Winter's Refuge

Chapter Thirteen

Jed 'Kid' Curry

I rode Winter's Glory into Bridgeport to catch the train. First time in a long time that I rode alone. I hoped Heyes had behaved himself these past two weeks. I needed my partner back; I needed my friend back. I needed the man who watched my back to be ridin' next to me again. I got to Bridgeport late afternoon, two hours too early to catch the train to Cheyenne. I tried to order supplies for the blacksmith shop, but their two mercantile stores could order nothing different than the smaller one in Three Birds. But they did give me a lead to a supplier in Cheyenne.

Without news of Heyes for two weeks, I was nervous on the train. Lom had said all it went well, so I assumed Heyes was still in general population. I touched the first key to the lock in my pocket and smiled. I doubted Heyes could open it without any keys, but each key should make it easier. I did manage to fall asleep but when the train jerked suddenly going around a bend, I woke up suddenly. I thought I was on the train again goin' to the Yuma Prison. I stood up, looking around for a place to run and wonderin' why my legs weren't shackled. I gathered myself quickly and sat back down, but I think I scared a couple of ladies sittin' a few rows ahead. I scared myself too.

During the days, there was so much to do takin' care of Chrissy, the blacksmith work, and helpin' Juan with the ranch and our horses, I had little time to think. I just worked as hard as I could for as long as I could. But findin' sleep at night was a different thing. The pillow was welcomed at first as I usually feel asleep from exhaustion. But as the night went on, I would wake and think and doubt I could take on everything I was tryin' to do. "I'm strong," I would tell myself. "I can take care of Chrissy and this place. And I will be strong enough to take care of Heyes when he gets home."

The train pulled into Cheyenne on time, so I followed the instructions and found the blacksmith supplier. He had everything I needed at less than I thought. He would even ship it to Bridgeport for me. I paid him half and made arrangements to bring him the rest in two weeks after I had received the supplies. When I signed the invoice as Jed Curry, he looked at me closer. I knew he recognized me. He studied me close with a frown on his face, but just said, "See you in two weeks, sir."

I nodded at him, not sure what I felt, and headed to the prison. The Wyoming Territorial Prison was built to be intimidatin'. I was intimidated. Lom was not with me this time. As strong as I had felt at home, now my knees felt weak, and my feet refused to move forward. I knocked on the main door.

When I saw the guard, I said, "Here to see Hannibal Heyes." I was surprised my voice sounded assured; I had been sure no words could force their way out past the risin' bile in my throat. The door closed. I heard it bein' unlocked and then it opened again. I saw two guards standin' there, holdin' rifles and I was back in the Yuma prison again. My heart beat wildly and I was sure the guards could see it. My instinct was to look down, be subservient. It was an internal struggle, but I looked them in the eyes and walked in without waitin'.

"Follow me," the guard said in a tone that expected quiet obedience.

My heart raced. I felt closed in. I wanted to run. My legs refused to take a step. Then I saw the billy club on the guard's belt. Fear made me shudder and the back of my knees hurt in memory of their strikes. "I'm a free man," I told myself silently. "They won't do anything to me."

"Sir, follow me," the guard repeated.

I forced myself to walk calmly in between the guards. They had called me 'sir'. I focused on that to not feel like a convict again. I took a thankful deep breath when we reached the door that read 'Doctor Aiden Arden.' One of the guards knocked and took two steps behind me.

Lom opened the door. "Kid!" he said, and I was very glad to see a friendly face.

"Lom, good to see you." I shook his hand as I entered the office. "Hello, Dr. Arden."

The office was the same as the last time I was here. Dr. Arden sat behind his huge desk. I admired the woodwork on the edges. Three chairs were in front of the desk and Lom motioned me to sit down next to him. But I was nervous. I sat then immediately stood up. I reminded myself I was here for Heyes. But then doubts came into my mind, thoughts of the man who had betrayed me with Chrissy. But no. I told myself again, Lom had said for comfort not passion. I was beginning to understand that. I needed my friend Heyes out of here and safely at home with us. I needed my family to be complete.

"Ah, Dr. Arden, here's the first key for the lock. Can I give it to Heyes?" I asked.

He looked at the ornate key in my hand and smiled. "That lock puzzle has been good for Heyes. He works on it at night. During our visits in here I give him a lockpick I found, and he plays with it. Keeps him calmer while we talk. Go ahead and give it to him."

"Mr. Curry, I'd like to ask you a question." Dr. Arden had a way of lookin' at you that made you feel he could see inside you. I didn't like it, but I was here for Heyes. I swallowed any pride I had and looked him straight in the eyes. I reminded myself I was not a prisoner here, just a guest that needed to be respectful…and respected.

"Sure, Doctor." I walked to the nearest chair intending to sit down.

"Why did you become so angry at Heyes during your last visit?"

Instead of sitting, I leaned my hands on his desk. I saw him strugglin' to stay in control of the conversation. I kept my eyes fixed on his and made sure my voice was quiet, non-threatening. I knew my stance was threatenin'. "I told you that was personal between me and Heyes and I aim for it to stay that way. Don't have anything to do with his amnesty."

He looked away first. He wasn't used to bein' challenged. As a prison doctor, he was always in charge, always right. "I could perhaps treat him better if I knew. He talked about it multiple times during our visits the last two weeks."

I looked at Lom who had a 'I'm keeping out of this' look on his face. I, finally, sat down and changed the subject. "So, how has Heyes been his first two weeks in general population?"

Dr. Arden knew his question had been answered with the only answer he would get. He never asked me again and never found out what caused my anger. I buried my anger deep with so many other traumas I held deep inside. I refused to let it come between me and Heyes. I would wait to talk to Heyes about it when he was out of here and off of parole. Unless he brought it up first.

I popped out of the chair and walked to the window. I didn't look out. I didn't care to see the prisoners walkin' in the prison yard. I focused on the latch on the window. Memorizin' how it was shaped helped me regain control. Perhaps I could design one like it and sell them at our mercantile.

"It was a struggle, but Heyes made it through. He works in the broom factory." A kettle whistled and the doctor rose. "Tea?" he asked.

"Not for me," Lom answered.

I was glad Lom had declined. Tea was not what I wanted right now, and I didn't feel like bein' polite.

The doctor poured two cups and left them too steep. "I think knowing there could be an end to this helped him. The lock helped him. If he fails, it will be his own fault. He sees a challenge in every guard who speaks to him. They've all been instructed to not let him bait them."

"That an order from the warden?" Lom asked.

"Yes. Heyes has regressed to two or three word sentences again. Since he talked so freely with you at the last visit, I had hoped we were past this hurdle. I think the nights are the worst for Heyes. Even in his assigned cell the nights are dark. There is only light from the lanterns in the hallway and there aren't many of them. Don't always have enough oil to keep them all on either."

I turned. Very careful to make my voice pleasant, I smiled. Heyes had a theory that when you smiled, even forced a smile, it made your voice friendlier. "Doctor, what if someone donated more lanterns and oil. Could they be assured that the ones near Heyes' cell stayed lit all night?"

Lom looked at me. Before I always left the ideas and solutions up to Heyes. He was good at thinkin' up solutions to problems. I didn't have him around no more. I had learned I was good at thinkin' up my own solutions.

"I'll check with the warden. If it does happen, I think it best if Heyes doesn't know why."

Lom leaned forward in his chair, his hands clasped in his lap. "And why is that doctor?" I could hear something challengin' in Lom's voice as he asked the question.

Dr. Arden's focus changed from me to Lom. Lom didn't care for it any more than I did. People forget Lom was an outlaw, part of the Devil's Hole Gang. But he's got a side of him that he keeps hidden mostly except when he's crossed. Dr. Arden was very close to crossin' him.

"I brought two books for Heyes," I said to break the tension. "Gave them to the guards. Something else to keep his busy."

"Only one book is allowed a month," the doctor repeated the rule.

I knew that. I had lived with that rule for over three years. I had this covered. "I know so I telegraphed the warden and got special permission to bring these two." I took the telegram out of my pocket and started to hand it to the doctor, but he waved it away.

Then a knock came on the door, and I got nervous again. I could hear the shackles bein' removed in the hall and then the door opened and Heyes entered, two guards behind him.

"That will be all," Dr. Arden dismissed the guards, but I knew they stood outside the door.

It was wonderful to see Heyes, just being in the same room with him gave me hope. I took the two steps toward him and gave him a hug, a true hug. He flinched. I held him at arm's length and we exchanged a long look and all seemed right with my world. But he had a large bandage over his right eye. Some dried blood had soaked through the bandage. I lifted the corner and saw the eye underneath was swollen closed and had turned bright blue and purple.

I lowered the bandage and saw pain in his face but then he smiled and dimples emerged. "Didn't ….fight back," he said. I heard what the other men in the room who didn't know him as well missed - pride.

I nodded and smiled back at him. We always communicated better silently, a skill we learned at Valparaiso. I repeated what I had done the first time I was here. I turned him around and lifted his shirt. I saw three new lash marks crossin' his back, openin' up old wounds and creatin' new ones. "Aw, Heyes."

Dr. Arden had observed quietly but spoke now. "Heyes didn't fight back but he was involved in a fight. He had his choice of three days in solitary or three lashes."

I smiled at Heyes and winked. I understood. The three days in solitary would take him out of general population; his deal would be over. He chose the lashes. I saw it as a good sign that he was tryin'.

Dr. Arden turned to the tea. He picked up one cup and added a shot of whiskey from a bottle in his desk drawer. I watched as he handed it to Heyes, who sipped it appreciatively.

Lom was the one who asked the question, "Whiskey, Doctor?"

"Whiskey in willow bark tea. It works quite well to help Heyes maintain his focus and self-control. Probably helps the pain from those lashes, too. From what I understand, he has been using alcohol to medicate himself most of his life."

Heyes just nodded his agreement and sipped more tea.

"Mr. Curry, do you remember when Heyes started drinking?"

I thought back. "Never when we was boys with our families, but he was always stealin' some from the janitors at the Home." I answered before I realized I might be sayin' more than Heyes would want me to. But the tea with the whiskey really surprised me and Heyes didn't seem to object to what I'd said.

I changed the conversation. "Well, I'm glad you're still in general population, Heyes. Takes a lot not to fight," I said and another glance between us told him I had been there, too.

"Got something for you." I held out the first key to the lock.

Heyes grabbed it and was lost for a minute studyin' the thickness and the shape. He rubbed it between his fingers feeling each curve. If the ceiling had fallen, I don't think he would have noticed.

"Heyes," Dr. Arden called him. Still lost in the key, Heyes didn't answer. "Mr. Heyes!"

Heyes looked up and gave me a sheepish grin and spoke directly to me. "Good lock." He rolled the key in palm. "Won…derful design!" His attention was on the key. His brain was workin' to see how it fit into the puzzle. He was quiet for a while as we all watched him put his new treasure on the desk. Only then did he turn his attention back to me. "Where get?"

"I made it for you, Heyes. Thought you would like it."

He looked at me like I had two heads. He looked at the key on the desk and back at me. "YOU?"

"Yeah, and I'm glad you like it. I got a real profession; I'm a blacksmith now, Heyes. Lom gave me a book about makin' locks and it took me eight tries before I got that one the way I wanted it."

I thought he was goin' to cry. "You make locks? He picked the key up and rolled it between his fingers like people do with coins. "Make for me?" Tryin' to wipe his eyes without us noticin', he held out his hand to shake. "Thanks."

It was not the reaction I had expected. It was much more emotional and formal. I realized in that moment that Heyes had worked hard to shut himself off from all emotions but anger for the last three years.

"Very good, Heyes. See, you can speak if you want to in here," Dr. Arden said. Lom had told me that Heyes spoke little the last year, only when necessary to answer a guard. That had changed with our last visit when words had come out of him so fast that he didn't realize what he was sayin'.

When we finished shakin' hands, he held onto mine, turnin' it palm down on his. Quietly, he studied it. Then he smiled, touchin' the black that still remained under my fingernails and in my callouses, despite my efforts to get clean. "Blacksmith. Hard …on back."

Then he did what I had done to him. He stood up and I did too. Knowing what he was going to do I turned so only Heyes could see my back.. He pulled up my shirt and the top of my long johns. He echoed what Chrissy had done earlier. He traced the crisscrossin' scars across my back and saw the ones still not healing. "Aw, Kid." He put down my shirt and put a hand on each shoulder from behind. "Wide …shoulders. Strong back." I hadn't looked at the scars on my back even after Chrissy had seen them. I didn't want the reminder of the last three years.

He turned me around and put a hand on each of my shoulders, then caught my eyes. I felt his silent pride in me. "Kid,... strong now."

Heyes picked up his tea and finished it eagerly. I wondered if the doctor put anything else in it.

"Heyes has been working in our broom factory with the other men," Dr. Arden informed us.

I thought I saw a bit of devilment in Heyes' eyes before he said, "Can make… brooms…in sleep." He stopped and looked at the key again before he finished. It was like he could not manage to string more words together. "Often do."

I laughed. Lom laughed. Heyes laughed. Dr. Arden looked…concerned. "You mustn't sleep while working. If the guards catch you..." Dr. Arden stopped when he understood it was a joke.

"Got something I need you to do for me, if you can, partner." He could see I was serious.

"Stay out …trouble?"

"That too. I have a small blacksmith shop." I felt the pleased look on his face. He had always been proud of me. "Well, it's doin' good, but I can't figure out the keepin' track of the money part. You know, what I spend for supplies and what I charge. Books are a mess and I'm usually so tired when I start them at night that the ledger becomes my pillow."

"Proud," he said, pattin' me on the back. I saw that he picked up the key and it was clenched in his hand.

"Well, there's two books on business accounting on your bed, or should be soon. And some pen, paper and ink. I need you to learn them and tell me how to do the basics for now and then when you get out, I need you to handle it all."

I stopped talkin'. I could tell he was happy, excited but I didn't know if Dr. Arden and Lom knew him that well. Dr. Arden took Heyes' empty cup and moved it in back of his desk and gave him the second one. Again, with a generous pour of whiskey.

"Heyes, you don't have to learn this," the doctor said.

Confused eyes jumped to mine.

"And Heyes," I continued tryin' to ease the situation. "I need you to handle the accountin' for the horse breedin', too. I got it loused up somehow. Can't do it alone."

"Horses?"

"A small ranch in Nebraska. You'll come there for your parole. Feels like home, Heyes."

He grinned and sipped his tea. "I'll read." Then he looked at Dr. Arden. He pointed at me then at himself. "We talk?" He waited for an answer then added, "Alone?"

I could see the doubt in the doctor's face. I had decided he was a rule follower. Heyes and I didn't care too much for rules, but we had learned to obey them when we needed. "Okay with me," I told the doctor.

He looked at Lom who nodded his agreement.

"Okay, five minutes. We'll be right behind that door."

When they were gone, Heyes went and sat behind the doctor's desk. I smiled to see him playful. Then he came and sat next to me, puttin' his hand on my knee. When we were younger that always signaled a serious conversation.

"You mad," he said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

I took a deep breath. I didn't want to discuss this now. But I examined how I felt. "Not mad, disappointed."

He nodded. "Talk." Again, it was not a question. It was the order from an older cousin to a younger one.

"No. Not until you're out of here."

He was quiet. He no longer had a poker face. I could see him thinkin', different emotions crossin' his face. "Partners?" This was a question, desperation in his voice. He knew my anger, my disappointment was real, even if he didn't know why I felt that way.

"Always partners, Heyes. Always family. I got your back."

I saw relief in his shoulders, a light in his eyes. "I'll wait."

I heard Lom and the doctor coming back in. "Anything else you need, Heyes?"

"New key? Come again?"

"Be here in two weeks with another key."

A sparkle jumped into his one open eye. "Maybe no need."

The guards knocked on the door. "Times up."

Lom and I stood but Heyes stayed seated. From the doctor's look, I understood we were to leave first.

"Take care of yourself and that eye, Heyes," Lom said, pattin' him on the back gently.

I hugged him lightly. "Better see you in two weeks, partner."

ASJ*****ASJ

Just outside the door, Lom stopped. "I forgot to ask the doctor something." He had opened the door and was enterin' the office before the guards knew what was happenin'. One moved his rifle but remembered this was not a convict.

"Dr. Arden, I have a question for you. May I have a moment in private?" Lom advanced on the big desk, walking with purpose.

"Ah, Sheriff Trevors, ah, I guess that would be okay. Mr. Curry and the guards can stay in here. My private office is through that door."

I sat next to Heyes again but kept an eye on the guards. I tried to hide that they made me nervous and brought back frightenin' memories.

Heyes saw my fear and his hand was on my knee. "I …watch your… back," he said, teasing me.

That was all I needed. I was in control again.

"See, …Kid strong." Heyes smiled. It was so good just to sit here next to him. We always talked about everything; well, I thought we had talked about everything.

"Mad?" Heyes asked softly and I knew he saw a flash of anger from my thoughts.

"No, Heyes. I'm proud of you, you know, for not fighting back. That's real hard."

He smiled a warm smile but said nothing.

"And Heyes, please eat more; you're too skinny."

"Don't like mush."

"Neither did I but I ate it."

He looked at the prized key on the desk in front of him. "You eat…anything."

Lom and Dr. Arden came back, and I stood up. "Be good. Eat and I'll see you in two weeks."

Our eyes met once more before we parted, and it reminded me of the quick visual goodbye we'd had after our sentences were read. This time I had hope we'd be reunited soon.

ASJ*****ASJ

Lom was comin' back to the ranch with me. He had sent a box with the contents of our saddlebags on ahead. I waited until we were seated and the train moving before I asked him,

"What'd you ask the doctor?"

"I heard rumors about the prisoner that beat Heyes up and wanted to check them out."

His answer had told me nothing. But I waited rather than pushed. I'd learned patience and silence sometimes worked better than force.

"I asked if the prisoner that picked a fight with Heyes belonged to a gang when he was arrested." Lom took a breath. "The doctor didn't want to answer me, but I persuaded him this would be in Heyes' best interests."

I nodded. I could hear the frustration in Lom's words and remembered thinkin' before that Dr. Arden came pretty close to crossin' Lom.

"First, he said the other convict was a patient of his, too. Didn't want to play favorites. I asked if the other man has a connection to the governor."

I smiled. Lom had learned to use words, not his gun.

"Man's part of the McWinters Gang. Once the doc started talking, he was downright chatty. The man claimed the leader had a big grudge against Heyes. Said he heard rumors they were goin' to leave Heyes with a shiv in the back next time." Lom fell quiet. "When I talk to the governor, going see what I can be done. Until then I told the doctor I was holding his responsible for Heyes' wellbeing."

"Thanks, Lom, and…"

"What Kid?"

"You think it's time Chrissy's baby comes to live with us at the ranch?"

I saw Lom think deeply. "No, Kid. Chrissy needs to recover first. Toddlers are hard to handle but my sister is a good guardian."

I nodded but held the question for later. Chrissy's baby was family and belonged with us. But Lom was right I couldn't handle taking care of anyone else right now."