Winter's Refuge

Chapter Eighty-Three

HEYES

Sitting in the same Cheyenne courtroom that me and the Kid were convicted in, I want to run. But I know I can't. So, I try to hide in my mind, just a visit to Solteria. I don't want to stay there, just escape from watching this trial…and deciding the fate of Clay MacManus. But I can't find the path to Solteria anymore. Dr. Arden would say that was a good thing that I was staying in reality. I don't think so. I don't like this reality.

So, I look away, at the ceiling, the floor, the walls, the judge's gavel. Finally, I close my eyes. But I can still hear every word of testimony.

"Mark McWinters led four of his men into the bank right after it opened." A female teller with an older voice named Joan Coleman was testifying. I heard the click of a cane as she walked to the witness chair. "All of a sudden there were five guns pointed at us. Mr. Craig, the bank manager, didn't object; he took them right to the safe. Two of the men, I think they were both McWinters brothers, watched me and the other teller.

"How about you come into the back room with me, honey, and we'll find a quick way to pass some time," one of the robbers snarled at the other teller. He grabbed her by the hair and kissed her roughly. There was no doubt what he had in mind.

"When I yelled, 'no,' he said, 'Mind your own business, hag,' and shot me in the knee. All I remember after that is pain. When I woke up at the doctor's infirmary two days later, the bank manager was in the bed next to me with a head wound. He was hit on the back of the head after he opened the safe."

I didn't look at her testifying. I didn't want to hear how the Devil's Hole Gang had deteriorated after me and the Kid left. Even not looking I could hear the tears in her voice and noted the crack when she added that the bank manager didn't make it. One after another the victims of the robberies that started with information from Clay MacManus testified. I can't escape hearing them…I can't run away. I have to hear all the pain and death that MacManus caused.

The Kid is sitting stoically beside me, arms crossed across his chest. He's not looking at the victims testifying. Instead, he's watching Clay MacManus.

JED 'KID' CURRY

Clay MacManus' trial is heartbreakin'. He sits at the defendant's table head in hand. It's a closed courtroom; no press for this trial. Colin had told me they didn't want to make a 'circus' of this trial. Few people knew about the hostages and the governor wants to keep it that way. He doesn't want any copycats tryin' to do the same thing.

I feel for Clay MacManus. I've sat in that very chair knowin' me and Heyes were goin' to be found guilty. He knows that, too. Miss Sophie isn't here but their son, Phil, is in the row in front of us. It was a shock when he learned what his father has been doin' for two years to keep his ma alive.

Witness after witness after witness is paraded into court to tell violent stories of Mark McWinters gang and later MG's gang. But I'm not really listenin' to them. I'm studyin' Clay MacManus and thinkin'. I would have done the same thing and more to keep Chrissy alive. If MacManus wasn't involved, the gangs would have still robbed banks and trains and they would have been just as violent, maybe more so because they might not get as much of a take. People would have been shot. People would have been killed. Different people. MacManus influenced where and who, but he didn't change the what. Maybe even there were less robberies because the hauls were bigger and let the gang live off them longer. And he didn't profit from any of it. I keep lookin' for one thing, one thing to convince me to tell the governor to grant amnesty.

And then I found it.

Finally, it was the defense's turn to call witnesses. I didn't know if they would have MacManus testify. He would admit to what he did. Answer 'Yes, I gave them the information,' to every question of the prosecutor.

"Would you call your first witness please?" asked the judge.

I held my breath. I didn't want to listen to him admittin' what he did.

"The defense calls Harry Briscoe."

My head snapped around as the door opened. I haven't seen the man in over six years. He's still tall and skinny and kind of weasley-lookin'. He was surprised to see me and Heyes sittin' there in court, but he tipped his hat at us. Time had put gray in his hair and given him a pronounced limp, but he still has that swagger of false confidence.

"Please state your name and occupation."

"Harry Briscoe of the Pinkerton Detective Agency."

I thought Heyes had gone into his mind because he sat with his eyes closed, but they flew open, and he leaned close to me. He whispered, "Pinkerton?"

And I answered, "Step up from Bannerman. He must have done somethin' right to get hired there."

"And how long have you been employed by the Pinkertons?"

Harry sat up straight and answered proudly, "Almost four years ever since I helped them capture the Creek River Gang. Found out that their hideout wasn't along the Creek River, but in the Laramie Mountains. Did that as a consultant but they hired me full time after that."

Heyes leaned close again and whispered, "Didn't we tell him that when we were drunk one night?"

I nodded and gave him a small grin. "Guess he was not as drunk as we thought. He remembered."

"Mr. Briscoe, do you recognize the defendant?"

"Why yes I do, that's Mr. Clay MacManus," Harry answered.

"And how do you know Mr. MacManus?"

"He hired the Pinkertons to find and return his wife, who had been abducted."

"And did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Find and return his wife?"

"No, sir, we did not. The Pinkertons had been trying to get the Devil's Hole Gang since Heyes and Curry were the leaders." Harry gave us one of his sideways smiles, then continued, "There were four of us on the job on and off. We learned Mrs. MacManus was in Devil's Hole, but no lawman's even gotten into that place and lived. One of our men died trying to infiltrate MG's gang."

"So, what did you do?"

"Well, you see, Mr. MacManus there, he found out where one of their robberies was going to be and he let us know. It was all confidential because getting Mrs. MacManus back was our top priority. After the robbery, we trailed them to see if we could get to Devil's Hole." Harry leaned back, gettin' into his story, and feelin' confident.

"And you didn't inform the law about the robbery?"

Flustered, Harry looked at me and Heyes; we just stared in return.

"That would have been my superior's responsibility. I'm just a worker bee. I go where I'm told." Harry looked proud of his answer.

The lawyer sighed. "What happened when you trailed the robbers?

"Well, the first time it happened, I wasn't involved. Working on another big case, don't you know. But the second time, I was trailing them with two other good Pinkerton men. We thought we were on their trail but…well…but…well, they were on ours somehow. They jumped us when we stopped to water the horses. Shooting everywhere. That's where I got a bullet in this knee. Can't go on many assignments anymore. I miss the excitement, but they made me a supervisor and I review cases and assign men."

"Mr. Briscoe, what happened when they started shooting?"

"Hit all three of us. We hit one or two, also. One of them yelled next time they find anyone on their trail, they was gonna shoot all of them between the ears. They did drop the money bag from the robbery, so Pinkerton got credit for recovering that."

"Did Pinkerton stay on the case?"

"Yes, sir, we surely did, but we didn't stake out no more robberies. One of our boys, like I told you, tried to get into the gang. MG was the leader then. Don't know what happened, but we found his body near the backdoor of the Pinkerton Agency in Laramie. But we never gave up. Pinkertons never give up, especially when a lady is involved."

"But you never found her?"

"No, sir, but the Pinkertons would have stayed looking for her until we did. We always get our man…er, woman."

"Thank you, Mr. Briscoe. No more questions," the defense lawyer finished.

Harry started to stand but sat back down when the judge asked about cross examination.

"No questions," said the prosecutor.

"Mr. Briscoe you are dismissed," said the judge.

"Thank you, your honorship," Harry said as he stood. As he was running toward the door, he was still talking. "Got to get to work. A Pinkerton man is never late for work."

HEYES

Harry made me open my eyes and pay attention. He's a kinda friend, never to be trusted. And he testified to another death because Clay MacManus, a Pinkerton agent. They should have no business trying to infiltrate a gang. Outlaws can smell lawmen and detectives. Of course, when me and the Kid ran the Devil's Hole Gang, we would never have killed the man; just scared him so much he would never tell our secret.

Everyone that testified talks about violence and death. All because of MacManus. How can the Kid and I give him amnesty?

JED 'KID' CURRY

The trial is over. MacManus was convicted. Me and Heyes were down the hall, but we heard Miss Sophie's wail when her son told her. She sobbed onto his shoulder. Mr. MacManus won't survive in the Wyoming Territorial Prison. I've watched soft men like him in prison. They either harden quickly …or die.

But MacManus tried to find the gangs and get his wife back. He never made a profit from the robberies. Probably paid a lot to hire Pinkertons…and took a huge chance tellin' them where the next robberies were goin' to be. If the gang suspected, Miss Sophie would have been dead. Johnny and Bobby Bell would never stand for a traitor.

And robberies would have happened with or without MacManus' information. People would have been injured and killed…just different people. MacManus looks like he's suffered every minute since Miss Sophie was abducted…and never knew if she was still alive or dead. The guilt as each witness testified weighed heavy on him. He's suffered enough. I am goin' to tell Governor Sanderson he deserves amnesty and, of course, to lose his job and position with the telegraph company. He did good to keep his son out of it. I can tell he's a man that loves his son and wife dearly.

LOM

Susan and I enjoyed the next day of our honeymoon in Denver, but she talked constantly about helping me unravel the mystery around Clay MacManus and Deidre Baer. So, after a night in a nice hotel we headed to Cheyenne because she wanted to meet Miss Sophie and go to Mr. MacManus' trial. But Cheyenne was silent about it. There were no newspaper articles or street gossip.

Confused, I headed to the governor's office that I knew so well from visiting when Heyes and Curry were imprisoned. No one stopped us as we walked down the long hallway.

"Oh Lom, I don't think we're supposed to be here," said Susan, holding my arm tight.

"I know where I'm going." I knocked on the door of the governor's office then went in without waiting for acknowledgement. Susan pulled me back, but I smiled when I saw Colin at the desk. The door to the governor's inner office stood open.

"Lom! Good to see you." Colin stood and shook my hand. "Is this your beautiful bride?"

Proudly, I watched Susan step forward. "Susan, this is my friend, Colin Apperson, the governor's aide."

"Colin, my wife, Susan Porter Trevors."

"Very pleased to meet you, ma'am. I must say that you surprised Mr. Heyes and Mr. Curry when they heard of your wedding. Of course, they have been busy."

"Well, my wife wanted to meet Sophie MacManus and perhaps attend her husband's trial," I told him, ignoring his comments about Curry and Heyes. I knew marrying without the boys there would hurt their feelings. I think I'm one of their true friends they can count on and I feel like I let them down. I know they'll figure it out why we got married when we did. But I know they were disappointed they didn't get to attend our wedding.

"I'm sorry, but it's a closed trial. We're trying to keep a lid on the whole thing."

"Explains why we didn't hear a whisper of a rumor about it," smiled Susan. "Does that closed door trial include us?"

A deeper voice came from inside the inner office. "Yes, that includes both of you." the governor's voice boomed. The man himself soon appeared. "Sheriff Trevors, I hear congratulations are in order."

"Yes, sir…well, actually we got married a few months ago."

"And best wishes, Mrs. Trevors. That's what my wife informs me is what one says to a new bride."

Susan took that moment to turn pale and look around frantically. I'd learned that her tender condition often made her stomach revolt. She covered her mouth and ran out the door, looking for the water closet.

Colin and the governor both looked at me. "Sheriff Trevors," Colin said, looking at me with a grin. "Can we assume that more than wedding congratulations are in order?"

Then he looked at me with concern and told me the task he had assigned to the boys. And my heart jumped. This was not a good idea. Heyes was recovering but it was fragile. This might set him back. I don't know how far. And the Kid… He seems like he's doing well, saying all the right things, but I'm worried about him. He keeps saying he'll work harder when something goes wrong. He may be close to cracking. There's something in his eyes that worries me. Heyes hasn't recovered enough to really look at the Kid and see that he's trying to heal himself. This decision about amnesty that the governor laid on their shoulders may break them both…irreparably.

"When she returns, perhaps your wife would be more comfortable at the mansion. I'm sure Tina would love to meet her. And we can wait there."

HEYES

The trial is over. The man is guilty. So many innocent people shot. So much death. Mark, Johnny, and Bobby Bell McWinters thought nothing of killing. They just did it as a matter of course. MG was just as bad. And Clay MacManus helped them identify where the money was so they could rob. How can we give him amnesty?

JED 'KID' CURRY

"Heyes, use that silver tongue of yours and give me reasons why Clay MacManus shouldn't get amnesty?" We were sittin' in a small room off the courtroom where the jurors had deliberated. I couldn't believe that Heyes and I thought so differently on this amnesty. The robberies, the injuries, the deaths would have all happened anyway.

Heyes looked scared at my request. "Why?" He searched my eyes until he realized I didn't agree with him. Shakin', he spoke softly, "You WANT to give him amnesty?"

HEYES

Something is wrong. This isn't right. I was so sure that MacManus didn't deserve amnesty. But…but…but the Kid disagrees. He has a much better grasp on reality than I do. He wants me to tell him why I think he doesn't deserve amnesty. He's not mad, just interested. But the Kid takes care of me. He helped me find myself again…he's still doing that. His strength is my strength. I don't want to argue with him. He might be mad at me. I look at him now and I think he really wants to know what I think. He's willing to listen, but my words are broken.

"Just take your time, Heyes. I want to know what you think."

His words are kind, but I don't want to argue. "So…ma…many…in…inj…hurt. Kill…killed." I bang my fist on the table between us in frustration that I can't say what I want. I can't even form the thought completely. The Kid is patient. He doesn't jump in and say something. He gives me time…time to work on my thoughts and my words.

"Mac…MacManus caused all that." There I said it. I leaned back and relaxed.

The Kid nodded and waited to make sure I was finished talking. I appreciate that more than he knows. I looked into his eyes and nodded. He looked like he was gathering his thoughts, but I caught something else. I don't know what it is. At first, I thought it was exhaustion. He hasn't stopped moving really for days, taking care of each of the hostages, and Colin, and taking MG's gang into Hopeful. I need to think about that and what I see behind his eyes. But not now. Now we need to talk about Clay MacManus.

The Kid leaned forward and spoke in an even tone, so I know he's not mad at me. We're discussing, not arguing. "Heyes, if MacManus hadn't given Mark the information, would the gang still have robbed banks and trains?"

"Yes," I said quickly, glad that the word slipped out easily.

"Would innocent people still have gotten shot or killed?"

"Yes," I said again. Then added, "But maybe different people….and Miss Sophie."

He studied his hands on the table.

I thought of something. "And maybe not the Pinkerton man."

"Harry said they were out to get the Devil's Hole Gang before MacManus hired them. So, who knows?" the Kid questioned.

And then I smiled. I was following the Kid's logic…and I agreed. "When did you get so good at thinking?" I asked.

It was meant to be a light, almost joking comment. But his answer was serious.

"When I was in the Arizona prison, stuck in a dark hole tryin' to avoid snakes that were dropped on me, realized I had no one to depend upon but me for the next twenty years. Had to make my own plan. To learn a profession, if they'd let me with my reputation. And I had to get strong, so strong no one would ever hurt us again."

I heard something in his words that echoed what was almost hidden in his eyes. He's strong, but maybe he's not as strong as I think. For the first time I understand he may be broken too. I reached out and laid my hand on his arm. "Partners, again?"

"Partners always," he answered.

"Let's go tell the governor what we decided," I said, standing up, my words back. I looked at him closely. "May I do the talking?"

His large smile reached his eyes. "Nothing would make me happier. Remember, I'll have your back."