Winter's Refuge
Chapter Thirty-Seven
HEYES
When the workers finished, me and Lom ate the last of Juan's stew for dinner. We did not use Chrissy's bowl. Only Chrissy uses the bowl with the flowers. Lom made cornbread. It was good. I used to know how to make cornbread…and biscuits, but I can't remember now. It's quiet at night. Good quiet, not like the quiet of the prison.
But then I hear it. Someone has opened the gate. I jump up. Lom must not have heard. He does not get up.
"Heyes?"
I point to the front door. He stands but doesn't move toward it. I pull him toward the door. He shakes me off. "Stop it." He's angry. I point to his gun and my ear. "You hear gunshots?"
I am so frustrated. I shake my head and open the door. I'll check it out myself. I take a lantern and walk down toward the gate looking left and right and pausing every few feet to listen. Lom follows me…without his gun. If someone is on our property, what are we going to do about it if Lom is unarmed?
"Heyes, did you hear something? Probably it's just the wind."
I ignore him. I can't make my words come out anyway. I keep searching left and right and for new footprints. Lom caught up to me at the gate. It was unlocked…and open. His hand went to his side, but his gun was not there.
"Is this what you heard, Heyes?" Lom was tight walking in circles, searching the ground for any clue. I nodded while I looked at the lock. It wasn't so much a lock, anyone could open it, but it was a series of metal loops and bars that couldn't help but make noise when opened. I admired the Kid's workmanship. He should be here. I claimed to be a better tracker, but really he always was. Even when we were little, he could read tracks better than me.
"HEYES!" Lom's voice was a loud whisper.
My thoughts had got off track. I looked at Lom.
"Close the gate. I'm going to go check on the horses. Some of them are high value."
I thought that was a good idea. I started to lock the gate but first I decided to step out and look around on the other side. The dirt on the path showed fresh footprints. With the wind tonight, they had to be fresh to be undisturbed. I wanted to show Lom, but I had no way to call him or gun to signal him. I trudged up to the stables. He was in the stall with Speed of Flight. All the horses seem calm. I don't want to anger him. I want him to tell the Kid that it was easy to be here with me. I touched his arm gently, stepped back and waited patiently. It wasn't hard to stand still and wait. This was a punishment in the prison. If we moved, the billy club was used freely. I learned to just wait.
"Heyes? What did you want?" Lom sounded irritated again. He had been talking and I hadn't been listening. I had been looking at the ground.
I pointed to the gate and started to walk there.
"You found something?" He followed me to the gate. "I thought I told you to lock this gate?"
His tone forced me to stop. I braced for the sting of the billy club.
"Heyes, what's wrong? What did you want me to see?"
I nodded. This is Lom, not a guard. He wasn't angry, just surprised I hadn't locked the gate. I led him through it and showed him the footprints. I held the lantern close so he could see them. Even as we talked the wind was swirling some of the details away. In an hour they would be gone completely.
I measured them with my hand as Lom watched. I guessed they were heeled boots. The wind picked up and went right through my shirt and vest. I was in a hurry and hadn't grabbed my coat. When I stood up straight, Lom was looking down the road further at the blacksmith shop.
"Thought I saw movement down there," Lom said quietly as he headed down the road.
There was little moonlight and we needed to not be seen, so I hung my lantern on the fence and followed him. I tried to look at the smithy and not the ground. It has been beaten into me to look down. And if I was beaten, I was in the dark cell. A shudder went through my body, and I realized I was walking in the darkness of night. The wind hid the shimmer of moonlight behind a cloud. Suddenly, all I felt was darkness; it was everywhere. It closed in on me. I looked down. My feet refused to move. I fell to my knees on the road. Lom must have walked on because I couldn't even hear his footsteps. I only heard silence. I wrapped my arms around myself and rocked. I had rocked like this for days in the dark cell as fierce memories bombarded me from all sides.
"Heyes, can you hear me?"
I think someone is talking. Are they talking to me? No talking is allowed in here. Talking is punished. I don't want to be punished. The Kid was in the dark cell. Is he in here with me?
"Heyes, can I help you?"
I feel someone kneeling in front of me. Two hands are touching my arms. "K…K…Kid?"
"No, it's Lom. Can you stand up?"
LOM
I didn't know what to do to help Heyes. One minute he was following me down to the Kid's blacksmith shop and the next he was kneeling on the ground rocking with his eyes closed. I don't know where his mind is; he doesn't seem to hear me. I said a silent prayer for the Kid's patience and kneeled in front of Heyes. I spoke to him, but he didn't respond. I could just barely make out his shape moving in front of me. That's it, the darkness has him. I can't tell if his eyes are open or closed. Some moonlight peeps from the clouds. I can see his eyes are closed tightly.
"Heyes, open your eyes!" I try to say it firmly but kindly.
I didn't think he was going to do it. First, the rocking slowed, then his eyes opened. I made sure he looked me on the eye. His look told me he was desperately looking for help.
"You can see me, now. It was the clouds covering the moon. Let's go back and get your lantern."
He kept his hand on my arm and stood up. I could feel him tremble. I didn't react, just put my hand over his hand to steady him as we walked toward the lantern.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I open my eyes slowly. I'm not sure if I'm really wakin' up or if it's just a wishful dream. I'm still facing the window and as the medicine wears off the pain has returned. So, it feels real. Chrissy is sittin' in front of me readin' Black Beauty. She has her hand restin' on my arm. I try to reach for her, but my shoulder objects and I moan before I can control it.
"Shhh, Jed, shhh." Her book fell off her lap and she didn't try to catch it. She kisses my forehead and I realize I dreamt about her doin' that. But it wasn't a dream.
"Chrissy, oh Chrissy!" I take her hand softly. She froze for just a second. Did I do something wrong?
"Chrissy, darling," she states. "Juan, get doctor."
"Sure, Miss Chrissy. Glad you're awake, Jed." I hear Juan's voice. He must have been sittin' in the chair in the corner. Heyes sat there for a while earlier. Today? Yesterday? How long have I been here?
"Juan?"
"Juan bring Chrissy darling here from home."
"I'm glad." Smilin' so big hurts my temple, but I don't care. "So glad!"
"Good!"
But I have to pee. I am only wearin' my underwear. The sheet is only pulled to my waist. Chrissy must have seen my back with the new lacerations over what she saw before. I'm embarrassed, but I won't let her see it. I don't want to pee in front of her.
I hear footsteps and Dr. Arden's voice. "Good, you're awake! Feeling less pain?"
"Gotta pee."
"Well, you've been using the bedpan again. Shall I have the nurse bring it in."
I used the bedpan? I don't remember, but I know every time I stir they give me more water so maybe I did. "No bedpan." With an effort, I swing my legs over the side of the bed away from Chrissy, pulling the sheet with me. Juan and Dr. Arden are standin' there watchin'.
"Miss Chrissy, perhaps you will step out in the hall for a moment," Dr. Arden says gently.
I can't see her behind me, but I felt her stop for a moment to process the situation. "Get fresh water," she decides and leaves with the pitcher.
As soon as she does, I stand up quickly as the bed touchin' the back of my legs forced the pain level higher. Juan and the doctor each catch an arm.
"Easy, Jed. I thought sitting there like that must be causing great pain."
"Had to. No pants."
Juan chuckled and I gave him my best dirty look.
"Well, lean on Juan and take a few steps while I get the chamber pot."
I shook off the support and took three steps toward the now closed door. I turned around and walked back toward the bed. I heard Juan gasp, then gag. He must have seen my back. I tried to always keep a shirt on at home except on hot nights whenI take it off and close my bedroom door.
"Sir, you're back. Should you be walking?" He took my arm and forced me to lean on him.
"Jed, not sir." I tried to shake off his help, but he held on. "I need to walk, preferably on my own, so my thighs don't cramp. Ever wonder what a billy club can do to a man's legs? Well, now you know." I was sorry as soon as I said it. Juan was my friend.
I turned to face him and moved my good arm to his shoulder. "Sorry, I didn't mean that, but the pain…"
"It's alright, Jed. I understand."
"Juan, we're friends and I ain't got a lot of those right now. I didn't mean to be sharp. Truth is, well, I'm ashamed you saw my back. Ain't a pretty sight I know." I needed to make him understand. When I looked in his face, he did. Friendship secure.
LOM
Heyes was right. Someone was definitely out there tonight. But I should never have let him go out into the darkness. And then he left his lantern on the fence. I know he did it so we could approach the smithy without being seen. But I should have known better. He has two lamps in his room, and he lit them both while I lit the one in the hall. I thought about the lights the Kid and I paid for in the prison. I know they helped Heyes. I hope they keep them lit for the other prisoners.
I put my gun on as soon as we got back into the house. Heyes was trying to tell me to wear it, I just didn't understand him. In his room, he sat on his bed. The episode on the road had exhausted him. I thought I had something that might help in my bag.
"Heyes, can I come in?" I asked. The rules in this house seem to be that bedrooms were private, and permission was asked before entering. I didn't object. Both Chrissy and Heyes were healing here, and so was the Kid even though he wouldn't admit it. He waved me in.
"Do you remember the governor said you can carry a knife now? The board voted and they gave you permission."
There were still small tremors running through his body. I didn't know if he had heard me. When he's in his head, he doesn't hear anything. Chrissy hears everything.
"Well, here's the knife you used to carry in your boot. Thought tonight might be a good time to give it to you."
He looked at me and took the knife. He turned it over and over in his hand examining it. I don't know if he remembered it or not. He pointed to himself and then the knife.
"Yes, it was yours and yes you can carry it for protection. I'm sure the Kid will get you a real nice one when he can."
"K…Kid," he said sadly, shaking his head.
I watched him lay the knife carefully next to his bed, nodding his head at me.
Heyes was settled and fell asleep easier than I thought he would. I couldn't sleep. Someone had entered the property. They had circled the unlocked blacksmith shop and there were footprints entering the back room, but no one was inside. I'd just finished checking when I saw Heyes kneeling in the road.
Tonight, I drank coffee. I stood on the porch in the darkness and looked out over the property and down the quiet road. I drank more coffee. I walked through the barn and the stables. I only lit the lamp by the door. The horses are quiet and seem to study me as I enter each stall and assure myself no one is hiding there.
What did the intruder want? Chrissy? The horses? I'm going to suggest to the Kid that he gets a watchdog for the yard. I fell asleep, wrapped in a quilt, in one of the rockers on the porch until the morning sun hit my face. I looked around. Heyes was asleep in the rocker next to me. All is still quiet.
JED 'KID' CURRY
The nurse brought in more pain medicine, and I drank it, but not before I gave Chrissy a kiss in her hair. She blushed and said, "Good."
Even with her there readin' to me, touchin' me, the nightmares came. Me and Heyes were playin' poker with a sheriff. Someone was killin' all the players. I didn't know where the shots were comin' from. Heyes was shot in the head. In the nightmare, they took him bleedin' and unconscious and locked him in the dark cell. I banged on the outside yellin' to let him out.
"Shhh, Jed. Heyes good at ranch." I heard Chrissy's words and let them soothe me back to sleep. Once asleep, the dreams returned. Heyes was awake but couldn't talk. He just stared at me with eyes that said, "Help me." But my feet were stuck; my thighs burned. I couldn't reach him.
"Paul! Ma?!" I heard Juan's greetin's and reality was back. I felt Chrissy's hand tighten on my arm and she stopped readin'. I opened my eyes and saw her frozen in her chair starin' at what I think is the door.
"Miss Chrissy!" I heard Marina Ortiz runnin' toward Chrissy. She still had me gripped tight. I flung out my arm. "No, stop!"
Marina glowered at me. My shoulder had burst into pain at the effort. I couldn't stop her approach to Chrissy again. But Juan did.
"Ma, Miss Chrissy probably doesn't know you, either of you. It took her a long time to remember me."
Marina's harsh look shifted to her son. "She has known me all her life."
Chrissy was sittin' tall and still. Her eyes were focused on nothing when Dr. Arden entered the room.
"What's going on? This patient is not allowed visitors!" I could hear annoyance in his voice, but also fear. He knew of the threats against Chrissy. He had seen the poster when he visited our ranch.
Juan ushered his ma and brother to the other side of the room and introduced them to the doctor while I talked to Chrissy.
"Chrissy darling, it's Jed. Don't worry. You're safe. You know them. That's Marina Ortiz, Juan and Rudy's ma. And that's Paul, their older brother."
Mrs. Ortiz broke away from the doctor. "You did this, KID Curry, famous outlaw. Look what you did to my Chrissy."
I knew Mrs. Ortiz and Juan's older brother Paul were no fans of Kid Curry and that's all I was to them, a worthless outlaw. Why were they here? Was this part of my nightmare? The medicine was too strong. I knew Juan and the doctor would look after Chrissy. I wanted to fall back to sleep, but the vision of Jose Ortiz standin' in our kitchen glarin' at me filled my mind.
Dr. Arden came around and kneeled before Chrissy. "Miss McWinter, Jed needs you to take care of him." He let quiet sit in the room, but I could feel Marina's hate whippin' out at me.
Patiently, he just waited, kneelin' in front of her. I was thankful he and Juan knew how to take care of her.
Marina started to talk, but I heard Juan say "Shhh."
Even though it hurt, I put my hand on top of Chrissy's and gently rubbed. I felt her grip on my arm lessen. Into the silence, she said, "Good. Chrissy go shop." She stood up.
"I'll go with you," I heard Juan's offer to take her.
"No, you stay with Ma. I'll go with her." I was startled when I heard Paul say, "Miss Chrissy, may I go with you?"
There was silence and I heard no moment.
"I'm Paul, Juan's brother. Do you remember me? We grew up together at Winter's Refuge."
Still, Chrissy was silent. I couldn't see her face. I don't know if she remembered him or tolerated him, but she answered, "Good. Come."
ASJ*****ASJ
I heard Marina tell Juan what happened. Lom had sent for Juan's pa to come help him protect Chrissy. But Paul came with their ma instead. Neither one likes me but they're very protective of their Chrissy. They are talkin' quietly in the corner of my room. I'm awake but I'm facin' away from them. I stay quiet and listen.
"Ma, Jed's a good man." Juan's voice was quiet. "Chrissy loves him…and he loves her."
"He's an outlaw."
"An ex-outlaw, Ma. He's real brave and a hero. Remember he saved my life in that fire. And don't give me that look. You're one to talk about loving an outlaw."
"You know? How?"
"Paul, Matt, and Mark figured it out a long time ago. And if Paul knows, we all know."
"Chrissy knows?"
"Yes, I think she already knew. One of the first clues was that she wasn't born at Winter's Refuge, was she?"
I could hear Marina Ortiz movin' uncomfortably in her chair before answerin'. "You're right. She was born at Devil's Hole."
"Her ma, Martha, was my best friend. Oh, how I miss her. Yes, we fell in love with two outlaws, your pa and Chrissy's pa. They were two thirds of the Triumvirate, as they were called. Laz McWinter, Jose Ortiz, and Mel MacGarson were the leaders of the Devil's Hole Gang. Laz and Jose were a lot older than Martha and me, but they were romantic, handsome and dangerous when they'd come into town for supplies. We weren't the nearest town to the Hole, but we were the friendliest. Course our parents weren't as friendly when they learned they invited two seventeen-year-old girls back to the Hole. We thought it was a wonderful adventure.
I almost gave away that I was awake. The Triumvirate were famous, or infamous. No one knew their real names. They were the fabled first leaders of the Devil's Hole Gang. Even now "The Triumvirate" was referred to in awestruck reverence. But I held still. As I listened to Mrs. Ortiz speak, I tried to think of her as the young girl in the picture I had seen.
"Oh, it was such a romantic time! Mel's wife had died and his daughter, Beverly, lived up there, too. She was a sweet but a spoiled child."
"Beverly Birde now." I heard Juan add.
Mrs. Ortiz took a quick loud breath before answerin'. "Yes. I suppose you would know her. That new ranch is just outside Three Birds."
"I didn't know who she was. Rudy recognized her."
"Did you…?"
"We didn't let on we knew her if that's what you mean. Chrissy probably recognizes her, too although I can't tell with her. Beverly used to be our babysitter. She probably knew us, too, but didn't say anything."
"I'd forgotten that. Yes, she was your favorite babysitter, if I recall."
"So, how'd you get from there to where we are now? And if Pa and Mr. McWinter were partners, how come Pa worked for him? That don't seem fair." Juan's tone was indignant.
"Well, after we were living up there for about six months, Martha knew she was pregnant. The five of us shared that cabin up there. Martha and Laz had the big bedroom, your pa and I the other, and Beverly had a bed in the corner of the living room. Mel usually took night watch and slept in the bunkhouse after. Oh, we had such fun!
"Martha thought Laz would be mad about her being pregnant and all, but he wasn't. He looked at her and said, "This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time, but something always comes up. Martha, I know I'm fifteen years older than you, but will you marry me anyway?
"Of course, she said 'yes' and didn't your pa turn around and ask me the same thing.
"Chrissy was born up there that spring. Such a pretty little angel she was with that dark brown hair and her ma's green eyes. We all doted on her, but she never seemed to get spoiled.
"It was almost winter, and the boys planned one job then we were heading to somewhere warm, Mexico most likely. Well, it was a risky train robbery because there were always two guards in the car with the safe so the rest of the gang said goodbye for the winter and left. The Triumvirate planned to do it themselves. They had never hit this train line before but heard a modest payroll for an eastern construction company was on board. Me, Martha, Beverly, and the baby went to stay in a hotel about forty miles from the heist.
"Everything went so well it changed our lives. Instead of the couple of thousand dollars they expected, they got a hundred thousand dollars."
I heard Juan gasp. "A hundred thousand dollars! What did you do?"
I must have moved because Mrs. Ortiz got up and came to my bedside. She touched my forehead gently. I didn't let on that I was awake. She sighed. "His fever is down but not gone. It's a shame all those beautiful curls are gone."
"Ma." Juan sounded embarrassed and I tried hard not to blush. She'll never know that I heard her comment, but it set me to wonderin' what Chrissy thought about my bald head. With the injuries on the back of my head and the temple, I'm sure it's not pleasant to see.
I heard her dress movin' as she sat down. "Let's see. You were asking what we did with the money. Well, we didn't change our plans. We went south to the warmth for the winter. Martha and I were both pregnant by then with Paul and Matt. In the spring, we divided the money three ways and went our separate ways.
"Mel's main focus was establishing an honest life for Beverly, a good life where the best people in town accepted her as one of them. He moved down to a small town called Wish in Colorado. It grew fast and is part of Colorado Springs now. Anyway, he took his money, pretended he was from the east, and established the First Bank of Wish. He was very successful, married a senator's daughter and became a part of Colorado's exclusive high society. Beverly married Frank, one of the Birde brothers, but don't have any children. I don't know if her husband knows her background. I heard Mel died a couple of years ago when one of his banks was robbed. After all the banks they robbed, he died as a victim. I pray for him every night."
I smiled when Mrs. Ortiz said this. Now the Birde's comments made sense. Sheriff Birde knew all about his wife's past and didn't care.
"You know about the McWinters. By the time Matthew was born they had bought a rundown horse ranch and called it Winter's Refuge. It needed work, but it was good land and came with a papered stud and two pregnant mares. And the nearest sheriff was over sixty miles away. Laz and Martha worked hard, used their money sparingly, and made it a success. That first stud horse became the foundation of the ranch, along with a colt born soon after they moved in."
"Winter's Refuge has done very well. It has a reputation here in the west and even as far east as New Jersey. Still don't understand why Pa and you work for them." Juan was still resentful.
"You know your pa is a stubborn man. He wanted to stay in Texas, even though Laz and Martha wanted us to buy the ranch with them. We bought land and some horses, but your pa and money aren't meant to stay together. He ran the ranch, but he gambled and drank at first every weekend then every night. Soon we had Paul and Rudy. We had to sell every horse but two.
"Pa don't drink or gamble." Juan was defiant.
Mrs. Ortiz was patient. "Not anymore. It almost cost him his life. The Triumvirate is wanted dead or alive."
I didn't know what was happenin'. They were quiet.
Then Juan said, "Is wanted or was?"
"Is, as far as I know. Me and your pa were making it year to year until one night a former Devil's Hole gang member recognized your pa. No one outside of the gang knows their names. It's one of the reasons they could hide in plain sight."
I heard Mrs. Ortiz sigh, and it sounded like she was gonna cry.
"Your pa had been in town drinking for days. Yes, for days. I was pregnant with you and trying to keep the ranch going, but our money was gone. What we earned, your pa drank or gambled away. Depressed, he felt he was failing all of us. Well, Tall Wilkins recognized him in that saloon, way down in Texas, and your pa recognized him. He knew enough to slip out the backdoor.
"Wilkins followed him home and tried to blackmail us. We really had nothing to give him, just a few dollars and the horses. He didn't want either. Said he weren't wanted in Texas, but the Triumvirate was wanted all through the west. It's true.
"When he went to get the sheriff, we took what little we had, Paul, and Rudy and left that night. We left the deed to the ranch on the table. It was the end of our dream."
"Ma, why didn't you ever tell us?"
"Your Pa has little left but his pride and a warrant out for his arrest. Tall Wilkins couldn't remember his last name, but the 'Jose' was added to the poster. We wandered aimless for four months, but my time was getting closer. Your pa went to Mel, ready to beg for help. But he didn't need to beg. Mel put us up in a house he owned. And he helped your pa get sober and stay that way. Even gave him a job as a night watchman at one of his banks. And he gave your pa's pay to me. Mel was engaged to a society lady but didn't forget his friends. Beverly helped with your brothers. That's where you were born."
There was silence then and I thought maybe she was done talkin', but she kept goin'.
"Mel's a good friend. He saved our family. But he was used to things only done his way and he made plans for your pa to work his way up in the banking business. He wouldn't listen that working indoors was killing him inside. And Mel wouldn't listen that two of the Triumvirate working together might attract attention. I saved every penny he made. We decided we'd leave when Mel got married. Give him a new fresh start. Mel was disappointed; he liked having a trusted old friend by his side. He was smart enough to see that he'd fit better with his new wife's society friends without us.
"We debated where to go then, but Winter's Refuge seemed a good place to try and figure out our lives. Laz and Martha welcomed all of us. They had Chrissy and the oldest four boys then and she was pregnant with Bobby Bell. They offered us a share of the ranch, but your pa looked on that as charity. He and Laz argued, but Martha and I got involved. It was agreed that your pa would be the foreman and I'd help Martha. They built that house for us and paid us a salary that was four times more than they should. And never ever in all the years we lived there did they ask anything about what had happened. We were friends, equals. Not a lot of people like that come into your life. Treasure them.
"Beverly found life with her new stepmother trying, so she came and lived with the McWinters for a year. That's probably where Rudy remembered her. She just needed to grow up some and Martha was the perfect one to help her. But Martha got sick and died too young. Laz was lost and Chrissy became the one that held the ranch and the family together. She was still young. I helped where she'd let me, like doing the cooking.
"Laz was never the same. He drank hard while he was working and had no patience for the boys."
"I remember him teaching us all how to fast draw."
"Yeah, he started to think everyone was going to turn him and your pa in for the reward. And he cried for Martha when he was drunk. Chrissy worked with the customers and your pa with the horses and Winter's Refuge stayed successful. Then one day, Mark and Rudy found him dead near the back fence. He had fallen off his horse and broke his neck."
"I remember. Chrissy had a much older boyfriend who thought he was going to marry her and own the ranch. But she turned down his proposal. Her brothers thought it was because of them and ran away to Devil's Hole."
"Did they know about…?"
"We all knew our pas had been in the Devil's Hole gang when they were young. Nothing more."
"That's where Chrissy met Mr. Curry. Your pa and I didn't approve when Mr. Heyes brought him to the ranch injured more than a year later. And left Chrissy pregnant. We never wanted the outlaw life for any of you."
They sat quiet for a long while and I fell asleep. Juan's voice woke me up. "Ma?"
"Yes."
"Is Pa still wanted?"
"Yes."
"That's why when we took the horses to the Curry ranch, we rode all the way? I thought it would have been quicker to take the train."
"Yes, he thought taking the train might be dangerous for him. He didn't stay long because he knew Beverly lived nearby and her husband is a sheriff. And it's why when we got your telegram to come help you with Chrissy, Paul and I came instead."
"Ma, there's a wanted poster out for Chrissy, an illegal one, but the reward is real. I told Paul to guard her closely."
I fell asleep again and when I woke up, they were gone, replaced by Chrissy sittin' next to my bed rubbin' my bald head. But I didn't have nightmares; I dreamed of those prior occupants of the Devil's Hole Leader's cabin.