Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

HEYES

The next day, I insisted the Kid go into Three Birds with me and talk to Mr. Palmer Robinson, his supposed friend. I could see the surprise on his face that I wanted to go into town. I prefer the sanctuary offered by Phoenix, especially now that Angie is there and we're going to be parents. Never thought I'd have any kids, but first I got my stepson, Sam, and now this. The Kid is a wonderful pa…even Sam's treating him like a parent. I don't know if I will be any good at it.

"Don't think I can do this without you," I told him. It was the truth. I used to have no trouble confronting people. Used to enjoy it even. Today I need the Kid beside me.

I didn't understand the look on his face, but I think it was disbelief. Now I think I know what's wrong with him. He doesn't think he's needed.

"Course, you can partner." He slapped me very lightly on the back and gave me a smile.

"No, no, I can't handle it. I need you."

"Humph."

JED 'KID' CURRY

When I crawled into bed with Chrissy last night, I held her tight. I've been thinkin' about the insults from Yvonne Robinson and her boys. I thought I'd built a trust with the townspeople here. I was wrong. And I don't want my kids growin' up with people talkin' about their outlaw, convict pa every time they do somethin' wrong. I need to leave, but first I need to make sure all my family are secure and safe.

I showed Chrissy the letter Lom forwarded to me from Mark's lawyer when we got up this mornin'. She read it slowly.

"We have money to pay?" was her first question. It was a healthy sum, but I assured her we had it. I still have all the reward money; I've put some of it in Mr. Robinson's bank…the rest is hidden in several places. I don't like banks; they're too easy to rob.

"Yes, don't worry we can pay him," I told her again.

"Good!" She looked at the letter again. "Jed good enough to make trip?"

I looked away because she can tell if I'm lyin' if she sees my eyes. "Yes, I'm feelin' good. We'll need to take Ruth Ann if you go. She's still nursin'. If you think she shouldn't go, I can go by myself."

"Chrissy darling go!" she demanded firmly. Then, she was silent and 'thought' for a moment. "No, Chrissy can't go. Ruth Ann too young to travel. Heyes go."

I wasn't sure if I wanted Heyes to know how weak I still was, but Chrissy can't go. She'll make sure I don't go alone. So, Heyes it is. He won't want to leave Angie though. She's had mornin' sickness every day, seems like all day for the last week.

Heyes wants to go confront Mr. Robinson today. I already heard Mrs. Robinson talk about how they feel about the children of outlaws. And her boys taunt Sam at school. I'm glad that Miss Duhamel had told us they were leavin' the school. We rode into town side by side but didn't speak. This silence between us makes me uncomfortable. I didn't feel like talkin' about what we were about to do. So, I started talkin' about who we were goin' to breed our own Spring's Joy to. She'd been too young to breed last year. So, I kept Heyes discussin' the merits of each of our studs. He knew what I was doin' but let me do it.

Too soon, we stood in front of the bank. Heyes had me bring a thousand dollars to deposit in our account as an excuse to see Robinson. I showed him the hidin' place in the forge where a lot of our cash is. We have some money in the safe in the basement. And I told him where the rest was hidden. He added the reward money he'd earned on his trip, less the money he paid for Winny's shoe and boot business.

Heyes walked up to the cashier cage and said firmly, "We have a deposit and would like to see Mr. Robinson."

"I can take your deposit, sir."

HEYES

I know something's going on in the Kid's head that he's not talking about, more than he's feeling not needed. I'm worried about him. Mrs. Robinson's words are stuck somewhere in his head. He's already depressed that he's weak and can't work the forge. He had just started to practice shooting again and it's not up to his standard. Now this.

"I can take your deposit, sir," the bank clerk told me.

"Due to the size of our deposit, we will see Mr. Robinson," I answered him, leading the Kid toward the office.

The clerk ran around us and knocked on the door before we got there. "Mr. Robinson, there are two gentlemen here to see you."

I opened the door without waiting for his answer. The flustered clerk started to apologize but Robinson waved him away and smiled. I wanted it to be fake, but his smile was wide and friendly. "Mr. Heyes, Mr. Curry, welcome, I've been wanting to talk to you both and apologize for my wife."

The Kid froze, then ignored what Robinson had said. "We'd like to deposit some money."

Robinson looked at me, confused. "Ahh?"

I stepped forward and said, "You want to apologize for your wife? How does one take back the things she said?" I admit my tone was defensive…and mean.

"Yes, my wife has a vicious obsession with James Doubleday. Her brother, my friend, was a bank manager. She was in his bank the day Doubleday and his gang robbed it and saw him shot right in front of her. He died in her arms. I was unaware of this when I met her last year and married her. But since you returned with the former Mrs. Doubleday as your wife, I've never heard anything but venom from her on the subject. She even taught her sons that venom."

My silver tongue failed me at his words, so I said nothing.

"Please forgive me for not stopping her yesterday."

The Kid's angry eyes also showed confusion. "Her sons, not yours?" he asked.

"She was a widow with two boys when I married her. They are incorrigible…they will be going away to boarding school next month. A strict military boarding school in Chicago. There is no place here in Three Birds for those boys."

I wasn't sure what to say so I stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kid and found strength in him.

"Talked to Yvonne about this last night and not sure what to do. She's obsessed with Doubleday and her vile fixation now is on your wife and son. I'm sorry. Even Doc Arden doesn't know what to do. I'm thinking about sending her to her parents for a while, but I think they feel the same way." He strode to the window and stared out to the alley. "I've been a bachelor all my life. I stopped to visit my friend's, her brother's, parents to see how they were doing. I met Yvonne and we were married in three weeks. Not sure why, but I thought I had found the love of my life…and now it's a living nightmare."

This is not what I expected. I wasn't sure how to react. I could tell the Kid felt the same way. Our quiet made Robinson nervous.

"I just want you to know it's nothing against you two. In fact, Jed, you're a hero around here. When you left yesterday, I heard Yvonne bragging to the few lady friends that will talk to her about how she met Kid Curry."

"Let her know that I am the one who killed James Doubleday in prison. Maybe she'll settle down."

"You? It was never released."

"Yes, me, in self defense. Despite how evil Doubleday was, it's not something I'm proud of," I said truthfully. Through the years the Kid learned how to live with the fact that he's killed. I've found it difficult. If I think too much about it, darkness threatens to engulf me.

"Mr. Robinson, did you say your boys are going away to school?" I asked. In my mind I was trying to come up with some sort of a plan…or a solution to this uncomfortable situation.

Forlorn, he sat down behind his desk and put his head in his hands. "Yes, they are leaving in two weeks. Yvonne is taking them."

And with that my plan formed. "I'm sure your wife will miss them."

"Yes, she's been complaining about sending them away. But I insisted. They are incorrigible."

I smiled. "This is just a suggestion, sir. What if your wife sets up residence in Chicago near them."

"What are you saying?" Then he stopped and thought. "Yes, yes, she might like that. Think I'm doing her a favor. I can afford a nice house near the campus, and she can see the boys on the weekends."

I took a chance with him. "And if they go on to college there, she could be gone…"

"Long enough for a divorce to become final."

He took our bank deposit. There was nothing more to really say. I was not sure how I felt. The Kid was quiet as we left.

"Drink?" I suggested, even though I don't drink much anymore.

He looked around the town. His words surprised me. "No. Seems like a different town now. Not sure we're welcome. It was an illusion."

"No, Kid you're wrong. You have friends here. Good friends. These people consider you a hero, you heard Robinson."

"That's what I thought. Tried hard to be a friend. Not sure now."

"You're an important part of this town. Everybody likes you."

"They like me when they need help. Heyes, I've tried so hard to be a good neighbor. Build a life for our family." His voice was low, controlled. I realized the real problem.

"You have, Kid, you really have."

He nodded, but I know him well enough to see he didn't believe me. That's my job now. To make him see the truth in my words.

JED 'KID' CURRY

"Jed, Angie too sick with baby. Need Dr. Arden," Chrissy told me a few days later. Me and Heyes were happy the two women were gettin' along good…better than good. They had become fast friends, and it was helpin' her heal.

"Well, I'll have Heyes take her to see him."

"No, she no want him to know. He working hard and no want him to worry."

"You want me to take her?" I asked, not that I wanted to take the ladies into town. I've been avoidin' town altogether.

"No, Auntie and I take her. Need money to shop after but no want to ask Heyes."

"How much do you need?"

ASJ*****ASJ

The ladies took our spare wagon with Auntie drivin' while Heyes was out checkin' the fences with Arnie. I decided it was time to reopen the blacksmith shop. Every time I suggest it, Dr Arden says to wait. Heyes tells me it's too soon. Chrissy just says, 'No'. But there is no one around to stop me today.

It took me a long time to get the three sides up and secure. I forgot how dirty with black dust it was in there. Soon that will be all over me. But this is how I help support my family. I paid for the knowledge to do this with years of my life in shackles. I started the forge and went into the back room, now full of work. I picked up three shovels and started work repairin' them. Before I got sick, shovels were quick work. Not today. Everything is hard, especially swingin' the hammer. Even with my leather gloves, it slipped from my hand multiple times. When I finally finished, I labeled them from their tags, included 'no charge' and set them outside. I felt bad that the people that needed these shovels had to wait for them. I left my gloves and the lighter hammer next to them. I need to practice swingin' it. All this work I was unable to do is another fail for me.

I was puttin' the sides down when the ladies returned from town, followed by our wagon with Sam and the twins. My heart jumped for a moment when I saw Martha was drivin' with her brother next to her. Sam was in the back readin'.

The stare Chrissy gave me made me feel like that boy they called wayward at the Home. I was caught doin' somethin' I was told not to do. Still, the wagon hurried by without slowin'. But I grabbed the reins of the other one.

"Just what do you think you're doin', little one?" I asked Martha I can't help smilin' at my precocious daughter. I'll have to tell Heyes I learned that word.

"I am NOT little. Joy is little. Ruth Ann is little. I'm practically grown up!" my seven-year-old declared to me.

I pulled the wagon brake on and lifted her down from the seat. Then I held out my arms to Michael. "Sam, I know you don't work for the lawyer today. Need you to make three deliveries for me."

Helpin' 'Kid Curry' still meant somethin' special to him. Turns out it would all his life. "Yes, sir, Mr. Curry," he said, lookin' at the shovels on the ground. "You workin' in the smithy again?"

"A start today for a bit."

"You mean it when you say 'no charge'?"

"Yeah, my fault it took so long."

"Still, it's your time and knowledge to fix them."

"Just tell them no charge."

ASJ*****ASJ

When I went back to the house, I knew that Chrissy was gonna be mad that I'd been workin'. But she wasn't. Chrissy and Angie were busy talkin' with Auntie in hushed tones at the table.

"How'd it go today," I asked.

Something was wrong. Chrissy nervously pushed me away when I touched her shoulder. "No touch me!" She pushed out her chair and walked to the corner. "Jed no touch me."

"Chrissy darlin'?" I looked from her standin' in the corner to Auntie and Angie.

"Need Heyes. Chrissy need Heyes." Her eyes darted around the room furtively.

"Darlin', what's wrong?"

"No, Jed. Not now. Not Jed." I didn't know what was wrong. She ran out the back door. I started to follow but Auntie called me back.

"Let her go, Jed," she commanded. It was the first time I'd heard her raise her voice to me. When I turned to her, the look I saw on her face stopped me from arguin'. What can Heyes do to help her that I can't. I'm well enough to help her with anything she needs. It's my job to take care of her. I guess she thinks I'm too weak to help, but if she won't talk to me, how can I change her opinion. I plan to talk to her tonight in our bed. That's our safe place to talk.

So, I turned my attention to the ladies at the table. "Yes, Auntie," I told her. "Angie, how was your appointment?"

"Shhh," she said quickly. "Sit down, Jed. I need your help in how to deal with this."

"The baby?" I asked, pullin' out the chair across from her.

"Shh. I don't want Heyes to know anything me going to see Dr. Arden."

"Why? Everythin' alright?" I asked.

Her eyes went to the back door, I think makin' sure Heyes wasn't comin' in before settlin' on me.

"The doctor said my heart's beating too fast. I had a fever again last night, too. He says I need more bed rest and not to lift anything. I don't want Heyes to know. He's working so hard, and I don't want him worried about me. Please, Kid, please don't tell him."

I liked the way she picked up the "Kid" from Heyes. From her it feels right.

"Don't like keepin' secrets from him, but if you promise me you'll get rest and let me know if you need help with anything. And you do tell Heyes."

"When the time is right, I'll tell him. Dr. Arden thinks I will get healthier as time passes. This flu and fever may be what is causing my fast heart. I promise if it doesn't go away, I'll tell him."

HEYES

I'd finally carved out some private time to work on the accounting books for the ranch and the blacksmith shop. It's been hit or miss that things have been recorded lately. I took over the small office in the back of the stables and that's where I hide. Today I'm trying to get the breeding calendar straightened out. Chrissy has actually done a good job keeping it up and corresponding with the owners of the coming mares. I just reviewed it and set it aside. With a sigh, I picked up the accounting for the ranch. First thing I noticed was that Arnie and Juan hadn't been paid in six weeks…before the flu hit here. In fact, that's when all the entries became sparse. There was a stack of notes and receipts in three baskets that Chrissy had handed me. I took a drink of my coffee, leaned back in my chair, and started to sort.

When I heard footsteps I looked up. I just had time to stand when Chrissy rushed through the door and into my arms, crying hysterically. I held her until her breath returned. "Chrissy, what's wrong? Is someone hurt?" I grabbed my hat preparing to leave the room, but Chrissy shut the door.

"No one hurt. Chrissy need Heyes help."

"I'll get Kid."

"NO! No Jed! Jed can't know." She slammed her fist on the desk.

"Okay, okay, what don't you want the Kid to know?"

"Promise you no tell Jed. Promise!"

"Don't like keeping secrets from him, but if it's important."

She 'thought' for a moment, and I saw her struggle to come back to reality. "Important. Very important. Keep Jed safe."

"Alright, I promise not to tell the Kid, but I want you to promise to tell him when the time is right."

"No, no tell Jed. Time never right."