Winter's Refuge
Chapter Fifty-Seven
LOM
Heyes talked to the Kid and left with me. I knew he was uncomfortable anywhere but the ranch. I was proud of him for staying there.
"Looks like your plan worked, Heyes. Good job," I started the conversation as we rode home.
"Wanted to take them alive." He shook his head. Now that we were alone and riding home, his words had returned. I knew Heyes had always avoided killing, until he was in prison. But that was self-defense. Now the Kid, I'm sure has killed a few men, but I never asked any questions. Don't want to know if I don't have to. He has to live with it. It haunts him; I can see it in his eyes sometimes.
"Well, you couldn't have predicted the fire," I told him.
He nodded and reached forward and petted Fall's Bells neck. He shivered and pulled his coat closer around him. "I should have figured out the two-story hayloft though. Almost got the Kid killed." He was berating himself. Now I knew what was in his mind. This is why he'd been so quiet after the Kid mentioned it. I thought he'd be crowing about his successful plan but he had failed to protect the Kid. "Chrissy will be very angry with me," he added softly. "She's very upset anyway."
Sometimes I forget he's still healing, still has great fears and insecurities to deal with. He depends heavily on the Kid and even Chrissy. I don't know how the Kid does it, but he's been helping him heal.
"Saw the new foal in the stable. He's beautiful." I changed the subject.
"Isn't he? He's Poseidon's Winter."
"Name doesn't start with a season like all the others?"
"That's for Winter's Refuge horses. Phoenix horses have a mythological name first," Heyes explained. He'd lost some of his melancholy.
"The ranch finally has a name! Phoenix! Fits."
"Chrissy named it because we three have risen from the ashes." Heyes said with some pride.
At the gate, I used Frank's trick and was able to open it without noise. I knew the Kid was already thinking of ways to make it noisy again. Brian Birde didn't hear the gate, so I called out to him, "Brian, it's Lom and Heyes."
Brian was young, barely seventeen. Despite being a Birde and raised with money, he was not spoiled. His warm coat was a hand me down from his older brother. He'd turned out to be good with the horses and good company. We played a game of chess every night and he won as many as me. Neither of us could cook, but Mrs. Clark had left us some leftovers and we managed the rest of the time. We took turns sleeping and standing guard. His younger brother, Scott, came yesterday to help out.
I must admit my mind wanders to thoughts of Lillian often. Her taking care of me when I was sick, always comforting. When I asked her to raise the babies of a friend with few explanations and only the knowledge that they needed to be hidden, she accepted without a thought.
"If it's a friend of yours, Little Lom, they're a friend of mine."
Over the years I told her Chrissy's story and got a picture of her from Marina at Lily's request.
"These darlings need to be able to look their ma in her eyes, even if it's just an image. I read the papers, you know; Heyes and Curry are famous. I understand why these babies, whichever is their father, are safer hidden."
I'd never asked but I always figured their father was the Kid. The workmanship on the wooden ring she wore looked like other things I'd seen him make. Of course, he might have made the ring for his cousin to give her. Anyway, it doesn't matter. The Kid is their pa and parenthood suits him.
As I grew older and our parents died, Lily was wise when I needed her to be, stern at times and funny when I needed a laugh. Pa said she was a handful when she was younger but grew into her wisdom. She wouldn't talk to me, didn't want to see me during my outlaw days. I'd disappointed her and she despised that life for me. She prayed for me. The day I told her I was taking a deputy sheriff's job, she smiled and cried at the same time. After the governor signed my amnesty papers, the first place I went was to her home and she cried tears of joy. Now she was gone. But I hear her voice. I think I see her in the chair by the fire or on the front porch. I would have been useless helping the Kid in Brown River.
ASJ*****ASJ
Brian Birde had done his best and made a passable chicken stew and rolls. It was a far cry from Mrs. Clark's cooking but it was edible.
HEYES
I was glad the Kid said I could go home. Fritz Birde and his wife were nice and polite to us, but I was scared and uncomfortable there. I couldn't walk around the house and lock all the doors and windows. I needed to know that our family was safe. The twins and Chrissy were in one room and Mrs. Clark and I each had rooms across the hall. I couldn't protect them like this. Chrissy was happy that I locked the windows in their room. Then I pulled a chair out into the hall and slept outside her door.
Mrs. Birde screamed when she saw someone sleeping in the hall. Mr. Fritz Birde told me I had to go back into my room. Their house was secure. I lost my words when he put his arm around my shoulders and touched me. I don't like being touched and his grip hurt the almost healed shiv wound on my back where the skin is tender. I started shaking as he led me back into my room.
"Just go to sleep, Mr. Heyes. Everyone is safe in my house," Mr. Birde said firmly. "Stay in your room; you scare the missus when you walk around."
So, I stayed in my room, stayed awake and listened. I promised the Kid I'd watch out for them.
During the day I watched the twins play in the large, fenced backyard. Still, I kept walking along the fence line on the alert. My words had stilted after that first night and were hard to force out, so I only talk to Chrissy and the babies. I wish I could wear my gun, but I can see that Mr. Birde has an armed guard just outside the fence. And I saw where Mr. Birde keeps his guns in the house. I will make sure no one hurts our family. Chrissy insisted Martha and Michael come outside and play. They have so much energy, they play running games the whole time they are out here. I don't play with them. I watch for any danger.
Chrissy, Mrs. Clark with Mrs. Birde, Beverly, and three guards walked to the new mercantile. Chrissy rarely comes to town except to go to mass. She's scared of strangers, just like me. Mrs. Birde is happy to have other women around and decided they should start a quilting circle. They went there to pick out the new fabric they would use. It all matched. Chrissy told me later that she's never seen a quilt that wasn't made out of scraps and odds and ends.
Chrissy bought peppermints for the Kid when he came home. They were always his favorite. Martha and Michael liked them, too. She waited in front of the store with a guard while Mrs. Birde and Beverly kept shopping and Mrs. Clark picked up the spices she had ordered. It was there she thought she saw him come out of the church and go riding by.
She froze then started running to the Birde house. Confused, the guard followed her. She ran through the house, leaving the doors open and to me in the backyard.
"Heyes, he here! Martha, Michael, come come." She held onto me as if she needed support and gathered the children between us. "Quick, house!" She forced us all together into the house.
I looked at the guard and concentrated on my words. I knew this was important. "F-followed here?"
"Not that I know, sir, but I'll backtrack and see." He waved to the guard outside the fence to join him.
"No, stay here. G-g-guard house."
Fritz Birde met us at the back door, gun in hand. He must have heard the commotion when Chrissy ran through the house. "What's going on, dear? You men, circle the house, look for any sign of intruders. Where's my wife?" His words tumbled out quickly.
Chrissy's eyes darted around the kitchen but saw only Mr. Birde. "Upstairs clear?" She looked right at Mr. Birde. Public service had made his waistband expand but the look on his face was still threatening.
He looked at me. He had a gun, and I can't touch it. I want him with Chrissy to protect her. I headed to the stairs.
"Look in the closet at the end of the hall," he yelled after me.
Now that there's a threat I can go into every room. I pull the knife from my boot and carry it in front of me. The Kid forged it just for me and it has nice balance. I searched in every room, locked every window. I checked under every bed and in the hall closet. Then I rechecked all those places. "Cl-clear," I called from the head of the stairs.
I just had time to re-sheath my knife before the twins came barreling upstairs and hugged my legs tight. They were scared. Something had scared their ma and they knew it. Chrissy was right behind them. Followed by our host. We all went into their bedroom.
"L-l-locked." I showed Chrissy the windows. "T-alk to m-me."
She put a bag of wooden blocks in a corner for the kids. "Build house," she told them. Reluctantly they sat down and did what she asked.
Then, in a quiet voice, she told me and Mr. Birde. "See Bobby Bell come out of church and go riding by in town. I no move, then run here."
Alarmed, I looked at the clock. If he had escaped and ridden hard from Brown River, he could have made it here.
"Are you sure, Mrs. Curry?" Mr. Birde asked. " I have a telegram from my brother saying he was shot then died in the fire." He still had his gun and was standing by the door as if to shoot any intruder.
"He look at me. He touch hat. I know my brother."
"I'll get a posse together to look for him. And send somebody out to your ranch to let Lom know there might be trouble," he said, but didn't move. "My wife, where is she?"
"Shopping. She no see. Mrs. Clark, Beverly no see. I tired shopping, wait outside with guard."
He sighed in relief. "Stay in here. Do not come down unless I tell you to, no one else," he said, taking charge.
"Yes, sir," she answered, looking down and I realized what the Kid meant when he said I was looking subservient. She'd been in prison as long as we had, and it had been beaten into her too.
Something scared her, but I don't think it was Bobby Bell. What would he be doing in the church?
LOM
Brian's younger brother Scott came riding hard up Curry Road. Even before he got to the gate, we heard him. Me and Brian waited on the porch for him.
"Uncle Fritz sent me. Mrs. Curry thinks she might have seen one of her brothers in Three Birds," he said through gasps of breath.
"Which one?" I asked although one was as bad as the other.
"Bobby Bell. Said he looked at her and touched his hat as he rode by. There's a posse out looking for him."
Brian stared at him. "But Uncle Frank's telegram said they were all dead," he stated.
"Well, not sure if they believe Mrs. Curry; she's mighty jumpy with Mr. Curry gone and her brothers dying and all. Just might have been a polite stranger passing through town, but they're not taking any chances. I'm supposed to stay out here and help."
"Start by getting yourself some water and taking care of your horse," I told him.
I didn't believe Bobby Bell had survived, but if there was any chance he did, I needed to get out of this fog and stay alert. I went into my room and splashed cold water onto my face. Focusing on Chrissy and the twins and the possible dangers to them, I pushed thoughts of Lily to a corner of my mind, out of the way but not forgotten. I focused and went to organize a watch schedule for the three of us.
I was relieved when word was sent to the ranch that the Good Guy Gang had returned the next afternoon. I'd listened to the Kid's recount of identifying the bodies and was sure Chrissy was mistaken. It had only been a polite stranger.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I wished we'd gone home with Heyes and Lom, but Chrissy had told me earlier that we were stayin' at the Birde's that night. I'd rather be in my own bed in my own house with my wife in my arms without our two precious babies sleepin' in the same room. But Chrissy had said she was very tired, and I could see worry in her eyes, so I didn't argue. Knowin' that she's carryin' our child, I wish I could have spared her this. I'm just glad it's over.
"Jed, what happened to neck?" she asked quietly when we were cuddlin' in bed.
I didn't want to tell her, but I don't lie to her. "Bobby Bell shot me."
She froze like she used to do all the time. Finally, she asked, "Gunfight?"
"Yes."
Again, I felt her silence. "You shoot him? He always very fast. Maybe faster than you."
I kissed the top of her head. I felt the need to be as close to her comfort as I could. "Yes, I shot him in the shoulder. He dropped the gun and went back into the burnin' livery. I told him to come out. That we had a doctor, but he laughed and disappeared inside." I lifted her face with one finger to look into mine. "Chrissy darlin', why all the questions about Bobby Bell and not the others?"
There was a deep question in those mountain green eyes. "You sure Bobby Bell dead?"
"Yes, I identified his body with the bullet wound to his shoulder."
Now that my eyes were on hers, she held them. "Chrissy darlin' saw Bobby Bell in Three Birds. Come out of church, rode down Main Street, look at me and touched his finger to his hat and rode away," she said, watchin' my face.
I didn't say anything for a minute. "Are you alright? What did you do?"
I could see her gettin' upset and her voice was shaky. "Ran to Birde home. Find Heyes and babies. Heyes said I had to tell you." She looked away from me. "Mr. Birde's posse find nothin'."
"After Matt was caught there were five men in that livery and five bodies came out. Bobby Bell is dead."
She froze in my arms. That worried me. She hadn't done that much since the twins came and now it was twice in a few minutes. I felt her nod. "Chrissy darlin's mind played tricks then. Bobby Bell dead."
I found her lips and kissed her gently. That's all I felt comfortable doin' with the twins sleepin' in the same room.
I held her close. "I'm sorry about your brothers. Heyes' plan was to capture them, not kill them."
She hugged me and then rolled over so her back was to me. "Still have Luke and Matt, she said loudly. I heard her whisper, "And Bobby Bell." I didn't correct her. I was certain he was dead.
Suddenly, Chrissy sat up in bed. "When's Matt's trial?"
"Don't know. If it's important, I can send a telegram to Colin in the morning. He should know."
"We go to trial." It was a statement not a question.
"Don't think he'd welcome the man responsible for him losin' three brothers."
She was quiet. "Alright, then Chrissy go to trial alone."
I gave a small laugh. I know when she decides to do somethin' she's stubborn enough to do it. "You win, darlin'. We'll go to Matt's trial."
"Good!" She laid down facin' me. I felt her hand on the bandage on my neck. I stopped her from pullin' it off.
She moved her hand, sayin',"Okay keep for now but morning, Chrissy darlin' see what Jed hiding!"
ASJ*****ASJ
We said our thanks and goodbyes early in the mornin'. And headed home. I know that Bobby Bell was dead, but I was still cautious, watchin' the road ahead and behind for any riders. Then, I scolded myself for jumpin' at imaginary shadows. Instead, I thought about the conversation I had put off havin' with Martha and Michael, about climbin' out their bedroom window. I wondered which of them had come up with the idea.
I'd asked Chrissy what to say and she said, "Be gentle, they babies." I asked Heyes and he said I should teach them how to climb out the window safely. Neither were of any help. I wanted to scare them like I was scared when we found out what they had done. Like my ma and pa scared me when I did somethin' dangerous. But Chrissy was their ma and Heyes loved them, too, and I'm new at parentin' so I listened carefully to them. And I was goin' to ask Mrs. Clark as soon as I had the chance to get her alone. Now, she was ridin' in the back of the wagon pointin' out birds and trees to the twins, who were smilin' and tryin' to say the new words.
I wasn't used to the sign 'Curry Road' yet, but it made me happy, like I'd planted roots here. I like it here, but Winter's Refuge is Chrissy's home. The plan has always been to move back there when Heyes gets off probation and Chrissy isn't wanted in Colorado anymore. Well, the posters with the illegal bounty should be in the process of being voided and recalled. The Wyoming governor is enforcing that. But I have come to understand that my heart wants to stay here. Keep puttin' roots down here. But I'll let Chrissy decide when it's time. I want her to live where she feels most comfortable.
HEYES
Things are out of place here at home. I came back with Lom last night and put things where they belonged in the kitchen. Mrs. Clark wouldn't like it if the salt was on the left side of the stove instead of the right. I alphabetized the spices like she keeps them. The upholstered chair was on the wrong side of the fireplace and the quilt that always needs to be on the back of the couch is on the floor. Joe is sleeping on it. When I tried to pick it up, he thought I was playing and grabbed the other end and tugged. Now it has a tear and it's my fault. I'll tell Chrissy what happened. I let Joe keep sleeping on the quilt. The chessboard was on the kitchen table and the pieces are all over the table and on the floor. I picked them up and put them on the shelf where they belong, but I can't find the black bishop anywhere. I'll look in the morning.
And there were dirty dishes in the sink. We wash our own dishes and put them away unless Mrs. Clark tells us to leave them. Then it's okay if we leave our dirty plate or bowl on the table. So, I washed the dishes and put them away just the way Chrissy likes them stacked. She's very proud of her new matching set of dishes.
Lom told me to relax, and he and Brian Birde would help me clean up tomorrow. But I don't want Chrissy to be angry. She stamps her foot when she's angry, just like my ma did. And the Kid always assumes he did something wrong. It's easier that I return everything to its correct place before she gets home.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Home looks so good. Our home! I'd like to stay home all day and play with the kids and talk to Chrissy and Heyes and maybe read a book layin' on the couch in the livin' room. But work has been pilin' up since I was away.
After breakfast, I called Michael and Martha into the livin' room. I wasn't ready for the talk, but I remembered my pa always warnin' us he was gonna have a talk about somethin'. Made us worry about it all day.
I looked at the two attentive faces in front of me and steadied myself. This was harder than I thought it was goin' to be.
"Michael, Martha, you know it's wrong to climb out of your bedroom window and sneak in the stable, don't you?"
Two sets of eyes stayed on my face. Both heads nodded.
"I'm gonna talk to you about that after supper tonight."
"Yes, Papa," said two little voices together.
Martha took my hand. "Sorry! We love you, Papa," she said with the younger version of Chrissy's mountain green eyes meetin' mine.
"I love you both so much. That's why you have to understand what's wrong and right. We'll talk tonight."
They both looked contrite until Mrs. Clark, with a wink at me, announced she needed help makin' cookies. I was forgotten as they ran to her.
I opened the forge but put a sign out that I was closed today, workin' on inventory. Heyes gave me the idea to say that. What I did do was make the addition to our gate that couldn't be disabled. Lom was gone in town and Brian and Scott Birde went home. Ken had escorted Matt to trial in Cheyenne. I was goin' to miss him around here. So, Heyes helped me fix the gate. It feels good to work next to him, side by side. I know he isn't recovered fully, but here on the ranch he does well and we are used to his quirks..
I opened the fixed gate, and it was loud and squeaky.
"Okay, Heyes, I know you are dyin' to see if you can get by this one. Go ahead. I got some things to do in the forge." I tapped him on the top of the shoulder and smiled.
He gave me a silly grin but was already fingerin' the gate to see if he could open it silently.
HEYES
The Kid is creative. I couldn't open the gate silently. I will keep thinking about it, but when he said he didn't need any help in the blacksmith shop, I headed to the stables. I checked on Autumn's Sweetheart and admired her baby. I didn't go into her stall though. She's very protective ofPoseidon's Winter. Even Chrissy is very careful around her. The twins call the colt Posey.
Summer Solstice is getting near her foaling time, too. Chrissy had her in a stall at the far end of the stable from Autumn's Sweetheart. Her, I give a carrot and a cube of sugar.
I went in the house to tell Chrissy I was going to go for a ride. Juan usually rides Spring's Joy, but he's not here so I'm taking her out for a ride. She has a sweet deposition, and the day is brisk but sunny. I heard the twins talking about their pa being mad at them for climbing out the window. I know now that it was Michael's idea, but Martha figured out how to do it. They make a good team, just like me and the Kid did growing up…I hope we still are.
They are playing with their building blocks on the living room floor.
"Uncle Heyes, we found this under the corner of the rug. Honest we didn't put it there." Martha hesitated and then handed me the black bishop with suspicious teeth marks.
I turned it over in my hand.
Michael pulled on my pants. "Uncle Heyes, don't get Joe in trouble. We like having dogs. Tell Pa we did it. He's already mad at us."
I wanted to laugh at their sincerity, but I knew this is what Mrs. Clark had called a teaching moment. "No, we never lie to your ma or pa. Joe needs to take responsibility for what he did, even if he didn't mean to destroy the bishop. You understand?"
Both kids looked sad but nodded. I knelt down in front of them and hugged them. I don't mind them touching me. I like it. Feels like family.
"Finish with whatever your building," I said as put the bishop in the middle of the kitchen table. "Where's your ma and Mrs. Clark?"
"Quillin'," Martha answered.
"Quilting?"
"Yeah, quilling. In the guest room."
I smiled at her mispronunciation and let it be. My pa was very strict and always insisted words were pronounced correctly. The Kid's parents were more lax and he said aminal for animal until he started school. Then we all made sure he said it right so no one would make fun of him.
I stuck my head in the spare bedroom the ladies had taken over for their quilting. Sometimes I liked to watch them weave all the different shaped pieces into a design. But today I was quick.
"Going to take Spring's Joy for a ride east. Not going too far. I'll check the fences."
Without looking up, Chrissy, involved in her sewing, waved her hand back towards me. "Good."
JED 'KID' CURRY
My back hurts from leanin' over the forge today. It hurts all the time but today it's worse I think from ridin' my horse home from Bridgeford. I need to ride more to stretch my back out. I walked outside the shop to get some cool air. It's a beautiful day, cool and clear, with a light dusting of snow still on the ground. And I'm content workin' hard to take care of my family
Then, the quiet is broken by a screamin' horse, two young voices – one cryin' in anguish and one in alarm – followed by the growlin' and barkin' of our dogs. As the first wail reaches me, I am already racin' toward the stable, throwin' the gate open. I didn't know I could run this fast, but my children are in danger.
I followed the cryin' and barkin' to Autumn's Sweerheart's stall. Our mare was in the corner hidin' the colt behind her. The dogs, growlin' and barkin', were keepin' her there. She was kicking out his back legs at them. And my boy, my dear boy, was layin' face down in the hay, not movin'.
Martha was weepin' next to him. "Mikey, wake up! Mikey!" She was shakin' him. I knelt beside him.
Autumn's Sweetheart kicked out her back hoof at the dogs again, missin' Not Joe and narrowly missin' Martha….and I think I know what must have happened.
"Martha, get out of here…now!" I told her firmly. She did just what I asked.
Then Chrissy was behind me.
"Jed, pick up Michael. Back out slowly!" she ordered.
"I'll get the wagon." Heyes' voice came from behind her outside the stall..
"I'll get blankets," Mrs. Clark said at the same time, and they were both gone.
Chrissy stepped up next to the dogs as I gently cradled our son in my arms. Blood was seepin' through his shirt near his shoulder. It rolled down his back as I moved him. He was still, but I could feel his gentle breath on my arm.
"Backwards!" she reminded me. "Watch hooves!"
With Michael in my arms, I stood and stepped backwards. Chrissy's apparent calm was the opposite of the turmoil I was feelin'.
"Joe, house," she ordered, and he left. "Not Joe, go." She pointed out of the stall. He obeyed.
Chrissy moved to Autumn's Sweetheart's head and talked to her softly. She became calmer. Martha waited just outside the stall, lookin' devastated. My anger poured out. "Weren't you told to not climb out your window and go to the stable?" I yelled and instantly regretted my tone.
"Yes, but Pa, we didn't go out the window. We went out the kitchen door. Michael wanted to try and ride Posey."
My heart broke at the misery in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Martha, I…"
"Kid, the wagon's ready," Heyes called softly from the door of the stable. Chrissy came out of the stall, and we rushed to the wagon. Heyes gently touched Michael on the head as we walked by him. Mrs. Clark watched us settle Michael into Chrissy's lap in the bed of the wagon.. Then she handed her two wet rags to wipe his blood.
I leaned in and kissed Michael's cheek, noticin' the bruise forming on his forehead. "He'll be okay," I told Chrissy as I climbed onto the driver's bench. Mrs. Clark, standin' in back of Martha, put a comfortin' hand on each of the child's shoulders. Heyes joined them and they watched in silence as we drove away.
With a quick look at my precious cargo, I drove as fast as I could while tryin' to go smoothly. The road to Three Birds is well traveled and even. A thousand negative thoughts and 'I should haves' rushed through my brain but only one purpose. Get Michael to Dr. Sexton as soon as possible.
I could hear Chrissy singin' to him but didn't recognize the song. He was so silent and still every time I took a quick glance back.
"Not far now," I told Chrissy as we rounded the big curve, and I could see the outline of the buildin's in the distance. I tried to pray but I wasn't sure to whom. The god of my youth let my family be murdered. In Valparaiso, our forced prayers went unanswered. But I thought of Luke and the forgivin', savin' Lord he believed in so strongly and I found a simple prayer. "Please, Lord, don't let Michael die. I'll work harder to take care of my family… I promise I will. Please let him live."
As we passed the first outbuildin's, I heard a moan from my son. Not a loud sound but a quiet sob of pain followed by Chrissy's "You'll be okay. Pa's gettin' us to the doctor."
I had to slow down some to avoid people and other wagons as we passed the Birde's stately houses. Beverly was out in front talking to a man I knew was her gardener. She saw us comin' and moved toward the street. Her pregnancy is hard to hide but she refuses to be hidden out of sight until the last month. From the look on my face, she knew I wasn't stoppin'. Seein' Chrissy holdin' Michael, she yelled, "Doc Sexton's at the school today. Go to his office; I'll send someone to bring him."
Stoppin' the wagon in front of the doctor's office, I tied it off and lifted Michael gently from Chrissy's lap. He opened his eyes and I had hope for him. "Pa," he said with a sleepy smile. He closed them again as I felt him lose consciousness. Chrissy held the door open, and I saw the doctor and the sheriff runnin' down the street toward us. Without waitin' for them, I laid my son on the examination table as Chrissy covered him with one of the blankets we had used in the wagon.
"What happened here?" Dr Sexton didn't bother with greetin's and started examinin' Michael.
"Kicked by a horse in back, arm, maybe shoulder," Chrissy told him. "Fell, hit forehead hard on stool in stall.
"Has he opened his eyes?"
"Two times, once moaned. Once said pa," Chrissy answered,
"Okay out of here, both of you. I'll call you if I need you," the doctor said abruptly, pushin' me towards the door.
"But we'll help…" I started.
"Mr. Curry, leave this room and let me do my job!"
Frank put his arm around my shoulder and offered Chrissy his other arm. "Wait out here. Beverly's making tea and we'll wait with you."
I looked back and saw Michael lyin' still on the table as the door closed.