Winter's Refuge
Chapter 18
HEYES
The guards are annoying. I am trying to figure out the details of a plan to catch this new Devil's Hole Gang and they want me to concentrate on making dumb, stupid brooms. Don't they know Mark McWinters kills innocent people and I can stop him?
I have been working in the broom factory for three days now. It's been a week since the Kid and Lom visited so only a week to wait for them to come back. I have some ideas, but I have more questions for them, too. How big is the gang? Do they still meet up and hurrah in Hidden Springs after a job? It's hard to work and think, too. My arm still hurts…hurts a lot. Dr. Arden will be back in four more days, and I'll let him look at my arm. I don't know if I trust him with everything, but I trust him to look at my arm. Turns out he's a real doctor, not just a head doctor. Went to some fancy medical school in the East. He's helping out here one day a week until they find a replacement for Doctor Thompson. Not easy to find a doctor willing to work in a prison but it means I see him twice a week now. I showed him the map of the lock. Kid is quite clever. I can open it with the two keys and Dr. Arden's lock pick. I'm not going to tell him about my plans for the Devil's Hole Gang.
"Heyes, get working and stop dreaming," the guard's hash command broke my concentration.
Angry, I turned to him but caught myself before I said or did anything. I simply said, "Yes, sir." Yesterday I didn't say that. Yesterday I tried to hit him when he hit me on my lower back with his billy club, 'To get my attention,' he said.
I don't have time for brooms. I need to make plans.
Jed 'Kid' Curry
Luke McWinters showed up one mornin' out of nowhere. He slowly made the turn onto our road and limped toward the ranch house. He studied the ground as if any moment a rock or a hole would throw him off balance. Watchin' the approachin' figure from the shop, I first recognized him as a McWinters. As he got closer, I knew he was Luke. Taller than his brothers, his hair was brown with untamed waves. I also saw he was armed.
Takin' off my blacksmith apron, I strapped on my gun. I stepped out of the forge and blocked his path. He was a wanted man. Chrissy and I would be facin' aidin' and abettin' charges if we helped him. I would move heaven and earth to keep Chrissy safe and out of prison. I flipped the leather loop off of my gun.
"Luke." Standin' in front of him, I naturally reverted to my gunfighter stance.
He stopped, blinkin' into the sun as he raised his head. He smiled when he recognized me.
Mr. Curry!" His voice was happy, his tone anxious. "Chrissy here?"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Chrissy look out from the back room as she often did when customers approached, listenin' to their requests and writin' them down for me. She didn't run to Luke as I was afraid she might. She just watched and looked to me. Her eyes darted from Luke to me to the empty road leadin' here.
"She's here. You ain't welcome here, Luke."
"Sir?"
I bristled at the term, but my focus was keepin' Chrissy safe. "Chrissy served time for aidin' and abettin' me and Heyes. Ain't goin' to happen again."
"God bless her. She went to prison?"
"You're a wanted man, Luke. Don't mean to be inhospitable to family, but I'm protectin' your sister."
"Who better to protect her than Kid Curry."
I studied his face for sarcasm but only saw sincerity. "Be on your way, Luke."
"Just came to say goodbye." He leaned to the side and caught himself takin' two steps so he didn't fall over. I watched him carefully as he reached into his shirt pocket. If he went for a gun, I would shoot him, no matter that he's Chrissy's brother. "These might make a difference."
He handed me an envelope and when I looked at the papers inside, I knew instantly what they were. "Amnesty, Luke?"
"Yeah, I ain't rode with my brothers for two years."
Chrissy slipped into the shop still hidden from Luke behind the forge.
"Then you're welcome here, boy!" I approached him and clapped him on the back, almost knockin' him over. His body seemed thin and frail. I remembered how Mrs. Birde callin' me boy upset my temper. "Well, you ain't a boy no more. What do you mean say goodbye?"
He had reached for me when he almost fell and now he leaned on me as he returned my hug. Chrissy stepped to the front of the shop, watchin' us closely. Her whole world since she came here had been me, Lom, and members of the Ortiz family. And the customers who came to have their horses shod, although she rarely looked directly at them.
"Easy with her," I whispered in Luke's ear as I felt him tense as he saw his sister.
"Chrissy!" He moved to hug her. She retreated back to the forge. He looked at me with questions and I saw a flash of anger.
Goin' to Chrissy, I stood next to her, lookin' at Luke not her. "Chrissy, it's your brother, Luke," I told her. Motionin' Luke with my hand to stay where he was, I repeated, "Your brother, Luke."
We all stood still. I knew the heat near the forge was near unbearable for them. Finally, she touched my arm.
"Luke."
"Yes, Luke."
Luke limped two steps closer to us before he saw my hand again raised to stop him.
Chrissy was lookin' down at the metal splinters and black dirt on the floor. I was thankful Luke was followin' my lead and bein' patient for the moment.
"Luke," she said firmly. "Luke, hurt." She turned and left through the back room headin' for the ranch house.
"Follow her. Don't push her," I told him. "Call for Juan. He's in the stables behind the house."
He nodded and started up the road after his sister but fell further behind with each limped step.
As quickly as I could, I shut down the coal fire and lowered two sides of the buildin', leavin' the last up to allow the heated air to escape. I jammed the CLOSED sign up. As I hurried to the house I thought about Luke, the quiet middle McWinters brother. When I was injured and recovering at Winter's Refuge, I had told Chrissy about me and Heyes tryin' for amnesty. In fact, I had told her all our secrets. I even suggested her brothers could try for amnesty, too. Felt good that Luke got it.
But then an angry jealousy flooded my thoughts. He got it while me and Heyes had to 'earn' it in prison. Chrissy, who had done nothin', was still fightin' to recover from servin' her time. Heyes would tell me 'Forget it. It's done.' But it wasn't done for him. He was still in there, tryin' to hang on.
At the house, Chrissy had Luke in the extra bedroom, the one Lom used, the one I called Heyes' room. She had torn his pants leg so the wound, a bullet wound on his leg, was exposed. Although she was pattin' the wound with a warm towel, she wasn't seein' it or us. She had retreated inside her own world again.
"Bullet's out," Luke explained and now I saw the pain on his face as he lay on his back leanin' back on his elbows. "Went home. Mrs. Marina patched me up best she could. I needed to find Chrissy. Mr. Jose said she was here. Need to say my goodbye."
"You ain't goin' die from this if I can help it." I couldn't figure any other reason he would say goodbye. He just got here, and he was a free man. More important questions to answer first. "Who shot you? And why?"
Tryin' to sit all the way up, he moved Chrissy's hand away from his wound. "What's wrong with her?" he asked.
Even though she was not respondin', I'd learned she was listenin'. "She's gettin' better. Now answer me. Who shot you and why?"
"Mark shot me. When I got my amnesty papers, I went to Devil's Hole. Thought if my brothers saw them, they might try for amnesty, too. Some of your old gang's hidin' up there. Law desperate to catch any outlaws around there now after Mark's taken over."
"Who from the old gang's there?"
"It's an uneasy alliance up there. The law is searching hard for anyone who was part of any gang. Only place to hide is Devil's Hole. Mark lets them stay, but they don't go on no jobs. Preacher's there and Hank and Harris. Heard Kyle wandered in but left the same day when he learned Mark was in charge. Blue Nose is there, and Whitey McFarland is doin' the cookin'."
Luke leaned back on his elbows again and now the pain on his face wasn't as well hidden. I felt his forehead and the heat there was not from heat outside today. "Juan, go get the doctor. Hurry," I called out to the other room.
Juan came to the door and mumbled, "Luke!" in surprise.
"And bring Sheriff Birde, too," I added to his back as he hurried out the front door.
I looked again at Luke. "And what happened?"
"Matt looked interested, but Mark laughed."
"Matt's out of prison and back with the gang?" I was sad to here Mark hadn't made it on the outside.
"Yeah, told me he didn't have no other place to go. He's wanted again. Mark laughed at me. Johnny and Bobby Bell did, too." I saw a deep sadness cross his face and he moaned as he tried to reposition his leg. "When I turned to leave, Mark yelled, 'Fool!' and shot me in the leg. He laughed harder and yelled, "Enjoy your free life as a cripple. You're no brother of mine."
Matt and Preacher met me outside with my horse and told me to get out of there quick like. Preacher tied a bandage around my leg. Matt stuffed a role of bills in my saddle bag. He yelled, 'Don't ever come back!' as he hit my horse on the rump."
Luke fell quiet, exhausted. I realized it was goin' to fall to me to doctor Luke until the doctor arrived. The wound looked like it had started to heal, to close, but had opened again. I knew he'd been walkin' on it but not for how long. And with his fever and the redness around the wound, I knew it was infected.
"Gonna boil some water. Don't try to get up. Lay all the way down, if you can."
Chrissy had retreated to the corner, but she hadn't hunched down to hide; she was still standin' up. She looked at me, really looked at me, and repeated, "Luke hurt?"
"Yes, darlin', but we'll take good care of him, won't we?" She followed me into the kitchen. After I started the water to boil, I held out a hand to her. "Need you to sit quiet while I wash that leg of Luke's. He might cry out. Don't be scared. I'm helpin' him." I tried to warn her as I warned her of anythin' new in her world.
"Read?" she asked and took her book from the kitchen table where she had left it.
"Yes, read." I thought she'd go into her room, but she went back and sat in the rockin' chair by Luke's bed.
She opened the book and began, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain."
I stood in the doorway a moment while I waited for the water to boil. I felt like I had felt listenin' to her read to Summer's Solstice, joyous to hear her voice. She still read in monotone, but it delighted me. Luke leaned back onto his pillows and his hand reached out and touched her knee. He let it rest there. She didn't move. She didn't flinch. She just kept readin'.
I'm not too good at doctorin'. Heyes has been my only patient and he's pretty stoic, never wants me to see if he's in pain. Puttin' a clean rag in the hot water, I started to clean the blood, dirt and grime from around the wound startin' a few inches away and then movin' in closer.
Luke moaned. Then he cried out. Alarmed, I stopped cleanin' and moved to the bottom of the bed. I pulled off his boots. Both had holes through the soles and toes. His socks fell apart in my hands.
I was relieved to hear Juan and Doctor Sexton on the porch. I stepped aside as Juan led him to the room. The doctor looked hesitant, worried. He looked in but didn't enter the bedroom. He looked at Chrissy readin'. Doubt he'd ever heard her voice before. He'd brought his horse in for shoes and she'd helped him. He'd asked if she'd always been like that. If he could study her. I said no.
He looked at me. "I don't heal no outlaws," he said and turned to go.
Behind the doctor, Juan looked sheepish. "I told them it was Luke McWinters. That he was a friend I grewed up with. Chrissy's brother."
I tried to give him a nod that it was all right. He didn't understand.
"NO!" Chrissy yelled, then looked to me for help.
"Don't care if he's related or not. I don't work on outlaws!" Dr. Sexton scrunched his nose as he said 'outlaws'.
I was about to explain when I heard Sheriff Birde's voice boom down the hall. "If I remember right, you doctors take an oath to doctor anyone who needs you."
Dr. Sexton turned quickly into Sheriff Birde's angry face. Luke moaned loudly and he cried out and grabbed his shoulder as he tried to turn to see what was happenin'. I went to help him lay back down. I could see a small spot of blood on the left side of his shirt that wasn't there before. It was slowly growin'.
I could hear the doctor and the sheriff arguin' in the hallway. I pulled Luke's shirt open and felt a makeshift bandage move beneath it. The flatter I laid him, the more he moaned so I held him up and moved all the pillows behind him. Chrissy added a rolled-up quilt to the pillows. She seemed to want to help. I needed to think about Luke right now, not her. There was a jagged cut near his shoulder as red as the wound on his leg.
"Man thought he'd take my money when I left the Hole. He knifed me, but may God help me, I left him tied up in the woods without his pants," Luke's words came out slowly.
Chrissy reached over and touched a chain he wore around his neck. She pulled it from under the side of his shirt that I hadn't pulled back. On the end was a beat up wooden cross.
An angry lookin' Dr. Sexton entered the room.
The sheriff followed. "If he's wanted, I'm arrestin' him right now."
"He's not, Sheriff. He got an amnesty. Papers are right here." I told them.
Sheriff Birde looked relieved. He told me later he figured he'd have to jump through hoops to avoid aidin' and abettin' charges for us 'cause we brought him in the house. The doctor was resolved to report us all. Those papers solved a lot of problems for him. Told me he couldn't let anythin' happen to the best blacksmith the town had ever seen.
"Well, Dr Sexton. He's not an outlaw."
The doctor looked miffed but bent over first Luke's leg then his shoulder. "Need an extra hand here. Need the carbolic acid from my bag."
Chrissy had been standin' on the far side of the bed, watchin' the doctor's movements. Now she looked into his bag and handed him the carbolic acid. Then she prepared two bandages and handed them to the doctor before he even asked for them. He took them with a surprised look and a "Hrumph." When he had finished bandagin' the wounds, he found Chrissy handin' him his bottle of laudanum and a teaspoon.
"Yes, yes laudanum for his pain. One teaspoon now." The doctor poured a teaspoon and stuck it in Luke's mouth. Luke drank it and would have spit it out if the doctor hadn't held his mouth closed. "No, you don't. Swallow it all."
Luke swallowed but made a face. The doctor handed the bottle to Chrissy. "One teaspoon every three hours. If you want, you can add it to tea with sugar or honey."
Chrissy ignored the bottle, just looked at her brother. I took the bottle from the doctor. He knew that Chrissy was had used limited words but had never asked why. I wasn't goin' to tell him she assisted the prison doctor while she was incarcerated. And had helped my back heal with her care.
ASJ*****ASJ
When the doctor left, Chrissy sat by Luke's bed and read to him. She kept cold rags on his forehead and the back of his neck. Me and Juan tried to make chicken soup. Weren't too bad for a first try, but not enough salt or something. Luke slept until it was time for more medicine. He opened his eyes as I propped him up on some pillows.
"Drink some water," I ordered. Don't know if he was thirsty or my tone of voice but he drank nearly the whole cup.
"Thank you," he said. "God bless you."
Not sure what look I got on my face at the blessing. Chrissy touched my arm to get my attention and handed me a half bowl of soup but no spoon.
"Oh!" she said and ran to the kitchen.
Luke's eyes followed her again looking to me with the same question.
"I'm takin' good care of her. She's gettin' better."
"Bless you."
ASJ*****ASJ
Each day, Chrissy nursed Luke silently. He was improving slowly under her care. And in bits and pieces told us the story of his last two years and his path to amnesty. He had asked his brother Johnny to try for it, too. But Johnny was too scared of Mark. So Luke rode near Winter's Refuge and found Father Patrick that had known them as boys...troublemakin' boys. He told him his story. Told him he had heard about this amnesty thing and wanted to try for it. The priest is a good, God-fearing man who believed in second chances. He went and talked to the governor and Luke got the same response we did. He had to earn his amnesty.
Hearing Luke talk about his first six months and all the close calls he had reminded me when me and Heyes were tryin' for it. Each of the McWinters brothers had a five-thousand-dollar reward on their heads. Lawmen, bounty hunters, and normal people dreamed about that money. Hearin' Luke's time of it, I was glad I'd Heyes to watch my back. I couldn't imagine tryin' to stay safe alone.
Luke said more and more he took refuge in the churches. Talked to the reverends and priests and a rabbi about the Lord and his forgiveness. After about six months, he made his way back to Father Patrick.
"Father Patrick?" Luke whispered into the darkness of the early morning church.
"Who's there?"
"You alone, Father?" Luke stayed in the shadows.
"Yes, my son. Who's there?"
"Luke McWinters."
"Ahh, Luke. No news of your amnesty, I'm afraid. The governor said the politics aren't right for him to grant amnesty to one of the McWinters brothers." Father Patrick sat in a side pew where the early morning light didn't reach.
"Yes, Father. I figured it was too soon. Came here for something else." Luke went and sat in the row in back of him.
"Why did you risk coming here?"
"I've made a decision."
"You're not going to give up trying for your amnesty, are you Luke? You're not going back to your old way of life?" The disappointment was heavy in his voice.
"No, Father. But I find more and more no matter where I go, I'm drawn to the churches. And I've been praying on something for two months now that I need your help with."
"Nothing illegal?"
"No, far from it. I want to become a priest. Dedicate myself to God, if he'll have an outlaw like me doing his work."
Father Patrick closed his eyes. It was not the answer he expected, but Luke had always been around the church as a boy when he wasn't with his brothers. He had been an altar boy and helped him deliver alms to the poor.
"Father, did you hear me? I want to become a priest."
"I heard you, Luke. It is not something that happens overnight. The decision requires much prayer."
"Been prayin' on it and thinkin' of nothin' else but that for the last months."
"If you're sure. This is not just a place to hide?"
"I'm sure. I feel it in my soul."
"Then I have a place you can go. You'll study and learn and take your first vows. It is secluded though the padres are devoted to doing good works. I'll get in touch with them. Can you come back in a week?"
When Luke returned the following week, he entered the church at dawn to wait for Father Patrick. But at Luke's footsteps, the Father whispered to him.
"Luke, come here, again."
Wary of a trap even in a church, Luke walked quietly to the same side section rows of pews. From the back, he saw Father Patrick and another man.
"Father, you aren't alone?"
"This is Father George Fallon. A friend of mine. He is in charge of the seminary I spoke to you about."
Luke left that afternoon for New Mexico and joined the seminary classes. He'd been there for a year and a half and taken his first vows when the telegram came from Father Patrick that the governor would like to see him. With the promise to return, he'd gone to Cheyenne and received his amnesty.
I noticed Luke talked of his past life as if it was a story being told, not something he had lived. I knew what happened at Devil's Hole. And he wanted to say good-bye to Chrissy. His order was sendin' him to their monastery in California where he would take his final vows. He wasn't sure if he would ever get to come back here again.
Chrissy listened to Luke talk. All the bits and pieces that came out slowly over time. She never responded, but I know she listened.
I didn't know how I felt about Luke's decision except that it was his decision, and I would accept it. He was a free man. He had found the honest path and won his amnesty. Now he was ready to commit to something for the rest of his life. Don't know if I could have done that even for God but it made me think. Maybe Chrissy would like to go to church services.
I worked in the blacksmith shop nights. After three trial attempts with iron, I fashioned a small cross with bits of different metals. It had to be right the first time because I could not melt it down and start again and separate the metals. The night before my next visit to Heyes, I found Chrissy and Luke on the porch. Chrissy sittin' staring at the evening sky and Luke tellin' her about another one of his adventures escapin' the law while tryin' for amnesty.
I kneeled next to Chrissy's chair and touched her hand to get her attention. "Chrissy, I'm goin' to Cheyenne again tomorrow mornin'. I'll be back the next night. You remember? Juan will be here to watch over you."
I let the silence fall over us. She needed time before she answered. If she'd answer.
"Luke, too," she said.
"Yes, Luke will be here too this time. But he needs to leave soon."
"Yes, sir."
"It's Jed, not sir."
I stood up and sat in the chair between them. "Luke, I ain't real good yet at makin' things, but I wanted you to have something that made you think of us when you're gone."
I had his attention but started to think maybe it wasn't an appropriate gift. I didn't know the hows and whats of religion.
"Jed?"
I gave him the cross. "Figured you could put it on that chain that had your wooden one on it. That cross pretty much fell apart when Chrissy touched it."
"It's beautiful, Jed. Thank you. I'll always wear it."
Chrissy didn't seem to be payin' attention and stood and went into the house. She came out with Luke's chain from the broken cross and put it down on the armrest of his chair.
"Chrissy?" Luke had learned to speak quietly to her and wait for an answer.
She looked at him.
"Thank you for getting my chain."
I think she nodded quickly before she sat back down.
LOM
Our next visit was hard on me, but harder on the Kid. Dr. Arden had us in his office before Heyes was brought in.
"I wanted to talk to you two alone before Heyes is brought in."
"Heyes okay? He's not hurt again?" the Kid asked, almost jumping from his chair and taking his usual place looking out the window.
"No. He's fine. Well, except for some bruises from billy clubs."
"Billy clubs?"
"He's not thinking about the brooms he's making. He's ruined a lot of brooms, enough that the day's production has been down for four days," the doctor explained.
"His arm?" I asked.
"No, shouldn't affect the work he's been assigned. But he's showing an arrogance. Talked back to the guards in an insolent manner. Tried to hit out at one of them. They wanted to throw him in solitary."
The Kid turned around. I couldn't read the look on his face, maybe it was hope meeting despair. I was afraid Dr. Arden was going to tell us that Heyes was in solitary. That his deal was off. I think the Kid was thinking the same thing.
Dr. Arden kept talking. I tried to concentrate on his words. I think the Kid was only waiting to hear the final fate of Heyes.
"I have persuaded them to forgo solitary this time."
I heard the Kid let out the breath he was holding. "And?"
"He is expected to do his job thoroughly and quickly. He has lost his yard and visitor privileges."
I read the flicker of alarm on the Kid's face before he controlled it. Dr. Arden hadn't seen it.
"Visitor privileges? We ain't gonna see him today?"
"You will see him, Mr. Curry. The ankle shackles will not be taken off for the visit. You may have exactly five minutes of privacy. I suggest you use it to remind him that he is a prisoner serving his time. He came very close to losing his pardon. He will not get a second reprieve. After today he may not have visitors for a month."
I watched the Kid's expression harden. I didn't want to be Heyes on the other end of the explosion that was brewing behind those stormy blue eyes. Dr. Arden had stopped talking and was observing the Kid carefully. He was used to dealing with convicts who could fly into a rage. He was unsure about the Kid. I was sure. The Kid was controlling that rage now, but it would come out on Heyes. I hoped Heyes didn't retreat into himself from the onslaught.
I caught the Kid's eye. For once we understood each other. "I'll go out with you, Doctor. Curry can talk to him alone."
"Thanks, Lom." The Kid's words were sincere, his voice controlled. If you didn't know him well, or observe him closely like the doctor, you would think all was well.
There was a knock on the door. The Kid moved to look out the window. Dr. Arden opened the door and I saw Heyes, his ankles shackled, and one wrist restrained and connected to his ankle shackles. The other arm was in a splint and held close to his body. He met me with a sly grin, and I feared he thought this was all a game.
He held his shackled wrist up to the guard. "Not anymore, convict. You're keeping those on."
Heyes looked down as if accepting his fate, but I had seen resistance in his eyes.
"You have a five-minute visit with Mr. Curry today," Dr. Arden said, his tone stern, cold.
Heyes shuffled into the office, the weight of the restraints making it difficult to lift his feet. Dr. Arden pulled the door shut. I could hear Heyes' voice, but not his words. His tone seemed light.
I did hear the Kid loud and clear. "Heyes, what do you think you are doin'?" It was followed by the rattle of shackles and what sounded like someone hitting the floor.
Jed "Kid" Curry
My anger built as Dr. Arden explained Heyes' situation to me and Lom. I was angry at the system. I was angry at the governor. Mostly, I was angry at Heyes.
I stared out the window at the sky. I had my emotions controlled but I was goin' to let them out. On purpose. At Heyes.
"Hiya, Kid!" He sounded happy to see me. Proud of something.
I turned toward his voice and he took a step backward. Then another. "Heyes, what do you think you are doin'?" I yelled, lettin' my anger come out through my words.
I saw the surprise on his face, then fear. I punched him hard on the jaw, forgettin' my newly developed strength. He stumbled backwards, got tangled in the shackles, and fell, landin' sittin' on his bottom.
Sittin' there, his jaw starting to swell, he looked up at me, then down. I had to steel myself. He looked like a wayward child who had just been disciplined. No sympathy, I reminded myself.
"You ready to listen now, Heyes, and do what I say?"
He nodded, eyes wide in wonder but no longer arrogant.
"You came that close to losin' your pardon deal, you know that right?"
"Won't…take away…the governor…"
"The governor was afraid of behavior like this. That's why you're still in here, that arrogant ego. This is a test. A TEST, not a sure thing. You gotta earn this. You gotta really want this."
"I do… I do. Make plan…help catch… Mark."
"Forget that plan. You've got only one plan. Your only focus is to do everything that they ask of you in here and behave."
"But…"
"No buts. If they ask you to make brooms, you make the best brooms you can as quick as you can for as long as they tell you. You eat the slop they feed you and get strong and don't complain." I held out my hand to help him out. He locked his gaze on mine for a minute, but he took it. I pulled so hard I lifted him off the ground and had to reach out and steady him while he regained his balance.
"Kid… stro-ng. Heyes weak." Sadness clouded his eyes and I thought he might cry. Hannibal Heyes does not cry. Or he didn't cry. I tried to remember that the man before me was broken and dependin' on me to recover.
"Hate bro-o-oms."
"I know, Heyes, but think of them as your way out of here. You do anything. Any little think, talk back to a guard, even talk to a guard, mess up at work or ANYTHING, and you'll stay here for the next seventeen years." I stepped up until we were nose to nose. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
He understood; I could tell it from the beggin' eyes that looked back into mine. "Heyes, I need you to get out of here. I need my cousin to have my back." I was close to pleadin' now.
He was surprised by my change of tone. "Un–der–stand. I…need you." I could see he meant to put his hands on my shoulders as he was used to do. He looked at the restraints in disgust. "My fault," he said, shaking them. "De-served." He looked down in shame.
"Me and Lom can't come back for a month, you understand?"
He nodded. "I…be…good."
"You better. I'm not givin' you the third key this visit." I held it up but put it back in my pocket.
"Don't need. Opened." He grinned, but I didn't give him the praise he expected.
"Kid mad...again," he sighed with such sadness that I wanted to give him some hope. But I was afraid if I was anything but harsh, his arrogant ego would return, and he would never get out of here.
"Heyes, I am so mad at you and so disappointed and so frustrated that I ain't got words to tell you how much."
He nodded and held out his hand to shake. "Part-ners?"
I waited a beat to answer. I wanted him to be scared of not gettin' out of here. "Always, partners. I've got your back, but I can't help you in here."
As the door opened and the guards came to lead him away, we locked eyes for the quickest of minutes. I tried to send him hope, but I don't know if he understood.
"Convict, what happened to your jaw?" the older guard asked.
"Fell…trip… shackles," Heyes told him, but I think everyone in the room had the real idea of where the knuckle-shaped bruise on his jaw came from.