A Christmas Memory

By Penski

Kid Curry stared out of the window in the Devil’s Hole leaders’ cabin and sighed.  A strong wind swirled the falling snow in all directions, creating a completely white landscape.

Hannibal Heyes sat close to a rock fireplace reading a book and wrapped in a blanket to stay warm.  He looked up when he heard the sigh.  “Kid, why don’t you come over here where it’s warmer.  You’re gonna catch a chill over by the window.”

Curry sighed again as he stood and walked over to the fire.  “Want some more coffee?”

“Sure.”  Heyes held up his empty mug for the Kid to fill it.  “What’s bothering you?”

The blond outlaw put the coffee pot back on the stove and sat down, hugging the hot cup and blowing into the steaming drink. 

Heyes took a tentative sip, watching his friend over the brim of his mug.  “What’s bothering you?” he repeated, quietly.

“Tomorrow…” he hesitated and took a deep breath before continuing.  “It’s just that it’s almost Christmas…”  He fell silent and looked down at the floor.

And Heyes remembered another ‘almost Christmas’ when they were young teens living in Silky O’Sullivan’s attic…

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

A young Jed Curry stared out of the window in the attic and sighed.  A strong wind swirled the falling snow in all directions, creating a completely white landscape over the city of Denver.

Heyes lay on his bed, leaning back on the headboard, and reading a book with a blanket on top of him.  He looked up when he heard the sigh.  “Jed, why don’t you come over here where it’s warmer.  You’re gonna catch a chill over by the window.”

Jed sighed again as he walked over to his bed and sat down heavily.

“What’s bothering you?”

Curry shrugged.  “Tomorrow…” he hesitated and took a deep breath before continuing.  “It’s just that it’s almost Christmas…”  He fell silent and looked down at the floor, then raised his head to look at Heyes.  “Do you remember how we used to celebrate?”

“Yeah, I do.”  Heyes marked his place and closed the book.

“Do you think Silky will do anything for Christmas?”

Now Heyes sighed.  “Sorry, Jed, but I really can’t see him doing anything.  Maybe we can do something, though.  Cut a pine bough and bring it up here and decorate it.  Sing a few songs we used to sing.  Would you like that?””

Jed looked down.  “I don’t have any money for a gift.”

“It don’t have to be anything special.  We can make each other something, like we did at the Home.  What do you think?” Heyes asked as he sat up.

Jed thought for a moment and looked up.  “Okay.  Better than nothin’.”

They went outside that afternoon when the winds died down and found a pine tree.  Heyes found a decent branch and broke it off.  They brought it up to their attic bedroom and made a small stand for it.

“It needs decora… I know!  I’ll be right back.”  Jed ran out of the room and returned breathlessly a few minutes later with a red ribbon.

“Perfect!”  Heyes tied the ribbon onto the bough in a nice bow.  “How’s that?”

“I like it!” Jed declared with a big grin.  “I gotta go back downstairs.  Alice asked me to help her make dinner.”

“Okay.  I’m just gonna read more of my book.”

Once Jed left, Heyes got up and started rummaging through his belongings.

The next morning, both boys woke up earlier than normal.  It was lightly snowing outside.

“Merry Christmas, Han!”

“Merry Christmas, Jed!”

“Here, I got you something.”  Jed handed Han a small brown bag.  “Alice helped me bake those cookies for you.”

“Ginger snaps!  One of my favorites.  Thanks!”  Han handed Jed a small package.  “Here you go.”

“A wood box with my name carved in it!  I love it!”  Jed examined the box and opened it.

“Silky has a few empty cigar boxes and let me have one.  Thought you could keep your special belongings in it.”

HANNIBAL!  JED!  GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!” came Silky’s gruff voice.

“Oh, oh.  Are we in trouble?” Jed asked.

“Not that I know of.  We better get down there right away.  Throw your pants on.”

Both boys hurriedly pulled on their pants and ran down the stairs from their attic bedroom.

“In here!”  Silky’s voice came from inside the living room.

The boys ran to the door, and both skidded to a stop, their eyes wide with wonder and their mouths open in surprise.  In the room, against one wall stood a large, decorated Christmas tree with a few presents underneath.  Jenny and her young son Billy were there, too.

“Well, Merry Christmas, boys!”  Silky opened his arms up, inviting them into the room that was usually off limits to them.

“Wow!  A big Christmas tree!” Jed exclaimed.

Heyes shook his head in amazement.  “Silky, I can’t believe you got a tree.  Thank you!”

Jenny smiled.  “Merry Christmas, Jed and Han.  It took a little coaxing, but I got ol’ Silky to buy a tree.  The three of us decorated it last night to surprise you, and Billy and I spent the night.”

“Merry Christmas, Billy and Jenny!” the boys said in unison.

“Well, let’s not make Alice wait.  She’s prepared a nice breakfast for us.”  Silky led the small group into the dining room.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

As Heyes sat there thinking, pondering the Kid’s earlier words, he came up with an idea to cheer up his partner.

The next morning, there was a pine bough standing up fairly straight on the table with twine bows.  Underneath the “tree” was a wooden cigar box with Jed engraved on the side.

Jed came out of his room rubbing his sleepy eyes and yawning.  He came to an abrupt halt when he saw the items on the table.  “Heyes?”

“Merry Christmas, Kid!” Heyes exclaimed as he poured two cups of coffee and handed one to his partner.

“A Christmas tree and a wooden box…”  Curry picked it up and examined it.  “You carved my name into it just like when we were at Silky’s.”  He grinned.

Heyes beamed.  “Yep.  I didn’t know if you’d remember.”

“Sorry, but I didn’t get to make you any ginger snaps.”

Heyes smiled.  “That’s okay.”

“But I do have a little something for you.”  The Kid went back into his room and rummaged around a bit.  He came back with a book and handed it to Heyes.  “I found this one and thought it sounded interestin’.  I don’t recall you readin’ it before.”

Heyes took the book and read the title.  “Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne.  I haven’t read this one, but I do love Jules Verne books.”

“I was thinkin’ you could read it aloud at night since we decided to stay the winter in the Hole.”  Kid Curry picked up his mug and sipped his coffee.  “Heyes?”

The dark-haired outlaw looked up from checking out his new book.  “Yeah?”

“Thanks for the tree and the gift.  I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Merry Christmas, Heyes!”

“Merry Christmas, Kid!”