Winter's Refuge
Chapter Nine
Lom
"I know somethin's wrong with Heyes, Lom. You told me the governor signed his papers when he signed mine." The Kid was pushing. I knew I had to tell him. After the disclosure about Chrissy, I wondered how much he could take. I needed him in control of himself when we got to the prison.
"Did Heyes not get his pardon…or is he dead?" he demanded, his voice firm. His emotions were well hidden.
"Heyes is alive. And yes, the governor signed Heyes' papers, but they are different from yours. He has two codicils."
"Codicils?"
"A codicil is a…"
"I know what a codicil is, Lom. I read a lot now. Conditions so he didn't get a full pardon. WHY NOT? Why does he have codicils?"
"He hasn't been an ideal prisoner. Spent a lot of time in solitary and the dark cell. It changed him. His pardon's not promised; he has to earn it. He's got to spend six more months in prison and stay in General Population."
The Kid turned so he could see my face. "Not an ideal prisoner, huh? Fighting?"
"Murder."
"Heyes never killed no one." The Kid spoke to the wind, not me.
I continued to explain. "About four months ago, he was in a fight, a vicious one. He used to avoid fights when he first got to prison. Even managed to stop one just by staring down the two men. That changed a couple of years ago. He fights everyone and every rule.
"Four months ago, another prisoner jumped the great Hannibal Heyes with a homemade shiv. Heyes was losing but one thing about him, he's tenacious. He got the shiv away and turned it on the other man, caught him in the neck. He died in seconds, but Heyes kept beating on him with his fists. Lost control completely. Couldn't stop.
"The Review Board ruled it self-defense but were concerned about Heyes' abusive behavior at the end. He's spent most of the last six months in the dark cell. The prison brought in a specialized mind doctor every two weeks that Heyes sees. After their visit, he stays in general population. Longest he lasts is three days before he ends up whipped and back in the dark cell."
"He gettin' any better?" The Kid looked forward along our trail, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking…or feeling.
"Maybe. I try to time my visits so I get to see him. He's given up on getting released. Sometimes I think he's given up on life."
"Does he know about the pardon? When can I visit him?"
I smiled at the Kid asking questions, looking for solutions. That had always been Heyes' role.
" We'll go the day after the doctor's next visit.. Governor is letting us tell him about the pardon and the codicils."
"What's the second codicil?"
"He'll be on parole for six months after he gets out. Has to have a place to live and a job. I've got that covered. Even got permission for him to do this in Nebraska."
"Nebraska?"
"Heyes has to be settled with a job. Who's really going to hire a troublemaking ex-outlaw? The Wyoming Governor and the US Marshals feel it is not safe in Wyoming or Colorado for Chrissy until Heyes is off parole and pardoned. There are many after that reward."
"Isn't that illegal. Somebody who nobody knows just offers a reward like that?"
"It is illegal in every way but with Colorado's governor's promise of an amnesty to go with it, it is very tempting to a lot of people, violent people. They are all repeating the supporters' words like I told you, 'An eye for an eye and a sibling for a sibling'. Her life for the life Bobby Bell took. Each one thinks they can make her testify about Devil's Hole and they may use threats of returning Heyes to prison. Some of the backers are very powerful men. US Marshals can't guard her for the next year."
I caught a slight nod of understanding from the Kid but nothing more.
"I told you she signed over the control of Winter's Refuge to me."
"You ain't sellin' her ranch." It was a statement not a question.
"No, it's been doing very well. It commands among the top stud fees in five states and has a long waiting list. They have had some magnificent foals born there, too. Jose Ortiz has done a great job as foreman there, yet he credits their success to the horses Chrissy's father bred.
"When I heard the pardon rumors a month ago, Jose and I found and bought a small horse ranch in Nebraska. He's moving two of the younger male horses there to stand stud and a few other horses. It will be good for these horses to start blood lines of their own. Chrissy is the owner and Heyes will work for her with the horses. It's small enough for them to manage."
"And me?"
"You are a free man, Kid," I said, but got a stare in return. "Counting on you to run the place. You'll get paid for it. Chrissy and Heyes need time to heal mind and soul…and someone to keep Heyes in line so he gets that full pardon. They need you to watch over them."
"Family," he said simply as he nodded, and I knew he would shoulder the responsibility without complaining.
"And Kid, the ranch has its own blacksmith building. Ain't been used in years. You'd be the only blacksmith for a hundred miles."
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Pulling into Canon City, first we found a mercantile and bought the Kid some non-prison issue clothes. There were only two shirts big enough to contain his shoulders now and he insisted on buying them for himself even though I offered to pay. Then, I found the diner that had been chosen as our meeting place. I knew the Wyoming governor's representative. I saw him every two weeks when I went to see his boss.
"Lom." He stood when he entered, his eyes fixed on the Kid.
"Colin, good to see you. I'd like you to meet Jed Curry." When Colin held his hand out, I suddenly thought the Kid probably hadn't shaken hands with many people in the last three years. The Kid shook it with confidence.
"Congratulations on your pardon, Mr. Curry. I'd like you to meet Franklin Brusier, the Federal Inspector of Prisons, and this is US Marshal Nolan Gates." Colin introduced the men with him.
We ate a quick meal and Colin filled us in. "The Warden usually arrives about ten. We hope to be ready to leave by then. We don't need him for anything, even his signature. Just need Miss Christina McWinters to sign the papers in my pocket. We have gotten word that Chrissy was pulled from her cell yesterday and not returned. Our informant doesn't know where she is now."
I saw the Kid tense. Before he went to prison, his hand would have hovered above his gun. Now, the large muscles in his shoulders moved. "What are we waitin' for?" he said. I could tell he was holding his emotions tight, needing action.
I pushed back my chair. "No reason we can't leave right now, is there?"
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From the approach, the Colorado State Correctional Facility looked very different from the Yuma Territorial Prison. Canon City had grown up around the prison. Once we got through the new higher wall, the prison building came into view. Marshal Nolan Gates drove a wagon. We left it and our horses outside the front door and waved off the trustee that came to take the horses. Marshal Gates was a big man. Taller than the Kid, but the Kid was more muscular, more intimidating.
Mr. Brusier's credentials got us into the building.
"Where is Christina McWinters?" he demanded of the guard just inside the door.
"I…I…I'm not sure." He pointed to the warden's office. "Deputy Warden's in there."
Brusier marched toward the door but signaled Gates to take the Kid and I and look around.
"Which way is the infirmary?" I demanded from a second guard who had come running up.
He looked at the first guard. "Take them."
Except for the doctor, the infirmary was empty. I thought he looked a hundred years old. He was hunched over and had a look of hopelessness frozen on his face.
"Where is Christina McWinters?" I was surprised the Kid had taken the lead and asked the doctor.
The man's eyes had probably once been blue but had faded to gray. "I don't know." He indicated a row of cells off of the infirmary. "They came and got her before sundown. Never brought her back."
The Kid had walked to the second cell, the only one that appeared to have been occupied. I followed him. It was used but I saw nothing personal in the cell, nothing that told us it belonged to Chrissy. Until I saw the book sticking out from under the pillow. It was the same one I had sent the Kid and Heyes last month. The Kid saw it, too. Leaving it, he approached the doctor. "Where do you think she might be? Doctors hear things." He talked softly, but the determination in his voice carried a threat.
"I don't hear things. Warden says I'm too sympathetic to the prisoners, especially the woman." He turned his back on us and Gates prepared to leave but the Kid stepped around in front of the doctor. His tone changed from demanding to differential. "Sir, your best guess where we can start to look."
I saw the old man sigh. "If the wild boars didn't get her, try the hot box in back of the building. It's way out by the wall. If she's not there, then the dark cell, and pray to God she didn't eat or drink anything in there."
The Kid was out the door before the man finished talking with Marshal Gates and our guard escort was close behind. I said a quick, "Thanks," to the doctor as I followed them. As I hurried to keep up, I thought about the Yuma prison. The whole prison was a hot box.
Bursting out into the yard, it was empty. Alarmed, the guards there got the Kid in their sights before our escort waved them off. The hot box was empty. I heard Kid mumble "Torture box" to the Marshal as they turned to our escort.
"Where's the dark cell?" Kid took a threatening step toward the man and the other guards started to raise their guns again. The Kid paid no attention to them, walking to the building. "Where is it?"
When the guards hesitated, I stepped forward. "That gentleman you saw talking to the deputy warden is a Federal Prison Inspector. He can do whatever…"
"Yes, sir." I was interrupted before I finished. "I'll take you down to the dark cells."
"Kid, Marshal." I called. They changed direction and fell in behind our escort. He led us to a stairway practically behind hidden in a corner. He picked up a lantern by the door, lit it and handed it to Marshal Gates. He did the same with one for himself. Looking around I realized that Colin and Mr. Brusier had joined us.
The stairs were small and uneven, a last-minute addition it seemed. I went down slowly with a hand on each wall. At the bottom, a putrid smell hit me.
"Oh, my!" I heard Mr. Brusier exclaim. When the lanterns turned to him, he had covered his mouth and nose with his handkerchief. I didn't even see the three doors until the guard stopped in front of the far one and fumbled with his keys.
Jed Curry
The guard swung the door outward, and I pushed past him. I stepped over the food trays and water pitcher that were spilled just inside the door. Five dead rats lazed by the food, mouths and eyes open.
My heart sank when I saw Chrissy huddled against the back wall, not moving. I reached her in two steps.
"Chrissy," I whispered. I felt my self-control slippin' but steadied myself. I needed to get her out of this place and out of this prison. I cradled her in my arms while Lom felt for a pulse.
"Lom, is there a…?" I asked, standing up with Chrissy held close to my chest. I thought I could feel her heartbeat but needed him to tell me.
"Found a pulse, Kid, strong one. Get her up to the doctor!"
I raced out the door. As I ran past him, I saw Marshal Gates gatherin' the scattered food and two of the rats.
When I got to the infirmary, I kicked on the door with my foot. The doctor opened it quickly and motioned me inside.
"Just them," he said and I saw there was a line of guards behind me. He closed the door in their face.
When I placed her on his table, she moaned and opened her eyes. I smiled to see those mountain green eyes, but they did not seem to see me.
The doctor barked at me. "Help me sit her up." I did and he filled a cup with water and held it to her lips.
Chrissy sat up on the side of the table sipping from a cup of water. Her entire focus was on the water. He indicated for me to put my hand on her back to steady her as he went to answer a knock on the door. Lom, his friend Colin, Mr. Brusier, and Marshal Gates hurried in and went to Chrissy.
"Does she understand what we want her to sign, Doctor?" Colin asked.
"I believe she does; she is very weak right now. I think what happened is she was put in the hot box with minimal water to scare her into talking, but only for a few hours. Then, her wrists were tied with rope. See the rope burns? She was held standing up while they tried one last time to get the location of Devil's Hole out of her. She was hit across the face multiple times by someone wearing a sharp ring." He washed blood off of her face revealing deep cuts. "When she didn't talk, the warden gave up and had her locked in the dark cell with poisoned food and water. When the cell was opened on Friday when you were supposed to come, she would have been dead. She was smart enough to spill the pitcher so when she craved water later the poisoned water was unavailable." The doctor talked but didn't take his attention from his patient as he stitched the deepest cut on her cheek.
I didn't know what to think. She didn't even respond to the stitches. I was angry. I wanted to hit everyone who had hurt her. But that was the old me. Now I studied the situation and focused on the next steps. I needed to get Chrissy out of this prison. Get her somewhere safe where I could take care of her.
"Definitely poisoned, sir." Marshal Gates looked up from examining the food.
I watched as Colin put a pen in her hand and moved it over to a paper. I saw she still wore the little wooden ring I had made her. Someday I hoped to forge her a silver one. She moved her body to see the paper, then looked at the doctor. When he nodded, she attempted to sign her name. She did the same with the other copies of her pardon.
"You men, look away," the doctor ordered. I saw he had a dress in his hand. "Had it about a year, hoping she'd get out. Or I'd bury her in it so she wouldn't go to her Maker dressed as a prisoner" She was changed in less than a minute.
"That's all we need," Mr. Brusier announced. "Get her out of here and don't stop until you're out of Colorado, if you can help it."
I realized Chrissy was looking around the room at us but not seeing anyone but the doctor. I saw only confusion on her face.
"Time for you to go, Missy," the doctor said, and I thought I saw tears on his face.
When I stepped forward to pick her up, she flinched. Her eyes grew blank with resignation, and she rolled on her back on the table and spread her legs, turning her head to the wall.
Colin and Mr. Brusier didn't understand her movement, but the rest of us did. The doctor gently pushed her onto her side. "Never again, Missy."
She just looked at him questioning, I still hadn't heard her voice.
"Chrissy, anything you want to take with you?" Lom asked.
She looked past me at the cell but said nothing.
"Don't think she wants any reminders of this place," I said.
"Get her out of here!" Mr. Brusier yelled. "Colin and I will deal with the warden when he comes."
I needed nothing more. I swept her up in my arms, cradling her head on my left shoulder. Marshal Gates opened the infirmary door. Seeing guards in the hall, Lom went first. "Make way. Make way!" he said as he pushed his way through them. I followed him and knew that Gates was behind me.
"Gentlemen, I am Mr. Brusier. This is done under my authority and the Federal government."
As we hurried down the corridors, I took the lead; I remembered the turns that got us here and took them quickly. My legs felt free without the shackles I had worn for years.
"Stop! What is going on here?" From a side hall, the warden and a guard appeared and blocked our path.
Ignoring them I pushed past them both. I was not going to let them stop us now. Lom followed me while they still had a stunned look on their face.
"I'm Marshal Gates and Mr. Brusier has all the paperwork releasing this woman. He gave copies to your deputy." I heard him say as he attempted to pass by them as we had.
"I am the warden at this prison, and I will say when she is released. There are procedures to be followed, papers to be signed."
Me and Chrissy and Lom were almost to the main door, when we heard Mr. Brusier's voice now commanding, "Stand aside, warden. She's a free woman."
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Marshal Gates had his horse tied to the back of the wagon, but I wasn't gonna let anyone drive Chrissy but me. I kept repeatin', "You're safe, Darling. I'll take care of you," but she didn't respond. I held her close because she was not holdin' on to me. I settled her in the back of the wagon on a pile of blankets that Gates had thought to bring along and switched my horse for his on the back.
Gates knew where we were goin'. I followed him and Lom followed us looking out for pursuit. I understood what it meant to have a dead or alive reward on your head. I hated the idea there was a five-thousand-dollar one out on Chrissy. Even if it was illegal, there is always someone with eyes for the money.
Canon City is pretty much in the middle of Colorado. The quickest route to Nebraska is through Denver and that's the way we was headed. I'd heard Lom say it was over 300 miles we needed to go and that's a long way by wagon. From comments by Colin and Brusier while we were in the prison, we left a trail that we were headin' for Winter's Refuge in Wyoming. The beginnin' route would be the same, through Denver. I heard Lom tell Gates in front of the guards that we were takin' the wagon all the way to Denver because Chrissy could rest on the way. I hoped the guards were listenin' carefully to the misdirection.
Gates slowed down about ten miles north of Canon City in a small town and, from lookin' at him, I knew Lom had a plan. Probably not as good as a Hannibal Heyes plan, but I had faith in Lom. Gates got us two rooms in the only hotel in town. I carried Chrissy up the back stairs so we wouldn't draw attention. Lom already had the door to the room open. I sat Chrissy in a chair.
"Lom, it safe here?" It didn't look safe to me. It was too close to the prison if someone was followin' us.
"Ain't staying long, Kid," Lom answered with a wink.
When I turned back to Chrissy, the chair was empty. Calmin' the fearful jump in my heart, I looked at the closed window and Gates standin' in the doorway. Then I saw her, huddled down in the far corner next to the dresser, fear in her face, trying to make herself small and invisible.
"Darlin', I told you no one's goin' hurt you, again." I walked to her but did not bend down. I looked in her eyes, but they were dartin' around the strange room. I held out my hand. "It's me, Jed, Chrissy. Come sit in the chair."
When she looked away, I squatted in front of her, my hand still extended. She didn't respond for ten minutes, then her hand reached out. She put it on my open hand. I slowly closed my hand over hers as she watched each finger fold over her hand. Then, standin', I pulled her to her feet with me. She wobbled a bit when she took a step, so I steadied her. When I touched her back, she withdrew sharply. I reached to catch her, and her eyes finally looked into mine.
"Darling, I got you," I told her, and she let me walk her to the chair. Lom was openin' the door and I was surprised when three men and a woman entered. From a distance, the men could pass for me, and Lom and Gates and the woman was slight like Chrissy.
"Lom?" I asked, but thought I knew the answer.
"We're leavin' within the hour. These men are US Marshals and Mrs. Veneti is helping us out. They will leave in the morning and hopefully anyone following you will follow them," Lom answered.
He motioned through the connecting door to the next room. "Try to get some sleep. I've got an errand to run and a telegram to send. Gates will guard the door." So much had happened today and I realized it wasn't even noon.
I held out my hand and this time Chrissy took it. "You lay here and get some sleep, Darling. You're safe. I'm in the other bed and Marshal Gates is at the door."
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I laid down but didn't sleep. A soft bed in a cool room felt like a luxury but I couldn't fully enjoy it. The feel and smells of Yuma prison were there every time I closed my eyes. I didn't have control of anythin' here. I needed to know what Lom had planned.
I heard when Lom came back into the next room. Rising quietly, I joined him.
"Ah, Kid, you can rest for longer. Our train leaves in two hours."
"Train?"
"We're taking a chance, but it's the quickest way out of Colorado. We'll change trains just before Denver and head to Fort Morgan. Got a wagon waiting there for the last hundred miles to Three Birds, Nebraska."
It was a good plan if the ones chasing us followed the decoys sitting in the room with us. They'd leave the next morning with the wagon and our horses. I was sad about losing my horse Blackie, but I was assured he would find a good home.
"I sent a telegram I hope is intercepted," Lom kept explainin'. "Sent it to Winter's Refuge to expect us within three days."
He saw the look I gave him. "Jose and his family know she's not coming there, and the telegram is a misdirection." He handed me a bundle. "Change your clothes; leave yours here. There's pants and a man's shirt in there for Chrissy. She'll be traveling as a boy."
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Lom's plan worked. Jose and his son, Juan, were waiting for us at the ranch. They'd fixed the corrals and barn for the horses they'd brought, but the ranch house was old, dusty and collapsing. There was a long access road to the property and true to Lom's word, there was a blacksmith shop at the bottom of the hill. Unlike the house, it had been maintained with care. The seller had let the ranch fall into disrepair and slept in a small rear room near the forge. When he retired, he waited for a buyer that was a blacksmith and had included most of his tools. He moved to Montana to live with his daughter and her growin' family; there was no need for a blacksmith there.
The house needed a lot of work, but Lom had seen that Jose had brought basic supplies for us. We pulled the dusty sheets off of the furniture in the living and bedrooms. Chrissy just sat in a chair where I led her and watched me, Lom, and Gates explore the house.
"Horses are settled." Jose came in from the barn. "Fences are secure around the two corrals and enough hay for two month was delivered yesterday."
I felt Jose's eyes borin' into me. He remembered our time at Winter's Refuge. I was sure he held me responsible for what had happened to Chrissy. I felt the same way and the guilt had been eatin' at me. This ranch was my chance to take care of her. A life raisin' horses with a blacksmith shop with Chrissy would have been a dream a week ago. It still was, but now it was also to ease my guilt.
I watched Jose's shock when he saw Chrissy. He turned it into a warm smile to greet her.. "Missy, Marina sent you a package of your clothes. They are in the kitchen. Would you like to inspect the horses we've brought?"
I saw interest in her eyes and felt myself smile as I said, "Come on, Chrissy, let's go see your horses."
Chrissy refused to take my hand but followed behind me. Jose led us to the nearest corral and whistled. A brown stallion anyone would stop to admire raced over. "Fall's Legend out of Fall's Destiny," he said.
Chrissy stroked the horse and looked him in the eyes. "Special." That was the first word she had spoken since leaving prison. I knew then that the horses would be part of her path to recovery.
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I worried about leaving Chrissy while Lom and I went to visit Heyes a day later. Gates, Jose, and Juan were all there with her. She said few words. The first morning, I found her in the barn searching for something. She patted each stalled horse as she passed by them but continued looking.
"Chrissy?"
She turned at my voice now but looked at me quickly and continued her search.
"Can I help you find something? All the horses are still in their stalls. Juan will tend to them soon."
Going outside, she walked all the way around the barn. I followed. Finally, she turned to me lookin' frustrated. It seemed as if she was tryin' to find the words she needed for a moment before she said, "Milk? Eggs?"
Smiling that it was something I could easily give her, I answered, "Ain't got no cow or no chickens yet, but I think we can get those easy enough."
She nodded and walked behind me back to the house. Juan took the wagon into Bridgeport and came back with a fine milk cow and a dozen chickens. While he was gone, Lom and I found the remnants of a chicken coop and fashioned one that would do until the snow came.
She stood and watched as Lom and I left for Cheyenne. She looked so forlorn in her old dress now too big for her. I had tried to make her understand where I was goin' and when I would be back. Still, leavin' her felt like I was desertin' her and I was torn. But she was well cared for and protected here and Heyes needed my help. Getting him out of prison was my next goal.
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