Into the Fire
​
-2-
​
The sound of the door being opened woke Jed from a restless sleep. It was barely dawn and there was hardly enough light, through the small attic windows, for him to see who was entering. He expected it to be Mr. Brown but was startled to see the Superintendent approaching.
He pulled the blanket more closely around him as Mr. Warner stopped in front of him and stood, his hands clasped behind his back, staring sternly down at him, causing him to tremble, fearful of a beating, or worse.
“Well, boy. Have you had sufficient time to reconsider your accusations of yesterday?” boomed Warner.
Jed just stared at him.
“Answer me, boy.” growled Warner.
Jed bit his bottom lip and tried not to cry, nodding his head slowly.
“So, you are admitting that you were… mistaken… in accusing Mr. Brown of pushing your friend down the stairs?”
Jed hesitated. He didn’t want to lie about what he’d witnessed, but he realized that if he didn’t he would very likely be kept up here in this room, and he wanted to see Han.
Bowing his head, he gave a small nod and whispered, “Yes, sir.”
Warner gave an inward sigh of relief. The other boy didn’t seem sure of what had happened and this one could be persuaded to go along with Brown’s version of events. As long as he kept his mouth shut they would be able to avoid an investigation by the Board.
“You didn’t see what happened, did you?” he said now.
“No, sir.” muttered Jed, his gaze on the floor.
“You should be punished for making false accusations…” Warner began, “but, since you’ve admitted the truth, I am prepared to waive it…”
“Thank you, sir…”
“…on condition that you say nothing of this incident to any of the other boys. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If I find out you’ve spoken about it, to anyone, that punishment will be reinstated.”
“I won’t.” muttered Jed. Then, lifting his eyes to Warner’s, he said, “As long as I can see Han.” Young as he was, he knew he was being manipulated, but he would go along with it as long as they let him out of here and see his friend.
Mr. Warner eyed him for several moments before giving a vague nod.
“First you will get washed and dressed and eat breakfast. Then you can see him before class.”
Eager to get out of the attic before Warner changed his mind, Jed hastily headed off to get washed and dressed. When he reached the Dining Hall, Mr. Warner was waiting for him and, after he’d eaten, he led him up to the Infirmary.
Matron met them at the door and led Jed across to Han’s bed, Warner a few paces behind.
Jed bit his lip, anxiously, as he eyed his sleeping friend. A bandage was wrapped around his head and dark shadows under his eyes that indicated the onset of two black eyes.
Matron gently shook his shoulder and called his name.
Han’s eyes fluttered open and he looked around, seeming confused, at first, as to where he was. Then his gaze found Jed and a smile lit in his eyes.
“Jed.” he croaked.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Jed’s voice was barely a whisper, his blue eyes anxious as he looked at him.
Han forced a smile, even though his head was pounding and he felt sick.
“Yeah, just a bang on the head.”
Jed wanted to talk to him about what had happened but couldn’t, with Mr. Warner and the Matron standing there, so instead just said, “I was scared…”
Han met his eyes, knowing that his friend would have been afraid without him there to look out for him, but before he could speak, Matron said, “He needs to rest for a day or so, but he’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Jed looked again at Han, who gave a nod of confirmation.
“Right. Time you got to class.” Mr. Warner spoke now.
Jed was reluctant to leave so soon but was ushered out of the Infirmary by Mr. Warner.
“Remember what I said,” he warned, as he escorted Jed to the classroom, “If I find out you’ve spoken about this, to anyone, you will be severely punished.”
“Yes, sir.” muttered Jed, as Mr. Warner stopped outside the classroom and opened the door for him to enter.
* * *
It was three days before Han was allowed out of the Infirmary.
Jed broke into a grin when he returned to their dormitory, after supper, to see him sitting on his bed reading a book. His head was still bandaged, and the bruising around his eyes had turned from dirty grey to dark purple, but the grey pallor he’d had when he’d seen him in the Infirmary had now dissipated and he looked a little more like himself.
“Han!” He bounded across and sat on the edge of his own bed, adjacent to his, regarding his friend with a mixture of relief and happiness. “When did they let you out?”
“Just before supper. Matron brought me mine in the Infirmary.”
“Have you told anyone what happened?” Jed said now, his expression clouding.
“No. I aint seen anyone yet.”
Jed looked anxiously over his shoulder. The other boys would be back any minute and would no doubt want to question Han about what had happened to him.
“You can’t tell them what happened.” he said urgently, “Mr. Warner said, if he found out anyone knew, I’d get a beating.”
“What do you mean?” said Han, nonplussed.
“Do you remember what happened?” Jed asked now.
“I think so… I tried to pull you away from Mr. Brown and he hit me…”
Jed nodded, glancing nervously over his shoulder as he heard voices down the corridor indicating some of the boys were returning from supper.
“He knocked you down the stairs… But when I said that, they said I was tellin’ lies, that you fell… an’ they locked me in the attic so I couldn’t tell anyone. They said I’d stay there ‘til I remembered that he didn’t push you… I didn’t want to lie, but I was scared they’d keep me up there forever if I didn’t, an’ I wanted to see you, so I said what they wanted so they’d let me out. Mr. Warner said, if he got to hear I’d told anyone, I’d get a beating. Please, Han…” he pleaded as a group of the boys entered the dormitory, “just tell them you fell… don’t tell them what happened… I don’t wanna get in trouble…”
Han looked into his friend’s pleading eyes and then at the group of boys that were heading their way.
“Alright, don’t worry.” he told Jed, giving the boys a smile as they crowded round the bed.
“What happened to you?” asked one.
“Who ya been boxin’?” smirked another.
Han shrugged, “Tripped, on the stairs, and fell.”
“It’s a wonder you aint dead.” said another boy, as he eyed his bruised face and bandaged head.
“’taint as bad as it looks.” said Han, “But I’m excused chores for a week.” he grinned, drawing looks of envy from the other boys.
“Thanks.” said Jed, after the boys had gone off to pursue their own interests, before lights out.
Han eyed him thoughtfully for a moment, before saying, “Did Warner give you that punishment?”
Jed shook his head. “No. They locked me in his office while they took you to the Infirmary, then I was locked in the attic up until I came to see you. Mr. Warner said, since I’d told the truth about Mr. Brown not pushing you, he would let me off the punishment, as long as I didn’t say nothin’ to anyone.”
Han nodded, thoughtfully.
“I didn’t want to tell lies, but I was scared…”
“It was the only thing you could do.” soothed Han, “They have all the power. There aint nothin’ we can do against them, leastways not while we’re here.”
“Are we still gonna run away?” Jed asked, hopefully.
“Yes,” Han nodded.
“When?”
“Maybe this Friday.” Han said, tentatively. His head still hurt a lot, but Friday was five days away. Hopefully he would be recovered by then. The sooner they got away from this place the better. And when they were away, he had a plan for his revenge on Superintendent Warner and his staff.
Jed’s face broke into a smile. He’d at first been afraid that his friend was dead, when he’d looked at his motionless form at the foot of the stairs, and then that they would never let him out of the attic for being a witness to the teacher’s brutality. After seeing Han’s injuries he’d been afraid that he might not want, or be able, to continue with their plan to escape and the thought of having to stay here any longer made him sick to his stomach, and so he was relieved that he was still intending to get them away from this place.
“We need to try an’ stay out of trouble until then,” Han told him, “so they won’t be watchin’ us as close.”
Jed nodded, solemnly.
“Just think how great it’ll be to be away from here.” Han said, encouragingly, hoping that the thought would keep Jed’s recurrent nightmares at bay for a while.
Jed grinned, charmed by the idea of being able to please themselves where they went and what they did, the possible pitfalls of their decision overridden, for the moment, as he looked at his friend’s smiling face.
* * *
Four nights later, Jed woke in the middle of the night, from a bad dream, to see Han’s bed empty.
Half sitting up, he looked around the dormitory for a sign of him, but could see none.
He bit his lip, a faint sense of panic running through him as a variety of possible reasons for his disappearance ran through his head, not least the possibility that Mr. Warner had somehow got wind of their plan to run away and locked him away somewhere.
Just as he was considering whether or not he should go and look for him, the door opened a crack and Han slipped into the room and padded silently across to the bed.
Taking what appeared to be a folded piece of paper, he carefully hid it in the back pocket of his pants before climbing back into bed.
“Sssh.” he mouthed, as Jed opened his mouth to ask where he’d been, “It’s all right. Go back to sleep.” he whispered, giving Jed a reassuring smile as he pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes.
Jed gave him a puzzled look before lying back down, wondering what his friend was up to.
Sensing his gaze, Han opened one eye and grinned at him, “Go to sleep!” he whispered.
Knowing he wasn’t going to get anything out of him, Jed reluctantly settled back down to sleep.
“Where did you go?” Jed asked, as they ate breakfast the next morning.
“There was something I needed to get, before we leave.” Han said, dismissively.
“In the middle of the night?” Jed looked puzzled.
Han nodded.
“What was it?” asked Jed, but his question was drowned out by the bell signalling them to go to their classes.
As all the boys began to file out of the Dining hall, Han said, “Just be careful today. Don’t forget, we’re leaving tonight, so we can’t afford to get into any trouble. O.K?”
Jed nodded and they headed off to their classes. After lunch, Jed went to complete his daily chores while Han, who had been excused chores for the week, due to his head injury, headed back to their dormitory on the pretence of resting. The bandage had been removed now, revealing the partially healed gash on the side of his head just at the edge of his hairline. The bruising around his eyes was beginning to fade a little now but it would be a few more days before it disappeared completely.
Settling himself on his bed, he took out a book he’d been reading and, opening it to where he’d read to, placed it on the bed. Then, with a surreptitious glance at the dormitory door, to ensure no-one was about to enter, he felt in his pocket for the piece of paper he’d hidden there the previous night, which he rested on the book so that he could quickly close it and hide the paper should anyone enter. Then, taking out a pencil, he began to write.
* * *
​
“Are we still going tonight?” Jed asked, hopefully, after supper.
Han nodded.
Jed’s eyes lit up at the thought of escaping this place. “When?”
“Late, when everyone’s asleep. Get some sleep and I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
Jed nodded and prepared for bed but was so excited, and nervous, at the prospect of running away, he couldn’t sleep.
It was late when he finally drifted off, to be woken, what seemed like only minutes later, by Han shaking his shoulder.
“It’s time.” he whispered, “Get your things, and be quiet.”
Jed nodded and, quietly climbing out of bed, he gathered up his clothes and shoes. Then, after they’d arranged their pillows lengthways in their beds, to make it look like someone was in them, he padded silently after his friend.
Quietly, Han opened the dormitory door and ushered Jed through it, before following and carefully closing the door.
Silently they padded barefoot along the corridors, keeping an eye open for Matron, and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Once inside, they put on their clothes and shoes, and Han rolled up their nightshirts and stuffed them into a bag full of towels, and other items, by the door, that were waiting to be laundered.
Luckily, there was a moon tonight, which gave them a little light to see by. Han located a candle, and some matches, and lit it, shielding the flame as he headed towards the pantry with Jed on his heels.
Entering the pantry, Han pulled the door closed behind them and, pouring a little of the candlewax onto one of the shelves, stood the candle in it before looking around him at the supplies.
Spying some hessian sacks folded up on the bottom shelf, Han told Jed to get a couple. Then, they proceeded to look through all of the provisions, helping themselves to bread, fruit, carrots, nuts and anything else that they could eat on the move.
The sacks full, Han went back into the kitchen to get a sharp knife. As he did so, he spotted a canteen hanging on a hook on the wall. Taking it, he filled it at the sink before heading back into the pantry with it, and the knife.
There was a footstool tucked underneath one of the shelves and by standing on it, Han could reach the pantry window.
Taking the knife, he cut through the gauze covering and then stood on tiptoe so that he could look outside.
Ducking back in, he cleared a space, on the shelf immediately below the window, and then jumped off the footstool.
“You go first.” he told Jed, “Get on the stool, and then sit on that top shelf where I’ve cleared a space. Then, if you put your feet out first, I can steady you while you drop down.”
Jed looked apprehensively at the small window.
“It’s alright,” Han told him, “it’s only a few feet down. Once you’re through I’ll pass the sacks out and then I’ll follow.”
With a nod, Jed climbed onto the stool and then pulled himself up to sit on the shelf. Han got back on the footstool and held him steady while he put his feet out of the window.
“Try and twist around to face this way, so you can hold the frame with your hands and lower yourself down.” said Han, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”
Jed did as he was bid, while Han held onto the shoulders of his jacket. Once he was holding onto the window frame Han let go of his jacket and he dropped down the few feet to the ground.
Han’s head appeared through the window. “O.K?” he whispered.
Jed nodded and Han passed the two sacks of food down to him before getting down and blowing out the candle. Then, slinging the canteen across his shoulder, he climbed back up and put his feet out of the window.
Being bigger than Jed, he could only just fit through the small window frame but, after a bit of wriggling, he finally dropped down beside him.
“Come on.” He whispered, picking up the two sacks of food and handing one to Jed before setting off in a north-easterly direction across the grounds, towards the perimeter of the school.
“Where are we gonna go?” Jed asked when they were far enough away from the school that nobody could hear them.
“I’ve been studying the map, in class, an’ I figure we’d be best to head towards Kansas City.” said Han, “It’s in Missouri, so we’ll be out of Kansas, and it’s a big city so nobody’ll know us, which’ll make it harder for anyone to find us.”
“How far away is it?” asked Jed.
“I figure it’ll take us a week to walk there. But we’ve got enough food to last us until then.” he added, seeing Jed’s doubtful expression.
“An’ when we get there I can maybe find some paid work.” Han continued, “I reckon I can pass for fourteen. That’s when the school would have discharged me, so nobody’ll think anything of it if I tell them I’m that old.”
“What about me?” Jed asked, anxiously.
“We’ll say you’re my cousin. Maybe we can find some farm work or somethin’, somewhere where we can live in.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, seeing Jed’s anxious look, “The main thing is, we’re away from that place. No more beatings, or detentions, or being locked in the storeroom. We can please ourselves where we go and what we do.” He smiled down at his younger friend, “We’ll be alright. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jed returned his smile, his friend’s air of confidence and determination boosting his own. In later years, they would look back on this night and contemplate what impact the decision to run away may have had in setting them on the road to outlawing.
After a couple of hours of walking, Jed said, “I’m tired. Can we stop for a rest?”
“I think we need to walk a bit further before we stop.” replied Han, “The further away we can get, before morning, the better.”
“I’m hungry too.” Jed protested.
“I figure the sun’ll be up in an hour or two. We’ll stop then, and have some food.”
Jed pouted. “’kay.”
After another two hours of walking, the first glow of the approaching dawn began to turn the sky from inky black to violet and then to orange.
Up ahead of them, Han spotted a group of trees and decided this would be a good place for them to rest for a while.
They reached the trees and sank gratefully down on the ground, in amongst them.
Opening the sacks they ate some fruit and bread, and drank water from the canteen, after which Jed curled up and in minutes was asleep.
Although he too was tired, Han was unwilling to sleep, wanting to keep an eye open for anyone searching for them. He settled down to keep watch, but, after their sleepless night, was soon overcome by sleep himself.
It was almost noon when he woke, looking around, anxiously, for any sign of anyone pursuing them, but there was no-one in sight.
He reached out a hand to shake Jed.
“Jed! Wake up. It’s time to go.”
Jed roused, looking around him blurry eyed.
“We slept all morning.” Han told him, “We need to get going.”
Getting to his feet, he took a swig of water from the canteen before handing it to Jed while he gathered up the food sacks. Then they set off once more, keeping away from any roads in case anyone should come by who might be looking for them.
“I wonder what happened when they found out we’d gone.” Jed said, as they walked.
“I wish I could have seen their faces.” said Han.
Turning to look at each other, they both grinned.
* * *
After two days walking they arrived at the town of Black Ridge.
Han decided the town was too close to the school for them to stay here long, in case word of the runaways had reached it and they might be recognized, but there was something he wanted to do before they moved on.
“Listen,” he said to Jed, as they reached the outskirts of the town, “I need to go into town but its best if you wait here, just in case anyone’s heard about us and might try to stop us.”
“What’ya got to do in town?” Jed looked puzzled.
Han grinned, “Remember the night before we left, I snuck out of the dormitory, in the night, to get somethin’?”
Jed nodded.
“Well, I went to the Secretary’s office an’ stole a piece of the school’s notepaper, an envelope and a stamp, an’ I got the address for the school board out of her filing cabinet.”
Jed looked perplexed.
“I wrote a letter to the school board, telling them about what goes on there – the beatings an’ stuff – an’ about Brown knocking me down the stairs.”
Jed’s eyes widened, “You did?”
“Yes. I told them they could ask Matron if they needed proof, an’ I said we were running away because of the way we were treated, an’ suggested they should investigate.”
Jed’s mouth formed an ‘O’
Han shrugged, “I don’t know if the school board’ll do anything, but I decided they need telling about what goes on there. Mr. Warner was awful keen for nobody to know about Mr. Brown knocking me downstairs, so I figure he’s scared of what the school board would say if they got to hear about it.”
“I want to post the letter at the post office in town, so you wait here an’ I’ll be back soon as I’ve done it.”
Jed’s expression clouded, “But… what if someone sees you an’ takes you back to the school. What’ll I do then?”
“Don’t worry. No-one’ll catch me. I won’t be long. Just stay out of sight here. O.K?”
Jed nodded, doubtfully, and Han headed into town, striding confidently down the main street as if he owned the place, daring anyone to give him a questioning look. He reached the Post Office and went inside to post the letter before heading back the way he’d come.
Jed looked relieved when he saw him returning.
“See. I told you. Piece of cake.” grinned Han, “Come on, lets go.”
With a nervous glance over his shoulder, back towards the town, Jed hastily followed him.
After two more days of walking, they reached the town of Bonner Springs.
They had eaten almost all the food they’d brought with them from the school now, and so Han suggested that they ask at some of the farms, on the outskirts of town, to see if any of them had any work they could do in return for food.
After being turned away from the first two places they tried, they came to another farm and spied a middle-aged man mending one of his fences.
Cautiously, they approached, Han stretching himself up to his tallest and trying to look older than his years.
The man heard their approach and turned to regard them suspiciously.
“Sir,” said Han, putting on his politest smile, “I was wondering if you had any work you might need doing, that we could help out with, in return for food?”
The man eyed them up and down before saying, “You aint from around these parts, are ya?”
“No, Sir. We’re on our way to Kansas City.”
“Where’re ya from?”
“Lately, from Lansing, the orphanage there. Just got discharged.” Han plucked the name of another orphanage that he’d heard of, out of the air, not wanting to admit where they’d really come from in case the man reported them.
The man frowned, “How old are ya, boy?”
“Fourteen, sir.” Han lied.
“And ya friend?”
“Eleven, sir.”
The man looked thoughtful.
“I can do most kinds of work, Sir.” Han continued, “Before our folks were killed, I used to help out on my parents farm – planting, harvesting, fencework... I’d be happy to help out with any work, in return for food, and maybe a place to sleep… in the barn or somewhere.”
The man eyed them, suspiciously, for several moments before saying, “You I can use, but not your friend.”
Han put his arm around Jed’s shoulder, “He’s my cousin, sir. I couldn’t leave him behind, when I left the orphanage. He’s the only family I got left.”
“Cousin or not, he aint big enough to work an’ I aint got no spare vittles to give to anyone who caint earn ‘em.”
“But—“ Han started to protest, but the man spoke over him.
“There’s work for you, if you want it, but not for the two of ya. Take it or leave it.”
Han glared at the man.
“Then I’ll leave it, sir. Wherever I go, my cousin goes too.”
“Your choice.” The man shrugged, before turning away and continuing with his work.
Han bit his lip, as tears of anger and frustration threatened, before turning away and pulling Jed after him.
“Han…” Jed began, once they were out of sight of the farm.
“I wouldn’t have worked for him if he paid me with a gold bar.” Han said, angrily.
“But… we need to get some food…”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get some.” said Han.
Jed bit his lip, wondering what they were going to do if nobody would give them a chance to pay their way.
After leaving Bonner Springs behind, they decided to make camp for the night a couple of miles outside of town, near the banks of the Kansas River.
All that was left in the food sacks was a chunk of bread, four apples and some nuts.
“You have the bread, I’m not all that hungry.” Han lied, handing Jed the bread, “I’ll just have an apple and some nuts.”
“But…” Jed turned wide blue eyes to Han’s, intending to protest, knowing that Han had to be equally as hungry as he was after walking all day. But before he could speak, Han said, “Pity we aint got something to make a fishin’ pole with. I reckon there’s some good sized fish in that river.” He nodded towards the river.
Jed followed his gaze, imagining a nice juicy fish for supper.
“How much further ‘til we get to Kansas City?” he asked presently, as he chewed on the chunk of bread.
“Two, maybe three, days.” said Han, as he bit into one of the apples.
“What are we gonna do for food?” questioned Jed as he finished the bread and started on one of the apples.
“We’ll get some.” said Han, with more conviction than he felt. He had hoped the food they’d brought with them from the school would last until they reached Kansas City, but they barely had enough left for a small breakfast tomorrow and by his reckoning they had another three days of walking before they got there. He just hoped they would come across some township where someone might give them something in return for doing some chores.
“Here, have some water.” He handed the canteen to Jed. At least they’d been able to keep that filled up, from various creeks and streams they’d passed along the way.
Jed took a drink and then handed the canteen back to him before settling down to sleep.
Han settled down too, but sleep eluded him as the realities of their situation filled his mind. Had he done the right thing in running away and bringing Jed with him? he wondered. It had all seemed so simple to begin with. Life outside couldn’t be any worse than what they’d had to endure at the school. But now, he was beginning to realize that, unless he could find a paying job, or someone who would give them bed and board in return for work, they were unlikely to survive very long. One thing was for certain. There was no going back to Valparaiso, even if they wanted to. Their lives wouldn’t be worth living if they were found and taken back there.
He glanced across at his sleeping friend. He was trusting him to get them to Kansas City and find a better life than they’d had at the school and, right now, that trust was weighing heavily on his shoulders. He gave a deep sigh, wishing, for the thousandth time, that their parents were still alive and they were back, safely, on their farms in Douglas County.
He wasn’t aware of falling asleep until Jed shook him awake.
Jed was holding the food sack and looking inside it.
“There’s two apples and some nuts.” he announced.
“Let’s have an apple each, and keep the nuts for later.” said Han.
Jed pulled out the apples and handed one to Han, who surveyed their surroundings as he ate it. Judging by the position of the sun he guessed it must be around eight o’clock.
He looked at the river, some yards away, through the trees. The water looked so inviting, in the morning sunshine, and the bank was fairly shallow here, almost a beach in fact. After four days of walking, the idea of taking a swim in it was very appealing.
“Fancy a dip in the river, before we go?” he grinned, “The water looks pretty shallow here.”
Jed nodded, eagerly, and as soon as they’d finished the apples they headed down to the bank where they stripped off their clothes and ventured into the water.
“Don’t go out any further than waist deep.” warned Han, “It might get deep suddenly and there might be undercurrents.”
The cool water was refreshing and after splashing around for half an hour, they got out, pulled on their long johns and then sat on the bank while the sun dried the rest of their bodies. Then, they pulled on the rest of their clothes and set off in a north-easterly direction.
There was little in the way of civilization and it was late in the afternoon when they spotted an isolated farm.
Wary, after the way the man at Bonner Springs had behaved towards them, they crept up to some trees around the perimeter of the property and hid themselves while they scanned the farm.
A young woman was hanging washing on a line and a large raggedy dog ran around with its nose to the ground.
As they watched, the woman went back inside, and then came out again and crossed to what appeared to be a vegetable patch and bent to inspect whatever was growing in it.
After ten minutes of watching, no-one else had come out of the building. It looked as though there was only the woman here.
Having formed a plan, Han said to Jed, “Jump on my back, and we’ll pretend you twisted your ankle an’ can’t walk. Women can’t resist taking care of things that are hurt – kids, dogs, cats. She’s bound to feel sorry for us an’ help us out.”
Jed obediently jumped up and Han piggy-backed him towards the farm.
As they approached, the woman now had a basket into which she was placing potatoes and lettuces that she had pulled up from the vegetable patch.
As she straightened up, she caught sight of them and shaded her eyes against the sun as she tried to work out who was approaching.
On seeing that it was a child, who appeared to be carrying another child, she put down the basket and headed towards them.
“Let me do the talking.” said Han, as the woman approached, a look of concern on her face.
“Who are you?” she looked at Han, “What happened to you?” she continued, switching her concerned gaze to Jed without waiting for him to answer.
“He put his foot in a rabbit hole an’ twisted his ankle, M’am. He can’t walk.”
“Oh, my! Bring him to the house and I’ll have a look at it.”
“Yes, M’am.” Han gave her his sweetest smile and followed her towards the farmhouse.
“What on earth are you doing out here? Where are your parents?” the woman questioned, as she ushered them inside.
“We’re orphans, M’am. I was discharged from the orphanage, up at Lansing, last week. We’re on our way to Kansas City to try and find work.”
“Orphans? Oh, my goodness.”
“Yes, M’am. Our folks were killed, just over a year ago, an’ we were sent to the orphanage.”
They entered into the farmhouse, into a cosy kitchen, where the woman pulled out a chair, from the table, and indicated for Han to set Jed down on it.
“Which ankle?” the woman asked Jed.
Han, standing just behind the woman, nodded to Jed to answer.
“Right one, M’am.”
The woman carefully examined his ankle and, with a bit of miming and gesticulating from Han, behind the woman’s back, he gave a few feigned yelps of pain when she touched it.
“When did you do it?” she enquired.
“Early this morning, M’am.” Han answered for him.
“Well, there’s no swelling, so possibly you just pulled some ligaments. I’ll bandage it up for you.”
She crossed to a cupboard and took out a box of medical supplies, pulling out a length of bandage, which she proceeded to wrap tightly around his ankle.
“You say you’re heading to Kansas City?” the woman asked, when she’d finished the task.
“Yes, M’am.” said Han.
“How were you travelling?”
“On foot, M’am.”
“On foot?” The woman looked appalled. “All the way from Lansing?”
“Yes, M’am. We don’t have any money.”
“I see.” said the woman. She’d heard about the treatment that was dished out in some of those places, and knew that the orphans were often discharged into the world with no funding, or any means of making a living.
“Well, you need to rest that foot for a day or two.” the woman turned to regard Jed, charmed by his angelic face and golden curls.
“Yes, M’am.” said Han, “Would it be possible… I mean, do you have a barn, or somewhere, we could sleep in?”
“You certainly can’t sleep in the barn!” the woman looked appalled, “We have a spare bedroom. You can sleep in there.”
Han grinned, “Thank you, M’am. I’d be happy to help out with any chores you need doing, as payment?”
“We’ll see about that.” the woman waved away his suggestions, “Now, I bet you’re hungry?”
“Yes, M’am. We aint eaten since sun up.”
The woman tutted. “Well, sit down and I’ll fix you something.”
“Thank you, M’am.” Han sat down next to Jed and gave him a smug look.
“I’m Margaret Scott.” the woman told them, while she prepared the food, “My husband is away in Kansas City, on business. He should be back tomorrow night. What are your names?”
“I’m Han, and this is Jed.”
“Right, well, eat up and then I’ll show you where you can sleep.”
“Thank you, M’am.” smiled Han.
“Yes, thank you, M’am.” added Jed.
An hour later, pleasantly full, Han and Jed were tucked up in two single beds in the Scott’s spare bedroom.
“See, I told you I’d get us some food, didn’t I?” grinned Han.
Jed nodded. “That supper sure was tasty.”
“Just make sure you remember to limp, tomorrow, or we'll be in trouble if she finds out we made it up.”
“I’ll try.”
“Maybe you should put a pebble in your shoe, so you don’t forget to do it.” suggested Han, drawing a disdainful look from his friend.
* * *
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