Drena
Hills
“…no actually it was the floor
plan of the bank of Fort Worth.”
-
Hannibal Heyes
5th Victim
ABILENE,
KANSAS
1867
“Heyes?”
“Hmmm?” the fifteen-year-old dark haired boy grunted as they made their way wearily over to the bank.
“I don’t care what we do after this, scrub floors, break rocks or even carry dynamite, but lets never, ever be drovers again.”
Hannibal Heyes released a smile and chuckled as he looked back at how woe begotten his younger cousin looked.
“You didn’t feel that way when they offered us the job back in Kansas City.”
“That was 39 days ago, 36 of which we rode drag.”
“You rode drag, I only did it for 22 days.”
“Only because you got the Foreman in a Poke game,” Jedediah Curry sighed as they reached the steps of the bank where the other hands were waiting to be paid.
“Ah look at it this way Jed we got us $50 American apiece and the offer of a good cozy ranch job with Mr. Fontaine back in Houston. Two months ago we were just runaway orphans, now we are gainfully employed with money in our pocket and the whole future waiting on us!”
Curry had to nod in agreement. He liked Jud Fontaine and his wife Maria. The man had taken a chance on both of them when he had seen them loading wagons for tips at the Hay Feed store and offered them work on a drive.
Despite their lack of experience he had paid them the same wage as the experienced drovers and kept an eye on them to make sure the other men gave them a fair chance.
Mrs. Fontaine, who had lost three sons in the war, had played a big part in their getting a chance. She had sized up the two cocky, fiercely independent young men for what they were, alone, young, and though they would never admit it even to each other, afraid.
She said they had potential and besides it did her heart good to see young men eat her cooking like that again.
“So you reckon were gonna be cowboys Heyes?” Jed asked squinting at him in the hot noonday sun.
“For a bit, then we’ll be ranchers, maybe even get us some fine horses to breed, my daddy always wanted to do that and I got his eye for horse flesh. Why I bet a year from now we’ll be hiring boys to lead OUR cattle drive!”
Heyes stopped as the door to the bank opened and Mr. Fontaine appeared in the door with his wife. Heyes had thought of him as old when they first met, but knew now he was only pushing 40, but suddenly he looked twice his years standing there. It was then he noticed his wife had been crying.
“Something wrong Mr. Fontaine?” Steve Winters the ranch Foreman asked for them all.
“I’m afraid there is Steve, I’m sorry, it seems the drive wasn’t enough. I can’t pay you, the bank…the bank has taken the ranch and all the profits, I’m penniless.”
Everyone stared at him and only Jedediah had the courage to speak.
“But those were your cows…”
“I know son, but Mr. Parks who has the mortgage on my ranch thinks otherwise.”
“James Parks cheated you Jud!” Maria suddenly burst out. “He knew that stock he sold you was no good! He wants your land for that railroad and he wouldn’t stop at anything to get it!”
“No chance of us getting paid?” one of the men said and a grumble began to rise up.
“I have enough to give you each 5 dollars, I know that’s…”
“Five dollars!” one of the man spat. “I think were the ones being swindled!”
He moved to dive for the older man, but suddenly found Heyes in his path.
“Don’t.”
It was strange how one word coming from the mouth of a fifteen-year-old boy could stop a seasoned cowhand in his tracks, but it did.
The men on the drive had learned to respect the two young greenhorns who had learned fast and had an uncanny way of watching each other’s back. It was quickly established that taking on one meant dealing with the other and both were not novices when it came to a fight.
“Leave it Bill,” Steve said grabbing the bigger man’s arm.
“Steve pass the money out,” Fontaine said quietly. “I’m going to take Maria back to the hotel to pack.”
“Will do Mr. Fontaine.”
The group watched the couple slowly cross the street not missing the defeat in every step.
“All right boys you heard the man, five a piece. Round R is hiring I heard and I know the foreman, after we…”
“I figure more like six apiece,” Bill said glaring at Jedediah and Heyes as they stepped up to take their share.
“And how you figure that Bill?” Steve said calmly.
“Those two don’t get a share, just kids.”
“Well Bill those two kids worked just as hard as any man here and in some cases harder. Here you go boys…” Steve moved to hand them the five when Bill went for his gun. He never reached it and instead found his foreman’s weapon bearing down on him.
“Now that was just plain stupid Bill. I know your upset, but I don’t like a man drawing on me. Now take your money and go get drunk before I forget how mad I am at Parks and take it out on you.”
The cowhand stood for a moment staring at the gun and then quickly snatching the money slithered away.
“Sorry about that boys,” Steve smiled at Jed and Heyes as they were the only ones left.
“You think we can get work at this ranch?” Jed asked concerned staring at the money.
“Sorry boys wish I did, I just told them that to calm then down. I’m afraid the town is full up with men for hire and only the most experienced got a chance. But don’t worry your young and healthy something will come your way. Best of luck.”
They watched him walk away and Jedediah whistled softly, “You ever seen a man that fast Heyes?”
“Lets go talk to Fontaine,” was all Heyes said shoving his money in his pocket.
*********************
Maria Fontaine was in the lobby of the hotel as they entered.
“Boys,” she said looking down unable to meet their eyes.
“You all right ma’am?” Jedediah asked touching her arm and the action was enough to make her look up grateful with tear filled eyes.
“No Jed, but thank you for caring.”
“Is Mr. Fontaine around ma’am?” Heyes asked and Jed looked up sharply at his friend’s bluntness, but then caught his cousin’s eye and understood. Heyes was mad and the simple fact Jed could tell meant a great deal. Nobody hid their feelings better than Heyes and no one had a harder time suffering an injustice than he did. Heyes didn’t like to lose, be cheated or made a fool of. It was only worse when he thought it had been done to someone he thought of as a friend and Jud Fontaine was a friend.
“He’s upstairs Hannibal,” the woman said. “But I…”
“Ma’am, I think I might have a plan, a way to get your ranch back, those stocks…”
Steve’s shout of no could be heard from the next landing. The gunshot stilled the room.
“Oh my God!” Maria said putting a hand to her mouth and running for the stairs.
She only made it half way up before Steve met her and stopped her.
“No Maria don’t.”
“But Jud…where is he…”
“Maria I’m sorry, I tried to stop him.”
` The woman stared at him and then collapsed against him sobbing.
“Come on Jed,” was all Hannibal Heyes said as life once more didn’t play fair.
“But Heyes!”
“I said come on!” Heyes shouted tightly and turning, his cousin saw the tears burning in his eyes.
“Ain’t we gonna do something?” Jed said confused and lost.
“Yea, were gonna remember.”
***************************************
JULY 1876
“You ever seen such a fuss in all your born days over a railroad?” Kid Curry said sitting back amused on his horse and watching the work on the track being laid ahead of them.
“Kid I’m counting on that fuss to make us rich and very famous men,” Heyes smiled wickedly.
“You wanna tell me why you got your heart and soul so hell bent on this bank in Texas?” Kid said nudging his horse forward as they moved on to enter the town of Fort Worth, population 1000.
“Man said it couldn’t be robbed, ain’t natural saying things like that with ornery people out there just itching to contradict such a statement.”
“Heyes there are banks that ‘can’t be robbed’ in Wyoming and Colorado and Kansas for that matter, why are we all the way down in Texas, the boys are gonna wanna know too.”
“Do you know Kid that they’ve been trying to build this railroad for nearly 5 years? Part of this here Tarantula Map, a plan they had to make 9 railroad lines originate from here.”
“Nine railroad lines out this town?” Kid stared at the closed shops and quiet streets.
“Yup, government issued 15 million acres in land grants and they all would have expired on the first of July, just 14 days ago if one of this town’s own hadn’t rallied and kept the State Capital from recessing. So now they got 4 miles left to reach town before the 19th, the last deadline or they lose everything.”
“Where’s this track coming from?”
“Dallas and I get the feeling Dallas don’t fancy little Fort Worth getting all uppity and becoming a major city.”
“Seems likely enough, but what does all this have to do with us robbing the bank here, seems like the people got enough trouble.”
“Oh this bank isn’t for the people of Fort Worth. Ya see when the panic hit in 73? Well some folks in Dallas got real nervous about poorer folks thinking they had a right to money they were owed and so they made a deal with a banker in Fort Worth to keep it here. In exchange they gave him certain land rights should the railroad not reach Fort Worth.”
“So this bank is really on Fort Worth’s side? Heyes this whole town is gonna fold without this railroad how come they don’t run this fella out of town?”
Heyes smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Because all of this is a very well kept secret that only a few people know.”
“Including you.”
“Including me.”
Kid sighed; sometimes it was like dragging water from rock with his cousin, “Heyes how do you know!”
Heyes smiled and this time his eyes did sparkle. “Cause I read the paper’s in the banker’s personal safe.” And with that Hannibal Heyes got off his horse and David Rembacker registered at the hotel.
*********************************
Heyes glanced up from the desk as his partner entered the room and made a point of slamming the door.
“Boys all here?”
“In the saloon,” Kid said curtly throwing his hat down and lying on the bed.
“Kid?”
“Yea Heyes?” the man’s eyes were closed and it came out dangerous and Heyes knew he had gone as far as he could.
“I thought maybe we could go over the plan…”
“Oh really? I get to know what the plan is?” Kid said sitting up eyes cold and frozen. “Why thank you Heyes I feel real privileged that you have decided to trust your only living relative with OUR plan.”
“Kid…”
Kid was up now pacing his anger boiling over having been kept in check too long, “I can’t believe you, you break into a banker’s private safe and then you don’t even have the sense to bring me along! What were you thinking!? In case you haven’t noticed Heyes I’ve what’s been keeping you alive all these years!”
Heyes swallowed a smile. That was typical of his partner. More upset that he could have got killed without him than that he had taken this long to explain the plan to him.
“Kid I…”
“And another thing Heyes it ever occur to you that I have over the last few years been just a small bit of use to you in planning these things? Why did you know my wanted poster is now just as much as yours, how could that be…wait, wait maybe because people tend to think I’m your partner and I HELP you with these plans?” he was yelling hard now. “You know how I felt when the boys asked me what the plan was and I didn’t have a clue what to tell them? How do you think that makes me feel huh? Look if you got a problem with me and you don’t trust me then just spit it out cause I am not going another minute with you keeping this all bottled up inside and making me feel like an idiot!”
“You done?” Heyes asked quietly with a pleasant look.
Kid stood there and exhaled, he felt better. He wanted to still be mad, but he had never been any good at that with Heyes.
“No,” he lied.
“Good, first off you aren’t an idiot, I didn’t tell you because I felt like one planning this and I had to be sure before I told you.”
“And breaking into banker’s safe’s?”
“I do trust you Kid and I really really wanted to bring you, but I knew if I took you then you would figure out who the banker was and I didn’t think you would let this go if I decided it wouldn’t work.”
“Heyes just talk plain, please!”
“Kid, the banker who owns the Bank of Fort Worth and is doing his best to stop this railroad and this town is… James Parks.”
*****************************
It took a moment for the name to register and then Kid just stared at him and then slowly sunk down onto the edge of the bed.
“Fontaine’s Parks?”
“Yea.”
“Heyes how did you ever?”
“Saw his name in the paper about three years ago, he was bragging about his new, fancy, robber proof bank and it all flooded back. After that I started keeping tabs on him, even hired me a private detective to get some information on him. Now there isn’t much I don’t know about James Parks.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Kid said quietly, the hurt in his eyes bothering Heyes more than all his yelling and threats had.
“Because you are too good a man Jed, you’d want to confront him, or find some way to see justice done, but justice doesn’t work with men like Parks. You gotta be just an wicked as them to beat them and fortunately I’m qualified for that.”
Kid frowned, “You aren’t anything like him Heyes.”
“Oh yes I am, I’m greedy and slick, but with one difference, I’m a hell of a lot smarter.”
“So how do we do this? How do we stop a man that powerful? Fontaine couldn’t and he was one of the richest ranchers in the area.”
“Easy Kid, we stop him by building a railroad!”
***********************************
“You want us to what?” Wheat Carlson said stopping mid chew and spitting out his tobacco with a scowl.
“How come we gonna build a railroad if we wanna rob a bank?” Kyle Mertree asked uneasy over something obviously far too clever for his head to engulf.
“Boys, boys, what did I tell you about trusting Heyes,” Kid smiled from the door of the hotel room where he was leaning friendly and watchful. “You just listen and Heyes will explain it all.
And he did.
And seven outlaws looked up in wonder and the whoop they made when he finished could be heard all the way down to the ground floor.
*****************************
“Morgan it cannot be done!” the small man said standing up in the packed assembly room to face the four men seated on the platform. “We still got 3…”
“3.5!” someone yelled.
“3.5 miles to go and we only got a few days left and on top of that we got the problem of the creek and how to get over it. How we ever gonna hope to do that in time? Best we ever laid is a mile a day!”
“Gentlemen my colleagues and I could not help but hear of your plight,” Hannibal Heyes smiled walking confidently down the center aisle and reaching the podium turning to face the crowd. “You need a miracle or at least you need a plan. I can help you with that plan because my success depends on yours.”
“And what success is that?” someone said suspicious.
“I’m a business man, in banking and I want to be famous for banking in Fort Worth. To do that, I need you to get your railroad.”
“It can’t be done…”
“Of course it can’t, not the way your doing it, but my way, my way will work. All right first off from this point on until we finish all business’s are closed so that everyone can help lay track. We got 1000 people in this town and if they aren’t laying track they better be making tracks out of town.”
He turned and gave his best smile to the head of the Ladies’ Aid. (Kid was never quite sure how Heyes knew she was the head of the Ladies’ Aid, but her hat did hint at it).
“Ma’am I am gonna have to ask the brave, intrepid women of this town to organize food, water etc for the next 3 days and in general keep this town running while I use your men folk, would you do this ma’am, take this on for the good of your town and Texas?”
Maudie Jayleen Wainwright found herself blushing and nodding without an argument; something that people said later was a miracle in itself.
A cheer went up in the crowd.
“But you still ain’t told us how were gonna do it?” one man roared.
“Well mister listen up and I’ll tell you,” Kid said walking up and a hush fell over the room. “First off were gonna be laying track on that existing horse and wagon bridge spanning Sycamore Creek and shore it up with a crib of lumber and stones underneath. Regular track were gonna play a bit looser with on construction, using piles of rocks to hold it down etc. My men will be showing you when we get out there.”
“But that won’t hold!” a man gasped.
“All it has to hold for is long enough to get one engine into town,” Heyes grinned. “I read the agreement. We get one engine from Dallas over the Fort Worth City line and the grants are extended for a year. You’ll have time then to fix the line good and proper.”
“This might work!” one of the men at the table said awe in his voice. “That bridge idea is inspired.”
“But do we have the plans…”
“Right here,” Wheat Carlson growled from the back of the room holding up a roll of blueprints.
“Thank you Mr. Carlson,” Heyes smiled. “Mr. Carlson has done a lot of railroading, in fact all my men have probably spent more time working the railroads than most of your crew. Now what say we all get started?”
“But it’s the middle of the night!” a voice gasped.
“Glad you noticed!” Kid smiled slapping the man on the back. “You can be in charge of setting the torches!”
Everyone looked at each other and then the Mayor stood up and slowly grinned, “Folks looks like we got us a plan and the man to lead it! Let’s build us a railroad!”
****************************
It was the next morning before James Parks heard about ‘the plan’, but even then he did not rush his breakfast, served exactly at 7:27…as always. Nor did he bi-pass his shave and hair cut and promptly stepped outside his door at 8:53 am. to make the 6 minute walk to his bank to open the doors at precisely 9:00 a.m.
The effects of the town’s new found enthusiasm in this man, Mr. Rembacker and his partner; Mr. Hotchkiss was evident immediately. The street looked like a ghost town, not that it wasn’t all ready, Parks sniffed straightening the bowler hat on his thinning hair and rolling his eyes at the folly of men.
The town had all ready been nicked named ‘Pantherville’ when the Dallas Herald had reported a panther had been caught sleeping in the business section of town so quiet was the traffic there. Fort Worth would be finished with the death of this railroad and finally Mr. Parks would at last move up to the refinements of the City of Dallas and take his proper place in society.
Reaching the steps of his bank he froze to find his two tellers leaning against the porch pillars dozing.
“Mr. Carp! Mr. Williams!” Parks cried rapping his cane against the door making them both jerk awake terrified.
“Yes sir!” they almost saluted.
“What is the meaning of this? Look at you both! You look like you slept in those clothes!”
“Well we did, I mean we didn’t sleep, we were helping lay track…” Carp said and then stopped when Williams gave him a sharp look.
“You what?” the banker said incredulously.
“Everyone in town is helping sir…” Williams tried to explain.
“I sent you to that meeting last night to tell me what occurred not to join these rabble rousers!” Parks roared.
“Well Mr. Hotchkiss sir, well he was real friendly, said we were just what he needed even bought us a drink!” the little clerk said still in awe of the memory of the tall dangerous man with his gun tied down treating him like an equal.
“Get inside now!”
“I doubt we’ll have any customers sir everyone is…”
Carp stared at the banker, shut his mouth and hurried inside.
****************************
By day two Parks had gone from indifference to concern as reports trickled back about how well things were going under the leadership of this Mr. Rembacker. Blasted sheep, he muttered, all it took was someone to come in and take over.
By lunchtime he was convinced. He had hoped his needing to deal with ‘those men’ was over. They had been instrumental in stealing equipment, delaying supplies arriving, but now it seemed when they were so close to victory he would have to lower himself and deal with them one more time. It was a distasteful thought, such crude, bullish men, but alas necessary.
Dusting off his pants with his gloves he ordered a carriage brought round and took three hundred crisp new bills from the safe. That should be enough to kill a man, shouldn’t it?
*********************************
If Hannibal Heyes was honest he was enjoying himself. Leading men came naturally to him. It had as a child and the older he grew experience helped refine the natural talent until taking charge was now second nature.
For the town of Fort Worth he was a magician, always seeming to be in six places at once and anticipating every need. He knew just when to offer a word of encouragement or a growl of motivation and as work progressed so did the optimism running through the workers. Heyes had made it a game, a challenge, an adventure and his excitement was contagious.
“Heyes you haven’t slept in 36 hours,” Kid said quietly coming up behind him.
“Just 36 more.”
Kid rolled his eyes,” Heyes you can sleep conscious or unconscious makes no never mind to me.”
It worked, his partner turned and stared at him giving him his full attention, “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ll flatten you into a nap if you don’t go take one. Look you said it yourself man works too long without a break he makes stupid mistakes. You won’t let anyone here go more than twelve hours without sleep and you’ve gone past that twice.”
“This is different, I’m in charge.”
“Yea it is, if you make a mistake it effects us all. Heyes you got this running like a well-oiled machine, were gonna make it. Now go get some rest so you are up to the real reason were here.”
Heyes blinked at him. “I…”
“Heyes I will flatten you.”
It was said so matter of factly his friend had to grin and then he finally nodded.
“All right, but wake me in an hour.”
“Four.”
“Two.”
“Four Heyes and eat something, I get hungry looking at you.”
“Three and you have to count the time walking back and forth to the hotel.”
“Four and I had them set you up a cot in the supply shed and if you say one more word I will lock you in there for five.”
Heyes straightened hurt, “No reason to get proddy Kid.”
“Uh huh.”
“All right but make sure…” he stopped as his partner gave him his best gunslinger at high noon stare.
“See you in four hours,” Heyes said weakly.
Walking slowly to the shack Heyes stretched and realized Kid had been right. Sleep was needed, no matter how annoying it was getting in the way of things being done. It had been that way for him as a child. Grown ups always wanting to send him to bed when he had terribly important things to do and finish.
Stepping in the door he smiled to find a light on and a bunk made up along side a table with a pitcher of beer and a plate of sandwiches. How had Kid got that out of the Ladies’ Aid? All he had seen had been lemonade!
Suddenly ravenous he sat down and picked up a sandwich and before he knew it he had finished the plate. Washing it down with a glass of beer he laid wearily back and closed his eyes. God bless partners who got proddy.
“Not a move mister!”
Heyes opened one eye to stare at the gun aimed at him from the window and sighed.
“My partner that serious about me staying put is he?” he smiled weakly and slowly raised his hands.
*****************************
“I suppose asking why were going to all this trouble would just tax the great burden on your strained thought processes, but I just have to,” Heyes said pleasantly as he was pulled roughly off his horse.
They had been riding for an hour and had finally stopped at a nice deserted gully far enough from everywhere that anyone looking for him would be hard pressed to find him quick.
“Let’s shoot him and get out of here,” one of the three men said impatient.
“I told you he said just to keep him here until after that deadline passed, then we shoot him.”
“I swear I know him from somewhere.”
“Yea well Charlie will let us know when we have the all clear, his signal will be hard to miss. But once we get that,” the hired gun grinned. “Won’t matter where you know him from cause he’ll be dead.
***********************************
“He ain’t nowhere Kid, we checked,” Wheat said coming up and chewing on a toothpick nervously.
“Not like him to leave like that,” Kyle said worried.
“Ya know Kid I saw Charlie Leens at the saloon when we got into town, you wanna see if he knows anything about this? All them accidents and problems these people been having gotta have been done by someone for we got here and Leens is mean enough to be part of it,” Preacher said quietly.
“Yea he is,” Wheat said looking up dangerously. “And I saw him down by the track earlier, maybe we should go have a talk with ole Charlie.”
“You do that boys, I wanna check something else out,” Kid said quietly and without another word mounted his horse and rode off.
“Boy he sure did look mad,” Kyle swallowed.
“Scariest thing I ever seen is Hannibal Heyes mad, only thing worse is Kid Curry worried about him.”
******************************
“Where is he?”
James Parks swallowed and the two tellers gasped at the man demanding the answer to his question in his doorway.
Curry had not bothered to open the door using the handle, merely having kicked it open and as the sunlight blazed in behind him looked like some avenging angel of death hell bent on a mission.
“How dare you…”
“I said where is he,” Kid growled pulling the man up over his desk by his starched collar and holding him air borne until the man actually squeaked in fear.
“You can’t do this! Unhand me! Get the sheriff!”
“You boys move, won’t be pretty,” Kid said calmly his eyes never leaving Parks.
“Lunchtime?” Carp asked his friend.
“Lunchtime,” Williams said backing away from the counter and running for the back room.
“You ingrates! I will…”
“You will tell me where my partner is or I will leave you in such a bloody pulp against that wall they will have to scrape the wall paper down to get all of you for the casket,” Kid said.
He wasn’t bluffing.
“Meyers Canyon, at the fork.”
Kid dropped him like a sack of potatoes.
“I shall call the sheriff! You will pay for this outrage!” Parks sputtered.
But Kid was gone and for the first time Parks felt a shiver of fear. No, no that gang of ruffians would take care of him and his partner, nothing to fear…. nothing.
****************************
“Now you gotta understand here Charlie, I like you. Why I’ll be the first to pray for your immortal soul after Wheat here drowns you,” Preacher said pleasantly.
“Let go of me!” Leens sputtered as Wheat pulled him up out of the water trough.
“Where is he Leens,” Wheat said.
“Where’s who?” Leens gasped.
“We don’t like people messing with our leader,” Kyle said with a glare.
“Yea makes us feel right riled,” Lobo added picking his teeth with his knife.
“You mean that railroad leader fella? He’s your leader?”
Wheat moved to dunk him again.
“Okay! Okay!” he cried. “Meyers Canyon.”
“How many?”
“Three!”
Wheat stuck the man’s head under the water again.
“I don’t think he’s lying Wheat,” Preacher pointed out.
“I know, but he got me wet and I hate getting wet,” Wheat said simply.
Preacher nodded as the man finally was pulled up unconscious, but breathing. “Seems reasonable enough, spare the rod…”
*****************************
“I tell you I know him!”
Heyes looked up giving the man full benefit of his profile. He usually wasn’t excited about being recognized, but if it bought him time suddenly he could live with infamy. It had been at least ten hours since he’d seen Kid and he knew time was running out.
“I don’t care who he is Parks paid us $200 to kill him and that’s all that matters.”
Heyes kept from reacting on the name and smiled at the men shaking his head and finally laughing.
“What’s so funny?” one of them growled.
“You three, Parks tell you to bring me here to kill?”
‘Well yea, he didn’t want your body found,” one said.
“By anyone but him,” Heyes said rolling his eyes. “He’s taking you three for chumps.”
“What do you mean?” one said frowning at the mental effort Heyes was forcing him to use.
“It means the minute you leave Parks will ride back here and pick up my body and take it back to collect the reward himself.”
“What reward?” one said confused.
“That’s it!” the leader yelled. “Hannibal Heyes! Fellas this is Hannibal Heyes wanted for $5000!”
Heyes smiled modestly.
“But your wrong mister, Parks don’t care about no reward, besides he wouldn’t get his suit dirty to touch you, not even for money, real funny fella.”
“But we would!” one sneered.
“All right lets go back and let you collect on me,” Heyes sighed.
The leader laughed, “Nice try Heyes, but I know for a fact that reward is good…DEAD or alive and I think we’ve waited long enough. Something must have gone wrong with Charlie’s signal.”
Heyes looked at the gun and the bullet he knew was coming. I shouldn’t look at the gun he thought, it will hurt more if I see it coming.
“Drop it right there boys.”
Heyes looked up and started to grin.
“What the…”
The gun flew out of the man’s hand.
“Don’t try it mister you are still out numbered two to one!” one of the men yelled as Kid stepped out of the brush and moved next to Heyes gun drawn.
“Which just goes and shows you how flat out stupid you are!” Wheat snorted coming up behind the man and clicking his gun back next to his ear. “You think you can take Hannibal Heyes and not have Kid Curry come after you?”
“And the Devil’s Hole Gang!” Kyle said proudly.
“Afternoon Wheat, see you found Charlie,” Kid grinned taking the other man’s gun.
“You didn’t all have to come after me,” Heyes said trying not to look too pleased as Kyle untied his hands.
“Well Wheat said you’re the best leader we ever had Heyes,” Kyle said brightly.
“Kyle,” Wheat glared at him.
“He said you’re the smartest man he ever…”
“Kyle you wanna go get the horses?” Wheat yelled.
“Oh, yea sure, glad you ain’t dead Heyes,” Kyle smiled.
Heyes turned and looked at his cousin who had just finished tying up the men with Lobo and Hank.
“I really did try and take a nap,” he said innocently.
“You all right?” Kid said looking him over as if certain he would be lied to otherwise.
“I’m fine, how’s my railroad coming?”
“Heyes anyone ever tell you that you get real obsessed sometimes?”
“No,” Heyes said with great certainty. “How’d you find me?”
“Parks.”
“You didn’t!”
“No I didn’t, but only because I was in a hurry to make sure you were alive.”
“Thanks for caring Kid,” Heyes beamed.
“Yea wanted to make sure I got the chance to kill you myself for coming up with these ideas,” Kid said shaking his head and walking away.
Heyes grinned, “Well you know none of this would have happened if you hadn’t gotten so uppity about me…” he stopped as he got on his horse and noted the expression on his cousin’s face. “Thank you.”
Kid finally exhaled, “Let’s go finish your railroad, we’ll have no peace till it’s done.”
********************************
“Well we’ve only got another half a mile and we are home free!” the Mayor laughed slapping Heyes on the back with enough force he almost fell forward.
“And we still got half a day,” Kid grinned. “I’m gonna go clear those supplies and then we’ll bring the men up.”
Heyes watched his partner walk away and frowned.
Something had been nagging on him ever since they had gotten back. He tried to clear his tired brain and finally it clicked.
“Preacher!” he barked sharply calling the man over. “What was Leens doing when you found him?
“Putting those supplies up there that Kid is moving.”
“And before that?”
“Blowing rock, he was in charge of the dynamite.”
‘Wait for Leens’ signal!’
“Kid!” Heyes yelled at the top of his lungs and began to run.
*****************************
Kid looked up hearing his cousin’s voice behind him and turned as he picked up the railroad tie.
The explosion hit just exactly three seconds after his cousin did.
Heyes looked down at the young man he had actually lifted into the air with his tackle. They were both covered in dust and debris, but Kid was lying there with his eyes shut.
“Kid?” Heyes coughed worried shaking him. “JED answer me!”
“I would Heyes but you are sitting my chest,” Kid groaned and with a grin of relief Heyes rolled off him and pulled him up.
“Are you all right?”
“No,” Kid said firmly, this was one thing he was sure about.
“Leens signal to kill me,” Heyes explained helping him up.
“Oh great how do we go around that?” was all Kid could moan and Heyes turned to see the crater located now at the end of the last piece of track.
“Dear God man what happened?” the Mayor yelled as everyone ran up.
“Well that’s it, never get round that in time,” one of the workman said in disgust.
“I’m fine thanks,” Kid glared at them.
“I am sorry its just that to get so close…” the Mayor sighed.
“Well, well what’s the problem here?” Parks said smiling cheerfully and stepping into the crowd almost gaily. “Don’t tell me all that work has been for naught…” he stopped and froze as Curry’s blue eyes looked up and met his.
“You…” he whispered. “Sheriff! Sheriff!”
“Yes I’m afraid were beat…” one of the town council sighed. “A valiant effort…”
“No were not,” Heyes said suddenly looking up sharply with such a confident expression everyone felt a breeze of hope wash over them. “Where is the city limits, the boundary line?”
“Why right up there…” the Mayor said confused. “About a half a mile maybe a bit less.”
“And what would it take to extend the city boundary line,” Heyes asked quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
“Well a movement and then a ¾ vote by Council and approval of the Mayor…oh my Lord!” the Councilman stared at Heyes.
“I move the City of Fort Worth extend its boundaries to this spot,” Hannibal Heyes said taking a step back and leaving the track clearly over the line.
“I second,” said Kid Curry.
“All in favor?” the Councilman asked.
“Aye!”
“Aye”
“Aye!”
“Now wait a minute, you cannot do this, I am on Council and I will not let you…” Parks screamed.
“Ayes have it, Mayor?”
“Motion approved!” The Mayor cried. “Let the engine roll! Fort Worth just became a rail town!”
***************************
“Boy that is one party going on out there,” Kid grinned looking out the window at the celebrating going on in the street.
“Always figured if a 1000 people built a railroad they would all celebrate when it got finished,” Heyes said finishing pumping the air from the safe.
“Nice touch supplying the fireworks and free whiskey.”
“Well seemed only right them helping us and all,” Heyes grinned lighting the fuse.
A moment later, the explosion lost in the celebrating, they peered in the safe and whistled.
“Heyes that is a fortune,” Kid said pulling out a stack of money and riffling through it.
“Yea and Parks isn’t going to be able to claim most of it cause it’s here in secret, not unless he wants the whole town ready to lynch him.”
“Yea pity if that got out, I mean about him supporting Dallas and hindering things.”
“Yea would be,” Heyes said putting the money in a sack and picking up another to fill. “You drop that letter off at the newspaper?”
“Sure did, nice bit of writing there, I especially like the part where you called him a bloodsucking vulture.”
“Thank you I was rather pleased with that part myself,” Heyes grinned. “By the time that gets out Parks won’t have a rock to craw under.”
“Still don’t fix what he did to Mr. Fontaine. Ya know Heyes I could have easily killed him when I realized he’d tried to kill you too.”
“I know, killing him sounded pretty good to me for a long time, but there are better ways and I think our dapper Mr. Parks is gonna find prison far, far worse than dying!”
****************************
“Is that the lawyer?” Kid asked as Heyes lifted his binoculars.
The two men stood beside their horses on a hill overlooking a small Texas farm.
“Yea sure is,” Heyes grinned and both men watched spellbound as an older woman came out to greet the rider. They watched them speak for a moment and then the man handed the woman a large envelope and suddenly she hugged him.
The two men grinned at each other.
“You sure you don’t want to talk to her?” Heyes asked his partner again.
“No, enough she got her money and land back,” Kid said. “I don’t think she’d remember us anyway, couple of kids on a cattle drive.”
“I don’t know Kid, remembering is a funny thing,” Heyes said mounting his horse. “Sometimes things stay with you for a real long time.”
“Or until you settle it, you got any more remembering I should be worried about?”
Heyes stared at him confused and surprised, “Kid are you suggesting I hold a grudge?”
Kid Curry burst out laughing and climbed up on his horse, “Hold? Hold? Never Heyes! Now coddle, secure, grasp…those might work.”
Heyes gave him his best glare, “Careful I’m remembering this!”
“Yea I’m remembering we didn’t get lunch, come on I’ll buy.”
“You know Kid that reminds me, do you remember the silver reserve in Houston? I mean were just a few days ride and we could.”
Curry just stared at him and turned with a look of stone. “What?” he asked icily. “Heyes I have just spent a week building a railroad, nearly getting blown up. I had to hunt down my partner, who almost got himself killed and then rob a bank. I have not slept for three days and now you want me to…”
Heyes smiled. “Never mind I don’t remember.”
Kid nodded and urged his horse forward and then stopped, “Heyes? What’s that word when you lose your memory, can’t remember?”
“Amnesia?”
“Yea that’s it.”
“Why?” Heyes asked suddenly suspicious.
“No reason,” Curry smiled sweetly. “Just something to hope for next time we get blowed up.”
HISTORICAL NOTE:
All of what happened above…(well
most of it!)…is true!
On July 19th, 1876 at
11:23 a.m. the first train entered Fort Worth securing the grants needed to
continue the work and save the town. This had been accomplished by the entire
town rallying to finish the track using every clever conniving trick they could
come up with including extending the town boundaries! A Citywide holiday was declared and the 12 piece Fort Worth
Coronet Band played. The citizen
partied into the night in the biggest celebration the town had ever seen.
This event is REMEMBERED ever
July 19th as Fort Worth celebrates Railroad Day!