Winter's Refuge

Chapter Sixty-Six

JED 'KID' CURRY

Heyes, on Fall's Whisper, accompanied me and Winter's Glory down as far as the hidden wagon. He took what was left of the things they had left behind includin' the extra quilts. It had been cold last night, even with the fire goin' all night. I used the ax I had brought and chopped wood from fallen branches and logs. I know that Heyes or Lyons could have done it, but I felt I was providin' for my family by doin' it. I had been so scared that I would be late. That I'd lose my family…again.

We looked up and waved where we knew Marshal Lyons was sittin' watch above us. It was a nice wind protected spot where the echoes of anyone attemptin' to enter or leave through the maze, as we had named the twist and turns of the path, could be heard. Auntie and Lyons were gonna switch off standin' guard durin' the day. At night, it was too dark to travel with all the forks and switchbacks. He stood up where we could see him and waved his rifle. "Safe travels, Mr. Curry."

Goin' back through the switchbacks, curves and twists was easier. We just headed down. We dismounted about a hundred feet above where the wagon was hidden. Heyes didn't want a lot of tracks showin' activity outside the cave. He was alert, distrustin' and so much like my old partner, I was astonished at his recent sudden improvements. "Heyes..." I started but he cut me off.

He grinned, then looked serious. "I can tell you're gonna say thanks but I'm the one that needs to be saying it."

We stopped and looked at each other. And we knew what the other was thinkin'!

"Heyes, I was so scared for all of you. And then when I got the telegram that Juan had left, terror filled every part of me, and I wanted to leave right then but Charles stopped me with reason."

"Charles?"

I felt funny admittin' to Heyes that I called the governor, who had made him earn his amnesty, Charles. But Heyes smiled and nodded. "Kid, he sees what a good man you are. What 'reason' did he give you?"

"Train schedules to show me how fast I could get home. That it would take longer on horseback. And he was right. You know he changed those schedules for me and the court time too. Governors have a lot of power," I told him.

Heyes gave me the sideways grin I hadn't really seen in years. "Believe me, I know."

He really did. The governor had made him stay in general population in prison for six months after I got my amnesty. Then, he had his parole to get through. Yes, he knew what kind of power a governor had. "Glad he's on our side," I said.

"Your side. Hopefully mine, too," Heyes said softer. Then, like he had done for years when a conversation got personal, he changed the subject. "Didn't you think I'd protect them?"

It was my turn to smile. "I had hope and little things to hold onto. I had your promise and I hoped you would stay in reality enough to remember and try to protect them. I left you suspicious of everyone, friend or stranger, and that gave me hope you would recognize a threat."

He nodded. We both knew that had happened.

I continued, "Thought you would try to get them to Three Birds?"

"Thought about it for a quick minute but that would bring violence there. So, I took them to my safe spot, Soteria."

"Your safe spot? You been here except that time with me?"

"In my mind. Once we found this place, this is where I would hide in myself. I'd picture myself sitting on that boulder watching the water." Heyes looked far away when he answered but then made eye contact with me and I knew he was thinkin' about it, not goin' there.

"Soteria? Where'd that name come from?"

"I remembered it from one of Chrissy's books. Soteria is the goddess of safety, deliverance, and preservation from harm. Seemed to be appropriate."

"It's perfect." I got serious. "Heyes, there is no one I would trust more with our family."

He met my gaze with attentive, clear eyes. "Go do what you need to do. I'll take care of everyone here. I promise." He put a hand on my shoulder. "And Kid, be careful. We'll be waiting for your return."

HEYES

I hope the Kid listened to me when I told him to be careful. Our plan makes him the 'bait' in our trap.

I walked the horse back to Soteria slowly so I could make a list of what needed to be done…chores for everyone except Chrissy. The Kid is worried about her and so am I. She's pale and restless. I will let her decide what to do in the camp but make sure she doesn't do too much.

The Kid thought to bring some things we had left behind but might need. Things like Auntie's frying pan and Martha's doll.

The covered basket of eggs that Chrissy had put in the wagon, was actually our stock pot. There were also some quickly grabbed herbs that had traveled with the eggs in the pot. Kid had grabbed a smoked ham, too. Auntie had a pot of soup going quickly.

We didn't try fishing yesterday, but we'll try today. Me and the Kid saw fish through the clear water when we were here before. I worried that the lake would freeze over as it got colder. I've read stories where people have fished through a hole in the ice. We might have to learn to do that if the Kid doesn't return soon. If he's not back in a week, Lyons will leave and go east to a small town. The Kid will send telegrams there of his progress. Whether or not he gets a telegram, Lyons should be back late that same day.

So today while Chrissy and the twins fished, Auntie busied herself with the items we had brought. She found a ledge in a shallow cave where she organized our limited supplies.

"Auntie, why don't you try and rest? Lyons will need to be relieved soon." I felt tempted to relieve him myself. No one here would tell if I touched the rifle…but I would. This honest version of myself would tell the truth.

I went exploring the forest of trees around the lake. I stacked fallen limbs along my path to gather as I walked back. Birds seemed to be in abundance here, we wouldn't go hungry. I didn't see any evidence of any big cats or coyotes. Biggest animal I saw was an abundance of large rabbits.

Then, I found what I was looking for…but didn't want to find…another entrance on the far side of the lake. It was hidden behind a wall of stone. This slit between the two rock walls was smaller, tighter, a man could just squeeze through but not a horse. On the other side, the path went both up and down, unlike the one we had traveled to get here. The lake was the end of that one. The way was overgrown, with bushes waist high the most prominent. I trudged my way about fifty feet in each direction. No one had been here in years…if ever. I took a rock and etched my mark so I could find it easier next time.

Gathering the wood I had set out, I went back to our camp, thinking about the second entrance. Devil's Hole had a back path to get in also. As far as I know, only me and the Kid and Jim Santana know about it. But when I think about it, Jose Ortiz had led the Devil's Hole Gang as part of the Triumvirate years before Jim. My money would be that he knew about it, too.

But right now, I'm the only one that knows about our 'backdoor' and it's going to stay that way until the Kid comes back.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I didn't head for Phoenix. I went northwest hopin' to find a road that would lead to Bridgeport. Heyes said we couldn't take the chance someone would try and backtrack my trail and find Soteria. He was right. I got emotional last night watchin' him pace around our camp while plannin' in his head. It was good to have him back, even if the pacin' drives me nuts. He left me to tell Martha and Michael a bedtime story and I tucked them into the lean-to next to the back rock wall. Auntie had made a nest of leaves and covered it with a quilt. Chrissy had stuffed one of the pillowcases with more leaves and made a pillow to support Michael's cast. They shared one of the few real pillows that had made it up from the wagon.

I tucked two more blankets tightly around them. They fell asleep quickly. Watching them sleep peacefully touched my heart. I know I came close to losin' them…but I didn't, thanks to my partner.

Chrissy's foot touched my leg, and I jumped out of my revelry and turned to her. She smiled at me as she stood in the entrance to the lean-to. "They sleep?"

'Yeah," I whispered as I stood. Takin' the hand she offered, I walked outside.

"Good. They think is an adventure. Heyes very good and no scare them."

We headed to the lake slowly. I could see the toll the journey had taken on her as she leaned heavily on me. "You want to sit? Rest?"

She looked at me with those eyes as green as the forest near us. "No, I want to walk with my husband."

"We'll go slowly. Tell me if you're tired." I tried to read her face but all I saw was exhaustion. "Scared?"

"Was…not now. Safe here. Safe with you. Safe with Heyes. Proud of Heyes." Each of her short sentences were separated with deep breaths. "Need to rest."

I didn't see any place for her to sit 'cept on the ground so I picked her up in my arms. Even though she was tired, she giggled. 'Put your arm around my neck," I whispered.

She did and rested her head against my shoulder. "Jed, I love you."

"And I love you with all my heart."

ASJ*****ASJ

Chrissy fell asleep quickly and I wanted to join her, but I didn't. I need to discuss the plan I knew Heyes was workin' on. The plans were always better when we discussed them ahead of time – he explained them to me, and I made a few logical changes.

"Kid, I don't like that this puts you in danger. It's the only thing I can think of," he said when we'd finished.

"It's a good plan. Can't help bein' in some danger. You added some things to keep me safer."

LOM

I was surprised that Juan showed up in Porterville and concerned when he explained that the Kid was in Cheyenne testifying against Wheat's brother. I understand that he has a strong bond with his brother. But when Rudy said he was sending a telegram to Juan just to say he was okay, I asked him to include that he didn't need help. But Juan ignored that.

I am still laid up, but the day after Juan arrived, with Susan's help, I went to the sheriff's office. I sat behind my desk with my leg supported by a footstool stacked with pillows. Susan wanted to stay and fuss but I asked her to go to work at the bank. I need Juan to see that I'm healing.

"Sheriff Trevors!" he exclaimed when the Ortiz brothers came in together. "Thought you were laid up."

I smiled at them. "Don't do paperwork with my legs."

"Good to see you back, sir," Rudy said.

"Good to be back. I'm not made for too much coddling, although Miss Porter was pleasant company. Juan, need you to send a telegram to the Kid in Three Birds. Include that it should be delivered to the Curry Ranch quickly."

"I'll go do that right now. And it's Phoenix Ranch," he answered as he went out the door.

Rudy looked at me when Juan had left. "You worried, sir?"

"I am. The Kid's testifying against a powerful man, a very ruthless powerful man."

"Juan said that Ken, er Marshal Josephs, is with Jed. He's testifying too."

I nodded. I didn't want to scare or worry him, but I'd heard reports of the widespread corruption in Iowa. And Judge Carlson is the one calling the shots. "Never dreamed that the Judge and all the "Carlson money" were related to Wheat Carlson."

"You know Wheat Carlson? Thought he was an outlaw," Rudy asked.

I thought for a moment and adjusted my leg slightly on its perch. "Yeah, I know him…and I'd almost call him a friend. He had a strong moral compass and an inflated sense of his leadership abilities. His partner was Kyle Murtry. They were as close as brothers."

Before Rudy could ask more, Juan returned quickly looking defeated. "Telegraph lines are down to Three Birds. Our telegraph operator told us their operator goes back and forth to Bridgeport to send what he can. Sent ours there but no one will get it until tomorrow."

I didn't let the boys see but I was really worried now. I tried to still my heart and steel my features so they wouldn't see. "Rudy, go see if the Bickson boys are around. Have they come see me."

The Bicksons were both in their very early twenties, hard working on their pa's farm and hard playing in our saloon on the weekends. They'd both been temporary deputies for me when I needed them. They liked the work and the pay well enough, but their pa needed them on the farm and their ma was always afraid they'd be shot. But I want Juan and Rudy to get to the Kid's ranch as quickly as they could.

JED 'KID' CURRY

Followin' Heyes' suggestion, I rode close to the foot of the mountains, then headed north and east lookin' for any road to Bridgeport. When I found one, I pushed Winter's Glory to get there as quickly as I could. Before I entered town, I made a wide circle. I took a side street to the backdoor of the newspaper. Although he had locked it when Heyes was there, I knew he left the back door unlocked. His horse, Bear, stayed in the small paddock when Loveland was workin'. But now Bear was at Soteria with Lyons and my family.

Feelin' overwhelmed for a moment that Loveland had lent his precious Bear to us, I dismounted slowly and put Winter's Glory into the empty paddock. I didn't understand why he'd lend his horse to a near stranger for an indefinite time, but I was grateful. I tried to decide if I should offer to pay for him to rent a horse until we returned Bear or if he'd take that as an insult?

I knocked on the closed back door before enterin'. "Mr. Loveland?"

A voice came from the archive office down the hall. "I'll help you in just a minute. Who's there?"

"Jed Curry."

He hurried down the hall, printer's apron still on and ink on his hands. "Been waiting for you. Glad to see you. Your family?" He started to shake hands, then looked at his black hands. 'Sorry."

"Safe and out of harm's way."

"Thank the Lord. You stay in the back office here and no one will know you're here. Now I believe I have to send a telegram for you?".

"Yes, you have some paper?"

"This is a newspaper. Of course, we have paper."

Taking the paper, I wrote the coded telegram that Colin and I had decided on before I left. He should have spoken with Aiden about it by now.

Colin Apperson

Telegraph Station Four

Cheyenne, Wy

Mr. Apperson,

The book you ordered has arrived. I will hold it for you for two days.

Loveland

While I wrote, Michael Loveland had washed his hands and removed his apron. I thought about the similarities between a newspaper man and a blacksmith, the aprons and hands always covered in black. He read it before setting off to have it sent. 'You the book, Mr. Curry?"

"I am and it's Jed."

"And it's Mike. Going to send this right now. Should I wait for a reply?"

"What time is it? I've lost track of the time today."

Mike took a watch out of his desk drawer. "Half past two."

"If you can spare the time, please wait. But you've done so much for me already."

"I'll wait. Helping's what friends do. There's a small kitchen and some fried chicken in the room beyond the office. Help yourself," he said as he left.

HEYES

I'm worried about Chrissy. She's pale and still. She's watching the twins but there is a faraway look in her eyes. I hope it's just because she's tired and not that she's gone to her safe place in her mind. I know she has one. She tried to ask me about mine once when I first came but I got scared and wouldn't look at her. As soon as I could I went to my room. I know how tempting it is to forget reality, to bury yourself so internally that the rest of the world and its pain don't exist. But it's not really good. I'm going to try my best to make Chrissy doesn't go there.

Auntie made Chrissy a special calming tea and forced her to drink it before leaving for our lookout. She took her knitting and the rifle. Lyons had made a chair of sorts out of a big boulder and left a quilt up there for her. He had even discovered a very small cave, actually just a big indentation in the rock. It was big enough to stand in to be out of the wind when it came up.

When I fished, I made a game up and Martha and Michael gathered all the leaves they could, making a big pile at the end of the lean-to which has grown as me and Lyons have dragged more logs over from the forest. He took the ax and notched a few so they slipped together and made a five-foot wall on the windy side of our shelter. When the twins tired of collecting leaves, Lyons made mud, wet but not slimy, and mixed in grass. The kids mixed it on the ground and put it into the cracks between logs. They loved getting their hands so dirty and no one yelling at them to wash them.

That's the only time I see Chrissy smile, when her babies are laughing and having fun. I think she's still here, not hiding, just tired and worried. We're all very worried about the Kid.

JED 'KID' CURRY

While Mike was sendin' my telegram, I found the fried chicken he was talkin' about. Didn't know how hungry I was. Heard someone out front in the newspaper callin' for Mike but I didn't go out, didn't answer. Nobody should know that I am here. Anyone near me is in danger from the men huntin' me. I drew my gun and listened quietly until they went away.

I was startled when the back door opened fifteen minutes later. I drew my gun at the sound...and pointed it at Mike.

"Sorry," I said embarrassed.

He smiled. "Always wanted to see how fast Kid Curry really was. Never seen anyone with that speed."

I holstered my Colt and took the telegram he was holdin' out to me. "You read this?"

"No, it's yours."

I read it out loud.

"Will be on evening train to get book. STOP AA and CA"

"And those initials are your friends?"

"Aiden Arden and Colin Apperson. Will you meet the train for me?"

ASJ*****ASJ

In the hours I had to wait for the train to arrive, I wrote out the details of Heyes' plan. It was simple at first, send the men in a lot of different directions. I needed suggestions for the towns to send the telegrams. Neither me or Heyes knew the ones between Cheyenne, Bridgeport and Three Birds. I was countin' on Mike doin' that. Sittin' in the comfortable chair tucked in a corner, I picked up a book I'd hadn't read and started to read…and fell right asleep into nightmares.

The outlaws led by Judge Phillip Carlson were stompin' up the path to Soteria. And I was blockin' their path up. I was their only defense. My family's safety depended on me. I was shootin' and they were fallin' aside. More replaced them. I could not hit Judge Carlson, no matter if I aimed right at him. The men came single file in the tight space until Carlson. He laughed and walked closer and closer. He showed me his power by placin' a hand on each side and pushing the rock walls back on so his men could storm through. I felt bullets in my body, but I can't fall. They'll kill my family. I keep shootin', I don't run out of bullets, but they keep comin'.

"Jed, wake up!"

I stirred but didn't wake up. My dream changed. I was back in the courtroom, testifying against Judge Carlson but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. He was laughin' at me, and I still couldn't get my testimony out. Then I heard Wheat's voice the only time I heard him speak of his family. "Ain't got none that I care to claim and my brother's the worst of them. He arranged our pa's death just for his money."

"Jed, wake up!" It was Mike's voice. How was he at the trial? Then I opened my eyes and understood where I was. And it seemed I had Wheat's blessin' for what I had done.

"I'm leavin' for the train station now. I'll bring them here by the backway."

LOM

Despite their protests, Juan and Rudy were headed to Three Birds and the Curry Ranch, Phoenix Ranch. The Bickson boys could handle the deputy job as long as I was here to guide them. I'd had to fire Rudy before he would leave.

"Sheriff, Juan will go back right now. But you need me here until you're better. Harker hasn't recovered enough to help," he had argued.

"The Bicksons can handle things for a few days."

"But…"

"Rudy, you're fired. Now you have nothing keeping you here. Go with your brother."

The look on his face, like I had betrayed him, hurt me but I couldn't think of anything else to do.

"Yes, sir," he answered. The way he said it I knew he understood what I was doing, forcing him to leave.

I nodded to him and reached out my hand to shake. "Job waiting for you here when you get back."

My gut told me something was wrong at Phoenix. If I could, I'd be riding with the Ortiz brothers to get there and help. For now, all I could do was send them to help.

JED 'KID' CURRY

First thin' when I saw Aiden, I asked, "How's Ken"

"Alive. Fighting. His leg is healing but it'll never be strong again," Aiden said sadly. "Wish I could have done more. Still needs constant monitoring." I wanted to talk to him about Frank and about Chrissy but time was very short and they needed to hear the plan.

So Heyes reasoned out that the men after us had a contact in Cheyenne, maybe even someone who had contact with the convicted man. Definitely someone in contact with the men, we'd use that to our advantage. Also, that they knew I'd be lookin' for them.

Colin told me that after I left, Carlson had been convicted of attempted murder for hire and sentenced to twenty years to life in prison. Once he was convicted, Iowa wanted him to try him for corruption and murder. He was the power behind the corruption in that state and now it would crumble. The governor, workin' with the trial judge and the federal court system, arranged for his Iowa trial to be moved to Maine. Aiden said that's a state in the east and as far north as the United States goes. They have what they call a maximum-security prison there and lots of snow. He'll serve his prison term there plus the additional years his second trial would add. Colin was sure he would be convicted easily. But he was in Wyoming for another week and the Hidden Rock Gang had two prisoners in the Wyoming Territorial Prison with him.

Colin assured us he had four marshals at his disposal.

Aiden smiled as he reviewed the plan. "You say Heyes came up with this plan? You help?"

'We've always worked better together."

He nodded. "I understand my part. I make a pest of myself."

"Well, I didn't put it that way exactly," I answered.

"No, but that's what you meant when you said make myself visible. I visit the two telegraph offices near the center of Cheyenne multiple times a day asking for a telegram from Jed. No last name, just Jed."

Colin looked concerned. "And I'll have a US Marshal watching over you from a distance. And I'll send a marshal to New End. He'll send Aiden a telegram tomorrow morning from New End that just says, "Searching. STOP Sleeping here. STOP Big Fish next. STOP Jed."

"And I'll read it out loud when I get it, maybe a couple of times. And I'll show it in the saloon and ask where New End and Big Fish are," Aiden answered.

"Exactly,' I answered. "If someone is workin' for Carlson here in Cheyenne, they should overhear the telegram. They'll send a telegram to the two out lookin' for me where I'm goin' be…and the telegraph clerk is under a governor's order to tell Colin just where that telegram goes."

Aiden looks confused. "But they won't stay wherever they are. They'll head to New End or maybe Big Fish."

"That's what we want; we need to flush them out," I explained.

Startin' to understand the goal of the plan, Aiden grinned. 'And the next day I am a pest at the telegraph office again."

"And your bodyguard will stay closer to you. Don't want any kind of a kidnapping here if they think you know where Jed is," Colin added,

Mike Loveland nodded. "And will you have men in both New End and Big Fish looking for two strangers?" he asked Colin.

"I will."

"And the second day the telegram will read the same, only it will be Big Fish and Canningville." I could tell that if this wasn't so serious, Aiden would be enjoyin' his part in the plan.

"Yes, the more days we have them move to where we guide them, the easier it will be to identify them," I said.

"But you can't arrest them because they haven't broken any laws yet." Mike put the pieces together.

Colin added, "The governor's working with Iowa to see if they are wanted for anything there but he hasn't gotten an answe."

Mike looked concerned. "So, what happens when you know who they are?"

"I'll meet them in Windswept," I said. "And hopefully the marshals will arrest them when they try to kill me."

The three men in the room looked at me in horror.

"You're making yourself the bait?"

"That's dangerous."

"What if the marshals don't get there in time?"

"If the marshals don't stop them, then they'll arrest them for my murder instead of my attempted murder.'