Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Forty-Five

HEYES

Don't know what Dr. Oliver said to the Kid, but he left right after that. He had loud words with his brother and the sheriff on the way out. I tried to get closer to listen but was only able to hear him say, "I concur that Jed is suffering from a poor self-image that has led to deeply rooted depression, but this…"

Then they moved out of earshot. He slammed the front door when he left. Dr. Aiden Arden and Sheriff Birde didn't look too happy. I'm not happy, either. I couldn't eat my lunch. I want to tell the sheriff that whatever the Kid is charged with I did, and I will go to prison for him. I don't want to go; I know I will die there, but the Kid would do it for me.

I watched as the Kid scarfed down his lunch. This time he was sitting on the long bench on one side of the table. The sheriff said something about it being more comfortable for him. It does align his ankle close to the center table leg he's shackled to. When he looked at me, I winked and he smiled, but kept eating like he was afraid someone would take it away from him. And we both know in prison he will never be full.

Our next guests surprised me. A good surprise, not an unpleasant one. Miss Beverly answered the door and escorted Hauser Sletten and Emery and Tim Walsh into the room. I remember them all.

Sletten writes the Kid Curry dime novels. At first they were Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry novels but now the Kid is the star of them and I;m the one that comes up with the plans. He started before he knew us and wasn't supposed to use our names or adventures in his books after we rescued him. But he does. And the Kid is always the hero, just like he is in real life. He shakes hands with both of us with a sheepish expression. We know he's still writing about us, and he knows he isn't allowed to. He's a quiet, mousy man, not one you would expect to dream up outlaw adventures.

"Mr. Heyes, good to see you again. Mr. Curry, we heard you'd been ill and thought we would stop by and give you our wishes for a speedy recovery." His voice was formal, and his words were said without looking at either of us.

"Thank you, sir," the Kid answered. "And thank you for makin' the trip.

The sheriff and doctor were watching the Kid closely. I think his answer was positive.

Then a whirlwind raced from behind Sletten and hugged first me, then the Kid, climbing over him and sitting close to him on the bench. I smiled. The quiet eight-year-old boy we had rescued was now ten, happy, and full of energy. His pa stood back and watched, smiling. Emery Walsh was taken hostage by Mean Gene's Devil's Hole Gang when his mother, the telegraph operator, was killed. He barely spoke at all at first and we had trouble finding his pa. Until I remembered a repeating ad in Mike Loveland's Bridgeport newspaper. That ad reunited father and son.

With Emery still sitting on the Kid's side, his father came up and shook our hands. "We have been keeping touch with Mr. Sletten and his ma and we're traveling to Kansas together to your hometown for a book signing of his latest novel," Tim Walsh explained proudly.

"Our hometown?" I asked.

Confused, the Kid said, "Ain't no people left there. Just empty buildings and ghosts. When the Raiders burned our farm and all the other farms and ranches around there, the people still there alive kinda just all moved away. Nothin' good left in that town."

"Surely there's a mercantile. My book agent assured me Lawrence, Kansas is a thriving city," Sletten answered, getting visibly upset.

The Kid gave a low growl for a second then caught himself. "Mr. Sletten, I'm sure Lawrence, Kansas is, like you say, a thrivin' city, but it ain't our hometown."

"Of course it is, Mr. Curry; my assistant did extensive research to find out where the Curry family lived," Sletten answered, but I could hear doubt in his words.

The Kid shrugged his shoulders. I could tell he couldn't think of anything positive to say and wasn't going to argue. I answered for both of us. "I'm sure that your assistant found a Curry family there, Mr. Sletten, but not me and the Kid's Curry family. It's a common name."

Sletten went white and sat down suddenly. "Oh my. He assured me this was your hometown and I'm to reveal and sign my latest novel there in a few days. Oh my."

"Sir," the Kid said, but didn't get his attention away from his fretting. "Mr. Sletten, sir," the Kid said louder. I watched Dr. Arden's face that he was not upset the Kid raised his voice. He wasn't, he was interested. When Sletten finally looked at him, the Kid said, "Perhaps you can say you are signin' the book in our home state."

A look of relief crept across Sletten's face. "Thank you, Mr. Curry, I believe this is the second time you've saved me. Thank you. And if I never said it before, thank you both for your heroic rescue of us hostages from Devil's Hole. Why anyone would want to live in a place like that when they can live in civilization, I'll never know."

The Kid hadn't been paying attention to the boy sitting next to him. He was lifting the tablecloth and looking underneath. Quickly but gently, my cousin pushed the cloth back down and whispered something to Emery, whose eyes were full of questions. The Kid reached over and gave him a cookie and Emery nodded and whispered something back. After a bite of cookie, he announced in a strong voice, "Mr. Sheriff, Mr. Curry and Mr. Heyes are two of the bestest men I've ever known. They're my heroes. And I tell all my friends that I really know Kid Curry. They're real jealous because he's their hero, too."

Sletten stood up to leave. "I second what the boy said, gentlemen. The real live Heyes and Curry are two extraordinary men."

The Kid just said, "Thank you, sir," but I had to catch myself before I said, "I'm no hero."

And Sletten said his first stop was going to be the telegraph office to say 'Hello' to Glen and send a telegram to notify his book agent that his event was actually being held in the STATE Heyes and Curry spent their youth and have it advertised that way.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I saw the look of panic in Heyes' eyes when Sletten mentioned Glen and knew I had to be the one to tell him Glen was dead. Dr. Arden looked like he was gonna speak, but it will be easier for Emery to hear it from me. I reached my arm around him.

"You saw the damage done to our town by outlaws when you came in?" I started. "Glen was one of the casualties."

Emery looked up at me with such trust and questions. "Casualties?" he asked, but I could see he had guessed the meanin'.

"Glen was killed," I said softly. Emery buried his face in my shoulder, and I could hear muffled sobs. "It's a good thing to cry when someone you care about dies."

But he pushed away from me, and I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. "You're Kid Curry. Why didn't you save him?" he screamed, runnin' from me and to his pa's side.

His words burned into my soul. I took a deep breath. I didn't know what to say. It was my fault.

Dr. Arden looked at me and started talkin'. "Jed, er, Kid Curry was at his home with his family mourning the death of his baby daughter," he said, his voice more defiant than I've ever heard.

Emery stepped away from his pa and stared at me. Then he walked slowly back to me until he was standin' next to me, holdin' my eyes the whole time. He put his arms around my neck and hugged me. "What was your daughter's name?" he asked softly.

"Trinity Rose," I answered, and tears came to my eyes thinkin' about her.

Emery reached up and wiped the tears away. "It's a good thing to cry when someone you care about dies," he repeated back to me. His words were so sincere, so sweet, that I hugged him tighter.

It was nice gettin' hugs from Emery Walsh, but they made me miss my Michael. Emery's about two years older than my boy, but small for his age. "I'm very sad I could not save Glen," I told him. I don't care about bein' positive right now. I care about tellin' this boy, my friend, the truth.

He sat down on the bench next to me and leaned against me. I could see when a thought struck him. "Do you have any other children?" he asked.

"Yes, six in fact. Four girls and two boys," I answered.

"They're really lucky to have you for a pa," he said. Then he looked at his pa. "I have a pretty good pa, too. He never gave up on findin' me, you know."

"Yes, you have a very good pa who loves you a whole bunch. You enjoy Kansas, hear me?"

"Yes, sir."

HEYES

I couldn't tell them about Glen. For a few minutes I hid in my mind. Glen was family, part of our family. The family the Kid built. I know I can't stay hidden here, and I don't want to. I have a beautiful wife, a son and a daughter, and the Kid, Chrissy, and their kids. I found my way back quickly. The Kid must have told them because the boy is crying.

They left soon after that. Dr. Arden told me to go to the kitchen with Miss Beverly. She's cooking there. I smell some kind of stew and it smells good.

"Heyes, would you cut up those potatoes and carrots for me? You know how"? she asked.

I nodded. I know how to cut them. I did it in prison. I have to be very careful not to get cut. I looked at the knife and was fully back in the present. "Of course, how many do you need?" I said with a smile. Dr. Arden told me earlier to remind myself that prison is far behind me. That I am THE Hannibal Heyes again because the Kid believed in me. I told him I still need the Kid. He told me that's alright. I probably always will. That made me feel better.

I cut the carrots and potatoes quickly and went to stand by the door to hear what the doctor and sheriff were telling the Kid.

Dr. Arden was talking, "Jed, that was a creative way to solve Sletten's problem."

"What problem is that, sir?" the Kid asked. It hurts me every time he says sir, every time.

"That Lawrence, Kansas was not your hometown," the doctor said patiently. He was sitting next to the Kid like a friend would.

"That weren't…" The Kid stopped and looked down. "I'm supposed to say somethin' positive, aint I? How about I'm glad it all worked out."

"That's fine, but let's work on that being your first thought. I think you were going to deny credit by saying something like 'That wasn't anything.' Am I right?"

"Yes, sir."

"You don't have to, but would you answer a question for me?" the sheriff asked.

"If I can, sir."

"When Emery looked under the table and saw the rope tied around your ankle, you whispered something to him. What was it?"

"I told him it was to help my sore ankle heal and could it be our secret."

That's all I heard because Miss Beverly called me over. "Heyes, what kind of pie does Jed like?"

"Let's just say that the Kid likes pie, period," I answered.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I didn't do well. I didn't stay positive. I started to say somethin' negative…but I caught myself. Dr. Arden and the sheriff are sittin' here with me, and they asked Heyes to leave.

"Doctor, please watch over Heyes. Somethin's goin' on with him," I said.

"He needs you," the doctor answered simply.

"No, he's strong now. Look at the Hannibal Heyes plan he came up with to catch Shaw. He thought of every detail…and it all worked," I argued. Then I looked down and added, "Sir."

Sheriff Birde responded. "He knew you were somewhere close watching his back."

I shook my head. "He went all the way to North Dakota by himself and came back with a wife, a son, and a boot maker," I protested. "I wasn't watchin' his back then, sir."

The two men looked at each other and the sheriff spoke. "Did you ride the first few days with him to make sure he was going to be alright doing this?"

"Yes, sir."

"And didn't he know that if he needed you for anything all he had to do was send a telegram and you would move heaven and earth to be there for him?" he continued.

"Yes, sir. But he never sent a telegram askin' for help, sir."

"If you're in prison, can he do that? Will you be watching his back even from an upstairs window down the street?" Sheriff Birde was gettin' louder and more forceful.

"No, sir," I answered softly.

Dr Arden put his arm on my arm. "Whether he can vocalize it or not, that's what you call 'wrong' with Heyes. He draws his confidence from you. He needs you."

I didn't know what else to say to argue. "Yes, sir…and I apologize for doubtin' you. But you will watch out for him?"

"Yes, Jed. If you're not here, I'll help Heyes," the doctor sounded resigned and put his hands up to his face, rubbin' his eyes.

Sheriff Birde stood up and broke the tension at the table. "Jed, would you like to use the water closet before your next guest?"

"Yes, sir."

ASJ*****ASJ

When I was finished, I knocked on the door to let Sheriff Birde I was done. Instead of openin' the door, he hissed, "Jed, stay in there until I tell you to come out."

"Yes, sir." Dr. Arden hadn't come to rebandage my ankles this time. Bein' closer to the center leg did stop the rope from cuttin' my ankle some It was still bleedin'. I thought about Miss Beverly's rug but didn't have nothin' to use to stop it.

It was a few minutes before the sheriff abruptly opened the door, sayin', "Hurry, take your place. No time to change the rope to the table. I'll leave your ankles tied together."

Just as I sat down, Heyes came out of the kitchen with Dr. Arden and Palmer Robinson, president of the Bank of Three Birds. Robinson held out his hand. "Jed, was wondering where you were but I know I came early. How are you feeling?"

I shook his soft hand. "It's good to see you, Mr. Robinson." So this is why the sheriff hid me in the water closet and then hurried me out here. The bank president came early.

While he sat, he turned to my partner. "Mr. Heyes, I need to thank you for catching Skyler Shaw, who terrorized Three Birds."

"You're welcome, but it was the Kid and Sheriff Birde that actually captured his men. And his men that killed Shaw," Heyes answered. He would normally have basked in the praise and recognition. And I could tell that an idea had just hit my partner. I'll try to remember to ask him about it if I get to talk to him alone.

Robertson was nervous, jumpy. "I can't believe that man, that outlaw, tricked me into telling him to 'take' the money and then claimed I gave it to him. Just can't believe I was so naive."

I looked right at him. This time I had somethin' positive I believed in to say, and I didn't have to think about it. "Mr. Robertson, sir, you were protectin' your employees. I think it was valiant of you to place your employees' lives above that of the money."

HEYES

Bank President Palmer Robertson was very emotional, and he recreated what had happened in his bank that day…and the crippling fear he felt. I listened to him, but I watched the Kid. And I didn't like what I saw. He was sitting very straight. I knew he was listening, but he didn't seem to be really there. When Robertson finished, he called me and the Kid heroes. He said at the next town council meeting, whenever it was, he was going to propose that me and the Kid be given plaques that call us the Saviors of Three Birds. And the bank will give us a reward for returning the money.

Even though I think the Kid looks lost, it's the first time I've recognized his depression. And it scares me. Still, when Robertson finished talking, the Kid was the one that talked but his voice was monotone throughout.

"Mr. Robertson, sir, me and Heyes don't want no plaques and part of that money we got back was our money that we have deposited in your bank, so we don't need no reward," the Kid started.

"You trusted me with that money, as did our other neighbors, and I almost lost all of it," Robertson lamented. The break in his voice made me look at him and I realized this man was almost crying. But my focus was my cousin.

The Kid didn't notice; he continued in the same unemotional voice that sent chills up my spine. "You need to get a better lock on that side door. I can make...well, Heyes can help you pick one from a catalog. Also we installed a special shield with three keys onto your safe but you didn't choose to use it. Doesn't stop a thief if it's not in place and locked. Heyes can also help you get two new safes…and better safes. The shield can be installed on any safe to make it more secure. Those safes you had even I could open in ten minutes. Use stronger wood to rebuild the teller's desk and cages. Mostly be aware. Teach your employees to be aware. Watch everyone. Get to know the townspeople. If anyone you don't know comes into the bank, be on instant alert. Tell your customers to put their money away before they leave the buildin'. Won't stop robberies but will make outlaws think twice before they try. Told you all this before," he finished.

"Er, yes, you have. Can you two drop by the bank and help me with these things? I just don't know where to start."

The Kid was definitely thinking about something else because he was staring at his hands, so I answered. "I'll be there one day next week," was all I could commit to.

The sheriff stood and escorted Robertson to the front door. Whatever the purpose of his visit, depression was growing in the Kid.

I turned to the doctor. "Need to talk to you right now," I said and was proud my words were flowing and my tone firm.

"I saw it too, Heyes. Stay here. Talk to Jed. I need to consult with Birde," Dr. Aiden told me.

Moving over to sit on the bench next to the Kid, I touched my shoulder to his. "What are you thinking, partner?"

Startled that I was next to him, the Kid sat straight, and I could hear his shackles under the table as he moved to look at me. "Heyes, I was right. All this…this destruction in Three Birds, the deaths - Glen, the bartender - all my fault." He shook his head sadly.

I didn't know what to say but I put my arm around his shoulder for support.

When he looked at me, his blue eyes were faded and tears threatened to fall. "Heyes, I don't understand what Sheriff Birde and Dr. Arden are doing showin' me off in front of all these people. Have you figured it out?"

I understood the cry for help in his voice, but I didn't have an answer. "Don't know except they know you are depressed."

"Of course I'm depressed. I've failed at everythin'...and people died because I wasn't there."

"No, Kid. You haven't failed. You were where you were supposed to be, taking care of your family when they needed you." I looked around. We were alone. "And Kid, it won't go on too much longer. I heard them say your trial is here in two or three days. They're waiting for the judge or maybe they said judges."

Sheriff Birde's angry voice interrupted me. "Heyes, what are you doing? How did you know that?" he yelled. He was mad and grabbed the back of my shirt, forcing me to stand up. "Out…out right now! And you are not welcome in the meetings tomorrow."

"But…but," I stammered. The Kid looked down resigned, but before I was forced from the room, he looked up and our eyes caught. All I saw there was the acceptance of his fate. "No, Kid, no! Don't give up! Fight!" I yelled, and then I was standing outside the closed front door, alone.

JED 'KID' CURRY

My trial is in two or three days. Heyes knew he was takin' a chance tellin' me that. And I'm glad he did. I have a couple of days to make a hard decision.