreement. She was always in agreement with Mrs. Hillary, as was most of the Circle in deference to her high social standing in the community.

“Europe!” Maureen Heyes said with a roll of her eyes, (Maureen Heyes did not care about social standing, in fact there were those that felt Maureen Heyes enjoyed upsetting social standing whenever possible, but that was another story). “Now there’s a body to be trusting with our children!”

“Mrs. Heyes some of us are proud of our roots,” Mrs. Hillary sniffed.

“And some of us would be well advised to be reminded we’ve set down new roots in this great country,” Maureen Heyes shot back.

“So is the school board planning to discuss this with the parents?” Grace Curry asked quickly. It was not that she disagreed with her sister-in-law it was just that she was by nature a peacemaker and she did so enjoy the company of other women. The farm could get very lonely after the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia where she grew up.

“Tuesday morning,” Mrs. Hillary said with a sniff. “I merely bring it up as information I did not expect to be attacked!”

Jedediah who had managed to scoot to the fringe of the circle frowned and stood up.

“Aunt Maureen didn’t attack you! She uses a broom when she attacks things. She killed a snake once and my dad says she’s scared all the snakes in Kansas away with her fer-ross-ity.”

The group gasped at this outburst.

“Young man were you not aware that children are not to speak until spoken too?” Mrs. Hillary said coldly.

“Yes ma’am, but my mother also taught me to speak up when something is wrong, she says that is in the Bible you are studying. Haven’t you studied that part yet?”

“Insolent little horror” Mrs. Doughtery cried as Mrs. Hillary looked like a case of the vapors was about to come on.

“My son is not a horror!” Grace Curry said suddenly on her feet shaking with rage. “He is honest and in this instance quite correct.”

“Seems to me your son could benefit from this new schooling!” Mrs. Lewis went on cattily. “I had always presumed it was the Heyes boy leading him astray, but now I am not so sure.”

Maureen Heyes slowly got to her feet. She would be the first to admit her son Hannibal had a tendency towards trouble, but that was a family trait and hardly something he could be blamed for. Was it his fault he has more imagination and courage than their milk toast children?

“Well I suppose we can always find other ladies to sew with,” Grace Curry said softly as they walked to their carriage ten minutes later.

“Aunt Maureen what is a milk toast?” Jed asked curious.

“Its folks without spirit avoid them Jedediah they will try and suck the life out of you. And don’t worry Grace they don’t dare kick you out not with your family background. You were quite a coo for them; it’s the black Irish they don’t want.”

“If my sister doesn’t go I don’t go,” Grace told her giving her hand a squeeze. “The Curry’s stick together!”

Maureen smiled touched by her loyalty. “I say again Grace there is a drop of Irish in you somewhere!” and laughing the three started for home; Jedediah Curry quietly deep in thought. Tuesday could not come fast enough.

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

“You want to try the construction or this delivery one?” Heyes asked passing the list they had jotted down from the bulletin board.

“What am I delivering?” Kid asked dubious as his partner got up to pay their bill.

“Go find out; even if its nitro you’ll be safer than if you had a hammer in your hand!” Heyes grinned and ignoring him Kid left the restaurant.

What happened next occurred so quickly Heyes could only react. Just as he turned from the cashier Henry Nelson rose from his morning breakfast, which as usual was completely unsatisfactory and boorishly pushed aside a farm boy delivering a box of vegetables. The shove caught the boy as he was turning with the box forcing him off balance and causing him to topple into the waitress, Shirley, who was emerging with a large tray of food bound for a table where a young father with his three small children sat.

With a small cry the waitress began to fall forward the tray of hot porridge flipping into the air directly above the children.

Heyes, directly between it all, was only one with a mind and reaction quick enough to react. Catching Shirley with one arm Heyes pulled her up right while at the same time deflecting the tray and its contents with a sharp spinning toss that succeeded in everything but a bowl of porridge landing on the floor harmlessly. This feat brought a round of applause from everyone, but Henry Nelson who was now wearing the oatmeal in thick globs on his bald head and down his face.

Planting the waitress firmly back on her feet and accepting the kiss on the cheek she blushingly bestowed on him Heyes could not resist grinning at the sight Mr. Nelson made standing their clearly in the early stages of apoplexy.

“You again!” the man roared pointing to Heyes who pointed a finger back to himself and managed to look both surprised and innocent while not losing the grin on his face.

“I had you pegged as a trouble maker from the start!”

“Now come on Henry it was an accident,” one of the other diners called from their table as the cook arrived with a hastily retrieved wet cloth fetched from the kitchen.

“Where is the sheriff? I demand the sheriff arrest this…this cretin!”

Heyes’s smile completely disappeared, “No need to bring the law in, no harm done.”

“No harm done?” the banker railed.

“Yea Henry for one thing that oatmeal is certainly an improvement on your last toupee!” a fellow businessman cracked causing another rally of laughter. The man was clearly not popular and seeing him set down a peg was riveting entertainment.

“Where is the sheriff!” Nelson screamed as another glop of porridge slid down off him and landed on his shoe.

“Sheriff left twenty minutes ago to take the Reverend and the flood money we collected at church to Kingman,” he was informed by a farmer enjoying the spectacle greatly.

“Here’s Tommy!”

“Go on boy!”

The crowd cheered and parted as Deputy Tommy Green on his first solitary day on the job was pulled off the street and through the door.

“Okay what’s the ruckus?” the 17 year old boy asked hitching up his pants and giving them the lawman stare he had been practicing in his shaving mirror that morning.

“I said the Sheriff!” Nelson stomped his foot.

“Why is Mr. Nelson wearing oatmeal on his head?” Tommy asked no one in particular.

“Just a little accident deputy,” Heyes said with a best disarming smile.

“Arrest him!” Ted Nelson roared.

“For what!?” Green said confused.

“Disturbing the peace!”

The room went silent at this amazing charge. In the peaceful town of Lester there was no greater crime, well that anyone could remember.

Tommy Green swallowed and looked at Henry Nelson who despite having oatmeal on his head still owned the mortgage on his families farm and remembered the Sheriff’s parting orders to ‘just look after the town’. He then caught the eye of Milly the young waitress he had been courting and pushing back his shoulders did something most lawmen only dream about.

He arrested Hannibal Heyes.

Of course had he known at the time who his prisoner was he would have passed out cold on the spot, but for now he had silenced the entire diner and proudly moved Heyes out the door hands in the air.

And then everyone was talking at once.

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

It took Kid ten minutes to hear what had happened. He had just reached an agreement with the mercantile to delivery a wagon load of flour around town when Mrs. Kwowski, the town seamstress, burst in to tell Mrs. Palmer, wife of the blacksmith, the whole story.

It was one of the few times Kid could ever remember running to a jail instead of from it and he nearly took the door off its hinges crashing through like bull on a rampage.

Heyes and Tommy Green looked up from the cell where Heyes was explaining to him how the lock worked since the boy’s hands were shaking so bad he couldn’t get the bolt to slip across.

“You mind explaining to me what is going on?” Kid said in a soft dangerous voice that made Tommy Green decide right then and there that this type of work might not be the ideal career move.

“Its okay I’ll explain to him,” Heyes told the boy.

“I’ll go see if I can find you a book like you said, I think Doc or the Reverend should have one,” Tommy said gratefully hurrying past Kid.

“Ah Tommy?” Heyes called out pleasantly.

“Yes sir Mr. Smith?” Tommy said stopping at the door.

“Just for future reference next time you lock a jail door take the keys with you,” Heyes said holding up the ring and jingling it.

Tommy groaned and hurried back embarrassed to take them from him and then carefully put them on the hook on the wall beside the desk before leaving.

Kid watched all of this fascinated and found his worry and anger melting into confusion.

“Heyes did I or did I not just see you help a deputy lock you in jail?”

Heyes sighed, “You did, but he didn’t have much choice, that Nelson fellow pressed charges and no one but the sheriff or the reverend has the courage to take him on and they just left town.”

“Yea well I have the courage. I’ll be right back with him so he can explain it’s all been a mistake and get you out of here,” Kid said growled.

“Kid you can’t. Nelson is not the reasonable sort.”

“Who said I was going to be reasonable?” Kid replied darkly.

Heyes smiled grateful, “I know, I know, but the sheriff and parson are gonna be back in the morning I can last till then.”

“Are you sure? Nelson may organize a lynch party,” Kid said frustrated.

Heyes shook his head. “Kid you should have seen everyone’s face when the deputy took me away, felt real sorry for me they did. That kind of sympathy could let us stick around a while and build up a nest egg. For that kind of good will it’s worth a night in jail.”

“Heyes, if it is all the same to you I don’t think anything is worth another night in jail.”

“Trust me on this,” Heyes pleaded and then quickly added trying to change the subject, “You find any work?”

“Yea got a job hauling sacks this morning and then this afternoon I was promised something over at the mill.”

“Good, good go ahead just try and avoid that Nelson fella though.”

“I’ll try, but with my luck I’ll land in here right next to you for spitting on the sidewalk while he’s looking!”

Heyes reached out between the bars and patted him on the back knowing full well he would not have been comfortable with the arrangements being reversed either.

With Kid reluctantly gone Heyes walked over to the cell cot and made an attempt at getting comfortable, something he knew from experience was impossible.

He’d be lying if he said he was happy with his predicament, but since it couldn’t be helped he’d just have to make the best of it and hoped the deputy would come back with something interesting to read.

And to pass the time he let his mind wander back.

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

The Lawrence Community School Board was a prestigious group of 7 men the majority of which were there because their wives thought it a good idea. There was talk of Lawrence having a college some day and it never hurt to be in a position of influence for such things.

In the meantime they mostly just met to approve new teachers or plan the end of term school picnic, neither of which had ever been very controversial unless you counted the time the recently departed Sean Curry had been on the board, but that memory was all ready the stuff of folk lore and best left in the background..

But the proposition put before them to approve a new and radical idea called kindergarten was way out of their league and all seven entered the packed social hall with more than a few misgivings.

“Han don’t you want to go along and see how they vote?” Jedediah had asked his cousin. That morning as his family had readied to head into town for the debate he had run the mile meet up with cousin on the way to school.

“Nope, don’t affect me,” Heyes with a shrug.

“But if they vote yes folks can start school at 5!”

Hannibal looked over understanding. He hadn’t seen Jed much these past two weeks and if he were honest he missed his company. He had friends at school, but they were the type that would bail on a man at the first sign of trouble and Hannibal saw a lot of trouble.

It would have been nice to have his younger cousin there with him, but he couldn’t see much point in getting both there hopes up for something that just wasn’t going to happen.

“Jed even if they say yes they won’t start it till next year; and you are going then anyway.”

Jedediah’s face fell slightly, he hadn’t thought about that, but then he squared his shoulders back. “Might if they saw how great the need is.”

Heyes shrugged noncommittally and kept on walking.

Jed stood there a moment reforming his plan.

“Han you still go those tad poles we caught after church Sunday?”

“What? Yea in the bucket behind the barn.”

“Thanks,” Jed smiled and was gone.

Years later Hannibal Heyes would know never to let his partner out of his sight after a smile like that, but he was still young and wisdom such as that came with experience.

Months after the commotion, as it was later designated to be called, his family would marvel at how well thought out and practical a plan it was. To begin with no one was quite sure how it began, but it was definitely agreed the mice were let loose first, especially when one ran across Mrs. Engleberry’s foot causing her to scream in horror and faint dead away on town baker Fred Adams, a little stick creature, who crumbled more under her terror than her weight.

The cry of mice (for there had to be at least 20) had barely gone out and launched several women and two men onto their chairs when the cats raced in. Six was the final count and the speed in which they entered was explained quickly by the four dogs that followed suit.

The pig was just an added bonus.

Order and sanity was restored an hour later and the entire room hurried to the refreshment table for a cool glass of punch to recover only to notice the tadpoles swimming merrily among the liquid.

Well most did, the Mayor had downed most of his glass before learning of the additional ingredient.

Unfairly Hannibal Heyes’s name was mentioned quickly. And truth be known he did have a reputation of infamy that all ready spanned two counties, but with him safely in school all eyes were turned to the children playing out back. In particular a group of 5 year olds led by Jedediah Curry.

Now it never was proven that all the 5 year olds were involved and Jed Curry never did concede their involvement when he confessed. The fact that they just happened to be playing with his toy soldiers led to guilt by association.

“Young Curry what do you have to say for yourself?” the Mayor roared as the board finally took their seats and he was brought before them.

“I was bored sir, my mind had nothing to dis…” he squinted trying to remember the word from the paper his father had been reading out loud to his mother that morning about why kindergarten was especially good for young boys. “..tract me!”

The vote was 7-0 for Kindergarten.

“Don’t be looking so happy young man,” his father told him sternly as the meeting adjourned and everyone began to rise. “It will not take effect until next September, which is just about the time you should be out of trouble…” the older Curry turned when his wife touched his sleeve to glance back at the board who were still seated and showing no signs of being able to leave them.

“He didn’t,” his father stared as his brother in law made every effort to keep from bursting out laughing.

“I knew I should have asked him what he needed that wood glue for,” Daniel Heyes said tried to sound horrified, but failing.

Eventually they had to break the chairs and pull them out of their pants the bond was so potent.

They never did catch all the mice.

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

“This was the biggest one on the Reverend’s shelf,” Tommy Green said barely able to slide the large tome between the bars to Heyes.

Heyes blinked, “How long are you planning on keeping me in here?”

The boy grinned sheepish, “Just till the sheriff gets back tomorrow. I’d let you go now if I had my druthers, that Mr. Nelson is a real piece of work.”

“War and Peace huh?” Heyes said intrigued by the title.

“Yea it was the only one that didn’t have to do with sinning, guess that Tolstoy fella had a lot to talk about on those subjects.”

‘Well the war part anyway,” Heyes grinned.

The boy grinned back, “You’re all right Mr. Smith. Now who is that?”

They both turned as a commotion sounded at the door and a hand cuffed prisoner was pushed into the room with such a shove he nearly lost his balance.

But it wasn’t the twenty something; roughly dressed, ill shaven captive that caught Heyes’s attention it was lawman right behind him. One sheriff Mark Hall, the sheriff of the first posse that ever captured him and the first he had ever escaped from; a sheriff who knew him on sight.

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

It was concern for his partner that caused Kid Curry to witness the arrival of Marshal Mark Hall in Lester. Finishing his work for the morning he had decided to check in with his partner to make sure he was being fed decently before moving on to his next job. He knew Heyes would yell at him for fretting like a mother hen and was well aware his partner was more than capable of looking after himself in most circumstances. But his experience with jails had left a bad taste in his mouth. A man was too vulnerable there, especially when posters with his description just cried out to keep him there for an additional twenty years.

He turned the corner just as Hall dismounted. The former sheriff, who had moved up to marshal, had a reputation for being clever, dogged and ruthless. Perhaps a little older than Heyes he had risen quickly in reputation and status as a lawman and would no doubt see his legend grow now having none other than Brad King in his custody. The gunslinger was said to rival Curry himself in speed and his gang had cut a blood trail across Texas and the panhandle robbing homesteaders.

Heyes and Hall had met years earlier when the then sheriff had come across him after a train job that had forced them to split up. His horse had gone lame and Hall and his band had taken Heyes captive. But Hall had underestimated the younger man and it was said he still held a grudge at the brilliantly devious way Heyes had slipped through his fingers.

And now here he was clearly planning on staying awhile if his prisoner was any indication. Kid leaned back against the wall trying to decide what to do. Hall didn’t know him on sight so that gave him some advantage. The only thing to do was to get Heyes out now while the man was caught off guard. Unhooking his gun he made a step towards the jail and then stopped surprised as Hall suddenly exited the jail and wearily walked down the street to the telegraph office.

Seeing his chance Kid hurried down the side alley next to the jail and slipped in the back door.

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

Heyes was on his bunk with his face turned towards the wall by the time the lawman was fully in the room.

“Where’s the keys” Hall growled at Tommy.

“Here sir.”

“I’ll keep them on me from now on,” Hall said taking them and pushed his prisoner to the remaining cell across from Heyes. “What’s he in for?” he asked hooking a finger towards Heyes motionless form.

“Disturbing the peace.”

The Marshall nodded and turned back to his prisoner and had to slap the man hard across the back of his head to get him in the cell.

“Hey you forgot these irons Hall!”

“I didn’t forget and you mind your manners or I might leave them on until they hang you.”

The new prisoner launched into a colorful narrative of Hall’s family line until Hall suddenly swung back and removed his gun. The outlaw swallowed and mumbling fell back on his bunk for the moment silenced.

“I need to send a telegram and get some food, he gives you any trouble shoot him,” Hall told Tommy and left the deputy gaping only to turn back more surprised when Kid skidded into the room and walked right past him and down to the cell where is partner was looking up carefully.

“He see you?” Kid said quietly.

Heyes got up and met him at the bars, “No, now get out of here.”

“Not without you. He leave the keys?” his eyes darted to the wall where they had been hanging and seeing them gone began looking for something they could use.

“Kid you’re not thinking we can’t bust me out.”

“The hell we can’t,” Kid said glancing over at the deputy who was looking a little shell shocked. “Besides he can’t come after us he’s got King over there to worry about.”

“I thought it was him, he know you?” Heyes asked quietly. King,

now that Hall was gone, had fallen on his bunk exhausted. Clearly the chase had taken a lot out of him as well.

“No, just saw him from a distance once just before he shot a man in

the back. Now will you start working on that lock?”

“Kid they will link us to King somehow and we don’t need that.

Look I just have to avoid letting him get a good clear look at me.”

“Avoid him?” Heyes its gonna take dynamite to get Hall out of this office again with him here,” Kid hissed. “He’s going to be expecting his whole gang to come after him.”

Heyes shook his head, “He told the deputy they weren’t with him when he was caught. He plans on leaving with him on the morning stage. I’ll act like I’m sleeping off a binge with a little luck the Sheriff will get back and spring me as soon as the stage pulls out.”

“And if you are wrong you get to think about it the next 20 years in the territorial prison!”

Heyes gave him a warning sign as King roused himself from his bunk to look over at them. They were talking too low for him to overhear, but the passion in Kid’s voice has caught the killer’s attention.

“Head for Clearwater, I’ll meet you there,” Heyes ordered.

“Me leave? He doesn’t know me!”

“I know and I want to keep it that way,” Heyes growled.

“At least let me slip you your gun!” Kid pleaded indicating his friend’s holster slung over the back of a chair.

“The last thing I want is a shoot out with a territorial Marshall. Now

go before he gets back and were both in here.”

Kid sighed knowing it was impossible to argue with his cousin and also knew very well he was protecting him.

“Go, Clearwater,” Heyes hissed.

Nodding Kid left through the back door.

But he had no intention of going anywhere.

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

Marshal Mark Hall had just made it back to the jail and ordered his Deputy to bring him some lunch when the first wave hit in the form of one Henry Nelson who had just heard via a customer in his bank about the new prisoner. The customer had also been kind enough to tell the other folks in line that was why he was visiting the bank now before King’s gang arrived and held it up.

It had been pointed out to the stranger, by the head teller Mr. Jenkins, that the bank had never been robbed before.

The stranger had then dutifully pointed out that it might be because no one had ever tried and if the management knew what was good for it they would ask the Territorial Marshal to look over things and make any suggestions.

“Look I’ve been on the trail for the last 4 days mister and I…”

“Are you or are you not our territorial marshal?” Nelson had yelled back not backing down for an instant and making it quite clear he would neither shut up nor leave until he had satisfaction.

Finally disgusted the Marshall had picked up his hat and told his Deputy arriving with a tray of food to keep it warm he would be right back.

Two hours later he was still gone.

Heyes meanwhile sat up on his bunk hid behind his book enjoying the respite. It couldn’t last forever and he had quickly realized when the lawman had returned how miserable feigning unconsciousness was going to be. He knew his luck couldn’t hold out too much longer, but he was grateful to keep hope alive just the same.

But as the hours ticked by Heyes got more and more hopeful and more and more suspicious about what…or who was keeping the good Marshall from the jail.

It was finally dark and dinner passed when Marshall Hall slammed back into the jail wearily.

“Son what kind of mad house is this town?”

Tommy looked up from his dime novel, “Sir?”

“That damn fool banker gets me over to look at his bank and are you ready for this? We get locked in! I’m not joking with you boy! Damn fool lock jammed, took us an hour to take the door off the hinges! Then, then!” he said throwing his hat on the desk. “Some idiot left a candle in the general store’s larder and ten cans of sour mash exploded causing the whole town to think it was under attack from a passel of outlaws.”

“How did that happen?” Tommy said confused.

“Son you tell me and we’ll both know, but after I checked out that it seems the cans blowing up startled a herd of cattle being brought in for slaughter and they managed to end up in the saloon. Damn fool farmer!” he cursed remembering the idiot young man with the fair hair. “Worse cow herder I ever seen, every time we got them towards the door he’d do something idiotic and turn them back right around! And do not get me started about the chickens in the tea parlor!”

“Chickens?” Tommy gaped. “I know Miss Edie and she wouldn’t allow any chickens in her tea salon.”

The Marshall glared at him, “Yes boy I know that, she made that quite clear.”

“But how did chickens…”

“Had to be at least a hundred, woman left the back door open and they just wandered in you’d think them ladies had never seen a chicken before. Started screaming and fainting and it only got worse when some idiot fired his gun off to scare them and everyone in the town thought we were under attack. Son this is the most gall darned strangest town I have ever been in and I am not staying one moment longer or helping it with one problem more. I have not slept in three days. I am going to lay down here and I am not getting up till morning when that stage pulls in do you understand?

“Ah yes sir I’ll make sure not a single person bothers you. You prisoners keep it down you here!”

Heyes hidden in the back gloom of his cell yelled yes sir as King sent back an expletive.