by Jeff Egerton
“I’ll send out a telegraph message and keep an eye out for the guy, Barney. I doubt if he’ll be easy to find though. His type are good at staying out of sight.”
Barney knew the sheriff was right. Finding Jones would be much easier said than done. Curly and Julio told him they were convinced that Jones would return to find Catwalk. Barney’s only recourse was to be ready for the guy when he returned. With that in mind, he drove to the nearest supply store and bought two more rifles. When he arrived at the farm, he told Curly and Julio to keep one with them at all times.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next morning Sam stayed with Dee while Catwalk went to talk to Mr. Moore, the owner of the farm, about finding a doctor. Moore recommended he try a Doctor Graves who was not far from the farm. He gave Cat directions to the doctor’s house.
Catwalk made the one mile trek and knocked on the door. A graying man in glasses answered, took one look at the black man standing there and said, “I’m not giving out any more food; I’ve already helped two people today.”
Catwalk countered, “No sir, I’m not looking for a handout. I need a doctor for my Momma. They think she’s got leukemia.”
“Doctors cost money, boy?”
“I know that, sir. I’ve got enough money to pay for her treatment.” Catwalk showed the doctor the cash Barney had given him. He hoped money was the only issue.
The doctor hesitated, then said, “I can’t help her right now. My schedule is too busy. Try another doctor.”
“When would you have time, sir?”
“I’m busy for several weeks. Try someone else.”
Catwalk got the message; it wasn’t about money or busy schedules, this was about the color of his skin. He left feeling disheartened, but no less determined. He wasn’t going to let people’s attitudes stand in the way of his Momma getting the help she needed. He decided to walk to Mr. Slade’s farm and talk to him about finding a doctor. His former boss had brought in a black doctor for his father when he was sick. He’d see if Slade could get the same doctor for his Momma.
The walk took him two hours, but he found his former boss working on an irrigation pump. The farm owner greeted him, “Hello, Luke. I didn’t know you were back in these parts.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Slade. I’ve been working out in New Mexico, but I came back ‘cause my Momma’s down sick. They think she’s got leukemia.”
Slade walked a few steps to the shade of an oak tree. When they were out of the sun, he said, “I’m sorry to hear that. Your Momma’s a real nice lady.”
“Mr. Slade, I’m looking for a doctor. I tried Doctor Graves, but he said he’s too busy. I want to find the black doctor that you had for Daddy.”
“Oh, yes. Doc Abernathy. I’m afraid he died, Luke; passed on a few months ago.”
“Do you know of any other black doctors around here?”
“I don’t, Luke. You might try Doctor Sherman in Meridian. If you can wait while I repair this pump, I’ll drive you in to town.”
Catwalk knew if his old boss was with him, the doctor might be more inclined to help him. He said, “I would appreciate that. Let me give you a hand with that pump.”
An hour later, they drove to the doctor’s office in Meridian and had to wait about twenty minutes before seeing the doctor. When they got in to see him, the doctor agreed to look at Dee, but said it would be two days before he could fit her in his schedule. Relieved, Catwalk paid him for one visit, then rode back to the farm. On the way, he asked Mr. Slade, “I might be here for a while to help my Momma get better. Do you have any work available?”
“Luke, you were one of the best farm hands I ever had; you could out work any two other men, but I’ve had a hard time selling my crops and I might have to let some of my hands go.”
Luke thought about his family. If Mr. Moore ever had a problem selling his crops, their employment was in danger. What would they do if Moore laid them off? He said, “I’m sorry you’re having problems. I guess nobody has much money.”
“That’s the hell of it, son. Once people stop working, they stop buying soon after.”
When Catwalk returned home, Sam said his Mother was sleeping. They sat on the porch and he told Sam about Mr. Slade taking him to see Doctor Sherman.
Sam said, “I hope he tells us something good,” then added, “Do you know how long you’ll be staying here?”
“No, I don’t. I have to see that Momma gets whatever she needs to make her better. Are you going back to New Mexico soon?”
“I promised Barney I wouldn’t stay long. They’ll be bucking barley soon and he’ll need me to cook for the harvest crew.”
The thought of Sam leaving troubled Catwalk. Her support had been comforting and reassuring. He didn’t want her to go, and said, “It’s too bad you can’t stay.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“I wish you could stay. You’ve been a lot of help, but I know you have to go back.”
Sam smiled and said, “Catwalk Jackson, that’s so nice of you to say that.”
“I’ve been thinking it a lot, but everything I think doesn’t come out in words.”
“I know; I’m the same way. I’ve been thinking a lot of things that I haven’t said either.”
“Is it about us getting married?”
“Well, that and having kids one day.”
Catwalk looked at Sam to read her sincerity. Her smile told him, she wasn’t kidding. He cleared his throat and said, “I better check on Momma.”
Alton Jones drove straight east until he came to Clovis, New Mexico. There he stopped long enough to siphon some gas out of a truck parked near a grain silo. He then drove across the Texas border driving until he came to the town of Hereford. Because he’d burned that farm hand and was driving a stolen car, the local police around Cimarron would be looking for him. His best plan would be to lie low here until things cooled off.
He was convinced that the farm hand had lied to him and that the Jackson boy would be returning to that farm. He’d give the boy time to return, then, he’d go back to the farm and finish the job. He had nothing else to do, but avoid the law and wait for the Jackson boy to show himself.
Two days later they took Dee to the doctor’s office. After the first examination and blood test, the doctor told Catwalk, “Son, I’ve confirmed that your Mother has leukemia, but most leukemia can be treated. Have you ever heard of a blood transfusion?”
“No, sir. What’s that?”
“Well, this disease is caused by her white blood cells becoming abnormal to the point that they don’t make enough normal blood cells in her bone marrow. This causes infections, anemia and bleeding. By giving her a transfusion, I am putting normal blood back into her system. This should help her, but there’s no guarantee it will work. Also, we might have to do this several times and the problem is, we don’t have enough clean blood to do that.”
Catwalk became defensive, “If she was white, would they have enough clean blood?”
The doctor shook his head and said, “Son, it’s not a question of color. There just isn’t enough blood. The only way we get blood is when people donate it and no one is doing that right now. Also, there’s so much disease and sickness around, it’s darn hard to find someone who is healthy enough to donate blood.”
“Can I donate blood?”
“Yes, you can; you’ll have to.”
Catwalk said, “How about my brothers and sisters?”
“I’ll take blood from the older children, but not the younger ones.”
“How about all the other workers? If they have the right blood, can they donate?”
“Yes, if they’re healthy, and if their blood is the right type, they can donate.”
“When do we start?”
“I’ll have to keep your Mother here for a few days. We’ll take your blood now. Sometime in the next few days, we’ll take blood from your older brothers and sisters.”
Catwalk went in to see his Momma. He hugged her, then said, “We’
re going to get you better, Momma. I’m going to donate some blood now so they can give you a transfusion. The doctor said Georgie, Cecil and Rose Ann can donate too. The clean blood will make you better.”
Dee smiled and said, “Luke, just having you around makes me feel better. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“We’re going to get you well, Momma. Why don’t you get some rest?”
She asked, “When I’m feeling better, will you have to go back to New Mexico?”
“I have to, Momma. I have to repay Barney the money he loaned me.”
“Can’t you work here, for Mr. Slade, and send the money back to him?”
“I already talked to him. He’s not hiring anybody because he’s having trouble selling his crops.”
Dee turned her head. Luke tried to sound optimistic, “Momma, when I get Barney paid off, Mr. Slade might be hiring. Maybe I can come back here to work.”
She knew things wouldn’t work out that way. Still, she said, “That would be nice, Luke.”
Two days later, Sam and Catwalk were talking on the porch. The time had come when she had to return to New Mexico, but he hated the thought of her leaving. Also, he was worried about her making the trip back by herself. He knew too well the multitude of dangers that awaited a black person in a world ruled by hostilities.
Sam said, “I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I don’t want to go, but I promised Barney.”
“I knew you’d have to leave pretty soon.”
“Oh, Cat. You don’t know how much I hate leaving you. I don’t want us to be apart.”
“I don’t either, Sam, but it can’t be helped. Once I get back we’ll have lots of time together.”
Three kids from a neighboring shack started playing around a shade tree in front of the porch. Feeling the quiet privacy was at an end, Catwalk took Sam’s hand and said, “Come on. Let’s go down to the pond.”
They walked hand in hand silently along the creek, each of them trying to savor the few remaining minutes they had together. When they arrived at the pond, they laid down in the grass under a willow tree.
Catwalk put his arms around Sam and looked into her eyes, feeling the love, devotion and strength that emanated from within. She traced the outline of his face with a finger and said, “You have to write me every day to let me know how your Mom is doing.”
“I will. I promise.”
Catwalk kissed Sam, lightly at first.
“Um-mm. Now I’m really going to miss you.”
He kissed her again, this time with more intensity. She responded with the passion that had been too long dormant. Soon the pent up yearning and desire of two young people in love took over. Beside a quiet pond in rural Mississippi, Catwalk and Samantha sealed their love for eternity.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning Catwalk walked Sam to the bus station. Little was said until they reached the station where Sam again reminded him to write and Catwalk promised he would. She also pressed him to return as soon as possible, to which he also agreed. In tears, she climbed the bus to Vicksburg and waved good bye from the window. Standing alone in front of the general store, for the first time in his life, Catwalk felt terribly alone.
Over the next week, Dee showed signs of improvement. She returned to the farm so she could be with her family, which the doctor thought would be more therapeutic than his clinic. Even though he missed Sam terribly, Catwalk enjoyed the time with his family. Whenever the neighbor lady came over to watch Dee, he and Georgie went fishing down at the creek and he spent the evenings reading to his brother and sisters. As much as he enjoyed his family, there was a void in his life that only one person could fill. He wrote to Sam faithfully every day, knowing the time when they’d again be together was inching closer.
Four weeks after her transfusions, Dee had recovered enough that Catwalk prepared to leave for New Mexico. After another tearful good-bye, he took his bedroll, a sack of vegetables and two molasses sandwiches and headed for the tracks north of town. Barney had left him with enough money to buy a ticket, but he’d rather save it to repay his debt. He realized Barney’s loan saved his Momma’s life, but he’d discovered that he didn’t like owing people money.
At the water tank outside of Meridian, Catwalk lay down in the grass to wait for the next freight. When heard the whistle in the distance, he lay still to see how many other riders approached the open boxcars. If there were too many, he’d wait for another train, rather than dealing with railroad bulls that an army of riders attracted. He saw only a few men, so when the drive wheels started their rotation, he found an open door and trotted toward the car. He threw his bindle in and easily vaulted into the moving freight car. Once inside he saw only two other riders and one was asleep. He picked up his bindle and moved to the far end of the car where he’d be by himself.
Catwalk slept for a few hours, but woke up when the train slowed. He looked out the door and saw the sign for Shreveport, Louisiana. This meant he’d be spending the next day or so crossing Texas. He’d breathe a lot easier when he reached New Mexico.
Just as the train started moving, a man and woman jumped into the boxcar and sat down between him and the door. The woman was carrying a small child who was crying. As she comforted the child, she said, “Honey, we’re going to get something to eat at the next stop. It won’t be long. I can’t believe those people back there wouldn’t feed a child.”
The man said, “They were out of food, Lorraine. The guy said they’d had so many people come through that they just ran out.”
Catwalk took his last half sandwich and approached the couple. When the woman saw him, she held the child close and backed away in fright, saying, “Stay away from us. We ain’t got any money.”
Ignoring her fear, Cat smiled, held out the sandwich and said, “This is for your daughter. It’s molasses and the bread is still fresh.”
The woman said nothing. Confused she turned toward her husband. He took the sandwich and said, “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“That’s O.K., I’ve been hungry myself.”
The man said, “We stopped at the mission in Shreveport, but they ran out of food. The guy said they just had too many mouths to feed.”
Catwalk said, “Winter’s coming. More people are coming down south.”
He returned to his spot and lay down. Again, he counted himself lucky because although he might not eat until he reached New Mexico, he didn’t have any kids to feed. He’d seen a lot of families on the road with children and he always felt sorry for the little ones who had no idea what kind of inhuman hell they’d been thrust into.
As he rode Catwalk thought of Sam and how well she’d fit in with his family. They’d all, including little Petey, told him how much they liked her and didn’t want her to leave. He knew beyond any doubt that he was deeply in love with Sam. He also knew this brought with it some responsibility and this worried him. He could make a living wage working for Barney, but he wanted to give Sam a better life than that of the wife of a farm laborer. This raised the question of how. He fell asleep while wondering how on earth he could give Sam the life he wanted and she deserved.
Catwalk dropped off at the Vaughn water tank. He walked the seven miles to Barney’s farm and saw Mattie working in the vegetable garden. He called out, “Hello, Mattie.”
The portly woman turned toward him and said, “If you’re looking for work…. Oh, my gosh. If it isn’t Mr. Catwalk.”
“Hi Mattie. Is Barney up north?”
“He sure is. Won’t be back for a week or so.” She gave Catwalk a big hug, then took his arm and led him toward the house. “How is your Momma feeling?”
“She’s feeling fine. She’s got all of her strength back and even went back to work before I left.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. I’d like to meet that woman sometime. Have you eaten?”
“I can always sit down to your cooking. I know you’ve got a fresh pie in there.”
“Cherry. Just took it out of the oven this
morning.”
“Do you know if they’re finished bucking barley up north?”
“Yes. Four men from the Carter place came over to help and they got it all done last week.”
Mattie served his meal as Catwalk said, “The farmers back home are having trouble selling their crops. Has Barney had any problem selling his?”
“I don’t know. Mr. Barney gives away so much to the needy, I don’t know if he’s selling any produce or not. I think he’s fed up with the farming business though. When he came back he was fussin’ and frettin’ around here for a few days. Then one morning he said he’s thinking of getting into another business, where he don’t work so hard and make so little.”
“What business is that?”
“I don’t know, child. He didn’t say and I didn’t ask.” Little else was said while he ate for the first time in two days, but his curiosity had been piqued. He wondered what business Barney could possibly be considering.
Catwalk left early the next morning walking the same roads he and Curly had driven a few months ago. Late afternoon of the third day, he arrived at Barney’s farm. He walked in the kitchen and found Julio hefting a block of ice into the ice box. Julio said, “Welcome home, son. How is your Momma doing?”
“She’s much better, Julio. She went back to work about the time I left Meridian.”
“That’s mighty good to hear. It’s nice to have you back again.”
“Thank you. Is Sam around?”
“She was here earlier, but I haven’t seen her for the last couple of hours. I don’t think she expected you home for another day or so.”
“I left two days earlier than I planned on. I’ll see if she’s down at the barn.”
Sam walked in the door, saw Catwalk and yelled, “Cat!” She ran into his arms. Oblivious of Julio, they hugged and kissed each other with the fervor of two lovers who’d been apart for years, rather than weeks.