Winter's Refuge
Chapter Sixty-Five
JED 'KID' CURRY
Phoenix Ranch
I raced Winter's Glory the last mile and the others were close behind. When I turned up Curry Road, my heart sank. I put my hand up to stop the others.
"That gate ain't never left open. Somethin's wrong. Let's go in expectin' anything," I told them.
Without being told, the three lawmen behind me fanned out. I saw a broken shovel on the ground in front of my blacksmith shop but no signs of a struggle. I saw fresh horseshoe prints overlappin' each other in the dirt comin' and goin'…and fresh wagon tracks.
I rode to the front door while Marshal Detmers headed to the barn and stable. Marshal Lyons circled around the house to the back door and Sheriff Holohan had my back. I stopped on the porch and listened. No sounds from inside.
Drawin' my gun, I opened the front door slowly. I let my eyes adjust to the unusual dark. This house was always bright and lively. Just like I always dreamed my family home should be. Now it's dark and quiet. Still not hearin' anything, I moved to the livin' room and lit the nearest lamp.
"Oh no," I heard Holohan exclaim.
When I turned, I saw a body, probably a man, mostly in shadows face down on the kitchen floor. I was scared to think. Was it Heyes? Was he alive? Where were the others? I brought the lamp closer. Sheriff Holohan was over the body.
"He's alive. Breathings good but he's got a hell of a lump on the side of his head."
By now I could see that it wasn't Heyes. I was relieved, then guilty.
"That's Sheriff Frank Birde from Three Birds," I said. "Sent him a telegram askin' for his help protectin' the ranch."
I didn't see Frank's horse. And I don't see any sign of a struggle. I lit another lamp and slowly searched through the house while Holohan tended Frank.. It looked like it was purposefully evacuated. The fire in the stove was out. Kitchen cupboards were open and canned goods were missin'. Lookin' upstairs, I opened the doors slowly fearin' that I would find the worst on the other side. But there was nothin'. Then I looked closer. The twins' clothes were scattered and some were gone. And the stuffed doggie was gone. Michael would never leave without Doggie. Maybe Heyes had gotten them out?
The quilt on our bed was gone and I realized that most of the quilts, blankets and pillows were gone. I allowed hope to dance through my thoughts. Auntie's room was the same.
In Heyes room, somethin' was different. I looked at everything again. His bedroll was gone! My hope grew stronger. And then I saw his chalkboard propped up on the dresser. I looked closer and saw one of the signs we'd carve on trees when we were separated, upside down v's. Beneath it were two 's' shapes, one over the other. No one else would think it was anythin' but scribblin'. But now I knew Heyes had gotten them out and I knew where they had gone.
"They got out," I told the men downstairs just as Marshal Detmers came in the back door followed by Joe and NotJoe.
"Found the dogs locked in the stable. Think they're hungry. Horses might be hungry, too."
Sheriff Holohan asked, "You said they got out?" He was holdin' a cold damp towel on the side of Frank's head to stem the bleedin'.
"Yeah, Heyes left me a message only I would understand. Here's what I think happened. Somethin' tipped Heyes off. He's paranoid about strangers so it wouldn't take much. He got everyone out in the wagon."
"Need to check somethin'." I stopped and walked out the back door about twenty feet before comin' back in.
Sheriff Holohan was applyin' a second cold towel to the wound on Frank's head. He moaned and opened his eyes. "Jed?" He looked around confused but not at me. He sat up slowly holdin' the towel to the side of his head.
"Frank, how you feelin'?" I knelt beside him. His eyes weren't focusin' on me.
"Like I've been hit in the head, and someone turned the lights out," he growled. "Can't see much, only shadows. I know your voice. Who's there with you, Jed?"
"Friends."
"Where are they?"
"If by they you mean my family, they escaped. If you mean the men who conked you on the side of the head, they're not here and I don't know where they are now."
Frank nodded, then moaned. "Got your telegram and rushed out here. Gate was open so I was cautious. Didn't see any horses so I came into the house. It seemed empty but I figure now it wasn't. Someone knocked me out when I walked into the kitchen. Next thing I remember is waking up here." He looked around. "Friends?" he asked.
"Meet US Marshal Gray Lyons and that man helpin' you sit up is Damon Holohan, Sheriff of Bridgeport."
Frank squinted at Holohan. "Can't really see you but we've met. How are you, Damon?"
"Better than you."
I took a deep breath. "Need to catch up with Heyes and make sure I'm not followed."
"Tracks look like the wagon headed for Three Birds," Lyons commented.
"I would have passed them if they went that way." Frank tried to stand up, but the sheriff kept him sittin' on the floor. Disoriented, Frank laid back against him.
"They didn't go that way," I said, lookin' in the cupboards for food. I found a plate of covered cookies, took one, and passed them around. The plate was empty when it came back to me.
The other men all looked at me. I didn't say where they were goin', just laid out a plan of action.
"Sheriff Holohan, can you take Frank, er, Sheriff Birde into the doctor in Three Birds? His horse appears to be gone but…"
Detmers interrupted, "There's a fully saddled brown horse with a black mane, standing in the stable. Not in any stall, just eating hay."
"That's my boy!" Frank exclaimed.
The sheriff looked at Frank. "Think you can ride?"
"Yeah, but would need someone to lead me. Can only see shadows."
"Marshal Detmers, can I ask you to stay and take care of the horses and the animals?"
"Not a problem, but surely you're not thinking of leaving now. Your horses are tired and so are you."
"Gotta catch up to my family. Make sure they're alright. Figure they got about a two-hour head start on us…or more. Marshal Lyons, would you come with me?"
"That's what we're here for, Mr. Curry, to protect you and your family. Let's go find them."
I helped Frank onto his horse and steadied him in the saddle. I wrapped the reins around his hands, but Holohan took them. "How about I lead you until you get your bearings?"
Frank turned toward but did not quite face me. Don't know how much he was seeing. "Frank, make sure Dr. Sexton looks at your eyes, too."
He nodded and I could see it caused him pain.
"Frank, I'm sorry you got hurt helpin' me. I owe you one," I told him.
"Yes, son, I'd say this time you do."
HEYES
As soon as I saw the lake, I knew I did good. In my mind I could elude reality with thoughts of the calm serenity of this place. Now, the reality of this place will be our safe harbor. No one can hurt us here.
"Heyes, need help, please." Chrissy was calling me. When I looked into her face, I saw exhaustion and panic.
I dismounted and got Michael safely on his feet.
"Help Christina down first," Auntie commanded.
The ride was tougher for Chrissy than I had anticipated. But I hadn't known anything else to do. She knew that too and had been strong until we got here.
I helped her off of Spring's Moiria, letting her fall into my arms. I don't know anything about woman with child, so I started to panic.
Auntie spoke in a reassuring tone. "Just walk her to under that tree and let her sit down. I did as instructed, realizing I was more carrying than supporting her. Lowering her gentle to the ground, instead of sitting she laid down.
"Chrissy, rest here. Help Auntie," she told me, closing her eyes.
Again, I was at a loss how to help her. I got one of the blankets and put it over her. I would have liked to get it under her but that would have to wait. Michael sat next to his mother and patted her hair.
Next, Auntie handed a sleepy Martha into my arms and dismounted without help. She laid out another blanket next to Chrissy. I gently laid Martha there. Michael started to follow me around.
"Ma sleeping?" he asked. "Martha sleeping?"
"Yes, they are taking a nap," Auntie answered as she started unloading the supplies off of the horses.
"Wanna help, Uncle Heyes," Michael offered. I looked into those sweet innocent blue eyes and smiled. He looked so much like the Kid at that age I wanted to protect him always. I didn't take good care of Jed. I led him into a life of lawlessness. And he followed me. His eyes used to look innocent. Now those blue eyes seem to carry the weight of the world.
"I get blanket." Michael started pulling the bottom blanket off the horse. The rest came down on top of him. He sat on his bottom, the blankets piled on top of him and laughed. I sat down next to him and laughed with him.
Auntie was taking care of Chrissy. She had her sitting up on a blanket leaning against a tree. Chrissy was drinking all she wanted from the canteen. With the lake, we had all the water we needed…and fish.
"Oh my!" Auntie looked up in alarm.
Jumping to my feet, I looked around for the threat. Had we been followed?
"Hannibal, relax. I didn't bring the pan to fry the fish or a pot for the coffee."
I took me and the Kid's old coffee pot and tin cups in my saddle bags. "Sorry, no pan, Auntie. I can build a spit if that will help."
I had the horses unloaded and unsaddled. I would hand light things to Michael, and he'd carry them over and set them on the blanket. We needed to have some sort of shelter before dark.
I'm worried about Chrissy. Was this trip too much for a woman with child? I'm worried that we were followed. Did I take the right path where it would be hard to see wagon tracks? I'm worried about the cold high in these mountains as night falls. Did I do the right thing? DidI do enough to keep them safe?
JED 'KID' CURRY
Detmers gave the horses water and some oats while we got some things together. Now that I looked closer, I could confirm they left in a hurry. My bedroll was always ready to go, a habit from bein' ready to run from a posse. I grabbed it. My fishin' pole was missin'. I tried to think what they might need and didn't have time to take. Found our fryin' pan and stuck it in my saddle bag along with matches and some medical supplies.
In the stable, three horses were gone. Heyes made good choices in the ones he brought with them. But no oats were missin, so we filled some bags with oats and brought them with us. If Heyes went where I think, there's plenty of grass although there might be some frost on it. I also grabbed rope and an axe that was layin' nearby. Finally, I added all the bullets I had in the house to my saddle bags.
Then I walked the property around the house, figurin' where I'd hide if I were waitin' for someone to come home. Detmers and Lyons knew what I was doin' and joined in my search. From the tracks, I don't think Carlson's men ever walked in the backyard of the house. But my family did. I had clear footprints of two adult and two children walkin' to the stream and followin' it. That's the way we'd go.
In less than an hour, me and Marshal Lyons were on our way. It was still early afternoon but dark comes early this time of year. We went slow, makin' sure we weren't followed and couldn't be tracked. If I didn't know where Heyes was goin', I would have lost their trail multiple times. He moved from little used roads where they left obvious tracks to hard packed or rocky ground where they left none. This skill we had mastered runnin' from a posse had returned to him. I was confused when they went over a rocky section and the trail disappeared.
We searched for a while, but I knew where was goin' and we were fightin' for sunlight. We needed time to get through the twists,turns and switchbacks of the rock canyons before dark. So, I stopped followin' tracks and searched for the secluded entrance. Sure enough, where the path was still wide, I caught a few glimpses of a wagon's ruts. Then nothin'. I stopped and let Winter's Glory graze for a few minutes to orient myself. We'd only ridden here once. I looked at the trail and the mountains risin' in front of us. What did Heyes remember that I am forgettin'? I know the path we followed wasn't wide enough for a wagon. It was just barely wide enough for a horse. For Lyons ridin' Bear, it was goin' to be a very tight squeeze at the end. He'd probably have to dismount and lead the horse the last quarter mile.
Caves! I remembered there were caves for the first third of the climb. Heyes would have hid the wagon in one of those. Lookin' at it that way, I started seein' things differently. We rode on slowly, reachin' out at times to touch the walls closin' in on our sides. We found the wagon! Heyes hid it well. If I didn't know what I was lookin' for, we'd have gone right by.
There were still some things in the wagon. Probably what couldn't fit on the horses. We took what we could.
The cliff walls blocked out the sun as it started to set so darkness fell sooner on our narrowin' path.
"Getting dark, Mr. Curry. How much farther?"
I looked up. "Can't remember exactly, but each step puts us closer."
I heard him sigh.
"Well, I must say your partner chose a good hiding place."
We continued to ride in silence. Winter's Glory was sure footed and trustin'. Bear followed him easily.
"HALT! DON'T COME ANY FARTHER OR I'LL SHOT!" A strong woman's voice came from above us and to our left.
"Auntie, don't shot. It's Jed." I raised my hands over my head.
"Well, Jedediah, it's about time you got here. Who's that with you?" Aunt Diane Frances demanded.
"A friend, Marshal Lyons, here to help." I told her.
"Hello, ma'am," Lyons said, lookin' up into the rocks. Wherever she was, she was well hidden. As she stood up, I saw the rifle she'd had aimed at us.
"Good day, Marshal. Jedediah, keep on going up. There's some people be happy to see you," Auntie finished. "I'm just going to stay and make sure you weren't followed. Appreciate it if one of you boys would relieve me in a while."
HEYES
Me and the Kid didn't take the time to investigate the small forest past the meadow when we found this place. The horses migrated there. Climbing a tree, I still couldn't see over the rock walls. I found some downed limbs and logs and dragged them to the meadow. Martha was awake now and both the twins were excited to help me. They collected kindling and twigs to start the fire we would need to keep warm tonight. Between two of the trees nearest the towering walls I strung a rope and started to make a lean-to with the rocks as the back wall and the biggest of the blankets we had brought.
I was worried about Chrissy. She was up, trying to help, but she looked so tired…no past tired, exhausted.
"Chrissy, sit down. Rest."
"If I help, done sooner." She was very pale.
I didn't want to, but I used my outlaw voice. "Go sit down." I softened my voice. "I can get everything done faster if I don't have to worry about you falling down from exhaustion."
"We helping Uncle Heyes," Martha piped up.
Chrissy smiled a weak smile. "Yes, you are my dears. I'm feeling tired, I think I'll sit down for a while."
Just then, we heard a horse whinny coming up the path. I grabbed Chrissy. We pushed the twins behind us. With energy I didn't think she had, she stood straight and held my Schofield with two hands. She pointed it at the opening. I stood next to her with a knife in each hand. I didn't hear Auntie fire the rifle, so I said a quiet prayer that this was the Kid and not the two men I'd met at the blacksmith shop earlier today. Was that only today? It seemed a lifetime away.
"Can't get Bear to move through even with me pulling." I heard a deep voice I didn't recognize and I stepped a little forward and prepared to throw one of the knives and attack with the other.
"Let me get Winter's Glory through and I'll come back and help you," the Kid said. The Kid! It was the Kid's voice and a heartbeat later he appeared through the crack pulling Winter's Glory!
JED 'KID' CURRY
As I walked through the last turn pullin' Winter's Glory, there they were, my precious family.
"Whoa, it's me," I said quickly when I saw Chrissy's gun and Heyes' knives. I was pleased he wasn't the one holding the Schofield.
"PAPA!" Two small whirlwinds raced from behind them and towards me. I got down on one knee, but their combined force threatened to knock me over.
They were safe! Heyes had done it!
"Jed!" Chrissy fell into my arms as I stood up. She clung to me, and I was holdin' her up. I picked her up in my arms like a baby and carried her to a lean-to I saw on the far end of the meadow.
"Rest here, darlin'."
"Heyes do very well. Heyes back," she said, her tiredness came through in her voice.
I turned and looked at my partner. He had Winter's Glory by the reins and was helpin' Marshal Lyons, a man he had never met, get Bear through the tight entrance.
"Heyes?" I recovered quickly. "Heyes, you need help?"
He looked over at me and it was Heyes without the shadows behind his eyes. "We got it, Kid."
"Papa, why are you crying?" Martha pulled on my leg, and I picked her up.
"Cryin' because I'm happy I found all of you," I told her, but I was watchin' Heyes interact with Lyons without fear.
"Mama cries for happy she says." Martha hugged me.
ASJ*****ASJ
Lyons announced that he was goin' to relieve the lady with the rifle if someone could show him the way.
"Right this way, Marshal," Heyes answered right away with his old grin and a wink to me.
And my heart leaped in hope. I watched as he left through the crack in the walls with Lyons followin'. Even his walk had changed. I had gotten so used to it bein' subservient, always deferrin' to everyone, that I shook my head in joy.
Chrissy had come up behind me. "Heyes, back. Take charge. Save us. Good!"
"Yes, very good." I slipped my arm around her waist. "You look tired. How are you?"
My joy over Heyes turned to concern over Chrissy. Now that I looked closer, she was very pale and weak. We didn't have a chair, but logs had been pulled in a circle around what I figured would become a firepit. I helped Chrissy sit on one of the logs and found a large rock to use as a footstool.
"Papa, are we going to fish for our dinner?" Michael asked, his voice soundin' cranky.
Chrissy started to stand up. "Michael needs his pain medicine."
"I'll get it, Mama." Martha ran to a bag, came back with it, and handed it to Chrissy.
"Only Papa," Michael announced. He'd gotten over that, but I didn't mind indulgin' him today.
HEYES
After I walked Auntie back to our meadow, the Kid pulled me aside.
"Heyes, thank you." His eyes held all his hope of my recovery.
"Couldn't hide in my mind, Kid. Promised you I'd take care of our family. When those two men showed up at the smithy..."
"What two men?"
"Outlaws. I'm sure they were outlaws. You know the type, guns tied down. Gruff. Scared me but I didn't go into my thoughts when they asked for Jed Curry and the Curry Ranch."
I saw the fear cross the Kid's face, then calm as he realized we were safe. "What did you do?"
"I felt my mind working. I wanted to run but could control it because I knew those men were a threat to us. Told them I wasn't Curry, and this was Phoenix Ranch."
He nodded. "Good job."
"Soon as they left, I started planning. Planning like I was planning a complicated bank robbery. I can think, really think, again…and plan ….and talk."
"It's good to hear you talk so easily, Heyes. I missed talkin' with you. Never thought I'd say this, but I missed your ideas…and your guidance," the Kid said.
"Kid, you don't need me. I'm so proud of all that you've accomplished. I just concentrated on getting our family to my safe place as fast as I could. My brain just saw a problem and worked on it." It was true, He didn't need me. He'd done everything the last year on his own with his strength of will.
"Heyes, I need you more than you know. I feel like I'm gonna blow like that time in Valparaiso after we were whipped for somethin' we didn't do."
I frowned at the memory. It was the first time I'd realized the extent of the Kid's temper and when he finally lost it. After another severe undeserved beating, he'd run down the stairs to get away, kicking everyone, adult or child, that got in his way. I chased after him but couldn't keep up. I don't know how he ran that fast with the whipping we'd suffered on our bottom and the back of our legs. My legs were threatening to collapse with every step.
He ran through the kitchen and out to the stables. I would have lost him, but the cook pointed the way. He'd kicked the warden…no, the dean twice so no one followed him at first. I found him in the stable. He tried to fight me, but I held him tight, and he calmed enough to look at me.
"Leavin' here, Heyes, and I ain't comin' back. You comin' with me, like we talked about?"
I could see in his eyes that I couldn't change his mind and I didn't want to. His anger was the push I needed to leave that place. "Give me five minutes and meet me back of the red cedar tree," I told him. I was already running as I spoke. I had a pillowcase hidden in the barn with some stuff I had gathered for when we would run away, so I grabbed it. Looking in the kitchen door, cook's back was to me. The rolls for dinner were cooling. I dumped them all into my bag and took a chunk of cheese.
I found Jed under the red cedar, jamming his knife into the bark, and pulling it out only to do it again with a frustrated grunt. When he looked at me, his eyes held all his anger and frustration.
I could see that anger and frustration now, restrained in the back of his eyes. "How can I help?"
"Help me figure out how to find them."
I knew who he was talking about, the two men I now knew were sent by Carlson. And I realized he needed me, had needed me all this time, but had struggled on alone.
"First need to tell you that I'm more scared than ever," I confessed. "Want to run to my safe place. But since me and you found this place, I been using the memory of it as the safe place in my mind."
He put his hands on my shoulders. "Whatever you need to stay present with us, just tell me."
I could feel his strength, both physical and the strength of his heart. He was sharing both with me.
"Okay let's start with what we know about these men."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Me and Heyes had come up with the beginnin's of a plan. He called it a Heyes/Curry plan rather than a Hannibal Heyes plan. But it meant I had to leave in the mornin'. I'd already known I'd be doin' that.
I held Chrissy tight all night. With my hand on her belly, I could feel our baby kick. The joy this brought me was tempered by the thought that I had missed that with the twins. There was no one to hold her then when she was tired. She'd done that alone.
Lyons had fought me about leavin'; he said the marshals could find those men chasin' me. It was temptin' to stay here in Heyes' safe place. It had become our family's haven. But I need to leave. Told him I'd check at the Phoenix and if Marshal Detmers and Sheriff Halohan were there, I'd recruit one of them to help me. But our plan didn't have me goin' that way.
Me and Heyes figured I'd need Colin's help and AIden's. But my part was no more than a two-person job. More than that and they might be illusive. Heyes used that word illusive. He's himself again, although he's warned me he does not know if he can handle crowds.
So, I need to go and Lyons stay here. If those men see me, they'll come for me. If they don't find me, we might never know where they are. They'll fade into the background waitin', pickin' their time to pounce when my family returns to Phoenix.
I need to leave so this will end. Me and Heyes agreed on that. And I need to control the time and place they find me, so I'm prepared.
"Papa, no go!" Martha and Matthew each had tears rollin' down their cheeks the next morning as I prepared to go. I melt at their tears, but I can't allow myself to do that this time. I knelt down between them and hugged them both tight.
"Gotta go, but I'll be back. I love you both so much, you know that, don't you?"
"Yes, Papa."
I lowered my voice, "Need you to take care of your ma for me. Can you promise me to do that?"
Two very solemn faces looked at me, then nodded. "Pomise," Michael said, not quite gettin' the word right.