Winter's Refuge
Chapter Fifty-Five
HEYES
Frank caught up to us at the livery. I was surprised he was carrying an older woman's luggage and didn't stop at the hotel.
Frank smiled at us. "Found this lovely lady at the train depot trying to get to the Curry Ranch near Three Birds."
Confused, I looked at the woman. She was older, dressed well, but conservatively. She wore a wedding ring and a locket around her neck but no other jewelry. And she smiled when she saw the Kid.
He must know her because he gave her his real smile as he extended his hand.
"Jed Curry, ma'am, and am I right assumin' you are the legendary Mrs. Clark?"
Instead of taking his hand, she hugged him. I wanted to tell her that her hug hurts his back, but the Kid looked happy. "I would have known you anywhere, Mr. Curry. I used to think that the twins looked like the pictures I saw of their mother, but now I've decided they look just like you."
So, this must be the woman that helped Lily raise the twins. They're always telling us Mrs. Clark says this or Mrs. Clark does that this way. Chrissy told Lily one night that this Mrs. Clark must be perfect. Lily laughed and told her, "Close to it." She doesn't look perfect to me, but I'll wait and see.
The Kid rented a horse and wagon and tied Winter's Glory to the back. Winter's Glory does not like to pull anything. He drove Mrs. Clark and I rode ahead with Frank. He rode with me all the way to the house.
Chrissy came out of the house when we opened the gate.
"No!" I heard her scream and start to run towards us. The twins trailed her out the door echoing their ma's, "No.". I could tell she was very upset by the look on her face. I don't know what's wrong. Frank seems just as confused.
But then I know.
"Jed? Jed! Where Jed?" she yelled at me..
"Papa?" Martha asked..
Frank dismounted, so I did, too. "Now, Miss Chrissy, Jed's just fine," he told her.
She didn't seem to hear. Looking at me, she pleaded, "Jed?"
Except for the Kid and sometimes the twins, I don't like to touch people. Never bothered me before I went to prison. I think Chrissy's lost in her fear because she doesn't see the Kid with us. She remembers the one time he went to prison after a parole meeting. Putting a hand on each of her shoulders forced her to look at me. I concentrated on my speech and hiding my thoughts. "The Kid is fine. Nothing happened to him." I felt some of the tension leave her body. "He rented a wagon to bring Mrs. Clark here."
Juan had come running at Chrissy's screams. "Mrs. Clark?" he asked.
Martha pulled on my vest. "Mrs. Clark's coming?" The expression on her face reminded me of her father at the same age when I got to sleep over his house.
"Yes," I answered. She was holding her arms up to be picked up. When they first came, I didn't want to lift them. What if I hurt them? My heart would break if anything hurt them. The Kid would be very angry at me and might ask me to leave. But when I sit in the overstuffed chair in the living room to read to them, they climb into my lap. I liked the feeling when they fell asleep there in my arms. One day Chrissy saw them like that in my lap.
"I carry her. You carry him," she said, not realizing what she was asking. She picked up Martha and headed toward the stairs.
"Come!" she said and headed up.
Very carefully, I picked up Michael. He is very light. It was like carrying a bag of corn. Asleep, he was limp and floppy. I followed Chrissy and put the boy down on his bed. She settled a blanket around him.
Out in the hall, she turned to me and smiled. "See, Heyes carry Michael good."
Now I held Martha until the Kid's wagon turned up Old Cummings Road.
"Look, Papa and Mrs. Clark!" She pointed at the wagon.
Their reunion was exuberant and joyful. Chrissy lifted the twins into the wagon. Michael sat between them and Martha on Mrs. Clark's lap. All of them smiled and hugged and Mrs. Clark cried.
Chrissy went to Jed. He immediately jumped down from the wagon. "Darlin', what's wrong?" he asked. I can see she still has the look of fear on her face.
"Chrissy darlin' no see Jed with Heyes and Frank. Thought…thought…"
"Oh, darlin'." He took her in his arms and comforted her.
"Oh, my oh my!" Mrs. Clark smiled at everyone. She hugged the twins as Jed climbed back into the driver's seat. "Oh, my babies, I can feel all the love around you here."
LOM
I had gone into Three Birds to meet the mail stage and get my delivery of paperwork from Porterville. I was early and tried to avoid people, even when I picked up the few things Chrissy had requested from the new mercantile. As I paid, I admired the display on the counter of some of the Kid's handiwork. I bought two of the belt buckles as a thank you for my deputies and slipped them in the mail pouch with a quick letter. I made short work of my time in Three Birds, leaving as soon as I had my mail. I feel like I'm walking in a fog. Even though I did not see Lily often, I knew she was there. I still expect to see her sitting in that chair by the fire. Something our grandmother once said kept coming back to me when, at eight, I complained I was getting old.
"Little Lom," she'd laugh. "You'll never be old as long as there's someone who can remember you as a child."
Lily was my last connection to my childhood, my last family. I was grieving for her and for myself. And I realized I had ridden right by Old Cummings Road. I felt lost without her and wished I had brought her here earlier. But then, I didn't know she was sick earlier.
There seemed to be a lot of commotion at the house as I approached. Juan appeared to take my horse. I gave him a quizzical look.
"Real nice lady, Mrs. Clark, came for Miss Lillian's funeral tomorrow morning. She's cooking dinner tonight and reorganizing the kitchen at the same time," he told me.
I smiled. I'm glad she came. I'm hoping tonight we can swap stories about my sister.
JED 'KID' CURRY
While Mrs. Clark was making dinner and the twins were tryin' to help her, I pulled Chrissy into our bedroom and closed the door.
"No wife now, Jed Curry. Nighttime bed. Too many hear us." She pushed me away with a teasin' grin, blushing prettily. I realized she thought I wanted to lay with her.
"No, darlin', I agree not now, but soon." I stole a playful kiss from her. "I got somethin' to show you and I'm not sure if you're gonna be happy or sad."
She sat on the bed and motioned me to sit next to her. "I like Jed presents."
"This isn't a present. It's well, it's..." I handed her the amnesty agreement for Lazarus McWinters, her pa.
"You know?" She traced over the governor's signature. "Why?"
"Got the idea in my head to ask for an amnesty for Jose Ortiz. Lom was gonna do it but with Lily dying, he sent Frank."
"Beverly's Frank?"
"Lom doesn't know about Beverly's father…or yours, although he might suspect. Frank did a lot of the talkin' and the governor said yes."
"Mel MacGarson, too?"
"Yes, Frank's got that one and I'll give Juan his father's."
"Juan knows?" I could see in her eyes that this was unsettlin' for her.
"Yes, I overheard Marina tell him everything when I was in the hospital."
Again, she ran her finger over the signature. "My ma happy. Thank Jed." She kissed me. "I tell Juan, please."
"Got another present for you, darlin'," I told her, thinkin' about the green dress and fabric I'd bought.
"Later. This best present ever."
We heard the call to dinner and headed downstairs. It was filled with delicious smells and Mrs. Clark's cookin' lived up to the aromas. She told us stories of the adventures of the twins that kept us amused. There was even peach pie for dessert.
When we were finishin' up, there was a loud knock on the front door. We looked at each other in alarm.
Ken stood up, drew his gun, and motioned me to open the door. I drew mine also.
"Frank! Come in," I greeted him relieved. "Didn't hear you come through the gate."
"Noticed a way around that noise when I was here earlier. I'll show you later and you can dream up a way to fix it."
Lom got Frank a cup of coffee and the last piece of pie. Chrissy whisked Mrs. Clark and the twins upstairs to give the men privacy as we sat around our kitchen table.
LOM
"The governor only gave you two men to help!" I couldn't believe what the Kid had just told me. I pounded my fist on the table.
Heyes was pacing as we discussed his plan to catch the McWinters brothers.
"Two good men," the Kid added, looking at Ken Josephs. "But only two."
Frank leaned forward and, from the look on his face, I wasn't sure if I was gonna like what he had to say.
"Had an idea about this," Frank told us, then looked each one of us in the eyes. "We all know that gangs are formed to rob and worse. Why can't we form a gang of good guys?"
"G…good g…guy g…gang?" Heyes repeated. Having Mrs. Clark in the house, nice as she was, was a strain for Heyes. His words were slow but at least his thoughts were his own.
"With your permission, Heyes, I'll deputize my nephew, Jeff, and Mr. Crenshaw. I've used them both as deputies before and they both know their way around a gun."
Heyes was grinning. "Kid's Good Guy Gang!" He laughed. As he got more involved in the topic, he forgot to be worried about Mrs. Clark and his speech reproved. "Good idea. Who else?"
"Me," Juan said.
Jed spoke quickly, "Heyes, we always been co leaders of the gang. Ain't changing that now. "
The idea made me chuckle. "Curry and Heyes leading the Good Guy Gang! Glad to be a part of it."
Heyes looked embarrassed but pleased. Somehow the Kid knows what to say to him.
The Kid turned serious. "Need someone here with Heyes to take care of the women and the babies."
"I'll stay," I told the group. Having just lost Lily, I knew I wasn't a hundred per cent. I seemed to be in a fog, it followed me around. I could help more here.
"Got an idea about that, too," Frank said.
"Ideas my job," Heyes said. I could tell he was teasing.
"I thought I'd talk to my eldest brother, Felix. The one that's head of the city council. He's got that huge gated house, plenty of room. Easy to defend if need be. I'll see if the ladies, Beverly, Miss Chrissy, , and the twins can stay there while we're gone. Felix is no slouch with a gun. Sure he'll agree if Heyes goes to help protect them."
Heyes looked concerned about that. Was it because he didn't know these people or he was forbidden from touching a gun? I'd try and ask him later.
While we were all thinkin' about what Frank said, he continued talking as ideas popped into his head. "Lom, a couple of my older nephews who are good with their guns, Brian and Scott, can stay here with you. If any one of the McWinters escape, they do know where the Currys live."
I nodded. I preferred staying at the ranch. Her death is so recent at times I get overcome with grief. She seems close to me here. I didn't want to admit that to them. "Rather go, but I can keep things here looking normal…except the blacksmith shop. And be alert for anything. Only need one of your nephews to help me, Frank."
Everyone was quiet until Heyes sat down at the head of the table with pen and paper. "Kid, Ken, Karl, Frank, Jeff, Crenshaw, Juan, Colin, and Dr. Arden," he said out loud as he wrote. "Might be enough…" Heyes said, tapping his pencil on the paper.
"And Rudy, Paul," Juan added.
The Kid took the time to look him in the eyes. Chrissy had given Juan the amnesty papers for his father. I don't know what she said, but it looked like they had cried together as they talked. Neither the Kid nor Frank would tell me how it went with the governor except to say that Jose was awarded amnesty and all the wanted posters would be voided. I was curious, but it was clear they weren't going to discuss it. Juan asked for some time off starting tomorrow to go home for a few days. I knew the Kid wanted him to think about it before any of the Ortiz family helped on the twenty-fifth.
The Kid explained, "Juan, these are the same boys you went to school with, played with, grew up with. You know them. This might be very hard. Can't have you freeze even for a second out of friendship."
I could tell he thought about what the Kid had said before he answered, "These men are not those same boys. They've changed. Mark always had a touch of wickedness. Now it's become evil and spread through all of them. These men beat up my mother. They're nothing but killers. I'll be there in Brown River a day early."
HEYES
I stayed up late trying to figure out where to place each of the Kid's 'Good Guy Gang' in Brown River. I know he said we were both the leaders but he was just being nice. This is his gang. I wasn't sure what kind of shots any of them were except for the Kid and the marshals. I can't sleep. So, I walk the house and check that all the doors are locked, and the windows are closed. Martha and Michael are fast asleep. I put an extra blanket over each of them. Joe watched me from his spot on the rug. I took a blanket and threw it on the floor for him. He pawed it, then turned around three times before settling down on it.
The third bedroom upstairs is still empty. Mostly it is a room that collects miscellaneous stuff. The windows are closed and locked. Mrs. Clark is staying in Chrissy's old room, the one Lily used. I wouldn't dare open her door. In this house you don't enter a bedroom unless invited, except the twin's room. Chrissy told me it's good I check on them.
ASJ*****ASJ
The priest did a nice job with Lily's funeral and obviously had gotten some stories from Lom to tell to make it more personal. After he rushed through the Kid's wedding ceremony I didn't know what to expect. I liked Lily and she took good care of the twins. He didn't mention that though.
Everyone was sad. Lom did a short reading and spoke a few words. The whole time he fought tears and broke down twice. Everyone just sat quietly and waited for him to compass himself until Mrs. Clark stood up and went up on the altar next to Lom. "If you don't mind, Sheriff Trevors, I'd like to say something about the best friend I ever had."
I didn't cry until I looked at the twins. They don't really understand death. I wish I didn't. I've seen too much. But the twins were crying. Martha was standing on the seat holding Chrissy's arm tight. Michael was standing between the Kid and me, crying and chewing on the ear of his stuffed doggie. I tried to stop him. He needs Doggie to cuddle when he falls asleep. If he chews on it, the stuffing might come out. Instead of stopping, he held out his arms for me to pick him up. That was usually the Kid's job. But he's staring forward, eyes fixed on Lily's coffin, standing still and straight.
So I picked up Michael. He buried his head in my shoulder, crying. "Pa says big boys can cry," he whispered near my ear. I didn't know how to answer. Flashes of our uncontrollable tears on the day our families were killed, filled my mind and my tears joined Michael's. Through my tears, I whispered back, "Of course they do."
ASJ*****ASJ
Lom and Juan both left right after Lily's service and burial. I went with the Kid to watch him practice shooting. He had invited Frank and Ken to join him. I knew it was so I could evaluate where they would be most useful, but he told them they needed to be in top form. Maybe it was a bit of both.
No one was there when we got there. The Kid is as fast and as accurate as ever. He was shooting a second round of cans off of the fence when Ken spoke behind us.
"Impressive! I don't think I ever saw anyone that fast. All reports of your speed are correct," Ken said in awe. "Glad I never had to face you."
The Kid was embarrassed. "Always shot to disarm, not kill. Need to stay fast to protect my family."
Ken smiled. He's been with us long enough to know that the Kid doesn't take compliments well. "Well, I came here to practice. Got room for me?"
I was impressed with Ken's speed. "Your brother as fast as you?" the Kid asked.
He smiled. "Requirement of the job."
The Kid held out his hand. "Never got to thank you for all the help you're giving us around here. I appreciate it."
"I enjoy horse ranching. And you don't have to thank me. It's my job and a nice break from some of the harsher parts of my job."
Frank arrived with his nephew, Jeff, and Mr. Crenshaw. The two Birdes proved to be very good shots with guns and rifles and Crenshaw was adequate with his Colt. This made my planning easier. I knew that Juan could handle a gun with some skill but preferred his knife. He'd proved his skill with a knife against Dr. Lewis. Colin and Dr. Arden were worthless with weapons, but I hoped they could look intimidating holding them or be effective as diversions. I hoped we wouldn't need Dr. Arden's medical skills.
What I don't know is how many men Mark will be bringing. Reading about other bank robberies in towns of this size, I'm guessing it will be the four McWinter brothers, Mark, Matt, Johnny and Bobby Bell and two or three other members of the gang. But my plan will work even if they bring five.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I talked to Juan before he left for home. I apologized. Told him I wasn't sure I had the right to go and ask the governor for his pa's amnesty. He didn't care. He was just thankful. I hope Jose sees it that way.
Without Juan, me and Heyes spent time helpin' Ken with the horses and the ranch, but today I had a lot of repairs to finish up in the blacksmith shop. With the shorter days, I finish earlier. Tonight it's almost dark before I got up to the stable. I know where to find Chrissy. She's taken to sittin' with the twins in Autumn's Sweetheart's stall each night waitin' for me. She ordered readers from the new mercantile and she works with them every night. I thought they were too young to learn to read until Heyes reminded me his ma taught him when he was that age.
"Jed, come here," she called, when I walked into the stable. "Work to do." She sent the twins into the kitchen to find Mrs. Clark. Felt good as they each smiled and said, "Hi, Pa," as they ran by. They seem to run everywhere.
"What do you need done, darlin'?"
"Autumn's Sweetheart foal soon, maybe tonight. Clean stall, get straw, lots of straw for bedding, clean water."
"How do we help? Haven't seen a foal born since I was a little boy."
"No help. Watch, very quiet. She knows what to do." I caught her excitement.
"Alright then. Can I move her into the next stall while I clean hers?"
Chrissy looked at our mare. "She restless, pace in circles, getting ready. Move her but clean quick and a lot of straw, new straw."
I cleaned her stall thoroughly while Chrissy went into the house and helped Mrs. Clark give our kids dinner. They ran out to hug me goodnight before goin' upstairs, excited that Uncle Heyes was gonna read their bedtime story tonight.
Chrissy joined me and we sat on the hay outside the stall, held hands and watched very quietly. "No disturb," Chrissy had warned me. "Help if need."
Heyes joined us, motionin' that the twins were asleep. This new life on our ranch was excitin'. It felt like a confirmation of our new life here, a new beginnin' for all of us.
Autumn's Sweetheart had just laid onto her side, when I heard footsteps and a loud 'Shh, be quiet," from Michael. I stood up and put my finger to my lips and motioned them out of the stable.
"But Papa…" Martha looked at me with pleadin' green eyes that had my heart. "We just want to be with you and Ma and Uncle Heyes and watch and…."
"We'll be real quiet," added Michael, sincerity in his blue eyes.
I thought of all the years I had missed with them and my heart hurt. I picked one up in each arm and carried them into the stable. Chrissy looked mad so I handed Martha to Heyes and kept Michael on my lap. I put my finger to my lips to remind them to be quiet. They did the same.
By the time the foal was born, they were both asleep. Chrissy had kept close watch on Autumn's Sweetheart lookin' for any sign of difficulty. But she had been right, our mare knew what to do. It was dauntin' watchin' this new life comin' into the world. And I thought of all the pregnant mares we had sent back to their owners. Soon the first of them should start to deliver.
Once Autumn's Sweetheart started nuzzling' and lickin' her baby, Chrissy waved us out of the stable. Heyes and I carried our babies into the house. It was late, but Mrs. Clark was sittin' by the fire in the livin' room, readin'.
"There's hot coff... Well, how did those little scamps get out to the stable? I've been sitting here all night!"
I shrugged my shoulders as we took them upstairs and laid them down. Joe was nowhere to be seen but we heard him barkin' and diggin' at the door of me and Chrissy's room. I opened the door, and he immediately ran into the twin's room and stood by their window. It was open, the curtain blowin'. My heart leaped in fear. This is the second story. How did they get down? What if they had fallen and we didn't hear because we were in the barn?
I could tell Heyes was thinkin' the same thing. He picked up a lamp, went to the window and climbed out. At first, I just stuck my head out but soon followed onto the roof over the livin' room. I watched him search all around the edge. He stopped suddenly and waved me over. The top of the livin' room window was less than a foot below us and about five inches wide. He tentatively put one foot on the top of it, then the other. Heyes moved to the end of the window and stepped a few inches to the top of the front door, then back to the bottom of the window, and moved to the opposite end of the window. From there he moved his foot to the porch railin' and from there to the ground. I followed. None of the steps had been large to us, but to a five-year-old they were. And I couldn't imagine how they ever made the last step from the railin' to the ground without getting' hurt. But Heyes showed me where one of Chrissy's porch flower pots had been broken and I saw a small shoe print in its dirt.
We went into the house,startling Mrs. Clark.
"Why, oh my! You found out how they got out, did you?" she asked while offerin' us the two cups of hot coffee she had poured. "I made tea. Should I take a cup out to Chrissy? Is the horse alright?"
"They climbed out the window. Can you imagine that? Need to have a talk with them tomorrow."
"I remember another little boy who did the same thing in the middle of the night to go visit his cousin," Heyes reminded me. "Like father, like children."
Couldn't help but smile at the memory Heyes had brought to my mind as I took Chrissy the tea and she welcomed it. "Colt, strong," she told me.
"What shall we name him?" I asked, sittin' down on the bale of hay with her, amazed that Autumn's Sweetheart was back on her feet and tryin' to help her baby nurse.
"Careful Autumn's Sweetheart protective of colt. Could be mean. I name?"
I'm always pleased when she refers to herself as I. It has been happenin' more and more lately. "Sure, darlin', whatever you want to call him."
"I name colt and ranch?"
"As long as it's not the Curry Ranch."
"Curry Ranch good name but no. Name of ranch is Phoenix."
"That the bird that dies and rises from the ashes?" I asked.
"Yes, like us, all three of us."
I was immediately thinkin' of what our brand could look like. "Phoenix it is. And the colt?"
"Poseidon's Winter, god of sea and horses?" she said quietly. It was a question rather than a statement.
"Poseidon's Winter, I like it. Mythological horse names for The Phoenix foals and a remembrance of Winter's Refuge where they came from."
"And Old Cummings Road now Curry Road," she said not lookin' at me.
"Aww, darlin', Curry's not a name I'm proud of."
"I proud Curry. Jed very good man."
LOM
I got back to Three Birds on the twenty third and brought Rudy with me. When he heard what we were doing, I couldn't keep him away. He even said he was going to quit if I didn't let him come. When we turned up Old Cummings Road, there was a new road sign saying 'Curry Road'. "About time," I thought.
The Kid and Heyes were in the smithy busy with people picking up the horses the Kid had shoed that day. It was busy because he had hung a sign saying it would be closed for four days. When I found this place, I was told there was no blacksmith within twenty-five miles. Turns out it was more than that, unless you count the man that only makes railroad ties in a town about sixteen miles from here. Says he has a government contract and all the work he can handle. The Kid is good at his work and word of mouth spread and now folks come a long way. He has all the work he can handle. But he spreads himself thin trying to please everyone. He works here, crafts special pieces at night, works the ranch, and helps every neighbor that asks. And now he's trying to be the best husband and father. He never takes time for himself, except for practicing his shooting.
He came over, hand extended up to shake. "Good to see you, Lom, Rudy."
Rudy nodded. "Came to help in Brown River." He hesitated before adding, "Jed."
It was first time I'd heard him call the Kid anything but Mr. Curry and it produced a warm smile. "Go on up the house. We'll be up when we're finished here."
JED 'KID' CURRY
We're leavin' tomorrow. Lom will be the only one here until Frank's nephew Brian gets here about noon. I hugged my babies so tight before they went to sleep. I couldn't bear to scold them about climbing out their window but I will when I get back. Worries me that they could have gotten hurt. Life is so precious to me now. They'll be going with Chrissy and Mrs Clark to Frank's brother's house. After the others left, Heyes had confided his fears to me.
"Kid, I don't know F-F-Felix B-Birde.'' I knew he was upset because his words were separated by pauses and forced out. "M- Maybe I b-b-better stay here. S-s-send F-F-Frank's nephew with …." He didn't finish his sentence, just waved his hand toward the house.
"Heyes, I know this scares you but I'm scared somethin' gonna happen to my family and there's no one I trust more than you to protect them."
"Can't touch gun, worthless." He looked down at our feet.
"That brain of yours will figure out a way to protect them from anything even without a gun. I trust you more than anyone else. Will you do it for me?"
He looked up and into my eyes and I knew he would do it. "Y-yes."
ASJ*****ASJ
In bed Chrissy sensed my restlessness. She knew our plans to catch her brothers. "Jed sleep. Hard day ahead. Need to be alert. Come home to me."
I took her in my arms and hugged her tight. There was no other place I wanted to be than to have her in my arms with our babies in the next room and Heyes downstairs. This is the family I got strong to protect. And I will protect them.
"I want you to be careful, Jed," Chrissy whispered to me. "Now you have babies."
I smiled in the dark room. "And beautiful babies they are." I kissed her gently.
"Three babies," she told me and took my hand and placed it on her stomach.
I sat upright. 'You're…"
"Yes, you and me we make another beautiful baby."