Winter's Refuge
Chapter Seventy-Three
LOM
At dawn the next morning, I heard little footsteps. Two little figures entered my room, each telling the other to be quiet.
I opened one eye. "Thought you two were confined to your room!" I said into the quiet.
They stopped in mid stride and looked at me.
"Uncle Lom, you're awake!"
"And just why do I have the honor of two little fugitives in my room as the sun rises?"
"We thought we'd get up and collect the eggs for Aunt Tina," Martha explained. "To make up for runnin' away."
"But we can't find any chickens," Michael added. "Do you know where they are?"
I laughed hard, ranch kids in a big city. "I doubt they have any chickens themselves. Their cook buys eggs from the market."
They looked very confused. "We thought everyone had chickens."
The sincerity on their faces calmed my anger. "Now, both of you back to your room. Stay there until your pa gets home and talks to you. If I were you, I'd be ready to apologize."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Talkin' with Matt drained me. He's given up on life, I think, and I don't know what to do for him. I told Aiden my opinion before he left to bring Chrissy and the baby to his office.
I was surprised when I saw Aiden pushin' Chrissy in what I learned was called a wheelchair. It's got two large wheels in the back and smaller ones in the front. It has a board that folds down from the side where Chrissy rests her feet. She's wrapped up in a blanket and is holdin' Joy Christina protectively in her lap. She looks so fragile and small.
"We wait here," Chrissy said in the quiet hallway outside of Aiden's office. "Rest."
Aiden looked at me. "There was a line outside the sick ward three times the usual. Most weren't sick, just wanted to lay eyes on a baby."
"They no touch her, just look," my wife explained. "Joy brings small joy to them." She smiled at her words.
"Yes, I was there as was Chrissy's guard. No one touched the baby." Aiden reassured me.
I had to smile and nod my head. In a place like this, the simple presence of a baby brightens it up.
"The guards are waiting at the front door to my office. We will go to Warden Mays' office; he wishes to give Joy a present and wish you well," Aiden explained.
The look I gave him made him focus on pushin' Chrissy. I was too tired to deal with the warden this mornin', but I'd do anything to get out of there faster.
Chrissy shivered at the sight of the guard outside the door. Like Heyes, I knew she was fightin' against revertin' to the way she survived in prison, hidin' inside herself.
I reached over and touched her shoulder. "Doctor, I'll push her. Why don't you lead the way?"
HEYES
The noise of the crowd outside is disconcerting. I had to look up that word in the dictionary. It broke the morning silence, but I wasn't sure what it was. From the light streaming in my window, I'd say it's an hour or so past dawn. Sleepily I looked out the window facing the street. Angry people are yelling things. I couldn't hear them through the closed window. What had I done wrong? Why were people angry at me? I heard something strike a window and breaking glass.
Then I heard little feet running from the connecting room. "Uncle Heyes! Uncle Heyes!" The twins didn't knock, I'd left the door open. They just burst into my room, arms held out to me. "We heard a bang and we think a window broke," Michael said, his voice shaky.
"We is scared!" Martha said as I sat on my bed and I let them both climb into my lap. They clung to me tightly.
Auntie appeared in my doorway. "Oh my, Hannibal, do you know what window broke and what is making that sound?"
Auntie and the twins both have a room facing the side of the mansion. I'm in the corner room set aside for the Kid and Chrissy. It faces the front and the side. It's larger and gets the first light of day. My usual room is next to them, also overlooking the street. I nodded my head toward my window.
"Oh my," Auntie exclaimed and of course that meant that the twins had to go see what was going on.
"Does this mean that Pa and Ma aren't coming home today?" Martha asked.
"Of course not," the governor and his wife were in the hallway outside of my door. "Colin came as soon as he was told about those people out there. They don't like my position on trying for peace with the Indians. Colin will ride out and intercept the buggy and have it come in through the back pasture.
One of the maids arrived at my door holding her rope close around her. "Governor Sanderson, a rock broke a window in the other front bedroom, the one for Mr. Heyes.."
"Monsters!" Michael screamed.
Lom's voice called from downstairs. "Everyone alright up there?" I could hear the concern in his voice echoing in the hallway.
The governor himself went to the top of the stairs. "Everything is fine, Sheriff. I'll be down in a minute. Is my butler awake?"
"Right here, sir," the butler's eastern accent was strong.
"Please have cook start some coffee. We are starting early today. Mr. Heyes, Mrs. Clark, please don't worry. You're in no danger from the crowd. My bodyguards will see that they are contained."
"Thank you, Governor," Mrs. Clark said, but didn't sound convinced. "Perhaps, Hannibal, you should stay in the children's room to calm them until their breakfast is ready."
"Yes, Uncle Heyes, pleeeaase stay with us." Martha's eyes pleaded with me, and I can't refuse her.
"Yes, let's go, and get you back dressed. This is early for you to get up, perhaps play quietly for a while before breakfast or your ma and pa will come home to two crabby kids. You are supposed to stay in that room, you know." I pointed through the connecting door to their room.
Miss Tina turned to Auntie. "The maids can clean up the broken glass. Mrs. Clark, would you help set up a room on the other side of the hall for Mr. Heyes?"
JED 'KID' CURRY
"Thank you, Warden," Chrissy said as she accepted the small, white, knitted blanket from him.
"You're welcome. Soon as my wife heard what happened here, she went right out and bought the prettiest blanket she could find for little Joy." He looked pleased with himself and didn't notice that Chrissy never looked him in the face. Her eyes kept their focus on the two guards blockin' the door.
With her head turned, she said," Thank you for Matt visit."
Her speech hurt me. She was speakin' pretty good when I left her at Phoenix, before she had to flee from there and then come here. Before she had her third child in a prison. Maybe at the governor's mansion she could get some rest and peace and heal.
Warden Mays talked loudly as he escorted us to the main door of the prison. The governor's horse, buggy and driver were waitin' for us. I stopped pushin' the chair just outside the door.
"Good-day, Warden," I said politely. Then I cradled my wife and daughter in my arms and carried them to the buggy before I was expected to say anything else.
Aiden hurried and got to the buggy first, spreadin' a heavy blanket on the seat for Chrissy. When I put her down, I fixed the blanket she already had around her shoulders to protect her from the mornin' cold wind.
Aiden waved briefly to Warden Mays and signaled the driver to leave.
"Good! Good air!" Chrissy announced loudly. Loud enough for the warden to hear. I didn't look at him. Aiden said he just turned and walked away.
The fresh air did seem to make Chrissy relax some, but I think it was more gettin' away from the aura of that buildin'. She rode with her back to it so the road to Cheyenne stretched out in front of her. I rode next to her and Aiden across from us had the view of the prison. For the first time, I realized what a toll workin' there was on him. I wondered if now that Heyes had his amnesty, if Aiden will leave his position here?
ASJ****ASJ
I wished I was takin' Chrissy and Joy home to the Phoenix but at least we were out of that buildin. Aiden kept puttin' his hand on Chrissy's forehead to check for fever. She and our daughter were wrapped in so many blankets that if she had a fever, it wasn't because of the cold weather.
Colin had ridden out to meet us a couple of miles from Cheyenne. The driver stopped as he hailed us.
"Colin, hi, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Came to see the beautiful baby girl Heyes told me about," Colin answered, tryin' to see Joy in Chrissy's arms. She proudly uncovered our baby and Colin reached out a finger to touch the tiny infant.
"She's beautiful, Mrs. Curry."
"Good. Thanks," Chrissy answered, hugging Joy closely again.
Colin looked at me, then at Aiden, then at our driver. "Take the buggy in through the back field. There's a crowd of people in front."
Noddin', our driver replied, "Saw a few angry people in front of the mansion when I left this morning. About five or six, no more."
"Well, it has grown significantly since then. Probably seventy men or more. Staying outside." Colin looked solemn and I figured I was the cause.
Chrissy lowered her head. I felt like doin' the same but, with effort, looked at Colin. "If havin' Kid Curry and his family is causin' problems for the governor, we'll stay somewhere else." My thoughts were full of where to take Chrissy, especially since Heyes and I were leavin' tomorrow. I needed them somewhere safe…maybe I'd ask Aiden.
Colin interrupted my thoughts. "That's not the problem. There's been an Indian uprising in the last two weeks in northern Wyoming near the Montana border. Governor Sanderson has sent the army, but ordered them to try for a peaceful settlement before using violence. That wasn't a popular decision."
I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I just thought…"
"No need to apologize. Thought we'd bring you in through the back way to keep things as calm as possible for Chrissy and your daughter, who's beautiful, by the way."
Chrissy reached over and touched my arm. "I thought us too." was all she said but I knew she had shared my fears that the crowd was because of us. Aiden didn't miss Chrissy's words or my interaction with Colin.
"Jed, we need to talk soon," Aiden whispered as the buggy pulled up to the side door of the governor's mansion. We could hear the crowd yellin' angrily and I was glad Chrissy was away from that.
ASJ*****ASJ
Heyes and Lom met us at the side door that me and Chrissy had entered that first night we came for dinner. Chrissy looked up and admired the ceilin' again. We could hear people yellin' in front of the mansion. The butler rushed over to us, pullin' on his white glove. Lom limped weakly over to Chrissy. I saw Aiden watchin' his stride.
Smilin' he reached over and pulled the blanket that hid her face back. "Nice to meet you, Miss Joy Christina Curry. I'm your Uncle Lom."
"Mrs. Curry, there is a room prepared for you upstairs. May I escort you there," the butler asked.
"Up?" Chrissy asked.
"Don't worry. Heyes, would you please carry your niece upstairs? And I will carry her mother." I asked.
Chrissy giggled. "Good!"
ASJ*****ASJ
With Chrissy settled into our beautiful bedroom and Joy sleepin' in a carved wooden cradle with satin sheets, I went downstairs. The twins had been allowed to greet their ma and each hold their little sister while sittin' in a chair. Then Mrs. Clark had whisked them back to their confinement in their room awaitin' my discussion with them.
Dr. Arden had examined Lom then left for the hospital to check on Ken. We didn't see the governor for the rest of the day, he'd left for the capitol buildin' soon after we arrived, lookin' concerned and somehow older. The protestin' public outside his home weighed heavy on him.
Colin and Heyes caught up with me in the sittin' room tryin' to enjoy a quick sandwich.
"Partner, which do you want to do first, talk to those runaways of yours upstairs or discuss our plans for Devil's Hole?" Heyes asked. He looked upstairs to give me an idea of which I should do first.
"Guess I'll head upstairs…one of the tougher parts of bein' a parent, discipline," I told them as I headed upstairs. I was at their door before I'd even got my thoughts together. My pa always knew what to say at times like this. But then I was the last of a whole bunch of Curry kids, so he had lots of practice. I also think he was easier on me because I was the youngest and he was tired of raisin' kids.
I leaned in their open doorway and crossed my arms starin' at them until they looked at me. The hugs I received when they came in to see Joy were gone, replaced by fear. I don't want my kids afraid of me, but they are backin' away from me.
"You goin' to shoot us, Pa?" Martha asked, as I realized they were starin' at my gun. At home, I wear it outside the house but never inside. I had forgotten that routine here. I stepped out and put my gun on the top shelf in the bedroom prepared for me and Chrissy. She was in a rocker nursin' our little one. I wanted to stay here in this calm forever…but knew I couldn't.
"Forgot I had it on."
"You talk twins. They very bad. Much worry," Chrissy told me.
I couldn't resist staying with her a few minutes before kissin' her and touchin' Joy on the head before goin' back to be a stern pa.
I steeled my emotions usin' the same techniques I use in a gunfight. I resumed my position in their doorway. They were waitin' for me, two little ones that I love more than I ever thought I could love…and ones I needed to have a serious talkin' to.
"First, I apologize," I started. "I forgot to take my gun off when I entered this house." I try never to wear it inside but you've seen me wearin' it outside." The fear disappeared from their eyes. I hoped I would never see it again.
"Pa, why do you wear a gun?" asked Michael.
"You must be very good because you practice all the time," Martha added.
In their innocence they have no idea who their pa was to other people or what me and Heyes have done. I want to keep it that way as long as I can. The reputation of Kid Curry is not a legacy I'm proud of. Now they only needed a simple answer. "I wear it to protect my family." When they are older, it will be a different, harder discussion. I went and sat on the comfortable chair in the corner.
Takin' my answer at face value, I could tell their minds had returned to their punishment.
Martha tried to climb into my lap, but I picked her up and stood her in front of me next to her brother. "Now, what do you two have to say for yourselves?"
They looked at each other and were quiet for a moment. I would have guessed that Martha would be the one to talk, but it was Michael.
"Pa, me and Martha are very sorry for what we did. We just really, really missed you and Ma and wanted to find you and see our sister." he started. It sounded to me that he had the beginnin'' of a silver tongue like Heyes or what Grandpa Curry would call a touch of the Curry Irish blarney.
"I'm glad you are sorry, but you knew me and your ma would be back as soon as we could. You were in no danger and well taken care of." I tried to keep my voice steady, calm, and unemotional.
"We're so sorry, Pa. We shouldn't have run away," Martha said, figurin' out what I wanted to hear.
"That's right. You had a lot of people worried about you. You stole a horse and buggy and didn't hook the horse up right. You could have been badly hurt when that buggy turned over. And Uncle Lom rode out to find you and that made his pain worse," I said firmly, checkin' each thing off of my fingers.
I looked each one in the eyes until they looked away. "How do you think I should punish you?"
They shuffled their feet, lookin' at each other and at the floor.
"Oh my, Jed, I do hope you won't punish them too much. I do enjoy spoilin' them and you're here for just a little while." Miss Tina swished into the room, wavin' her hands. "Please, Jed. They know what they did wrong and apologized, didn't they?"
Somethin' in the way she said that made me think my kids might have had her help in that apology. But she and her husband had been gracious and welcomin' to my family and it would be impolite to refuse her request. I looked back at the twins with a stern a look as I could manage lookin' at their smilin' hopeful faces. I fought the urge to smile back.
"Are you truly sorry in your hearts?"
"Yes, Pa," said Michael solemnly.
"Pa, we love you with all our hearts," Martha added.
"Are you ever…" I looked Michael in the eyes. "Ever…" I turned my gaze to Martha. "Goin' to do that again?"
"No, Pa," they said in unison.
"Okay, then no punishment, but I expect you both to be on your best behavior until we get back to the ranch."
"Yes, Pa."
LOM
When the Kid came back downstairs, me and Heyes had been discussing Preacher and why he was on the governor's list. We both knew that his rifle had been for hire when he was in a depressed drunk. He always was lost in guilt and repentance afterwards…and always loyal to us.
I couldn't read the expression on the Kid's face when he joined us. Mrs. Sanderson had insisted on having sandwiches and lemonade brought in for our meeting. They arrived just as the Kid sat down. He grabbed one without even thinking about it.
"How'd it go?" Heyes asked.
The look the Kid gave his partner stopped us all from asking any more on that subject.
Hesitantly, Mrs. Clark came into the room. "Hannibal, Jedidiah,"
"Yes, Auntie," the Kid said warmly. I was glad they had come to like this lady as much as I had when she was helping Lily.
"I was wondering', well Mrs. Sanderson has everything under control here, and there are plenty of people to take care of Christina and there's a cook here and all.."
"Auntie, what are you tryin' to say?" asked the Kid, amused.
"Well, my middle son, Donald lives here in Cheyenne, he's a lawyer don't you know? Well, I was wondering if I could go spend a few days with him and his family while we are here."
I watched the Kid smile. "Of course. I forget you got a life away from ours."
Mrs. Clark surprised me as she hugged the Kid and then Heyes. "You are my family. I plan on living in that little house you're building for me for the rest of my days. Just a couple of days with my son is enough. For his wife it is probably too long." She smiled. I'll be leaving late morning tomorrow."
ASJ*****ASJ
It was late afternoon before me, the Kid, Heyes, and Colin sat around the table looking like we were about to start a poker game. But we weren't. We were discussing their trip to Devil's Hole leaving tomorrow.
"How far is it?" Colin asked. It was an innocent question that I knew wouldn't be answered fully.
"A ways," Heyes answered. "Do we have what we need?"
The Kid started to answer but was interrupted. Chrissy, in her nightclothes, walked into the room carrying a gun.
"Darlin', what are you doin' up? You need to rest," the Kid said.
"Need return to Heyes." Chrissy walked haltingly forward and handed Heyes his gun. "Thank you for loan."
Heyes held his Schofield with care, almost crying. His eyes met hers but he couldn't get a word of thanks out at that moment.
Chrissy turned around quickly, and wavered. In a blink, the Kid was next to her, picking her up. He said something low into her ear that made her giggle and bury her face in his chest.
"Be right back. Maybe you can figure where Heyes is going to get a holster for that thing," he said as he carried his wife back up the stairs.
Heyes was still cradling his gun. "Feels good to be able to hold it again."
Colin looked alarmed so I said, "Lot of honest men wear guns. Heyes will now be one of them. Course, you can't ride into the Hole unarmed."
"We can't? Does that mean me, too?" Colin asked.
Heyes looked up from his gun. "That means everybody who rides into the Hole. You do have a gun and gun belt, don't you?"
"And he doesn't mean one of them little things you and Aiden brought to Brown River," the Kid said as he took his chair again.
"That's the only gun I own. The clerk said that was one of the top guns manufactured when we bought them," Colin protested.
The rest of us laughed and Colin looked confused.
The Kid was the peacemaker. "Colin, maybe to carry in the city, that gun is sufficient, but in the real world you need a real gun. And Heyes needs a suitable holster."
"May I join this meeting, or are there outlaw secrets I don't need to hear?" Charles teased as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
I knew there were many parts of this plan that neither the governor nor Colin would ever know. I could tell Heyes was not comfortable around the governor, and I don't blame him. He didn't say another word until Charles left.
"Figurin' what we need. And that includes a holster for Heyes and a real gun and gun belt for Colin. Any ideas, Governor?"
I was surprised that the Kid used a challenging tone with the governor. But then it was the governor who insisted that Colin go along. I felt he really had no place going. His presence created problems for the boys.
The Kid wasn't done. "Colin, you got to dress like an outlaw, a drifter, not in a suit. You got old pants and shirts and maybe a vest?"
Colin sat up straighter as if he had been threatened. "No, Curry, I don't."
The governor pushed his chair back and left the room without a word. A few minutes later we heard him call, "Tina, dear, where are you?"
"Needs a hat, too," Heyes added, when the governor had left.
"I suppose I could ask the owner to open up the mercantile for me tonight." Colin was talking but wasn't expecting an answer.
"Can't really look new," the Kid said. "You got boots that ain't new and shiny?"
I could tell from Colin's downcast eyes that he didn't.
"Maybe these will help." Charles came back carrying a wooden box that was covered with dust.
His wife followed him. 'My Charles wasn't always a politician. When I met him, he was a rancher."
He handed Heyes a well-worn holster. "Try that on and with your gun."
Heyes looked like a kid with a new toy. He managed to say, "Thank you," without looking at the governor.
While Heyes was adjusting the gun belt, Colin was looking at the clothes the governor had in the box. They were used, but clean and way too small for the tall thin Colin. The governor sighed. "How about these?" He handed Colin a beautiful, but broken-in, pair of boots.
"These might fit, sir," Colin said, taking his shoes off to try on the boots.
"And you may borrow this." The governor handed Colin a Colt. Colin immediately dropped it on the table. The Kid picked it up and admired it. "Fine piece, Charles, a mighty fine gun. I'll just clean and oil it tonight and Colin will be ready to go."
Seeing the Kid smile, I looked behind me. Heyes had the gun belt on, his gun settled into the holster. It looked right.
"The boots fit well, sir, thank you. I shall procure the rest of the needed items at the mercantile. The owner is a friend of mine and will open up for me tonight. Anything else I will need?"
The governor answered, "A good horse and gear. You can borrow one from us. A bedroll, I expect you will be sleeping on the ground."
"Bandanas," Heyes added. "Used for everything."
Colin started making a list when I realized the noise outside had stopped. "Governor, are the people outside gone?"
He smiled. "Yes, they have come to understand my point of view, thanks to Colin here."
Colin stood suddenly. "Thank you, again, for the boots. I must go and fill the rest of my list." He turned to the Kid. "I will be here and ready by seven tomorrow morning."
"Eight will be fine."
