Winter's Refuge

Chapter Two Hundred Twelve

HEYES

Me and Vince stood looking at Miss Beverly's back as she walked away with purpose.

"Mrs. Clark? Stephanie?" asked Vince. He knew I brought them in with me earlier.

"Dr. Crehan wants to keep Auntie here for observation. Stephanie is watching over her and taking care of the Arden children. Miss Denise and Miss Daisy are both having their babies in that back room," I explained.

"Both of them?" he asked, his voice trembled..

I nodded.

"Now?"

"Now." I knew what I had to do. I needed to get back to Phoenix and help my wife deliver Chrissy's baby…the Kid's baby. "Let's go. I'll ride Summer's Gold. You take the wagon."

JED 'KID' CURRY

I don't know what Lom was doin' behind the bank when he was stationed on the other side outside the open water closet window. When the rock hit my foot, it broke my concentration. I drew my gun. Then I could just barely make out his form and waved him back to where he was. Did he see somethin' I missed? Was he tryin' to warn me about somethin'? I didn't have time to think when Brooke's voice from the bank got my attention. "You two, go get the horses and walk them this way in the alley in the back of the bank."

The back door opened outward. I hoped Lom had time to get by the door before the two men threw the door open. If Lom hadn't gotten at least past the door, they would see him. But I didn't hear anything but their footsteps. The window I was lookin' into is at the side of the bank near the front. I crouched down so they couldn't see me in the light from the window if they happened to look down the side alley. They didn't.

I stood up and looked inside. Brook Evans was still in the bank with the bank president. He looked around the bank. "You sure those two drifters don't suspect anything?" he asked the bank president.

"Nothing. Told them I'd pay them tomorrow," the bank president answered as he closed the safe.

Evans' laughter had a touch of cruelty. "They'll be surprised when they come for their money and the sheriff makes them the main suspects in a bank robbery. He looked around the room before sayin' with sarcasm, "Let's go, Mr. Bank President. I left your papers in the safe like you asked."

Uncomfortable with the way Evans said his title, the man hesitated.

"I said let's go!" the outlaw's voice demanded as they left out the back door.

I stepped out in front of the bank and waved both hands over my head, the signal to Lyons that the outlaws had left. Our horses were behind his building. He'd bring them over and me and Lom and him would track the outlaws. It was gonna be rough in the dark, but we knew which way they went. Karl Josephs would meet us about five miles out of town. It was just as Lom thought, they were hidin' toward where we figure their hideout is concealed.

Lom should be out in front here by now. I walked to his side of the bank and saw him just comin' around the corner, limpin' badly and hoppin', tryin' to keep his weight off his right leg. "They left the way we thought," he said as I helped him to the front of the bank.

"What happened?" I whispered.

"Back door knocked me down when they came out. Hurt my knee. I can still ride," Lom answered.

"You can ride but you can't walk when you get off your horse. You stay here. Get the sheriff. Tell him what happened and who we are," I told him.

"I'm going," he insisted.

"You'd be no help. You're stayin'," I said, usin' the tone I use to discipline my kids. It's the same tone, only not as strong, that I used to keep the boys at Devil's Hole in line.

LOM

I knew the Kid was right, but I didn't want to admit it. I want to go. I watched him and Lyons rode out after the outlaws and limped to the sheriff's office. I don't know the man but I'm hoping he's heard of me. I have my badge in my pocket. I have to tell him what happened and persuade him not to follow the Kid…at least not yet. And I hope there's a doctor in this town that can do something for my knee.

HEYES

If this was any other time, I would enjoy riding Summer's Gold. She's a beautiful animal, the color of the setting sun and has a sweet deposition as well. But today I need to get back to Phoenix as fast as I can. She seems to understand that.

I'm not sure what I'll find when I get home. I know Angie will try her best, but she has confided to me that she wouldn't make a good or even decent midwife. She has always left the deliveries here to the doctor with Auntie and Chrissy helping. Childbirth scares her. Before I met her, she lost a friend and her baby in childbirth, and it haunts, as does the loss of Trinity Rose. But she's strong and has delivered two healthy babies. I know she will do her best to help Chrissy.

Chrissy! How could this happen while the Kid is not here. I can't even reach him. What if something happens to her? I couldn't tell him. The Kid once told me that his heart beats in Chrissy's chest because he loves her so much. And she loves him just as much. They were made for each other. I urged the horse faster. We can't lose Chrissy, and we won't lose her or this baby, if I can help it.

Suddenly, Summer's Gold pitched forward. As she struggled to keep her balance, for a moment I didn't know if she was going to go down and take me with her. She regained her balance as she stopped. She's holding her right front leg up. Dismounting, I know immediately I'm not riding her anymore today. She tentatively put weight on her leg and quickly lifted it up.

"It's alright, girl. Let me look at that leg," I tell her. "I'm sorry. This is my fault. I was asking you to go too fast." She rubbed her nose against my shoulder as if she understood. "Don't see anything caught in your hoff. Vince will be here soon, and I'll take the wagon, and he'll walk you home." She has a sweet, calm disposition except when she's foaling. Then don't go near her. Slowly, very slowly we walked toward Phoenix but soon we stepped off the road to wait for Vince.

But this gives me more time for my mind to be consumed with worry for Chrissy…and her baby and the Kid. I knew we wouldn't get it yet, but I was hoping for a short telegram from him to say everything was going right.

Finally, I can make out Vince approaching in the wagon.

"What took you so long?" I demanded, my hands on my hips, putting all my worry into my question.

"I…I…Miss Beverly asked me to find Gabe or Jeff Birde and get a few things from the mercantile before I left. What happened to Summer's Gold?" he asked.

"Stumbled, hurt her leg. You get her home. I'll take the wagon," I said quickly as I climbed into the seat of the wagon. While Vince was getting out of the wagon, I took a deep breath, took my hat off and pushed my hair off my face, and settled it back in my head. That helped to calm me. It wasn't his fault. "Thank you," I told him.

I drove the wagon home carefully. I don't want any more horses hurt because I ask them to go too fast. When I stopped at the gate, I looked at the house. It was quiet…too quiet.

Closing the gate behind me, panic started in my gut and rose to my eyes. I don't hear any screams from Chrissy. Quiet at Phoenix is bad. This quiet is very bad.

I left the waagon in front of the house and ran in the front door. Steven, Rocky, Michael, Joy, Nettie, Catherine, Josiah, and Diane Frances were sitting in a big circle playing a card game Go Fish, I think. They were playing in pairs, an older kid helping a younger kid. And they were very quiet.

"Shhh, Papa," said Nettie, pointing to Alexander sleeping on the rug behind Michael.

"Where's Chrissy?" I was scared of the answer.

"In the guest bedroom with the baby" Michael answered. "Where's the doctor?"

"The baby? It's here? Aunt Angie delivered it?" I answered Michael.

"No, she fainted, so Martha delivered it," he answered in a matter-of-fact voice. "She's helped Dr. Aiden and Miss Denise deliver babies a few times and knew what to do."

"And mother and baby are alright?" I asked, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.

Michael helped Catherine make a move in the card game before answering.

"Ma's fine. The baby… he's real small. Will the doctor be here soon?" Michael asked.

How do I explain that Dr. Crehan didn't rush here to help? I went for the truth. "Dr. Crehan is helping Mrs. Maday and Mrs. Arden have their babies right now. He'll be out when he can." I didn't know what reaction I'd get from the kids, but they surprised me.

"Wow, they all have the same birthday!" Joy exclaimed. "Are they boys or girls?"

"Not know. They weren't born yet when I left," I told her.

"Kinda like triplets," sweet Joy said, not realizing what she said.

"I'm going to see the new ma and baby. What's his name?" I asked.

Joy answered, "Ma says she's not naming him until Pa comes home so they can decide together."

"Unc, Unc," I heard Ruth Ann say. When she had my attention, she started signing, "Can the baby hear? Would you find out?"

Smiling, I answered, "I will and let you know."

I kissed the little girls and Josiah on their heads and headed down the hall to the guest room, now a nursery.

"Mart'a not lettin' anyone in," Diane Francis told me with a child's firmness.

I smiled at her. She's been joining our conversations more and more lately.

"Martha will let her Uncle Heyes in," I said as I moved to the hall again.

"Uncle Heyes." Michael walked over to me and spoke quietly. "The baby is very small, born too early. I wish the doctor was here. Martha and Aunt Angie aren't sure it will survive. It's dark in the room because his eyes are very sensitive to the light."

I could see the concern in Michael's face and hear it in his words. I decided he was old enough to know the truth. "Mrs. Maday is having a breech birth and the doctor told me Mrs. Arden's delivery was going to be difficult. He won't be able to come out here for a good while. Miss Beverly will drive him out here as soon as he can get away."

The boy nodded in thought. "May I go into Three Birds now then? I want to check Dr Arden's medical books and journals about premature birth and get some of that medicine I've seen the doctors put in babies' eyes."

I saw in his eyes that he needed to do something. He's like his pa in that. And he had found something useful. "I think that's a good idea. Take Fall's Bells. Steven, would you go with him? And would you check in with Stephanie and ask how Auntie is feeling?"

"I will. Thank you, Uncle Heyes," Michael said.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked softly on the new improvised nursery. "It's me. Heyes."

Angie opened the door immediately and gave me a hug. "Heyes, I heard your voice out there. I'm glad you're here. Where's Dr. Crehan?" She looked behind me.

Chrissy smiled at me. She was propped up on the bed cradling the new baby.

"He'll be out when he can. Miss Daisy and Miss Denise are both in labor," I told them both as I walked slowly to the bed. "So, this is my new nephew?" I asked, as I reached over and pulled the blanket so I could see his face. The little eyes squeezed shut.

"Light bothers his eyes, I think," said Chrissy. "I'll hold him, rock him and keep him warm until the doctor comes."

The baby let out a small cry and Chrissy spoke quietly to comfort him. She seemed calm, content, all her attention focused on the baby.

"He's beautiful," I whispered. "Michael went into Three Birds to check Aiden's medical books on babies that come early. I sent Steven with him."

"Good," Chrissy answered in a faraway voice.

"Ma's tired. Let her rest," Martha said, putting her hand on my back and pushing me lightly toward the door. Smiling, I looked at her hand.

"Sorry for being pushy, Uncle Heyes," she said.

I put my arm around her. "Martha, you've done great today. Thank you for stepping up today. I'm proud of you," I told her. "Oh, and Ruth Ann wants to know if the baby can hear."

"He definitely responds to sounds," she said. "Tell Ruth Ann that. Now, Ma really needs to rest."