by Jeff Egerton
Discreetly, Julio left the kitchen.
Sam said, “I can’t believe your back. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve been thinking about you since you boarded that bus. How was your trip back?”
“It was fine, even though I was lonely.”
Catwalk kissed her again, then asked, “Is Barney around?”
“Yes, and he’ll want to talk to you. While we were gone that deputy, the one who wanted to hang you, he came here looking for you.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“C’mon, let’s go talk to Barney.”
Barney was in the living room talking on his new telephone. When he saw Catwalk, he shook his hand and said, “I’m glad to see you back. Your Momma must be doing well.”
“She is. She went back to work the day before I left. What’s this about the deputy from Texas being here?”
Barney told him the whole story, including the rifles he’d bought for Curly and Julio.
Catwalk collapsed into a chair and buried his head in his hands. He said, “I can’t believe he came looking for me.”
Barney said, “I called the sheriff in Dillard County. He said this guy had been in jail, but escaped. He also said he’s carrying enough hate for ten people.”
Curly had come into the room. He laid a hand on Catwalk’s shoulder and said, “Good to have you back. I wish you didn’t have to come back to this.”
Catwalk looked at him and said, “Do you think Jones will come back looking for me?”
With a grim expression, Curly said. “I think he will and I hope I see him first. There’s nothing I’d like better than to put a bullet right between his eyes.”
Catwalk looked at Sam and said, “I’m so sick and tired of violence.”
She walked over to him and cradled his head to her bosom. She whispered, “I’m going to take your mind off all the violence you’ve seen.”
Catwalk smiled at her suggestion, and whispered back, “After dinner.”
He told Barney, “I’m ready to get back to work. What needs to be done?”
“Go see Julio. He’s got enough work to keep you and Curly busy until the snow flies.”
Catwalk got up to leave, then asked Barney, “Mattie said there might be some changes around here. What sort of changes?”
“Well, I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag yet, but I’ve got an idea. I’ll let everyone know what’s in the wind as soon as I decide whether it’s a sound idea or scatterbrained folly.”
That night at dinner, Curly told Cat about his flying experiences and his expertise as a pilot. Clearly, he was proud of his progress and wanted his pal to start flying himself so he could join in his success.
Catwalk smiled at his enthusiasm, then said, “Julio said he’s starting my lessons in a week or two.”
“That’s great, Cat. You’ll love it. Hey, I’d better go; I’m meeting a girl at the Bearcat Tavern. She calls me her dreamboat.”
“O.K, buddy. See you later.”
Catwalk returned to the kitchen and read the flying books Curly had accumulated, while he waited for Sam to finish up. Julio walked in and asked, “Curly gone up to the Bearcat again?”
“Yeah. He said he was meeting a girl.”
“There’s a lot of them places opened up since the repeal of prohibition. She must be some girl, ‘cause he’s going up there regular. He’s been drinking a lot lately; keeps a pint stashed in the barn. I hope that liquor don’t get the best of him.”
Catwalk said nothing. He’d noticed the change in Curly as soon as they sat down to dinner. His friend had matured in the time he’d been gone. He’d taken up smoking regular and his demeanor had become that of someone who was trying to act tough; he swaggered and bragged about his work and his flying. Catwalk wasn’t sure if he liked the changes, but realized Curly might be going through a stage in life.
When Sam finished cleaning up, she and Catwalk walked out to the hangar so they could be alone for a while. Sitting on a bale of hay, Catwalk took her hand in his and said, “On the train ride out to Mississippi, you asked me if I thought about who I want to marry.”
With the moon casting a soft amber glow on her lovely face, she asked, “Have you thought about that?”
“Yes I did. How old do you think we should be before we get married?”
“Catwalk, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Well, I guess I am, but I’m not sure if this is the right time.”
Sam smiled and said, “When would be the right time?”
“Well, I think we should wait until I can find work that’s better than a farm laborer.”
“Do you know what you want to do?”
“No, I don’t, but I’m sure I can learn to do something.”
“Well, I don’t want to wait too long. You don’t want to marry an old woman, do you?”
“No. We won’t wait that long.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Three days later, Julio started Catwalk’s flying lessons. He soon learned that flying an airplane was easier than he thought and he picked it up quickly. Landings were the hardest part, but as Julio said, “They get easier with practice.”
The fall weather kept them from flying more than once or twice a week, still, he soloed by his sixth hour. After that Catwalk flew as often as the weather would allow. He often tried to schedule his flying so he and Sam could go up together. From his first minute in an airplane, he’d known that there wasn’t anything he’d enjoyed more than flying, and having Sam with him made the experience even better.
On the pretense of the possible theft of some cattle from his farm in Vaughn, Barney called sheriff Zane Thomas. After talking for a few minutes he casually asked if the law was still looking for the two boys that had once worked for him.
Thomas said, “No, Barney, those boys are in the clear. That wanted notice was cancelled a few weeks back. Are you going to have them move back to Vaughn for the winter?”
Barney smiled. He wasn’t surprised Thomas had seen right through his ruse. “Yes, Zane, there’s not much to do up north during the winter so as long as they’re not considered to be hardened criminals, I probably will. So long.”
Over the next two weeks Barney sent everyone except Julio back down to the Vaughn farm. Because the weather was more moderate in Vaughn, the boys flew often. Sam and Catwalk went flying together whenever they had time. Whenever they weren’t flying or working, they spent time just being together. Catwalk was happier than he thought was possible and he often wrote his Momma to tell her of his feelings toward Sam.
One morning over breakfast, Barney told Catwalk and Curly, “You’ve both got enough flying hours now. I’m going to take you to Albuquerque to get your pilot’s licenses.”
Curly jumped up hugged Catwalk. “You hear that, buddy? We’re going to be pilots.”
Catwalk looked at Sam and said, “Will you go with us.”
With a big smile, Sam said, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You better get busy studying the aeronautical regs so you can pass the test.”
With Sam’s help, the boys spent every spare minute studying the regulations from the Department of Commerce’s Aeronautical Division. Two weeks before Halloween, with Sam and Catwalk in one Jenny, and Barney and Curly in the other, they made the trip to Albuquerque. Even though he’d memorized the book of regulations and practiced all the maneuvers, Catwalk was more nervous than he could ever remember. Sam stayed close to him and did her best to calm his nerves, but he still worried about failing his written test.
Three hours after their flight test, they were waiting outside the Department of Commerce office when the check pilot walked into the waiting room and handed them their licenses. He said, “Congratulations boys. You passed both parts of the exam with high marks and you’re now licensed pilots.”
Catwalk, Curly and Sam walked outside the building then let go, hugging each other and dancing around the lawn, while unleashing all of the anxiety they’d held inside while
taking the test. Curly wrapped an arm around Cat’s neck and yelled at him, “We did it, old buddy. We’re honest to goodness pilots. Do you believe it?”
Wearing a wide grin Catwalk had one around Sam and one around Curly. “Yes, I believe it and no one can take this away from us.” He stopped his reverie and carefully folded his license and put it in his pocket.
Barney returned from the airport to find his three employees in a state of euphoria. He held his cab and said, “Does this mean we have two new private pilots in the crowd?”
Curly yelled back, “Damn right, Barney. What do you think about that?”
“Well, let’s go find somewhere to celebrate.” He asked the cabbie, “Where can we go have a nice dinner?”
Eyeing Catwalk and Sam the cab driver spoke tentative when he said, “Well, actually ….”
Curly interrupted, “Are you saying that there’s nowhere that will serve these two?”
The cabbie nervously replied, “Well, there are a couple places in south Albuquerque that cater to coloreds, one is the Sandia Club down on Santa Fe.”
Barney said, “OK, take us there.” Everyone piled into the cab.
The drive took fifteen minutes and once they arrived Barney told Catwalk, “Come on, let’s make sure we can all eat here.”
They walked into the foyer of a new restaurant that featured large potted plants, a marquee telling the patrons what entertainment was appearing and a large black and white stand behind which a well dressed black woman smiled her greeting.
Barney gestured to Cat and said, “Excuse me, ma’am but will you serve this gentlemen here?”
“Yes, we will.”
“And will you serve me here?”
“We certainly will.”
“Good, we’d like a table for four.” He then went out, paid the cabbie and ushered Curly and Sam inside. That night they all rejoiced over a fine dinner while being entertained by a three piece jazz combo. After making sure it met with Sam’s approval Catwalk had his first drink of alcohol ever, two glasses of red wine. He left the restaurant a little tipsy but Sam assured him that he had a good reason for being slightly inebriated.
Back at the hotel he wrote his family and told them about getting his pilot’s license. He also mentioned the conversation he and Sam had had about getting married. He didn’t mention the return of deputy Jones.
One week after returning from Albuquerque, Catwalk, Curly and Sam were in the hangar working on the Jenny. Catwalk yelled to Curly, “Throw me a feeler gauge.”
Curly looked up from the tool box and said, “Coming up.” He then turned toward Cat and froze—Alton Jones was standing just outside the hangar with a rifle pointed at Catwalk.
Catwalk saw Curly’s expression and turned to see what had spooked him. He saw Jones, wiped his hands and laid his rag on the wing. Then he slowly walked away from Sam, who had been at his side.
Sam saw Jones and shook her head, softly mumbling, “No, no. It can’t be.”
Jones said, “I finally got you, you son of a bitch. Did you think you could throw me in a shithouse and get away Scot-free. Well, you was wrong because you ain’t getting away from me now.”
Jones walked slowly toward him.
Staring down the barrel of the rifle pointed at his chest, Catwalk stood stock still wondering if the deputy planned to kill him on the spot or was going to take him somewhere else.
He said, “If you’re going to shoot me here, you better kill me with the first shot. Because if you miss, I’ll shove that rifle down your throat.”
“Don’t worry, boy. I never miss from this close.”
Curly saw that Jones was focused in on Catwalk. With his eye on Jones, he slowly reached behind him and picked up his rifle. He watched Jones intently, knowing the crazed deputy might pull the trigger any second.
Jones motioned Catwalk out of the hangar. In doing so, he turned slightly and Curly saw his chance. He snapped the rifle to his shoulder and fired, hitting Jones in the left shoulder.
Jones yelled and went down. He then rolled over, raised the rifle with one hand and fired wildly. The bullet hit Sam in the chest. She cried out, grabbed her chest and crumpled to the floor.
Catwalk yelled, “Sam!!” He rushed over to her.
Curly fired another round, hitting Jones in the thigh. He walked toward Jones, intent on emptying his rifle into the bastard.
Barney had been close by and came running into the hangar. When the deadly scene registered, he grabbed Jones’ rifle and then stepped in front of Curly. He said, “Don’t shoot, Curly. He’s bleeding bad, he won’t last long.”
“Get out of my way, Barney. I’m going to finish him off right now.”
Barney looked at Catwalk bent over Sam’s body. He said, “No, Curly. No more shooting.” He then took the rifle from Curly and threw it under the plane.
Barney knelt next to Catwalk and said, “How bad is it?”
Amid tears, Catwalk said, “She’s not breathing, Barney.”
Barney looked at Sam and knew at once he wouldn’t find a pulse. Hoping he was wrong, he placed two fingers behind her ear, praying with all his heart that he’d find a heartbeat even if it was weak. He didn’t. His eyes welled with tears and he said, “Oh my God.”
He laid a hand on Catwalk’s shoulder, but couldn’t bring himself to tell his friend that the love of his life lay dead before him. Barney and Catwalk cried openly.
Jones moaned, “I’m hit, God damn it, someone help me.”
Curly said, “I’ll help you, you rotten bastard.” He then kicked Jones in the head as hard as he could. Jones blacked out.
Curly then knelt beside Catwalk and said, “Help me load her in the truck. I’ll drive her to the doctor.”
Barney looked at Curly and shook his head.
Curly whispered, “Oh, hell no. Are you sure?”
Barney nodded his head.
Catwalk stood up and looked at Jones. He walked over to a tool bin and picked up an axe. Knowing what he had in mind Barney rushed toward him. “No, Cat. It won’t help. If you do anything to him, you’re just as bad as he is.”
Curly took the axe from Catwalk and said, “He’s right, Cat. Jones ain’t worth it.”
Catwalk hung his head with tears dripping off his face. He said, “I’m taking her up to the house.”
Barney told Curly, “Put Jones in the truck. Take him to Doc Crandall’s place, but drive slowly. Then find the sheriff and tell him what happened here.”
Catwalk bent over Sam, kissed her cheek and smoothed hair. Then he picked up her lifeless body and carried it to the porch. He lay her on the divan where they’d spent so many pleasant hours reading and talking. He knelt beside her and kissed her again, hoping he’d hear a moan escape her lips. He felt again for a pulse, only to feel the stillness of her death. He lay his head on her chest, next to the ugly hole where the single bullet had blown the life out of her, telling himself she just couldn’t be dead.
When he heard footsteps, Catwalk turned to see Barney. Through his tears he said, “Maybe she’s in a coma. My Momma told me about those people who get in a coma and lie still for many years and then wake up.”
Barney hung his head, knowing he had to tell Catwalk what he didn’t want to hear. “Cat, I wish to God she was, and I wish we could breathe life back into her, or perform some sort of operation to bring her back to life.”
Barney turned away for a few seconds, then said, “She’s gone, Cat. And I’ve never been so sorry in all my life. I know how you feel because I felt the same way when I lost Mary. I know the hell of it; I know that there’s nothing more final than death.”
Later that day an ambulance from the morgue picked up Sam’s body. Catwalk went down to the creek and sat where he and Sam used to have their long talks. Unbeknownst to him, Curly was watching him from a distance. Curly didn’t want to intrude upon him during his time of grief, but he felt he should keep a vigil over his closest friend during the darkest time of his life.
Catwalk wa
s still stunned and in denial about Sam’s death. He was incapable of thinking any clear thoughts; he just sat there and stared into the creek. When it started to rain, he didn’t even notice the drops. Nothing could affect him more than the loss of the only woman he’d ever loved. At times he started to question the ways of the Lord; taking someone so precious from him, just as they were starting their lives together, then he decided that was futile. Divinity be damned, there was no reason for this to happen. There couldn’t be any explanation for something so cruel.
Catwalk spent a cold, wet and dreary night by the creek. He didn’t want to face anyone and he didn’t want to talk to anyone. He had to be alone, regardless of the circumstances.
From a distant hill, Curly sat through the rainy night, taking a break only to tell Barney about Cat, then walk to the barn to get his pint of rye. When he thought of the anguish his friend was experiencing, he often came to tears himself.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
On an overcast, windy Monday afternoon they buried Sam beneath the spread of a large oak tree, not far from the grave of Barney’s late wife. A local pastor came to the farm to perform the services that were attended by several people from neighboring farms who’d come to know Catwalk and Sam. From that day on Catwalk visited her grave daily and often told her of his work on the farm, just as if they were sitting in the kitchen.
Life was difficult for Catwalk in the weeks after Sam’s death. Tragic events affect everyone differently and the time it takes for tragedy to morph into the routine of a normal life can be measured in years. In Catwalk’s case, everything on the farm reminded him of Sam. Whenever he went to read, he found he couldn’t concentrate, because his thoughts kept turning to her. Barney made sure he kept busy so he’d keep his mind occupied and everyone on the farm made a point to talk to him whenever he seemed despondent, which was often.
One month after her death, Barney and Curly were changing the wheel on a wagon, when Barney said, “Have you noticed any improvement in Cat?”
“A little, but it’s slow. I actually saw him smile the other day.”