PAYBACK

Drena Hills

The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.

-

Francesco Guicciardin

(Fortunately the heart has a long memory)

-

Jimmy Durante

1873

It had been a game until now. Like children playing tag, they never really considered the men that chased them to be any real threat. They were young, just barely 20 and the gang they belonged to, infamous. It had been easy to get cocky and secure they would never be caught.

And as a rule the town folk deputized to come after Big Jim and the Devil's Hole Gang after a job were usually liquored up and hell bent until a mile or two outside of town when sobering and thinking took hold.

It was one thing to chase outlaws, quite another thing to catch them.

But no one had explained that to this posse. Thirty in total they had not given up after three days and even after Jim split them up, the group after them had merely broke into sections and followed each fragment of the gang six strong.

As for Kid Curry, he was past tired. Twice he had caught himself falling asleep in the saddle and jerked awake just in time to avoid slipping off under his animals galloping hooves.

But his weariness now had been replaced by something that drove him harder than the posse; his cousin's slumped form in the saddle next to him.

The posse's lucky shot had only grazed his side, but the never-ending chase, loss of blood, sleep and food had taken their toll and Hannibal Heyes didn't look good.

Kid now remained awake with one purpose, to get his cousin clear.

At the time they paused to let Heyes rest he had tried every tracking trick he knew to throw them off the trail, even inventing a few as he went. But this group of lawmen were a stubborn bunch and relentless and always found they're way back to them.

He had about given up hope when the rain started. Letting out a whoop of joy he yelled encouragement to his partner and pressed the animals forward waiting for a chance to double back as their tracks disappeared in the mud.

And it had worked.

Kid had been nervous on what to do next. He had come to rely since joining the gang on either Heyes or Jim for leadership. It had been a lazy attitude, partly born out of feeling out of place and partly due to Jim never considering asking his opinion or advice.

But now Heyes was in no shape to think out anything for them, Jim was long gone looking after his own interests and so any chance of escape rested squarely on his shoulders.

And the idea he came up with was ludicrous and he knew it. It was also just the slightest bit brilliant and anyone hearing of it years later would recognize that the same canny, imaginative streak that had labeled Heyes a genius also ran through his cousin. The only difference being Kid buffeted his with a practical, cautious edge and less showmanship in presenting it.

It didn't bother him that no sane man would have done what he did. Kid was not feeling very sane just desperate and that is why they both stood on the train platform in the very town they had robbed 3 days ago.

"This is crazy you know that," Heyes said moving stiffly from the ticket window grateful his friend made no effort to help him because he knew the minute he leaned on him he would collapse completely.

"Yup, that's what I'm hoping they'll think too. Let's get you aboard and settled and then I'll find us something to eat," Kid said and his partner almost managed a smile at the eagerness in the younger man's voice.

"No room."

Kid stopped and looked up at the man blocking their path onto the train as if he didn't speak English. He was a large man, filling the stairwell like an overstuff bear with less hair.

Heyes closed his eyes and considered never opening them again. He knew they looked like death warmed over, but they had tickets, please just let them find a seat in the back and fall down, that was all he asked.

"We got tickets," Kid told the conductor and the way he said it implied he also had more than a ticket that could get him on that train.

"I don't care if you got a letter from the President of the railroad himself, were full up," the official said snapping his genuine gold plated railroad watch shut enjoying the power.

"Room in that one," Kid said pointing to the car next to them. It was a compartment coach and extra, but he could pay for it.

"Private section for ladies."

"We ain't asking to sit with no ladies, we just want a seat!" Kid said dangerously angry now. He was still skinny, yet to fill out with any muscle despite how much he ate and combined with his weariness looked no more than a scraggly 16 to the man.

"Look you young ruffian I don't let your kind on my train, now move along before I call a bully to deal with you!"

The man turned his back on them and securely fastened the gate over the steps.

"Kid it's all right," Heyes said wearily putting a hand on his arm more to keep himself up than stop his friend.

"No its not, we got tickets and were getting on that train if I have to…"

"Young man?"

They turned on the soft voice to look down at the older woman who had hesitantly spoke to them.

"Ma'am?" Kid said surprised tipping his hat more out of reflex than anything else.

"I overheard your plight. I have a compartment to myself, you may share it with me if you can get aboard without that dreadful man seeing."

"Thank you ma'am!" Kid said suddenly feeling better than he had in days and realized it was more than the offer of help. The woman's gentle smile had a way of washing over you like a warm summer breeze.

Convinced he had made his stand with the two rapscallions the conductor had moved to the end of the train to brag to the brakeman about how nobody rode his train lessin he said so.

Seeing a chance the two young outlaws quickly entered the train from the ladies end and a moment later were standing in the woman's cubicle.

It had seating for six with two long rows on either side of the window. The seats were made to fold down into bench beds leaving a slender aisle to the door. The cubicle was cluttered with her personal belongings but looked like paradise to the two weary outlaws.

Heyes gratefully sunk into one of the seats near the window while Kid shut the door and drew the blinds.

"We really appreciate this ma'am," Kid said politely waiting for the woman to take the second window seat across from his cousin before taking his next to Heyes. A lurch of the train and a whistle made them all pause and hold their breath waiting to see if they had eluded being detected.

Kid took the chance to finally look at the women properly. She was at that unpinpointable part of life known as middle age and could have been anywhere from 40-50, with graying dark hair and sturdy practical clothes. Her face was lined and pale and looked like she had been ill or was recovering from something tragic.

But it was her eyes that fascinated him. There was passion there and concern and together they had galvanized her to overcome her natural shyness and social conventions to help them.

"How bad is it?" she asked finally to Heyes as the train picked up speed.

He blinked, 'Ma'am?"

"I'm a nurse," she smiled reassuringly. "And I've seen that gray haggard look from a man with a gunshot wound too many times."

The two looked at each other again, almost like schoolboys caught in a prank she thought.

The wounded man finally made the decision. "Ah grazed my side ma'am," Heyes said almost physically slumping with relief at not having to keep up appearances that nothing was wrong.

"Why don't we open that side’s bed up and you can lay down," she said indicating the seat they were sitting on. "Your friend can sit here with me."

"Thank you ma'am, but I don't want to be any trouble," Heyes said trying not show how good that sounded.

"Nonsense, you are in pain, let me see if I can help. While you two see to that I'll get some water and I suspect you'd like something to eat?"

"Ah ma'am…" Kid said his eyes troubled, concerned she was going for help and he might have to stop her.

Her eyes twinkled with understanding and his worry over offending her, "Gentlemen, as I said I'm a nurse, I have no interest with how you got that wound, just fixing it."

And then she smiled and it made her look younger and something better than pretty and caused both their hearts to pause and their apprehension melt away.

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

An hour later Kid was certain he had passed on into heaven. Seated next to the woman working his way through his fifth ham sandwich and coffee, while his partner bandaged and fed slept across from him.

"Your lucky that bullet didn't go an inch over," the woman said and he realized he had never asked her name and apologized.

She smiled from the seat beside him, the picnic basket between them as she put her medical supplies away.

"Clara."

"Yes ma'am, I 'm real grateful. We haven't got a lot of money, but what we have…"

"The world would be a very sad place if that was the only reason for helping a wounded man," she said quietly.

He nodded chastised; embarrassed he had insulted her. "Names," he paused. He didn't use Jed much anymore; even Heyes had taken to calling him Kid, first teasingly and then finally as an acknowledgement of who he was and a respect for it. But it didn't seem right telling the lady that, so he continued, "Jedediah Curry ma'am, this is my cousin, Hannibal Heyes."

"And I take it your outlaws?"

"Yes ma'am," Lately he had admitted that with pride, usually to impress a liquored up saloon girl. He had even bragged one or twice about being wanted for $200. Not quite the $1000 his cousin was wanted for, but impressive all the same. But again what had seemed daring and adventurous now had uncomfortable strains of wrongness wisping around it with this woman. She wouldn't judge him, but she wouldn't be impressed by his mistakes either and for the first time he admitted that’s what they were to himself. "But your in no danger, I swear it."

"Son I have dressed the wounded on battle fields where the cannons have fired so close they shook the patient off the table, I'm afraid you two aren't even remotely frightening."

She smiled and he grinned back.

"Now why don't you get some rest like your friend, I know for a fact looking after someone you care about can drain you as much as the injury does him."

Kid nodded and then to her surprise stood and found a seat on the floor between the two seats.

"You don't have to sit on the floor…"

"Yes ma'am I do. This is your compartment and I think you got it because you’re a little under the weather yourself. Now you get comfortable and I'll be right here if either of you need anything."

She looked down at his young, determined face and suddenly felt more protected than she ever had in her life.

"Thank you Mr. Curry, I believe I will take a nap as well. You may lock the door so you can rest yourself."

He looked at her and the trust the statement implied and he straightened a little.

"Yes ma'am, believe I will take a nap once you two are settled."

A minute later he was sound asleep. Smiling she soon drifted off herself.

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

Hannibal Heyes awoke and blinked surprised at how good he felt. The movement of the train was soothing and combined with the clean cotton sheets and sunlight streaming in he felt amazingly better and hungry.

“Good morning,” he smiled at the woman across the aisle from him who had also just opened her eyes as well

“Oh dear I slept straight thru, however are you feeling?” she said worried and trying to get up, but the exertion was to much and she fell back exhausted.

“Hey, no, please are you all right?” Heyes said moving too quickly himself to aid her and regretting it.

“What are you two doing?” Kid said with a fierce glare from the doorway. He was dressed in a porter’s white outfit and carried two trays of hot breakfast and coffee.

“Where you been?” Heyes asked not letting on how relieved he was to see him.

“Got me a job, thought you two might like some breakfast,” he said pulling out the folded table next to the window and setting the trays of food down.

He disappeared for a minute and then came back with a camp chair and shutting the door sat down between them pleased with himself.

“You have been busy,” his partner remarked gratefully taking the coffee offered him.

“Some of us can’t lay abed all day Heyes. How you doing ma’am? Here let me help you with that. Carefully he helped the lady sit up and placed a tray on the side of the table next to her.

“Mr. Curry there is enough food here to feed an army!” she laughed staring down at the huge slab of ham, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, eggs and tomatoes.

“Looks about right to me,” he said trying not to show how hungry he was. The kitchen had been a mad house and it had taken considerable skill to escape with two trays of food and ignore how good it looked.

The woman noticed and was touched. She sensed the two had spent too many hungry days to ever take a meal for granted and putting his partner and her needs first said much.

“For my cousin ma'am, that’s just a snack," Heyes said but without second thought pushed the plate to sit between them and chose the spoon leaving Kid the fork.

“Just eat and fast,” Kid said giving his partner a look that made him stiffen.

“Problem?” he asked softly.

“Might be, rumor has it our posse regrouped and is checking trains, box cars, but they might get ambitious.”

“We have to get off.”

“I know, I got a map, water stop coming up in ten minutes.”

“That’s where’d they’d be waiting.”

“I know that’s why were leaving at the incline when the train slows five minutes from now.”

"But you can't you'll start him bleeding again!" the woman said aghast.

"Not much choice ma'am."

"And no horses or food in the middle of no where. No I am sorry that is simply not acceptable."

She said it so firmly they both were forced to grin despite the seriousness of the moment.

"Ma'am if they come looking they will find us here," Heyes said.

"Maybe," she smiled. "I suppose it would all depend on who met them at the door!"

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

"This ain't gonna work," Kid said gun drawn as he peered down the corridor from the door.

"She said it will."

"Heyes maybe if I make a run for it they'll follow me…"

"Don't be crazy they'll gun you down in a second."

"They're coming," Kid said watching.

"What's happening?" Heyes hissed back.

"They're talking to her…I don't believe it!"

Heyes pulled himself up and limping to the door took a look and blinked.

The corridor was lined with men from the posse but something amazing had happened in the course of their search. Their complete and utter attention had descended on the lady as if she was a queen.

Hats were being removed and men were grinning like schoolboys. The woman's effect on them was remarkable.

"What did she say to them!" Kid stared.

"Not what she said," Heyes said suddenly getting a clue. "But who she said she was."

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

"I told them the conductor turned you off the train back in Grass Valley and I saw you head south. I also said you were badly wounded and I was very concerned," the woman smiled minutes later the train once more under way.

"What just happened there?" Heyes said staring at her with a mixture of relief and amazement.

She smiled shyly, obviously embarrassed. "I told you I have nursed a great many soldiers, I thought sure the odds were that at least one man in that posse of yours had been in the war and would either know me on sight or of me. We got lucky; the Sheriff heading it had a brother I tended. Don't look so impressed gentlemen, nurses were few and far between in the war and a female one was always taken note of.

"I think its more than that," Heyes said shrewdly looking her in the eye and she blushed and looked away embarrassed again.

"We will never be able to pay you back for this ma'am," Kid said sincerely.

"Caring for people is not something you take up if you want to be repaid Mr. Curry," she smiled gently. "Repayment comes in the act of doing it."

"Still ma'am, were beholding to you and if we can ever payback," Kid said stubbornly.

She smiled at his resolution, "Thank you Mr. Curry why don't you start by helping me with this breakfast!"

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

1880

The rain had not stopped for nearly two weeks. All around her the suffering of the town clung like the dampness and frustrated she paced her hotel room unable to detach herself from the upcoming disaster.

She had been stopped by the weather after visiting the farming community in the course of a speaking tour. The swollen river had quickly diverted her attention to the needs of the town she was staying in and the travesty it hinted at.

"Ma'am the train will be leaving for Washington in 40 minutes," her maid said coming in hesitant to disturb her, but concerned.

"Landy that river is going to over flow its banks tonight and this town is going to be man high deep in water.

"I know ma'am, all the more reason to be on that train and gone."

"Yes how convenient for us Mr. Fredricks enjoys feeling magnanimous and offered us a ride. Of course not magnanimous enough to help get anyone else out."

"Ma'am it is his private train and it’s a real service he's doing helping us to leave," the woman said confused.

"Mr. Frederick's wants his name in the paper for rescuing us, and could care less about this town."

"But ma'am, this isn't his town."

"No," she said. "But it could be."

Picking up her coat she moved to the door.

"Heading for the train ma'am?"

"No Landy, the saloon."

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

It took a moment for her presence in the doorway to register with the packed room. A hopeless sense of abandonment was in place and the large establishment was in full swing.

Roulette wheels turned gaily under the garish music and harsh lights. Cowboys worked on getting drunker, gamblers tossed down poker chips without care, why there was even rumor an outlaw gang had taken shelter there and were hoorahing from a bank job from a town lost back in the rain.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, but it was enough. The room went deadly silent, even the music freezing. "This town is living on borrowing time. They predict that by midnight the levee will overflow and this town is directly in the path of the water."

"What's that to us? We intend to be long gone by then," one man laughed and was instantly slugged into silence by a fair-haired man standing by the bar.

"Let the lady talk," said the man across from him at the poker table and something about the way he said it made anyone else resist the urge to comment.

"You are right, I know many of you here are strangers or will be unaffected by this disaster, but I am asking you all the same to help."

"Help? How ma'am?" asked the man at the bar.

"By pulling together with this community to salvage as much as possible. I have asked the railroad for the use of their train to transport women and children from the area. Unfortunately it seems it is a private train and the owner refuses to…" she paused her eyes angry and it made every man their pay a bit better attention. "Sully his private coaches and cargo with mere human life. Therefore we need men to sand bag, to drive wagons of supplies and the children to higher ground and set up a camp where people can go once the deluge hits. I know this is not your home, but it could be and I'm asking you to find the compassion in your hearts to reach out and help a brother in need. Not for money or gain, but because it is the right thing to do."

She was not used to public speaking and the moment had taken everything out of her and she fell back a little overwhelmed.

There was a greater silence and then some mumbling.

Suddenly the man at the poker table was on his feet. He was tall, but not large and moved with an impressive confidence born of time and natural inclination. His dark hair and handsome smile was familiar, but she couldn't place why. Easily he swung up on the bar and commanded the room as if it was something he did everyday.

"Lady needs our help, so does the town, any man doesn't want to help should take that door out now," Hannibal Heyes smiled pleasantly, but his eyes were dark with a suggestion of what he would do should any man use that option.

"That would be this door here, my partner Hannibal Heyes is talking about" Kid Curry said just as pleasantly from where he was leaning against the frame. "I'll just wait here by it as it will give me a chance to say goodbye to any man who would desert women and children in need."

"That would be Kid Curry," Wheat said from the only other exit where he stood waiting with four other men of equally dangerous resolve. "And I'm Wheat Carlson." Wheat continued hitching up his pants presuming the name would invoke the same reaction. "In case any of you folks hadn't heard were the Devil's Hole Gang."

Heyes smiled, his gang was not as a rule either heroic or valiant, but they did like power and they did tend to listen to him. Added to the liquor they had consumed and the money in their pockets made them back Heyes up with an attitude that suggested they could do anything. Combined with the legends, the dime novels and the presence of Kid and Heyes it was enough.

To her amazement the room was suddenly on its feet clamoring to offer their assistance.

"Hello Clara," Kid smiled at her bewilderment. "Reckon its payback time."

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

"Mr. Heyes," she said four hours later as the light began fading. "You and your men are a blessing, I have never seen a group work so well together, they have just inspired this town."

Heyes smiled at her tear filled eyes from the table he had commandeered in the back room of the saloon. Behind him saloon girls were rolling bandages and filling sandbags alongside the ladies' aid.

"You should see them with a bank ma'am…" he paused as Kid entered and nodded. "Or a train."

"Nice to see folks working together to help one another out," Kid said impressed. Not mentioning he had just loaded dynamite with a sheriff and a preacher, both under his command.

"Much can be done if people are helped to work together. I've only ever seen it during war, but this makes me wonder if it isn't possible during peacetime as well," Clara said thoughtfully. "I just wish there was some way we could buy more time and slow that river. The sand bags just won't reach high or long enough."

"Funny you should say that ma'am, but my partner here noticed that the train tracks run right along side the river," Kid said barely keeping the twinkle from his eye.

She sighed, "I know, that's why Mr. Frederick's insisted on leaving so quickly, so his train wouldn't be caught in the flood. It's a pity we could have gotten so many people to safety."

"Well actually ma'am his train didn't quite leave," Kid said innocently.

"And there are other uses for trains other than transportation, especially a nice long one full of heavy box cars," Heyes added just as innocently.

She stared at the two men realization dawning with disbelief.

"You didn't…? Did you?"

"Well ma'am train makes a pretty good wall if you knock it over," Kid said simply.

"Push those cars together, sand bag up the holes. Why I bet you could buy a town a whole day or two that way, maybe even keep the river back till the rain stops," Heyes grinned.

"You knocked over his train?"

"Yes ma'am, afraid were just bad like that. Bad and wicked," Kid said with a long-suffering sigh of remorse that was a little too deep to be completely believable.

"How can I ever…" she said hugging Kid who smiled pleased with himself at her reaction.

"We just like doing stuff like that, born vandals ma'am," Heyes said gruffly.

Tears filled her eyes and Heyes found himself being hugged next.

Unsure what to do he finally hugged her back.

"You are a terrible, wicked man Hannibal Heyes," she finally said pulling away and taking his handkerchief. I wish the world had more like you and your cousin."

"Even wicked men can learn by example ma'am," Heyes smiled. "And you Clara Barton give a man a pretty hard example to ignore."

"Besides," Kid said philosophically. "Ain't right not to payback when you get the chance."

Historical Note:

Clara Barton was born on Christmas Day, 1821 in Massachusetts. During her life she worked as both a teacher and a nurse. During the Civil War her journeys to the front to care for the men and bring supplies earned her the title 'Angel of the Battlefield' and eventually she became the superintendent of all Union nurses.

After the war she went to Europe and became involved with the International Red Cross helping out with the Franco Prussian War. Her work there convinced her that the United States needed such an organization. Returning home her health shattered she took several years to recover, but never gave up her dream.

In 1881 she finally convinced Congress of the need and the American Red Cross was born. Through her efforts the 'American Amendment' was added to the worldwide organization, which allowed the group to help out in disasters in peacetime as well as during war.

Her dedication and selfless sense of giving is summed up in the following quote:

"You must never so much as think of whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not, you must never think of anything accept the need and how to meet it."

Her very first success in peacetime disasters was the Johnstown flood.

She said she had learned a great deal about motivating and organizing from watching 'others'.