Drena
Hills
“An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the
talent that rubs against it.”
-
Bill Bernbach
His arrival in their doorway
was announced by a flash of lightning accompanied by the nights offering of
cold and weather that blew in past him.
He
was using the doorframe to keep on his feet, pain etched across his face. Oddly the first thought the two men reading
by the fire in the small drawing room had was not how fierce and deadly he
seemed, even with the gun strapped to his bleeding leg, but that he seemed too
young to be so impressively lethal.
“Doctor?”
Kid Curry said having to cough to get the sound out.
“Yes,”
Sean MacLeed said standing with his wife’s younger brother James. “Please come in,” the man said moving
towards him.
“Not
me, a friend,” Kid said stepping into the room and bidding someone behind him
to enter.
That
there could be another man worse off than him startled the two men and they
glanced at each other uncertain.
But
then their attention was quickly drawn to the two men of incompatible heights
supporting a third man’s arms on their shoulders.
“In
here,” MacLeed said making his decision, but not without a glance towards the
stairwell leading to the second floor.
“I’ll
check on them Sean,” James said understanding and despite his twenty years
managed to give the four men a look that said in no certain terms they would
deal with him if anything harm came to the Doctor.
“Sorry
to invade you like this Doc,” Kid said as they helped the dark haired
unconscious man into the small surgery and laid him on the table.
“Doctor’s
life I’m afraid,” MacLeed said quietly pumping water to wash his hands. “I would prefer though gentlemen if you
would honor the fact that this is also my home and my children are sleeping
upstairs.”
“You
just fix him up and you ain’t got nothing to worry about,” the taller man said
hitching up his pants with an arrogant swagger.
“Wheat,”
Kid said the word as a command.
“What?”
“You
and Kyle go check on the horses.”
“But
it’s raining!” the shorter one whined.
“Kyle
I am not in the mood for an argument,” Kid said softly and it carried more
weight than any shout would of.
“Sure
Kid, whatever you say,” Wheat said glancing down once more at the still figure
on the table and then the two men stomped out.
“They
called you Kid,” the Doctor said cutting open the shirt and beginning his
examination. “Last name wouldn’t be
Curry would it?” The Doctor did not
look up as he said the name, but the apprehension in his voice was quietly
apparent.
“You
got nothing to worry about Doctor.”
“And
this man does he have a name?”
“You
just look after him Doc, he’s a good friend.”
****************************
“Oh
Uncle Jim real outlaws!” 11 year old
Fiona MacLeed said trying to dodge past him to see. She had been in the midst of reading a dime novel about the very
thing to her two younger brothers when he had entered.
“Fiona,
lass! Now stay put, this isn’t one of
your stories my girl!” her uncle sighed.
“I
want to see!” 5 year old Stuart said
delighted something had interrupted bedtime.
Especially something as wonderfully exciting as this.
“I
wonder if its Heyes and Curry?” ten year old Jacob cried clapping his hands
happily at the thought. “Father said
they robbed the bank in Hanford this afternoon and got off clean as a whistle
without firing a shot!”
“La,
Jake you are as blood thirsty as Fiona,” James said, but a grin escaped and the
three children grinned back sensing an ally.
“Oh
please Uncle Jim we just must see them!”
Fiona pleaded.
“You
will do no such thing,” her uncle said walking across the room to peer out the
large double windows. The rain had
stopped and the moon was up.
“Oh
don’t latch them Uncle the fairies won’t be able to get in,” Fiona cried alarmed
when he moved to lock the windows shut.
“Fairies?”
he said amused. “I thought we had moved
on past them and pirates to outlaws?”
“Mother
always said they came to visit us when we slept,” Jacob said uncomfortable at
mentioning his mother. She had only
been gone these six months and it still hurt more than he wanted to let on.
There
was an uncomfortable silence as the group mourned the laughing figure who had
sat in the rocking chair next to the three beds and told stories to her sleepy
children. Fiona tried to fill that role
now, but they all knew it was impossible.
“Go
see outlaws!” Stuart said suddenly wanting to escape the memory and with a
quick dart he was out of the room and sliding down the banister to the bottom.
“Stuart
no!” Fiona said bounding right after him.
“I
guess we’ll have to go get them,” Jacob said delighted.
“You
stay right…”
It
was too late, the boy was gone.
With
a groan their uncle started to run.
*******************************
“Went
clean through,” MacLeed said looked up and then shook his head impressed at Kid
who was still on his feet standing in vigilance despite the pain he was
obviously in.
“He
gonna make it?” Wheat said coming back in with Kyle.
“Yes
I believe he will. But he can’t be
moved. Is there….” He stopped and then
decided this was no time for politeness.
“Is there a posse after you?”
“No
we lost them,” Kid said quietly.
“You
robbed a bank!” Stuart said delighted from the doorway.
“Stuart
Andrew!” his father barked.
“Did
they shoot him?” Jacob asked.
“Jacob! James have you lost your mind…”
“Oh
my is he going to be all right father?” Fiona said.
“I’m
sorry Sean they wanted a peak and got past me,” James said exasperated.
“Gentlemen
my children Fiona, Jacob and Stuart,” MacLeed said rolling his eyes.
“So
who shot him?” Jacob went on wide-eyed.
“Another
gang, ambushed us to get the take and we ended up having to shoot it out,” Kyle
said suddenly sounding braver than he had felt an hour ago when it happened.
“Did they get the loot?”
Jacob went on fascinated.
“Jacob,”
Fiona said horrified. “You do not ask
people that…though I do admit it does sound the most wonderful story!”
“Fiona
tells us great stories about you,” Stuart explained looking up at Kid.
“I
bet she does,” Kid smiled. “No they
didn’t get the loot, we split up and it wasn’t with us. And to answer your next question, no, we
didn’t kill anyone. Try to avoid any shooting if at all possible.”
“Of
course you do,” Fiona said his staunch defender. “Everyone knows that about Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.”
“But
we should have what with Jack Silver ambushing us like that,” Wheat
growled. “I told Heyes he was no good.”
Kid
looked at him clearly remembering Wheat arguing in the man’s favor when neither
he nor Heyes had trusted the man.
“We’d
all be as shot as bad as Preacher if Kid hadn’t…” Kyle started to say.
Kid’s
dark look silenced the smaller man. It
was clear he neither wanted or expected any thanks for whatever heroics he had
performed to get them all there alive.
Suddenly he grabbed the edge of the table and bit his lip as a bolt of
pain shot through him and found Fiona at his side.
“You
should sit down before you fall down,” she said sounding very grown up and
taking his hand led him over to a chair.
“Father you must see to this man’s leg immediately. Shall I clean it for you?”
“In a minute Fiona, let me
finish here.”
“Fiona likes to mother
people,” Stuart confided in Kid who gratefully sank into
the chair.
“Yea
well I think we better consider that there are still enough of them left with
Silver to mean trouble if they decide to come after us,” Wheat went on.
“Wheat,”
Kid groaned as a gasp of terror flew around the room at the thought.
“Is
that true?” MacLeed asked looking him straight in the eye.
“My
partner will be doubling back now that we haven’t met up with him,” Kid lied
knowing full well Heyes would have no idea something had gone wrong until he
reached the Hole. “Silver knows that.”
“Yea
and Heyes is gonna be itching for blood when he finds out you been hit,” Wheat
went on. “And that Jack betrayed us.”
“Wheat
why don’t you and Kyle go keep watch,” Kid said wearily.
“What
did I do?” Kyle yelled.
“Come
on Kyle he ain’t in no mood to argue…” Wheat started to say.
“Ain’t
no one going anywhere. Hello Kid nice
trail you left us even in this weather.
Should have left Preacher. Allow
me to introduce myself folks,” the tall bearded man in the doorway said. “Name’s Silver.”
********************************
“Ho!” Hannibal Heyes called
holding up his hand to stop the four men riding with
him.
“Problem
Heyes?” Lobo asked.
Heyes
didn’t appear to have heard him.
Something had been bothering him since they had left Hanford.
“Did
any of you see Silver after the robbery?” Heyes said quietly.
The
four men looked at each other.
“Don’t
reckon I did, he must have rode with Kid,” Hank suggested.
“No,
no, Kid took Preacher, Wheat and Kyle.”
“Well
he’s sure to catch up if he want his share,” Lobo said impatient to be gone.
“Maybe,”
Heyes said and then looked behind him.
“Or maybe he wants more than his share…”
************************
“Well
isn’t this just a fine how do you do!” Silver laughed as Kid rose to his
feet. “Didn’t know we hit you too! Sorta makes up for the three of mine you
got.”
“Let’s
take this outside Silver these people got no part of it.”
“Oh
that’s right you and Heyes are the ‘good’ outlaws, looking after innocent
folks. Never forgot how you drew on me
over that Kid,” Silver said and then without warning savagely kicked his
wounded leg causing the man to drop to his knees in agony.
“Stop
it immediately I will not have this in my house,” MacLeed said.
“You
leave Mr. Curry alone!” Jacob said kicking the man squarely in the shins as his
sister and little brother ran to Kid’s aid.
“Take
them brats upstairs,” Silver motioned to one of his men. “You get the their guns.”
“Father?”
Stuart said looking ready to cry.
“I’ll
go with them,” James said putting the children protectively behind him.
“Yea
guess you still do belong in the nursery,” Silver laughed and then grew deathly
serious. “Don’t try nothing boy or them
youngins will be the first to get the blame.”
“Come
along children.”
“Why
did he kick Mr. Curry, Uncle James?” Stuart said concerned.
“Because
he is a mean and terrible man,” Fiona threw back defiantly. “And he’s going to pay for what he did…” she
didn’t get any more dire warnings out as her uncle quickly pulled her from the
room.
“Where’s
the money Kid?” Silver asked pulling him to his feet and pushing him against
the wall.
“We
ain’t got it, Heyes does,” Kyle volunteered.
“You
were to take the money, Heyes said so,” Silver said angrily to Kid.
“Heyes
always switches it so no one knows,” Wheat said softly. “Don’t always know who you can trust.”
Disgusted
Silver let go of Kid who unsupported fell down once more to his knees.
“Leave
him!” Silver barked as MacLeed moved to
help Kid to his feet.
“I
am a doctor, this man needs attention or he will bleed to death.”
“Yea
well maybe we’ll just let him,” Silver said uninterested.
“Don’t
think Heyes will take too kindly to that,” Wheat pointed out.
For
a moment of flicker of fear flashed in Silver’s eyes and Wheat knew he had hit
a nerve. Kid might be the obvious man
to fear, but a smart man kept his eyes on Heyes. Kid showed you how dangerous he was. Heyes kept such information to himself until you made the mistake
of crossing him or his partner.
Curry
oddly enough was the more reasonable of the two in certain circumstances. Kid could be talked into turning back from
his anger, usually by Heyes. His cousin
on the other hand had a point of no return and when he reached it, the man he
was looking for best make sure he was gone.
“Yea
well if I got his partner Heyes is gonna have to come looking for him and bring
all that bank money to me,” Silver said with false bravo.
“Then
you better make sure he’s alive when he does,” Wheat said. “Or the Doc here ain’t gonna have enough
string to tie up the pieces.”
“You
talk too much Carlson. Tie them two
up,” he turned to Kid, who the Doctor had helped back into the chair. “Stop the bleeding, but don’t do nothing
else. I don’t want him getting any
ideas.”
“If
I don’t get the bullet out he could get an infection…”
“Ain’t
gonna be around long enough to get one and neither will you if you don’t do
what I said. I just need him alive long
enough to be bait for his partner…”
****************************
James
watched as his niece doggedly attempted to keep the two boys interested in the
story she was reading them. A man had
been posted outside their door and even with the door closed his presence could
be felt in the nursery they shared.
“I’m
scared,” Stuart said snuggling next to his Uncle. “Are they going to hurt us?”
“I
wish they would leave,” Jacob added.
“Is
no one listening to my story?” Fiona said with mock annoyance.
“I
am.”
They
turned as one to see him standing in the window, its sash’s flung open wide,
the moon full behind him. He was
cockily leaning against the sill, one leg crossed in front of the other, arms
folded, hat pushed back, with a grin so captivating it never occurred to you to
be afraid that he had just magically appeared there.
“Your
Hannibal Heyes,” Fiona said awe struck.
“How
did you get up here?” Jacob said amazed.
“I
flew,” his eyes twinkled as he answered; eyes that were wicked and innocent and
a thousand other things all at the same time.
And with a graceful leap he entered the room and James found himself
expecting a mock flourish as he did.
“They
have your partner,” James said standing and attempting to put the children
behind him. The man’s confidence and
presence was startling and slightly unnerving.
He seemed to take control of the room just by focusing on it. Lead outlaws? The man could lead armies.
“They
hurt Mr. Curry,” Stuart sniffed worried.
Suddenly
the gay, carefree demeanor was replaced by something cold and furious as this
news was revealed.
“Kid?”
“He’s
shot in the leg and Mr. Silver kicked him,” Jacob volunteered.
“Did
he now,” Heyes said and the change in his eyes was like watching a storm come
up at sea.
“There’s
a man outside the door,” Fiona told him as he quietly walked over and listened.
“We
saw two other with Mr. Silver as well,” James offered not sure why he was
favoring one outlaw over another.
“Yea
he had two outside as well,” Heyes said quietly.
“Had?” Jacob asked impressed.
“My
men took care of them.”
“Oh
I want to be one of your men!” Jacob said hopeful. “Can I join your gang?”
“Oh
me too!” Stuart said. “You can’t come
Fiona you’re a girl, you can only be a mother.”
“I
can too, can’t I Mr. Heyes?” Fiona said hopeful.
“That
bunch could use a mother sometimes,” Heyes said absently as he worked through
his options.
“Fiona could tell them
stories, like she does us,” Jacob suggested. “She tells the best outlaw stories
and everyone loves hearing stories with them in them.”
Heyes stopped catching this
last part and then turned and looked at Fiona an idea forming. He had heard her
as he had climbed up the trestle. She
had a captivating gift with a tale.
“Fiona I want you to tell a
story.”
“A
story? But I just did that.”
“No,
this time, I want you to tell it for the man downstairs…”
**********************
Curry,
the Doctor, Silver and two of his men had retired to the sitting room where
Curry had been roughly thrown into a chair despite pleas from MacLeed to let
him at least put the wounded man on the couch.
“Gonna
take Heyes at least a day to get back,” Kid said quietly. “You really wanna wait around here that long
with a posse out there?”
“Posse
has long gave up,” Silver said. “Heyes
saw to that. Ya know that’s what I like
about riding with you boys, you think of everything, just didn’t give me a big
enough cut of the take is all.”
“And
what if Heyes decides not to come looking for us?” Kid asked knowing if he
didn’t keep talking he was going to lose consciousness and he wanted his gun
carelessly tossed on the far table too badly to let that happen.
“He’ll
come, everyone knows you two are like brothers,” Silver said.
“Father
I’ve come for Stuart’s medicine. The
man upstairs said I could come down and get it, his coughing is annoying him,”
Fiona said quietly at the base of the stairs.
MacLeed
stared at her confused and Kid didn’t miss the expression. Something was up.
“Let
the child have his medicine Silver,” Kid said before the father could ask her
what she was talking about. “Or are you afraid of a little girl?”
Silver
gave him an evil eye and motioned one of his men over to her. “Tell Joey to go in with her and wait until
she has it. Tell him to make sure those
two are still good and tied up and the Preacher ain’t awake.”
“Sure
boss.”
MacLeed
watched worriedly as his daughter innocently headed for the surgery and cast a
glance over at Curry who pleaded with his eyes for him to trust him. There was no way Heyes would have known to
come back and check on them, and yet something in him leapt at the small hope
ignited by the child’s innocent request.
Heyes’s plans were notorious for using the unexpected and it was a
well-known fact he was never where you thought he should be.
With
this in mind, he went back to watching his gun out of the corner of his eye.
****************************
The
door to the surgery opened and Joey escorted the little girl in with bored
disinterest.
“All
right get the stuff and come on…”
The
man never heard Heyes come up behind him and fell silently as the gun hit the back
of his head.
“Heyes
you sure are a sight for sore eyes,” Wheat said as the outlaw leader quickly
untied him and Kyle.
“How
bad is Preacher?”
“He’s
good, Doc fixed him up right.”
“How
bad is Kid?”
Kyle
and Wheat exchanged glances, “He got shot saving us Heyes, leapt right in front
of me or I’d have been a goner,” Kyle said.
“Ain’t never seen shooting like that.”
“All
right there are just two left in there with Silver and Kid. Fiona I want you to go upstairs and hide
there until your father comes and gets you, don’t come down for any reason, no
matter what you hear,” Heyes ordered.
“Are
you going to rescue the Kid?” she asked breathless.
“Yes
I am,” he said with such certainty the two men with him looked even more
worried. “Now go on.”
She
quickly hurried out the door too late to hear Heyes call after.
“Wait
you forgot the medicine!”
*************************
“You
finished?” Silver said as she quickly tried to walk past the group and reach
the stairs without being noticed.
“Yes
sir.”
“Wait
a minute,” Silver said rising. “I
thought you had medicine to fetch?”
The
little girl froze horrified as realization hit that she had forgotten.
Without
thinking she glanced back at the room and Silver let out a roar.
“He’s
here!”
Pulling
out his gun he and his men rose to fire towards the surgery, Fiona straight in
their line of sight.
“Fiona!” MacLeed cried charging the nearest man who
turned startled.
Kid
took the distraction offered and dove for his gun hitting the floor hard as he
scraped it off the table and turned it on the man who moved to fire at the
Doctor. Despite the agony the movement
caused him, his reaction was faster and the man went down with a startled cry.
The
Doctor froze realizing that could have been him, but then turned back horrified
to see his daughter frozen in fear as Wheat and Kyle came out of the surgery
guns drawn.
What
happened next was so unexpected that it caught everyone, but Kid off
guard. One moment Fiona was standing
frozen next to the stairs, the next a pair of hands from the figure sliding
down the banister had caught her and pulled her clear. With a quick jump Heyes landed on his feet
at the bottom and tucking her behind him, turned his gun on Silver’s back.
“Give
me the chance Silver,” Heyes said his voice dark and unworldly.
“Drop
it Silver,” Wheat yelled as Lobo and Hank barreled through the front door.
With
a disgusted sigh Silver dropped his gun.
Kyle quickly retrieved it and then scooped up the others.
Heyes
holstered his, no other thought now but his partner, who seeing things were
finally put to right, let himself have the luxury of unconsciousness.
As he moved away MacLeed ran
past him to scoop up his daughter, both of them crying.
“Kid,”
Heyes said on his knees and gently rolling over his cousin fearing the
worse. “How bad is it? Come on Kid I rode all this way, talk to
me!” Heyes said angry, as his friend did not respond. “Doctor!”
“I’ll
get my bag, get him on the couch,” MacLeed said handing Fiona up to his brother
in law who had cautiously come down the stairs.
“Sorry
about that Heyes, guess I should have let the Doc take that bullet out,” Silver
laughed. “But he just didn’t seem worth the effort!”
Every
member of the Devil’s Hole Gang froze as Heyes looked up his expression
unreadable.
“He’s
gonna kill him,” Kyle said under his breath to no one in particular.
“How
many times?” Wheat whispered back and then added loudly. “Ah Heyes me and the boys will take this
bunch out to the barn…”
“What
did you say?” Heyes said rising to face Silver. The man had a good three inches on him, but there wasn’t a man
present who would have taken the bet in his favor.
“Your
little baby faced cousin shouldn’t go trying to teach men a lesson…”
He
never finished the sentence. Heyes’s
blow to his head sent him reeling and was quickly followed by a second upper
cut to the stomach that send him down hard and mercilessly.
Silver
made a move to try and rise.
“Oh
don’t do that,” Hank said looking heavenward.
Heyes’s
kick caught him in the jaw and he fell back down motionless.
“I
think he broke his jaw on that one,” Lobo said impressed.
“Nice
work Heyes,” Kyle said. “We’ll just put
him outside where he won’t bother you no more.” And it was a contest to see who could get out of the room first.
“How
is he?” Heyes said hoarsely as the Doctor cut open the leg of the jeans and
examined the wound.
“You
have a very stubborn cousin Mr. Heyes I don’t know how he stayed conscious let
alone saved my life. Don’t worry I am
going to do everything in my power to return the favor. Let me get my surgery ready.”
Heyes
took the man’s place at his cousin’s side and felt his forehead. He was warm, too warm, damn it he should
have gotten there faster.
“Best
idea you ever had huh?” Kid said softly as Heyes rested his head in his hands
and rubbed his eyes.
“Kid!”
Heyes said looking up with almost childlike delight.
“What
made you come back?” Kid asked fighting to stay conscious.
“Know
how you get into trouble,” Heyes shrugged.
“You rest now, Doc is gonna fix you up.”
“Those
children okay?”
“Yea,
so quit your worrying, that’s my job remember.”
“Right
Heyes, I remember. Wasn’t worried for a second.”
***********************
Two
days later Kid Curry paused in the doorway of the nursery and stared in wonder
at the scene before him. A large battle
was being enacted with armies of little soldiers spread across the floor. On one side were Jacob and his uncle and to
his delight on the other were his cousin and Stuart.
“Who’s
winning?” he asked innocently and waited for the reaction.
“They are,” Jacob said
disgusted as Stuart grinned triumphantly.
“He doesn’t do things fair.”
“Does
too, we’re just smarter than you,” Stuart said leaning back happily against his
ally.
“Those
were his favorite toys when he was little Jacob, you don’t stand a chance, his
own father couldn’t out maneuver him after a bit.”
“You
are suppose to be resting,” Heyes said trying to look less involved than he
was, which was rather difficult as he was lying on the floor.
“I
am tired of resting,” Kid grinned.
“I
was just helping them with some strategy,” Heyes said getting up and attempting
to regain some dignity and had almost accomplished it until he realized he was
still holding a cannon.
“Sure
you were Heyes,” Kid grinned easing onto one of the beds and putting his leg
up.
“I
wasn’t playing soldiers.”
“Of
course you weren’t Heyes, your all grown up,” Kid laughed.
Heyes
glared at him.
“There
you are Mr. Curry! Sorry I’m late!”
Fiona said happily coming into the room with a book and a tray and making her
way to the rocking chair.
“Late?”
Heyes asked interested and it was Kid’s turn to look embarrassed.
“Oh
yes he heard I was going to finish the story,” Fiona said.
“Story
time is it?” Heyes said grinning now and Kid looked up at the ceiling pained.
“It’s
just that she’s been reading it to me while I was stuck in bed and I wondered
how it was going to end,” Kid said with a look that clearly meant don’t push
this.
“We
miss it?” Kyle said bounding in the door followed by Wheat and Lobo.
“You
two as well?” Heyes laughed.
Wheat
looked suitably distraught, but Kyle merely found a good seat and got
comfortable.
“Just
keeping an eye on Kyle,” Wheat said gruffly sliding in and leaning against the
wall attempting to look disinterested.
“Preacher
says the next one is a doozy,” Hank said coming in the door and seeing everyone
stopped. “Ah hi Heyes.”
“Hank,
you here for a bedtime story too?”
“Aw
Heyes its good one and I don’t read that well and….”
“No,
no that’s all right,” Heyes said shaking his head as he made for the door. “Just reassuring to know the toughest outlaw
gang in the west is made up of little boys.”
He paused at the door as his men shuffled uncomfortably. “You want maybe I should send up cookies and
milk?”
“Oh
we got some,” Kyle said pointing to the tray Fiona had brought in and then
slunked back down on Heyes’s expression of disbelief.
“Honestly,”
Heyes sighed and moved to step out into the hallway when Kid’s voice caught
him.
“It’s
got a heart that beats in the floor when the person is dead.”
“You’re
reading Poe?” he said interested turning back and when everyone looked at him,
coughed and added. “Not that it
matters, I’ve read that one.”
“I
was going to read them the Pit and the Pendulum after the Telltale Heart Mr.
Heyes,” Fiona said innocently.
“The
Pit and the Pendulum? I’ve never read
that one!” Heyes said excited and stood for a moment torn. Finally with a look that just dared anyone
to say something he walked back into the room.
“Move over,” he ordered Kid taking a seat next to him.
“Tough
outlaw gang leader huh?” Kid whispered softly with a grin, the only one who
dared.
“Shut
up,” Heyes whispered back. “I can’t
hear. And pass those cookies up here
first.”
Everyone
looked at him.
“Leader
of the gang gets first pick,” he explained.
Everyone just stared. “Anyone
got a problem with that?” he barked.
“Oh
no Heyes!”
“Absolutely,”
came the chorus of answers.
“Oh
yea Heyes serious grown up outlaw leader,” Kid said laughing softly.
“You
want a cookie or not?” Heyes glared at him and then found a small smile
escaping. “Besides this being grown up
always seemed way over rated to me.”
HISTORICAL NOTE:
Fiona’s uncle James returned to Britain where he
became a successful journalist and writer in both the United States and Great
Britain. His most famous story was
about a group of lost boys who were led by a heroic and dashing leader who
never grew up.
Peter Pan was written in 1903