Winter's Refuge
Chapter Fifty-Two
LOM
The trip to the ranch was quiet. Lily rode in the back of the wagon on a bed of blankets, covered by the new quilt. The Kid told me what happened at the livery. He was humbled by the gift. He needs to see the good in himself. The twins both insisted on riding in the bed of the wagon with my sister even though I'd encouraged Michael to ride up front between me and the Kid.
At first, I had pointed out landmarks and the stream that ran next to the road and birds flying overhead, but they didn't seem interested. So, me and the Kid talked quietly.
"Weren't sure which bedroom your sister would want, but decided downstairs is best. The stairs would be difficult for her. We put her in Chrissy's old room and you can have mine," he explained.
"Hard to believe you're finally married, Kid!" I hit him enthusiastically on the back and watched him sit up straight. I keep forgetting his back is still healing. He never complains, ever. And he didn't say anything now. "Oh sorry."
"It's fine," he answered, but I knew I'd caused him pain.
He told me all the preparations they had made for the twins, including new, unbroken, matching dishes. He'd moved his shooting range further away from the house and set it up so his targets were in front of a mountain. He was worried about the kids and his guns so, with Juan's help, had built a cabinet for all firearms. Heyes had taken delight in designing a simple lock for the cabinet and the Kid made it. They had received all the boxes and had set up Lily's room downstairs, already anticipating stairs might be difficult for her. Her own bed, shipped courtesy of Mrs. Clark, was made and waiting. Only problem was their dog, Joe, insisted on sleeping in that room as he was shut out of the newlywed's bedroom.
I told him the twins will be thrilled to see the dogs. They've been asking for one.
"And Heyes?" I asked tentatively.
"Don't remember anything, Lom. With the way his thoughts come tumblin' out, we'd know if he did."
He was quiet before speaking again, looking at the road ahead, not at me.
"Lom, don't know that I deserve to be a father. Ain't the kind of man you'd want your daughter marryin'. Can't offer them much but a name they can't be proud of. Now Chrissy, she's goin' be a wonderful ma. She can't wait for them to come. I worry if she's healed enough to handle them."
"I think they're very lucky kids to have the both of you as parents," I told him, wishing I had the words to get him to realize the strong moral man he had become and how impressed I was that he had matured under harsh circumstances. But I didn't so I stayed quiet, and we rode the rest of the way in silence.
"Almost there," I said as we turned up Old Cummings Road.
Lily and the twins all looked out of the wagon in anticipation.
"This your blacksmith shop, Jed?" Lillian asked, even her voice was fragile.
"Yes, ma'am." And I heard some pride in his voice.
"This all your land?"
"Well, me and Heyes and Chrissy all own it," he answered. "Lom set it up that way."
The Kid stopped the wagon at the gate. I got out and opened it and closed it behind the wagon. The noise brought Juan and Ken from the corrals. The front door opened, and Chrissy ran towards us. Jed stopped the wagon halfway to the house when she reached us.
"My babies!" she exclaimed and lifted one then other out of the wagon and hugged them both tight. I wasn't sure what kind of welcome they were going to give her, but they hugged her back tightly, together.
"As it should be," I heard the Kid tell me softly.
Chrissy seemed oblivious to all of us and walked to the house, an arm around each of her children. At the front steps, Juan took the horses.
"Welcome, Miss Trevors," he said, not waiting to be introduced.
The Kid moved to the side of the wagon and leaned in. "Miss Lily, you just put your arm around my neck, and I'll carry you into your new home."
ASJ*****ASJ
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. Lily was settled into her room and the door closed to keep the dogs, Joe and Not Joe, out. Chrissy seemed to be everywhere. She took the twins right upstairs and showed them their bedroom. It was both new and familiar, seeing their own beds was comforting. They immediately jumped on them.
I tried to stop them, but Chrissy said, "Good. All kids jump on bed."
"What's going on in here?" The Kid's loud voice stopped all motion in the room. Martha and Michael got down and stood next to their beds, heads bowed.
Chrissy surprised us all. She put her hand out to the Kid. When he took it, she stood on Martha's bed and jumped up and down with him holding her hands. And she laughed. And he laughed.
"I think your pa just didn't want to miss out on the fun," I told the confused kids.
After watching with her mouth open in wonder, Martha tapped the Kid on the back of his leg. "My turn, sir?"
"Looks like it's someone else's turn, Chrissy darlin'," he said as he lifted her high in the air and put her on the floor.
"Next."
Tentatively, Martha put her hands in his and climbed on her bed. Holding her pa's hands, she started to bounce…and laugh with the abandon of a five-year-old. Michael held out his hands to me and I held them while he bounced higher and higher on his own bed. Soon the room was full of laughter. The Kid let his hands move to under Martha's arms and twirled her around the room, legs flying before he deposited her on the floor. Dizzy, she reached out for him, and he held her tight, sitting on the bed, dizzy himself.
Through her laughter, she said, "Thanks, Papa."
"You're welcome, little darlin'," he said with a wide smile and joy, putting a rare twinkle in his eyes.
HEYES
I haven't lived with children since Valparaiso. These two are active, noisy, and fearless. I did my chores and went into my room with the door closed. Lom and Ken were absorbed in a conversion about wanted posters that went on so long they missed dinner as they talked into the night.
The twins were well mannered at dinner. Miss Lillian, Lom's sister, knows how to make them obey with just a look. My mom could do that but the Kid's mom, my Aunt Siobhan, could do it better than anyone else. Just one glance from her and she put the fear in you to mind your manners…or else. The Kid has a glare like that. He uses it to intimidate men.
After dinner, we all sat in the living room while Lily read Cinderella. Martha is still wary if the Kid speaks loudly, but is warming up to him. Michael is terrified when anyone raises their voice…and he is afraid of the Kid. I've never heard this story and was disappointed when both of the babies were asleep after a few pages. The Kid and Lom carried them to their room with Chrissy following and Joe and Not Joe trotting upstairs after them.
That left me alone with Miss Lily, who watched them disappear with a smile. "They are such sweet children, but they have so much energy, I get tired just watching them."
I'd been holding a bandana to my mouth all the time since we sat down. I lowered it now and sang Simple Gifts in my head. "Noisy, too." I smiled, then said, "The little girl looks like she's partial to her papa already." I covered my mouth again.
"I'm glad. They haven't seen many men growing up. Though Mikey does seem to be afraid of him," she answered.
"A lot of grown men afraid of the Kid," I smiled..
It made her smile, too. "Mr. Heyes…"
"Heyes, just Heyes."
"Heyes, may I prevail on you to help me to my room?"
I didn't want to. I didn't know her. But she needed my help, so I supported her to her room. I was relieved when she dismissed me. "Thank you, Heyes. I can handle things from here."
ASJ*****ASJ
The Kid had told me about meeting Johnny McWinters and his skill with a rifle. I've been trying to figure out if that changes my plans. I'm going through all the notes I have on their bank robberies. Not all of them mention Johnny except to say he was there, but the ones that do all state John stayed in the livery with the horses. If he's in the livery, he will fall into our trap. But just in case, it would be good to check the roofs of the buildings across the street from the bank.
Life has changed with the twins here. Chrissy is trying to teach them to milk the cow but they are scared to touch her. They do gather some of the eggs but are frightened of the chickens, too. And they have never been around horses. Lily told me her housekeeper owned a wagon and a horse, but the twins were never allowed near the horse. They had never even ridden in the wagon.
I asked Lom and he said it was to keep them away from the reporters that were always curious about who Chrissy had married, me or the Kid.
Lily never leaves the house. She needs help to walk from her room to the kitchen or the living room. But she helps with the cooking and she's a good cook. Chrissy is not a good cook. The kids are active and keep Chrissy and Lom busy looking after them. The Kid tries to still do everything he did before. He gets up earlier now to practice his shooting. I go watch him sometimes and set up cans or throw them in the air. I think he's as fast as ever. He's obsessive about his aim and his speed. Said they might save all our lives one day. Now that the kids are here, Chrissy doesn't usually come to the forge in the morning. I'm trying to do what she did and check out the horses that need to be shoed. I'm uncomfortable but can do it for the neighbors I've seen before, but I can't handle strangers. My heart beats fast and I have the urge to run and hide. Sometimes my words fail me but I'm learning to keep my thoughts to myself….unless I get upset. I see every stranger as a threat to me and the Kid…and Chrissy…and the kids.
Lom lets his sister sleep and he's been coming down and helping me check in the horses. He leaves after doing that so he can give Miss Lily her morning medicines. I've never seen Lom show affection before. He loves his sister.
Chrissy and the twins walked down to the shop today when everyone had been checked in.
"Stay back!" The Kid held his hand up to stop them as they were running toward us. "It's hot in here."
They looked hurt that he yelled at them. I watched sadness cross the Kid's face as he turned away from them and stoked the fire.
"Listen to Pa," Chrissy said just as firmly, but they didn't look hurt at her words and obeyed, stopping just outside the front of the forge. "Come." Chrissy led them to the back door. The Kid watched as they skipped around to the back. I knew that look in his eye and will try to talk to him about it later. If he'll listen to me. He always used to listen to me but now I listen to him.
He finished nailing the shoe on the horse as the kids watched from the back door. Then wiping his hands, he came to join us.
"Why do you have that bandana tied around your head? Is it to cover that big owie you have on your forehead?" Martha asked innocently.
Before the Kid could answer, Chrissy walked over to him and grabbed the bandana off of his head. "Keep black off hair." She shook the cloth, and they watched all the black dust and grime from the forge fly off.
"Oh my!" Martha stepped back, brushing the black off of her clothes. "Is that why your nails are black sometimes?"
The Kid mumbled an embarrassed, "Yes."
Michael had wandered into the shop and reached for a repaired ax hanging low on the wall. I saw the fear in the Kid's eye.
"Michael, no touch!" Chrissy yelled. Looking contrite the boy stopped. "No touch in forge."
"Yes, Ma."
I stayed until the Kid closed the shop at noon. He'd come down here again after supper and finish up the jobs and work on his special projects, as he called the things he sold in the mercantile. We walk side by side now. I forced myself to do it with the Kid and Chrissy. I still need to walk behind Lom and most other people. Subservient, the Kid calls it, and he's right. But it was beaten into me and it's hard to change.
Now was the time to talk to him about the look I saw on his face. "Kid, you scared of your twins? ABCDEFGHIJKLMN."
"Say that alphabet silently, if you can."
I started the alphabet in my head. Then said, "You mad me!" very quickly.
I held my hand over my mouth. I felt my thoughts try to force their way out. He was mad. I could tell. Anger flared on his face. "Sorry." Was he mad about the alphabet out loud or the question I asked? I'll pretend I didn't ask anything and keep my hand over my mouth. I dropped half a step behind him.
He stopped. I saw the anger turn to regret. "No, it's me that's apologizin'. Didn't mean to yell."
He was quiet and I hoped he forgot my question, if that's what made him mad.
"Heyes, stand next to me. I thought you could do that now." I hurried up and stood beside him as he stared at the house. We could hear the children playing outside.
"Partner," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Yes, I'm scared of two five-year-olds. I frighten them when I talk. Miss Lily has done such a good job of raisin' them, manners and all. I don't want to mess that up. When I pick my daughter up, she's so small I think I might break her. I want the world for them but maybe I can't give it to them."
He was sincere, forlorn. I wish I had my silver tongue back. I can't think fast like I used to. I simply asked him, "Do you love them?" and covered my mouth again.
He looked confused. "Of course, I love them with all my heart. Never thought I could love anyone this much."
I took my hand from my mouth and let him hear my thoughts. "Please don't be mad I asked that question. I know you love them. But you don't show it as much as Chrissy. It's like you're walking on eggshells around them. You're the adult here. Go into the yard and sweep them both into your arms and tell them you love them."
I put my hand back over my mouth before I said something about Kid Curry being afraid of two little kids. He took out a clean bandana from his back pocket and started rubbing his hands. "I'll do just that, but I think I'm gonna stop by the stream and clean my hands and nails better."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Heyes was right. I scrubbed my nails with my special nail tool and headed to the house. Michael and Martha were throwin' a beanbag ball back and forth. I caught it in midflight. I swept first Michael then Martha up into my arms. "How are my two favorite kids?"
Michael stiffened but Martha grabbed my neck laughin'. "Good!" she answered. I kissed her forehead. Her brother relaxed and I was happy to feel him huggin' my shoulder. "Good!" he echoed. They had picked up Chrissy's favorite word.
"Good! Let's go eat!" I said as I carried them into the house.
ASJ*****ASJ
"Kid, been meaning to tell you, I looked through my wanted posters. There's a real old one for the three outlaws in the Triumvirate from before my time as sheriff and it's been reissued every five years since. They don't have the outlaw's names, except for one may have been going by Jose in Texas."
Lom and I were sittin' by the fire after supper, the snow stoppin' me from going back to the shop, the rest of the household busy with their own tasks.
"I was curious and asked Colin. The ten thousand dollars reward for each of them is still valid. No one has forgotten them."
I felt him studyin' me carefully as he talked. I hadn't forgotten I had asked if they were still wanted. At the time, I had tried to make it seem like I was wonderin' if me and Heyes would have been wanted forever. I had thought it had slipped Lom's mind and had been considerin' ways to bring it up again kinda naturally in conversation. I was relieved he told me about the posters before I asked again. I didn't want him to get suspicious about Jose Ortiz. I watched the flames play on the wood and answered, "That would have been me and Heyes if we hadn't gone to prison."
"And gotten your amnesty," Lom added quickly.
I smiled at our friend. "Well, Heyes is still workin' on earnin' that part. Don't know if I ever thanked you for not givin' up on us, for pesterin' the governor so he didn't forget about the amnesty for two outlaws, either."
"It's what friends do. Think it's time for Lillian's night medicine. I'll just give it to her and go to bed myself." He didn't stand up to leave, just took a sip of the whiskey I always kept for him.
I needed to finish this conversation now or I might not get the courage to start it again. I was takin' a chance here, a chance with someone else's freedom, someone else's life. "Lom?"
"Hmm," his answer was relaxed. I knew he was tired.
"If one or more of the Triumvirate were to ask for amnesty now, after livin' an honest life all this time, you think you could talk the governor into grantin' it?" I didn't look at him and tried to ask the question casually.
He didn't answer right away. I knew he was tryin' to puzzle some pieces together. I hoped for the moment he did not come up with Jose Ortiz as the answer to his puzzle.
"Kid, something I should know?" he asked.
"Maybe somethin' you already know?" I answered and gathered my courage. "If I tell you somethin', I need your word you'll keep it between us…and the governor."
"Kid," he growled. 'Don't get me into anything illegal."
"No, just want you to do for a friend what you did for me and Heyes, except they've already been livin' an honest life for over twenty-five years now." I looked at him and kept lookin' in silence until he was forced to look at me.
"Tell you what. What you tell me tonight will stay in confidence, like I never heard it. Then I'll decide if I'm going to go through this whole amnesty thing…again. Twenty-five years is a long time, are you sure they're still wan…wait, is this for the members of the Triumvirate? Oh, no, Kid. You wouldn't ask me to do that."
I panicked for a second. Maybe I shouldn't be doin' this. Jose's lived outside the law all this time. Maybe I should have asked him instead of gettin' an idea and actin' on it.
"Kid?"
"Well, not all three, just one."
He was quiet, waitin' for me to speak, but I was busy reconsiderin' this whole idea. What if they arrested him because of me?
This time it was Lom starin' at me waitin' for me to tell him somethin' he wasn't sure he wanted to hear.
"Jose Ortiz," I finally said.
"Jose? Our Jose?" Lom said incredulously. Another word I learned from readin' and my dictionary. "He ask you to do this?"
"No, my idea when I saw he's afraid of ridin' trains and even goin near Cheyenne. He don't know I'm askin'."
Lom was quiet and I knew now it was because he was thinkin' and not because he was waitin' for me to talk. "Need to mull this over tonight. What about the other two of the Triumvirate? You know who they are?"
"This don't involve them." I know I was sharp in my tone, but I didn't want anyone else brought into this.
"Governor will probably want their names before he thinks about an amnesty, maybe include them, too." Lom's tone was just as sharp.
"They're both dead."
"Then you do know who they are?"
"Not sayin' I do, just that I can confirm they're both dead." I didn't want to admit to anything but still give him enough information. I could feel him comin' to a decision. I hoped it was to be Jose's advocate. "I was hopin' since this is all long past that this could be done quietly."
Lom gave me one of those long lawman stares. "If I ask this, it comes close to you, all of us even, aiding and abetting. Depends how the governor sees it."
"Heyes don't know nothin' about this. His parole can't be affected."
"Nothing?"
"I'll swear to it. He hasn't a clue."
"And Chrissy?"
"Don't know if she knows or not," I lied. Truth, I didn't know if she remembered.
Lom leaned back in the overstuffed upholstered chair and finished his whiskey. "Ahh," he said, puttin' the glass on the little table. "Okay. Jose's a good man with a good wife and good sons. I'll speak to Colin and the governor next time we're in Cheyenne. How will I say you came to know about this?"
"Whispered rumors on the wind."
HEYES
The Kid is getting and giving hugs to his twins now, but he still treats them as if they're made of glass. I need to remind him of the wild things we did when we were little. Especially the things his older brothers and I dared the Kid to do. He usually did them, but found a way to make them safer.
I've decided I like having the little ones around. I like being called Uncle Heyes. I try to act normal around them, but I know I jump at sounds and am obsessive about locking doors. And I say the alphabet when I'm upset or nervous. Before I lock the doors at night, I go upstairs and make sure they are both asleep in their beds. They both resemble the Kid how I remember him at that age. When we were at The Home, both me and the Kid got real good about pretending to go to bed and then slipping outside. I don't want them to get locked outside like I did Chrissy.
I also make sure Not Joe is with Juan and Ken and Joe is in the house. Not Joe plays in the house during the day but still sleeps in Summer Soltice's stall each night. When the twins and Miss Lily first came, Joe jumped into bed with Miss Lily in Chrissy's old room. She screamed. She's not used to dogs. Joe was frightened, too. He ran out of her room and up the stairs. That night he slept outside of the twin's closed bedroom door. After two nights in the hall, Chrissy let him into the room. He makes a bed on the round rug between their two beds. When I check that the kids are inside, he lifts his head and looks at me. I think he's saying, 'they're sleeping. I'm watching over them.'
The adults, me and the Kid, Chrissy, Lom, and Lily gather in the living room. The ladies and I discuss books and often the Kid joins in. I can't get used to the Kid having read as many books as I have. I don't always remember what I read the first time. The Kid has excellent recall and an improving vocabulary. Lom usually has paperwork to complete. It arrives by mail in Three Birds every other day without fail from Rudy. There's papers to sign and forms to complete and wanted posters to review. Lom's still sheriff of Porterville. He said after my next parole hearing, he'll go back to Porterville for a few days. He doesn't want to leave Miss Lily for too long. He told me he treasures every day with her.
Chrissy goes up to bed first. I have been reviewing my plan with the Kid and Lom every night lately. The twenty fifth is coming fast. But before I set my trap, I have my fifth parole hearing. Each of the first four has been different so I don't know what to expect. I'm nervous because the Kid is going to tell them Preacher showed up here. He already told Lom, so he won't be surprised at the hearing. I don't want the Kid to be in trouble.
Tonight, we told Lom about Johnny McWinters.
"You saw who in Three Birds?" Lom was angry…concerned…no, definitely angry.
The Kid was calmer than I would have been. "Johnny McWinters."
"Kid, he's wanted. I understand what happened with Preacher but John McWinters is another story."
"Lom, here's what happened. Chrissy caught sight of him in the new mercantile just before I did. He left quickly. It was crowded. By the time I got out of the store, I didn't see him anywhere. I walked a few steps, he stepped out from the alley and put his pistol right in my chest then lowered it to my belly. I wasn't about to get a belly wound if I could help it. He kept that gun right there while we talked."
"You talked?"
"Told me he saw Chrissy was happy and Mark had changed his mind because he thought she was safe with me and Heyes. Told me Mark let Paul go. He said he was here to do something our sheriff didn't, take care of Price for what he did to his sister."
"Sounds like a long conversation."
"One sided, but seemed even longer with that metal aimed at my belly. Belly wounds are fatal and a painful way to die," the Kid said convincingly. I thought about how the Kid aimed at the hand or arm when he had time.
Lom nodded his head and took a drink of whiskey. The Kid keeps whiskey in the house for Lom. Me and the Kid don't drink it. One day soon we will sit down and drink and talk. Soon, but not yet.
"But you're still here. He didn't shoot you," Lom's challenged. "Aiding and abetting a known outlaw…"
"Lom, didn't aid or abet. Asked him twice to turn himself in. Frank called from the store entrance lookin' for me. I turned to look his way and Johnny was gone. I ran to the end of the alley but he was truly gone. I was worried about Chrissy and went back inside. Frank told me about the boxes that had arrived. That's it."
"That's it? You didn't tell Frank?"
"Wanted to talk it over with Heyes and you first. See if it changed his plan." The Kid sounded convincing to me.
I looked at the Kid but kept my mouth covered. This conversation scared me. I hadn't wanted him to tell Lom. No one would ever know. It doesn't change my plan. We'll just make sure that John stays in the livery watching the horses. But the Kid said he had to tell Lom. Wasn't gonna keep secrets from him.
Lom took another drink and looked at his watch. "Time for Lily's bathroom trip and her medications." He stood up and looked sternly at the Kid. "Tomorrow me and you talk to Frank together."
LOM
The Kid has grown strong, and not just his body. Last night he told me about meeting John McWinters, answered every question I asked. He didn't have to tell me, I would never have known. I believed every word he said. Him and Heyes bent the truth with me many times when they were going for amnesty. Or lied by omission. I went with him to talk to Frank, and I lied this time. At first, I thought the Kid was going to call out my lie, but he remained silent. I told Frank that the Kid had let me know about his meeting with John. I implied he let me know right after it happened, not just last night.
Frank listened all the way through, then asked, "You okay, Jed?" There was real concern in his voice.
"Yeah, Frank. I'm fine but I'd be dead if Johnny had pulled that trigger. I wasn't who he came for." The Kid looked Frank right in the eyes, studying him as much as Frank was studying him.
"Sorry we couldn't capture John McWinters but doesn't sound like you had the chance. You tell Heyes what he told you?" Frank asked. I knew then that Frank wasn't going to charge the Kid with helping John escape or anything else. "Can't say I was sorry when Price was killed."
The Kid took a deep breath and surprised me with his next question. "Not sure who the governor goin' give Heyes for his trap. Could use another man we trust. You interested?"
Frank smiled and slapped the Kid hard on the back. It was a friendly gesture, but I saw the slight wince from the Kid. "Was hoping you'd ask."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Went into Three Birds with Lom early to talk to Frank, so I didn't get to practice my shootin'. That practice calms me and gets me ready for the mayhem of my day. Without it, I feel unsettled. When we turned up Old Cummings Road, the sides of my blacksmith shop were open. I pushed Winter's Glory to get there quickly.
Heyes was checkin' in a horse to be shoed for our neighbor, Nino Paxton.
"Hi'ya, partner," I said with a grin.
Heyes grinned back. I could hear him singin' softly. "Four horses, six shoes," he said quickly.
"I'll take your horse up to the stable," Lom said. He was smilin' at Heyes, too. This showed how much he was healin'.
I smiled at the line of people wantin' for me to do other things than shoe a horse. I went in and started the fire in the forge. Heyes went around the outside into the back room. He motioned me in.
"Thanks, partner, for helpin' me."
"Frank?" he asked between lines of his song.
"Worked out well, thanks to Lom."
He smiled, then looked down, guilty about somethin'. He wouldn't look at me.
"Heyes, look at me, what's wrong?" I asked but I felt unsettled, and it came out like a demand.
"Scared of strangers in line. N…never seen some of them. Staring at me." Each of his sentences was separated by a few words of Simple Gifts.
"I'm so thankful you did what you did. Makes my day easier. Don't worry about the people in that line. I'll take care of them."
Heyes perked up. "Trying."