Winter's Refuge
Chapter Eighty-Nine
HEYES
When he returned home, the Kid's reaction was almost what Chrissy predicted. His shocking weight loss told me how sick he had been. He looked over all the work and complimented the workers. Even when it was just the two of us, he didn't complain about any faults in the work. The only time he smiled, really smiled I mean, was when Martha and Michael saw him and ran to him for hugs. Usually he would pick them up, one in each arm, when he hugged them. But today he got down on one knee and pulled them toward him.
When we were alone, I suggested improvements he could make to Auntie's house, but he gave me a grin and said, "They did a real fine job, Heyes. Whole lot of people I owe favors to for helpin'." And I could see that weighed heavy on him.
Early the next morning, I found him in the blacksmith shop, which I learned the townspeople all refer to as Curry's. He had the forge going but was sitting on a high stool rather than standing behind the anvil.
"No target practice this morning?" I asked.
"Couldn't hold a gun straight if I tried. 'Sides, I got a lot of work to do in here."
Talked quietly to Chrissy about him afterwards, and she said he held her tight and ignored her words last night.
Now, Chrissy found him working on a shovel and started scolding him for being out of bed.
"Doctor say rest. You rest!" she said firmly pointing at the house.
"I find this restful," he answered.
She stepped closer to him. "No one thinks working in fire and swinging heavy hammer restful. Put fire out. Go rest. Now!"
She told me later that his eyes were deep sad when he looked at her after meekly agreeing without any further argument. And he stayed in bed all day. Even his kids couldn't get him up.
Dr. Arden rode into town with Auntie when she drove the twins to school. He's finished the purchase of Dr. Sexton's office building and his small home upstairs…and he's having them torn down to the ground, everything. The doctor said there was too much neglect and filth to ever make them livable again. He's rented the back room at the saloon and is seeing patients there. Some of the ladies ain't never been in a saloon before and they have to walk through it to get to him. Heard they stare at the saloon girls working there and the girls stare right back.
He rode back to the ranch when Auntie picked up the twins and Chrissy and I cornered him, alone, in my room.
"Jed very broken," Chrissy started.
And I nodded.
"He's been very sick. We almost lost him," Dr Arden answered.
Chrissy froze. I didn't say anything because I don't know if she hears me when she does that. "Lose him? No!" Her hand went to her stomach and the baby she carried. The movement was quick but I saw it…and I think Aiden did too.
"We had plan. Not working," she finally said, fully attentive again.
I explained our plan to help him and watched the doctor nod his agreement. "Keep it up. It may still work. He's worked hard to give you both a place to heal and the time to do it. Now we have to help him."
"Plan not work," repeated Chrissy. "He still sick?"
"No, he's recovering but very weak." He stopped and thought for a second with his finger to his mouth. "Maybe that's part of his problem. He's always told me he used his prison time to get strong, so strong no one could ever hurt him or his family."
"Jed strong," Chrissy agreed.
"Not right now. Oh, he will regain his strength. Just swinging that blacksmith hammer will do that."
Chrissy didn't look convinced and neither was I so Dr. Arden continued, "Let him rest. We'll watch over him. He has a lot of friends here to help out with the work."
Chrissy exclaimed, "No! Heyes make everyone go. Now. Jed do own work. Jed help everyone again and feel better. Good idea, doctor." Chrissy was pleased.
"But," sputtered Dr. Arden, not sure what his idea was.
"You go too, Doctor. Jed need to be determined again to heal."
"Ah ha, yes, you're right, Miss Chrissy. I shall sleep in my temporary office tonight and head home tomorrow. I do miss Denise."
JED 'KID' CURRY
I think I slept all day and night. I remember the twins bringin' a book to me to read but I told them to have Uncle Heyes read it. He did that while I was away. But they didn't listen and insisted on sittin' on my bed, one on either side of me, leanin' against the headboard and readin' to me. It was sweet and my dreams then were peaceful for a while.
Most of the time I didn't dream, but when I did I'd be back in the Wyoming Territorial Prison, feelin' the pain of the cat o'nine tails rip open my back. Chrissy is here now with a gentle touch, she rubbed a soothin' balm on my back and spoke softly of love and family.
When the next mornin' came, I just wanted to stay in bed again. Nothin' to get up early for so I pulled the quilt over my head to block out the sunrise comin' through our window.
"Jed, get up." Chrissy pulled the quilt off not only my head but my body. "Time practice shooting."
"Not today, darlin'. Not feelin' up to it."
"Jed no practice yesterday. Go practice today. Stay fast. Keep Chrissy safe."
I didn't want to move out of our bed. I reached down and pulled the quilt back over me against the mornin' cold.
Chrissy got out of bed declarin', "Then I go practice every mornin'. Already shoot straight; learn to draw fast and protect our family."
Her words stirred somethin' in me and my goals echoed in my head. Get strong. Protect my family. They guided everythin' I did but do they matter now? I'd rather stay in the bed I share with Chrissy and never get up. But she's serious. She's dressed and picked up my gun belt. "You watch Joy," she told me.
"Wait, I'll go," I said, grabbin' my holster from her.
"Good. Practice good." Then she got that grin that means she's pleased about somethin' She moved my hand to her stomach. "And one more to watch over."
I looked into those eyes as green as the mountains and smiled. "I hope it has your eyes," I said as I grabbed her into a hug and help her tight. I failed but I need to start over. I need to repay a lot of favors that I owe and I need to get strong to protect my growin' family.
ASJ*****ASJ
As I approached my practice area, I heard, "Bang…bang…bang."
Heyes was already there and practicin' with his gun; not fast draw, just shootin' cans off the fence…and missin' more than he was hittin'. I waited until his gun was empty before I said anything.
"You want some lessons?"
Smilin' he answered, "Thought this family might need protection sometime."
I replaced the cans and took my fast gun stance. I drew and hit five out of the six cans. The gun was heavy and I felt so weak. "Can't even shoot well enough to protect my family."
"You'd easily beat any other man who was felled by pneumonia for a week," Heyes said.
Snappin' my head around at his insult, I saw him grin. He was teasin' me. And somethin' else woke in me. Heyes was healin', but he needed my strength to heal. I need to get strong again so I can help him. I reloaded and gathered my strength. I took a calmin' breath, shut out the world, drew, and hit all six cans right in the center. I was slower than I liked, but shot for thirty minutes until I was exhausted and weakness made me sit down in the dirt. But I'll practice every day. I'll get stronger. I'll protect my family.
"Come on, partner. You need to get your shop open."
"Not today, Heyes; I'm tired. Work can wait."
"Sorry, Kid. Auntie's cupboards don't stay closed. Need you to make latches. She adores the ones you made for the windows And she needs an iron handrail for the back porch to match the one you made for the front. Let's go."
He left me sittin' in the dirt. I didn't want to open the forge, feel the hot fire, the random burns from the embers that aren't caught by the apron and the memories of the Arizona desert. But I dragged myself to my feet and trailed after him. He had the back door open and started to put the three sides up himself. But they are heavy and have to be done in order. He didn't do them in order. As he started to push up a second section, the first fell back down.
"Watch out!" I sprinted the last few steps and pushed him out of the way of the heavy side. And I bent over and put my hands on my knees, gaspin' for breath and coughin'.
Heyes sat in the weeds where I pushed him, lookin' defeated. "Thanks. Sorry."
The sides were heavy and I knew I wasn't goin' to get them up right now. Blacksmithin' is not for the weak.
"Why don't we go up to Auntie's house and I'll show you the cabinets that need the latches." Heyes stood up, tryin' to rid himself of the dead weeds on his bottom.
The sight made me laugh. I put my arm around his shoulder, not touchin' his back, sayin', "Let's go, partner. Everythin' looked good on my tour yesterday. Maybe it's not as bad as you say."
HEYES
I knew how tired the Kid was from the way he leaned on me. I shouldn't have pushed him so hard this morning. But I had gotten a smile out of him and he was showing interest in Auntie's house so that was progress. Progress towards getting him out of bed and functioning, but not to healing.
Getting him to really look at Auntie's house was a good idea. First, he decided that the cabinets didn't latch because they weren't installed right, so he got his tools and Glen to help us and took them off the kitchen wall. When they were off, even I could see that they weren't built square. Now, me and the Kid aren't too good with building things with a hammer and nails, but Glen and Rudy proved they knew what they were doing.
While they were rebuilding the cabinets, the Kid decided, correctly, that the back door was hung too low. So, he took it off and didn't like the hinges used for the weight of the door and, before I knew it, he was down blacksmithing.
After that, to most people, he was himself, recovering from pneumonia but always busy. But most people didn't include me and Chrissy and Dr. Arden. He hid it better before he was sick. For now, we were happy he had returned to what we called normal. The rest we would work on. He put his touch on every improvement we had made and, I have to admit, he made everything better.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I don't have the easiest relationship with Jose Ortiz, the patriarch of the family. In his eyes, I got Chrissy pregnant and left without marryin' her, was responsible for her goin' to prison for aidin' and abettin' me and Heyes' escape from the law, and stealin' pictures of the twins when I was a guest at Winter's Refuge. He blamed me for Rudy quittin' college and becomin' a deputy sheriff in Porterville, too. But Rudy stood up for me and admitted he had already quit his education before he came to work for me that summer.
Except for the part with Rudy, I'm truly guilty of all those things. The Ortiz family has lived at Winter's Refuge since Chrissy was little. Her pa left it to her, not her brothers. And Jose Ortiz helped her build it into the premiere ranch that it is. No one breeds better horses in Wyoming. We rival them in Nebraska only because our stud and first mares came from there. Lom still oversees the accountin' for Winter's Refuge, somethin' he started when Chrissy was in prison. We asked him to bring all the records and documents with him when he and his wife come to the weddin'.
I'm nervous about seein' Juan's parents. His oldest brother, Paul, is stayin' at home to run the ranch while they are here. Mr. Ortiz is the last survivin' member of the Triumvirate, as they were called. They started the Devil's Hole Gang and became very successful. Chrissy's pa, Laz McWinters, and Beverly Birde's pa were the other two members. Only Mr. Ortiz lived to see their amnesty. They've been very protective of Chrissy since her pa died. I hope they forgive me for all the things I've done and see that I've built a good life for her and our children. But I understand if they don't forgive me. Mr. Ortiz did say thank you for his amnesty when he helped at Brown River.
Rudy picked up his parents in Bridgeport and brought them to Phoenix. Hortencia Birde, Juan's intended, and her parents would join us for dinner. I admitted to Chrissy I was very nervous about seein' them. They had these plans for Juan to run the livery and the newlyweds to live in this perfect little white house in Three Birds. All that changed when I asked Juan to be the foreman at Phoenix and said I'd have a little house built for them next to Auntie's. Don't think they'd be very happy with that change but Juan and Miss Hortencia were pleased.
So, I waited in the house and watched Juan and Chrissy's enthusiastic greetin' of his parents. Heyes retreated to his bedroom. I stood up when they entered, not knowin' what to expect. They both had aged over the last year or so since I'd seen them. Or I was no longer seein' them through eyes that remembered them as they were almost seven years ago at Winter's Refuge. But Mr. Ortiz has definitely lost weight.
"Mr. Curry," he said, advancin' towards me.
I forced myself to smile and hold out my hand. "Mr. Ortiz, good to see you."
"Thank you for having us to your home. It's grown since I was last here," he said, then dropped his voice to a whisper. "And thank you again for the amnesty. Today I took my first train ride as a free man. I enjoyed watching the scenery and not searching the car for lawmen."
I laughed and the tension in my body eased. Juan was busy makin' introductions and I saw Rudy take his parents' things to Auntie's house.
Miss Marina fussed over the twins and Joy. She had knitted all of them caps and gloves, which Michael and Martha immediately put on. And Chrissy was the happiest I've seen her in a while and her full sentence speech showed it. Marina went to the kitchen and added a dish she had brought from home to the plates for our dinner. And Joy was the star of the day until she finally fell asleep in Ken's arms, rockin' on the front porch.
"Marina likes Miss Hortencia," Chrissy whispered to me with a smile. "Easier for everyone when mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along. Both strong."
I swept her to the side and kissed her. "My mother would have loved you."
"And I would tell her I love the wonderful, good man she raised with all my heart."
Her sweet words made me feel emotional. Chrissy always sees the good in me, always has, even when we first met at Devil's Hole and I was a brash outlaw on top of the world. "Go put on your dark blue suit. The Birds will be here shortly."
ASJ*****ASJ
Dinner was interestin'. Hortencia's father, Mayor Fred Birde, doesn't know Jose's background. His brother Frank does, but the mayor doesn't have a clue. I could see all the people in our house were causin' Heyes some distress so I told him to stay in his room. He was grateful. I see he's pushin' himself lately and I'm proud of him.
When Mayor Birde met Marshal Ken, he brought up the recent roundup of lawless outlaws in Montana he added, "Good riddance."
Except for the twins beggin' Jose to tell them about the foals at Winter's Refuge, a hush fell over the room. Me and Jose took matchin' deep breaths.
"Haven't heard too much about that. Retired, you know," Ken answered him, then invited and took him outside to see the young colts and fillies.
Nervously, everyone returned to what they were doin'.
And Chrissy found me. That was good, you know? He doesn't know about Jose and has forgotten you were an outlaw." She hugged my arm. "You are very handsome in that suit."
I nodded but I know she's wrong. It was meant to embarrass me, I think.
After that, dinner was cordial. Hortencia was so pleased that Juan was now foreman of Phoenix and they were goin' live here, that it made it hard for her parents to object. Her fathe did manage to tell every adult there his brother Fritz was runnin' for a state representative seat in the next election.
When it was over and I took the time to fly each twin to bed, I was so relieved that I held Chrissy close to me and fell into a deep sleep.
HEYES
The after-rehearsal dinner is at Phoenix. I don't know why. Well, I do know why - Miss Hortencia asked Chrissy if we could host it. I guess in society it's the groom's family that does it. And Miss Louisa, her mother, is nothing if not a real society lady. Me and the Kid consider Juan family and I know Miss Chrissy does too, so we're hosting Juan and Miss Hortencia's rehearsal dinner. It's supposed to start about three today and be in the front pasture. It's all cleaned up and set up with borrowed tables and chairs. There's so much food I can't believe it. I thought this was a small gathering but there are a lot of chairs standing out there. I was trying to convince myself I should go, but I don't want to. Too many people. Too many conversations. Too much noise. I'm terrified. Chrissy said I didn't have to go. I can watch Joy while she naps, freeing Chrissy to go to the dinner.
Joy is sleeping but the noise rising from the front pasture is getting louder. I close the window to keep it out. I found the book Chrissy's been reading and settled down next to the crib, escaping into the protected world of the book.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Glen and Arnie spent most of the mornin' settin' up tables and chairs. Learned that this is just for the families. Ken and Heyes helped set up too, but when the people started to show up, Glen, Arnie, Ken, and Heyes were nowhere to be seen. Juan's side, even includin' me, Chrissy, the twins, and Auntie was dwarfed by the size of the Birde family. And every one of them made a point to ask me how I was feelin' and to tell me how they were happy to come out here and help. I smiled and thanked every one of them, and told them I was feelin' much better.
I was feelin' better but now I have a whopper of a headache. I have a lot of headaches lately. There's good food everywhere but I'm not really hungry. I just want this to end. And it's gonna end soon. The wind has come up and it's gonna bring rain. I tried to warn Chrissy, but she didn't really hear me; she was so busy listenin' to Auntie talk about the twins when they were toddlers. Darkness was almost complete and lamps were sittin' on each table. Nobody wanted to go home. I escaped to the stables and found Glen, Arnie, and Ken playin' poker.
"Goin' to rain soon," I told them. "How many buggies we need to get ready so the Birdes can leave? I thought this thing would break up earlier. The weddin' is tomorrow."
With them gettin' the buggies ready, I returned to the party. Minglin' with Jeff Birde talkin' to his brother Fred Jr and his wife, I looked up and mentioned rain. I know they don't see each other often. It took their sister's weddin' to give them time to visit. y remard was all they needed. They started gatherin' their children and warnin' the rest about the approachin' weather. Quietly, I started to clear the tables and whisk all the leftover food into our house. Once they decided it was time to leave, the Birdes moved quickly. And they didn't just leave, they helped clean up until Auntie shooed them out of our house so they'd beat the rain.
Frank and Beverly were two of the last to leave. Their son was sleepin' upstairs, Heyes his unplanned babysitter.
Frank waited downstairs with me while Beverly went upstairs to claim their baby.
"Birde family kinda overwhelming, hey Jed? Frank commented.
"Sure a lot of you."
"You feeling better? Haven't seen much of you around town."
I know he was sincere. I count Frank as my friend.
"Been busy."
"Jed, you know that you don't owe anything to the people that helped your family while you were sick."
When I looked at him questionin', he added, "Heard you tell Fred you owe him one for working on Miss Diane Francis' house. You DON'T owe anyone anything. If you're keeping score, you've probably helped everyone that helped you twice already."
"I do feel obligated, Frank. And I'm tryin' to win their acceptance for a convict's family in this town where the women are all from high society type families. They brought that society with them and are establishin' it here. I saw it tonight. Two parents who served time in prison don't fit in except as a novelty."
"Is that how you believe they think of you?" asked Frank. I saw concern in his eyes. "Because you're wrong. And Beverly isn't that kind of a woman."
"Beverly's sweet and she can be bossy. She may be the daughter of a reformed outlaw but she went to one of them expensive schools in the east and is a real lady."
"No more of a lady than Chrissy," Frank sighed. "Jed, what do I need to do to prove to you that you and your family are accepted, considered good people?"
Our wives were comin' down the stairs, each holdin' a baby and laughin' with one another.
"Guess it's time to get going. Rain's already falling," Frank said, then turned to me. "Jed, I need you to think about what we were talking about. Really think on it. This conversation is not over." Then he smiled and held out his hand to me. "This was real nice, my friend. Thank you for doing this for my niece."
I opened my mouth to object but thought better of it. I will think about what he said. Sounds a lot like what Aiden told me. I respect both of them.
HEYES
We changed the Ortiz family lives last night…well, changed it for the second time. The first time was when Jose Ortiz got his amnesty from the governor.
After the rehearsal dinner, me and the Kid and Chrissy sat around the new kitchen table in Auntie's house where Jose and Miss Marina were staying. Chrissy had told them we had something to ask them.
The kitchen was white with touches of yellow. Auntie loves yellow. One of the things the Kid fixed was the kitchen table. The legs were of different lengths and it wobbled. Now it was even and sturdy. Miss Marina was the first to use the stove and make coffee.
"What is it you wanted to ask us?" Jose started, curious and a little apprehensive.
Chrissy smiled and took Marina's hand. "We're just waiting for Lom."
Just as she said that, Lom knocked on the open door. "Beautiful house, Kid. Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz, my wife, Susan."
I could tell Lom and Susan were in love by the way they looked at each other. When the introductions were over, we sat back down at the table and Miss Marina served us all coffee and again Jose asked, "What is it you want to tell us? It's about Winter's Refuge, isn't it? You're selling it?"
"No! Not sell. We're giving the ranch to you and Marina," Chrissy explained.
"OH!" exclaimed Marina, putting her hand to her mouth.
"You don't have to do that, Chrissy. We're doing just fine the way it is." Jose pushed his chair away from the table. I think he still thinks like he's a fugitive from the law and owning land is only a dream. And he does not like change. Change is hard. For me now, I don't like change. I used to think change was exciting. Maybe I will again, but I prefer my set routine.
"I know I don't have to do this, but we want to. We built our home here. We're not going back. My pa tried to give you half when he bought it, didn't he?"
Jose nodded. "He did. We don't take charity then or now."
Chrissy was upset. Her speech became broken with spaces in between when she's thinking.
"Not charity. YOU reason Winter's Refuge success." We all respected her silence as she gathered her thoughts. "Pa mean drunk. You take charge." In the silence that followed, Jose was going to object, but Marina put her hand on his arm and stopped him.
Chrissy stared for a minute. "Winter's Refuge is yours. If you no just take it, then make a deal. We sell you ranch. Price is one yearling per year. Good?"
Marina didn't wait for Jose to object. "Deal. Thank you," she said. She hugged Chrissy tight and they cried together.
Lom was pleased. "Well, I wasn't sure why Chrissy had me bring all the ownership documents for the ranch. I was afraid she wanted to sell it, too. This is perfect. Congratulations, Jose, well earned. I'll start the paperwork on Monday."
ASJ*****ASJ
I attended Juan and Miss Hortencia's wedding. I haven't been in a church voluntarily in a long time. I figured any god had deserted me and the Kid the day we lost our parents. It was all done up real pretty with greenery and ribbons. Hortencia's father was going to give her away to Juan, who was wearing a new suit that his new bride insisted he order.
I sat with the Kid and Chrissy and Auntie and Glen. Miss Louisa, the bride's ma, said friends of the groom sit on one side and the bride's on the other. Another one of her society dos and don'ts. But we did it to make Hortencia happy. The bride's side overflowed into our side.
Ken volunteered to stay at the ranch and watch the kids. I understand. He finds crowds hard. Arnie told the Kid that he needs to think for a while how he feels about church. He's trying to understand how the Lord allows men like Mark McWinters and MG to hurt others.
Lom and Miss Susan sat behind us. Her dress hid most of her body, but I could see that she was with child. Both she and Lom look very happy.
Before the wedding started, I felt awkward sitting in the pews of a church in silence. Chrissy comes here every Sunday with Auntie and the twins. Sometimes even the Kid goes. At the Home, we were marched to church every Sunday for the nine o'clock service. I do like the quiet here now, though there are too many people around. I'm going home after the ceremony. Jose came over and spoke quietly to the Kid and Chrissy and they all looked happy. Last night Marina was crying because they have something to leave to their boys.
LOM
I was proud of Chrissy giving Winter's Refuge to Jose and Marina. It's a very profitable business, but she hasn't been drawing on income from it. She set it up so everything goes back into the ranch to expand and make improvements and the rest went to the Ortiz family. Of course, they didn't know that. To them, it's home.
I was shocked when I saw Jose Ortiz and it's only been a little over a year. He's aged. I haven't met with him in person; Paul had come to Porterville to review the accounting. Paul said that his pa had been ill and I see the toll it's taken on him. He's lost weight and looks…fragile. But happy and content. He has his amnesty and will live out his days on land he owns.
Rudy told them, and me, that he's saved enough money to finish college. He's leaving next month to get settled before the spring session. Of course, I'm happy for him and Marina cried tears of joy. But I'm going to miss the best deputy I've ever had.
ASJ*****ASJ
Susan cried through the whole wedding except, of course, when Hortencia's pa was walking her down the aisle and stepped on what my wife calls a train. It's long and white and hangs down behind the bride's dress. Susan says it's very sophisticated and pretty. I think it looks silly. Anyway, the father of the bride, who I learned is the mayor, tripped on that train, somehow got his foot tangled in it. He would have fallen down if the Kid hadn't stepped out in the aisle to balance him until he got his feet under him. The bottom of the dress was torn and hung at an odd angle, but everyone ignored that and the rest of the wedding went smoothly.
The Kid has lost weight, too. I heard he had pneumonia after visiting Matt McWinters in prison. He's smiling and saying the right things, but he looks tired. Not the tired from a busy day at Juan's wedding; tired inside that more than sleep is needed to recover from.
After the meeting last night at Aunt Diane Frances Clark's house, Chrissy and Susan went upstairs to visit while the men had a cigar on the porch. She was enchanted with the twins and Joy and shared her condition with Auntie and Chrissy. Watching Michael and Martha, and hearing how they get into trouble and are good kids, I know I made the right decision to hide them with my sister, Lillian, and Mrs. Clark. And I like the way that Mrs. Clark, now called Auntie by everyone, has fit in here. She's found a home. The Kid has made the neglected house and ranch into a welcoming home and a place of healing. Marshal Ken Josephs is staying here while he recovers. Heyes and Chrissy are both doing well here. I was especially impressed with Heyes.
Later, the ladies were sitting at the kitchen table laughing and the twins were confused. Seems Susan had referred to Chrissy as Mrs. Jones. She's comfortable calling them Smith and Jones, but the children are asking where the new names came from. Heyes told them it was a grown-up joke and they accepted that for now. One day they're going to learn the truth about their pa and Uncle Heyes.