A Moment in Time

By John Yeo

This is the story of the Hayden Family who left New York City in 1855 in search for a better life in Nebraska. Thomas Hayden, his wife Isobel, and their 3 children, Emma, Mitchell, and 4 yr. old Melissa, departed in the early spring. And the reason they left was simpleit was the gang violence from the infamous Five Corners.
Thomas Hayden, famous for his expert marksmanship, led the family thru good and bad weather until they were halfway therethen tragedy struck! They lost Melissa to some unknown malady. After burying her under an old tree, they continued on with heavy hearts until they reached their final destination in Nebraska. There, with the help of the powerful Johnson ranch, they built their home.
A turning point in their lives happened when ore was discovered and a town was built a mile north of their homestead. Under Thomass suggestion, it was named Johnsonville. The town was soon filled with people, including miners and merchantsand they were all thrilled and felt protected that Thomas Hayden was only a mile away.
The ranch foreman, Hank Whittaker, soon developed sexual and romantic feelings for Isobeland she felt the same for him! But nothing was ever said or ever mentioned; they both kept it to themselves..
As the years went on the Hayden family, along with the townspeople, became friendly with the local tribe that was run by their powerful chief, Running Elk. So the only problem the townspeople ever encountered was the odd rowdy drifter and he was quickly escorted out of town.
With plenty of ore still in the ground, everybody thought that they would live a good and peaceful life. They all thought nothing could go wrongthen the Civil War broke out! And, of course, President Lincoln wanted none other than Thomas Hayden. Thomas didnt mind, but Isobel did; because of her negative thoughts about most things, she figured Thomas would be killed and she would end up a lonely widow with 2 children to look after.
Dr. Katherine McBride is madly in love with Thomas. Ever since that wonderful day in New York when she had begged her father to take her to see this marvelous 11 yr. old boy give a demonstration. She loved him so much, even though she was only 4 yrs. old herself. The irony is that she is so beautiful; most men would simply die for her. But the only man she could love was Thomas. Tormented by both wicked and loving thoughts about being with him, she knew it was all just a silly pipe dream. Covered in blood and working tireless hours, her dreams are about to come trueThomas Haydens division, led by General Masters, will soon be entering her camp!
Much to the delight of Isobel and the children, Thomas was coming home safe and sound. Even the painful rumors about Thomas having an affair didnt bother her now.
As time went on, the only major problem was that a gang of outlaws wanted to kill Thomas and held the town up for ransombut Thomas, along with Chief Running Elk saved the day.
When kid grows up, he or she wants to be hero. And in the old west it was no different, young boys want to become a famous gunfighter. And that is exactly what Mitchell Hayden wants to beanother Vance Cordeau, the fastest gun in the west!
It was decided by Thomas that he will teach Mitchell the system that his father taught him, simply because if Mitchell couldnt protect himself, then he would probably end up being killed.
After Mitchell left, his reputation grewand became known as, much to the chagrin of Thomas, Mitch Hayden, the fastest gunfighter in the west.
So, would Mitch get killed or become a teacher?
And would Thomass farsighted hopes and dreams come true? Or would he have to move again to avoid oncoming trouble?
Would the beautiful Emma really become an old maid?
And how long can Isobel and Hank keep from having a sexual encounter?
And will Dr. Katherine McBrides dream of one day having Thomas as her lover or husband finally come true?
Read on!
Many thanks,
John Yeo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456803742

John Yeo

John Yeo was born in St. Croix, New Brunswick next to the Maine border. Being forced to leave school at an early age, he worked at odd jobs while traveling all over North America searching for something he could never find. So eventually he wound up working at a hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia., and while there he got the urge to write and has been doing so ever since.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Come on, Come on! 18 year old Emma Moore screams back at her boyfriend Ken Severs from just outside the restaurant in Iowa. Severs is frantically chasing her as she runs towards their new 2006 white SUV that is packed to the hilt with all their belongings they have crammed in back for their long journey to Seattle where they plan to settle, get married, and raise their kids.

Jesus, Emma, will you slow down! I had to pay the bloody bill you know!

Well if you hadn’t slept in this morning we would have had plenty of time to get there, she says as she jumps into the SUV.

Opening the door and handing her his coffee as he gets in, Ken starts the SUV up, moves out of the parking lot and roars onto I-80, picking up speed as he goes. You’re still mad because we stayed overnight at my uncle’s place in Buffalo, aren’t you, he says, taking his coffee back from her and having a sip.

Actually she is still perturbed over the dispute they had before they left New York about stopping on their way and seeing the famous old Hayden homestead. No! It’s just that you slept in, that’s all!

Hey, it’s no big deal. It’s July and the sun won’t go down until around nine thirty tonight. The only problem, though, is that it is Friday night and the traffic is only going to get worse.

Tell me about it, she moans staring straight ahead. I think you’re just jealous because you don’t have any famous ancestors like I do.

Give me a break, will you. Why would that bother me? Hey, we’ve been all through this before! Get a life, will you!

Well, you don’t seem too anxious to get there.

Yeah, well, the place is probably all dilapidated and gone anyway. For such a famous place, why hasn’t anybody kept it up? I seen some pictures of it years ago from a magazine and I’m tellin’ ya the place looks old and rundown. A bloody mess if you ask me.

How the hell should I know, she angrily snaps back at him, folding her arms across her chest in a haughty and dignified manner. It burned down, so why would anyone bother!

Ken realizes that she is mad enough. He gazes across to admire her blond ponytail, glances at the road and then back at her beautiful blue eyes which are complimented by a smooth rosy complexion, and then down at her hourglass figure, a body that most guys would die to get their hands on. He knows he’s a lucky guy to have her. He grins as he decides to chide her a bit to change the conversation. You know, I’ve always wondered why your breasts are so tiny.

She glares over at him. Well I can’t remember you complaining when we were making love! And don’t change the bloody subject, either, smart ass!

Ken just shrugs his shoulders and says nothing; he knows from experience when to keep quiet.

After a few moments her anger relents as she glances over at her handsome 21 year old boyfriend. At 6'3 his is a lot taller than her 5'5 frame. What excites her is his well-toned muscular body and jet-black hair, and that, along with his gentle smile and kind nature, is what truly appeals to her the most.

Setting comfortably in her seat, she now thinks back and wonders what it must have been like when her ancestors left New York so many years ago. And how easy it is now for her and Ken, compared to what her pioneer forebears had to endure. Feeling sad, she reaches over the seat, stretches back as far as she can and grabs a suitcase.

Always alert to an opportunity to check out his lovely young companion Ken notices her firm round behind and feels like slapping it, but thinks better of it, especially now that things are quiet.

Emma opens the suitcase and takes out an old photo album that seems to be pasted together with some type of plastic tape. It is one she has looked at hundreds of times. Particularly engaged by one sepia-toned photograph, she gazes down at the figure of a man standing next to what seems to be a taller man who is dressed in black and has both hands around his pearl handled guns as if he was ready to draw them. But what is most striking about this gunfighter is his long white hair and weird looking eyes. She knows it was the famous albino outlaw who went by the name of ‘The Deacon.’ But it is not the outlaw who gains her attention the most. In fact it is the shorter man next to him who she looks searchingly at. In concert with her eyes, her fingers gently stroll over the face of the man she has admired the most, simply because of all the many stories she has heard ever since she was a little girl—plus all the many other articles and stories that have been written about him. She stares harder at the man’s face, trying to look into it and hoping he can tell her something about his past. Now she wonders what circumstances had brought him into such proximity to the outlaw that he had his picture taken next to, so many years ago.

What are you looking at?

You know, I wonder if all the stories about him are true. Like, was he really that good of a marksman? Could he really shoot a branch off a tree a quarter of a mile away? And did he really do all those things they claim he did?

Ken shrugs his shoulders as he stays in the passing lane. He figures he may as well go along with her, although it does bore him occasionally, except of course when it comes to Mitch Hayden; he loves to hear all about famous gunfighters. It must be; there have been too many people claim that he was. I mean, they all can’t be wrong.

Emma gazes over at her boyfriend and shoots him a proud smirk. Did you know they’re going to make a movie about him? Mom and dad told me that it’s going to be called ‘The Haydens’ and Chris Cooper is going play Thomas Hayden. So there, what do you think of my ancestors now!

Chris Cooper? You mean the guy who was in Seabiscuit? I don’t believe you. Come on, give me a break!

Oh yeah! she says adamantly as she shows Ken the picture of Thomas Hayden. Now you have seen that movie! So tell me, smart guy, do they look alike or do they look alike! These movie people know what they’re doing. Ken, sometimes you’re so not with it!

He looks at the picture and is amazed. Jesus, you’re right, they do alike. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

See? I told you. Now, I was going to show this to you when we got to Seattle but I think I’ll do it now. My parents gave it to me instead of giving it to that damn museum.

Grateful for yet another opportunity, Ken watches her reach back and has to admire her behind once again as she brings back a box and sits it in her lap. He is shocked as she takes out a gun that is still in its holster. God almighty!!! That’s not Mitch Hayden’s! You’re kidding me! Is it really his?

With a proud grin on her face and her nose stuck up in the air, she nods yes.

My God, he says again. Think of what all our new friends will think when we show it to them. Wow!

Mom said we must always guard it and make sure it gets handed down for other generations to see it.

But it must be worth a fortune!

Don’t you get any ideas, you!

Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t sell that for a million bucks!

Emma looks at the picture again. Now she can’t wait to see the old homestead where the Haydens first settled. She leans over and kisses him on the cheek. Hey, lover boy, why don’t you put the pedal to the metal so we can get there before the bloody sun goes down?

He grins at her. You got it, you got it, he happily says and picks up more speed, all the while hoping that he won’t get caught speeding by a trooper.

She glances down at the picture and tenderly touches Thomas’ face again. She wonders what exactly they all went through. She leans back and stares at it again. Now his face seems to be trying to tell her something…

New York City—Feb. 26, 1855

Everyone in the dance hall is having a wonderful time yelling their heads off and dancing to the tune of ‘New York Girls’, which happens to be their all-time favorite song to dance along with.

Thomas and Walter Hayden couldn’t be happier because of all the money they will soon be taking in as their new business takes off.

Working together the brothers had remodeled an old barn and turned it into a dance hall. The barn wasn’t getting that much business so the owner had wanted to tear it down and, because of the massive influx of so many new immigrants needing places to live, had decided to erect a new four story apartment building. Both being tradesmen, Walter a mason and Thomas a carpenter, months before they had convinced the owner to rent it out to them, telling him that they would do all the renovating for free. The owner had happily agreed and, given the money he was now receiving from operating the two bars plus the brothers’ rent, he was very glad that he had done so.

The front entrance was used mainly for hanging up coats on hooks and placing hats, especially the many stovepipe ones, on the overhead shelves. Once inside their eager customers would usually mingle there in a moving, shuffling crowd for a few moments until they decided to thread their way toward their favorite bar. Walter and Thomas had built each bar and placed them in the center of the forty foot long walls, and six feet in front of the bars the brothers had constructed a forty-four inch high oval partition for everyone to lean on so they could watch the people enjoying themselves to the beat of the music supplied by the regular 5 piece band situated on a 3 foot high platform, located at the far end of the hall opposite to the main entrance.

The only difficulty lay with all the smokers. Over the course of an evening the place would fill up with billowy white smoke that seemed to drift and hang throughout the whole building and wouldn’t dissipate until the very next morning. But at 25 cents a head, Walter and Thomas always took in a goodly profit, so obviously they put up with the smoky interior in the moderately fervent hope that the place would never catch fire and burn down, with people losing their lives trying to escape and being overcome with fumes. But the Haydens’ biggest worry arose from the fact that the building lay only five blocks west of the Five Points area and some of the Hayden’s patrons, making their way home in a drunken stupor, were known to have been robbed and badly beaten.

An observer would have noticed that the brothers were black haired and always neatly attired, two of the many traits they had inherited from their late father, John Mitchell Hayden. He also would have seen that, whereas Walter is stocky and stands five foot eight and has the reputation of being the best bare-handed boxer in all of New York, his much slimmer brother, Thomas is an inch taller and, in his turn, is reputed to be the best marksman in the city, if not the whole world. So it is fairly obvious that most rowdy men would leave them alone.

One brother has married well. Thomas is smiling as he admires his beautiful 28 year old wife, Isobel, kicking up her heels and throwing her head back in an attitude of immense joy. He watches her as she puts both hands on her hips, and begins, along with everyone else, to sing one of the era’s top dancehall anthems:

"Shipmates listen close to me, I’ll tell you in my song

Of all the things that happened to me

When I come home from old Hong Kong

(Chorus)

To me a-weigh, you Santy, My dear Annie

Oh, you New York gals, Can’t you dance the Polka?

Da da dum, da da dum…"

Now everybody hums along with the verse and then just sing the words of the chorus. Some who aren’t dancing clap their hands and tap their feet to the beat of the lively tune.

Well, what do you think, Walter? Think I’ll have enough money for the journey now? Thomas, in a contented manner, asks his brother.

Walter smiles as he stares out at the croud but at no one in particular, and the reason for his distraction is plain in the somewhat lost expression that hovers at the edge of his smile. With his only brother leaving he will be all alone with no family at all. When their mother left them he was only eight years old, and being two years older than Thomas, he had to help his younger brother overcome his grief. Though it may have appeared that Thomas had taken the loss much harder than he did, Walter had been troubled by her absence as well. And, still being single, he knows he will miss his brother dearly, and although he won’t show it, the thought of Thomas’s imminent departure hurts.

Thomas, Walter says, patting his younger brother on the back, You’ll have enough and then some, providing of course that we don’t get robbed. He jokingly winks at Thomas just as Isobel walks over after the song ends, and, in that gesture, suggesting that he was just toying with him.

Isobel is a 28 year old school teacher whom Thomas married at the tender age of 18. With three young children to manage as well as her teaching, this beautiful light blond-haired lady still has been able to keep her slim figure intact and that pleases both her and Thomas, especially every time someone compliments her on her fantastic shape—which happens quite often.

Well Thomas, she says kissing him on the cheek and nodding at Walter, a brother-in-law and friend that she admires and respects so dearly, I best be getting back to check on the children.

Thomas smiles and nods okay as he watches the perspiration beading at the top of her hairline and ever-so-slowly dropping downward as she pats it with her hanky. No wonder she never gains any weight, he muses to himself; she sweats it all off at all these dances. Very well, my dear, I’ll be home in about two hours I suspect, he says kissing her back on the cheek.

Watching Isobel leave, Walter puts his hand back on Thomas’s shoulder. You know Thomas, John Myers told me last week that he is not too pleased that you’re taking his daughter and grandchildren to some strange land where harm may befall them.

Thomas is aware of Walter’s feelings but he also knows what he thinks is best for himself and his family. Plus being cock-sure and confident in his abilities, the danger doesn’t concern him in the least. First of all my dear brother, Nebraska is not some ‘strange land’ as my esteemed father-in-law may have put it, but a beautiful place where the land is plenty and the water runs free and clear for miles and miles. A land where a man can make a living and prosper, and there are no bloody gangs to worry about.

"I agree with you there, but taking three young children on such a perilous journey seems a bit risky to me. I mean, the stories I’ve heard about all those savages…

That’s just it, dear brother—they’re just stories. Besides, I have my new Kammerlader rifle that I won and I know I’m the best sharpshooter in all of New York. And next to you I’m best gentlemanly fighter there is, so I think I can handle any savages if the situation calls for it.

I can’t argue with that. Tell me, whatever happened to that man who told you about that place you’re heading for? Seems to me he wasn’t here very long?

Oh he came here looking for a new wife to take back. His name is Carl Johnson. He owns a cattle ranch there. He told me his first wife died. I don’t know if he found one or not, although I was told last week from a friend that he did.

Walter nods goodbye to the people as they all seem to mingle out together. Their smiles tell him that they had a wonderful time. He looks back at Thomas: Well all I can say is that I’m glad you’re a good carpenter, so you shouldn’t have any problem in that department. And you’re right about one thing though; you won’t have to put up with any gangs. At least I hope not.

The only things I’ll have to worry about are those big cats and bears, if they have any, and I’m sure they do. And I don’t mind telling you again brother, the last I see of these gangs, the better.

As Walter watches the last of them leave, he grabs a broom. That’s the lot of them. We better start cleaning up and get home. It’s cold out and I hear it’s getting colder by the minute.

An hour later, though there is a lingering haze of cigarette smoke in the rafters, the place is clean and the fires are put out. Thomas puts on his heavy overcoat and blows out the last remaining lamp. They both step outside and lock the doors only to be met by a gang of six hoodlums who had been there waiting for them.

Well now, their leader speaks up, You’ve kept us waiting for a long time. Its bloody cold out ya know. The name’s Timothy O’Shea and I’ll be having your money, if ya don’t mind.

Walter and Thomas are amazed at the appearance of this grotesque figure of a man.

Timothy O’Shea is the 24 year old leader of a small gang of young thugs. With a high purple hat that seems to hang down and ride upon his ears (which of course makes them seem bigger), a grotesque pair of big reddish thick sideburns that run down his cheeks all the way and then climb halfway up his face to his equally exuberant moustache and a huge protruding belly that probably got that way from eating undigested food while still on the run—all covered by a distended array of multi-colored tattered clothes—O’Shea cuts a truly odd figure. But of all his outrageously awkward features, the most pronounced strangeness arises from the look of his feet! They are so tiny one can’t help but notice how awkward and unbalanced he appears. To make matters worse, the Irishman knows his gang members call him ‘twinky toes’ behind his back. And many a young lad has had his head bashed in when they had the brazen gall to call him that to his face. Yes, this 5'11", 205 lb. monster is a man one should try to avoid.

Thomas looks at O’Shea in a quizzical manner.

This puzzles O’Shea.

Tell me, Thomas asks, are you not from the Five Points?

Of course we are. Why? A still puzzled O’Shea replies.

Then why are you robbing people outside your boundaries?

O’Shea grins as he looks back at his gang. Oh? Is the Five Points a prison then? And us unruly lads aren’t allowed out? Well, let me set you straight, my good man—all of New York is our territory. So I’ll be thankin’ ya to hand over your money now or it’ll be a thrashin’ you’ll be receivin’ very shortly.

The hell with the lot of you, Walter blurts out, you’ll not get any of our hard earned money without a fight!

O’Shea grins in a sneering fashion as he pulls out a musket from his waist and points it at Walter’s chest. My, you’re a foolish lad, now aren’t ya?

Thomas leans close to Walter. Walter, there’s eight of them and only two of us. We can earn more money later. It’s not worth it.

Well now, O’Shea smiles a pleasing smile as he bows towards Thomas then stares back at Walter, appears to me you should listen to your brother. At least he has the common sense to know when he’s outnumbered.

How did you know he’s my brother? Walter asks.

Hah! O’Shea laughs back as he shakes his head in amusement. I’ll have ya know everyone around these parts knows of the Hayden boys, especially you, Thomas, with that sharp shootin’ eye of yours.

Walter begrudgingly hands over a large brown envelope to O’Shea.

O’Shea smiles as he shakes it and listens to sound of some coins. Well now, there are coins here. I want you to know that we’re not proud and we’ll take them as well. We must be off now. So it’s been a pleasure doin’ business with you lads and perhaps, and with a little bit o’ luck, we may meet again.

Walter and Thomas carefully watch O’Shea and his gang, who now have an over joyous smile on their faces, leave with the contentment of having made another successful robbery. Thomas now nods at Walter to leave and they quietly walk away in the other direction, quickening their pace as they go. When they’re about 2 blocks away they begin laughing and running!

O’Shea hears them! He smells a rat! He quickly opens up the envelope as the rest of the gang watches him with intense curiosity. He gazes down at the worthless scraps of cutout newspaper clippings. Now he disappointingly shakes out 8 pennies that land on his hand. He slowly turns around and gives both Walter and Thomas, who are still laughing at him, a hateful grin that now shows empty on the right side of his face where three teeth used to be in all their chipped glory. Glowering across the distance, he nods his head at them, suggesting they’ll meet again one day. Now, the near-perfect picture of rejection, he sadly heads back towards the Five Points hungry and cold. Perhaps being Irish leads him to ponder, as he slowly walks back home, that being cursed and having a string of bad luck shouldn’t surprise him. He nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders and chalks it up to having a bad night. But the more he thinks about the Hayden brothers, the angrier he gets. His big stomach begins to growl reminding him that it needs some food. So he looks at young Muldoon, the smallest of the lot, and then cuffs him on the side of the head, hoping he’ll feel better and the hunger pains will soon go away.

That evening with O’Shea had receded to the point of becoming almost a distant if rather a funny memory when April 8th arrived. In the last few days the weather had been cool in the mornings with a nice warming-up during the rest of the day. So Thomas had felt this was the best time to begin the journey.

As they begin to depart, the people of their neighborhood are on both sides of the dirt street. Some are standing on the wooden sidewalks while others are sticking their heads out of their 3 or 4 story windows of their wooden red brick apartment buildings, waving and shouting their good byes. Their closest friends, especially the ladies, are milling around the wagons hugging Thomas, Isobel, Emma, and Mitchell.

I’m truly going to miss all of you, you know that. An elderly lady who has known them all their lives, begins sobbing so much that she has to be restrained by Isobel who hugs her until she stops crying. Finally the old lady lifts her head up and begins to smile. Now you’ll be writing us as soon as you can, now won’t you Isobel. You know how much we all care.

Isobel nods and smiles yes as now everyone standing there, and also from the ones sticking their heads out the window, begin to yell their well-wishes as the family smiles back in appreciation, acknowledging their kindly gestures.

Walter steps out of his front door carrying Melissa, Thomas’s pride and joy, in his arms and walks across the sidewalk towards the two Conestoga wagons where Thomas is tying up and securing the back of the second one.

Well, Thomas says smiling as he takes Melissa from Walter, has your uncle Walter been spoiling you, little one?

Melissa smiles and shakes her head no. Only you spoil me, she laughs.

Oh I do, do I? Thomas smiles as he throws her high in the air as she screams with glee. And are you going to have fun on the trip?

She nods her head yes, and says: I’m going to color and look for lots of roses.

Thomas stares and admires his precious little girl. With her white flowered dress, golden blond hair that hangs down to her shoulders in ringlets, she reminds him of Emma when she was her age, especially with those big blue eyes of hers, he surmises. Are you now, he says as he walks her towards Isobel and Emma. Stopping him, she reaches up and tugs at his sleeve. He bends down in response.

Father, she whispers in his ear, can I ride with you and Mitchell?

He whispers back in her ear: If I do that then your mother and sister will cry. You don’t want them to do that now, do you?

No, I guess not, she replies as he hands her up to Isobel who sits her between them forcing Emma to move over a bit.

Emma looks at her little sister and smiles as she says: Well now, are you going to be a good little girl and behave yourself? It’s going to be a long trip, you know.

Melissa looks at her with a shy but coy grin and nods her head yes.

Thomas walks over to Walter as their neighbors are still saying their well-wishes and goodbyes all over again. Well brother, he says shaking Walter’s hand and then hugging him, I guess I’m on my way. So stay away from those unruly gangs and if God willing, we’ll meet again soon. He waves at the people as he climbs onto the wagon next to Mitchell who fairly bristles with the excitement and anxiety of going. The boy is consumed by the life-changing promise that he feels will be contained within each new horizon all the days of their coming journey.

With the wagons fully loaded with the dishes and the small furniture they have squeezed on, plus the four restless milk cows trailing behind the menagerie of laying hens and piglets kept in cages in the second wagon, the little caravan is ready to move. And so the family’s members begin hugging and saying their last goodbyes to everyone.

Now you got everything? Thomas yells back at Isobel.

Everything, she yells back at him.

The picturesque little convoy of horse-drawn wagons and animals pulls out. The small family joining the great American westward exodus is made up of 32 year old Thomas and his 6 year old son, Mitchell on the first wagon, and 28 year old Isobel with their two daughters 8 year old Emma and 4 year old Melissa Anne on the second. Though small compared to some families of that era they feel complete within themselves and now they slowly begin moving on, moving away from where their roots have been since before the children were born. Perhaps possessed by the knowledge that this first home has not been perfect, Walter runs up along the side, yelling at Thomas.

Now keep your eyes open when you reach the Five Points! You sure you don’t want some of us to come with you until you’re safe?

No, Thomas assures him sensing the concern and sadness coming over his brother, They wouldn’t harm any family in broad daylight; they’re not that foolish.

Alright then, God speed, Walter yells as he stops and watches them round a bend, knowing full well that he may never see them again. A tear runs down his cheek as he makes his way up the stairs and into his lonely apartment. Once inside he collapses on a chair waiting for his sorrow to wane a bit—but it won’t! He thinks back about how they vowed they would stay together after their father died and would handle any situation that should arise. And they did. Supported and succored with the philosophical teachings of their father, they had worked, prospered and stayed in the apartment that they grew up in. They both had received the affections of many girlfriends but nothing too serious for either of them until Isobel had finally won his brother’s heart. Of course, they had gotten married.

Still, he considered, as he sat there in his new and even greater solitude, he had always been happy enough living by himself because he and Thomas had seen each other pretty much every day; they had always worked the same jobs together. Because of his reputation as a boxer, many a young lady had sought Walter out just as her sisters had done with Thomas. Sadly, Walter had never met the right one. His only happiness had been in seeing the family he had, which he did on many occasions. But his greatest joy, playing with Melissa who had somehow stolen his heart away, was on its way to becoming a distant memory, he realized. They are gone now, he thought to himself, so the only thing I can do is hang my head in despair and hope to the lord that I will soon get over it. But he knew deep down that it was going to take a long, long time—a time of suffering and long endless pain.

Timothy O’Shea has been stealing and robbing people ever since he was five years old, after his mother had been killed by a jealous lover. In the ensuing years, he escaped death many times by using his street smarts and eventually ended up joining the Bowery Boys gang. In that criminal milieu he slept wherever he could find a place, usually some rat infested cellar or in an alley with his other orphaned gang friends so he could remain safe and unharmed. As he grew older he began to get bigger, stronger and meaner. His only disappointment, of course, was his feet; they just never grew and it left him with a huge complex.

But this morning O’Shea is now a happy lad! Inside his tiny cold room he looks into an old cloudy mirror that should have been thrown out years ago and gazes at his new clothes, freshly stolen in last night’s robbery. After admiring the sartorial elegance embodied in his much-loved purple high hat, a brand new black velvet waistcoat, lovely white cotton pants and a red vest, he closes his eyes in anticipation of the glorious moment when he will gaze down at his new polished boots!

A man little given to pondering, he still found it amazing that he had discovered in last night’s booty a nice pair of black boots and what had made his heart skip a faster beat was that they were large enough so he could cram some papers into the toes to make the boots fit onto his small feet. So when he finally could walk in them he thought that he died and went to heaven! So, in further exaltation over his good fortune, he had polished the black boots all night with the vigor of a crazed madman.

Now fully prepared for what he imagines will be a lasting episode of enhanced status among his fellows, he takes in a deep breath. As he exhales he glances down at his new large feet! Now, now he’s ready for the world! As he opens the door he realizes that he has to relieve himself. He knows he should find an empty basement or alley, but the sheer excitement of this newfound day urges him onward. A good piss can wait! He walks outside and down a small flight of steps with the strut and the dignity of proper gentleman. He is deeply thrilled that not one person, not one, looked down at his feet! Oh what a glorious day this is going to be he thinks to himself as he takes off his hat and bows down to a couple of ladies who are out of their territory. Well now,’tis a grand day ladies, a grand day!

The ladies smile and nod back to him as they go by.

And now, feeling proud as a peacock, he struts across the street but stops to let some pioneers go by in their wagon. He tips his hat at the driver and his young son, May you have a safe and prosperous journey, sir.

Thomas just gives him a wry smile as he goes by.

O’Shea wonders what that wagon driver was smirking about. Then he tips his hat at the beautiful lady and her 2 daughters, following in the second wagon loaded high with household goods and towing four milk cows that are being steadied by long corded rope securely tied to the back of the wagon. Top o’ the mornin’ to ya ma’am.

Isobel smiles and nods back, but Melissa sticks her tongue out at him.

Ah, the darlin’ little child, he laughs to himself as if to appease his just-awaking anger. Then it dawns on him! He realizes that the driver was none other than Thomas Hayden, the dirty low-down scoundrel that robbed him of his money a few months back.

As Thomas turns left by the docks, he looks back and smiles at O’Shea.

O’Shea leans forward just after the milk cows go by so he can get a better glimpse of Hayden. Then he hears that awful ‘squish’ sound. He gazes down at his right foot and watches the steam rise up from the fresh warm cow dung that is now mixing with the cool morning air. Full of anger, he glares at his smelly boot and then gives Hayden that hateful smile of his and wishing he had Hayden’s head under his own left armpit and a big shillelagh in his right hand to beat the livin’ daylights out of him! He now struggles to clean the boot off by rubbing it into the dirt, but it doesn’t work. He knows he’ll have to take the boot off and go back inside to clean it. As he does, he glances up and watches the people giggling and snickering at his small foot.

Good mornin’ to ya, O’Shea! And isn’t it a grand mornin! Young Muldoon says as he steps out of the crowd only to be thrown onto the ground and pummeled by O’Shea’s smelly boot!

Isobel glances back as she makes her turn and wonders why that nice gentleman is beating up on that poor young boy?

I told you he was a bad man, Melissa says to Emma as they too watch the beating.

As Thomas watches the ships coming and going, loading and unloading their cargo, he begins to feel a little bit forlorn and saddened that he is leaving, unsure of what tomorrow may bring and he wonders if he truly is doing the right thing, possibly putting his family in harm’s way. He now turns the wagon left again onto a road that will lead them towards New Jersey and Pennsylvania, eventually to a land where he and his family can find freedom and happiness, or, as they say—a land of milk and honey.

CHAPTER 2

On the first leg of their journey Thomas Hayden and his family traveled thru all the small villages in Pennsylvania, where most of the people in those places would wave and wish them all well while others would simply walk along side and chat for a bit until they were out in the countryside again. In the forested areas they admired the many red maple trees, especially now that their buds were turning red. And that transfigureation of color, combined with others undergone by the smaller American chestnut and a few brightly colored goldenrain trees with their green and yellow foliage coming in to early spring bloom, left them optimistic that the journey ahead wouldn’t be all that bad—an attitude making the trip seem more enjoyable and relaxing.

Their quest for the new reality over the horizon had certain pleasurable moments. For example, they were always surprised that, when they passed a homestead, the whole family would run out of their home to wave and smile at them, just like in the villages. So with the warm sun beating down on them, passing fields with countless wild buckwheat flowers with bees buzzing all around them, they kept on trekking with the curiosity and hope that their new land would be this beautiful and scenic.

However, the newness of experience does wane when one lives from a wagon. After two weeks of traveling from sunup to sundown, the family was beginning to find this exciting journey now a bit tiresome and boring, especially the children; they couldn’t sit still for a long period of time. At night Thomas and Isobel would sleep in one wagon while the children slept in the other. So far it wasn’t the perilous journey Thomas thought it might be, but it wasn’t all that easy either. Many a rainy day he had had to cut down some boughs from trees to free the wagons when they became stuck in the mud. And at night the terrible odors that were coming from the hens, piglets, cows and horses almost made sleeping unbearable. Plus the fact that they had to patiently wait until the kids finally fell asleep so they could make love—which they did, but very quietly!

Finally they reached the Ohio valley and Thomas felt an urge of excitement as he could sense that he was at least half way there. Then he saw them!

About a hundred feet away were about 20 Indian all standing in a row on top of a small knoll and the one standing in front of them with his powerful build and fancy headdress had to be the leader, or so Thomas thought anyway.

That figure, a 50 year old man dressed in buckskin, with his head crowned by a large headdress made out of many colored feathers that fall down all the way to his heels, glares at the two wagons as they approach him. He is tired of all the white people arriving on his people’s land and pushing them farther into the forest. But being wise in his ways, he also is aware that they will keep coming and it will never end. So he has to decide whether to kill them all and leave a message, or let the wagons pass and try and live in peace with them. He glances over his shoulder at the young braves who are slapping their tomahawks on their palm waiting for the word to attack. The great chief knows they are antsy but he also knows that they are young, impetuous and stupid. As the wagons near he realizes that he will soon have to make a decision.

Thomas, Isobel nervously yells to him, Are we in any danger?

I’m not sure, Thomas says eyeing his rifle.

The Indian begin to inch closer as the wagons continue on moving towards them.

I wonder if they want our livestock, Thomas thinks to himself knowing full well that he could never afford to give them anything. He looks down at Mitchell who seems afraid as well.

Father, are they going to hurt us? Mitchell asks as he keeps staring at the ground.

I’m not sure, Thomas answers back as his hand slowly reaches for his rifle.

Young Melissa pushes her way past Emma and with a big broad smile showing her 2 front missing teeth she begins waving at them.

The leader finds her amusing and she reminds him very much of his own granddaughters whom he cares a great deal for. He gazes back at the rest as they all now begin laughing at her.

The fear in Thomas and Isobel’s hearts begins to abate some now as everyone starts waving at each other, causing a peaceful and happy mood to come over everyone.

Melissa now gives the leader an imaginary kiss as the whole tribe now erupts with laughter again as the leader shakes his head in amazement at this precocious little girl.

Thomas breathes another sigh of relief as he waves goodbye to the Indian who are making their way back over the knoll and waving goodbye back to him and his family. He wonders to himself: how would things have turned out if his irrepressible daughter had not been with them? He gazes back at Melissa and grins. She looks at him and simply shrugs her shoulders as if to tell him it was really nothing—and then she gives him a happy smile showing her two missing front teeth! Thomas shakes his head and laughs as he turns his head forward once more to keep an eye on the rut-filled road.

In his turn, the native leader takes one more look back at the departing travelers and is glad everything worked out the way it did.

After a moment Melissa comes up to her mother. Mother, are the roses up yet?

Up yet? Isobel replies as she smiles back at this little girl’s silly question. If you mean have they come to bloom yet, then the answer is no. But soon I suspect.

Melissa holds up a drawing she made of a rose. Although it is not a Van Gogh, nevertheless Melissa is proud of it.

What is it with you and roses, young lady? That is all you seem to talk about lately.

I don’t know. Melissa says, I just like them.

Why don’t you go back and do some more drawings. And if I spot any wild roses growing along the trail, you will be the first to know. Okay?

Okay, Melissa says as she runs back and picks up a coloring book, happy with her mother’s convincing answer.

That evening, when the sun is just about to set, Thomas comes upon a fast-moving twenty foot wide river on his left that is now turning and running in a southerly direction. He spots an old crabapple tree on his right with an open space next to it. So he decides to stop there for the night.

Thomas? Isobel says as she walks toward him with a worried look on her face.

What’s the problem? he asks.

It’s Melissa. She’s been acting awfully quiet. I felt her face and I believe she’s coming down with a fever. At least I think so?

Hmmmm, Thomas thinks out loud as he ponders this situation and tries to think what it is that is causing Melissa’s sudden illness. Isobel, fetch me our medical book, will you?

Oh my God!! I forgot it! I left it with Walter last week! You remember when he hurt his shoulder in that fight. Oh, what are we going to do?

That book cost me fifty dollars! Disappointed, Thomas walks over to the other wagon and climbs in the back where Melissa is lying down on a blanket with Emma sitting next to her. What’s the matter, little one, he asks as he holds her hand and feels the tremendous heat emanating from it.

I don’t know, Father. I don’t feel well.

He looks at Emma. Why don’t you and Mitchell help your mother prepare something for us to eat; I think we could all use a nice hot meal.

As Emma leaves he picks up Melissa and holds her in his arms, hoping to calm her. He kisses her on the forehead and rocks her back and forth, humming a little tune and gazing into her eyes, looking for some kind of sign of what this malady is that has taken over his precious little girl. He gazes down again and smiles at her. Feeling better?

With sad and tired eyes, she looks up at him and, with a brief movement of her head left to right, indicates no.

Now he’s worried; he has no medical knowledge and neither does Isobel. So he keeps on swaying her back and forth, hoping she’ll fall asleep and wake up with this illness far behind her.

Instead she begins to scream and hold on to her father as tight as she can, praying this new found pain that has now come upon her and appears to be somewhere around her right side will go away—but it doesn’t!

Thomas takes her out of the wagon and commences to walk with her, swaying her back and forth. Her screams seems to be getting louder now as both Isobel and the children go about their tasks in quiet hopelessness. Now Thomas begins humming to her as he walks and sways, and walks and sways, but her screams just won’t go away. So all he can do now is hope that she will finally fall asleep and her excruciating pain will disappear and never come back. And after about 20 minutes she finally does fall asleep. He takes her back and lays her down in the wagon. He feels her temperature again. He knows something is seriously wrong as her body in now even hotter than before.

Isobel looks in. She is desperately trying to hold back the tears. How is she?

Get me some cold water and a towel. Maybe I can cool her off some. Other than that all we can do is pray that she gets better.

That night after Thomas fed and tended to the animals, he and Isobel had a difficult time falling asleep. They both held each other’s hand as he remembered spending hours trying to cool Melissa off to bring down her fever. And when her temperature finally abated some, only then did he decide leave her side and let her sleep.

Thomas! Thomas! Wake up! Isobel shouts as he opens his eyes to the bright sunlight. Following her glance, he looks at the back of the wagon to see both Mitchell and Emma jumping up and down screaming as loud as they can.

Father, Father! Come quickly! Melissa won’t wake up!

Both he and Isobel quickly dress. Thomas is the first there to check her out. He gently touches her cold body. He knows now that she is dead. Oh God no, he moans as his shoulders begins to shake and the tears roll down his cheeks as both Mitchell and Emma, who are crying as well, cling to their mother who is now in total shock; she can’t believe this has happened to her precious Melissa!

Thomas ever so slowly walks back out of the other wagon, steps down in front of Isobel and the kids, and then, like a zombie he walks around the crabapple tree looking for something. Eventually he bends down and picks up a 3-foot limb that is about 2 inches thick. Now he scans the area again until he finds another one that is about 16 inches long and about an inch thick. With reddened eyes he walks over to Isobel who, in a state of shock, is tightly holding the kids. With a slow but direct speech he tells her, You better wrap her up in a blanket. I’ll get her when I finish digging her grave.

Finally the realization sets in and Isobel collapses to the ground screaming and sobbing as loud as she can. Both her remaining children kneel next to her, and leaning against her, commence crying all over again.

Heartbroken and little bit angry, Thomas looks at them for a very long moment. Then he grabs a pick and a shovel from the wagon, walks over to a spot next to the tree and begins digging. He knows that he will soon hit roots and hopefully cut through them with his pick. And he is also aware that he has to dig down at least six feet; he doesn’t want any wild animals finding his beautiful and precious little daughter. Occasionally as he makes his way downward, he glances around at the animals that have