Winter's Refuge
Chapter Seventy
JED 'KID' CURRY
Mike's warm welcome felt good. Chrissy slept until Auntie woke her up gently with food and water. Heyes is so good with the kids. He read to them until they fell asleep. Then he sat quietly with them in his arms for an hour as they napped. I offered to put them to bed but he refused.
Auntie went with Mike to the mercantile. Heyes had the presence of mind to bring our put away money and he gave her more than enough to buy whatever they needed. In addition to two travel bags, she bought Heyes a white dress shirt. When she couldn't find one broad enough for me, Mike offered another of his shirts. She found a pretty skirt that would fit Chrissy. They had all grabbed clothes for several days before they ran and Auntie, Heyes, and Chrissy washed them in the stream every day. But Auntie thought the pretty skirt would make Chrissy happy. It did. She wore it that night on the train.
And I had asked Auntie to see if they had a pretty hat. Chrissy loves hats and today was the time to splurge on anything that would make her happy. She looked and felt beautiful as we boarded the train, even though some people frowned at a woman travelin' in her condition. Heyes kept the twins amused as we traveled. There was little but the darkness of night to see out the window, but Heyes found the moon and pointed it out to them. He read them a new book and they fell asleep leanin' against him. The bond between my cousin and my babies made me happy.
HEYES
The marshals met us on the train platform. I felt that they were watching me closely to make sure I got onboard. I'm not going to try and run. I'm spending my time with the kids. I want them to remember me as I am now and never come to visit me in prison. They are so precious, so innocent. When I saw the new shirt Auntie bought me for my hearing, I was appreciative, but it made the whole thing very real. I'm going to prison tomorrow.
LOM
I was thankful I found a seat on the train with an empty seat across from me. I propped my leg and tried to rest but was unsuccessful. The movement of the train bounced my leg slightly and caused constant pain. I know I let out a couple of moans. The conductor asked if I was alright. I assured him I'd be fine. He returned a few minutes later.
"Sir, I think it might ease your pain if you allow me to put these pillows under your knee and foot."
I'd been staring out the window and his approach startled me. In my embarrassment that I had disturbed others with my moaning, I almost turned down his offer. But he was already gently lifting my leg and positioning the pillows. And it did help. I thanked him over and over…and I tipped him well when I got off.
Dr. Arden met me at the station with a buggy. I could see from his face that he was alarmed at my condition but tried to hide it.
"Lom, hi. How are you doing with that?" Arden pointed at my cane.
"Learning how to get around with it."
"I brought my buggy. Thought you could stay at my house in town tonight."
"Thanks, but I'm fine at the…"
"No argument. I enjoy having company," he answered by taking my other arm without asking and supporting a lot of my weight.
"Well then, if you could put up with my company," I answered. Seems to me that Dr. Aiden Arden was becoming my friend as well as to the Heyes/Curry family
I knew he wanted to examine me, so I took the awkwardness out of his asking. "Arden, you think you might take a look at my injury? Think the train ride might have made it bleed again."
He smiled. "Be happy to. Just going to stop here at the diner and order two of their specials to go for us."
JED 'KID' CURRY
I used the train ride to think. Havin' my family around me, safe and well is a comfort. But we have some hard times still comin'. I'm worried about Chrissy and our baby. I wish she was settled at home on the ranch. And somethin' is off with Heyes, but he is keepin' it to himself. The twins are delighted he's devoted himself to them on this trip. I'm a bit jealous but it passes because all three of them are so happy.
As much as I want to, I haven't shared my plans for Devil's Hole with Heyes. As soon as he has that signed amnesty in his hands, we'll discuss it and he'll improve it. We always work better together. But before that happens, me and Heyes have got to go to the Wyoming Territorial Prison for his parole meetin'. I been tryin' to think of ways to help him through that. I'm sure that's what's botherin' him. He did go in there when I was released from my overnight of hell in the prison. And he's much better now.
And Chrissy will have to go into that same prison to see Matt. I know she's determined we visit him every time we can. And the first two months prisoners can't have visitors. Chrissy will have given birth by then, but I doubt she would have made even the visit after that. I will be there to support both of them. She spent as long in prison as I did.
One of the marshals is sittin' at the front of the railroad car and the other at the back. I wonder if they know of a threat I am unaware of? Or is this a precaution? I don't usually like to wear my gun around the twins, but I'm wearin' it today.
The train ride went quicker than I remembered. I had spent the last part of it tryin' to figure how I was goin' get us from the train to the governor's mansion. It's not a far walk for me but for a tired pregnant woman and two five-year-olds it's quite a distance. There are usually buggies-to-hire at the station, but I don't remember them this late at night.
But I need not have worried. The governor's personal buggy and driver were waitin' for us along with a second buggy. Chrissy, Auntie, and the twins rode in his fancy personal buggy. I saw smiles all around. There were even two beautiful blankets that matched the decor to tuck around their legs. Me and Heyes rode in the second buggy feelin' special but conspicuous. Our marshal escorts had horses waitin' for them. As our small parade made its way to the governor's mansion, I felt everyone was watchin' us, but they all seemed to be smilin'.
When our buggy pulled up behind the fancy buggy, I could see there was some sort of a fuss. With a quick look, both me and Heyes jumped out before we'd stopped. Both twins were cryin'. Michael was standin' on the seat with his arms around Chrissy's neck. Martha had crawled onto Auntie's lap and was huggin' her tight, pointin' at the mansion.
"The monster's castle mansion!" Martha screamed, pointin' at the structure.
"Don't go in there. He eats little kids." Michael's voice was high, shrill, and scared.
I couldn't help but smile but that brought a frown from Chrissy.
"Oh dear, no. I wouldn't allow a monster to live in my house!" Miss Tina hurried down the steps. "Just friends."
I reached into the buggy and took Michael from Chrissy, then opened my other arm and Martha ran into it.
"Now, do you think I'd let either of you go into a monster's castle?" I told them. Blue and green eyes studied me closely.
Heyes helped Chrissy and Auntie out of the buggy.
The twins were not convinced. Chrissy put her hand on my back. "Your pa is hero. He strong and protect us from any monsters anywhere," she said firmly. "Understand?" She held out her hands to them.
I could feel them studyin' me. "Pa, will you protect us from monsters?"
"All your lives."
Then they both started wigglin' to get down. Runnin' to Chrissy, they each took a hand.
"Good. This is my friend, Mrs..."
Miss Tina interrupted, "If your parents don't mind, please call me Aunt Tina."
They looked at me, then their ma, who smiled and nodded.
They were enterin' the grand hall ahead of me when I heard my babies say together, "Very nice to meet you, Aunt Tina."
"And nice to meet you. Such nice manners."
"Uncle Heyes taught us on the train how to be pole ite."
I looked at Heyes, but he was studyin' the marshals hustlin' us into the mansion with a concerned look on his face.
ASJ*****ASJ
Miss Tina had a light dinner waitin' for us. We were tired. Chrissy ate little. She was pale and weary but tried to be polite. She was sincerely pleased to share our family with her friend, Miss Tina. It was Heyes I was worried about. He ate little and spoke less.
Charles entertained us again with stories. "Well, Michael, I hear you have fine horses on your ranch. Do you have a favorite?"
Martha giggled. "Mikey's favorite is the horse Pa brought into the house for him when he was hurt."
Michael laughed. "Mama was angry about a horse in the house."
"It was only a young colt," I tried to explain.
Chrissy joined in. "It was a horse in MY living room," she said, still indignant.
Martha was still gigglin'. "Ma made Pa and Uncle Heyes sleep in the barn."
"And she hit his bottom with a broom when he tried to come back into the kitchen," Michael added.
Charles laughed a deep belly laugh while Miss Tina covered her mouth with her napkin and laughed into it.
Charles finally said through his laughter, "Would love to have seen that. Kid Curry defeated by a broom."
"Wasn't the broom," I said. "It was the temper of the woman wieldin' it."!
HEYES
I guess that I won't be arrested until after my parole meeting. The Kid and Chrissy have a bedroom that connects to the room the twins are sleeping in. Auntie is across the hall from them, but I am downstairs. Probably so the marshals can watch that I don't sneak out at night. I don't want to go to prison. I will admit what I did and take the blame though. I refuse to let the Kid suffer on my account, again.
JED 'KID' CURRY
My whole family was exhausted, and we went to bed early. The twins room connects with me and Chrissy's room that has the biggest, softest bed we've ever seen. Good thing, too, because both babies were in our bed before we could fall asleep. I wanted to hug my wife all night but we both love these moments when our bed is invaded. We know they won't last forever.
Charles remembered when he had approved me and Lom payin' for extra lamps outside Heyes cell and the oil for them to be on all night. He arranged a room for Heyes with two lamps off a very well-lit hall. I thought that was very thoughtful of him. I still remember that he's one of the men that kept delayin' our amnesties, makin' us do jobs for him and his friends before we were caught and sent to prison. Prisons he kept us in for almost five years. He's apologized and I accepted that apology. Forgiven, but not forgotten. .
Sleep came quickly but I woke up early when Martha whispered she needed the chamber pot and didn't know where it was. When she was finished, she fell right back into a deep sleep, but I stayed up. Last night it was decided that Chrissy would come with me and Heyes and the governor to the prison. She'd stay with Aiden in his office, and he'll give her a check-up. She was fine with that. She trusts him.
The twins are stayin' here with Auntie and Miss Tina has planned all sorts of things for them to do today. I don't know her too well, but I've never seen her happier.
HEYES
I'm sitting opposite the governor as we are driven to the prison. He's working hard to get Chrissy to laugh by telling stories. When she laughs, the Kid smiles. I'm going to miss being with them. They're my family. Marshalls flank the governor's buggy, but I know they are guarding me. I made sure to hug Martha and Michael and even Aunt Diane Frances very tight when we left. I told each of them to remember I love them. It's getting harder not to retreat into myself. I guess it won't matter if I do that when I go to prison, but I want to stay in the present, in reality when I'm with my family.
Dr. Arden met us at the entrance to the prison. From the friendly way he greeted me, I don't think he knows what is going to happen to me. But Lom does. I can tell from his eyes. And he said he wanted to be here for me. I'm shocked at his appearance; he's weak and limping, yet he came here for me. Maybe he can argue for a shorter sentence for me or maybe, just maybe, another chance at amnesty.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I was glad Dr. Arden met us at the front door. Maybe his presence will help settle Heyes. I was surprised Lom was there and lookin' so glum. But he's still recoverin' from the bullet wounds and is weaker than I've ever seen him. I think of him as a rock that's always there, but he's at least fifteen years older than me and Heyes. His age is showin' now that he's injured.
Heyes hugged Chrissy tight before Aiden took her back to his office. She's goin' to wait for him there while he attends Heyes' parole hearin'. Then he'll examine her while all the paperwork and the discussion about Devil's Hole's takin' place. Afterwards, I'll join her to visit Matt. Whether Heyes comes, too, is up to him.
Heyes' hearin' is in a small conference room by the warden's office. The board, includin' Warden Mays, is there. Charles talked about him at dinner last night.
"Jed, you'll be glad to know that Warden Zacharrias Linden is no longer employed by the Colorado Prison System," Charles had started. Miss Tina gave him a dirty look for discussin' business at the table and especially in front of the children.
He immediately had Chrissy's attention. "Warden Linden is gone?" she asked quietly, almost to herself.
"Yes, ma'am, fired him myself. Didn't agree with how he chose to run his prison," bragged Charles, not really knowin' the reason for her question.
"And Warden Mays," asked Heyes. It was the first conversation he had participated in all evening.
"A good friend pointed out that Mays is a follower." He nodded at me. "He's still has his position but I make sure it's me and my ideas he's following."
"ENOUGH work talk at the table, Charles. There's a time and a place for that," Miss Tina broke in, but it was too late. Chrissy had withdrawn into herself at the mention of Warden Linden. I put my hand on hers and whispered, "He can't hurt you, darlin'."
Her eyes darted to me. "You met him. You know?"
'Yes, I met him and figured it out. But I didn't break my promise to you."
"Good," she said loudly then she realized others were listenin'. Lookin' around the table, she rested her eyes on the governor. "Good; you fired bad man."
Miss Tina changed the conversation to what the children would like to do the next day and Auntie joined in havin' visited Cheyenne many times with her husband and sons.
So, Mays and Aiden were part of Heyes' parole board along with the governor. Colin was also in the meetin', but I didn't know any of the others. Lom sat with us facin' the table of men. He had a determined, fightin' look on his face.
Colin changed the protocol for the meeting and first called Lom.
"Sheriff Lom Trevors, do you know of any parole violations that Hannibal Heyes has committed in the time since our last meeting?"
Lom struggled to stand up. I tried to help but he pushed me away. "No, I do not. Mr. Heyes has been an exemplary citizen and stayed within the guidelines of his parole." His tone was defiant and caught me off guard.
"Thank you, Sheriff."
Colin called me forward. "Mr. Curry, do you know of any parole violations that Hannibal Heyes has committed in the time since our last meeting?"
"None. In fact, he heroically saved our family from harm when they were marked for death after I testified against Judge Carlson. And he did it without leavin' Cheyenne County!"
HEYES
I was going over what I was going to say when I heard the Kid talk. He said I didn't leave Cheyenne County. I need to talk to him. I don't want him to be punished for lying in this hearing. He almost died the night he spent in prison to keep my parole going. Only thing I could think to do was cough and keep coughing. Colin looked around the room but saw no water pitcher.
"Mr. Heyes, do you need a break? Perhaps a drink of water?" he asked.
I nodded.
The Kid came to me, asking, "Heyes, you alright?"
"Got to talk to you," I whispered and continued to pretend to cough. My whole body was shaking. And the safe place in my mind started to grow but I pushed it aside. I can do that now.
"Please give us a minute," the Kid said to the board, taking my elbow and leading me from the room.
In the hall when we were alone, he asked, "Heyes, what's got into you?"
"Soteria's not in Cheyenne County," I said quietly.
"Course it is. I looked it up when we first found it. It's in the northeast corner; all those mountains are in Cheyenne County."
"Then what did I do that they are sending me back to prison?"
The Kid put a hand on each of my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. "Is that what you've been thinkin'? The governor asked me not to tell anyone, even you, but you deserve to know. You're not goin' back to prison. He's givin' you your amnesty early."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "W-w-why?"
"To thank me for savin' the governor's life and so you can go to Devil's Hole with me. Got a whole plan worked out." The Kid's smile reached all the way to his eyes.
Tears came to my eyes. I couldn't say a word, but I wasn't hiding, I was overcome with emotion. The Kid looked me in the eyes, and I knew what we had been working toward for so long was actually coming true.
"Gentlemen." Colin opened the door and called us back in. His smile was as wide as my partner's.
JED 'KID' CURRY
How could I not have realized that Heyes thought his meetin' was held early because he was goin' back to prison. Now that I understood, all of his actions and his emotional goodbyes to the twins, Auntie, and Chrissy make sense.
"Hannibal Heyes, please approach the table." Colin's voice was calm but he was smilin'."
Heyes stood before the table. Even though we weren't asked, me and Lom stood on either side of him.
Colin continued, "While you were out of the room, the governor informed us that he has decided to end your probation as of now and award you full amnesty."
Even though he had been prepared to hear those words, Heyes trembled, and I leaned my shoulder against him to steady him. He surprised the board with his clear words. "Thank you, gentlemen, for serving on this board and helping me achieve my amnesty. But most of all, I want to thank the governor for giving me this opportunity, Sheriff Lom Trevors for never giving up on me and my partner, my cousin and my best friend, Jed Curry."
Warden Mays got a pleased look on his face. "Well, Mr. Heyes, it appears you were holding back on us. You speak very well."
I felt anger rise in my throat, but I forced it down. Heyes started to speak but was cut off by an irate governor. "Mays, Heyes has worked hard to get this amnesty and that included undoing all the injury done to him while he was in the Wyoming Territorial Prison. I applaud his success and those people that supported him." His authoritative tone warned all in the room not to argue with him.
For the first time, Mays looked cowed. The governor kept his gaze on him. "Gentlemen, thank you for giving your time to this board. I personally appreciate it. You are dismissed. Warden Mays, please remain. We need to sign all the paperwork that Mr. Apperson has prepared, and Mr. Heyes has worked so diligently to receive."
Before he left, Aiden shook Heyes hand, hugged his shoulder and whispered somethin' to him. I don't know what he said, and I've never asked, but it made Heyes emotional again.
As the other men left, Colin called us to the table. "Mr. Heyes, Mr. Curry, Sheriff Trevors, please join us and sit at the table."
Still overcome with emotion, Heyes locked eyes with me. He had managed his thank you speech, but his words were mixed up with his strong feelin's and he didn't know if he could find them. He didn't need to tell me, I knew.
Colin filled the table with multiple copies of paperwork. As me and Lom had pledged for Heyes' parole, we had paperwork to sign and other paperwork to witness. Warden Mays was still feelin' the sting of the governor's, his superior's, rebuke and quietly signed everything slid in front of him. When he was done, he didn't offer his hand for Heyes to shake, he just mumbled, "Congratulations," and left.
There were five copies of the amnesty papers. One each for me, Heyes, Lom, Charles and the prison. "And we redid these papers, also," Colin said. "These grant each of you amnesty for your Devil's Hole assignment. You will not be arrested for aiding and abetting or any knowledge you have of previous or new about the location or of any of the people there."
Heyes looked at me with a little grin. "I'm really going to the Hole with you?"
"Glad to be ridin' with you again, partner. And I've even got a plan and a cover."
"You doing the thinking now?" he teased, then added, "That's as it should be."
Colin had arranged for the bodies of Kyle and Wheat for us to take to the Hole for burial. It was the perfect excuse for me and Heyes returnin'. Then Colin gave us a paper with a list of instructions:
Jed Curry and Hannibal Heyes will be deputized;
Curry and Heyes will identify the telegraph operator held captive, the girlfriend or wife of Johnny McWinters. She will be arrested and brought in;
Colin Apperson will be deputized and accompany Curry and Heyes;
Every man on the attached list that is in Devil's Hole is to be arrested. They have all been identified as riding with the McWinters Devil's Hole gang; and
Anyone not on the list can be arrested or not at Curry's and Heyes' discretion.
I gave Heyes a quick glance after lookin' at the list of names. There was one name on the arrest list that we were not willin' to arrest, Preacher. Heyes nodded and I knew he was already workin' on a plan to get Preacher out of the Hole before we got there. I could tell that Lom had seen the name too.
Colin started talkin' about how the bodies would be delivered to us and I was startled to realize that it was planned for us to leave almost immediately. But, of course, that's why the governor gave Heyes his amnesty early. That's what I asked for.
Colin had maps, but me and Heyes pushed them away. "Ain't tellin' you where the Hole is. That's part of the deal…and Colin will ride blindfolded." I stopped for a moment. "Planned on Lom and Ken comin' with us, but…"
Colin continued to look at the map forlornly. As he slowly folded them up, he said, "Who do you prefer to ride with you? Marshal Detmers or Marshal Lyons?"
I knew both had been away from their families for a while, so I took a chance. "How about Marshal Lou O'Rourke?" I suggested. He knew enough about me from the attempt on the governor's life and I trusted him.
Charles laughed. "You know a good man when you meet him. I'll get him the orders when I leave here."
Colin wasn't finished. "And someone to replace Sheriff Trevors? Another lawman perhaps?"
Names went through my mind, Rudy was a deputy now. Sheriff Holoman even Mike Loveland. "Think we're good with the four of us," I concluded.
Right then, a scream, a woman's scream, echoed through the enforced quiet of the prison, followed closely by another…Chrissy!
My only thought was gettin' to my wife, and I felt Heyes beside me as I ran to the door. It was immediately blocked by two prison guards. Conflictin' thoughts crashed in my mind. I'd learned to obey prison guards immediately. But my wife was screamin' somewhere in this dark buildin'.
"Get out of my way. That's my wife!" I tried to push the guard out of the way only to feel his billy club come down on my arm.
"Stand back. Our orders are to keep you in this room."
"And who gave those orders?" The governor tried to step between me and the guards, but ended up next to me.
"Warden Mays."
"And who does Warden Mays report to?"
The guards looked at each other. "You, sir."
"Then step out of the way and escort us to wherever those screams are coming from."