Benny and the Bank Robber

by Mary C. Findley

Chapter Seven: Visits of Consequence

  Benny paused to watch the end of the sunrise over the top of his Uncle Tom Laughlin's barn. He had already finished most of his chores. The woodbox was full. The chickens were fed. The pigs would get their slops after breakfast. The eggs were all gathered, swinging gently in the bucket he carried. The town of Osage was just visible off in the distance. Benny looked around. His mother and Aunt Caroline should be still in the barn, though probably they had almost finished the milking. Uncle Tom he knew was in the dairy. Benny set the egg bucket down and walked over to the shed that thrust out between the house and the barn. He stopped just outside the door and looked around one more time. Then he lifted the latch and stepped inside.

  "'Morning, Black Switch," he said softly. A dark shape moved in the makeshift stall. The sleek black stallion blew a long blast of warm air over Ben's outstretched hand as he thrust his head over the wall. He nipped the crabapple from Benny's palm, scarcely touching the boy's skin. Then he nodded his head several times in rapid succession.

  "I know Jeremy usually gave you peppermint," Benny apologized. He pushed his brown hair away from his forehead and patted the horse's nose. "But Uncle Tom says sugar'll make you meaner than you already are. You're such a bad old horse, aren't you?" he said fondly. "Stop chewing up the field horse harnesses, will you? You have to behave yourself. He'll never let you out to pasture with them. You're in prison just like Jeremy is." Benny felt tears filling his eyes. He buried his face against the stallion's neck.

  "Why did he have to go, Switch?" Benny grumbled. "He gave back all the money, except what he spent to buy you. And he's a Christian now. They have to see that he's different." Benny sighed.

  The horse pushed him playfully and nosed around for sweets. But Benny knew better than to get caught disobeying Uncle Tom too far. His mother's brother was a good man, but he was strict about rules. "I've got no patience with fool boys and fast horses."

  Black Switch had amazed Benny by becoming almost as tame and gentle with Benny as he had been with Jeremy. Now Jeremy was in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, waiting to find out what would happen to him. The Missouri State officials weren't sure what to do with a confessed bank robber from Pennsylvania, so they had sent letters to Philadelphia to get instructions.

  Uncle Tom had reluctantly agreed to keep Black Switch, Jeremy's trick-playing stallion. It was hard being separated from Jeremy, but Benny had learned better than to question God's will.

  Almost a month had gone by now, and Benny had received a couple of letters from Jeremy, brought by Doc Daniel, who kept going to the capitol to find out what was happening. The thing that really bothered Benny was Jeremy's letters. They were pretty short and didn't say much. Jeremy talked about reading the Bible and praying. Benny was glad for that. He also said the food was very bad, which made Benny laugh. Jeremy mentioned that the prisoners had a lot of work and not much free time. Benny guessed that was why Jeremy didn't write much.

  Benny realized suddenly that he had been in the shed a long time. He patted Black Switch one more time and hurried out. He grabbed the egg bucket and headed into the dairy. His mother, Aunt Caroline, and Uncle Tom were all busy processing the milk in the dairy. Benny put his eggs in the springhouse to keep them cool, along with the butter his mother had churned the day before. Then everyone was ready to return to the farmhouse for breakfast.

  "Hello, Laughlins and Richardsons!" called out a voice. They looked around to see Doc Daniel riding into the yard. Benny couldn't help wondering how a doctor and minister like Doctor Daniel Connors had ended up out here in the wilderness of Missouri, dressed like a mountain man in fringed buckskin, wearing a black felt hat with a big owl feather. He was a huge man, close to seven feet tall, with white hair and beard and sharp blue-gray eyes that always seemed to know the truth whatever lies a person wanted to tell.

  "Doc Daniel!" Benny shouted. "Did you see Jeremy?"

  "Yes, I did, Ben." Doc Daniel slid off his big horse and gave Benny the reins. "Put up this old traveler for me, will you?"

  "You didn't ride all night, did you, Daniel?" demanded Aunt Caroline. "Sit down with us and have a bite of breakfast."

  Of course Doc Daniel got a lot more than a bite of breakfast. Benny's mother was a very good cook and so was Aunt Caroline. Benny loved breakfast on the farm. Eggs, sausage, pancakes or biscuits or waffles, apple juice from their own orchard – Still, Benny felt he was earning his food.

  The chores never really ended except when he had his school lessons with his mother and a little time in the evenings before bed when they sat together by the front room fire or on the porch.

  "So how was Jeremy?" Benny asked between mouthfuls of biscuit. Doc Daniel took a look around the table before he answered. Benny saw his eyes come to rest on his mother. Benny saw that look on her face that meant she was upset about something.

  "He was about like usual," Doc Daniel said with a shrug. "You come on out to the yard with me after breakfast and we'll give that horse of his a little run, eh?"

  "Dr. Connors, you should rest," Benny's mother protested. "Benny, don't pester him. He's probably exhausted."

  "Ma'am, it's no trouble," Doc Daniel smiled.

  "You're getting to handle that horse better," Doc Daniel commented as they trotted across the pasture, Doc Daniel on his tall piebald gelding Neb and Benny on Switch.

  "He's not playing as many tricks on me as he used to," Benny said modestly.

  "He knows a big bagful, doesn't he? Smart as the old devil, aren't you, you beauty?" Doc Daniel grabbed Black Switch's headstall and gave it a shake, then fed him a piece of sugar.

  "Don't tell your uncle I did that, Ben. Jeremy made me promise to give the old man a sweet or two."

  "So what did you want to tell me about Jeremy?" Benny asked.

  "Ben, I'm going to have to tell you some hard news," Doc Daniel said soberly as they dismounted in the apple orchard. "But you're not a little boy. So I know you will take it as from the Lord." Doc Daniel took a breath and sat down under a tree, making Benny sit beside him.

  "My son Dan Junior is a lawyer, you know," Doc Daniel said. "I got him to come out here to try to help Jeremy. We thought maybe we could get them to let him stay here in Missouri if he's got to serve time in prison."

  "Yes, you told me that," Benny nodded. "You said your son's the best lawyer in the world and he could do it if anybody could."

  "Well, I guess nobody can, then," Doc Daniel said, "because Jeremy is being shipped back to Philadelphia to stand trial. If there's a prison sentence he'll have to serve his time there."

  "But Doc Daniel," Benny whispered. "What's going to happen to Jeremy? Could he be there a long time?"

  "Dan doesn't really know. That's for a judge to decide."

  "I have to see him before he goes," Benny said. "Mother will take me to visit him. I'll ask her."

  "Now, Ben, let me explain something else to you," Doc Daniel said as he got to his feet. "You mama is a fine lady – a lovely Christian. She loves you and she loves the Lord. But from what I can see, she believes she's got no reason in the world to love Mr. Jeremy Carlisle. I'd say she's got some quite different feelings about him, considering how he behaved – lying about who he was, gambling his way across the country …."

  "Jeremy's a Christian now. She'll understand that he's different."

  "There isn't much time, Ben. Maybe a week at most. I'm afraid it may not be easy to convince your mother to take you to see Jeremy. In fact, I reckon it'll be mighty difficult. The Lord can do miraculous things, but for your mama to muster kind feelings toward a man who robbed a bank and held a knife to her son's throat – a man she trusted to care for the boy ... well, not many folks are that good of Christians."

  Benny was moody and silent during the rest of the day following his talk with Doc Daniel. His mother chided him for not paying attention to his schoolwork. Uncle Tom complained about half-done chores. Aunt Caroline wondered what had happened to the happy, singing nephe
w that she used to have.

  Benny slept in the open loft above Uncle Tom's front room. That night as he lay awake he heard Uncle Tom talking to his mother.

  "I've got to make the trip to Jefferson City tomorrow anyway, Abigail. Seems like it'd mean a lot to the boy."

  "I don't want my son to be friends with a criminal," Benny's mother said.

  "The friendship's already happened," Uncle Tom replied. "If you want to break it up why have you let the boy write letters to him?"

  "He didn't send a letter with Doctor Connors this time. Since Mr. – Mr. Carlisle is to be sent to Philadelphia perhaps Benny realizes that he can't continue to hope to see him."

  "I think he just realized you wouldn't listen if he asked to go see him. The boy started a dozen or more letters to Carlisle today. I found them in the trash, tear-stained, crumpled. Your son's breaking his heart over this Carlisle fellow."

  "I'll have to talk to him," his mother answered faintly.

  "Abigail, the boy's learned to love the man. It's natural. Sure he was a thief and a drunkard and all the rest. But ask Daniel if he's not a different kind of man now. He could use some Christian friends. Come on to Jeff City with Caroline and me."

  "I'm sorry, ma'am, you'll have to speak up. You wanted to visit someone?"

  Abigail Richardson twisted her hands and looked around the shabby office of the State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Benny stood at her elbow. She looked down at him and cleared her throat.

  "Carlisle. Mr. Jeremy Carlisle," she said firmly. "That's who we've come to see."

  The guard shuffled some papers on his desk. "You his wife?"

  "No!" exclaimed Jeremy's mother.

  "Sister?"

  "We're not related to Jeremy. We're just friends," Benny explained.

  "Usually we only allow relatives to visit prisoners." The guard shuffled more papers. "I don't see anyone down..."

  "He hasn't got any relatives," Benny said. "You let Doc Daniel visit him."

  "Doc Daniel? You mean Dr. Daniel Connors? You ... uh ... know Doctor Connors?"

  "He's our neighbor," Benny's mother said. Benny saw that the man was impressed. He wondered just how important Doc Daniel really was.

  "Please have a seat," the guard said to Benny and his mother. They waited a long time on the hard chairs. At last Benny nudged his mother. "I think they've forgotten us," he whispered.

  Benny's mother looked at her watch pin and suddenly stood up. "Gracious, it's getting late. We wouldn't want to keep Uncle Tom waiting. Perhaps we should try another time."

  A guard stuck his head out of a side room. "Visitors for Carlisle?"

  "Here!" Benny exclaimed. They followed him down a dim hallway.

  "Mother, you're hurting my arm," Benny whispered. She only pushed closer to him and squeezed tighter. The guard let them into a room and closed the door behind them. Another door opened across the small room, bare except for a brick wall about waist high and two rough benches on opposite walls. Benny looked eagerly across.

  He caught his breath when he saw Jeremy shuffling in wrist and leg irons, wearing a stained, threadbare prison suit. The guard who came in with him gave him a rough push with the heavy stick he held.

  "G'wan, Carlisle, go welcome your company," he said with a sneer. Benny pushed his mother over to the bench on their side and made her sit. He hoped she'd loosen her grip but she didn't. Jeremy lowered himself down onto the opposite bench.

  "Hi, Jeremy," Benny said eagerly.

  "Hello, Ben," Jeremy said. "How do you do, Mrs. Richardson?"

  "Good afternoon, Mr. Carlisle." She wasn't looking at Jeremy at all, Benny realized. Her voice was very unsteady.

  "Uncle Tom said to say howdy," Benny said.

  "Tell him the same for me, Ben." Jeremy was sitting stiff and straight and Benny thought he looked unhappy about something.

  "Uncle Tom had some business in town. Wasn't that lucky?"

  "It's good you didn't have to go out of your way."

  "I – I wanted to come see you sooner," Benny stammered. "It's pretty far..."

  "Of course it is," Jeremy interrupted. "Your ma's good to bring you. I can see it's not easy for her to be here."

  "No one made me come!" Benny's mother said sharply.

  "I'm sorry I offended you, ma'am," Jeremy said. "It wasn't my intention. I only meant I understand what a sacrifice it is for you, and I appreciate it."

  "Mr. Carlisle, I would appreciate it if you would explain to my son why this – relationship he seems to think you have is not – not a good thing – under the circumstances."

  "Mother, what are you talking about?" Benny demanded. Jeremy shifted in his seat, rattling his chains. He rose slowly to his feet.

  "She means she wants you to forget about me, Ben," he said. "She thinks it's a disgrace for a decent Christian boy like you and a fine Christian woman like her to come to a place like this and be seen with a man like me. It's a good thing I'm going to Philadelphia so she doesn't have to dirty her pretty skirts by coming back again." Jeremy turned to go.

  Benny's mother jumped to her feet. "You deceived me greatly, Mr. Carlisle," she said in a trembling voice. "I trusted you to take care of my son. He ... he was all I had in the world. Can't you understand how I feel?"

  "Can't you understand how I feel, ma'am?" Jeremy burst out. "Yes, I deceived you. I deceived everybody I ever knew or met. I was a thief, a liar – I put a knife to your son's throat and told him I'd kill him."

  Jeremy shuddered and breathed hard a few times. "But he just kept telling me that I needed to believe in the Lord. I'd put him in a bad spot just to frighten him. He said I needed to ask Jesus to save me. I'd try to make him do wrong. He'd pray for me and quote the Bible.

  "'You don't know God,' he'd say to me. He saved my life when I was drowning in the Conemaugh River for that stinking bag of gold, and he said it was because he didn't want me to go to Hell."

  Tears coursed down the scars in Jeremy's face. "I have to live with knowing what I did to your boy, when all he did was try to make me do right. I have to look at his sweet mother despising me – and rightly so – and I wish I was in a worse place than this.

  "God's been so good to me. I just wish I could be more grateful. I spoke out of turn to you, ma'am, and I'm sincerely sorry. Ben, maybe it would be better if you forgot about me. It's easy for God to forgive sins, or so Doc Daniel tells me. It's not so easy for me to forgive myself, or for other people to forgive me. Thanks, ma'am, for bringing Ben."

  "Jeremy!" Benny was crying too. "I missed you so much!"

  "Good-bye, Ben," Jeremy said. The guard opened the door for him and he disappeared as fast as his leg irons would allow.

  "Benny, let's go," his mother said, pulling him toward the other door. Benny started to say all the angry things that were boiling up in his mind. Instead he just pulled his arm out of his mother's and left the prison at a run.

  Uncle Tom's wagon stood out in front of the prison. Aunt Caroline and Uncle Tom watched him fly down the steps, fiercely wiping away tears, and saw his mother hurry out after him. Benny stopped short of the wagon and looked around, but there was nowhere to go.

  "I thought we'd stop at the cafe down the street and get a bite to eat before we head home," Uncle Tom suggested, his voice too loud, too hearty.

  "I'm not hungry. I'm tired," Benny muttered.

  "Just curl up in the back with those blankets, dear," Aunt Caroline told him.

  Benny flopped down inside the canvas cover and buried himself completely in the quilts. The wagon jerked and jolted off.