Winter's Refuge
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Eight
LOM
Don't know what's going on, but Frank didn't waste any time racing out of here with the Kid and Heyes. The man I didn't know held out his hand. "I'm Preston, Frank's deputy." I looked at the men "One of you watch the gate. I'm going to go get my gun."
"I'll watch it," Mike volunteered. "Looks like none of us are armed, though. You might ask Frank's wife if she knows what's going on, the way she rushed into the house."
I found Miss Beverly standing on the porch watching her husband ride away. "You know where they're going?" I asked her quickly.
"I think he recognized the barber," she answered. I didn't wait for more. That's all I needed to know since I saw what direction they went.
"Chrissy, don't ask questions, get everyone inside and keep them there," I told her. She stared at the wall. As I was getting my gun from the back of the bottom drawer in the guest bedroom, I heard her voice.
"Everyone inside now. Please gather around for cake."
"Juan, can use your help," I told him as I passed him on the porch. "Get your gun and join me at the gate."
"Yes, sir," he said, as he headed to his house at a run. He stopped to tell another man I didn't know to join us, too, pointing at the gate.
As soon as I started down to the gate, Mike came running up. "Going to get my gun and circle the back of the house and barn. Any idea what's…?"
"Frank recognized someone here and is heading into town. Bet he thinks the bank is going to be robbed," I said quickly as we went our separate ways.
I relieved Ken at the gate as he hurried to get his gun.
"Buggy's turning onto the road," he said, as he hurried as fast as his limp would let him.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I urged Winter's Glory to go faster through the seldom used trail. I could see the anxiety in the way Heyes sat on Fall's Bells. I wasn't sure why Frank insisted he come instead of one of the other men or his deputy
"F…F…Frank, why m…me?" Heyes finally asked. It's been a long time since he had trouble with his words, but I understood his stress. He can't control this. He couldn't prepare for this. And it needs his attention right now.
"We're going to get there first and be waiting for The Barber in the bank. "You DO still carry your lockpicks with you, don't you? Need you to open the side door of the bank quietly and quickly."
I watched Heyes's body relax a bit, as he nodded yes, then he become alert. "Haven't opened a door that way in years, SHERIFF." We both heard the emphasis on the last word.
"I hereby deputize you both. This time you're on the side of the law," Frank answered.
I used the rest of the time to prepare my mind for what I might have to do. I haven't aimed my gun at a man in a long time and as my pa taught me, don't point a gun at someone unless you're prepared to shoot.
LOM
I watched the buggy approach with my gun drawn, but I hadn't needed to. It carried ex-governor Sanderson, his wife, Miss Tina, and his aide and his nephew, Colin Apperson, was driving. I holstered my gun as they stopped.
"Sheriff Trevors, why the gun?" questioned Sanderson.
"There's been a threat, sir." I hesitated before telling him the whole truth. But this was the governor. He would demand it. "Got wind that someone might try and rob the bank in Three Birds while everyone's out here at the party. Sheriff Birde, Heyes, and the Kid went into town to take care of it. I'm just making sure Phoenix is safe."
"Birde, Jed, and Heyes, three good men. I assume that very few people know what's happening," Sanderson answered. "We won't say anything but let me know if there is any way I can help. Now which way is Miss Chrissy?"
HEYES
Frank said he deputized us, so this is not a trap to get me and the Kid to get caught robbing a bank. I know that. Still, my hand shook as I worked the lock picks to open the bank side door.
We'd left our horses behind the livery so they wouldn't be seen. A memory of Kyle holding our horses in a back alley during bank robberies flashed through my mind. I miss him and even miss Wheat.
I left the door open so light would shine inside the bank. I crave light. I need light. And I watched the Kid draw all the thick curtains until the room was dark except for the open door. I watched him change. He wasn't Jed anymore, he was Kid Curry again in his motions, the defensive way he stood, the way his eyes flicked around the room…and the hardened look on his face.
"Frank, does his wanted posters say how he gains entry into the banks he robs? Does he work alone?" the Kid asked, while measuring his steps across the bank lobby.
"Don't remember, Jed. It's been a while since I read it, but I recognized him from his picture," Frank answered.
I don't know if the Kid heard him. He's reverted into the bank lookout he'd been when we was robbing. "Need that lamp but don't light it until you hear my gun cock," he ordered.
I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or Frank, but I picked up the lamp and the matches next to it.
"Frank, sit right here. I want him to see me before you. Be ready to arrest him. Heyes, get down behind the teller's counter with the lamp. And be ready to light it."
Me and Frank did as he said. When the Kid's eyes become a steely gray, you don't argue with him. He closed the door but didn't lock it and we were surrounded by the black darkness. I heard him take his measured steps to position himself. "Heyes, you alright?" he whispered. "You ain't alone in the dark. I'm only a few steps away."
I closed my eyes for a second to contain my fear, knowing the Kid couldn't see that. "Managing," I answered him.
I heard him take a deep, slow breath. "Won't be long now."
LOM
Mike, Ken, Preston and Juan came down to the gate. Juan introduced the man with him as a ranch hand named Vince. They each came from a different direction, so I knew that they had circled the house, stable and barn. "See anything unusual?" I asked.
"No, everything seems fine," Ken said. "But I must say I admire Miss Chrissy and Miss Beverly. They have the whole lot of party goers in the house and amused. They are really something."
"I've always thought so, too. Now let's set up a perimeter and look for anyone suspicious," I told them.
"Do we know who we are looking for?" Vince asked.
"Your barber, Ernest Fuller. Miss Beverly said the sheriff recognized him. That's all we know. He may have accomplices, or he may be working alone." Loud laughter drifted down from the party. "Only thing for sure is we're missing a good party."
As the men spread out, I saw the front door open, and Dr Aiden walked determinedly toward me. "I saw you men meeting by the gate. What's going on? Where are Jed and Heyes?" he asked.
"In Three Birds to stop a bank robbery," I told him.
Arden nodded slowly. "Jed armed?" he asked.
"Isn't he always?" I answered.
HEYES
I could feel my heart beat as we waited. I worked to calm my nerves. In the back of my mind, I still thought this might be a trap to catch me and the Kid in a crime and send us back to prison. But the Kid trusts Frank…so I will, too. That means Ernest Fuller is a wanted killer that calls himself The Barber. And that makes sense. Me and the Kid have been suspicious about him. Just something about him, the way he watches Curry Road, the way he looks over every customer before he cuts their hair. And the way we know nothing about him or where he lives. Still, the Kid's heart made him agree to renting him the space, telling us, "Every man deserves a chance."
He must be beating himself up now for bringing a murderer onto Phoenix. I heard a slight movement to my left where the Kid was standing. And I changed from thinking to concentrating on where we were and what I needed to do. And then I heard the handle on the back door turn. The movement was slow, calculated. When he finally pulled the door open, the light from outside outlined his frame. And I heard the click from the Kid's gun.
I lit the lamp and put it on the teller's counter. The Kid was pointing his gun at the barber. Frank stood from his chair, "Ernesto Fermetti, you're under arrest. Drop your gun," he said, pointing his gun at the man.
The Kid holstered his gun but assumed his gunfighter stance. He's practiced so much that he's faster at drawing and shooting than most men are just shooting.
Fuller laughed. "Don't think so, Sheriff."
"Drop your gun, Fuller," the Kid growled.
"The great Kid Curry thinks he is fast enough to outdraw me? I don't think so. I listened to you practicing yesterday. You ain't so fast," Fuller answered, taking a stance that mirrored the Kid. "Draw!"
"I don't draw first. Drop your gun and go with the sheriff," the Kid repeated firmly. I can't see his eyes and I don't think I want to. I thought we left this part of our lives behind. He told me to stay where I am, or I would have moved to behind his right shoulder to support him like I always did.
Fuller didn't answer the Kid. He just tried to return the stare. But he looked away, then looked back. I know the Kid saw it in his eyes when he went for his gun. Only then did the Kid draw and fire. I know he was aiming for where he thought Fuller's gun hand would be, but this opponent kept his gun hip high. And the Kid's bullet hit higher and went deep into Fuller's gut. Still, in the last action of his life, he managed to pull his trigger. I saw the Kid grimace in pain and grab his thigh.
LOM
Chrissy and the ladies did a good job of keeping the guests inside, but now they were drifting outside. At least the adults were. I didn't see any kids so she must have them busy inside. Aiden had stayed by the gate with me, just watching down Curry Road.
"It's been over an hour. Shouldn't they have been back by now?" the doctor finally asked.
"No timetable for stopping a robbery," I said.
He walked back and forth along the fence near the gate. Finally, he stopped and looked at me. "Worried about Jed. Hasn't fired a gun at someone in a long time. Hasn't really had to be his Kid Curry alter ego either. It can interfere with his self-image."
"Thought he was all recovered," I stated.
"He's made great progress. It's something that he'll fight for the rest of his life. I've been trying to put myself in his mind. Since Frank recognized him, I assume this man is wanted. Jed, and Heyes for that matter, are going to feel guilty they brought a wanted man into the lives of their families. When I came out here to get my haircut, he did a good job, but didn't talk much. Jed told me the man stayed to himself, so I doubt he interacted with the kids at all." Aiden kept talking, but I finally realized he was thinking out loud. "Wonder why Frank took Heyes with him and not Preston?" he finished, finally addressing me.
"Figure Frank needed someone with Heyes' unique skills. And the Kid and Heyes always work better together," I answered.
"They certainly do. Guess all we can do is watch and wait." And with that the doctor started pacing along the gate again.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I felt the burnin' pain in my left thigh but tried to ignore it. I pulled the leg behind me as I limped to the unmovin' body of Ernest Fuller. Frank kicked the man's gun across the room and held his own gun on the man.
"Heyes, check him," Frank ordered.
Heyes didn't hesitate, bendin' down, and feelin' for a pulse. Standin', he just shook his head. And I knew I had killed again.
Frank holstered his gun and put his hand on my shoulder. "He would have killed us all," he told me. I realized that Heyes was standin' on my other side, with his hand on that shoulder. I needed that.
"Never saw him shoot before. Didn't know anything about him. He shot from too low on the hip. I wasn't quick enough to adjust," I said softly. I need to practice more. I was faster than this man, but just barely. I need to be ready for the last man paid to kill me. I've been lookin' at every stranger to Three Birds, askin' myself if he is the one. But I didn't question Ernest Fuller. Why not? Was it because he came to Phoenix? I thought I was helpin' this strange man start his business. But I was harborin' a wanted killer. I shuddered uncontrollably for just a moment. Then stopped that line of thinkin'. Instead, I thought of how I can't trust everyone. I need to practice shootin' more seriously and I need to stay strong to protect my family. And then my vision started to get blurry. I started to put my hand to my eyes, but lost consciousness.
HEYES
I could tell the Kid was getting lost in his thoughts. I was just about to say, "Let's talk," when he started to fall. He's heavy and all I could do was ease him to the ground. As soon as he was down, Frank helped me move him farther from the dead barber. Tearing his pants, he used some of the material he ripped off to try and stop the blood. I looked around but didn't see anything else to use so I took off my shirt and tore it. I gave Frank the largest piece and tore the rest into strips.
With effort, Frank rolled the Kid on his side. And my partner started to stir.
"It's a through and through pretty near the surface," Frank said. He looked around the bank. "Heyes, get to the livery and find a wagon."
The Kid sat up as Frank started to bandage his thigh tightly. "I can ride a horse. Done it hurt a lot worse. OWW!" he finished, as Frank pulled the bandage tight.
In the end, the Kid was adamant about riding Winter's Glory to Phoenix. Stoic as ever, he sat the horse well. Frank locked up the bank and grabbed a spare shirt for me from his office. Both Palmer Robinson, the bank president, and Leo White, the new undertaker, were at the party. Frank planned to tell them what happened and send them back with Deputy Preston.
I could tell that the Kid was just letting Winter's Glory follow Fall's Bells and Summer's Joy, which Frank rode. He was sitting too straight in the saddle and silent. I didn't know how long he could keep it up. As we rode up Curry Road, Lom and Aiden were waiting at the gate.
"Stop here," the Kid ordered, as we passed his blacksmith shop. "Let's go around back. Heyes, open the door."
As soon as we stopped, Lom and Aiden started down towards us. Had to use my lockpicks again to open the door. But I knew this lock. I'd seen the Kid make it and knew just where to apply pressure and turn.
The Kid tried to dismount without putting pressure on his left leg. He's bleeding through the makeshift bandage. Frank was right there to help him. Neither of us could carry him, but he leaned on our shoulders. As we let him down to a sitting position on the bed, Aiden and Lom ran in.
"What happened?" Aiden demanded, lifting the Kid's legs onto the bed. "Lom, get my medical bag. Denise will know where it is," he ordered.
"I'll go," Frank volunteered. "Need to find Preston, too."
He's watching the back of the stables and barn," Lom said. "You go find him; I'll get Aiden's bag. Tell me what happened while we walk to the house."