Winter's Refuge
Chapter one Hundred Seventy-Five
EIGHTEEN MONTHS HAVE GONE BY
JED 'KID' CURRY
I didn't know what I was gettin' myself into the other night at dinner.
Martha smiled her best smile at me and asked sweetly, "Papa, Catherine Elizabeth's going to be one in about a month. Can we give her a big party?"
I looked at Chrissy, who nodded her agreement.
"Sure, little darlin', that would be nice." I smiled over at my youngest daughter with the untamable curly sandy hair, concentratin' on usin' her spoon.
And that answer set off a discussion on who to invite that made my head spin. I was thinkin' a cake for those livin' or workin' at Phoenix. My ten-year-old twins and my wife must have been plannin' this for awhile.
"I'll make a special cake, but we must order two baskets of sweets from Mrs. Kirk. And of course, she's invited," Auntie said. "I'll start a list of what else we need right now."
"Two baskets of sweets?" I asked, lookin' at Heyes, who shrugged his shoulders with a grin.
"Perfect timing," Angie added. "Sam will he here that week and he hasn't met his brother Alexander yet." I looked over at the new Heyes who slept in a cradle in the livin' room as we ate. At three weeks, he'd been the focus of our household lately. He's a beautiful baby with Heyes' brown eyes that even this young feel like they are always thinkin'. "And of course, we'll invite Arnie and you, Vince, and Dr. Arden and Denise and their Ajay and Joyce," Angie finished.
Vince was always quiet when he ate dinner with us. Even after almost two years, he stayed by himself when he wasn't workin'. Givin' us a rare smile, he said, "Pleased to join in, ma'am."
"Mama, may we invite school friends?" asked Michael. He was still a serious boy a little shorter than his twin, but if the size of his feet is any indication, I think he'll be taller than me.
"Yes, but only two each," Chrissy answered. "And you may invite Mr. and Mrs. Kolmand, if she feels up to coming." The former Miss Duhamel, now Mrs. Kolmand, had maintained her job as their teacher, thanks to a unanimous vote of the Town Council. And we had voted that her job would be waitin' for her when she was ready to return to teachin' when their little one was a few months old. She's an excellent teacher and I'm thankful she's stayin'.
"I'll make a list of invitations to send," Hortencia said. "Well, not everyone who will attend because, of course, all of us will be there and we won't need invitations."
"Don't forget the Josephs," Chrissy told her. "And Father Patrick."
"And Sheriff Birde, Miss Beverly, and Junior," Heyes added. "What about Lom and Wayne?"
"And Jeff, Brian, Scott, and all the other Birdes, too," Hortencia said. "And what about that nice Palmer Robinson, the bank president? Heard he's lonely since he and his wife were divorced."
"Okay, got his name on the list," noted Angie. "And I got that new undertaker and his family, don't remember their name right now."
I thought of poor Mr. Dwyer dyin' alone in a buggy accident in the rain on the way to Mallard Springs. He used to eat Sunday dinner with us, and I guess we were the closest to family he had. He'd left everythin' to Three Birds Town Council to sell and use the proceeds to benefit our citizens. Still have to figure that out.
I was gettin' overwhelmed with the number of people my family was invitin'. I leaned back in my chair, but when I looked around the table and saw my family's excitement and joy, I just had to smile.
Rocky, who spoke infrequently at the dinner table, asked quietly, "Don't want to impose, but can we invite Stephanie and Steven and the Ardens?"
"Think that would be a good idea," I answered. "And while we're invitin' the whole county, how about the Sandersons and Colin. They have some time now that he didn't run for reelection. And the Lovelands."
Heyes is givin' me a panicked look and I think I know why. Phoenix is his sanctuary. He feels safe here to let his personality show. He goes into Three Birds when needed to pick up supplies or the town council meetings, but he prefers it here. And now it's gonna be invaded. "Got to get back to the smithy," I announced, pushin' my chair back. "Heyes, I can use your help."
He didn't say anything but stood up and followed me.
"Papa, up," said Ruth Ann, while she signed, "Want to come."
Chrissy touched her arm to get her attention and signed, "Ruth Ann NO go."
"Go," she signed back with a determined pout.
I kissed her cheek and signed "No." We been havin' trouble to get her to understand the concept of no.
"A lot of work to do for the party so Jed don't work too late in smithy," Chrissy said firmly. She's upset I stay there late each night workin'. She says I need to spend more time with my kids. But my work there helps support this family…and keeps me strong. I need to be strong to protect my family.
"A lot of blacksmith work to do, too," I told her, bendin' to give her a kiss on the check. "You go ahead and plan this party and send me the bills." I smiled as I said it.
"You need my help, Mr. Curry?" Rocky asked. He's doin' so well since he was released from prison. He's progressed from horseshoes and has learned how to do most repairs.
"No, goin' to work on my special projects. I'll be back before it's time for you to go to bed."
As we walked out the kitchen door, Heyes leaned close. "Thanks," he whispered.
"Anytime, partner."
HEYES
The Kid works too long, too hard, but tonight I couldn't wait to join him and get out of the family discussion of a party. Stopping to check on the horses before we walked to his smithy, he produced some small, fat carrots from his pocket. I recognized them as coming from Chrissy's garden. She only plants carrots and daisies and refuses to let the Kid help her, so the carrots aren't planted deep enough, and the ground is hard. So, they grew out instead of down. The Kid said that Chrissy takes pleasure in gardening as part of her healing. All I know is she hums while she gardens and our horses love to chump on her carrots.
When we got to the smithy, the Kid started to talk. "Heyes, you alright with this party?"
"Will be. If not, I'll work in my office and only go for a few minutes," I answered. I can be honest with the Kid. He understands me. Now he nods as he goes over to the forge and stocks the sleeping fire.
"Why don't you pull that high stool from the back room. Sit in the corner; ain't as hot there and we can talk," he told me. I know what he wants to talk about, what happened in the Town Council meeting this morning. The Council has changed over the last year. The council itself has grown smaller, but the townsfolk attendance has grown and is very vocal. There was an election and Jeff Birde won the race for mayor easily. And the Town Council is there to back him up. And then this morning, the Town Council voted unanimously for the Kid to be our president, but he asked for time to think about it.
Frank and Aiden had warned him that this would probably happen. I knew he would feel he didn't deserve it, so I talked to him earlier in the day. "Kid, I know you don't want to be the council president."
"There's men who can do it better," he told me.
"Name one," I challenged him. I could see him going over each of the members in his head.
"You," he answered.
"Kid, they're not asking you to be in town every day. Jeff handles the everyday business. These people trust you to do what's right for them, to help them. It's what you already do. You'll just get some recognition for it."
He stopped working, looked at me, and then looked pensive. He thinks deeper about things now; he doesn't take anyone or anything for granted. "You'll help me? Equal partners?" he asked.
"I'll have your back, quietly in the background, though."
"I'll tell Jeff tomorrow mornin' that I'll accept." He went back to the candlestick he was making, applying a delicate silver strip pattern to the base. "Instead of a one-year old's birthday celebration, the party we should be havin' is three years of your amnesty about that same time."
"Still don't seem real. I wake up and think we need to hightail it out of here before someone recognizes us. And sometimes I'm afraid to open my eyes because I'm in the dark cell and this is all an illusion," I confessed.
"Well, thanks to Sletten's books, seems as if everybody knows what I look like. Be hard to hide now. Glad that Kolmand got an injunction to stop any further printin's of that Minerva Mine one and he was sure smart to ask for advance review of new books," he said. "Kolmand says that Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes and the Outlaw's Child will never get to print."
"Good. Sletten changed the child from a boy to a girl, but even had the adoptive father own a newspaper. Glad Mike Loveland will never be able to read that story," I added.
"Not sure how Sletten knew where we hid Johnny McWinters' baby, but he did. Had to tell Kolmand somethin' of Little Mikey's story so he would understand why that book violated our agreement with Sletten," the Kid said. "The nerve of that man, but Kolmand says we can't stop him from writin' more, just monitor what gets published."
The Kid held up the candlestick and picked up another one nearby. He examined the silver detail closely in the lamplight. He's talented, very talented. "These are finally done," he declared, taking off his gloves.
"Make sure you charge a fair markup on them," I told him.
"No, these are a gift for former governor Sanderson and Miss Tina to celebrate his retirement from politics and thank him for the help he's given us."
"Help? He could have given us amnesty years earlier," I growled. But my words made a darkness turning the Kid's eyes gray so I didn't say more.
"For the help he gave us after amnesty…and the help he gave with Matt. He said he'll still watch over him," the Kid answered.
We heard a little giggle. Quickly the Kid focused the light outside to catch three-and-a-half-year-old Ruth Ann in its light. "Papa!" she said and ran toward him. I caught her before she could get to the forge. But she reached over and touched the shiny liquid silver droplet still on the anvil.
"NO!" me and the Kid yelled at the same time, and he signed it but her finger touched the hot metal. She screamed. The Kid grabbed her finger and scraped the tiny dot of silver off the end.
Then he pointed to the metal and signed, "No," again. Her tears got louder but he didn't release her finger as he took her from me and went nearer to the light. He rubbed the small burn again and again to make sure no small remnant of the metal was left. He ignored her screams. Then he dipped her finger into the water bucket in the back room. And he pointed to his anvil and signed, "No."
Her screams changed to crying. 'Be right back,' he said as he headed to the house, refusing to offer his daughter any comfort but that of his arms. I saw her hide her face in his shoulder.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I was scared more than mad as I watched my daughter burn herself. We can't teach her what 'no' means. Aiden suggested we send her to a school for the deaf in Denver, but until now me and Chrissy couldn't bear to let her go. But this is the second time lately that she ignored our sign for no and got hurt. She touched a hot cake pan that Auntie had just taken out of the oven, even though both Auntie and Angie had signed no. Ruth Ann pulled a stool over and Auntie had slapped her hand away once, but she's strong-willed and touched the pan, sayin' one of her new words, "Cake," before howlin' in pain as the pan and cake came down on top of her. Now it's happened again.
"WHO was watchin' Ruth Ann?" I asked loudly, as I entered through the kitchen door. Everyone looked around the room quickly as if to find the cryin' baby in my arms. Chrissy rushed forward, but I kept hold of Ruth Ann. "Get the burn stuff Aiden gave us," I told her.
"I'll get it," Martha volunteered.
I looked at Chrissy. "YOUR daughter walked down to the smithy alone," I started, tryin' to temper my voice. "Touched some liquid silver."
Chrissy looked at the finger I was holdin'. She got a serious look on her face and signed no. Aiden says Ruth Ann always looks at our expressions. I saw tears in Chrissy's eyes as she looked at me, sayin', "Jed talk to Good Doctor about Denver school, two weeks, no more. I go too."
I nodded and watched Michael gently apply the balm to Ruth Ann's finger. Then I carried our daughter upstairs to the room she shared with Martha and Joy. I put her on her bed and signed "STAY." She knows what that means but doesn't like to obey. But she had been starin' at my face. She reached over and tried to pull my mouth up into a smile, but I didn't let her.
"Love, Papa," she said out loud. Not everyone can understand when she says that first word, but I can.
I signed back, "I love Ruth Ann. Stay." And for once she did as asked.
HEYES
I cleaned up a little in the smithy, but I don't touch the forge or the sides of the building. I looked toward the house. I don't know how Ruth Ann got down here by herself. It's almost a full moon so there was some light and there's always two lanterns on the gate when the Kid's down here at night. Still, I don't like to walk it alone like she did. I know that the Kid will ask who was watching her, but the truth is no one watches each kid. After dinner, they play quietly or read in the living room. If one got up and walked out, I don't think I would notice.
ASJ*****ASJ
Arnie delivered a telegram to Auntie the next morning. I could tell it upset her.
"Oh dear, oh dear," she lamented. "Arnie, please wait and I'll write out my answer right now."
"Auntie, is everything alright?" asked Chrissy.
"My sons have decided they want to visit me. I know what they want. They think I should go live with Donald and his family in Cheyenne." I could tell she was flustered. Auntie very seldom gets flustered.
"Oh, we would miss you!" Chrissy hugged her, and I could see Auntie had tears in her eyes.
"Chrissy, I don't want to go live with him. I'm bored to death when I visit. They don't let me do anything but sit and read. They see taking care of me is an obligation. Here, I feel useful." Auntie put down her pen and hugged Chrissy. "I feel like you're my family."
"We are your family," I answered. "When are they coming?"
She reread the telegram. "Oh goodness, tomorrow. I'm sorry, Arnie, my telegram would not reach them in time. You don't have to wait."
"You sure, Mrs. Clark?" he asked, eyeing the eggs I was eating.
She smiled in response and picked up a plate. "Here, eat these eggs and bacon before you go back to town."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Auntie, you have two sons, right? I know you've visited Donald a few times and Jonathan is an accountant. He does the books for Winter's Refuge," I said.
"I had three. My oldest, David Jr., was a US Marshal like his father."
"Was?" whispered Chrissy.
"He was killed trying to stop a train robbery by the McWinters Gang," Auntie answered.
Chrissy gasped. "Oh, Auntie, you never told us." Then she looked down and added, "I'm sorry."
"Didn't mean to tell you now..or ever. Wasn't your fault what your brothers did." Auntie hugged her closely and didn't let her go.
"But Auntie still make cakes and cookies for Matt in prison?" asked Chrissy. Auntie's revelation had shaken her.
"From the reports I got of what happened, Matt actually tried to stop his brother Mark from killing David." Auntie finally let Chrissy go so she could look into her tear-filled eyes.
"Chrissy's brother, Mark, very bad man. So sorry."
I didn't know what to do. I think I need to get the Kid to calm Chrissy.
"That's long ago and none of your fault, Chrissy dear. Right now, I've got a lot to do to get ready. Would you help me?" Auntie asked.
Chrissy did what I very seldom saw her do anymore. She stared at the corner of the kitchen and didn't respond. The twins say that their mama is thinking when she does this. I know she goes to a safe place in her mind. Then it was over, and she said, "Yes, Chrissy help. Sons stay in guest rooms in this house."
"How can I help?" I asked.
"By staying out of our way. Is Angie done feeding Alexander? I could use her help, too," Auntie said.
Chrissy laughed at that. "Heyes, shoo. Let us get work done now. Tell Jed Auntie's sons come to take her away."
"Oh no, dear. I'm not going with them now or ever. This is my home and I'm staying."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Yesterday was a whirlwind of cleanin' and after lunch, me and Heyes were told to watch all the kids. And tell Martha they could use her help when she came home from school.
We took all the kids, except Martha and little Alexander, to the stables after we ate and Heyes read them a story from Tales of Mother Goose. The one he read was about a little girl that wore a red hood, and her grandmother was eaten by a wolf who took her place.
"Heyes, read somethin' else," I called over from Winter's Glory stall where I was groomin' him. "That story's gonna give them nightmares and I need my sleep."
"Papa." I turned around when I heard Ruth Ann. She was standin' at the entrance of the stall but hadn't entered.
"Sorry, Papa, she walked away when Uncle Heyes was reading," said Joy. I smiled at them both. At almost five, Joy was like a little ma to Ruth Ann, Diane, and Josiah. I gave Winter's Glory half a carrot and took one of each of their hands. "Let's go see if Uncle Heyes is finished with that story."
But Ruth Ann pulled me back toward the stall. I picked her up and she signed, "Pet papa's horse." She looked at me for a moment then signed, "Please."
I smiled and looked at Joy. "I suppose you want to pet him, too?" I asked.
"No, Papa, I want to give a carrot to ma's old horse, Spring's Moirai. If you have another carrot with you."
"You know I do. Okay, first we pet Winter's Glory and then visit Moirai."
ASJ*****ASJ
Donald and Jonathan Clark were arrivin' at the Three Birds stagecoach stop that now comes every Wednesday, instead of twice a month. That's one of the changes that I suggested to the Town Council, and it was passed and arranged within a month. We're growin' and there's always someone goin' or comin' on the stage.
"Welcome, Mr. Clark, I'm Jed Curry," I said as I held out my hand. I knew Donald Clark from the moment he stepped off the stage, brushin' dirt, real and imaginary, from his expensive suit. "Your ma asked me to pick you up. She's lookin' forward to your visit." I don't think she is but that was the polite thing to say.
"Thank you, Mr. Curry." He turned to take a travel bag from a younger version of himself. This had to be Jonathan. "My brother, Jonathan."
"Jed Curry," I repeated and again shook hands.
They didn't talk much on the ride out in the buggy, except for Donald commentin' that the road wasn't paved and it was bumpy.
I was proud when we turned up Curry Road. There's a lot here to see. I pointed out my blacksmith shop, where Rocky was busy, and the library. Next was Ken's Boot and Shoe Emporium, which even this early had a line outside. Next door to that was Mary's Dress Shop and our newest addition, a barber shop. Me and Heyes were suspicious when Ernest Fuller wanted to open a barber shop here, still are in fact. He lives just outside Three Birds and don't have nothin' to do with Phoenix. Still, he's a good barber and the men of the town don't seem to mind comin' out here for him to cut their hair. But he always wears his gun when he's not workin', but then so do I. We keep a close eye on him.
None of the buildings on Curry Road interested the Clark brothers. "Where's mother's house?" asked, no demanded, Donald.
"Behind the main house. She has a real nice garden, too. But she'll be in the ranch house now."
"She's not good enough to share your home?" It was a defiant accusation from Donald.
I took deep breaths, tryin' to stay calm. This was Auntie's family I was talkin' to. "She's a cherished part of our family. She enjoys her privacy sometimes. Our house can be noisy with all the kids."
Donald leaned close to his brother and whispered, but I heard what he said. "Mother part of an outlaw's family?" Out loud he said, "How many children do you have?"
"I got seven and Heyes got two. One of my little girls is named Diane Francis after your ma," I answered, relieved that we were almost to the porch where Auntie was waitin' with Chrissy and Angie. Heyes was in one of the rockers, just watchin'.
"Mother is the nanny for nine children?" Jonathan asked in amazement.
"She's not their nanny. She's part of the family. We call her Auntie. She cooks a lot for us. She's a wonderful cook." I fought the urge to sound defensive. This ride couldn't end soon enough for me.
Auntie hurried down the porch stairs and gave Donald a big hug. He gave her a small pat on the back and stepped back away from her. Jonathan did the same.
Vince came and took the stable horse, Pepper, and the buggy.
"Come in, come in," said Auntie. "I have lemonade and cookies and we have a room ready for each of you."
"Plannd to stay at the hotel in Three Birds...if they have one," announced Jonathan, as he followed her into the livin' room.
"Rustic but clean," Donald observed.
"We have a hotel, but it only has four rooms. I checked yesterday and they are all rented out," I told them.
"Your rooms are right here," Auntie said, leadin' them to the two empty downstairs bedrooms, oblivious to the disdain on their faces.
HEYES
I don't like Auntie's sons. I understand now why she never wanted to live with them. She took them over to her little house, pointing out her garden.
"You will have a bigger garden at my house and a gardener to take care of it," Donald told her.
From where I stood in our backyard, I could see her face fall. I knew I shouldn't, but I stepped closer and to the side so I could hear what was said as she left the door open.
"Small isn't it, mother? You'll have more room and nicer when you move in with me," Donald said.
"This is just perfect for me. And I can cook whenever I want," Auntie answered.
"You won't have to cook or look over outlaws' bastards when you live with us," Donald told her.
I hadn't noticed Martha and Michael run up to her front door, but now I did. I also saw the look on their faces. The Kid was only a few steps behind. He must have heard it too and he moved quickly to stand in back of them and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Go find your ma," he ordered.
Before they could go, Auntie held out her arms. "Come here, my darlings." They looked at their pa who nodded and ran to give her hugs.
"We didn't mean to interrupt, Auntie. We're excited to meet your sons," Martha told her.
I moved to stand next to the Kid. His daughter's face did not look like she wanted to meet the newcomers.
With the twins still next to her, Auntie looked at her sons. "These are the two babies I went to Lily's to help raise. And it's been a privilege and a blessing to be a part of their lives."
"Mother, enough of this. Can you pack your things so we can leave for home in Cheyenne tomorrow?" asked Donald. It wasn't really a question; it was a demand.
I felt the Kid tighten his body and stand straighter. I put my hand on his arm to stop him from saying anything. I watched Auntie stand and approach her boys. "I AM home and I plan to stay right here for the rest of my life."
"What would father say about you living with outlaws and convicts," Jonathan answered.
The Kid looked at me to speak but Auntie beat me to it. "EX-convicts and EX-outlaws. Jed Curry and Hannibal Heyes are two of the best, moral, kind, strong, inclusive, loving family men I have ever known. Your father would be happy I found a joyful, loving home with a family that loves me and I love. Being a part of them has brought purpose and happiness to my life."
"Mother, you are coming home with us today. We are not spending the night in this place," Donald ordered.
"No, Donald, this place is my home, and it will be until I pass. I have included in my will that I wish to be buried on Trinity Rose Hill and I expect you to honor that," she said firmly. "And you're right, I would prefer it if you do not spend the night."
"You wrote it in your will?" Jonathan asked.
"So there would be no doubt that I wanted to be buried here…with the family that loves me."
Donald looked at the twins that were again standing at her side, each with an arm around her waist. "You have grandchildren in Cheyenne."
"I do and unfortunately the last time I visited I found they were being raised to be as cold and unfeeling as their father. They only cared for what I could buy them." She paused for a moment. "They may visit me without their parents, if you wish," she finished.