Part 5
Chris was angry, not just angry but down right pissed. Miss Nettie wouldn’t let him or the other boys look for Vin and Ezra and now here they were about a days ride from where they made camp. It worried them all that Vin and Ezra, two of the smallest and youngest of the group of orphans were out there in the wild all alone.
Josiah, the oldest on this trip at 15, himself and his best friend Buck at the age of 13, Nathan who is 11, JD, age 10 and Vin at the age of 8 were on the wagon train from the beginning of its journey out of Pennsylvania. Each boy ended up in Pennsylvania through tragic and various circumstances.
Josiah was from the western territories originally but found himself orphaned in Pennsylvania when his Father, a traveling minister, fell ill during the last cold winter’s months and succumbed to pneumonia.
Buck and Chris originated out of Ohio but ended up in Pennsylvania looking for work to carry them out west. Bucks mother, a servant of the flesh died after a trick beat her to death. Since Buck and Chris were friends, Chris’s parents took Buck in. Besides, come harvest time the extra set of hands would have been useful.
Chris watched as a prairie fire swept down upon his family’s home. He and Buck had been out fishing for the day, the family looking forward to fresh fish for supper. As they began to leave the pond that they usually fished in, they noticed the smell of smoke and saw a black billowing cloud from the horrid demon rising from the direction of the small thatched roof home of the Larabees’. Dropping their poles and the fish they caught that day they rushed up and over the hill and were greeted by the site of a large prairie fire moving southwest towards the Bitter Run Creek, the house right in its path. His parents spent their last few minutes of life trying in a futile attempt to save their home. A fire though when out in the open and fed by high winds spreads fast. Even if they had abandoned the home and tried to escape it moved too rapid and consumed the area in a matter of minutes. As soon as it appeared it disappeared into Bitter Run Creek leaving nothing but ash in its wake.
Nathan hailed from somewhere down south. He was one of several former slaves that fled to the north looking for a better life. Unfortunately little was to be had up north and it wasn’t the promise land that many thought it to be. Nathan survived as one of several men and boys that landed work in the mines of Western Pennsylvania. After a tragic mine collapse Nathan was one of six that survived out of the 68 men that had been working the mine at the time. He was placed into an orphanage for coloreds and was somehow selected by Miss Wells herself to accompany the others to the west.
JD was born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania. His mother was a maid in the governor’s mansion. To this day no one is sure what happened to Laura Dunne. She simply disappeared one night; she never made it home to her son.
Not much is known about Vin’s past. He was found on an Indian reservation down in Texas. The army took him from the tribe and sent him back east to un-learn the ways of the red-man. How ironic that he would end up heading back west four years after he left.
These boys along with 4 others began the trip from Pennsylvania to make their way to San Francisco, California. They first headed south and along the way they stopped and picked up other orphans. The six boys had become great friends on the journey, learning about each other and protecting each other. About half way between the beginning and to here, in Paradise, Colorado, the wagon train stopped in a town where they picked up their last new comer of the trip.
All of the boys averaging around 12 years of age thought that Vin was the lightweight of the troop. His large blue eyes and gentle soul was encased in a lanky frame that could benefit from a few meals. That wasn’t saying that all of the boys couldn’t of used some more food and care but the older boys could see that Vin had not led the best of lives. That in part is why Chris and the others were so protective of him but when their last passenger arrived, the six made a silent pact that this one needed them the most.
The largest and most innocent pair of green eyes met them that day. The bruises on his face were a sickly yellow color indicating that they were well on their way to healing but obvious still tender to a touch, that is if one could touch the small six year old boy. It became known very quickly when Sean, one of the drivers and caregivers for their trip went to pick the child up and put him in the back of the wagon that the boy did not like to be touched, at least by adults. Ezra, as the boys had learned was his name, left out a horrifying scream and kicked backwards at the man that had grabbed him from behind. His kick, to say the least, landed in a most sensitive spot, causing Sean to drop the child into the street as he himself went down, curling into a fetal position and howling like a cat that got his tail caught in a spur (at least according to Buck).
The very small child then scrambled his own way into the wagon and over to a corner where he made himself as small as possible. That was the only time on the entire trip that they heard a sound from the boy. After that day, he never spoke or uttered a word.
The other six boys became his friends so to speak. They talked to him and included him in everything they did, not one of them ever asked him to reply back. His expressions and his eyes told everything that was needed. Vin seemed to gain a connection with the small boy and somehow knew what Ezra wanted or was saying.
Now Chris felt so frustrated, angry and helpless. He wasn’t the only one, four other boys felt the same, they should be out there helping their friends.
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Part 6
“Ez, Ez you awake?” Vin gently nudged the sleeping six-year old with his hand on Ezra’s shoulder. Both boys after their flight from the camp had traveled a few more hours in search of shelter and a place to hide. The ground seemed to be getting flatter with only low lying bushes to decorate the landscape and since most of their running had occurred during the night neither noticed as the trees began to become more sparse and the soil beneath their booted feet became dryer and turned to sand. They were very cold, ironic, Vin thought since the days have been hot as they traveled further west. By the time they found a small, shallow cave to huddle in together it was well past midnight. Vin grabbed some nearby dead bushes and placed them in front of the entrance. He hoped that they would be enough protection against any animals that may be out scrounging around at night. The cave was barely big enough to fit the two small boys in fact it really wasn’t a cave just a small crevice in between several rocks that formed a pile in the middle of the open desert. After crawling in they were able to wrap themselves around each other and promptly fell asleep.
The early morning rays of the sun woke Vin from his exhausted sleep as the bush did little to block out the golden beams of light. Looking about in confusion, he wondered where they were when memories of the previous evenings events came rushing back.
They had made camp in what was one of the very few almost oasis like vegetated areas between the last town, Fort Bascom and their destination of Paradise within the New Mexico territory. The surrounding land quickly changed to dry desert with very little else around. During the trip Vin and the other boys noticed the familiarity between Ezra and the last adult addition, Sean. Something about the way Mr. O’Leary would look towards Ezra made the other boys leery.
After supper and evening chores were complete, everyone was settling down to bed. Mr. O’Leary was on watch and would be relieved by Mr. Shea around two in the morning. About an hour after bedding down, Vin felt a small tug on his shirtsleeve. Trying to ignore it he rolled over in his bedroll and pretended to be asleep. A few seconds after he became comfortable in his new position the small tug was back, only this time it was along the back of his shirt. Heaving out a small breath of annoyance, Vin turned back over and from the brightness of a full moon saw two very large and almost black green eyes. They seemed to be voicing a request.
Propping himself up on his right elbow he couldn’t help but roll his eyes heavenward and sigh again.
“Ezra, just go. Some ones on watch, they will make sure nothing sneaks up on you while you take care of business.” His statement was met with two solemn and apprehensive eyes as they shifted from Vin to the privacy of the trees and back.
“Really Ezra, you will be fine. Just run over there, do you know what and then run back over here. You don’t even have to go far into the woods, just behind the first tree will do.” Vin really didn’t want to get up and take Ezra to the restroom.
Nodding in defeat but still with trepidation evident on his face, Ezra got up and headed to the trees to go potty. Seeing him go, Vin eased himself down and closed his eyes, ready to fall back asleep.
About ten minutes passed without Vin even realizing how long it was since Ezra woke him up. Instead of falling asleep all Vin could do was toss and turn because an idea had been planted in his head. One so evil and vile to anyone that has just become comfortable in their bed, he had to go potty too. Silently cursing Ezra for putting the suggestion in his mind, Vin quickly got up to walk over to the tree line. It was when he stood up that he realized that Ezra had yet to return and he hurried to the area he saw Ezra walk towards.
No Ezra.
Quickly taking care of business himself, Vin was about to go and wake the others when he heard a voice and some crying coming from further in the woods. Taking a few seconds, looking between the woods and Chris, to decide whether he should wake one of the other boys or just investigate on his own he was about to go and wake them up when he heard another sound, like a snap, and the crying stopped.
Deciding that he needed to see what was happening now, Vin walked into the woods towards the angry voice that was once again sounding off in the distance. Before he reached the creek that surfaced from underground in this little outcropping of trees and grass, Vin came upon a small area, completely surrounded by dense foliage. There was a spot that looked to have been damaged and altered, most likely from the person or persons that were currently inside the little hideaway. He slowly crept towards the area that had obviously recently admitted someone through and listened to the voice that was coming from inside.
“Where is it you little brat!” The angry male voice seethed from behind the curtain of vibrant green vines. “I know that you can tell me where that money is, where that bitch you called a mother hid it. Tell me or you will end up as dead as she did. Do you want me to beat you like I did her? Is that all you want is for them to find a mutilated piece of meat like I left behind of your mommy?” The voice sneered.
Vin recognized that voice. It was Mr. O’Leary; the one with the shifty eyes, according to JD and the one that always seemed to look at Ezra in an odd way.
‘Oh God!’ Vin thought. ‘If that is O’Leary then…’
Another snapping sound came from inside the trees followed by a few more sounds that were much duller. Now knowing what those sounds were, Vin frantically looked around for something, anything that he could use as a weapon. He needed to get Ezra away from O’Leary because at this moment Vin knew that the crying from earlier had to be from Ezra.
Guilt from not taking Ezra to the potty weighed heavy on his mind as he madly rushed toward the only objects that were not too big for him to carry but heavy enough to hopefully knock Mr. O’Leary down to allow him to grab Ezra and run. Down near the creek rested some of the supplies, to be more exact, canteens. The boys had been filling them for the next day’s journey when Miss Nettie told them they could finish in the morning and shushed them all to bed.
Vin grabbed two of the full and heavy canteens and rushed back to the green dungeon. Not caring about stealth, he rushed through the flora and stopped right behind Mr. O’Leary. The man, shocked by the intrusion, turned his upper body towards the new presence. Vin wasted no time. With all of his strength he swung both canteens right towards Sean’s head. The impact spun Mr. O’Leary 180° before he hit the grown dazed. Vin himself did a complete circle though the force of the swing. A little dizzy but still able to see that Mr. O’Leary wasn’t down for the count yet, he stumbled his way to Ezra.
Ezra was on the ground huddled to make himself as small as possible against the blows, slaps and kicks that were raining down on his small form. An almost indiscernible whimper and a very visible flinch accompanied the gentle touch to his shoulder. Looking up in surprise of the soft caress he met shining brilliant blue eyes.
Vin stretched out his hand and grabbed Ezra below his shoulder to help pull him to a standing position. A movement to their side alerted them to the fact that Sean was trying to gain his feet. Urgently pulling Ezra along and through the dense brush, they made their escape. Both of the boys knew that they couldn’t return to camp. Though they knew that Chris, Buck, Josiah, Nathan and JD would believe them when they told them what happened, they were sure that no one else would. Miss Nettie was nice and all but she was still a grownup and if there is one thing that this world has taught these boys it is that very few grownups can be trusted and even fewer believe children.
Last night had been hard on the two boys. Their small size made it easy to hide from the searching grownups. Once they had moved on to another area, Ezra and Vin started their trek moving south of the camp. Now that morning had arrived, Vin was feeling every minute of that run.
“Ezra, come on, its morning, time to wake up.” Small movements of his head left and right signaled Ezra’s battle to awaken. Blinking open his puffy green eyes, Ezra greeted the world in brief panic until he too remembered the night before. The look he sent Vin was one of sorrow and apology.
Looking into the freshly battered features of his friend Vin reassured his friend that he did not blame him for their current predicament. “It’s not your fault Ez. Mr. O’Leary was hurting you. I couldn’t let that happen.” Vin shuddered to think of what else might of happened had he not gotten to Ezra on time. ‘How would Mr. O’Leary have explained the bruises that now decorated the angelic face before him?’ Vin suddenly had a sick feeling that maybe Ezra wouldn’t of been seen the next morning, maybe Mr. O’Leary planned on getting rid of Ezra, kill him even. Shaking those morose thoughts off Vin returned his attention to Ezra.
The apology left Ezra’s eyes but the sorrow remained. Looking towards Vin, nervousness soon appeared as he also began to chew on his bottom lip while he shifted uncomfortably in his place.
“You have to go the bathroom?” Vin asked. The nervous lip chewing continued as big green eyes lowered to look at the ground and the little head slightly nodded in acceptance of Vin’s words.
Chuckling lightly, trying to make light of the dark mood that had settled over them again, Vin turned and looked out past the bush that covered their hiding spot. Not noticing any movement he carefully moved the bush to the side of the opening and crawled out. Taking a look around the area and not seeing anything of danger, Vin bent down and looked at Ezra, “Come on then. There’s no one out here.”
A little body slowly yet anxiously wiggled it ways out of the close quarters. As soon as he stood to his full height the little legs clamped together at the knees as the little body wiggled with a purpose. Taking Ezra’s hand, Vin and Ezra walked to the other side of the rocks. “This looks as good of a spot as any.” Vin declared.
Normally Ezra would of complained about going in such an opened area but the fact was he had to go so bad that he didn’t care where it was as long as it wasn’t in his pants. Giving a brief and pleading look, Vin knew he wanted some privacy but after last night Vin wasn’t comfortable leaving the little boy alone, the guilt still ate at him. Vin obliged Ezra but told him that he was only turning his back towards him; “I’m not leaving you again” was his solemn promise.
A sudden gasp and retching sound had Vin turning around and rushing to Ezra’s side. Little tears were running down suddenly pale cheeks as Ezra sat hunched over and continued to heave and expel the meager contents left in his stomach. Vin knelt down beside Ezra and wrapped a too thin arm around too thin shoulders.
‘What are we going to do now?’ His mind whorled with panic and despair as he rocked Ezra’s shaking form in his arms.
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Part 7
Sometime around ten on the night they had made camp at a place they will later come to know as Stinking Springs, JD woke when he heard some cursing coming from the near by wooded area. Deciding it was nothing he turned in his bedroll to get comfortable. Blinking his eyes as he attempted to go back to sleep, he began to snuggle down using his arm as a pillow when his eyes popped open in alarm. The two bedrolls beside him were empty. He quickly sat up and searched the area for a sign of the two young boys that should have been asleep beside him. Not seeing anything he quickly stood and in a panicked voice started to yell, “Vin, Ezra!”
His yelling, of course, woke everyone in the camp and brought a very upset Mr. O’Leary back.
“Quit your yelling boy!” Mr. O’Leary bellowed at the child, stalking towards him threateningly.
Josiah, Buck, Chris and Nathan quickly came to JD’s side.
“What’s wrong JD?” Nettie Wells asked she rushed out from the wagon she used as her bedchambers at night while all of the boys used the ground.
“I-I woke u-up and they were g-g-g-gone!” JD haltingly sobbed out to the kind woman that was now kneeling in front of him.
Nettie wanting to calm the child so she could better understand him, gently cupped the boys face with her hands and soothingly ran her thumbs over his cheeks to wipe away the tears. “What do you mean sweetie?” She asked in a calm and adoring voice.
Somewhat calmer now, JD responded in a quiet and sad voice. “I woke up and when I turned over their bed rolls were empty. So I sat up and looked around and I couldn’t see them and they haven’t come back yet.” Tears once more began to leak from his deep brown eyes.
“Ok JD, we’ll look for them. They probably aren’t far, maybe they were lost when they had to answer a call of nature.” She hoped her voice was reassuring.
“We’ll help Miss Nettie.” Chris sincerely offered the help of himself and the other 4 boys around him. Seeing the fear and worry in his eyes, Miss Nettie was almost tempted to let him but decided against it. There were already two boys missing, hopefully not for long but she didn’t want to risk anymore.
“Thank you for the offer Christopher but I need your help here. You and your…group,” she hesitated as to what to call them exactly, “can help by staying here and…” seeing Chris about to protest she laid a comforting hand on his arm and gave a strong but gentle squeeze. “…and you can look after the other children here. Make sure no one else wonders off. Plus, if Vin and Ezra find their way back here you will be here for them.”
Seeing that Miss Nettie would not take any arguments Chris reluctantly nodded his head in the affirmative. He and the other 5 boys kept watch over the rest of the children of the Orphan Train. Miss. Nettie, Mr. Shea, Mr. Wilkins and Mr. O’Leary looked for the boys until four o’clock that morning. Having come across no definite sign of the two missing children she gathered up the remaining boys and explained that there was no sign of Ezra and Vin. Miss Nettie regretfully informed them that they had no choice but to break camp and head to the town of Paradise. There they would be able to get more help.
Even after all of the protesting, sorrow and arguments, the wagons found themselves moving out at early light. They pulled into Paradise fourteen hours later.
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Part 8
For Nettie Wells this was the fourth and final trip she would make to the west. A petite woman standing only five feet tall, she had light brown hair with flecks of gold that shimmered in the sun. She wasn’t the grandest of women but she had a sense of strength about her that could easily grab the attention of a man. She was never married, instead she dedicated her life to helping orphans find good homes, never buying into a system that just as soon barter the children off to any family or person just to be rid of the responsibility than to find loving families that wanted the children to raise in a loving home. Yesterday one of her worse fears came true, she lost a child…no not just a child but two children. Two of the sweetest and kindest boys she has ever had the privilege to bring west. Two children that expected her to protect them and find them a better way of life.
Here she sat trying to explain as best as she could what had happened the evening before. She told Sheriff Travis and Deputy Cord about making camp at Stinking Springs sometime around six o’clock the previous evening. After feeding the 23 boys their supper and they performed most of their evening chores the time had reached about eight o’clock. She made the boys bed down for the night so that they could get an early morning start since they wished to be in Paradise by early evening the next day.
“So everyone went to sleep at about eight you say. When were the boys discovered missing?” Sheriff Travis asked.
“Around ten o’clock is when JD Dunne, the ten-year old that was asleep next to Vin and Ezra, awoke everyone with his screams, calling for the two boys.” Nettie sadly answered his question.
“So you all bed down at eight and it isn’t until two hours later that anyone notices them missing? Was anyone on watch?” Ethan asked in disbelief. He didn’t understand how two boys could disappear from the middle of a camp without anyone hearing any noise.
Tears coming to her eyes Nettie delicately swiped at them because the guilt was eating at her. “Y-yes, Mr. O’Leary was on watch last night when the boys disappeared. Oh, but I already asked him and he said that he didn’t hear a sound. He was one of the first to go look for them. He even said that the signs he could find seemed to point north. That the boys were headed north.” Nettie’s words rushed from her lips as she slowly began to lose control over her emotions.
Orrin gave Ethan a disapproving look. Ethan just shrugged and offered no apology. “I’m going to go talk to this Mr. O’Leary.” Ethan stated as he moved from his chair in the sheriff’s office.
“Good idea. Maybe you should send a few telegrams out. Maybe up towards Ft. Sumner, Stanton and even Bascom.” Orrin advised.
Ethan acknowledged the suggestions with a little nod of his head and a tipping of his hat brim with two fingers. “I think I will even send to Tascosa over in Texas and even further west to Tularosa and down to El Paso, Texas. That will cover all areas and there is no harm in getting the word out all around.”
“Your right. Good thinking.” Orrin nodded his approval at the sound thinking.
“Wait,” Nettie burst out. “Did you say Tascosa?”
“Yes ma’am.” Ethan answered with a bit of surprise at her reaction to the town.
“Well it’s just that one of the boys was from that area. One of the ones missing that is, Vin, Vin Tanner. The army found him near there on a reservation about four years ago. Do you think that may somehow tie into their disappearance?” She asked with hope in her voice.
“Well they would have to head north and then cross east over into Texas.” Orrin replied thoughtfully. “Ethan go and send out the telegrams with the boys descriptions on them, then head on over and talk to this Mr. O’Leary. It could be that if he found tracks leading north that somehow and for some reason those boys or if someone has them, may be heading that way.
Ethan nodded as he walked out of the door. Both lawmen still had a feeling that something wasn’t right about this situation.