The Boxcar Blues

by Jeff Egerton

  “I’m always ready to go flying.” Catwalk walked with her wishing they didn’t have to go back to work, because he enjoyed talking to her so much. Ever since he went on the road, he hadn’t had anyone to talk to except Curly, who was his best friend, but he’d discovered that talking to Curly was nothing like talking to Sam.

  Alton Jones was in a hobo jungle north of El Paso, along the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. He’d been asking again about the two boys and still hadn’t found anyone who’d seen them. He did, however, get some help from a guy who told him, “If you’re looking for someone in this part of the country, go on up to Vaughn. There’s a good soup kitchen at the mission there. Anyone who is on the road knows to stop in Vaughn for a good meal. Chances are the guys you’re looking for have gone through there.”

  “Thanks, mister. I think I’ll go up there and get a meal myself.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  When Catwalk and Sam returned to the house, a jubilant Curly met them, shouting, “Catwalk, I flew the plane! Julio told me what to do and I flew it all over, turning and diving, it was great!”

  With a smile, Catwalk grinned at his friend’s joy and threw an arm around his shoulders. “Curly, the pilot. Ain’t you something.”

  “It was easy, Catwalk. There ain’t nothin’ to it. You gotta try it.”

  Sam said, “We were hoping Julio could take him up this afternoon.”

  Julio said, “We’re kind of short on gas, Sam. We’d better wait until the Sinclair truck gets here on Thursday.”

  Sam turned to Catwalk and said, “Sorry, looks like you’ll have to work.”

  Julio said, “That’s right, we’re going to pick corn. If we get started, we should be able to finish the small field by Thursday.”

  Catwalk tugged at Curly’s arm and said, “Let’s go, mister pilot. Picking corn will make you feel like you’re back home.”

  The next day the men were in the field and Sam was baking bread when Barney landed in the Jenny. Sam went out to meet him and he said, “Morning, Sam. Is Catwalk around?”

  Concerned that this might have something to do with the police, she said, “He’s out picking the small field with Julio and Curly. Is anything wrong?”

  “No, nothing’s wrong, Sam. I just got a letter for him from his Mom back in Mississippi.”

  Sam smiled, “Oh my, is he going to be excited. I’ll drive out and give it to him.”

  “Thanks, Sam.”

  Driving as fast as the dirt path would allow, she made it out to the area they were picking in minutes. She hollered, “Catwalk, can you take a break? I’ve got something for you.”

  Catwalk wiped his brow, approached her and said, “Did you bring me a slice of fresh apple pie?”

  “No, silly.” She held out the envelope with a wide grin. “A letter from your Momma.”

  Speechless, Catwalk looked at the envelope. Then, with a smile he tore it open.

  As he read it, Sam saw his smile disappear. She asked him, “What does she say?”

  “It ain’t from Momma; it’s from John. He says Momma took sick.” With a worried look on his face, Catwalk held the letter out to Sam, “What’s that word?”

  Sam said, “Leukemia? I think that’s Leukemia.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I don’t know.” She asked Julio, “What’s leukemia?”

  The old man looked at Catwalk with sad eyes. “It’s a blood disease, son. I’m not sure how serious it is, but a doctor should be able to help her.”

  Catwalk said, “Trouble is, doctors are for white folk. My Momma ain’t got enough money to pay for a doctor. When a black worker takes sick, they just let the sick person lay up until they die and then they find another worker.”

  He’d reached a point where the unfairness and injustice of the world was about to rear its ugly head in the worst possible manner. If his Momma died because she couldn’t get the medical help that was available, he felt it was just as bad as if he’d been hung back in Texas.

  Sam grabbed his arm, “Cat, you don’t know she’s going to die. This might be a sickness that doesn’t kill people. It might just make her sick for a while.”

  Catwalk said, “I want to go back there and find out how bad it is.”

  Julio said, “If you want to go, son, Curly and I can finish the field.”

  Sam led him to the truck. “Come on. We’ll go talk to Barney.”

  When they arrived at the house, Sam told Barney about Catwalk’s mother. Barney thought for a moment, then said, “If Julio said it’s OK, you can take off and go back to see her, Catwalk. I’ll loan you enough money for the train trip and medical help she needs.”

  Catwalk immediately thought about traveling while he was a wanted man. It was a chance he’d have to take.

  As if he was reading his mind, Barney said, “I don’t think the railroad police will bother you if you’re riding in the Pullman. They’re only looking for the men who are trying to ride for free.”

  One thing that Catwalk knew more about than Barney was life on the road. He said, “Barney, if I’m riding the cushions, there’s still a chance that a conductor will recognize me, and turn me over to the law.”

  Sam asked Barney, “Can I have some time off too?”

  “Sure, I guess we can do our own cooking for a few days, but why do you need time off?”

  “I want to go with him. The police are looking for a black man and a white man. They’re not looking for a woman. If I’m with him, we’ll just look like your average couple.”

  Barney said, “It might look less suspicious if you’re traveling with him.”

  Catwalk gave this some thought. He liked the idea of having Sam along, but he worried that if he was arrested, he’d be dragging her into his problems. He said, “Are you sure you want to? Even if we’ve got tickets, it’s not easy for black people out there. Lots of times it’s hard finding something to eat even if you have money in your pocket because so many places don’t serve meals to black folk.”

  Sam said, “I don’t care, I want to go. Don’t you want me along?”

  “Yes, I’d like you to go with me, Sam, I’m just worried, that’s all.”

  “Quit worrying and get your things packed.”

  Alton Jones pulled into Vaughn and stopped at the soup kitchen. He was far enough from Texas now that he didn’t worry about someone seeing the stolen car and this emboldened him in his search. During his meal he talked to as many of the other patrons as he could, but came up empty. He left the mission and sought out some locals at the mercantile store to continue his search. There he struck gold. The people sitting around killing time were talkative and in twenty minutes he knew about Barney’s two new farm hands and had directions to both farms.

  Jones drove to Barney’s farm north of town. Except for the chickens the place looked deserted. He knocked on the door. When Mattie answered he asked, “Is Barney around?”

  She said, “No, he’s gone right now.”

  “I’m an old friend, is he at the farm up north?”

  Mattie didn’t like the looks of this guy, but if he knew about Barney’s other farm, she decided he was O.K. “Yes, he is. He should be up there for another three or four days.”

  Turning on his best charm, Jones tipped his hat and said, “Why thank you, ma’am. I know the way and I’ll drive up to see him there.”

  It was late, so the former lawman decided to spend the night in town and leave early for Cimarron. Then, he’d find the Jackson boy and settle the score.

  Before sunup the next morning Barney, Catwalk and Sam left the farm for the train station. Even though it was a two day drive, Barney had decided to drive them to Denver to catch the train. He and Catwalk had discussed this and Cat had affirmed that if they could avoid going through Texas, they could avoid the area where the bulls were the most violent and where they were still looking for him.

  Once they reached the train station, Sam kept up a running dialog as she bought their tickets, then steered Catwalk
to a seat in the Pullman car. She knew he was nervous and hoped the talk would keep his mind off the law. After they’d found seats in the car for “Blacks only,” she said, “Cat, have you ever thought of who you’re going to marry?”

  This caught him unaware, as did many of Sam’s questions. He loved Sam’s company, but wondered how she came up with some of the things she asked him. He said, “How would I know who I want to marry, when I don’t know any girls. I didn’t get to meet many girls on the farm where I grew up.”

  “Did you say, you don’t know any girls?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, Mr. Jackson, what am I?”

  “You’re a girl, but….”

  “But what?”

  “Well, we’re friends.”

  “Aren’t you going to be friends with your wife?”

  He wasn’t sure what Sam was getting at. As much as he liked her, he’d never thought about marriage. He said, “Of course, but before two people can marry, they have to be in love.”

  “Are we in love?”

  “I don’t know. You’re the first girl I’ve known. I don’t know how to tell if I’m in love.”

  “Well, you’re the first guy I’ve ever rode across the country with. Does that mean anything?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think riding cross country makes us in love.”

  Sam said, “Ugh!” She didn’t believe what she was hearing. She read her copy of the Saturday Evening Post while Catwalk thought about how someone knows when they’re in love.

  Alton Jones looked over Barney’s farm outside of Cimarron. This place, like the one in Vaughn, bespoke of money with its new equipment, fresh paint, good crops and livestock. He walked toward the house wearing a grin and thinking his search was finally over.

  Curly was in the hay loft when he saw the car drive up. He watched to see if a policeman got out. When he saw Jones, he said to himself, “Holy shit! That son of a bitch means trouble for sure.”

  Jones got no answer at the door, but the sound of a blacksmith’s hammer striking an anvil led him to where Julio was working over a hot fire behind the tool shed.

  To Julio’s back, he hollered, “Hello.”

  Julio turned around. One look at Jones, with his disheveled looks and angry scowl, he sensed trouble. He said, “Good morning. What can I do for you?”

  With an air of importance, Jones said, “I’m looking or a hand of yours. Colored kid, name of Luke Jackson with a burn mark on his face. Where is he?”

  Julio said, “Who are you?”

  “Alton Jones, Deputy Sheriff, Dillard County, Texas.”

  Wary as he was, Julio wasn’t buying Jones’ façade. “You’re way out of your jurisdiction and I don’t see a badge.”

  Jones pressed. “I lost it. This colored boy murdered and raped two hoboes and I’m taking him in. Now where is he?”

  “There ain’t anyone around here that fits that description.”

  Jones went to the fire and picked up a red hot poker. He approached Julio and stuck the poker in his face until Julio dropped his hammer and backed away. “I said there is a darkie named Jackson working for you and I want to know where he is.”

  Curly scrambled down from the hay loft and peeked out the barn door. The deputy had to be looking for them, so he needed to arm himself. He recalled a thirty caliber rifle that Barney kept. He ran for the house; twenty feet from the door he heard Julio scream. Curly ran into the house and grabbed the rifle. He checked the chamber—it wasn’t loaded. Frantically searching through a dresser drawer he found a box of bullets. He shoved a shell in as he ran through the house and out the door. Once outside, he saw only the cloud of dust that hid Jones’ car. He fired two shots in desperation, but the car didn’t slow.

  Curly found Julio laying on the ground. He was moaning in pain from a bad burn on his chest. Julio said, “I’ll be O.K. Find some of that liniment we use on the cattle to cool this off.”

  Curly smeared the salve on Julio’s chest. As soon as he felt some relief, Julio said, “He was looking for Cat. I told him Cat quit and left. He didn’t believed me. I bet he’ll be back.”

  Curly said, “That’s O.K. I hope the son of a bitch comes back when I’m here.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Sam had fallen asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. Catwalk nudged her and said, “We’re coming into Salina for a meal stop. I’m ready for some of that chicken.”

  While the white people filed into the diner, Catwalk and Sam sat down under the nearest shade tree. He said, “I don’t like the way that conductor looks at me. It’s like he knows I shouldn’t be on this train.”

  Sam unwrapped the food and tried to calm his worries. “He doesn’t see many black people riding his trains. I’ve only seen one other black couple on this train. I don’t think he recognized you or he would have told the bulls already.”

  “I think next time I go somewhere, I’ll just catch out and take my chances.”

  “If you do that, you won’t get to ride with me.”

  Catwalk smiled, “I’m glad you came along. Having you along is better than traveling alone, even if you sleep a lot.”

  Sam threw her chicken bone at Catwalk and said, “O.K., no pie for you.”

  Early that evening they changed trains in St. Louis. On the ride south, they saw the same curious stares from the conductors, but no one said anything and the bulls didn’t bother them. Catwalk even relaxed enough to manage a few hours sleep as the train sped through the night.

  In Vicksburg, Mississippi they boarded a bus to Meridian and Catwalk felt his excitement grow about seeing his family. It had been almost a year since he’d left home. He thought about the changes his life had taken and the stark contrast to his life one year ago.

  Sam said, “Are you getting excited about seeing your family?”

  “Yes, and I can’t wait for you to meet them. My Momma’s going to like you. I think she’s always been partial to girls.”

  “I just hope we can find someone to help her get better.”

  Catwalk said, “No matter what I have to do, or who I have to find, I’m going to get some help for her.”

  Sam took his hand in hers and smiled. He was so glad he had her along. Was this a sign that he was in love?

  On the outskirts of Meridian, Catwalk and Sam left the bus and had to walk two miles to the farm where his family lived. When they reached the Moore’s boundary he took a familiar shortcut along a creek bed toward the black living area. He pointed out several field hands in the distance that he’d worked beside for many years. Then he said, “There’s our shack up ahead.”

  As they neared the shack, Catwalk saw Georgie playing with little Petey in the shade of the porch. He called out, “Georgie. Look who’s home.”

  Georgie jumped up and ran to his younger brother, screaming, “Luke, Luke. You came home. Look Petey, it’s Luke.”

  Catwalk hugged his brother and picked up Petey, who was twice the size since he’d last seen him. He asked Georgie, “How’s Momma?”

  With a sad face his brother said, “Momma’s sick, Luke. She lay down all day now, can’t work.”

  Catwalk turned to Sam, “This is my brother, Georgie, and this is little Petey.”

  Georgie looked at Sam. Not sure of how she fit into his brother’s life, he managed, “Hello.”

  “Hi Georgie.”

  Catwalk opened the door to their shack. He saw his Mother lying on a cot looking up at him. He put Petey down and knelt by her side. “Hi Momma.”

  Delores Jackson wept and held her arms out to hug her son. “Luke, you came home. Oh lord, how I’ve missed you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held her boy that she thought about every single day. She’d worried that she’d die without seeing him again. Now, those fears were washed away with tears of joy.

  She put her hands on his broad shoulders and looked at him. “My baby. And new clothes. Don’t you look handsome.”

  “How are you feeling, Momma?”

&n
bsp; “Oh, I’m just tired. Can’t do too much.”

  Dee noticed Sam standing behind him. Confused, she said, “Who is that woman, Luke?”

  Catwalk heard the distress in her voice. He said, “Momma, this is Samantha.”

  Before Sam could say anything, Dee said, “Luke Jackson, you brought a woman home with you? Are you married? Who is she?”

  “Momma, we’re not married. She works on the farm where I work. We thought if she traveled home with me there would be less chance of the railroad police throwing me off the train.”

  “Why would they want to throw you off the train, Luke?”

  “Well, they do that to black people out there, but with Sam along we look like just another couple. And she’s a pilot, Momma. I’m going to learn how to fly an airplane.”

  Dee looked at her son with disbelief. “You, fly an airplane? Are you crazy?”

  “No, Momma. I’m serious. They have two of them on the farm where I’m working. My boss is going to teach me how to fly.”

  Dee cried out loud. Deep sobbing tears rolled down her cheeks. She moaned, “My baby, oh my baby. He’s gone from me and ain’t my little boy no more.”

  Luke was disturbed by his Mother’s anguish. He’d dreamt of a joyous homecoming. Now, however, he was afraid he’d caused her more pain and grief, than joy. He didn’t know what to say.

  Sam instinctively knew what Dee was feeling. She knelt by the cot and took Dee’s hand in hers. Softly, she said, “Mrs. Jackson, you baby isn’t gone. He’ll always be your baby boy. No matter how old he is, or where he goes, he’ll always be your little boy because he loves you so much. He’ll always love you more than anyone else in the world.”

  Through tears, Dee looked at Sam; her fingers caressed her face. She said, “My word, aren’t you just the sweetest thing.”

  With a lump in his throat, Catwalk smiled. He knew when to keep his mouth shut.

  Barney returned to the farm two days later. When he heard what Jones had done to Julio, he immediately drove into Cimarron and looked up the county sheriff, telling him, “Clem, this guy came here with the intent of taking one of my employees under false pretenses, then he assaulted another employee. I want the bastard found and locked up.”