Winter's Refuge

Chapter Sixty-Three

HEYES

I'm nervous about taking the train with Ken. I normally travel with the Kid or Lom. I used to love being around people. Nothing I used to enjoy more than a full, loud saloon and a good poker game. Now the thought of that terrifies me. When I'm at Phoenix, I can help check in people for the blacksmith shop but it's hard. I prefer to sit in the back and do the accounting. Numbers relax me.

Knowing that Ken is watching out for me helps. The Kid trusts Ken so I try to, too. He's a US Marshal and that scares me. He says he is here to protect the Kid and those around him. But sometimes at night alone in my room. I'm convinced he's here just to watch me and wait for me to break my parole…and send me back to prison.

I was quiet as we rode into Bridgeport. We gave ourselves extra time because there is still a sprinkling of snow on the side of the road. Ken stopped a few miles after we turned onto the main road. That scared me. Why did he stop? Did I do something wrong?

"Heyes, see that there?" he asked. He seemed happy, proud but I didn't see anything.

I looked to where he was pointing and didn't see anything, just empty land with a dusting of snow. I must have looked confused because he laughed. "Oh, I know it don't look like nothing now, but I just bought that land. When I look at it, I see a farm with a small herd of cattle. Going to build a house right over there. Next time I'm back home going to ask my Mary if she'll do me the honor of being my wife. She's a farmer's daughter and this is just what we're dreaming of."

I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "B-be proud to have you as a n-neighbor!"

The rest of the ride into Bridgeport he talked about his plans for the land and his girl. We left the horses at the livery. Today is a long day for Ken. When we got to Cheyenne, he is taking Chrissy home on the next train out. Then he's coming back with the Kid Sunday night to testify in Wheat's brother's trial on Monday morning.

Juan is working close to the house today so he can watch over Aunt Diane Frances and the twins. The Kid and Frank are afraid one of the men out to kill the Kid will try to take his family as hostage. Sheriff Birde's going to ride out and check on things while Ken is gone. Ken and Chrissy will be back tonight. Everyone should be fine, but the Kid always takes extra precautions for his family.

I'm nervous about my parole hearing and the Kid's not on the train to tell me all the reasons that everything is going to be alright. I don't know how his meeting with Colin went. Maybe it was a trap and the Kid is already in prison. And maybe I'll be arrested when I get off the train. We both know where Devil's Hole is and won't tell. I know I'm fidgeting but can't help it. I can see it bothers Ken, but he's trying to be patient. I'm sure that the Kid told him I sit in the middle seat and put my bag in the aisle seat. Ken climbed over me with a sigh but no objection.

I'm scared and Ken is upset with me, so I retreat inside my mind. It's safe there.

JED 'KID' CURRY

Heyes' train is goin' to be late, hopefully only ten minutes. Chrissy says she's glad we came, still I can see the idea of Matt spendin' life in prison haunts her as much as it does me. I wish I was goin' home with her, to hold her, to comfort her, but I can't.

When the train stopped, there was a rush of people gettin' off and hurryin' away from the platform. Heyes and Ken weren't among them. Maybe they didn't make the train. We should have gone back last night, and I could have brought him back. But I knew Chrissy needed rest before makin' the trip. I stopped worryin' about my choice when Ken stepped off the train. He looked behind him and went back on the train.

So many people hurryin' around frightens Heyes. Me and Chrissy moved closer and stood next to the steps. The conductor stood guardin' the door, but I stepped up one step and looked inside. Ken was comin' down the aisle with Heyes next to him.

"Jed, so glad to see you," Ken said with relief. "Happened on the train."

Heyes had retreated into himself. I took his arm when he got to the steps. "Heyes, glad to see you. You okay, partner?"

At the last word he looked at me. Ken took Chrissy's arm and I guided Heyes off the platform to a quiet bench. He followed without resistance but kept lookin' around in alarm. "Trap?" he whispered to me.

And that told me what I needed to know. "No trap, partner. I met with Colin Apperson and the governor agreed we both have amnesty for any knowledge we have about Devil's Hole. You can plan the trip without worry."

"No trap?" he repeated.

I needed him to focus, to be alert for his parole meetin'. "No trap. Everything's good. I showed him the papers Colin gave to me.

I watched him read the paper I had placed on top. We couldn't be arrested for plannin' and executin' the plan. He relaxed. Lookin' around so he wouldn't be embarrassed, I picked him up and gave him a bear hug, whisperin', "I got your back, partner."

Chrissy surprised us by huggin' us both. Ken's worried face, smiled.

ASJ*****ASJ

With Chrissy and Ken safely off to Bridgeport, me and Heyes headed to the parole meetin' ten minutes early. He had recovered and had most of his words back with a slight stutter. I should have figured out that he might still think Colin was settin' a trap, but I was too busy thinkin' about Chrissy and Michael before we left. And Matt when we arrived.

Colin met us in the alley outside the buildin'. I couldn't read his face but his pacin' told me he was anxious about somethin'.

"Jed, Mr. Heyes, we need to meet someone at the side door before the meeting starts. They'll wait for us."

He saw our hesitation. "Nothin' to do with the Devil's Hole trip so don't worry about that." He looked at me with concern, as if tryin' to predict my reaction to somethin'.

"Who we meetin'?" I asked, lookin' around and not seein' no one.

I felt Heyes move closer to me, so our shoulders were touchin' as a man led a gray horse towards us. Across the saddle of the horse was a tied down body.

Colin shook hands with the man, then introduced us. "Marshal Will Freeman, meet Jed Curry and Hannibal Heyes."

"Marshal," I said in greetin' as I shook his offered hand. Heyes just stared at the body.

Colin, too, couldn't take his eyes off the body. "Marshal, would you tell us what happened?"

"This here is the body of one of the men paid to kill Kid Curry." The marshal's husky voice was unemotional. I could hear a trace of a southern accent. "Had a lead and been chasing him for near two weeks. Night before last, I found him in a saloon and talked to him. Needed to make sure I had the right man. We've had so many dead ends looking for these men that I'm skeptical about each one.

"Well, this man looked awful young, but I remember you were young, too, when you got your reputation, Curry."

"I never took no money to kill no one," I grumbled.

He looked at me sharply for a moment. "Well, whether you did or you didn't don't matter, you got your amnesty. But I got this young man drunk and he bragged to me that he had been paid very well to kill Kid Curry. Said he was sorry 'bout it 'cause he considered Curry a friend. But a deal was a deal and he'd taken the money before he realized that the Curry he knew was Jed 'Kid' Curry."

"A friend?" I repeated.

"That's what he said. Well, he sat down to play poker so I…I…well, I took a moment to go out back and use the outhouse. I was only gone a minute, but when I came back, he was gone. I was kicking myself for losing him when all the customers ran out of the saloon into the street. People out there were all running, too. They weren't afraid, but excited. Seems this young gunfighter also cheats at poker. Well, break one commandment might as well break all the others, too."

I was silent but Heyes was quieter. I could feel him tremble where our shoulders were still touchin'.

"One of the men he was playing poker with done called him out and they were about to shoot it out. Probably the most excitement that town had seen in a month of Sundays. I couldn't do anything but watch…and arrest him if he won. He was cocky or maybe it was the alcohol I had bought him that made him act that way."

"Did you know anything about his opponent?" Colin asked.

"Sharp Eyes Edwards."

I whistled. "Didn't know he was still around. Saw him draw when I was young."

"He was in prison for fifteen years. Just got released three months ago. Talking to some of the players in that poker game didn't take much at all to rile his temper up. Angry sort," Marshal Freeman explained.

"Well, Edwards drew first. He's still quick. Got his shot off before his opponent could draw and walked away without looking back."

The marshal went over to the body and pulled his head up so I could see his face. My stomach curled; I know him.

"Names Gil," I said, tryin' hard to keep my voice calm, my tone even. "Knew him at the railroad prison camp. Taught us to eat cactus. Good kid, not in for long. Always thought he make it on the outside." Sadness fell over me and I wanted to find a private place and retch.

I felt the marshal and Colin both studyin' me, so I stood up straighter. Finally, the marshal said, "Think you should know. Before he died, he told us of another man paid to kill you. One we didn't know about. Said he owed you a favor for looking after him and considers it even now."

"Thank you, Marshal Freeman. Check in at the sheriff's office and he'll tell you what to do with the body." Colin's voice was matter of fact like he was givin' him instructions how to make coffee.

As the man left, I looked at Colin. "Could me and Heyes have a few minutes to collect ourselves before we go before the parole board?" We needed time to absorb this. Heyes had wrapped his arms around his chest and the only thing keepin' him from droppin' to his knees was my arm around his waist.

"I don't know, they've been waiting..." he started. His eyes fell on Heyes.

Dr. Arden came around the corner just as the marshal leadin' his horse left the alley. "Everything alright with you gentlemen? The board is assembled." He stopped talkin' when he seen Heyes. He ran forward and took him from me, allowin' him to sink to his knees. He knelt in front of him.

"Heyes?"

Heyes had started rockin' back and forth oblivious to the world.

"Colin, tell the board they are delayed. What happened out here?" Aiden didn't wait for an answer. "Heyes, can you hear me? You're safe. Jed…er the Kid is right here. Can you open your eyes?"

As he left, Colin turned around to see if Heyes responded. He hadn't.

Dr. Arden looked at me. "Jed, can you give him one of those big hugs and pick him up to stand on his feet?"

I didn't answer, just wrapped my arms under Heyes' and lifted him to his feet. I whispered in his ear, "It's alright, partner. I got you."

He opened his eyes but wasn't seein' me. Hired k-k kill the Kid…and…and…and the Kid knew him." Vocalizin' his fear helped and he spoke quickly but I realized these were his thoughts, not his words. "The Kid would have let him come right up to him because he knew him. And he would have killed him. The marshal said this man was quick. The Kid is quick; would he be faster? I can't help. I want my gun. Naked without it. Can't protect the Kid. I need to protect him from everyone, even people he knows. I need him. Chrissy needs him. The twins need him. We all need him. Nobody needs me."

"Shh, Heyes, look at me. I'm here with you. Ain't goin' let nobody kill me." I released my hug a bit. He stood on his own, fixin' his eyes on my face. They weren't just lookin' at me, he was studyin' me. He brought his hand up and touched my check. "K-K-Kid real," he mumbled softly.

"I'm standin' right here, partner. Think I'm hearin' your thoughts."

He looked down at my gun, then tapped his thigh. "N-n-naked, can't help you." These measured words were meant to be spoken.

"Heyes, sing or say your alphabet. Keep your thoughts to yourself," Dr. Arden warned.

Heyes looked at him in alarm. "You can hear my thoughts?" I don't think he meant to say that out loud.

"Yes, we both can hear your thoughts."

"A-B-C-D-E-E-E… What comes after e?" Heyes was in a panic, so I hugged him again.

"F-G."

He was quiet when I let him go, but I could tell from the look behind his eyes that he was thinkin', puzzlin', calmin' himself.

"Good job, Heyes, we are unable to hear your thoughts now." Aiden touched his shoulder.

Lookin' more alert, Heyes asked, "P-p-parole m-meeting?"

'Waiting for you two gentlemen," the doctor told him.

Heyes looked at me and I smiled. "Let's go, partner."

HEYES

Colin was the only one in the room when we entered. I'm shaky but my mind is here. I walk to the front shoulder to shoulder with the Kid. I'm not sure that this is real, but it seems very real. A lot of things that weren't true seemed very real in the dark cell. I choose to believe that this is real.

"Have a seat. I'll call the board," Colin told us.

Dr. Arden is walking in with us. Now I think I remember him holding me in the alley. He was trying to help me. I think that was real but was it today?

"Mr. Heyes, please stand and approach the board," Colin told me.

I did as asked and the Kid came with me. He said he always had my back. Well even if this is not real, he has my back. It's a good feeling.

Colin and Dr. Arden take their seats with the board. I search everyone's faces, thinking this still might be a trap about knowing where the Hole is. Nobody seems anxious so I will believe there is no trap.

I remember the doctor telling me my thoughts were coming out unchecked, so I hum Simple Gifts to myself.

"Mr. Heyes, have you done anything in the last month to violate your parole?" Colin asked.

I think about knowing where Devil's Hole is and not telling anyone. I tensed. But I remember the papers the Kid showed me, and I truthfully answer, "Nothing."

"Mr. Curry, are you aware of any parole violations this month by Mr. Heyes?"

"I am not."

The governor spoke. "Mr. Heyes, you have only one month left in your parole. Your last meeting will be at the prison so all the proper paperwork can be signed and recorded."

I don't know if I am supposed to answer, so I just nod.

"And gentlemen, I was sorry to hear that Sheriff Lom Trevors and his two deputies were shot while leading a posse to catch some men that robbed the bank there in Porterville. He's a good man. I understand the robbers were apprehended and Trevors rode behind them and held a gun on them all the way back into town, despite his injury. I assume you'll let him know how this meeting went. Give him my congratulations and my best."

I was shocked at his words. The Kid had told me Lom had said he had sheriff duties and couldn't come. The Kid lied to me. No, he doesn't lie to me and the look that hit his eyes before he controlled it tells me he didn't know either. Or maybe none of this is real and my mind made all of that up as an explanation why Lom isn't here. I can't decide which.

The governor looked at the Kid like he knows him well. Maybe he thinks he does. We hadn't been dismissed so me and the Kid just stood and waited. I looked around the room and decide it's real. That means this is real and my parole meeting is over. But it also means that Lom was shot. And his deputies Harker and Rudy were shot, too.

The governor came around the table and shook the Kid's hand. Dr. Arden came and had me sit down.

JED 'KID' CURRY

We gathered in a small upstairs room across the street. The governor gave Aiden a hard stare. "Dr. Arden, you haven't been invited to this meeting," he said firmly. This was quite a different side of the man than I had seen before. I remembered bein' told the two men were friends so maybe he wasn't being as cold as it appeared.

"Charles, Mr. Heyes suffered a setback today. My presence might serve as a calming influence."

The governor looked at his friend then at Heyes and made a decision. "You can come but you sit in the corner and don't talk. Do you agree?"

Aiden smiled. "That's acceptable."

"Mr. Curry, Mr. Heyes. These are the men I've asked to join us today. This is Warden Mays of the Wyoming Territorial Prison and his assistant Mr. Diggs. And, as I am also the acting governor of Colorado, I have asked this other gentleman, Warden Linden of the Colorado Central Prison to be here."

I recognized Mays and Diggs as the second overseer at the prison railroad camp. He really didn't get involved in the day-to-day workin's and discipline.

When I didn't say anything, the governor kept talkin'. "As you all know, we're here to discuss the current disciplines used in our prisons and how effective there are in rehabilitating the prisoners."

HEYES

I don't understand why these men are here. They are just singing their own praises. When the Kid tries to disagree with them, they shut him down. Maybe the trap is here. Not sure how it's a trap, but the Kid keeps telling them what they are doing isn't working. He gets a dirty look, and they talk louder. I think they believe talking louder will convince the governor their way is the right way.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I've decided this meetin' has been a waste of time with two more men tryin' to impress the governor with what a good job they are doin'. I hate politics.

"Mr. Curry, we are trying to do something constructive here and you are not being helpful." I could see that Warden Mays was losing patience, but I was truly tryin' to help. "We have gone through the standard punishments we are allowed by law, and you have told us how each one is ineffective or worse, makes a man bitter and harder to handle. These are tried and true methods that have been used for hundreds of years."

I stood my ground. The governor asked me here for my opinion on prison punishment, but they aren't listenin'. "Gentlemen, I'm tryin' to help you. But from my personal experience, you, meanin' the prison system, took me and Heyes, who were already rehabilitated, and tried real hard to break us or kill us. Now you're tryin' to tell me that you want a prison that will rehabilitate convicts and return them to society by doin' the same things you did to us? Well, what you been doin' for them hundreds of years ain't workin'."

I knew my voice had got louder so I took a deep breath and stood straighter throwin' my shoulders back. It hurts when I do that but gives me an idea. I took off my shirt.

"Mr. Curry, just what are you doing?" Warden Mays demanded. He definitely feels superior to me and probably all ex-convicts.

"Want you to see what your lawful punishments do to a man." I turned around. The governor gasped. Wardens Mays and Linden were quiet. Mr. Diggs showed no emotions. He never does.

"You must have been a …difficult troublemaker in prison but look at you now, a contributing citizen. Our ways worked." I heard sarcasm in Linden's tone. There was somethin' about the way the man was lookin' at me that made my skin crawl. I was sure he knew either me or Heyes from somewhere but neither of us had been in the Colorado prison.

I looked at Warden Mays. "It was common practice in the railroad camp where you were the overseer to give every prisoner three lashes and make them stand still in the burnin' sun with no shirt on for an hour and then return to work if we fell behind our quota for layin' track. Did nothin' but put us another hour behind. Have you ever tried to move rocks or lift heavy rails in the broilin' sun when every time you bend over or straighten up, your bleedin' back screams in pain?" I knew I sounded bitter, I was, and I refused to hide it.

Mays blanched; the governor just stared at me.

"I saw men tryin' to work like that. They were just left to die on the sand if the heat and the pain overcame them. I made it because I had a goal and hung onto a shred of hope for amnesty."

Warden Linden leaned forward. I could tell that I'd gotten on his wrong side. "Since Curry won't help us, perhaps we can put Mr. Heyes back in prison for the remainder of his parole and ask him what should be done for punishment. He can try each of them out, including spending some time in the dark cell."

"Now, Zacarias," the governor said. "I don't think that's necessary."

But Linden got an evil twinkle in his eye. "No, I think that's just what we need…or that brother-in-law of yours, Matt McWinters. Heard that the soft judge sentenced him to life in prison instead of hanging. We can try them all on him."

I watched Heyes shrink into his mind again, hidin' from the possibility of what he had just heard. He slumped in his chair in a subconscious attempt to become smaller, invisible. I knew he had left us. I hoped he would come back.

I tried to restrain my growl. "That's not our arrangement, Governor." I turned away and put my shirt back on.

"It is most definitely NOT our arrangement," he answered, but I could see Heyes was too far inside of himself to hear. "And if McWinters ends up in one of your prisons, I will monitor him closely to see that doesn't happen to him either. Do you understand, Warden Mays? Warden Linden?"

Somethin' else, though, had caught my attention and I asked, "Warden Linden, Warden Zacarias Linden, were you a prison guard in Colorado before you became warden?" I looked him defiantly in the eyes. "Zacarias Linden…ZL."

Aiden gave me a warnin' look, but I continued. My anger was there but I wasn't gonna let it out here. Not in front of these men just lookin' for any weakness.

"Yes, I'm proud to say I served as a guard, then a senior guard before I was appointed warden by his honor, the Colorado governor." He couldn't keep eye contact with me and turned to look at Aiden, who was givin' him a harsh look as he realized what he had done.

"Irving Price, initials IP, a friend of yours?"

Zacarias squirmed in his chair. The governor didn't know what was goin' on but did nothin' to stop our confrontation. In fact, he leaned forward in his chair, listenin' closely.

"Yes, Price is a close friend of mine. Resigned his position as a senior guard and went to work for the governor," Linden replied.

"Your friend Price is dead. Rifle shot to the head on a lonely road where no one could see."

Zacarias looked scared. Aiden's expression was of fear tempered by concern, but he didn't intervene.

"Sorry to hear that. I admired his er...work," Warden Zacarias Linden stammered.

I let him squirm and changed the subject. "Governor, I propose the wardens here and their senior guards keep a ledger of individual convict transgressions and the punishments used for the next month. We could reconvene at that time, perhaps with the senior guards and Colin in attendance, and discuss some changes to the policies."

The governor recognized I had changed the subject, lettin' a threat hang in the air. He gave me a curious look, but I wasn't gonna say anything more about it. "I think that would be appropriate, Mr. Curry. I will also have members of my staff in attendance at each prison for part of that time to observe."

I nodded. Neither warden looked happy, and I could hear Colin's future objections in my head as I figured he would be one of them observers.

The governor closed the meetin' by sayin', "We will meet one month from today at the prison, following Mr. Heyes' parole hearing. I believe it will be your last, Mr. Heyes?"

Heyes didn't respond. He was starin' at the ceilin' in the corner of the room, but I don't know where his thoughts had gone; somewhere he felt safe.

"It will be his last," I answered for him.

"Good day, gentlemen," the governor said to the two wardens and Mr. Diggs, as they hurried away, speakin' softly to one another.

When they were gone, the governor turned back to us. Aiden had pulled a chair next to Heyes and was speakin' to him, but I couldn't hear what he was sayin'. Heyes didn't respond. He had crossed his arms across his chest and sat rockin' in his chair. His eyes were still focused on the ceilin' corner. He remained unresponsive to what was goin' on around him. I shook my head and used my willpower to hold back tears of frustration.

"May I try to apologize to him?" the governor asked.

"Mr. Heyes, the governor wants to talk to you, apologize to you. Would you look at him?" Dr. Aiden asked him.

There was no acknowledgement. The governor sat down in the chair Aiden left. He put his hand on Heyes' knee. I couldn't hear what he was sayin' because Aiden pushed me in the corner.

"Jed, were you and Linden talking about what I think you were talking about?"

I nodded.

I could see him choosing his words carefully. "IP, Irving Price. Who put that bullet through his head?"

"Not me."

Aiden relaxed a bit at my answer. I left the quiet between us.

"You know who?"

"Johnny McWinters."

His eyes grew big. "Sounded like you were there."

"Close enough to hear it, but not close enough to stop it."

"Also sounded like you were threatening Linden. Yeah, I understood the ZL. I remember the initials on her back, too," he said sadly.

"Wanted him to know I knew what he did."

"You promised your wife no revenge. I heard you."

"Not gonna do anything to him. Just wanted to…"

"Put the fear of God into him?" Aiden finished my sentence.

"No, not the fear of God, the very real fear of Kid Curry into him."

"Aiden," the governor called him over to Heyes. "What's wrong with him? Is he sick?" he asked softly.

I felt anger surge uncontrolled through me. "Governor, that's what the Wyoming Territorial Prison did to the confident leader of the most successful gang in this state's history. We was already 'rehabilitated'. For over three years before we were arrested, we'd been law-abidin' citizens at the then governor's orders." I was shoutin' and didn't care.

"And it was harder for us because we did it while we was wanted dead or alive. We took any legal job we could find and often starved. But we did it and we would never have gone back to our old ways." The meetin' had frustrated me and I saw no progress. Nothin' was gonna change. "YOUR prison broke him. This meetin' was a waste of time."

I went over and dropped into the chair next to Heyes, not lookin' at him but side to side. He hadn't responded to Aiden or the governor. Today had been too hard for him. He was frightened, scared, and he had done what prison had taught him to do, hide inside his mind. I couldn't reach him.

Then I realized I had just yelled at the governor. "Sir, I'm sorry. I…"

"Jed, I heard you. And I needed to hear what you had to say. And I thought when we were alone, it was Charles, not sir."

Aiden sat on the other side of me. "Jed, think I just saw that anger we were talking about."

"Yeah…yeah. Thought I had it under control. Sorry…Charles. That wasn't meant for you. It was just my frustration."

"It's been an unexpectedly emotional day." Aiden put his hand on my arm. "How do you feel?"

"Terrible, embarrassed. Don't know why I lost control like that."

The governor looked at Aiden to explain. Aiden looked to me for permission. I nodded.

"First, Jed, you didn't lose control until you felt you were around 'safe' people, friends, not when the wardens and that assistant were here. If you would try to reach Heyes, I'll explain to the governor what went on today."

When I cocked my head, Aiden added, "Well, what he needs to know."

I gave Aiden a half smile. "After my explosion, I feel exposed to all of you…and like I can ask for help.".

Aiden took a deep breath. Maybe Heyes was right that he's hidin' anger too. He took the governor aside and they talked quietly.

I moved my hand to around Heyes' shoulder. "Hey partner, how you doin'? Wanna talk?"

His eyes moved to me, but he shook his head. I saw two tears escape from full eyes. He reached out and touched my arm. Aiden saw the movement, too.

Heyes made a motion like writin' and my heart sunk. He had lost his words. I found him paper and a pencil. Heyes stared at the pencil and turned it over and over in his hand as if tryin' to figure out what to do with it.

"Partner, can you write what you're thinkin'?" I asked.

He looked at me, then at the paper, finally he printed, "No words," drawin' each letter carefully.

"Can you write why you lost your words?"

"Scared," he wrote, then looked over at me. "Prison. Trap. Friend kill Kid."

"I know, partner, I know. I'm scared, too. Remember, we can survive anything as long as we're together. Let me help."

Heyes nodded and held my arm tight.

Aiden and the governor rejoined us. And now it was Charles' turn to feel sorry. "I apologize. Colin and I didn't think…"

"No need to explain," I said quickly. Heyes didn't need to hear anything more about Devil's Hole right now.

Heyes was writin', again. "Go Phoenix?"

"Yeah, we'll take the first train home in the mornin'. Let's go back to the hotel."

He nodded and stood, very straight and looked down in a submissive prison stance. I knew Aiden recognized it.

HEYES

I'm safe where I am. But Dr. Arden and the Kid and even the governor are talking at me. All I want to do is go back to our ranch, Phoenix. I can heal there and, like the mythical bird, rise again. But I concentrate and write that I am scared of everything and want to go home. Phoenix is my home and I have my own room there where it is bright and I am safe.