Winter's Refuge
Chapter Forty-Seven
HEYES
Preacher was here but I didn't see him. The Kid said at my next parole hearing he will tell the board what happened. A member of the old gang showed up, but he didn't allow him past our gate. He said my parole will be fine. I want to believe him but I'm still worried…and afraid.
Our intruder in the smithy the other day's name is Irving Emmett Price. I thought he looked familiar. He may be a prison guard now, but his brothers, Dan and Wally lead the Crooked Tree gang in Utah. Irving used to ride with them. There was a wanted poster out on him when we were sent to prison. I know. I used to study all the posters before we were caught. I told the Kid what I needed him to do. He doesn't like to pretend he's the Kid Curry of the legends, but he saw the purpose of doing it now. I hope he's still as intimidating as he used to be.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Chrissy had been stayin' in her room with the door locked. She did come out to eat at breakfast. I asked her not to lock her door again.
"Lock, Chrissy safe," she said, lookin' straight ahead at the wall as she ate. "Need lock."
I swallowed hard. Heyes stared at me. He'd found if he kept his mouth full of food, his thoughts stayed his own. I had never seen him eat so much.
"Chrissy darlin', when your door is locked, I can't check on you. Can't hold you if you have a nightmare." I stared at the same wall she was.
She turned and looked at me, puttin' her hand to my cheek and movin' it so I faced her. Those green eyes had a way of reachin' my soul. I let her look deep into mine and felt her tryin' to figure somethin' out.
"Door unlocked; Chrissy darlin' safe?"
"Yes, very safe. I'll always make sure you're safe."
She reached over and felt the bandage under my shirt. She stared into nothin' for a minute. "Jed keep Chrissy darlin' safe." She looked at my cousin. "Heyes keep Chrissy safe, too?"
I laughed as Heyes struggled to swallow the half a muffin he had stuffed into his mouth. He settled for noddin' with a sheepish grin. Through his full mouth he mumbled, "And Joe."
At hearing his name, Joe left the spot he was sleepin' by the door and trotted over to Heyes. Joe liked the warmth of the house. Not Joe had come to prefer the stable with the horses forming a close friendship with Chrissy's old mare, Spring's Moirai.
When Heyes didn't pet Joe, he went and laid at Chrissy's feet under the table. She was his preferred person although he liked all of us. Chrissy smiled. I love it when she smiles. "Joe protect Chrissy when door open. Okay, no lock door."
I smiled, too. Last night I felt helpless, even though I knew the locked door kept her safe. I stood in the hall and could hear her nightmares. I would have knocked down the door, but Heyes came out and stood next to me, hand over his mouth. He just shook his head, and I thought about what the locked door meant to Chrissy. And what it would mean if the door was knocked down and opened, lock and all. Instead, I paced the house, worried, and unsettled.
ASJ*****ASJ
I'm headin' into Three Birds to start Heyes' plan in motion…or try. My first stop is with Frank. I still hesitate goin' into a sheriff's office, even this one where the sheriff is a friend. But I settle myself by standin' up straighter and remindin' myself I am free to go anywhere.
"Jed, good to see you. Pour yourself a cup of coffee."
"Hi Frank," I answered, pourin' my coffee tryin' to think how I was gonna tell him what I wanted to do. Although I never like to look at the cells, I glanced back there, relieved to see them empty.
Sheriff Birde had told us he had a 'special cell' for Price. I sat down. My eyes were drawn by habit to the wanted posters on the wall.
Frank smiled as he answered, "Son, your poster ain't up there and I hope never will be again."
I caught something serious in his voice. "It won't be."
He came around and put his hand on my shoulder. "Make sure you keep that anger and temper under control, Jed. I didn't like what I saw at the smithy."
I was quiet but fought the urge to look down when criticized. I was not his prisoner. But I realized he was my friend and tryin' to help. "I'm workin' on it, sir."
"All I can ask is that if you need help, you come to me first."
"Well, that's why I came here. Me and Heyes need your help."
He waited for me to continue.
"I need to talk to Irving Price, but there's somethin's you need to know about him first."
I told him how Heyes had recognized him and how he used to run with the Crooked Tree Gang…and was wanted. Frank took out a stack of wanted posters. "I never threw many of these away...well, I can't say that. I threw away the ones on you and Heyes when you moved here."
I pulled my chair closer to his desk as he handed me a tall stack of posters. I stopped briefly over the posters of men I knew but pulled out the one for Wheat Carlson.
"This man's dead. Killed by Mark McWinters."
Sheriff Birde looked at me closely as he took the poster. "You sure? Says he was runnin' with the McWinter boys."
"I'm sure."
"Well, I guess I don't need to keep this one," the sheriff said, tossin' it away.
"He was a good man. Didn't deserve what happened to him," was all I could say as I kept lookin' through the posters in silence. Truth was seein' the poster for Wheat made me profoundly sad, another word Heyes would be proud I know how to use.
"Well look here." Frank picked up the next posters in his stack. "And here are the two for his brothers." He laid the three posters out in front of me. One each for Dan, Wally, and Irving Price for armed robbery and murder.
"You boy want the reward? It's a thousand dollars."
"No, I want to talk to him then I want you to let him go."
"Now Jed, let him go?"
I explained Heyes' plan, includin' havin' somebody trail him when we let him go. I told him if he couldn't think of anyone else, I would ask Juan.
"No, my deputy can do it. He's good at tracking cougar; should be able to track a man not looking for him."
"Good. Frank, there's one more thing. Heyes wants me to intimidate the man, sound ruthless. My anger may come out and I know you don't want to see that." I watched his face as I talked. He showed concern.
"Think you can keep yourself under control? You almost killed this man last time you saw him."
"Yeah, I got a role to play here. I may get a bit physical, but I won't lose control. There's a bigger plan here including Chrissy's safety and this is just the beginnin'. Be back tomorrow to see him."
HEYES
Our last visiting mares are going home today. No more would come until Spring. I prepared the receipts for the Kid. When my words came back, so did my ability to write everything quickly. The Kid joked that my writing was better when I had to write slowly and think about each letter. I don't want to meet the foreman that is coming, although the equine ladies were both very sweet. The Kid will handle everything very efficiently even though he told me he didn't like the man. It is important to him that people like him.
Both our mares should foal next month. I haven't helped with this since I was a kid back on our farm. I never liked it. The Kid always liked working with his pa and the horses. But Chrissy and Juan know everything about horses. They were raised with them all their lives and Chrissy ran Winter's Refuge even before her pa passed.
I am excited my plan is starting to fall into place. The Kid will ride into town to talk to Irving Price. The Kid and Sheriff Birde found his wanted poster and agreed to work with us. His deputy, Ty Fanciello, will trail Price when he's released. I hope the Kid scares him into doing as he asks.
I took the two names of telegraph operators that Preacher gave the Kid and matched them to my notes from the newspapers. One's in Wyoming, near Devil's Hole, and the other is in Colorado. Now I need to know where the livery is in relation to the bank in Brown River. I can't go there. It would violate my parole. I feel like I'm caged in Cheyenne County, Nebraska. But it won't be forever. If I hadn't touched my gun, I would have less than two months of parole left. But I did so I have five months. It feels like a never-ending sentence, although living at the ranch is good, very good. The Kid does everything he can to make this place feel like my home. He said part of it belongs to me, but I don't think that's right. I work here. I keep the books and help with the ranch work. My parole says I have to have a job. This ranch is my job.
I asked the Kid to send a telegram to Kirenburg, Colorado. That's where one of the telegraph operators works. It's from Chrissy to a made-up person, Miss Keara MacNamara.. That was the Kid's ma's name before she was married. It says that Chrissy'll be there on the twenty-fourth and is looking forward to spending the night with her old friend and continuing on to Denver the next day.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Deputy Ty Fanciello is a man that Sheriff Birde trusts, so I trust him. He's in place to follow Irving Price when I let him go free today. I didn't talk to anyone at home today. I growled at Juan when he asked me a question and he backed away. Even the dogs stayed clear of me. I'm concentration' on my anger, usin' it to do what I need to do today, without gettin' in a fight. This is important and I promised Frank I'd stay in control. First, I went to the telegraph office and sent the misleadin' telegram for Heyes.
I sent one to Lom, too. His simply said, "Working on it." He'd know that meant the plan was startin' to be put into motion and it was time to visit the governor and explain what we're doin'. Me and Heyes had explained most of it to Lom when we were in Cheyenne. Heyes' thoughts were overlappin' his words so sometimes it was hard for Lom to follow which was a definite part of the plan and which were things he was considerin'. Lom was surprised when three times Heyes said he was afraid of me, afraid I would ask him to leave the ranch. Lom knew the ranch was in both our names and Chrissy's. Lom was the one who found it and bought it as a trustee for Winter's Refuge and Chrissy. He reassured Heyes that his name was on the deed. I now Heyes didn't believe him because later his thoughts came out doubting it and wondering why Lom would lie to him. I thought Lom telling him would make it real for Heyes but it didn't.
Lom asked Heyes some practical questions about his plan. So many thoughts were vocalized that I couldn't tell if he understood the questions. But he did. I went over it with him later like I used to do with his elaborate robbery plans when we lived in Devil's Hole. Irving Price turned out to be an opportunity for his plans. And that's what I was gonna work on today. If I could control my anger.
In truth, the anger I'd felt in the smithy scared me. It was like the anger I had in prison at first. The kind of furious anger that takes over your mind and body. In prison, the doctor attributed my angry outbursts to my head injury. Now, I didn't have that excuse unless the healin' wound on my temple was worse than I thought. Now that I know that anger is near the surface, I will work to control it. I have to control it today when I face the evil man who had raped Chrissy in prison and tried to do that again. What he did was worse than anything me and Heyes did robbing banks and trains.
I'd never been inside the Frank Birde house before. It was on Main Street between the houses of his two brothers. Frederick Birde, the mayor, had the first and largest house with white columns out in front. The Frank Birde house was wider with a smaller second story, but just as impressive. Felix Birde, Jeff's pa's house was set back farther than the other two with a well-tended rose garden in front. All three had gates with my metal work of three birds prominently displayed. I realized I had never been in any of the houses. Why would they have invited me anyway? An ex-convict pretending to be a law-abiding citizen. They were as close as Three Birds got to society.
Mrs. Beverly Birde opened the door with a smile on her face. "Mr. Curry, welcome!" She seemed happy to see me. I wondered if her husband had told her why I came. "How's Chrissy?"
"Doin' well. Thank you for all your help that day…and for standin' up for some ex-convicts tryin' to make an honest livin' here."
"Oh, Jed. I know you know my background by the way you helped me see Marina in the hospital. Not sure if Chrissy told you…or maybe Juan. I don't expect it will stay a secret. Everyone deserves another chance." She touched my arm as she spoke. "An outlaw way of life doesn't make you a bad person."
"Just keep her background to yourself," Frank's voice boomed as he came in from the other room.
"Well, I know you gentlemen have work to do here. I'm going next door; my sisters-in-law are helping me make baby clothes. Sewing skills were not stressed when I was growing up. I need all the help I can get." She laughed as she grabbed her pocketbook and waddled out the door.
Her husband watched until she got to the street and then closed the door. "Never thought I'd be a father. I spoiled my nieces and nephews and told myself that was enough. But now I can't wait to have a child of my own. Just wait until you and Chrissy have kids, you'll understand."
I smiled and decided I needed to be honest with this man who had befriended me since I moved here. "Chrissy and I have two kids, a boy and a girl. A friend was takin' care of them while we were…well, when we were in prison. And now while Chrissy recovers. I hope they'll be with us soon."
"Then you are married?" he asked, smiling, thinking he had solved the question of who Chrissy had married.
"Been told I can't answer that question until Heyes' parole is completed," I said with a grin and he didn't ask further. If he had followed Chrissy's trial, he knew she was pregnant when she went to prison.
"Yes, well, we got work to do, don't we."
He led me to the kitchen, and I gave him my gun and he locked it in a drawer. He gave me the key and I slipped it into my pocket. Frank kept his gun. I had to agree to this yesterday. It was a precaution before he'd give me access to see Price. I helped him slide a wooden cupboard to the right. I saw a door with two deadbolts which he opened with the keys hangin' from his belt. "There's a second set of keys at my little brother, Fred's, house case these get lost."
I saw the top few stairs leading down to the basement. I expected the air to be dank (another word I learned from readin') and heavy, but it was fresh, clean. Lookin' down I could see sunlight comin' in two slit window level with the top stairs. Frank carried a lantern as the stairs didn't all have the benefit of sunlight. What I saw reminded me of the dark cell in Arizona. It wasn't what I expected. I don't know what I had expected, but not this. There were two cells in the middle of a large, deep basement that probably ran the length of the house. Like the dark cell in prison, they didn't touch any wall or the ceilin'. There were strong metal bars on the sides firm into the unfinished dirt floor, and metal bars criss-crossin' across the top. They shared a common wall with large locks at each side.
Irving Emmet Price had been sleepin' wrapped in a pile of quilts on the floor. He rose quickly when he saw us. "Well, if it isn't the outlaw with the whore wife," he growled with a mean laugh. "Come to see if you can finish what you started?"
I ignored his comment, controllin' the anger startin' inside me. I had other things to discuss with him. But before I could, Sheriff Birde drew his gun and pointed it at Price. "Price, I'd think twice before insulting a free man when you got this hanging over your head." He held up the wanted poster. "It don't say dead or alive, but I think if I shot you trying to escape I'd still get the reward."
Price went white and backed up like the caged animal he was. "Ain't me. Different Irving Price."
But his voice cracked when he talked, and his bravado was gone.
As I'd planned, I assumed my gunfighter's stance even though I was unarmed. "Heard your brothers weren't too happy you left their gang," I challenged him.
When we was still tryin' for amnesty, me and Heyes had heard rumors of a rift between the brothers. His expression confirmed my words. "I remember right, you shot one of them in the foot when they tried to stop you from leavin'. Don't look surprised, word gets around about things like that."
"What you gonna do? What do ya want from me?" He was standin' straighter now, tryin' to control his fears.
"We could turn you in for the thousand dollars. Your friend, the Colorado governor, know you're wanted?" Frank's voice was level, emotionless and I wondered how often he had intimidated prisoners before. Surely these secret cells had been built for a purpose.
Price shook his head. I could see him tryin' to think his way out of this. I knew what he was thinkin'. An outlaw who became a prison guard turned convict wouldn't last too long in prison.
"Or we could get word to your brothers where you are."
"No, no. What do you want? I'll do anythin'?" His voice now had the start of desperation.
"Anythin'?"
"Don't even have to be legal. Anythin'."
Frank stepped back near the stairs, and I advanced until I was standin' close to the bars. I studied Price with a look I'd used many times to get men to back down without a fight. "You know who I am?" The anger inside me grew and I allowed it to show through my eyes.
"Kid Curry." He tried to meet my gaze, but failed and looked around the basement, his eyes settlin' on Frank. I put my hands on the bars and shook them. The lock made a terrible rattle, but I could tell it was strong, unbreakable. He looked toward me but was scared to look at me.
"Yeah, Kid Curry," I snarled lowly. "You know my reputation?"
"You won't do nothing. You can't do nothing. He's a sheriff. A sworn lawman." Price's desperation made his voice higher.
I looked at Sheriff Birde, who holstered his gun and started to the stairs. "Kid, think I hear someone calling me upstairs. I'll just leave you here to finish your conversation."
"No, you can't leave him here with me. You're sworn to uphold the law." Price's voice was a wretched whine now.
"Well, I think my duty is to see who is calling me and help them." As we had planned, he threw me the keys to the cell. "Kid, you finish up here and I'll see you back at my office." It seemed strange to hear him call me Kid, but it added to the threat.
Price watched the sheriff's back as he walked purposefully up the stairs. When the prisoner turned back to me, I was still watchin' him with an unwaverin' gaze. It was a look that contained all my anger at the abuse this man had done to my Chrissy in prison. And her humiliation at what he had tried to do again in front of our neighbors.
I watched his breathin' get faster, but he still tried to stand defiantly. I let silence edge him closer to desperation.
"Anythin'," he whispered now.
He was ready. "Well, there is one thing you can do for me, if I can trust you."
I saw a sliver of hope in his face.
'I'd have to trust you to get it done and get an answer back to me. An answer you'll have to make me believe is accurate."
"Anythin'."
"I'm assumin' you know whoever put up the reward for that poster of Christina McWinters you were showing off the other day,' ' I growled at him.
"No, the Colorado governor gave it to me."
"Well then I guess you can't help me". I shook the bars again." Left my gun upstairs but I got my knife with me," I bluffed. "I'll just tell the sheriff you got cut up by accident." I moved around to the back of the cell where he had retreated and, before he could move, grabbed him by the back of the collar of his shirt and pulled it tight around his neck.
I heard him choke as he reached up and tore the buttons off the front to give himself air. "Okay, I do know, but I ain't gonna tell you. I'd be dead in an hour if he found out I told."
"Ain't gonna ask you who he is unless you're willin' to tell me."
The fear in his face told me he was as afraid of this man as he was of me right now.
"Just want you to ask him a question and get me a true answer."
"And you won't show anybody the poster or tell my brothers?" A small level of his confidence had returned as he saw there might be a way out.
"Well, I'd keep it until I was sure you asked the right question and gave me an accurate answer. Don't want to have to add you to my list of those killed." I found it hard to make that threat until I reminded myself who this was. Keepin' my anger burnin' but controlled made it difficult for me not to get physical. I remembered my purpose here and Heyes' and Frank's confidence that I could do this.
"What do you want me to ask him?"
"That poster you had says 'A siblin' for a siblin'." Does it have to be her, or can it be one of her brothers? Don't tell him why you're askin'."
He looked confused. "That's it? That's your question?"
"Yeah, and I'll know if you don't meet with him or lie to me. Don't look too hard, me and Heyes always had eyes everywhere. Still do."
I could see him thinkin'.
"Don't know where you have to travel or how far and don't really care. Be back here by sundown in three days or your poster will become very popular, startin' with copies hand delivered to the Colorado governor and your boss, the warden of the prison."
That trapped animal look dominated his eyes. He saw his poster on the floor against the wall.
"That copy will stay locked down here. It's not the only one we have. If you don't follow our instructions or we think you told anyone…ANYONE...I will track you down and you'll wish you were back in here. Do you understand? Three days."
He nodded. I unlocked his cell and caught his arm and turned it behind his back. I saw him look over at the poster as I forced him up the stairs in front of me. I was strong. I knew I could easily snap the arm I held behind his back. But I had promised Frank I wouldn't really hurt him, that I would stay within the law. So, I did.
I took him to the backdoor of the house. As planned, I stuck some money in his pocket and gave him one more growl, "Remember three days at sundown right here."
LOM
Left Rudy and Deputy Harker in charge while I go to Cheyenne to let the governor and Colin in on Heyes' plan. I got the telegram that it's already in motion, although I'm not sure what that first step is. The plan has a lot of moving parts, but it is a true Hannibal Heyes plan, well thought out and, if it works, will eliminate a lot of problems for my friends.
I had sent a telegram to Colin at the prison that I was going to be in Cheyenne, and I'd like him to join me and the governor for a meeting. His reply came within the hour and the meeting was set up. The meeting lasted almost two hours because they had questions, including what the mysterious first step was and some of the other steps were vague. I couldn't tell because I didn't know. I assume the first step filled in one of the holes I had pointed out in Heyes' plan. I just hit the high points with these men. In their positions, they weren't usually involved in the details.
The governor looked at the notes I had made in silence while I spoke, and Colin asked the few questions he had. They had concerns about the violence but could see that Heyes' plan took steps to keep it to a minimum. Some violence was to be expected trying to capture the McWInters brothers. And they promised the experienced men Heyes needed.
I turned down their dinner invitation. When I went to send the Kid a telegram that my mission was accomplished, I found one waiting for me from HH, Hannibal Heyes. He needed me to go to Brown River, Colorado, and draw a map of the town, especially the location of the livery, the telegraph office, and the bank. It would add at least three days to my trip. I took the train to Denver and the stagecoach to Brown River today.
I walked around the town three times getting a feel for the buildings, as well as the roads and alleys. I ate dinner in the diner and watched the bank. The Kid's telegram didn't ask, but my outlaw ways of scouting out a town came back easily. I made note of how many doors the bank had and how many tellers. In the telegraph office, I asked if there was anything for Lom Trevors. Of course, there wasn't, but I got a look at the wanted posters there. The posters for the McWinters gang were there.
I didn't recognize the names on the shingle of the sheriff and the deputy, but still didn't enter their office. I felt the aura of the outlaw on me and was cautious. Caution was good, I told myself. I blended in and stayed in the shadows so no one would remember me if asked. The livery was next to the bank and had a large corral in front with the stable further back. It had a second corral in the back with no exit. I thought this was probably to prevent theft of the animals or customers sneaking out without paying. There was a door into the side alley, locked from the inside. I only saw one old man there and it was unattended when he left to eat.
I took the evening stage to Kirenberg and spent the night there working on a detailed map and notes of Brown River. I hadn't done this type of thing since I left the Devil's Hole gang. It felt good to be doing it on the right side of the law. Early the next morning, I rented a horse and rode back to Brown River, leaving my horse at the livery, I studied the interior. I sat on a barrel in the alley and watched the bank and livery to confirm my information while I waited for the stage back to Denver. Someone from the bank met the stage and received a large pouch, then hurried back to the bank. A delivery of some kind I assumed.
I arrived at the Kid's ranch late in the afternoon. The smithy was open, but no one was there. I rode the horse I'd rented in Bridgeport and opened the gate, knowing that the noise would alert someone. I didn't expect that person to be Marshal Josephs. I thought his assignment would be over when Fitzjohn died, but Colin did say there might be others already paid to kill the Kid before Fitzjohn died. Heyes watched from the porch of the house as I approached.
ASJ*****ASJ
Heyes was delighted with the map and Brown River information. I know because when he took his hand from his mouth, his excitement was the first thought that fell out. He clapped one hand back over his mouth and sat at the table deep in concentration over my research.
Juan had waved at me from the stables, but I didn't see Chrissy or the Kid.
"Heyes, where are the Kid and Chrissy? The blacksmith shop looked closed."
I could see he was thinking about how to talk to me without his thoughts intruding. He closed his eyes and spoke quickly. "The Kid's in town working on our plan. Chrissy's in her room." He covered his mouth and opened his eyes when he finished, and I saw relief in his eyes that his thoughts were his own.
I went and knocked on Chrissy's door.
"Chrissy, it's Lom."
I heard a dog bark and the key turned to lock the door.
Heyes had followed me and now shook his head. I knew what had happened at the smithy. "She all right? scared?"
He went and got his chalkboard but this time I knew it was to keep his thoughts from pouring out. 'She'll be all right. The Kid takes good care of her…of us," he wrote. I understood what he was saying. Dr. Arden had told me she was fragile.
"Anything I can do to help?"
Heyes gestured over the map and the papers now spread over the table.
"That what you need? Is Brown River where you plan on getting the McWinters Gang?"
He nodded with a pleased smile.
I'd been away from Porterville for longer than I'd expected so I headed back without waiting for the Kid to return. There was a telegram waiting for me. It upset me and I needed to attend to it immediately. I sent a reply and one to the Kid. This would change a lot of things.