Winter's Refuge

Chapter Ninety-Three

JED 'KID' CURRY

"Chrissy, I know you can hear me. Don't be scared. I'll get you out of this. I won't let you go to jail. I love you more than anything. I'm sorry I failed you now…very sorry. Makes my heart heavy and sick. And I let down Joy Christina, too. I promised she'd never be locked up again." And I thought to myself, Chrissy's having our next baby and even now the child has been locked up in jail before it's even born.

Chrissy didn't respond.

"I'll be here all night, darling. This will be over in the mornin'. I'm sorry." I dropped my head into my hands. I've failed. But the doctor said to be positive, so I try. "Martha was happily eatin' a lemon candy stick. We're goin' have to limit all that sugar for her or she'll have rotten teeth. And Michael is sleepin' from the medicine."

I'm defeated. The spirit inside me is crushed. And I've tried so hard. I'm just not good enough. I spent too much time on the wrong side of the law without a care. Now I am full of regret. If Chrissy goes to prison, my life will end. She's my strength, my safe harbor, the only love of my life. And because she loves me, her life has been fraught with pain. Aiden said be positive. But there is nothin' positive about my life I can offer her. Only my love.

"Kid?" I heard Heyes' voice whisper behind me in the alley. I tried to wipe away the tears of failure in my eyes before I turned to look at him. He placed a wooden chair facin' me and his presence forced me to look at him. I was glad the dark of our surroundings wasn't affectin' him.

I shook my head. "Heyes…"

He reached out and put a hand on each knee. And that got my attention. "Easy Kid. This is not your fault and we've got a job to do."

"What job?"

"Gotta make sure that Chrissy knows she's not alone."

"Thought of breakin' her out," I confessed. "We could do that together."

He gave a low chuckle. "This jail would have been easy for us to escape. But it hasn't come to that."

He didn't say no to breakin' her out. Just that this is not the right time. I want her out of there, but I'll wait until tomorrow. My mind imagines goin' on the run again, but this time with Chrissy. Just Heyes and Chrissy. Not the kids. Auntie can be trusted with them. But this time there would be no danglin' promise of amnesty. I'd head for Canada. Work harder. Make a life there and send for our children.

Heyes' steady voice reached me. "Talk to her, Kid. Remind her of the good times. Your love. Your kids. Give her hope."

I looked at the window and did as he said. "Chrissy, remember when we used to walk to the stream in Devil's Hole? You said it was pretty and I said not as pretty as you?"

She didn't respond.

"I gave you that wooden ring you still wear and with it all my love."

Still nothin'.

So, I talked about our short time together at the Hole and then our time at Winter's Refuge when I was healin'.

I stopped talkin' when I heard Miss Denise in the jail. "I brought the child's next bottle," she told the deputy. I heard her footsteps approach the cell nearest me. "Miss Chrissy, here's Joy's bottle and a sandwich for you. I'll just leave it here for you." Then the footsteps left. "Goodbye, Deputy. I'll return in four hours with the next bottle."

I left my chair and hurried to catch Miss Denise.

HEYES

Depression has overwhelmed the Kid. This happened when we were taken to The Valparaiso Home for Wayward Boys. We weren't wayward when we got there, but we were when we ran away. Grief and desperation overwhelmed him then. He didn't talk much for months; felt it was his fault his family was killed because he wasn't there to protect him. I helped him through it then.

I think he's always fought depression, but it stayed on the fringes. I thought separate prisons would bring it out, but he survived…survived, but came out as broken as I am. It just doesn't show. But I'm not going to let it get him tonight.

I'm sitting here in the dark, grabbing the seat of the chair with all my might. The darkness is trying to get me but tonight I can't let it. I need to be here for the Kid.

"Chrissy, it's Heyes. I'm sitting here with the Kid tonight. He just went to talk to Miss Denise to ask how you were. I'll take care of him for you. But he's worried about you. I know you're 'thinking' now. But the Kid and Lom say even when you're thinking you can hear us. I don't blame you, but me and the Kid will get you out of this one way or the other. If you can, it would really give him hope if you can answer him. Even one word, but only if you can. If you need to stay thinking though, I more than anybody understand.

"Miss Denise says Chrissy and Joy look well," the Kid said, as he sat back down.

I nodded to the window, and he understood to talk to his wife.

"Chrissy, Aiden's got a lawyer comin' for you tomorrow," he said.

"Chrissy darling." We heard Chrissy correction.

The Kid closed his eyes with relief at the sound of her voice. "Yes, Chrissy darlin'. Aiden's got a lawyer comin' for you tomorrow. I asked Curtis Birde to ride out to Phoenix and get your amnesty papers. It don't say nothin' in them about not carryin' a gun."

She didn't respond, but her two words had given the Kid hope.

And the night went on like that. I was so focused on the Kid and Chrissy I forgot about the near darkness of the alley. The Kid talked about their life at Phoenix and his work at the blacksmith shop. He talked about Ken, and I added a description of the house that we had visited early today…was that only today.

"Send for Mary," Chrissy's voice came into the darkness.

"I think that's a good idea, certainly make Ken happy. He's got a pension but he's looking for something to do."

And me and the Kid discussed possible careers for Ken, asking Chrissy her opinion but getting no response.

After Miss Denise's next delivery, the Kid left to talk to her…and I talked to Chrissy.

"Chrissy, you're doing real good. I know it's hard to leave your thinking place. And look at me, sitting alone in the dark and not hiding in my mind."

"Proud Heyes," Chrissy said as the Kid came back.

"Proud of Heyes for what?" he asked.

I knew she probably wouldn't answer so I told him.

"Chrissy darling and Joy sleep now." Her voice was sleepy and far away.

"Sleep well, my loves," Kid said.

Kid made no move to leave so I stayed with him. I knew he wasn't going to sleep so we talked - talked about our lives in prison and after and what we like for the future. And I told him about the trip I was planning to North Dakota. Like I thought, he wanted to go with me, but I said I needed to go alone. I think that saddened him but came to understand it had to be that way.

And he told me about being a failure that couldn't even protect his wife and children. That Wyatt was doing this to get even about being exposed as not paying for the civic improvements.

"Vengeance worries me Heyes. It's not rational. You can't really fight it."

"Wyatt won't win this one, Kid."

"But if he doesn't, what about the next time? And the things he said about Chrissy being a McWinters in front of everybody…how is that not my fault."

I didn't argue with him. He was sleep deprived, feeling guilty and cranky. From experience, I know to wait for the right time. It was a long night, but we made it through. Hopefully I helped both the Kid and Chrissy. At least I tried to.

JED 'KID' CURRY

Brandon Wyatt was busy showin' off his high-priced lawyer around town so the deputy let me bring Joy's bottle into Chrissy in the mornin'. As I feared, Chrissy was staring at the floor, but she was aware of Joy's movements. Was this what it was like for her when she had the twins their first year in prison? I knew Heyes still sat outside in the alley.

"Chrissy darling, here's Joy's bottle and…you never ate the sandwich Miss Denise brought you."

No response. She watched the baby crawlin' on the cot but didn't look up.

"I love you," I said.

"This isn't a visit, Mr. Curry. Drop off the bottle and get out of here. Visiting hours start at ten." The deputy was insistent. If I was wearin' my gun, I might have objected to his words, but Aiden insisted he hold my Colt for now. Probably a good thing. With one last look at my wife, I left the sheriff's office.

Aiden wasn't sure when this mornin' stage was goin' to arrive, sometime after nine. Heyes stayed in the alley by the window while I sat with the twins when they woke up. Aiden assured me both would recover. Martha will have a scar on her leg. Michael's road to recovery will take longer but he will recover fully, too. They both were soon asleep again after a dose of Aiden's medicine.

I walked out onto the sidewalk in front of the doctor's office. A town I thought of as welcomin' now seemed to have a threat about it. Wyatt and his lawyer must be curious about this stage everyone is talkin' about arrivin' soon because they are sittin' on the porch of the hotel with their coffee watchin'. From the lawyer's suit and gold watch, I assume he was expensive. From his walk and his manner, I assume he's confident and arrogant.

"Good day, Mr. Curry," one of the town ladies I've done work for stopped me. "I saw the whole incident yesterday. I'll testify for your wife's defense today if you need me."

"Yes, ma'am. We appreciate that."

And she wasn't the only one. As each person volunteered to help, I felt the threat lift some. But there was still Brandon Wyatt and his high price lawyer. I wonder who Aiden has comin'. He better be good.

And sure enough, just after nine a shiny black private stagecoach came into view. It has an escort of four US Marshals. Wyatt and his lawyer joined the crowd of onlookers as it stopped right outside the sheriff's office. As I moved toward the coach, Aiden was by my side.

The marshals dismounted first and surveyed the street. Just who did Aiden hire that commands a wary escort like this?

A marshal opens the coach door and I'm speechless as Governor Charles Sanderson of Wyomin' steps out, then turns and helps his wife navigate the stagecoach steps.

"Aiden?" I asked.

He didn't have time to answer as the governor headed directly for me.

"I was told Miss Chrissy is in need of a lawyer. I would like to offer my services; I was quite a talented solicitor in my day." He smiled and extended his hand.

As I shook it, I answered, "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Aiden, thanks for your telegram." He shook the doctor's hand and I remembered they were long time friends.

I could see the defeated glare in Wyatt's eyes. If he wants to run for office in Nebraska, havin' the endorsement of the Wyomin' governor would have helped his cause. Found out later he had been tryin' to get it for months.

The governor's smile disappeared. "Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Brandon Wyatt?" he asked.

"Yes, governor. I…"

The governor stopped him with a wave. "I am aware of who you are. And I also believe you are the one pressing charges against Mrs. Curry."

"Yes, sir. She…" Again, he was stopped in mid speech.

"I am aware of the charges. So I can prepare my case, I would like to see the dog and the children's wounds."

"My prized dog is dead and for nothing," Wyatt said defiantly. "His body is at the undertakers."

"Then that will be our first stop." The governor finally noticed Wyatt's lawyer.

"Mr. Leif Walker, are you representing Mr. Wyatt?" The governor reached out his hand, but Mr. Walker seemed too nervous to take it.

"Er…yes. It's been a long time since we faced off, Governor." He was slick, but I thought he looked scared of his opponent.

"Looking forward to it." The governor seemed assured, confident. And hope grew within me.

"The children are at my office," Aiden added.

It seemed like a parade of people walked to the undertakers. Wyatt was loudly going on to everyone that could hear about how dear his dog was to him and how he had papers and he had planned to breed him.

Sanderson bent over the dead animal. "One wound. Excellent placement. Blood on his teeth and mouth," he noted and one of the marshals wrote down what he said.

"Mr. Wyatt, are you claiming that the dog did not bite the Curry children?"

"Er…no. That ex-convict should not have been carrying a gun. It's illegal and she should not have shot my dog. Her children were teasing it."

"Let's visit the children," the governor said in reply.

The parade marched to Aiden's office. He had me go first into the room where the children slept but the noise woke them both up.

"Pa?" Martha asked, scared.

"It's alright; you remember Governor Sanderson?"

Her face lit up when she recognized him.

"Well, Miss Martha, we would like to see your leg," he said with a smile.

"It's about time this bandage was changed anyway." Aiden came forward to the bed. "Denise, will you clean and rebandage it when we are done here?"

Sanderson stared at the doctor's assistant for a second. "Mrs. Roberts, good to see you doing so well."

Blushin', she said, "Thank you, sir."

As Aiden lifted the bandage off Martha's wound, he added," I've asked Miss Denise to marry me, and she has agreed."

"Congratulations to you both." The governor had a wide smile, until he saw the long, jagged, swollen laceration on Martha's leg. "My child, would you tell me what happened?"

She looked at me and, when I nodded, started to talk. "Me and Michael and Josie and Henry were playing, waiting for Ma to shop. I heard a growl and this mean dog jumped off the sidewalk on the far side of the street and bit my leg right there. My brother hit him, and he stopped biting me, but he bit Michael something awful on his side. Then Ma shot the dog with one shot."

She said it all in one breath as Miss Denise cleaned the bite. Michael nodded. Aiden had the bandage off of my son. Everyone in the room took a deep breath. The dog had torn the skin off his side and lower back with a deep wound just above the hip. It looked worse with the stitches.

"Michael, do you agree with what your sister said? Was anyone teasing the dog?" the governor asked. I could see Wyatt's lawyer backing toward the door.

"No. It weren't anywhere near us that I saw."

"Thank you both for being so honest with me," the governor said and motioned us out of the room.

In the doctor's waitin' room, the governor used a friendly tone to his opponent. "Mr. Walker, just so you are aware, I am the one who granted Mrs. Curry her amnesty. All her rights have been restored, including the right to carry a gun."

Walker said nothing then but pulled Wyatt into the street, but we could still hear them. "Brandon, I can't take this case. There's nothing to build a case against the lady, and to go up against the governor would be political suicide. I'm leaving."

"I'm paying you well, Leif."

There was no answer, just footsteps.

Miss Tina burst into the doctor's office, highly indigent. Heyes trailed her in, followed by the young deputy. "WHO is responsible for putting my close friend, Christina Curry, in a dirty jail with a baby and she doesn't even have water in there!" She took a breath. "The deputy said it was a Mr. Wyatt's orders!"

Wyatt overheard her. "I charged that McWinters woman! She deserves to go back to prison."

Looking around at the governor, his wife, me, Heyes, the twins with their bandaged legs and side, Aiden, and the governor's marshal bodyguard, Wyatt shrieked, "I withdraw my charges!" Then he ruined it by adding, "But you can understand my position; she is part of the despicable McWinters family of killers."

Miss Tina grabbed the keys from the deputy and rushed to the jail; I was right beside her. Havin' trouble turnin' the key, she looked at me. I forced the key to turn and threw the cell door open. Chrissy, holdin' Joy, was sittin' in a corner of the cot rockin' the baby, but starin' at the walls. She didn't understand that the door was open.

"You're free, Miss Chrissy. That evil man has dropped all the charges," Miss Tina told her. "Miss Chrissy?" she asked.

"Chrissy darlin', it's Jed." I took Joy and handed her to Miss Tina. Chrissy did nothin'.

I swept her up in my arms and carried her to Aiden's office. We entered in time to see Heyes, in his gang leader stance, starin' down Wyatt. "Don't you ever threaten or even come near my family. Do you understand me?" His tone was the Heyes of old, the outlaw leader that no one dared cross.

Mr. Brandon Wyatt turned to Governor Sanderson. "He threatened me. You heard it. He threatened me," he whined.

"Not that I heard," the governor answered.