Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Sixty

HEYES

When the Town Council executive committee, now called the Team, I thought there would be fewer people attending. I was wrong. I felt drained, but Aiden asked me and the Kid to have a drink for a few minutes before I went to Phoenix. That was unusual. As we walked to the end of the road and the new saloon, me and the Kid locked eyes. Neither of us knew what was going on.

"Three whiskies," I told the new bartender, as the Kid and Aiden found a table. I don't recognize him. He wasn't here when Shaw owned the place. Not sure who owns now, but it is crowded with men talking about the meeting.

When I tried to pay, he waved his hand saying, "Your money ain't good here, Mr. Heyes. Not after all you done for us. Your drinks are on the house."

The Kid picked a rear table and was sitting with his back against the wall, watching the room. Juan had joined him and Aiden. Men kept coming over and shaking my partner's hand, enthusiastic about the Town Council. I sat next to him with most of my back to the wall. The Kid is smiling and saying the right thing but his eyes are nervously looking around the room. Aiden didn't seem to notice or care that his back was to the room, he's observing the Kid….and me.

Mr. Dwyer and a man I didn't know came over and put a bottle of whiskey and glasses on the table. "Drink up. We're celebrating the new direction of Three Birds," Mr. Dwyer told us. "This is Leo White, my sister-in-law's cousin's boy. He's here to learn the funeral business. Mrs. Clark said I could bring him to Sunday dinner this week."

Before we could do more than nod, more men were coming over to our table holding their hands out to shake. All were smiling. All were excited at being part of Three Birds. And all were thanking me and the Kid. Aiden handled most of the thank yous, all me and the Kid had to do was smile and nod.

When things had calmed down, the Kid leaned forward across the table. "Aiden, why'd you want to come here?"

"Isn't that what you used to do when you had a successful robbery, hurrah in a bar?" he answered smiling. "Well, you led a very successful meeting today."

"Ain't the same and you know it. So why are we here?" the Kid pushed.

"Need to see how you both react in a different situation. This happened to be a positive environment." The doctor was smiling but observing the Kid closely.

Juan filled our glasses again. I used to be able to have four or more drinks without feeling its effects. It's been a lot of dry years since then. Aiden was on at least his third as was Juan, but I nursed my second drink.

"Juan, would you mind if I talk to these two in private," asked Aiden. "I'll bring them to my home in half an hour or less. Their wives are there visiting with mine."

When Juan had left, Aiden poured himself another drink. "Need to talk to you both about something but haven't decided if I'm going to let you do it," he said cryptically and waved his finger at us. What did he want to tell us that he had to get drunk first?

JED 'KID' CURRY

Don't really want to drink. Afraid I might fall into depression if I get drunk. Think about dark things. I fought hard to get out of that, so I prefer to avoid alcohol for now. I took a small sip out of my whiskey and felt the burn in my throat. That was enough. So, I held the glass in my hand and twirled the liquid and waited for Aiden to say what he wants to say. Heyes finished his first whiskey, but his refill is sittin' on the table.

Aiden, though, is drunk. I would hate to ask him to walk in a straight line now. "Need to talk to you about visiting prison," he started.

"Why?" I challenged.

He looked at me with that eastern innocence in his eyes. "Because, Kid, Sheriff Lom said you committed to visiting both Matt McWinters and Preacher."

"That's true," I answered. The thought of those prisons froze my heart. There wasn't anything I could think of positive to say.

"Well, I have decided that you can't do both," the doctor's tone was firm, but his words were slurred.

"Have to," I answered.

"No, you're not going to do both." The doctor slammed his glass down on the table and watched the whiskey spill over the side, fascinated for a full minute before lookin' me in the eyes. "Jed, I've decided that you can visit Preacher with Lom next week and Father Patrick will accompany you."

I looked away. I can't face Preacher. I broke our pact. "I'd rather take Chrissy to see Matt, if I have my choice."

"No, that won't do. Won't do at all. Heyes will take Chrissy to see Matt and I will go with them. Lom told me Preacher doesn't want people to know where he is so Heyes can't go to see him." He held his now half empty glass up in the air as in victory.

I saw panic in Heyes' body language as he thought of the Wyoming Territorial Prison. It had broken him, and it's taken a long time for him to recover this much.

"I can do both," I said, dreadin' doin' either one. I have demons, as Father Patrick calls them, that strike me at both prisons.

Aiden swayed a little bit as he answered, "Nope, both scheduled the same week. In my professional opinion that's too much for you." He looked around the room. "Does anyone else in Three Birds know Matt McWinters?"

I saw my thoughts mirrored in Heyes' eyes and shook my head no. Miss Beverly knew all the McWinter boys growin' up, even babysat them. Neither of us will tell Aiden she knows Matt. I would never ask her to visit a dark evil place like the Wyoming Territorial Prison.

"It's settled then." Aiden refilled his glass and took a tentative sip. "Jed, tomorrow morning you may resume your morning shooting practice. I shall observe."

"Aiden, I ain't never gonna do what I did again. You have my word. Have you ever known me to break it?" I asked, as I moved to help him to his feet. He pushed me away then swayed to his left where Heyes counterbalanced him. "Never seen you drunk before, Doctor. Let's get you home."

"Yes, home. If your shooting practice proceeds safely, I believe that you can go home for a few days before you leave for Arizona. Haven't been drunk since my first wife died. Didn't do anything to stop me remembering what happened, just made me not care about anything. Bad feeling so I don't drink much anymore."

Heyes held him under one arm, and I took the other. "Aiden, if you don't like the way getting drunk feels, why did you tonight?" Heyes asked.

Aiden jerked to a stop and almost caused all three of us to fall. He sounded so sad and sincere as he explained, "Because I had to tell two of my best friends that they need to go to prison."

HEYES

Aiden was a melancholy drunk but let us lead him home. "I'm sorry you have to do these visits. I know how they affect you but you're strong enough to handle them," he muttered. "I think you are at least. Aren't you?" He patted the Kid on the chest as he asked.

My partner gave me an amused smile. "Aiden, right now we're gettin' you home."

Miss Denise opened the door when I knocked and her eyes grew big when she saw the state her husband was in, leaning on me and the Kid. He stepped forward and in front of all of us gave her a big passionate kiss. "Oh Denise, I love you so much. I'm sorry I don't tell you enough. I know, I'll tell you a hundred times right now. Denise, I love you. Denise, I love you. I love you, Denise." He kissed her check between each declaration of his love. Angie and Chrissy giggled as Miss Denise laughed and said, "That's enough Aiden. I think I've got some coffee made. I'll get you a cup."

"Did I say it a hundred times?" he asked, starting to sit in a chair in his waiting room and stopping when he found it full of books.

"Close enough, dear. Now come sit in the kitchen. The waiting room is filled with books for the library."

Aiden grabbed a book from the stack on a nearby table before going into the kitchen and I noticed that Juan was sitting in the corner, nose in a book.

Angie gave me a peck on the cheek, with a twinkle in her eyes so I knew something was going on. Chrissy did the same to the Kid with a giggle. He put his arms around her waist and said, "Gonna let us in on the joke?"

She handed him the book in her hand. "Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes Rescue the Cherokee Princess," he read the title out loud.

Aiden, with his elbows on the table, looked at the book in his hands and read, "The Invincible Kid Curry and His Partner, Hannibal Heyes, Save the Farmers of Twining River."

Shaking his head, the Kid handed the book back to Chrissy. "Never rescued a Cherokee princess and I ain't invincible. What are all these books doing here?"

Miss Denise put a cup of Heyes' strength coffee in front of me, the Kid, and her husband then answered giving me a strong gaze. "Evidently someone here started a library and someone else here, that I happen to be married to, said that book donations could be dropped off here."

We all laughed. Angie answered the door and Scott Birde brought in another box of books. "Good meeting today!" He waved and yelled from the door as he left quickly.

"Oh my," my wife exclaimed, as she started to look through the new books. "Over half of them are your dime novels. Do you two make money from these?" she asked.

I answered, "Not a penny. And he's not supposed to be using our names anymore." I looked at the Kid. "Think we need to have a conversation with Sletten?"

With a gloomy cloud on his face, the Kid looked down. "Much as I don't like those books, I do like Hauser Sletten and appreciate his last visit more than he can know."

Aiden blinked twice and studied the Kid. Even with the coffee, he was having trouble holding his head up. "That was a…a…positive answer, Jed. Heyes, make sure your partner is feeling good. I need to sleep." He dropped his head to his folded arms on the table and was asleep.

Laughing, the Kid stood and went over to the sleeping drunk. "Miss Denise, I'll help you get him to bed. Heyes, about time you get our beautiful wives back home."

"Juan, you ready?" I asked. He hadn't lifted his head from his book since we arrived.

He gave the room a sheepish look. "Ah, do you think I could take this book with me? I promise to return it." I saw the cover, "The Fastest Gun in the West, Kid Curry with his partner, Hannibal Heyes Catch the Tim Grey Gang."

"You know that's made up, don't you?" I asked.

"Yeah, well, I guess, but the way the author describes Jed and you, it's like he knows you."

JED 'KID' CURRY

Father Patrick came in when I was already asleep. He's still movin' tentatively, and he usually stays close to Aiden, so I was curious where he went.

"Sitting up with one of my flock that needed comfort and guidance. Can't tell you more than that." His voice was a whisper but his tone firm. He's a good man who has helped me and Heyes with our healin'.

I closed my eyes and sleep came back easily to me, but I guess not to Father because he woke me a while later.

"Jed, you awake?" His voice woke me. I thought this might be a good time to try sayin' 'no' but that wouldn't work.

"What is it, Father?"

"Aiden talk to you about me going with you to see your friend Preacher?"

"Yeah, not sure if I want to see him. Maybe Lom should go alone," I answered into the darkness as I rolled onto my back and adjusted my foot on a pillow.

"Aiden told me about the pact you made with the two of them. That's all the more reason for you to go."

"NO!" I said way too loudly for the quiet night room. "I broke that pact."

"For good reason." Father's voice was calm. " I can help you explain that to Preacher. I'd like to meet this man that you call friend. What can you tell me about him?"

"His story ain't mine to tell, but he's been a good friend to me and Heyes for a long time. Saved my life more than once," I answered. It had been a long day and I fell asleep without sayin' more, but I understood that Father Patrick was coming with me and Lom to see Preacher…and I was glad of it.

HEYES

Riding Fall's Bells into Three Birds the next morning, I thought about going to the prison with Chrissy and Aiden. I certainly wasn't going to let her go without me and she was set on going. Miss Denise had told her and Angie about the trip while me and the Kid were at the saloon with Aiden. Aiden's going to fill in as the prison doctor for three days while his brother, Oliver, takes some time off, so he'll take the train with us but return after. The trip there doesn't scare me. Visiting Mike and Mikey Loveland always makes me smile. They are so good together. It's the ride to the prison when the darkness tries to reach out and grab my mind. And when the shadow cast by that place touches me. I shiver in fear. Father Patrick called them demons and I agree that's a good word for it. I'm stronger now, but even as strong as the Kid was, that malicious evil of the prison affected him.

But I will be strong for Chrissy…she worries about her brother Matt. And I'll bring money to add to his account there at the prison in case he needs something. ANd maybe in Cheyenne, I can find a present for Angie. Now, Chrissy and Auntie are busy deciding what to put in a box we'll give him. Aiden said the visit can be as long as we want because Matt works as a trustee assistant for Oliver and will do the same for him. But now even I'm trying not to let the thought of his office come back and haunt me. I visited with the Kid there. That was positive. I'll keep that in mind.

I was restless last night as I fought the memories of that place. Angie snuggled close to my back and asked me what's wrong. I can't tell her about the horrors of that prison. I don't want her to know something that dark exists. So, I answered, "Worried about the Kid. He's going to start practicing his shooting tomorrow."

"He'll be fine. He's got a lot of people supporting him and Chrissy says he's happier. Hope this means he'll be back home soon." I could tell she was struggling to stay awake, so I laid quietly and let her sleep. And kept my mind busy with plans for Phoenix's future.

ASJ*****ASJ

I wonder if the Kid will really get to practice today. Aiden's going to have a large hangover and be more a patient than a doctor. And the repetitive banging of the Kid's Colt will probably be too much for him. I'm going to the mercantile first and see if I can recruit Jeff to go with me and still have the Kid practice so he's not disappointed.