WINTER'S REFUGE

by Kattayl

Every author writes a Curry and Heyes prison story. This is mine.

130. Winter's Refuge Chapter 130

Winter's Refuge

One Hundred Thirty

HEYES

Didn't take long to get to Ken's house with Mary and Auntie. Ken helped his wife in the house. Just inside the door, she stopped, bent forward, and screamed. I know that scream of pain. I heard it from Miss Denise and Chrissy and my Angie. Still, it unnerves me every time. As soon as Mary could walk again, Ken helped her into their bedroom and onto the bed.

"Out! Out, both of you!" ordered Auntie, pushing us out and closing the door. "Ken, boil water…and get me clean towels and rags."

Mary's screams got closer, and Ken's pacing got faster. Each time he walked past their bedroom, he stopped outside the door and listened, hand on the doorknob. Each time he decided to do as Auntie had told us and stay out.

I told him the same thing the Kid told me. "Women have been having babies since Adam and Eve, Ken. She'll be alright."

It seemed like no time until Dr Arden and Miss Denise arrived in their buggy. We heard them coming and Ken had the door opened wide for them. And I pointed them at the closed door of the bedroom just as we heard a loud scream from Mary…and a baby's small wail.

"The boiling water, Heyes, now!" Auntie stuck her head out and the doctor and this wife rushed in.

Me and Ken each carried a pot of boiling water to the now open bedroom door.

"Congratulations, Ken, you have a healthy son." Dr. Arden was smiling, watching Mary laying on the bed, the baby beside her in her arms.

Miss Denise gently placed the baby in Ken's arms. I now know how that feels now. There's no other feeling like it. And no other weight of responsibility like being a pa.

"Kenneth William Josephs Jr," Ken whispered, lost in the euphoria of fatherhood.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I had their attention, but Rocky was too scared to move. "Well, looky here. Seems like this blacksmith thinks he can fight all three of us at once." The others laughed.

I realized I was still wearin' my blacksmithin' apron. I figured the one who talked was the leader. I focused on him but kept the other two in sight tryin' to decide how I was goin' to do this. In prison, I took on three men at one time and won, but guns weren't involved, just fists and shivs.

I studied these men threatenin' Rocky. Their hair was short, very short, as if they had been shaved bald within the last week. I know that haircut, it's a prison haircut. We don't get much news here at Phoenix, but I don't think they were let out. I think they escaped. I didn't lower my gun.

"We're leavin' with the boy unless you're plannin' on takin' on all three of us." The same man talked. All three laughed again. I didn't allow any emotion on my face. I judged these men to be about my age. The one on my left had steps that were small like he hadn't thrown off the feel of shackles yet.

"That's just what I plan to do," I said steadily.

"Who do you think you are, Kid Curry?"

I heard movement near me. Were there four? Had I missed one?

"That's exactly who he is and I'm Hannibal Heyes." Heyes emerged from behind a tree, his Schofield pointin' at the men. He used his menacin' outlaw leader voice. "Long time no see, Victor."

Heyes knew one of them. I studied them closer, but they were unfamiliar. But Heyes explained. "CONVICT Victor was in my cell block at the Wyoming Territorial Prison. Had a few fights when they let me into general population. Watch out, he fights dirty." Heyes grinned. I know that grin, he wasn't bein' funny; he was feelin' snarly. "How many of those fights did you win, Victor?"

Rocky had finally understood that he could move. All the men were facin' us, not him. But Rocky didn't run. He picked up a rock and moved silently to near the back of the closest man. He held the rock up high and looked at me. I just barely nodded, and the rock came down knockin' the man unconscious.

The other two went for their guns, which I promptly shot out of their hands. The guns fell to the ground. Rocky scooted around them but stopped when he bent to pick up the firearms. Touchin' a gun violates his parole and he knows it. So does Heyes and he moved faster than I'd seen him move since we were runnin' from lawmen. He kicked away the gun closest to him.

But the leader, Victor, used Rocky's hesitation over the gun to grab him with an arm around his neck. He pulled a knife from his waist. He backed away from us, draggin' the boy with him. "If he ain't walkin' away with me, I'll use this knife on his neck. Drop the gun, Curry…Now!"

I raised my hands still holdin' the gun.

"I said drop the gun." He turned his attention to Heyes. "And you stop movin'."

I saw a light line of blood on Rocky's neck, but I saw somethin' else too. A fightin' defiance in his eyes. He glanced at his boots quickly. I knew what he was gonna do.

I took a chance. "NOW!"

Rocky lifted his boot and brought it down hard on his captor's instep. The man yelped and Rocky pushed forward. I shot the man's hand, and he dropped the knife in pain. Heyes moved behind him and pushed his gun in his back.

Quickly, I turned to the other man who'd been reachin' for the gun Heyes had kicked away. "Wouldn't move if I were you," I snarled.

"No, sir, Mr. Curry. I mean yes, I ain't movin' nothin'." This man was definitely a follower.

"Rocky, get some rope from the shop and tie them up…includin' the one you hit on the head over there."

"Yes, sir…er, Mr. Curry." Rocky was shakin' but runnin' to the shop let him get under control. Today I saw how young he really was…probably what Matt had seen in him in prison. And he saw the outlaw Kid Curry I'm tryin' not to be.

"Heyes, certainly glad to see you back so soon but..."

HEYES

I smiled. "Mary had her baby already. Doctor Arden just barely arrived and there he was."

"He?"

"Kenneth Williams Josephs Jr. Both ma and baby are doing good."

The Kid smiled and pointed to the three men tied up in front of us. "What should we do with them?" he asked.

The idea of returning anyone to prison turned my stomach. And I know the Kid must feel the same. But that's not what his face is showing. He's angry. In prison, I learned to bury my emotions, especially anger. Shows of anger at a guard resulted in hits from the billy club or lashes. But now I'm allowed to feel emotions again. The joy at Nettie's birth and now anger at these men who came for Rocky…and almost ended up cutting his neck.

"Can you watch them by yourself?" I asked the Kid, who looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. "Dumb question. I'll go get Sheriff Birde."

JED 'KID' CURRY

I had Rocky gag the three men and then go to the house and tell Chrissy everythin' was alright. I knew she heard the gunshots. Learned he was met at our front door by Juan's gun. They'd heard the gunfire, and he was ready to defend my wife and babies. Good man, Juan Ortiz.

I holstered my gun but kept my eyes on the three. I was convinced by now that they somehow escaped from the prison. I'm not sure how. That place is a fortress. Not even sure that they'll survive if they go back there. They have ways of killin' a prisoner - first breakin' his spirit, then his breakin' his body before takin' his life. But I decided I don't care. They came on my property and almost killed Rocky. And Rocky is family.

ASJ*****ASJ

"Aiden, she's always tired. I know you told me every pregnancy is unique and it's harder to carry twins. What can I do to help her," I asked the doctor as he examined my wife in our room.

"Let her rest when she wants, take care of her, and love her. She's been through this before…"

"In prison," I added.

"Yes, in prison. At one time I requested her file from the Colorado prison. The entries are sketchy, but the doctor seemed to care for her the best he could. She was fatigued then, too, but forced to work in the garden." Aiden stopped and looked at Chrissy.

She reached for my hand and nodded.

"I'm sorry, darlin', if I had known…"

"I'd still have been in prison. But Doctor right, always tired then but forced to work. So hard to have twins, not like Joy or Ruth Ann." She purposely dropped my hand and looked away from me. Lookin' down she added, "Chrissy almost died. Had good doctor."

"What?" I'd never heard this. Alarm set in as I realized I almost lost my family before I even knew I had one. I lost my words…now I know how helpless Heyes must feel when that happens. I sat on the bed beside my wife and took her in my arms and held on tight. I buried my head in her hair and wanted to keep her safe in my arms forever. But I can't. Slowly I let go and gave her a gentle kiss.

I folded my hands because I realized they were shakin'. Breathless, I found the words to say, "I never knew. I never knew. Chrissy, I'm so sorry you went through that because of me. Aiden, what can I do?" I repeated.

"Just what you have been doing. She's healthy and everything looks good to me." Aiden smiled at his patient. "You're a strong-willed woman, Miss Chrissy."

She laughed and looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. "Good! Jed Curry needs a strong-willed Chrissy."

ASJ****ASJ

With everything goin' on, we never got the chance to sit down with Michael and Martha and tell them our past. But it came to an ugly head two days before Heyes took Sam to Denver, so it will be tonight, or I will lose my son. He's been sullen the last few days. I thought he was just tired. Auntie thought he was comin' down with somethin' and sent him to bed early with a dose of castor oil. But today when I picked them up from school, his real problem came out.

"Hi! How was school today?" I asked, as I walked into Aiden's medical office. Martha was at the front desk writin' somethin' that I hoped was her homework, but I didn't see her brother.

Martha was all smiles and hugs. "Hi, Papa! Mike's helping Dr. Arden wrap a sore ankle. He's really good at it now."

"Mike?"

"That's the name he likes, Papa. Didn't you listen at the dinner table last week when he told us all?"

I was saved from answerin' when Miss Denise came out from the back dryin' her hands. "They're done. Mike should be out in a minute."

"Mike. Does everyone call him that now?" I asked, upset with myself that I hadn't listened to my son.

"Mike, your pa is here and ready to go," called Miss Denise.

Michael, no Mike, emerged from the doctor's office, schoolbooks in hand. He walked right by me without sayin' anything and climbed into the back of the wagon. I was disappointed. When it's just the three of us, one usually sits on either side of me on the driver's bench.

"Come on, Mike, sit up here with me and Martha," I told him.

"Fine back here, sir," he snarled.

He has never in his life called me sir and I wasn't gonna have it now. I looked over the side of the wagon at him. "Young man, just what is your problem?" I didn't yell and I didn't say it with anger, more frustration. In return, I got an eight-year old's version of Heyes' outlaw leader's stern face. I almost laughed; it was so cute. But Michael...Mike was dead serious, so I was, too.

We stared at each other for a second. I've had far more experience at this, so he looked away first.

"Now what's wrong with you lately?"

I saw hurt and anger flash in his eyes. "Why don't you tell me, tell us, what's wrong with us that when we were little you dumped Martha and me in the middle of nowhere with Aunt Lily and Auntie? Don't see you doing that with Joy or Ruth Anne. How could you do that? Don't you love us?" Tears filled his eyes, and I could see his sister was cryin', too.

I pulled them into a hug. They didn't struggle but they didn't hug back either. "I'm sorry, so sorry. Should have told you about all that sooner. But tonight, I promise, you'll have your answers."

HEYES

The Kid found me working on the books in my little office sanctuary in the stable.

"Heyes, we need to have that talk with the twins tonight."

I waited for him to continue.

He closed the door and now sat down, head in hands. I know him well enough to know he was hiding tears. "Mike asked why he and Martha were dumped in the middle of nowhere with Aunt Lily and Auntie when they were babies. Asked if we loved them. Heyes, I need your silver tongue to explain to them. I'll mess it up and this is one thing that has to be said perfectly."

I was shocked, but then we'd been planning on having this talk for a long time. "My tongue hasn't been silver for a lot of years, but we'll do it together. I'll take the lead and we'll see where it goes," I answered, already starting to plan what I was going to say to these two children I loved as if they were my own.

When the Kid looked up, I could see despair in his eyes. "Failed them in this, too. And now they'll know just what their pa really is."

"You didn't fail them. Their pa is the best man I know, and I'll make sure they know it." I told him firmly. "Chrissy and Angie need to be there, too. And Auntie. Do you mind if we include Sam?"

The Kid smiled. "Sam's your son, family. He deserves to be there although I think he's discovered a lot about our past on his own."

I needed to be the strong one here, but not sure how strong I can be. "Tonight after dinner in the living room. Family meeting."

ASJ*****ASJ

Angie was resting but I need to be with her right now. I need her love, reassurance, and level-headed guidance. I laid down beside her and put my arm over her. She made a happy sound and cuddled back into me. I moved her hair aside and kissed her neck. She giggled.

"Heyes, I was trying to sleep while Nettie is asleep."

"Got something I need to talk through with you. You up to it?"

I think she heard the urgency in my voice. She sat up and leaned against the headboard. I did the same. She reached out and held my hand. "Well, Mr. Heyes, what is so important that you wake your wife from her dreams?"

I chuckled. "This time it's important. Need your help." It's these quiet times, just the two of us, holding hands, talking, that I've come to cherish. We often lay in bed after being intimate and whisper our hopes and fears to each other. We stopped for a few days after Nettie was born but after a week, I crawled into our bed behind her and reached my arm over her. But I felt her stiffen.

"Sweetie, what's wrong? Just want to be close to you."

She didn't answer but I could tell she was crying. I've learned that women can be very, very emotional after giving birth. I pulled her close to me, but she moved away. Sitting up, I turned her to face me. "Angie, have I done something wrong?"

Tears flowed again. 'No, you've been wonderful. Everyone's been wonderful. But I'm such a disappointment!"

"You? Never. Me? Probably a lot."

I did get a small smile. "I'm sorry I won't have any more babies," she said fast all in one breath and then turned away from me again.

"Is that all?" I answered, but it was the wrong thing to say, and her sobbing started again.

"It's everything. I know you want a big family, and I can't give it to you."

"You've given me a son and a daughter and you're healthy and recovering. What more could a man want?"

She stopped crying to search my face to see if I was telling the truth. I can't hide my emotions like I used to and never from her or the Kid. "You're serious?"

"With all my heart. I love you and Nettie and Sam. In prison, never thought I'd live to have a family…and a wife who has captured my heart completely."

After that, we talked every night again. Phoenix is our forever home. I know the Kid and Chrissy feel the same. This afternoon, the talk is about me and the Kid's past and how and how much to tell Michael and Martha. "Did you know he wants to be called Mike now?" I asked her.

"Of course, he told us all at dinner one night. He also said that Auntie could keep calling him Michael if she wanted. 'Course, you and Jed and Juan were arguing about when to saddle break Posie and Callie."

I told her what Mike had said to the Kid. I didn't say how much the words had hurt Kid. We talked for an hour about what to say and how and what to leave out unless questions were asked. She gave me confidence in myself and assured me my words would all be there when I needed them.

JED 'KID' CURRY

After talkin' with Heyes, I went upstairs and sat with Chrissy. I told her what Michael…Mike said and about the family meetin' after dinner.

"Now they're going to know what a failure I was locked up in prison and didn't even know I was a pa. Couldn't have done anything to get you out of prison if I tried."

"Jed good man, good pa. They'll know their ma a whore," she said very sadly.

"We won't tell them what happened to you in prison."

"Not prison. Winter's Refuge. Slept with you, not married."

"That was my fault, not yours. But you wore my promise ring." I picked up her hand and looked at the simple wooden ring I had made her. "You still do."

She fingered the ring on her hand and echoed, "Still do. Always will."

"Heyes says his silver tongue is rusty but ready and he won't tell them anything they're not old enough to understand, unless they ask questions. If he does it right, they won't."

ASJ*****ASJ

Dinner was quieter than normal. Even Arnie and Rocky, who wouldn't be at our family meetin' afterward, picked up on it and were nervous. They finished quickly and excused themselves before dessert pleadin' work to do. Heyes picked at his food, and I ate everything put on my plate. It was a treat to have Chrissy eat dinner downstairs with us. I hope that the strain of this discussion won't upset her.

Auntie, Angie, and Chrissy made strained small talk about the food, Nettie, and the rain that looked like it was comin'.

After Arnie and Rocky left, Martha spoke up. "I think Joy, Ruth Ann, and Nettie should attend this meeting, too. They're a part of this family."

"Good," said Chrissy.

"I'll get Nettie," added Angie.

"Okay, let's be comfortable in the living room," Heyes directed us.

Nervous, I picked up Joy as Heyes picked up Ruth Ann and put her on his shoulders for the short ride into the livin' room. She screamed happily. When he brought her down into his arms, she kissed his check and signed "Good" over and over. Chrissy was settled into the overstuffed, comfortable chair to the left of the fireplace. Heyes handed Ruth Ann to her as Angie returned and settled into the chair on the other side of the fireplace. I wasn't sure where to sit. Auntie sat on the end of the couch near Angie. I looked at Heyes. He caught my eyes and nodded. From his eyes, he thinks all of this will go well. He pulled two chairs over from the kitchen. He sat in one and motioned Sam to the other.

Heyes

"Kid, sit on the couch with Joy. Mike, Martie, sit on either side of your pa."

Martha looked at me with a little grin in her eyes. "Martie?"

"Isn't that what Mike and your friends at school call you?" I was taking a calculated chance here. Angie had advised me to start this way and it worked.

"Yes! You must have heard Mike talking to me. I do like Martie."

I winked at the Kid. Angie was right, it was a good way to start.

"Okay, I'll start. First, Mike, your ma and pa didn't dump you in the middle of nowhere with Aunt Lily and Auntie. Sheriff Trevors hid you there, giving you the gift of growing up without people staring or reporters."

The confused looks on their faces told me I had shaken up their ideas of what happened and that's exactly what I wanted to do.

"I'll start at the beginning. Your pa and ma met when she came riding into Devil's Hole to find her brothers."

Me and Angie had decided that the twins knew we were outlaws. We don't hide it and the people in Three Birds all knew…and kids repeat what their parents say to other kids. We were right, not one question about us being in Devil's Hole.

"You mean like the Uncle Matt you go and visit. Does he still live there?" Martie asked, giving me a funny look.

"No, and he didn't live there then. The boys ran away when their ma died and thought they'd join our gang. Your ma came to take them home."

Confused, Mike asked, "I thought no one could ever find Devil's Hole."

"Your brothers didn't find our camp, but they found the entrance to Devils Hole. And your ma rode right up to the leader's cabin ready to fight to take them home."

"Ma, you did that?"

Suddenly bashful, Chrissy blushed and nodded. "Met your pa and fell in love."

"You stayed there?" Auntie asked.

"No, I took my brothers back home to Winter's Refuge…and never told Jed I had fallen in love. Your pa had lots of girls."

The Kid was uncomfortable, but with Joy on his lap he couldn't squirm. She knew this was important and was watching whoever was talking, but she didn't understand what we were saying. She just liked being with all of us.

Mike looked at the Kid. "Pa, you had lots of girlfriends?"

He nodded and was glad when Martie didn't give him time to answer.

"You lived at Winter's Refuge, Ma?" she asked.

I looked at Angie. We hadn't anticipated this question. Thank goodness Chrissy answered. "My ma and pa started Winter's Refuge with Juan's ma and pa. Our horses come from there, but I gave Winter's Refuge to the Ortiz family. We have Phoenix. Phoenix our home."

They seemed satisfied with that, so I went on before they asked any more questions.

"Me and your pa decided to stop being outlaws and tried to prove we could be good, honest citizens. The governor said he'd give us amnesty if we were good."

"Governor Sanderson?" Mike asked.

"No, at least four governors before him." I took a deep breath and looked at the Kid. It was hard explaining this part to two eight-year-olds. Don't know how much they understood.

Martie looked at me. "Sheriff Frank and Doctor Arden say pa is the best man they ever met," she said.

"I agree. None better," I told them with a smile.

"Uncle Heyes, how did ma and pa get together again?" Martie was listening to every word I said.

"Well, one night when we were trying to show the governor how good we could be, the Kid saved my life but got shot up real bad. There was no doctor in that town, so I put him in a wagon to go to the next town. But I didn't think he was going to make it."

"Pa, you been shot?" Mike asked in alarm.

The Kid just nodded his head, but I could see the questions forming in his son's mind, so I got back to the story.

"So, he was bleeding lots and I was worried when suddenly I remembered the directions to Winter's Refuge that Chrissy…er, your ma gave me a couple of years before. I took a chance and took him there."

"You found the ranch," Mike said relieved.

"Yes, and your ma and Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz and the doctor saved your pa's life. We stayed there a while and let him recover. And your ma and pa really fell in love. Neither one of them has looked at anyone since. The Kid even made that wooden ring she still wears. He gave it to her the day we left."

Martie went over to her ma and twirled the ring on her finger. "That why you wear this one and not the fancy one pa made for you?"

Chrissy nodded, giving the Kid a sweet smile. They are still just as in love as they were that day we left Winter's Refuge. Ruth Ann had fallen asleep, and Auntie took the baby and cuddled her. Chrissy readjusted herself in the chair.

"Well, me and your pa went mining to stay out of trouble. See, even though the governor said he'd give us amnesty if we were good, we were still wanted."

"We've seen your wanted posters," Mike said. "And one for ma, too. Was she an outlaw, too?"

His questions surprised me. I didn't have an answer for this.

Auntie spoke up, "Where did you see the posters, Michael?"

"The Robinson boys brought them to school," Sam said quickly. "I tried to keep them away from the twins, but I guess they saw them…sorry. I saw the one for my pa…my birth pa once. It's not a good feeling."

The Kid turned and looked Mike in the eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, son?"

"If you wanted us to know, you would have told us. Go on with the story, Uncle."

"Well, we didn't know, but when we left Winter's Refuge, the law arrested your ma."

"Why?" both twins said together.

"They said she did something called aiding and abetting a criminal. That means she helped us and that's against the law," I explained.

"Did you come save her, Pa?"

Sadly, he shook his head. I can feel the regret that still tortures him. "Didn't know. We didn't see nobody. We were minin' way up in the mountains."

"Oh!"

"When we came down from the mountains, the lawmen arrested us, and we went to prison. Never knew anything about your ma being arrested," I continued. This part was tricky. I needed to tell them enough, but not enough to give them nightmares…or make them ashamed of their parents.

"Did you go to the prison where Uncle Matt is?" Mike asked. How did these two know so much and yet never said anything?

Angie had been my courage during this whole conversation. She knew I'd lost my words for a moment. "Well, your uncle did and your pa went to the prison in Arizona."

No one asked how they knew, but I'm going to remember that little ears hear things they shouldn't and be careful going forward.

"That was mean," said Martie, stamping her foot. And that innocent act made me grin and I knew what to say.

"We thought it was mean, too." I looked at Chrissy. "And your ma was sent to prison in Colorado."

I heard them gasp. "But she didn't do anything wrong."

"Well, the law said she'd helped me and your pa, and she did. But also, they wanted to know where Devils Hole was because they found out she'd been there, but she wouldn't tell them because her brothers were there."

Curious, Mike looked at Chrissy. "Uncle Matt and who?"

The Kid listened most of the time, saying little. But he answered now. "Uncle Matt and Uncle Luke. He lives in California now. He got amnesty like we wanted."

"Uncle Luke," Martha repeated. "What does he do in California? Can we go visit him?"

Chrissy moved around again in her chair. This was a long time for her to be sitting up. Sam saw and brought a footstool for her. "Thank you, Sam. Maybe someday we can visit Luke. He's a priest."

"A priest?" This time it was Angie's turn to be surprised.

Mike and Martie were talking quietly. "So, all three of you were in different prisons. Did you get to write to each other?"

I shook my head. "Me and your pa didn't even know your ma was arrested, much less in prison. Sheriff Lom Trevors helped her."

"Good man, Lom," Chrissy inserted.

"When your ma was arrested, she was with child." I had practiced stating this matter of factly, without emotion.

"With us?" Martie asked.

Chrissy answered, "Yes, with you two, but your pa and uncle never knew. Lom helped me. You were born in the prison there and stayed with me until you turned one. The newspaper reporters all wanted to see you because of who your pa was. Even in prison, they wanted to come interview me. And I refused. And your pa always made some people mad when he was an outlaw. Lom thought they might try and hurt you. So, on your first birthday, he took the two of you and brought you to his sister to raise."

"Aunt Lily was Sheriff Trevors' sister?"

Auntie smiled. "She was and a fine lady she was, too. I came to live with her, and we raised you until your parents could take care of you."

The twins can communicate with looks just like me and the Kid and they were doing it now. I wondered what question was coming next.

"Pa, when did you find out about us?" asked Mike. I heard the challenge in his voice. Not many people dare challenge the Kid on anything.

"When I got out of prison. You were five years old," the Kid answered. Holding Joy close in one arm, he turned and used the other arm to hug his twins. I could see he was near tears.

His daughter cuddled against him. "We were five years old when we came here."

But Mike squirmed away. "Did you want us?"

"From the moment I found out I was a pa, I've loved you more than life."

Knowing I had to say something or the Kid would really cry, I said, "So, you see, you were never dumped anywhere. You were hidden for your own protection and raised by two ladies who loved you."

Auntie was crying. "Couldn't love you more if you were my own grandchildren."

Except for some sniffles, everyone was quiet until Chrissy said, "Good. Now you know. Jed, help me to bed, please." I took Joy, now sleeping, from the Kid. There's nothing closer to God than a baby sleeping in your arms.

Reaching her arms out, the Kid helped Chrissy struggle from the deep chair. She turned to the twins. "Mike and Martie okay for friends. At home you Michael and Martha. Martha, like my ma."

"I'm named after your ma?" Martha exclaimed. "Never knew that. Martha at home it is."

HEYES

Early one morning, I couldn't sleep, and neither could my sweet daughter, so we cuddled in one of the overstuffed chairs by a fire in the living room. This time is so precious to me. Aiden believes in breastfeeding with some bottles, too, so the pas can be involved. I know that's not a popular opinion, but it works well for the Curry-Heyes clan. I still can't believe what a woman goes through to have a baby. Angie's my hero. And Nettie is our new love. We marvel at every thing she does.

"Well, Ruth Ann, it looks like someone else had the same idea we did." The Kid turned his baby so she could see us as they entered the room. She immediately signed 'baby' and the Kid nodded yes.

They settled in the matching chair on the other side of the fireplace. After a minute, he caught my eye and smiled. I know what he's thinking; what did we ever do right to do this? I cherish every minute with each one.

But I saw something else in his eyes, too. "Kid, something wrong? I saw the doctor was here yesterday. Chrissy alright?"

"Papa, Papa," Ruth Ann signed and said, and the Kid beamed and tickled her. Angie's been working on the signs and speaking with her again. I think they both enjoy it.

The Kid laid his daughter back and rocked her gently. When she couldn't hold her eyes open any longer, she cuddled into him and slept. Only then did he talk. His voice was low as he watched the fire. "Chrissy told me yesterday that she almost died havin' the twins. And Aiden confirmed it. I can't lose her, Heyes. I can't."

I heard the despair in his voice. He'd seen how losin' Miss Susan had sent Lom to drink. I need to be the sensible one here. "What did Dr. Arden say about this time?" I asked, hoping that was the right thing to say.

"That it's different this time. She's gettin' all the rest she needs and care and love."

"True, but when she carried Joy and Ruth Ann, she…"

"Heyes, when she carried them, she wasn't carryin' twins."

"Twins?"

The Kid's smile was echoed in the twinkle in his blue eyes. "Yes, twins, but she don't want anyone to know in case somethin' happens. Shouldn't have told you, but then we've always told each other everything."

I thought back. Even when I first came here and couldn't talk or really think straight, the Kid talked to me like he always had, not down to me. Helped me heal.

"I'm sure Chrissy will be fine. She's taking care of herself and we're all helping. And good because I want to tell you something, too. Doctor told us Angie probably can't have any more kids, so you'll have to be the one to grow this family."

The Kid stared into the fire for a long moment and kissed the sleeping baby on her hair. "You have Angie and Nettie and Sam. That's a beautiful family. And you have this Curry-Heyes clan, as the ladies call it."

I nodded.

"And, of course, I expect you both to continue helpin' us raise all the rest of the kids under this roof. Couldn't do it without you."

Soon after that, the Kid and Ruth Ann went back to bed. But I rocked my swaddled daughter and thought. I need to do more. Take some things off the Kid's shoulders so he can spend more time with Chrissy. If she almost died having Michael and Martha, what if… I fought to keep my thoughts from going in that direction.